NORTH PORT, Florida.-What’s happening? Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed optimism that the Orioles’ franchise was solid in remarks he made at a news conference at Major League Baseball’s Florida Spring Training Media Day.
“I have spent a considerable amount of time with the Angelos family this offseason,” Manfred said on Sunday. “I think that the family is committed to making baseball as good as it can possibly be in Baltimore. They’re excited about [general manager] Mike Elias and his team in terms of their ability to make the franchise as competitive as possible.
“I think there’s a future, and a good future for baseball in Baltimore.”
Manfred also said that the MASN case involving rights fees for Washington Nationals games is nearing its end.
“In terms of the MASN dispute, there’s an RSDC [Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee] ruling,” Manfred said. “There’s a sum of money that is due and owing. There’s some legal issues surrounding those payments that need to be resolved and I’m hopeful that once those back payments get made, we’ll get into a regular process for setting rights fees for both clubs and moving forward in a more business-like way.”
The majority of Manfred’s availability was devoted to questions about punishment and his decision-making in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. He became testy at times, asking for questions on other subjects.
Manfred did say that he would have a decision on the Boston Red Sox punishment for their role in 2018 electronic sign-stealing by the end of next week. He also said he was discussing in-game restrictions on video use with the Players Association.
Elias said that he was heartened by the commissioner’s confidence in the direction of the franchise.
“It’s good to hear,” Elias said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of work to do, and things aren’t going to go perfectly, but we really feel like are now set up the way we want to be set up. Things are going to move in the right direction. They’re going to continue to grow in the right direction.
“We’ve experienced a bit of a rejuvenation in the farm system. Our system has entered the top 10 conversation. We’ve got a lot of young players who are new to the Orioles on the big league level that we’re excited about. And we’re continuing to build and improve our infrastructure.
“We now have our scouting and player development department in the mold that we want it to be. Now it’s about bringing more young talent in, continuing to develop these guys properly, and I’m fully confident that we’ll get where we need to go. The partnership group has been terrific in supporting us and providing us with what we need.”
Elias said that his work isn’t affected by the MASN dispute.
“I don’t involve myself in it,” Elias said. “I certainly follow it in the media. I’m aware of it. Obviously, there’s much to be worked out the. We have so much on our plate in baseball operations that we’re focused on that. I trust that it will land in the right spot at the right time, and we’re just going to keep focusing on our work and our rebuilding efforts.”
The Orioles’ full squad takes the field on Monday for its first workout. The team has five days before the first Grapefruit League game at North Port against the Atlanta Braves.
Manager Brandon Hyde said that he expects everyone in camp for the Monday workout.
This is Hyde’s second camp, and he has noticed a difference.
“We’re still going to focus on the same things,” Hyde said. “Fundamentals are going to be stressed. We have an extra year of experience this year, and that’s really helpful.”
What’s happened?—Among the position players to report on Sunday were Hanser Alberto, Yusniel Diaz, Dilson Herrera and Richard Urena.
“It’s great to see guys show up early the last few days and work out,” Hyde said.
The only position players who were not seen during the time the clubhouse was open to the media were Chris Davis, infielder Ramon Urias and utilityman Stevie Wilkerson.
Catcher Pedro Severino took part in drills. Mychal Givens played catch, but Hunter Harvey is still absent because of illness.
What’s up with? –Bryan Holaday is one of seven catchers in Orioles camp. Holaday signed a minor league contract with the Orioles on January 28.
Holoday has a .241 average in 268 games in eight seasons with Detroit, Texas, Boston and Miami.
“There’s a lot of competition in this camp,” Holaday said. “I’m really excited to work with [catching coach Tim] Cossins because I know he can make me a better catcher.”
Holaday played against the Orioles in the American League Division Series in 2014.
“Being in that atmosphere in that stadium was one of the loudest stadiums I’ve ever heard,” Holaday said.
What’s what? Elias was again asked about his thoughts on the Astros’ situation. He worked for the club until he began running the Orioles in November 2018.
“I am still confident that it does not affect the quality and the methods behind the scouting and the player development work that was done over there,” Elias said, “… and is so relevant to why we’re here with the Orioles, why we’re in this position, and what we’re going to do in the next couple of years, but it’s a shame.”
What’s the word? “I wouldn’t close the door to it. I don’t know that there’s a likelihood or definitely not anything pending, but it’s still early enough in camp where we will be open to opportunities. I think at some point, we might be a little mindful of the calendar and go with what we have, but we’re still monitoring which free agents are available.”–Elias said on whether the Orioles are still pursuing free-agent pitchers.
What’s the number? 1,307,807. Last season’s attendance was the lowest for a full season since 1978.
“I wish our attendance was higher, and it will be higher in the future,” Elias said. “I know that. In the meantime, it’s where we’re at, and it’s the situation that we’re in, and the only way, the primary focus needs to be to get the club back on its feet, win enough games to compete for a playoff spot, and that’s going to take some time. I don’t know any reliable way to artificially inflate attendance while your team is losing, and we just want to start winning.
“When that happens, with the sports passion we have in Baltimore, with the history attached to that club, with the unbelievable ballpark that we have, everything that’s being done to improve the ballpark experience, it’s going to come back.”
Question: Is it possible Keagan Akin can return to being a starter in 2025? I'd like to…
With Christmas just a day away and more free-agent starting pitchers signed to contracts, it’s…
Question: Do you think the O's are considering a six-man rotation? There doesn't seem to…
The Orioles haven’t signed a player from the Dominican Republic who played for them since…
Way back at the turn of this century, a venture capital guy named Tom Hicks,…
While the signings of players with major league experience to minor league contracts might not…
View Comments
Manfred totally mishandled the Astros situation, no penalties to players in the biggest baseball debacle since the Black Sox...again w/out player penalties, the first pitcher to plunk an Astro will be penalized more than ANY of the Astro players were...can’t wait to see the outcome of the Red Sox cheaters, curious to see how the Dodgers handle Betts & Price, major conflicts looming there, maybe they’ll let their teammates wear their rings, that’ll make everything better...go O’s...
Manfred has bigger things to worry about other than whether or not the Orioles franchise is solid, namely how badly he has screwed up this whole situation with Houston. The Astros got what amounted to a slap on the wrist considering the scope of their cheating. That championship should be vacated and no one declared as the champ, and there should absolutely be fines against the players themselves.
Does Elias have his sound bites on speed dial? Same old BS as last year about how the team is moving in the right direction (and that comment is ironically in an article that mentions Wilkerson as a possible player again-I submit that no team with Wilkerson on it is heading in the right direction), and this year's team is probably going to lose 100 games again. I would not be totally shocked if attendance dips below a million. I have heard the whole "have patience" thing for too long and I think Elias is dead wrong that people will come thronging back even if it takes two or three more years of tanking before they are competitive. Just look at the last time that happened--sure attendance went up in the 2012-2016 period over what it had been in the decade before, but it never reached the heights it had been when the Os first moved into OPACY and were really good in the early 90s.
Agreed .... they'll never have the attendance numbers they reached in the 90's with OPACY in it's infancy. Doesn't matter how good they get. Reason ... the Washington Nationals. Simple as that.
As far as dipping below 1 million this year ... I won't be shocked if they do. This tanking thing is a travishamockery and a fan killer.
Yep, and the fact that the Nats are good year after year doesn't help at all.
Lotta love for Manfred these days. We're at the "burnout" level with him and the Astros right now so I'll jump right to the item the article is really about--Orioles future. "Angelos Sons will make the Orioles franchise as good as possible(paraphrase)". Geez not exactly a ringing endorsement. Create a winning team then look at the ensuing numbers will be the only way we'll ever know. Interesting cast of mediocre talent entering camp so it should be interesting
Al ... Aren't we being a bit optimistic using the word "mediocre" when describing the talent entering camp?
I guess you kinda gotta go w/mediocre, since lowiocre isn’t really a word...lmao...go O’s...
Doesnt matter what Angelos family says unless they extend lease NOW. Will be forced to sell after Peter passes. New out of town owner will decide future.
I have to agree. Don’t you wonder why Manfred “spent so much time with the Angelos family this offseason”? I’m assuming succession planning, to your point. Despite what he says, Manfred is a pro-DC owner who sees this region as a one team market. I’m nervous.
Im sure the meetings were also about the MASN issue.
I gotta say I’m surprised, and even disappointed, at the comments ripping Elias. Give the man a chance. He’s been here for one season for God’s sake. This massive rebuild is not just players but coaches, scouts, everybody. I’m old enough to remember when the O’s were the envy of MLB for their starting pitching and now you have to go back to Mike Mussina, over TWENTY YEARS ago, for them since they’ve developed a truly great starting pitcher. I, for one, haven’t waited this long to only give up on a guy in one year. My bigger concern is when they do start winning again and fighting for the playoffs, will ownership pay to keep players like Rutschman in Baltimore?
Let's hope and pray that the Angelos family will finally do things the right way, let their baseball people do their jobs without interference or money restrictions!! Orioles fans deserve a top flight baseball organization and a World Series contending team in the near future!!!