Orioles Owner Peter Angelos Talks About MASN, Role With Team

Angelos Says He Will Not Be Selling Orioles Anytime Soon

Orioles Owner Peter Angelos met with reporters during his first appearance at a Spring Training game since ’04 yesterday, and reiterated that he “would not sell the Orioles anytime soon,” according to Jorge Arangure Jr. of the WASHINGTON POST. Angelos added that the Nationals “have cut into his team’s profits.” He said the goal of creating MASN was “to make up for an anticipated loss in attendance due to the presence of another [MLB] franchise a mere 30 miles away. ... We expect that revenues generated by way of the sports network will enable us to give the fans an even more competitive team as time goes by.” He added, “I have no real interest in selling the team. And certainly now with [MASN] it seems to me, I’d like to see how the two function together.” Angelos “did not dispute that he often has interfered in the dealings of the front office,” including breaking up a trade that would have sent 2B Brian Roberts to the Braves. He added that he has “asked for a salary cap to curb escalating salaries and he has been unfairly criticized by fans and media” (WASHINGTON POST, 3/19). In Baltimore, Dan Connolly reports Angelos knows a salary cap “won’t happen soon” due to the new five-year CBA. But he said, “Inevitably it will come because it has to come to protect the viability of the game.” Orioles VP/Baseball Operations Jim Duquette said of accusations Angelos does not care about winning, “It’s so ridiculous that you don’t even want to give it any credibility. He wouldn’t own the ballclub if he didn’t care about winning or losing. We’ve got to do a better job of selecting players. He’s always provided us with enough money” (Baltimore SUN, 3/19).

NICE FIRST STEP: Angelos “discounted the significance” of his Spring Training visit, but in Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes it is “just the kind of thing he needs to do regularly to re-establish a connection with his players and the dwindling fan base.” Angelos claims his image problem “is the dirty work of the media, angry fans and disgruntled former employees, and –- to some extent –- he’s right. Trouble is, it really doesn’t matter who’s to blame at this point. What matters is that the negative fan perceptions of Angelos and the team are so intertwined that the Orioles will not turn that corner unless Angelos willingly comes along for the ride” (Baltimore SUN, 3/19).