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Orioles’ dysfunction “Rages” on without Balfour

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Grant Balfour seems angry. Well, he always seems angry, so let me re-phrase. Grant Balfour seems angry with the Orioles organization. If the free-agent closer’s comments to the “San Francisco Chronicle’s” Susan Slusser are any indication, Balfour might even be a little more than angry.

It could be that he has every right to be mad. Watching the Orioles back out of a deal after being unsatisfied with his physical could leave Balfour in a tight spot when finding a new team. It’s damaging to his reputation, and he could even file a grievance against the team.

It could be, however, that the O’s are right and there is something physically wrong with Balfour. If the 35-year-old latches on with another team and happens to struggle or hit the disabled list with arm troubles, the Orioles will look like geniuses. I don’t blame the Orioles for using a fine-toothed comb when going over a player’s medical record, but when others have vouched for the validity of Balfour’s health, it looks shady.

Let’s just assume for a second though that we don’t see the Orioles end up looking like geniuses in this case. I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, so I’m going to assume the two doctors that spoke out following news of the voided deal between the O’s and Balfour know what they are talking about. Dr. Koko Eaton and Dr. Tim Kremchek have both given Balfour the nod of approval, so I will go on the word of two men that do this for a living.

The impact of this botched deal with Balfour could have lasting effects for the Orioles down the road. Are free agents going to want to come to Baltimore in the future if they know that the results of their physical will be combed over and every little bump and scratch criticized? Did free agents even flock to the Charm City before this incident? How much worse will this make it? The team is getting hammered by a reliever than never threw a pitch for the organization. The O’s better hope that a National League team soon develops a need for an All-Star closer that may or may not have a physical ailment to deal with. The last thing the Orioles want is for Balfour to latch on with an AL club and get the chance to pitch against them.

This has all been the cherry on top of the proverbial controversy-filled offseason sundae that Orioles fans did not want to witness this winter.

It can’t get worse than this, can it? The way the Orioles organization has handled this is about as bad as it gets. It doesn’t help that the Balfour news was announced on the same day that Troy Patton was handed a 25-game suspension for taking a banned substance. That substance, according to Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun is Adderall and Patton took it just days before the season ended. What a way to go. What a foolish way to go.

The dysfunction this organization has seen over the past few months is the type you see made into a documentary. It’s the kind that any fan should be ashamed of. There’s no reason to sugarcoat any of this to make yourself feel better about where the team is heading. It’s pointless and will get you nowhere.

I wrote a few weeks back that it was ready to see the team spend some of the money it has gained in revenue over the years. That money, along with the more than $50-million every team was handed in free cash because of the new national television deal, should’ve gone to good use. It hasn’t. The team hasn’t signed one free agent that will significantly impact the club in a positive way (perhaps excluding Ryan Webb).

Carlos Beltran? A Yankee.

Shin-Shoo Choo? A Ranger.

Robinson Cano? This guy’s a stinking’ Mariner for crying out loud!

The Orioles haven’t improved this club. If anything, they’ve made it significantly worse.

We should be used to this with the Orioles. We should be able to take it all in stride. The period of 14 losing seasons the team recently bucked was bad, but in some ways this feels like it’s going to go worse. There is an organizational disconnect that doesn’t seem to realize that the O’s have real players and franchise pieces in place to compete. It would only take a few more. During those 14 years, fans didn’t get to see the likes of Adam Jones, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis. They didn’t get the chance to see building blocks like the team has now, that are in danger of being wasted on a team that just attempts to tread water on the field.

This is of course, the on-field outlook at the team. Away from the field and up in the warehouse, they are doing just fine. They aren’t doing fine in the sense that everyone is getting along and enjoying the holiday season, but they are lining their pockets nicely.

All of that money that I mentioned earlier has to go somewhere. It goes to the top first, to owner Peter Angelos. It then trickles down, some of it at least, into the front office to pay those who need a check. Most of this money is staying at the top. It’s a business model that seems to be working from a financial standpoint. If you are handed money, why not put it in your pocket? Why go out and spend it when you aren’t being forced to? It makes sense to me, even if it hurts the club on the field.

This is a team that has talent. They aren’t going to go out and lose 100 games this coming season, but I wouldn’t count on them winning 100 either. I’d be extremely surprised if they hovered around the .500 mark, but I’ve seen Buck Showalter work magic with less.

Speaking of Buck, he’s the one factor in all of this that is truly a wild card. How much longer is Showalter going to sit around and watch this circus operate? He signed a contract extension at the same time that the man leading the crazy train, Dan Duquette, did. Is that enough to keep Showalter satisfied? Something tells me he will grow more and more fed up over how this organization is run. One can hope he speaks out rather than be brain-washed by whatever magician in the warehouse with a great view of Boog’s.

In the same way that I enjoy a good drama, or my wife will watch a soap opera, I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Orioles. Perhaps they will trade a star player to a Japanese team. Maybe they will close Eutaw Street during games, citing some safety hazard that is made up. They may even go and get themselves banned from an entire country (again) because of scouting issues. That is, unless that’s already happened.

Who knows what the next move is going to be? I just know that I will be here to watch, and likely laugh to keep from crying.

5 Responses

  1. It’s not been a pretty offseason, but did you ever think for once the FO is saving that money for the Chris Davis extension? Lining their pockets? No.

  2. I would like to add on to AD’s comments…how are the orioles significantly worse?

    We’ve lost Brian Roberts to the Yankees…so what? He hasn’t played a full season in five years. Flaherty and Weeks will keep the seat warm until Schoop.

    We’ve lost Nate McLouth…so what? He played worse and worse throughout the season. I don’t think he has what it takes to play a full season.

    We traded Jim Johnson…he blew nine games last year and two playoff games the year before. Without him, the Orioles make the playoffs in 2013 and make it, at least, to the ALCS in 2012.

    As for the Balfour situation…why are you so quick to believe him and his physicians. The Orioles have physicians and obviously, they saw problems. The O’s didn’t make this decision just for fun.

  3. You’ve really understated this. The Orioles are mid market revenue wise, 17th in 2012. Angelos dupes everyone into thinking he can’t compete because of this. Revenues are only part of the equation that makes up earnings, costs are the other part. In 2012 the Orioles were 23rd in costs, like a small market team. Angelos has a great deal. Now subtract costs from revenues to get earnings and the orioles finished 2nd in 2012. Add up all the earnings from 1994 to 2012 and again the Orioles are 2nd in all baseball, close to the top. The Orioles are run to make money, winning is secondary. For 2014 the Orioles are competing to lead the league in earnings. They look to be on a record setting pace. Add to this the extra 30 million, MASN ownership, and reduced payroll and Angelos is swimming in money. If he’s not going to compete lets push for high taxes on these excess earnings.

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5 Responses

  1. It’s not been a pretty offseason, but did you ever think for once the FO is saving that money for the Chris Davis extension? Lining their pockets? No.

  2. I would like to add on to AD’s comments…how are the orioles significantly worse?

    We’ve lost Brian Roberts to the Yankees…so what? He hasn’t played a full season in five years. Flaherty and Weeks will keep the seat warm until Schoop.

    We’ve lost Nate McLouth…so what? He played worse and worse throughout the season. I don’t think he has what it takes to play a full season.

    We traded Jim Johnson…he blew nine games last year and two playoff games the year before. Without him, the Orioles make the playoffs in 2013 and make it, at least, to the ALCS in 2012.

    As for the Balfour situation…why are you so quick to believe him and his physicians. The Orioles have physicians and obviously, they saw problems. The O’s didn’t make this decision just for fun.

  3. You’ve really understated this. The Orioles are mid market revenue wise, 17th in 2012. Angelos dupes everyone into thinking he can’t compete because of this. Revenues are only part of the equation that makes up earnings, costs are the other part. In 2012 the Orioles were 23rd in costs, like a small market team. Angelos has a great deal. Now subtract costs from revenues to get earnings and the orioles finished 2nd in 2012. Add up all the earnings from 1994 to 2012 and again the Orioles are 2nd in all baseball, close to the top. The Orioles are run to make money, winning is secondary. For 2014 the Orioles are competing to lead the league in earnings. They look to be on a record setting pace. Add to this the extra 30 million, MASN ownership, and reduced payroll and Angelos is swimming in money. If he’s not going to compete lets push for high taxes on these excess earnings.

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