Tackling rumors at a Ravens game
Here's the news that you've been waiting for all day: Ray Rice is inactive for today's game.
And the Yankees reportedly will go hard after Manny Ramirez if they can't get Mark Teixeira, so no need to worry about them.
As for Teixeira, another member of the organization tells me that the first baseman won't be Peter Angelos' guest today. We're still trying to find out if he'll be here.
As I wrote before, it wouldn't surprise me. If he's in town, why wouldn't he attend the game?
I posted this in response to a reader's comment, but I'll add it here, as well: The Orioles denied having a deal done with the Mariners last winter because they never announce a trade before the physicals are completed and they have the results. They got burned in the past.
Some teams will say, "We've completed a trade, pending the results of a physical," but the Orioles won't even do that. And yes, I find it annoying, but it's club policy.
Disputing a rumor that Teixeira will be sitting beside Peter Angelos at the game and talking contract is a different matter. I'd be more inclined to get a "no comment" than a flat-out denial.
If it was also being reported on ESPN, that could be because they received a call from someone who read Roy Firestone's thread on the orioleshangout.com message board, or from Firestone himself. He used to work for ESPN, as I recall. The guy was a great interviewer. He even made ME cry on occasion.
Or maybe we'll see Teixeira sitting next to Angelos later today and you can shoot the messenger.
I'm just passing along what I was told. I have no way of knowing otherwise. I can't dial up Teixeira and say, "Hey bud, you meeting up with Peter today in the MASN suite? If so, try the crabcake sliders!"
Officials with the Orioles made a few calls to check. And they didn't contact the batboy. They went high up the ladder. Very, very high. Nosebleed high. "Somebody hold the ladder because I'm feeling unsteady" high. And they were told it wasn't true.
I know there's a lot of secrecy in this organization, but I doubt that Peter Angelos is trying to sneak into a Ravens game without anyone from the Orioles finding out. And I know the two individuals I spoke with wouldn't lie to me.
Again, we'll find out soon enough. I'll keep checking the suite and asking around. Otherwise, it'll be hard to locate him among 72,000 fans, unless he's eating those sliders with Ravens owner Steve Biscotti.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Roch: Thanks for keeping a level head in an era where fiction becomes fact very easily. I hope the rumors have merit, but keep in mind a new article in the Los Angeles Times today confirming that the Angels have offered Tex an eight year contract believed to be in the range of $160 million. An executive for the Angels confirmed that Tex had been offered eight years, but would not discuss the dollar amount. That's a lot of money if we are playing "Can you top this?" with Boras. Stay cool man, you are spot on with your comments.
The orioles could have made the signing of Tex a wonderful occassion for the organization. But NO, they are shrouding information like it is the code to Nukes?
If you are out of it, say so. If you are in it, say we have just delivered a ??? million contract for ? years?
The secrecy is rediculous and only alienates the fans from AM & PA even more.
If you are Brob or NM, you have to be saying What the _ _ _ _? Is this how an organziaiton handles negotiations? And better yet, do I want to be part of this?
Roch you said your source was High HIGH up from the O's. Maybe they have been told to keep it tight lip? You said you only report facts, can you reveal who told you this since it was a fact from them?
This entire issue is getting really old quick. Again, THANK YOU to the O's for handling this issue like only they can!
TO EVERYONE
Please post at the end if you would like Angelos to sell the team or not?
I WILL VOTE with my GOOD BYE
Roch,
Thank you very much. I'm just glad that you are on the case. Greatly appreciated.
Cool your jets, guys! Tex is coming over and were watching the game on the big screen with a case of cold ones to kill. I'll work on him while he's here, though! You know he's going to need help to spend all the $$$. 2 for Tex, 1 for me.
Roch,
Great job keeping us up to date. We are all excited about the possibility of Tex signing with the O's, but some of the posters here need to calm down a little bit. Everyone in the national media says Boston's the front runner, but we don't know what, if anything, their offer was, so I don't think it's weird that the O's front office is not showing their cards either. I think McPhail is playing this smart.
Can someone talk Only with the O's off the ledge, please? Whenever (and wherever) Tex does sign, I'm hoping that we'll learn more of exactly how involved the Orioles were or were not. But I don't feel like they owe me any details while negotiations are ongoing. In general, I think it's better to keep things as quiet as possible while working on this type of stuff.
Anyway, thanks for the update Roch.
There is no way Tex signs with the O's. It is between the Nats and Red Sox. The Red Sox can give him the ability to win now, but the Nats give him a chance to be the face of a franchise and win in a year or two. The O's won't be a factor for 10 years or more, being behind the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays.