Orioles need to get rid of Angelos not Tejada

[Pierzynski 12]

No, this time, it's Miguel Tejada who is fed up.

 

Tejada, the chatterbox shortstop who is the best thing about the Orioles. Tejada, who drove in 150 runs two years ago. Tejada, the team's only high-impact acquisition in oh, about the last eight years.

 

Perhaps Tejada was unaware of the Orioles' signing of his former A's teammate, catcher Ramon Hernandez, when he issued his get-out-of-jail plea from the Dominican Republic.

 

Or perhaps he timed his comments perfectly to coincide with the fallout from the Red Sox's trade of shortstop Edgar Renteria; the Miggy-for-Manny talk already is buzzing due to Tejada's friendship with Red Sox D.H. David Ortiz.

 

Tejada, an emotional sort, could back off his remarks in the next day or two, claiming he was caught in a moment of frustration. He shouldn't change a word. While the Blue Jays are feverishly trying to close the gap to the Yankees and Red Sox, the Orioles are adopting their familiar, deer-in-the-headlights, off-season pose.

 

Hernandez, mind you, is a terrific addition, a plus both offensively and defensively. Yet, only a few weeks ago the Orioles were saying they were shifting their focus away from a free-agent catcher. New pitching coach Leo Mazzone would call the game through the pitcher, rendering catcher Javy Lopez inconsequential.

 

The plan then was to sign free-agent first baseman Paul Konerko, but Konerko turned down a five-year, $65 million offer, knowing the Orioles might have gone even higher. Hernandez, meanwhile, lost his principal suitor when the Mets traded for the Marlins' Paul Lo Duca. Presto! A match was made, in classic beggars-can't-be-choosers fashion.

 

Meanwhile, the Orioles still need two outfielders, two veteran starting pitchers and a closer merely to avoid getting trampled in the A.L. East. In fact, they've needed two starting pitchers even since losing Mike Mussina after the 2000 season. Their only reasonably decent addition has been right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, whom they signed on a whim as a minor-league free agent in '01.

 

The identity of the general manager doesn't matter, if indeed there is a general manager, something about which Orioles fans never can be sure. Under Angelos, the Orioles are like David Spade in that Capital One commercial, saying, "No!" to most proposed acquisitions. If they don't want to engage in the free-agent lunacy, more power to them. But find pitching some other way. Get creative. Do something.

 

For those still counting, it's eight straight losing seasons under Angelos, an inexcusable streak for a team with the Orioles' resources. In the mid-1990s, shortly after Camden Yards opened, players wanted to come to Baltimore. The park was beautiful. The team was competitive. The fans were forgiving.

 

No more.

 

Angelos has employed seven managers since taking over the team in Aug., 1993. The Orioles haven't reached the postseason since '97, when they had Davey Johnson as their manager and Pat Gillick as their G.M. The faces in the dugout and front office change, but the basic fact remains: The Orioles need a new owner.

 

Tejada is sick of the losing. The fans are sick of the losing.

 

Angelos? Evidently he can't get enough.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5153860

[BHAMBARONS]

King Peter could do everyone in Baltimore a favor by going to the top floor of the Warehouse across from Camden Yards and jumping out the window, what a disgrace to baseball

[Kyyle23]

You cant oust the guy who is paying the bills. It just doesnt work. Meddlesome businessmen never seem to understand that the baseball business is much different then the white collar businessworld. See: Daniel Snyder