Ask The Orioles

[BrunoCherrytown]

"What are the options when you have an inferior product in an aggressive market place?"

"Well, if you have a large share of the market, you buy up the competition."

"And if you don't?"

"Reduce price to increase market share."

The Orioles are built with the same quality as Stringer Bell's real estate developments.

[Prayin4Reign]

Yeah...you know, I'm largely unimpressed with the effort or the answers that were supplied. This is a very real opportunity for the Orioles to take advantage of and REALLY use social media to connect with their most diehard fans. Spin, spin, spin. If this is what it's going to amount to why bother? I could have written these answers and done this myself.

[glenn__davis]

Ticketing:
With respect to the differences between advanced ticket prices and day of game ticket prices, it is important to have some background. When this change in designation was made a few years ago, we were at a stage when a difficult decision was being made as to whether we would raise all ticket prices or just raise prices for those buying tickets the day of a game. What is commonly thought of as a surcharge is in fact the full price of the ticket, the lower price represents a discount. We believed, and still do believe, that offering a discount to those who make a commitment to purchase in advance is a better solution than raising all prices. We look at this as though you are getting a bonus for buying early, not a penalty for waiting or making a last minute decision.

In terms of attendance, our own evidence indicates that it has not been negatively affected by charging full price on game days. Our walk up attendance is equal to and in many cases exceeding historic levels, and last year we had some of the largest walk-up crowds on record. Industry trends have also demonstrated that differently priced tickets for advance and gameday sales have not negatively impacted attendance.

We encourage fans who wish to save on the full price of a ticket to become a season plan holder (when possible) or to purchase single game tickets in advance.

I am not trying to be rude. I swear.

But I was expecting a nonsense answer here. And this is even more nonsense than I expected.

[waroriole]

I am not trying to be rude. I swear.

But I was expecting a nonsense answer here. And this is even more nonsense than I expected.

Meh. I kind of see what he's trying to say. Instead of raising ticket prices, they decided to charge only for day of game purchases. Now, I think it's questionable to raise prices when you're in the midst of some historic suckitude.

[waroriole]

Personnel:
We recognize some of you feel we are not investing enough in overslots in the amateur draft; however, it should be noted that in the last five years we have spent enough on the Rule 4 draft to be ranked fifth out of all 30 MLB clubs. We believe that certainly demonstrates a significant outlaying of resources for the amateur draft.

Dan Duquette's focus is on changing the culture of our minor league player development as well as a renewed (and in some cases new) attention to professional, amateur and international scouting. You will continue to see us invest significant resources in these areas, as it is the organization?s belief that investing in our own minor league players and in searching aggressively worldwide for talent will ultimately lead to the long-term success that we all desire.

Do the Orioles feel that 5th best is acceptable? Especially when you consider that the spending on international talent during that time frame was virtually non-existent. In addition, the Orioles have been averaging a Top 5 pick in the last 5 years, which puts being in the Top 5 of spending on the Rule IV draft as basically the bare minimum (when considering that the bulk of total draft expenditure is a result of picking in the Top 5 of the 1st round).

If the Orioles aren't going to spend big bucks for big time Free Agents, and they aren't going to spend virtually any money in the Latin American market, then they need to be the #1 spender in the Rule IV draft. And, they need to do that by a comfortable margin.

Complaints out of the way, I will say that I do appreciate the Orioles listening to fans regarding some smaller issues (Baltimore on the road jerseys and the cartoon bird back on the hats). Now let's see the team play the way they did when those two things were originally a part of this baseball team.

[glenn__davis]

Meh. I kind of see what he's trying to say. Instead of raising ticket prices, they decided to charge only for day of game purchases. Now, I think it's questionable to raise prices when you're in the midst of some historic suckitude.

They worded it that we should be grateful that they didn't raise all ticket prices, and that the only people that they care to show loyalty to are those who commit to the games ahead of time.

Sorry, no disrespect to you or to whoever's doing the writing for the Orioles, it was a terrible answer. But it was about what I expected. I'll move on from this thread, now.

[waroriole]

They worded it that we should be grateful that they didn't raise all ticket prices, and that the only people that they care to show loyalty to are those who commit to the games ahead of time.

Sorry, no disrespect to you or to whoever's doing the writing for the Orioles, it was a terrible answer. But it was about what I expected. I'll move on from this thread, now.

I hear you, and I don't think we are really in any disagreement here. If you anticipated an answer beyond the typical spin that they've always given us (and any other team would give) then I think your expectations were too high.

[ChaosLex]

Hey fans, the team is an embarrassment to you and the city, we can't even give you a token sign of appreciation, come out to the yard!

And I'm not the cynical type.

Oh, don't worry. I'm sure there will be a lot of Camden green this Summer as usual.

[allstar1579]

I mean, on a serious level, and I'll leave the drafting and scouting alone...I think we ALL know how I feel about those, but does the team GENUINELY think that the fans want to pay to see this garbage they are putting forward on blind faith?

You know how over it I am? At the store tonight we saw a pretty nice looking O's summer polo tonight, decent price, and I wouldn't get it cause I'm that disgusted with the way this team has been run. It honestly came out of my mouth without thinking, if it was a Nats polo I might think about it.

I really just want to know if the team knows how fed up we are, and if they do, why they keep charging so much money for tickets, beer, and food at the park. I gave up my season tickets for Caps season tickets 5 years ago, and I don't have ONE ounce of regret.

[luismatos4prez]

Ticketing:
we were at a stage when a difficult decision was being made as to whether we would raise all ticket prices or just raise prices for those buying tickets the day of a game.

Here's where your logic is flawed. When you felt that it was right to raise ticket prices at all given the terrible product you've been putting forth for so long.

I don't have a problem with high concession prices, b.c those are everywhere. The suggestion earlier was a great one though: a ton of the soon-to-be unsold upper deck tickets would be well used by giving them to charity, fundraising or children's organizations. The stadium looks crowded, the people will give the Orioles money via concessions, and it will build a stronger fanbase in the kids that are now able to attend the games.

More lenient ushers would also be nice. If the official policy isn't going to change (though it should), I'd rather not be treated like a petty criminal when I'm being turned away. I had one usher radio all the other ushers in the area to keep an eye on my 3 friends and I after we tried to sit down in an empty section in the 8th inning of an irrelevant game. And I've heard of plenty of stories like this to conclude that the ushers are instructed to act this way by the powers that be.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I am not trying to be rude. I swear.

But I was expecting a nonsense answer here. And this is even more nonsense than I expected.

I don't know. It seams pretty straight forward to me. Disagree, fine but it's not a nonsense answer.

[RavNMadMan]

I actually want none of the three things mentioned in the above post.

This..

[RavNMadMan]

And we're real sure the Orioles would invest that into the team like all the MASN money, right?

Exactomondo Tony

[RavNMadMan]

I'm sorry, this may be about the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

If you feel the need to call the club and complain because someone's sitting in your seats and you're not even there, then you must have a pretty darn sweet life.

Right on..I didn't buy Ravens post season tix (I'm a season tix holder) because I could not afford it. I watched the game and didn't wonder (or complain) whose ass might be sitting in my seats.

[BrunoCherrytown]

Concessions:

Personnel:
We recognize some of you feel we are not investing enough in overslots in the amateur draft; however, it should be noted that in the last five years we have spent enough on the Rule 4 draft to be ranked fifth out of all 30 MLB clubs. We believe that certainly demonstrates a significant outlaying of resources for the amateur draft.

Dan Duquette's focus is on changing the culture of our minor league player development as well as a renewed (and in some cases new) attention to professional, amateur and international scouting. You will continue to see us invest significant resources in these areas, as it is the organization?s belief that investing in our own minor league players and in searching aggressively worldwide for talent will ultimately lead to the long-term success that we all desire.

How does your post-first round draft budget rank? Bottom 10? Bottom 15? It's great to trumpet a top 5 spend when it's all tied up in the first round pick. The Nats seemed to get around that in 2011 whereas we landed in 11th place despite having the Bundy pick. Do the Orioles want to put forward a reason for such a bargain bin spend this year compared to the other teams?

There were plenty of top flight overslot picks available. Ten other teams seemed to be able to find them to a higher degree than us in 2011.

And about personnel we still seem to have 1/2 the scouts or way less scouts than the Blue Jays, Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees. Is that a calculated move as well? Doesn't look to have paid off quite well in the past.

And now that there are spending caps in place for the draft and the international signings can we expect to hear that as the excuse going forward for why we don't spend more? And since there are now caps in place will that money be re-allocated to signing legit free agent players instead of what we sign now?