THE ATHLETIC's Dan Connolly wrote news of Baseball HOFers Brooks Robinson and Eddie Murray rejoining the Orioles as special advisors following the trades of SS Manny Machado and P Zach Britton was "coincidental," but the timing also "couldn't be more specific." The announcements come during an Orioles season that is "on pace to be the worst in franchise history." That is "not a coincidence." The Orioles need to "create positive mojo, and that's not happening on the field." Meanwhile, it "wouldn't surprise anyone" if Orioles VP/Baseball Operations Brady Anderson is "named club president as early as this offseason." He "undoubtedly is the most trusted liaison to the Angelos family." Orioles Exec VP John Angelos and Ownership Representative Lou Angelos are "putting their stamps on this franchise" in '18 as Orioles Chair & CEO Peter Angelos' involvement "significantly lessens" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/26).
BALANCING ACT: In DC, Jerry Brewer writes under the header, "Redskins Are Building The Way Fans Have Always Wanted. But It's Taking Forever." The "once-imprudent organization has overcorrected." It "doesn't take as many chances" and "doesn't go after as many splashy, high-profile acquisitions." The approach has "resulted in building better depth, but the team lacks enough top-end, star talent to compete at the highest level." The problem now is "time, which often ends many rebuilding efforts." Redskins coach Jay Gruden is "under pressure to deliver, and the man who hired him, President Bruce Allen, should feel the same urgency" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/27).
KEEPING THE FAITH: In Chicago, Mark Lazerus notes Blackhawks Chair Rocky Wirtz last month said that "major changes could be on the horizon" if the club struggles again next season. However, Wirtz on Thursday "cooled that talk down considerably" and "insisted he wasn't sending a message and that people simply overreacted." Wirtz "doesn't sound terribly concerned about the state of the franchise." Ask him about $10 seats on StubHub, and Wirtz will "point out that he sold more than 400 standing-room-only seats for those same games and that they 'certainly were more than 10 bucks.'" Ask him about the drop in ticket renewals, and he "spins it as a positive that fans who have been on the waiting list" since '10 can "finally get seats" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/27).
SHOWING RESTRAINT: In Minneapolis, Michael Rand notes Wild GM Paul Fenton has been in his role for two months, but the club's offseason transaction log "shows zero trades." The outside free agent additions have been "mostly depth guys." Rand: "Meet the new Wild. Same as the old Wild. At least for now." Given "tight salary cap parameters and a seeming edict" from Wild Owner Craig Leipold "not to go overboard with deals, Fenton can only do so much" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/27).
