Update: Future of Orioles Hangout announcement next week

[Dipper9]

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.

I've said this a million times, but I'll say it again for context. I am a baseball fan first and foremost, but as a baseball fan, I am a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. I will complain about poor decisions they make, but once the games begin, I can't help but support the Orioles team. By withholding my money and not going to games, the only one I am hurting is myself, as Mr. Angelos doesn't need nor care about my money. Obviously, there aren't many fans left like me, as most have become so fed up that they deprive themselves the joy of attending a baseball game just to show their disgust with the organization. I wish I could do that, but life is short my friends, and really, there is not much in life better than sitting at the Yard watching an Orioles game.

Just ask Tony, his son, John, and a few others, who I was lucky enough to share a few hours last September with as our beloved Orioles knocked Boston out of the playoffs. I don't expect Mr. Bader to care about us anymore. I don't expect Mr. Angelos to care about us anymore. The Orioles have shown time and again that they don't care about the fans or putting a winning team on the field. They care about turning a profit, and I guess they are doing a good job of that, even with 30,000 fans disguised as green seats every night.

I will root for the Orioles in spite of them, and I will do it because I love them. I don't expect Mr. Angelos to understand that!

[Can_of_corn]

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.

If she sees a need to post immediately she can, rather then have to go through the registration process first. It could also enable her to use the PM feature if for some reason she felt a need to contact a specific poster.

[Nigel Tufnel]

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

I feel your pain.

[crawjo]

Eh, if the Orioles want to spend their money elsewhere, I don't really care. I'm 34 years old and have been an Orioles fan my entire life...this site is a good place to come and talk about my favorite team (especially since I live in upstate New York, where no one cares) but at this point I've concluded that there is literally nothing the Orioles could do to make me not be a fan of their team. In fact, the worse things get, the greater my loyalty becomes. The last time I tried to tell myself that I didn't care about the Orioles was the day after they lost the ALCS to the Indians in 1997. That hurt way more than anything during the last 14 years, which has all seemed very much foreordained. I'm convinced that the next time the Orioles are in the World Series, I'll be 106 years old and the newspapers will do stories about how I've been waiting all my life to see my team win. And then they will lose in 7 and I'll die. Whatever. You can't take the rings with you to the afterlife anyway, so it doesn't really matter. I don't watch sports because I want my teams to win championships.

[mweb]

If she sees a need to post immediately she can, rather then have to go through the registration process first. It could also enable her to use the PM feature if for some reason she felt a need to contact a specific poster.

Well I doubt a few minutes would make much of a difference in terms of time of post, but yes, the PM feature could be of use.

[glorydays]

Interestingly enough... O's ads have appeared on the anonymous and Trea has fallen head over heals in love with what DD is doing. Hmm... Coincidence? I think not!

Seriously... This site is the only thing that keeps me connected with the O's. Now living in western Kentucky, the Cards are looking like a fun team to follow and raising my son to love... like my dad did with his beloved but helplessly lost Orioles.

[OrioleMagic]

Seriously... who can we forward Master Bader's message to at the Warehouse? Is it possible that some of the higher ups would be displeased with such a message coming from the Director of Communications?

I compliment every poster, with this one exception, on keeping this thread civil, professional, and on point. I am as juvenile as the next guy, but this thread is not the place for juvenile innuendo.

I am sorry if this sounds condescending, but this thread, probably more than any other, is the most prominent representation of the OH as a whole... ever.

[Satyr3206]

I compliment every poster, with this one exception, on keeping this thread civil, professional, and on point. I am as juvenile as the next guy, but this thread is not the place for juvenile innuendo.

I am sorry if this sounds condescending, but this thread, probably more than any other, is the most prominent representation of the OH as a whole... ever.

Why the problem?

[murph]

This whole thing is amazing really...the decision (poor business decision as Frobby stated), the posting at all by a member the O's before clearing it with Tony and then especially posting financial information that is nobody's business. The O's are like that chick that keeps choosing lousy boyfriends because her judgement is so screwed up that she actually has to choose the guy opposite of what she wants. The O's should probably practice this...if management thinks something is a good idea...do the opposite.

Seriously, my Grandfather hoped the O's would have a winning team again before he passed away, he was gone 5 years into the losing streak...I am beginning to wonder if I might not make it either...unreal.

I am running out of free posts, but I am going to sign up as a plus member, because even though I know my few dollars won't make a difference, I would much rather support this site than the O's themselves.

[Jagwar]

I compliment every poster, with this one exception, on keeping this thread civil, professional, and on point. I am as juvenile as the next guy, but this thread is not the place for juvenile innuendo.

I am sorry if this sounds condescending, but this thread, probably more than any other, is the most prominent representation of the OH as a whole... ever.

Oh please. I'm not the first person to push the envelope with a post, and I certainly won't be the last.

[oldpro56]

My response posted on the "Legend of Steve Dalkowski" thread

[oldpro56]

Sorry-forgot to paste. Old age from an old O




weams




Plus Member Since 10/05 Hall of Fame



Join Date: Nov 2003Location: Riding on, for the Hanging.Posts: 18,463









Originally Posted by oldpro56

Many thanks for the kind words about my book. You have helped me achieve a goal on this thread. I wanted to post enough of the publication to spur interest. A few days ago I almost posted, "Wow, if I keep on going with the postings, everyone will have a copy. The difficulty will be putting it all together like a jig saw puzzle!" What I would hope to see on this thread is an expansion of thoughts and questions about the O's from the past and maybe I can share thoughts and experiences. In writing the book, I had more than 300 stories and the majority just couldn't be weaved into the fabric of "Beating About the Bushes". I am very concerned about the future of the OH given recent postings. After having read all the postings on that thread, I will commit to being a little less proud of my status as a former O's alum. To me, it appears to be more of an ego trip from the director of communications standpoint to showcase his thinking "outside the box" in ways to save money the next fiscal year. From the "old pro's" experience, Jerry Hoffberger would never have entertained such a ridiculous suggestion. The answer to the Palmer question is, no Jim never replied to the letter.
You go ahead and be as proud as you wish. The guys you came up with played well enough to make me bulletproof from the slings and arrows of outrageous accountants.

Thanks for posting here. You make this place more fun.

[LookinUp]

Hopefully Tony and the O's are working something out amicably as we speak.

More importantly, I sure hope the O's have gained a little bit of insight as to how on edge even the most diehard fans are at this point. It has been a tough year for this franchise, on top of 4 tough years and a tough economy to boot. I really look forward to having something to root for with my favorite team.

[csgordos]

I was honestly thinking about coming to my first hangout night this year and bringing my 10 year old son. Thought it would be great to have him around other diehard Orioles fans because the only ones he knows share his same last name. Guess I will just have to save that money and use it to see the Bowie games when they come to Reading this year. Hope something can be worked out as I know my son will be disappointed if we don't get down to see a game this year.

[blid]

Probably the O`s could have made the decision to cut spending here without doing much damage to their image if everything had gone smoothly. Unfortunately, it sounds like they left Tony hanging for awhile, and that Tony took exception to their business decision, and now... What can you say?

I think a bit too much is being made of Mr. Bader 'disclosing financials' when he didn't reveal all that much... but I also think the whole thing seems penny pinching, and that because the Orioles have stunk for the last several years, we're not going to give them the benefit of the doubt, especially when, as mweb said, they're at odds with the head of this site we all love to use everyday.

Ah! Whatever, I'm going to bed. I'm less excited about this season than I've been in years but that's mostly because I'm pessimistic about the product the O`s are going to be putting out there. Hopefully I'll be surprised. Winning fixes everything.