Pete - Quick question off topic....How did Andy McPhail get to be our President of Operations? Was this a move made by Ownership or something that other members recommneded to Peter and he agreed to it? It seems like a great decision either way, just want to know where credit is due.

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Pete's reply: This is just my hunch, but I'm guessing Andy contacted Peter at some point. They had become friends while negotiating a couple of labor contracts and Peter was very comfortable working with him, so it was a natural fit. It also wouldn't surprise me if Bud Selig suggested it to Peter, but nobody's saying.

Another off-topic comment, I hope everyone out there got a chance to read the excellent article on Earl Weaver in the most recent issue of SI. Reading it brought back great memories for me and reminds us once again that Earl was one of greatest managers of all time, even if the Birds blew that 3-1 lead in '79.

Are your blog entries just advertisements for "real" reporters articles? That last one shouldn't even count. Do you get paid per entry, or based on the number of comments you don't read or respond too?

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Pete's reply: Well, to be honest, I've been touring various medical facilities the past few days, so I'm looking for ways to get stuff up on the blog regularly until I can give it my full attention again. But thanks for asking in such a polite way.

Birdsteelers=dolt.

Thanks Pete for your blog. Lots of blogs point readers towards other articles of interest, it's helpful. Looking forward to a fascinating second half. Go O's.

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Pete's reply: Thanks for the kind words. I have had to scale back the original material a little bit because of the consequences of my ridiculous basketball injury. That'll be the case for at least the next 4 or 5 days.

I love AM's comment that we are not the farm system for contending teams. I love our mix of veterans and youth and would hate to see the O's just sell off pieces for nada.

birdsteelers,

Go stick your head back in the sand. Did your mom take care picking up your room in the darkest corner of your basement. You are not funny. You are supposed to support and promote your co workers, you are supposed to act as a team.

Please Pete, Keep up the good work, keep pointing us to good information we appreciate it. FYI you do not have to print everything that people say.

Also just watched the movie The Final Season for the first time, liked the cast, but why Tom Arnold?

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Pete's reply: "Why Tom Arnold" might be the question of the generation, not just the one movie. Thanks for the kind words.

I think some of you are being to hard on my man BRob.

He is amoung league leaders in Runs and Doubles and he has 42 Rbi's from the leadoff spot. That seems like good production to me. I think the UR Infection has taken a toll on him a little. I think he will come back strong in the 2nd half and get his average up.

I think Markakis is what he is. He has never hit a lot of home runs. He is only a couple doubles off of BRobs pace. I think he will be in the 20 to 24 home run mark by the end of the year. I don't know if he will ever be that 30 home run guy we hoped for but I will take a steady .300 avg and 100 rbi each year out of my RF. We can get some power out of some other positions like DH, LF, CF, C, and the corner infielders (hopefully).

Show me a 500 season and then we will talk about heaven.

Pete/Chris (Fed Hill),

The story I've heard was that Bud Selig recommended AM to PA as a quality baseball man. Hey I have nothing to confirm the story, BUT if true it would be the first thing I would give credit to Bud Selig for! Stupid All-Star game meaning something, having a tie in one game and no real substance program able to catch PED's, not letting Pete Rose in the Hall as a player, trying to contract the Minnesota out of the baseball when they've been in 3 world series and won two since the Brewers last appearance! Have I missed any more of his stupidity!

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Pete's reply: I think there's some truth to the Bud story, though Peter already knew Andy from the labor talks.