This should go well with Orioles fans — what’s left of them. Baltimore hasn’t had a winning season since 1997. They’ve lost eight in a row and they’re off to a 1-10 start. You would think a team like that would be looking for help wherever they can get it. That is unless you have an egotistical owner like Peter Angelos who has destroyed baseball in Baltimore and infuriated fans in the process. Ken Rosenthal of FOX reports that Angelos rejected Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.’s attempt to help the club:
Ripken met with Andy MacPhail, the team’s president of baseball operations, about rejoining the organization, sources said. Angelos, however, nixed the idea in a separate conversation with Ripken, telling him, according to three sources, that he did not want Ripken to receive credit once the team returned to prominence.
Ripken did not discuss a specific role with MacPhail, one source said. However, another source said that Ripken wanted to work with young players such as catcher Matt Wieters and help them “finish off” their developments at the major-league level.
I really can’t think of a better coach or tutor for young Orioles players than Ripken. The dude was a consummate pro and holds one of the most respected records in all of athletics. How could his influence not be positive for the Orioles? I’m sure there are two sides to the story but any scenario in which Angelos rejected Ripken Jr. deserves criticism. The Orioles are a much better team than their 1-10 record indicates and their rebuilding efforts seemed strong, but for Angelos to decline Ripken’s efforts because he didn’t want to share the spotlight is ridiculous. It also seems to fall within character of what we know about Angelos.
UPDATE: Per ESPN, Angelos says he would love to talk to Ripken
Sources:
O’s turned down Ripken for job [FOXSports]
