Update: Future of Orioles Hangout announcement next week

[Sports Guy]

Nice catch.



Middle initial as well.

I can't really take credit for it...it was pointed out to me by someone else.

[Icterus galbula]

I love the hangout. Food for thought, Orioles brass- when you type Orioles into the google searchbar, the top five autofill results are-

Orioles
Orioles Schedule
Orioles Spring Training
Orioles Hangout
Orioles Roster

Fans search for this place more than they do the current players.

[Dipper9]

I know that CougarLife had a major business uptick when they advertised here. "They're all grown up."

Weamsie...do you and I do anything besides hang out on the Hangout?

[Dipper9]

I love the hangout. Food for thought, Orioles brass- when you type Orioles into the google searchbar, the top five autofill results are-

Orioles
Orioles Schedule
Orioles Spring Training
Orioles Hangout
Orioles Roster

Fans search for this place more than they do the current players.

What else is funny is when you Google our names, it directs to posts on the Hangout.

[PrivateO]

What else is funny is when you Google our names, it directs to posts on the Hangout.

http://www.google.com/search?q=dippe...ient=firefox-a

I like that first link.

[Sports Guy]

I think Mr. Bader's mistake was simply posting his case on here (ok, and disclosing details on money paid for ads). Lets be honest, most of us are quite biased and regardless of what he said, we'd side with Tony as long as he responded with something that wasn't crazy.

As I said, if the Orioles decided that it wasn't worth spending the money, its up to them. Sure, it looks poor but whatever..that's their decision.

What they don't seem to get is anything negative is always going to be looked at as their fault...as it should be.

Let me tell you all something...when I worked down there, we were told ALL THE TIME, by other team's fans that the customer service from the Orioles is way better than any other team. Whether its ticket exchanges or discounts or just service, the Orioles were always considered better according to other team's fans.

Now, I am not sure if its still like that or not but they did do a good job of that.

Now, being good at customer service and having a real connection to your fans are 2 different things.

I do not think the Orioles understand that and it starts at the top.

All the Orioles have to do is look across the street at the other pro sports team. Look at how they conduct themselves. I mean, after the season and after heartbreaking losses, their owner gets in front of the media and speaks frankly and honestly about his team.

The Orioles owner? He has been no where to be found for years.

Right now, this is a Ravens town and its not close. But I have little doubt that if the Orioles were winning that it would be, at the very least, an equal baseball/football town and if anything, I think it would be more on the baseball side.

The Orioles don't get this...they get none of it. They are just completely out of touch.

[Jagwar]

I can't really take credit for it...it was pointed out to me by someone else.

Why the heck would she suddenly decide to register a screen name? Are we likely to see a post from her in this thread? A support for Darth Bader? Or a retraction?

[Satyr3206]

As I said, if the Orioles decided that it wasn't worth spending the money, its up to them. Sure, it looks poor but whatever..that's their decision.

What they don't seem to get is anything negative is always going to be looked at as their fault...as it should be.

Let me tell you all something...when I worked down there, we were told ALL THE TIME, by other team's fans that the customer service from the Orioles is way better than any other team. Whether its ticket exchanges or discounts or just service, the Orioles were always considered better according to other team's fans.

Now, I am not sure if its still like that or not but they did do a good job of that.

Now, being good at customer service and having a real connection to your fans are 2 different things.

I do not think the Orioles understand that and it starts at the top.

All the Orioles have to do is look across the street at the other pro sports team. Look at how they conduct themselves. I mean, after the season and after heartbreaking losses, their owner gets in front of the media and speaks frankly and honestly about his team.

The Orioles owner? He has been no where to be found for years.

Right now, this is a Ravens town and its not close. But I have little doubt that if the Orioles were winning that it would be, at the very least, an equal baseball/football town and if anything, I think it would be more on the baseball side.

The Orioles don't get this...they get none of it. They are just completely out of touch.

And they have been for years, and years.

[Icterus galbula]

What else is funny is when you Google our names, it directs to posts on the Hangout.

Not mine, I've got a long way to go to make Icterus galbula about me. Perhaps even farther than Sports Guy.

[333WCamden]

I've always felt that the OH was a little too positive on the Orioles, considering the state of affairs. This thread has given me an understanding of why that was and a new appreciation for the work done behind the scenes.

I don't have a huge problem with what Greg posted, but the finances could have remained confidential. I thought he did a good job of explaining the Orioles POV and I understand that he is more of a messenger rather than the source of the problem. The Orioles made a business decision and the only way to respond if you don't agree with that decision is to withhold spending money on the team.

[Barnaby Graves]

I think he means this...person. If it's legit, SG is more than likely absolutely correct.

Newest OH member has same beginning initial and last name as the Orioles director of PR.

Oh wow, you guys are probably right. That's very interesting. And Tony has yet to post his full response, which I figured he'd have done by now.

[Can_of_corn]

Why the heck would she suddenly decide to register a screen name? Are we likely to see a post from her in this thread? A support for Darth Bader? Or a retraction?

Because Bader's post blew up in his face and she is doing the prep work in case she needs to get involved.

That is my take on it.

Or it isn't her.

[Can_of_corn]

Not mine, I've got a long way to go to make Icterus galbula about me. Perhaps even farther than Sports Guy.

Oddly enough my first link is to a twitter account.

Funny I almost used that same picture as an Avatar on here. I do like my current one better tho.

[mweb]

Because Bader's post blew up in his face and she is doing the prep work in case she needs to get involved.

That is my take on it.

Or it isn't her.

She can read this thread without signing up so you would think the intention was to post. Unless she read my post and realized that people will side with Tony almost regardless of what she says.

[Moose Milligan]

Look at Greg Bader taking a page out of a certain posters playbook and vacating a thread when the going gets tough.

Count me as one of the fans who is probably still a fan due to the OH. None of my friends like baseball as much as I do and none of them certainly care about the Orioles like I do. They'd much rather go to a Nats game, all things considered....and living here in Northern VA, once Orioles country, it's understandable. My buddies at work are always like "Dude, what the hell is that orange website you're always looking at?" I just shake my head and tell them they wouldn't understand.

The OH is all I've got, it keeps me in tune, it allows me to interact with other fans and above all else, it's really educated me about the game. I thought I knew a lot when I joined, turns out I was wrong. I still dont' know a lot, but I know more than I did.

I used to love taking photos of the Orioles, going to OPACY was a thrill...trying to get down close and avoiding the grumpy ushers and snapping a few pics of good action or some of my favorite players was awesome. Back in high school and when I was taking photography classes, that's what I really loved to do.

Last summer, I think I only made it to two games, one of which was take some photos and that was pulling teeth. The drive from Northern VA isn't a cakewalk and honestly, I really didn't feel like shelling out money for tickets for such a God-awful franchise. I went, I took some pics and I really didn't enjoy it. I felt more obligated than anything. The other game was the last game of the season and my cousin (who is a Red Sox "fan") took me.

I know I just wrote a lengthy post about pessimism, and it's not like my feelings have cooled since this morning. I really hate this franchise at times, and Greg and his comments here haven't done anything to make me feel otherwise. I'm not sure why I stay a fan of this dumbass team, though I know the OH is obviously one reason.

I just love baseball, and for some reason I have an unconditional love for the Orioles (yes, even though I really hate them at times). Deep down I know that the memories I have of Memorial Stadium, OPACY, being there for 2130, 2131, playoff games, watching games with my family, taking countless photos over the years and memories of watching my heroes play...cannot and will not be killed by people like Peter Angelos and Greg Bader.

I know I'm a loyal guy, I know I won't ever cheat on my girlfriend, I know I'll always have my friends backs because none of them have ever treated me as poorly as this franchise has, all things being equal. No one in my life has ever taken me for granted like this sorry sad sack of #&%$ franchise has.

And yes, even though I wrote that lengthy post about pessimism and how bad this years team will be, I still love the Orioles for some dumb reason. I continue to tell myself that I'm only 30 years old and that I'll outlast Peter Angelos and people like Greg Bader and that SOMEDAY this franchise will put a winning product out on the field. I keep telling myself that there's no way that this can last forever.

And after all this, I'll still watch games on TV but I can't say I'll make it to a game. I honestly can't fathom spending any money on this team in the near future. It's just not worth spending 50 bucks on a seat to drive 2 hours in horrific DC traffic to take photos of a crappy team in an empty stadium while having ushers shoo me away when the franchise treats the fanbase like this.

So, here's a big screw you to the Warehouse and everyone inside who has made piss poor decision after piss poor decision over the past 15 years and into the future. Thanks for the kick in the nuts, idiots.