Nicely Played, Andy MacPhail
When it comes to Peter Angelos and running the Baltimore Orioles, Andy MacPhail says the complete opposite of what everyone in Baltimore has known to be true for years.
I don’t know the way things were before I got here. But I can tell you this: There is nothing further from the truth than the idea that he is meddling. He calls me fewer times than any other owner I’ve ever worked for.
Now that’s the way to take the heat off your meddling boss. But what’s more interesting from MacPhail’s Q&A with the Baltimore Sun is the team’s philosophy on improvement, and what the feedback has been from free agents.
Philosophically, we believe that you should grow the arms and buy the bats. But our pitching was such that we were obligated to try to get some immediate help. We certainly were in serious discussions on several pitchers and ultimately landed one in Uehara. We had discussions with several free-agent pitchers but either didn’t think there was a lot of interest coming back or didn’t feel that the price was a smart gamble.
Well now, the fact that no one wants to actually play here goes a long way to delaying the inevitable “Andy MacFAIL” tees that were sure to be a popular item this spring. MacPhail did himself and the team a favor with this interview and some timely signings, notably re-upping Nick Markakis and signing Ty Wigginton. But without a big free agent signing, it will take no less than a Tampa Bay Rays-like start to the season to get people fully invested in the moves the Orioles have made.
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