Showalter (l) and Duquette have been engaged in a power struggle the past few yearsGETTY IMAGES
The Orioles tied a team record last night with their 107th loss of '18, but coming into this year "nobody could have foreseen such a complete and utter collapse," according to Peter Schmuck of the BALTIMORE SUN. The season has been a "fail on virtually every level." Orioles C Caleb Joseph said, “The culture needs to be mixed up and baked again. The culture needs some work. It needs some adjusting. It needs some additions. It needs some subtractions. It needs some work." He added, “Quite honestly, I don’t see that many folks that are actually ticked off about it” (BALTIMORE SUN, 9/18). In N.Y., Bill Madden wrote the Orioles were "once a model franchise in the game" but are presently the "most dysfunctional team in baseball." Orioles Chair & CEO Peter Angelos is "battling debilitating health issues and apparently has not drawn up a succession plan, which reportedly has become a grave concern" for MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Angelos’ two sons, Orioles Exec VP John Angelos and Ownership Representative Lou Angelos, are "running the team but it is not known if they have official authority to make decisions on the future" of manager Buck Showalter or Exec VP/Baseball Operations Dan Duquette. Showalter and Duquette have been "engaged in a power struggle the past few years and it’s highly unlikely the two can work together much longer" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/16). In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote it is "crazy that at this late date Orioles ownership has yet to tell" either Showalter or Duquette if they "will be back" in '19 (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/16).
BLAST FROM THE PAST? THE ATHLETIC's Ken Rosenthal wrote it is "no secret" the Orioles "might be on the verge of an overhaul." Sources said that Baseball HOFer Cal Ripken Jr. has "no interest in managing." If he joined the team, he "probably would want a position akin to club president." The Orioles have "strung him along for years, and might fear that once they hired Ripken, they could never fire him." On the other hand, Ripken’s "name alone would bring substance to their rebuild." He could be the Orioles’ version of Marlins CEO Derek Jeter, "spearheading both the team’s baseball and business departments." However, the idea "probably is a long shot" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/17).
