Hello, boys and gals.  The NFL is offcially over (Pro Bowls = BLAH!), and college basketball is in full swing.  But I see that some of us are already getting into the baseball spirit.  Some of us can't wait to spend their time and hard earned money in their favorite ballparks.  But fans of the Baltimore Orioles aren't as optimistic.  You see, we haven't had a winning season since 1997.  So we aren't as optimistic as some of you baseball lovers out here.  So, I've decided to write some expectations for the average O's fan to have for the upcoming 2006 season.

Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora having solid seasons.  B Rob will be back in full effect for the 2006 season.  This guy had a .314 BA with 18 HRs and 73 RBIs.  I know the numbers aren't staggering, but this team, they benefit greatly by his offensive skills.  When he was hurt, he bacame irreplaceble, with putting all of the pressure on Miggy.  I expect his HRs, RBIs, and SB number to climb this season.  Mora has been a team player since his career started with the Orioles.  Although average was only .283, he produced 27 HRs and 88 RBIs, which showed that he was a coontributer on offense.  The fact that both players are still with the team will produce a healthy amount of runs for the organization.

Angelos kicking us in the a@% again.  It has become quite evident to majority of the fans in the area that we have been a bunch of losers for some time now.  We kinda grown accustomed to it.  Now, our star player is demanding a trade.  What a wonderful organization, if I do say do myself.  Angelos has done nothing but prove to the fans that he is a money hungry owner who's not interested in putting a winning product on the field.  He believes in paying old players who are passed their prime tons of money (Conine, Molar and Burnitz), and shows little interest in producing players from the farm system.  His front office consists of a bunch of "yes" men, and this is the same guy that fired his manager in the middle of the season.  I'm never a fan of that action.  Which leads me to my next point.

Seats will be less filed with O's fans, but plentiful for Sox, Yankees fans.  Each year, we see the same thing, over and over again.  The stadium brings out less Orioles supports, because we tired of supporting a losing product, yet brings out the entire cities of Boston and New York.  I've been to both and O's- Yanks game, as well as an O's- Sox game.  It's simply embarrassing, to see so many people that root for the opposing team outnumber the home team.  Other then Arizona Cardinals games, I have never seen a stadium so lopsided in my entire life.  It's hard to be embarrassed about it, when I am one of the fans that is part of the problem, by not supporting the team.  Yet, so many fans have refused to give ownership their money, they stay away from the park.

No more controversy- for now.  Yes, people.  I said for now.  The Orioles have a history of controversy, and we all know too much about it.  From Robbie Alomar spitting on the umpire, to Raphael Palmeiro's steroids case, there is always some kind of controversy in the clubhouse.  But I don't forsee that this year.  Sam Perlozzo is a hometown, stand up guy, who has finally got his chance at managing his beloved team, and I don't see him doing anything to mess this up.  He's a great guy that many hope and pray will make something out of nothing this year. 

And last but not least..........................

Anna Benson will get more play in this town then her own husband.  I listen to local talk radio, and it's been a really long time since the radio personalities have actually been excited to interview someone within the organization.  Everyone is talking about Anna Benson, the better half of pitcher Kris Benson.  Why do you say that, you ask?  Well, let me se....a .413 career ERA may be the reason.  Nothing to write home to mama about, Benson's numbers.  She's bound to receive more play and attention in Charm City then her own husband will receive.  After all, people want to interview her, rather then him.  Who's the bread winner, by-the-way?  Oh, and I'm sure there are plenty of men who would pay money to see her "christen" Camden Yards.

Being born and raised a Baltimore Orioles fan, the past few years has been a very rough period.  Peter Angelos has lost the support of many Baltimore, DC, and VA fans.  In recent years, the largest crowds have come against their division rivals- The Yankees and the Red Sox- and it has been their fans that have brought the crowds.  The Nationals have showed off the top that they are serious about being contenders in the National League, and they are winning their fan base in their respected region.

It is time for the fans who love baseball to really take a stand.  Peter Angelos needs to sell this team and it should be done YESTERDAY!  Enough is enough.  The mediocrity of this team has hurt this franchise, the players that come from it, and the fans that have supported it, most of them one time die hards.

After reading today that O's captain Miguel Tejada wants to be traded, I have finally reached a breaking point.  Tejada is the one player on this team that people still drag to the ball park to see.  He is the only superstar that has a meaning on this team (not like we have many anyway).

Each year, this club does something embarrassing.  Whether it's former pitcher Sidney Ponson's drinking and driving, or Lee Mazzilli being fired before the season is over, to rumors of Cal Ripken working for the Nats, there is always the negatives and not enough positives to show the fans that Angelos loves the cold hard cash rather then put a winning product on the team.

After reading Tejada's statements, this one in particular: "I've done many things with this team and I haven't seen results, and the other teams are getting stronger while the Orioles have not made any signings to strengthen the club.", who can really blame him.  The problem is, they weren't doing that before Miggy came to Baltimore.  If he was smart, he would've talked to a few people that knew about the organization, and Angelos, and he should've never came in the first place.

Now, Angelos is trying to give Baltimore fans false hope with the signing of Ramon Hernandez, and with talks of bringing in Nomar and Jeff Conine, people will start to think he's making an effort.  But I'm not buying it.  If I were any of these players, especially Conine, who has been here, I wouldn't commit career suicide by coming to Baltimore.

Bottom line is, as long as the current ownership is in place, the Baltimore Orioles is nothing but a team that has a tarnished history.

The gig is up Angelos.  The fans aren't fooled.  Sell the team now while the franchise has a inch of respect and dignity left!

Sitting here in good ol' Baltimore, MD, home of the once respected Baltimore Orioles, with the Nationals now just down the street in DC. I was hoping and praying that Mr. Peter Angelos, ESQ would have gotten off the money bags he sits on all day and start a competitive team for the 2005 season.  It looked that way early in the season, with the Orioles in 1st place until June, but the wheels started to fall off quickly.  From Raphael Palmerio's positive drug test, to Sammy Sosa's subpar play, the Orioles fizzled quick like a flat Pepsi.  So what has he done to improve the 2006 season?  Absolutely nothing, except let BJ Ryan become the highest paid reliever with the Blue Jays, and watch the Nationals trade for Alfonso Soriano.  Guess I'll be taking that drive down I-95 to see some competitve baseball.

So to Mr. Angelos:  Thank you for stooping so low that Orioles fans will now look to the enemy for some good baseball.