Angelos declined Ripken's offer to join team

[Hank Scorpio]

I was irate when I first read this article, but I've been talked off the ledge. I'll echo the sentiments of one of my media buddies and say:

Think about this very carefully, and then react to it. First of all, there is a lot to this story that we don't know quite yet, i.e. what MacPhail and Ripken agreed to. MacPhail has a staff of coaches under contract, a manager under contract, and an organization in place. Think about how bringing Cal in to "work with Wieters" may step on the toes of the coaching staff.

Try to forget for a second that the Orioles are 1-10 here, fellas.

You can't bring Cal Ripken into this organization as a part time "helper." If you're bringing him in, you've gotta do it in a grand fashion. The more I think about this, the more it sounds like Rosenthal letting his old affiliations cloud what is probably just bad timing.

Again, we don't know the details about what MacPhail and Cal had agreed to. That's the big wild card, here.

[DrLev]

I was irate when I first read this article, but I've been talked off the ledge. I'll echo the sentiments of one of my media buddies and say:

Think about this very carefully, and then react to it. First of all, there is a lot to this story that we don't know quite yet, i.e. what MacPhail and Ripken agreed to. MacPhail has a staff of coaches under contract, a manager under contract, and an organization in place. Think about how bringing Cal in to "work with Wieters" may step on the toes of the coaching staff.

Try to forget for a second that the Orioles are 1-10 here, fellas.

You can't bring Cal Ripken into this organization as a part time "helper." If you're bringing him in, you've gotta do it in a grand fashion. The more I think about this, the more it sounds like Rosenthal letting his old affiliations cloud what is probably just bad timing.

Again, we don't know the details about what MacPhail and Cal had agreed to. That's the big wild card, here.

I agree with these sentiments. Also note that no one else has reported on this at all, other than by citing the Rosenthal article. Not ESPN, not SI, not CBS Sports. No one. Until we have some corroboration, I can't see this as anything but smoke and mirrors by a biased journalist, however rooted in truth it may be (and the truth is somewhere in there).

[El Gordo]

If true, the tide is about to turn in Camden Yards. Sell to Cal signs everywhere, anti-Angelos statements worse than ever. But here is a question: Lets say you're Dave Trembley and or Matt Wieters. You hear that Cal Ripken, one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, the Iron Man, wants to come on board and help the team, help young players, and restore a once proud franchise (Ripken + MacPhail would be amazing)...

I know we've never seen one, but couldn't the team itself refuse to play for a meddling owner who flat out denies the help of one of baseball's greatest?

That would be amazing to watch. I know it would make Cal feel wanted, and it would finally shine a national spotlight on how BAD Angelos is?

Could that legally happen, would the players union be behind it?

No, the union would not be behind it and the players would never consider it for a second

[TGO]

I agree with these sentiments. Also note that no one else has reported on this at all, other than by citing the Rosenthal article. Not ESPN, not SI, not CBS Sports. No one. Until we have some corroboration, I can't see this as anything but smoke and mirrors by a biased journalist, however rooted in truth it may be (and the truth is somewhere in there).

I haven't made up my mind about the story yet, but if it isn't true, I'm still angry. Either the story is true or someone (or multiple someones, since there are supposedly multiple sources) is trying to sabotage the organization. Rosenthal cannot have just made this up. Whatever the truth is, this team is going to be heavily damaged locally and probably nationally as well.

[NewMarketSean]

I was irate when I first read this article, but I've been talked off the ledge. I'll echo the sentiments of one of my media buddies and say:

Think about this very carefully, and then react to it. First of all, there is a lot to this story that we don't know quite yet, i.e. what MacPhail and Ripken agreed to. MacPhail has a staff of coaches under contract, a manager under contract, and an organization in place. Think about how bringing Cal in to "work with Wieters" may step on the toes of the coaching staff.

Try to forget for a second that the Orioles are 1-10 here, fellas.

You can't bring Cal Ripken into this organization as a part time "helper." If you're bringing him in, you've gotta do it in a grand fashion. The more I think about this, the more it sounds like Rosenthal letting his old affiliations cloud what is probably just bad timing.

Again, we don't know the details about what MacPhail and Cal had agreed to. That's the big wild card, here.

I can't see how any one could not take this news at face value. Look at Angelos' past. This is a page right out of his book.

Cal is a smart guy. He wants to start out small and work his way into things. That is the right way to do it. If this was news of Angelos turning Cal down to be the manager -- I could agree with it. Setting yourself up to have to fire someone like Cal would be a bad situation and potentially end that relationship for life.

But Cal didn't want that. He wanted to do what Palmer essentially does with the pitchers...have an open line of communication with the players as something more than a celebrity speaker and something less than a coach.

It was a win-win and Angelos used his typical lawyer speak to shoot it down with his BS reasoning.

Rosenthal has an axe to grind but his hatred of Angelos is so deep that he is not going to publish a story that could potentially blow up in his face and give Angelos the upper hand. That is why I believe what he says, the sources he used, and the quotes as well. All Ken did was basically say there is still a fire burning at the bottom of the trail of smoke.

We just got a look into the organization again and it wasn't pretty. It's still the same as it was in 2002. Angelos' ego is calling the shots.

[Baltimorebull]

The big question I have with the story is why Ripkins involvement with the Orioles would be considered a slamdunk good thing. I don't think he would make a particularly good owner. . . or a particularly good coach.

He is a nameplate that you put on a jalopy. What can he do to make the team better--- and not simply give the fans warm and fuzzy feelings.

Does anyone think that Cal needs a job?

[BrettMeister86]

No, the union would not be behind it and the players would nebver consider it for a second

Why not? Baseball contracts are guaranteed. They would get paid without playing and force Angelos' hand. If I'm a young player and I could have been under the tutelage of Cal Ripken and the owner says no because he doesn't want him to "receive the glory" I stop playing for that owner. Demand a trade, or just flat out refuse.

This is just wrong...

(again I preface this by saying if true)

[NewMarketSean]

The big question I have with the story is why Ripkins involvement with the Orioles would be considered a slamdunk good thing. I don't think he would make a particularly good owner. . . or a particularly good coach.

He is a nameplate that you put on a jalopy. What can he do to make the team better--- and not simply give the fans warm and fuzzy feelings.

Does anyone think that Cal needs a job?

First off it's RipkEn. How anyone from Baltimore can mess up the spelling of his name is beyond me.

Secondly, when someone like Cal approaches the team and wants to be involved, you pretty much have to say yes unless it's something completely crazy. Cal didn't want to be owner or even a coach. He wanted to help some players like Wieters make some final adjustments to the majors. That's it.

The fact that Angelos doesn't realize this would be a PR nightmare is frightening. Especially in the middle of a 1-10 start. We could be 6-5 right now and it would still be terrible news that would only confirm our fears of Angelos' involvement with the team.

[BrettMeister86]

" Why Ripkin
The big question I have with the story is why Ripkins involvement with the Orioles would be considered a slamdunk good thing. I don't think he would make a particularly good owner. . . or a particularly good coach.

He is a nameplate that you put on a jalopy. What can he do to make the team better--- and not simply give the fans warm and fuzzy feelings.

Does anyone think that Cal needs a job?"

Spell the man's name right and maybe someone will take you seriously you pathetic excuse for a sports fan. Get out of here you freakin loser.

Tony penalize me if you want but I don't let anyone degrade Cal like that.

[Dirtyburnie]

"If" this story is true, there has to be more to it. I refuse to believe we have fallen that far.

[Mark Carver]

The big question I have with the story is why Ripkins involvement with the Orioles would be considered a slamdunk good thing. I don't think he would make a particularly good owner. . . or a particularly good coach.

He is a nameplate that you put on a jalopy. What can he do to make the team better--- and not simply give the fans warm and fuzzy feelings.

Does anyone think that Cal needs a job?

The RIPKEN family name has been associated with Baltimore baseball since 1976... can we spell it correct?

[TGO]

The big question I have with the story is why Ripkins involvement with the Orioles would be considered a slamdunk good thing. I don't think he would make a particularly good owner. . . or a particularly good coach.

He is a nameplate that you put on a jalopy. What can he do to make the team better--- and not simply give the fans warm and fuzzy feelings.

Does anyone think that Cal needs a job?

First of all, do you really not know how to spell the guy's name?

The story indicates that all Cal wanted to do was to reach out to some of the players and offer advice on things like how to prepare for games, how to practice, etc. He would absolutely be an asset doing something like that. He learned from his father that perfect practice makes perfect, and no one ever worked harder, or smarter, than him. I agree that in certain roles he might not necessarily be a good fit. I don't think he'd be a good manager or hitting coach, for instance. But doing this, he could handle.

[TGO]

Why not? Baseball contracts are guaranteed. They would get paid without playing and force Angelos' hand. If I'm a young player and I could have been under the tutelage of Cal Ripken and the owner says no because he doesn't want him to "receive the glory" I stop playing for that owner. Demand a trade, or just flat out refuse.

This is just wrong...

(again I preface this by saying if true)

The players absolutely would not get paid if they refused to play. The guarantee in a guaranteed contract means they get paid if they're injured or released, not that they don't have to show up to work.

[NewMarketSean]

First of all, do you really not know how to spell the guy's name?

The story indicates that all Cal wanted to do was to reach out to some of the players and offer advice on things like how to prepare for games, how to practice, etc. He would absolutely be an asset doing something like that. He learned from his father that perfect practice makes perfect, and no one ever worked harder, or smarter, than him. I agree that in certain roles he might not necessarily be a good fit. I don't think he'd be a good manager or hitting coach, for instance. But doing this, he could handle.

Basically Baltimorebull was saying he is against the Oriole Way.

[SaltDoggyDog]

" Why Ripkin

Spell the man's name right and maybe someone will take you seriously you pathetic excuse for a sports fan. Get out of here you freakin loser.

.

Is it really that serious? Dude you are on a chat forum. Calm down!