Teams like the Yankee's, Dodgers, Braves, Angels, and many others, bring to spring training, players and coaches from the past, not as instructors per say, but to simply connect with the past.... to connect with that teams history....

The Orioles however don't seem to be one of those clubs.....

Pete,

Can we get any former O's (or anyone for that matter) to visit the blog and try to instill some skills, such as, oh... I don't know... reading comprehension into the minds of us commenters?

Is there a chance you could get LeVar Burton in here?

Wow Pete,

You really spun that one. You know why these guys are brought in, and you know they wouldn't be stepping on the toes of guys like Bordick.

It's not like the Dodgers invite guys that are so overbearing that they get in the way of real instruction. You know that Pete!

This is just the continued disconnect that has risen its head on numerous occasion over the last few years.

I'm surprised you took the angle you took Pete. But since we're the same guy, I guess I should simply slap myself in the face.

Ok, now I/we feel better!

Is it really newsworthy information? Why don't we focus on improving our players with the staff they'll be working with during the season. These extra coaches haven't been big news before so to me, it makes no difference.

I get the feeling that some people here would jump into hot lava if the Orioles told them to. Even if people near by screamed 'don't do it, you'll be scarred for life', they'd still do it if 1) The orioles said it was part of the grand plan, and 2) Pete said it was ok. The blind leading the blind comes directly to mind.

With the major and minor league training camps so far from each other, the O's have needed training redundancy for years. Now, they don't. Guess that makes sense.

Too many voices can be bad but some people just connect with certain people and not others. Someone could be a good coach but for whatever reason just doesn't reach or connect with a certain player. That player may be more willing to listen to someone else.

It can be hard to mesh personalities. Crowley might work with some players but maybe one player would listen better to a F. Robinson/E. Murray/etc.

I've taken many golf lessons from a number of PGA Pros but only a few can say/do the right thing to turn the "Ah." light on in my brain.

The last time there were any "great" Orioles, most of the current roster was deep in Spongebob plotitude. The Once Proud Orioles are nearly 30 years away and fading into history. This latest bulb flash over the the Unawarehouse will not translate into a single extra win. More smoke and mirrors.

I dont really care how many or what coaches they bring in. There has to be some improvement this year. So, whatever they do, they better make darn sure they are right.

Anything less than a .500 season is a failure, and I am being generous.

i think it is a lame silly excuse not to bring in former players to help with spring training. staying in touch with some of the past is a good thing

chris in hawaii is talking about reading comprehension ???

LOL have u fiugured out how to raad the forbes article yet ?

U seem incapable of figuring out the differences between profits and franchise value

Pot, meet kettle

The O's can't catch a break with anyone anymore. I guess a decade plus of losing baseball will do that.

Seriously folks, why don't we let the team get through at least one spring training in the new complex before we blast them?

I'm not sure if there is anything here to discuss. Does anyone know what the past "guest" instructors have to say/think about this? Until you do, what's the point of speculating on how this is going to affect the club. Sometimes, in reading the comments on here the past few years, I get the feeling that anything the Orioles do is wrong, no matter the content. Just my two cents worth, unless that's wrong, too.

No, jason, I haven't "fiugured" out how to "raad" the Forbes article yet... Is "raading" what you call ignoring facts and continuing to spew the same washed out crap?

I responded to all the things you posted when you were yelling about the Forbes article everyday and you chose to not respond to them. Yet you keep bringing it up like I didn't refute you back then. In the words of Chad Ochocinco, "Child, please."

Also, and let me speak in your language for a second:

u mite what 2 chek ur spelign b4 u poost & acuse peepoll of knot bing abl 2 raad.

Wayne,

I don't care who they bring in as long as they get this team to start looking like a Major League ballclub. I'm sick and tired of watching Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis dog it on ground balls and Adam Jones also loafing in the field. Jones is too non chalant and wants to look "cool" He needs to be kicked in the ass by Frank Robinson. And before the true believers descend, I go to the games, People who go know what I am talking about. You can't see it on TV. I saw many a ball drop in front of Jones last year that he could have made an effort for.

Thank God Melvin Mora is gone. He should have gotten the Jeff Stone award for the dumbest baserunner is baseball with an honorable mention to Alan Wiggins.

Nolan Reimold needs to learn what base to throw to and The starting pitchers need to be taught the old Ray Miller philosophy..."Work Fast, Throw Strikes, Change Speeds".

The team needs to be coached up so they can play respectable baseball this year. It Trembley can't walk the walk by June his ass should be back in the minors coaching where he probably belongs.

Gil,

You're so right! It's one thing that they don't have enough talent, it's quite another when they don't go all out, all the time.

Jeter may be a Yankee, he may make 20+ mil per year. he may not have the best talent in the game.....but the guy goes all out, all the time. I don't see one player on this team with a Derek Jeter mindset.

So if it's not in their dna, then you coach them up as best you can. I think Bordick will help - the guy was a gamer! But they're telling us there aren't old time O's who played the game right, who wouldn't be a good influence if they simply gave a 'there's only one way to play the game' speech from time to time?

This is just the latest disgrace by this organization. People can keep making excuses for them, while some fans will continue to follow like sheep.

Wayne,

This really is par for the course. You're right about how other teams invite their legends to come to spring training, whether as honorary coaches, or whatever.

This is just another reason why people are no longer coming to games. No, you can't always live in the past, but when the past is the only thing that connects your team to excellence, then you do whatever you can to make the connection.

Pete, with all due respect, I have to agree here. You really are making an excuse for the team in this situation. I'm not sure why'd you do so, because I can't see you really believing what you wrote.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4857094&name=karabell_eric_baseball&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d4857094%26name%3dkarabell_eric_baseball

Good artice from ESPN about the O's' lineup. Fantasy outlook, but should be interesting to non-fantasy baseball people.

Pete - Reading the blog subject again, what they're saying is unbelievable. If I were one of the guys usually invited and read there official stance, I'd say to hell with them. I'm sure in fact that many have already said similar. I actually thought you would have called them out for saying something so lame. Instead you basically are apologizing for them.

.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Why would I call them out for not bringing a couple extra former players to camp? I've been covering ball for 30 years and I think you and some others are exaggerating how much that kind of thing is done around baseball. In the pre-Angelos years that I covered the team, the only former guys that spent a lot of time around the team in spring training were Brooks and Palmer, who were broadcasting. When I was with the Dodgers, the one prominent guy who used to come to camp in Vero Beach as an instructor was Sandy Koufax -- and he lived there. The Angels never did that, but they didn't have a real great history back then. The team that has done that for a long time is the Yankees -- and George Steinbrenner did a great job of it -- but I think you're extrapolating and acting like everybody else does, too.

I think BJ Surhoff should be a spring training invitational coach as he played catcher, infield, and outfield during his MLB career and has been extended an invitation in the past.

Boomer,

Didn't you read what Pete said.......The O's are 'moving into a new facility and want to feel the situation out'.

A guy like BJ will just get in the way. He'll just confuse things!

Come on man, get with the program.... didn't you hear them? It's a new facility!

What's the big deal? Bringing in these former players hasn't worked in the past, so what difference does it make now? Maybe a different approach would be a good thing. It's not like they don't allow any of the former O's in the clubhouse in baltimore. Invite them to baltimore instead to work on fundementals.

But yea yea, I know. It's a terrible thing because the present franchise is alienating and yada-yada-yada. Although I'm sure if Mark Belanger wanted to make a surprise visit on his own accord they would let him in.

BTW, Chris in Hawaii, GREAT POST lol

Gil, coaching the players up can also make up for a lack of speed. there have been plenty of players with average speed that took the extra base when the opportunity presented itself...you know where I'm coming from. The lack of base stealing speed doesn't bother me as much as the bone headed baserunning errors...you can't overcome those.

Pete, love your reply, especially the use of the word "extrapolating", you don't see that one everyday.

Like you said, it is not uncommon for clubs not to have former players around spring training. The Boss did, but that's the exception not the rule. The Cubs, for instance, rarely have extra instructors in the spring, except for Ernie Banks. They have more than a few ex-Cubs already coaching in their system, most notably Ryne Sandberg.

The problem here is that some people like to biatch no matter what the Birds do. Not having a ton of ex-players around as extra instructors is really no big deal, especially when you consider how many former O's are already on the organizational coaching staff. Scott MacGregor, Mike Devereaux, Leo Gomez, Ryan Minor, and Brad Komminsk all have key roles in the minors and T-Bone Shelby and Terry Crowley are with the big club. Big names such as Brooks, Boog and Palmer are often around the team and I know guys like Al Bumbry and Eddie Murray have helped out in the past.

But it doesn't matter, wayne and his followers will kvetch regardless.

wayne sets a new low every time he posts and his followers blindly follow him into the bottomless pit of ignorance. These people have no concept of reality. None, nada, zilch. It really is sad.

I knew when I saw the posted subject that Pete would catch hell. And I still don't see what difference it makes. If the coaches that the Orioles already have can't instill the fundementals on their own, then maybe they shouldn't be coaches. I mean, this isn't trial by fire. Sure it's okay to have extra bodies to coach, especially when there's 3x the amount of players. But just because The 10 Most Popular Orioles aren't present doesn't mean they're being alienated. They can show up anytime they want to and I'm sure the club will let them in. For the most part, bringing in the former Orioles is only about fanfare anyway.

ken and dave,

You obviously haven't been paying attention to other ex oriole type snubs..... which is the whole point.

And of course it's about fanfare.... Ever been down to spring training? It's just a treat to see the old guys walking around in uniform.

But the current regime has to scope out the new digs first..... Got it!

Wayne, you are an inncessant bore; much like a nat, no real substance to your bite, just loads of buzzing around on this blog, credence to your lack of a good life, pity you I do not, but there are many teams in MLB that might want you as a fan... "The Orioles however don't seem to be one of those clubs"

Thanks Sizemo, for suggesting the O's may even care. If more fans demanded more from them, maybe they'd make an attempt to win baseball games.

Keep the faith!

I know the story. Frank and Brooks Robinson doesn't like Angelos, which is the reason why they hardly come around. But I'm not gonna take every headline, pick it apart and overanalyze every detail into my own little spin. And if they really care about their former franchise, why the hell don't they just show up? And who cares anyway, it's Spring Training

I am not sure what the big deal is, we have several past Orioles working within the organization. I have been a fan for 50 years and this year’s team looks better then any team we have fielded in the past 10 years. AM is doing a great job. We didn't need to spend the big money this year, especially sense the players weren't there to be had. And get off Holiday and Bay, we didn't need them. I spite of what some think AM will spend the money when the time is right and the right player is there. Next years FA market looks 110 times better then this years. By that time we will have a better idea for what we need. Looking at our line up this season, it's going to be hard for other teams to pitch around anyone. There is plenty of protection through the line up except maybe the #9 slot. I think everyone will be pleased with the power we will have and the runs scored. It all comes down to pitching and defense and we will be improved in those areas. The relief corp. also looks like it will be solid this year. Give our young guys a chance before throwing them under the bus. I feel really good about this team and can't wait till ST. Isn't the orange Cool Aid cold?
Buy the way; I started to look to see who is making comments before I read them. I live a long way off and I like to read the blogs that, Pete, Steve and Roch have to keep up with my favorite baseball team.
Some of the comments are out of line, off the subject, and not worth the time to read them. This is a shame, because I like to read all the views of the fans but some you take the enjoyment out of reading the blogs. Have a great day.

Pete,

Two things:

(a) love the blog. You and Roch and Steve M really do a great job. Thanks and enjoy FLA when you get there.

(b) you take too much BS from wayne.

To be clear, Wayne and Co., I could never be mistaken for a Peter Angelos apologist, Lord knows the 12 years sting me as much as all of you, and though I like all the free agent moves and the one trade AM has made this offseason, I am tepid at best with how much difference I think it will make in the standings. That being said, none of you, especially you Wayne, can ignore what AM's team of scouts and coaches has done to retool the major league team with bonafide major league talent in the likes of Adam Jones, Weiters, Reimold, Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, Jim Johnson (signed by Oriole Scout Jim Howard), and Izturis. Further, one can now look at every position prior to the season and see a an actual solid pro manning the position, not some retread (tho Atkins may become one), and we're talking ALL-STARS at many positions, CF, 2B, 3B, RF, Weiters soon to be at catcher, so enough with negative bs already, just let it go man, before you pop and before you actuallky start believing yourself...before you lose all hope. Hopelessness is not even for the hopeless man. Its ugly, and such a waste of energy. This team may not be ready for prime time but its inching ever so closely, and coming from where it was, AM's way was the only way. Remember when we had one of the worst farm systems in baseball and AM got hired and said in order to turn this thing around the farm system would have to be overhauled? Well, Keith Law from Scout's Inc has us 6th! [A top-10 system despite the graduations of Matt Wieters and Chris Tillman as well as several lower-tier young arms speaks volumes about the organization's turnaround under GM Andy MacPhail and scouting director Joe Jordan] Jurisprudence man, look it up, and start to believe, you'll be amazed at what you feel when you believe in a new day, a new deal. It's real, believe or not, the baby birds are a year older, a year stronger, a year wiser from trials and tribulations and just the riggers of a 162 game schedule. And Judging from Matt Weiter's comments and Guthrie's, and others, I'm getting the feeling these Birds are headed into 2010 with one serious chip on their shoulder and the tools to knock it off, so unless you want to forever be the last kid on your block, get with the now, and in the know, cuz come early Fall this team may not Win or Place, but it will surely Show, where you'll still be waving the negativity flag and eating Oriole crow! Can I get an Oooooo!

Only problem Sizemo.....

AM had nothing (as in zero) do to with guys like Bergesen, Reimold and Johnson (sorry he was here prior to AM) being here. And he wasn't here to draft Weiters, although I'll give him a partial assist for him getting signed after AM got here..... I think that's about half of your list by the way.... Just continued AM hype!

By the way, I'm all for the development of the minor league system. It too however, has been overly hyped. WHY? Only because it was so bad before.

Other teams graduated players from the Top 50 list to the the show last year, but many of those same teams (who had better records than the O's last year) still have multiple players on MLB's Top 50 prospect list. How many do the O's have? One!

Where's Bell? Where's Synder? Where's Arrieta? They're down the list Sizemo because they're just crapshoot prospects...nothing more, nothing less.

The hype just has to stop dude. We heard the EXACT same things last year. That the team would be near 500, and makes strides toward post season in 2010. Well guess what? It's 2010, and you and everyone else are saying the EXACT SAME THING ------- AGAIN!

Doesn't it get embarrassing?

Just saying!

Wayne -

Why must you continue to use MLB.com Top 50 Prospects List as your agruement? There's about 5 other legit lists out there that have 2 or more Orioles in their Top 50. Seriously dude, using only one source and considering it as solid research is a bit asinine.

I'd like to see the O's invite Palmer to help out with the pitching staff. I'm sure a HOF pitcher would have some good pointers for a young starter.

dave,

Doesn't matter which one anyone uses Dave. Like I've said many times, prospects are a crap shoot. Every team has them.... some more than others.

I used MLB as my source. If using the league itself as my source is asinine, then so be it.

wayne -

So pretty much, whatever lone source backs your point is gonna be the only thing you refer to? So what if ESPN had only one Oriole on the list and MLB.com had 3, would you still refer to MLB.com? I as well have said before that prospects are a crap shoot. And by refering to 5 different lists with different names in 5 different orders only comfirms that.

Anyway, if you know it's only a crap shoot then I don't see the point in your agruement. Because MLB.com, the same source you're using for arguement, was also saying that the Orioles have one of the 10 Farm Systems in MLB. The agruement you're bringing to the table is contradicting the other.

So by saying that, maybe the Orioles have more potential quality in the farm system rather then 2 or 3 studs or flash in the pans.

you're right dave.....

wow

I sympathize with you Peter.
It seems you can't advocate anything the Orioles do without someone accusing you of putting a "spin" on it or "towing the company line.
I understood your points perfectly and agree with the Orioles and with you.

I suppose it's OK for all the Walter Winchell wannabes to put THEIR own "spins" on YOUR words.

I wonder if they even realize that's what they're doing.

These former Oriole greats are special people. Why would we want to invite them to work at a place where facilities are not even finished being built yet?

I mean if we were to do that, then surely the naysayers would emerge from the woodwork to criticize that !

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeshhhhh !

dave,

Great point. Maryland basketball alums come back on their own all the time to see games. Boomer even buys season tickets for basketball because he wants to.

If guys want to go, I'm pretty sure they won't get bounced out of Sarasota.