September 22, 200619 yr http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9676427/rss Orioles protesters stage walkout during game Sep. 21, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports BALTIMORE -- Nearly a thousand disgruntled Orioles fans walked out of Baltimore's game against Detroit en masse on Thursday, culminating a demonstration aimed at team owner Peter Angelos. Advertisement A majority of the protesters wore black T-shirts that read "FREE THE BIRDS," and many carried signs that had "For Pete's Sake" on one side and "Free the Birds" on the other. They filled parts of six sections in the upper deck, then walked out in the middle of the fourth inning at precisely 5:08 p.m. -- in honor of former Oriole stars Brooks Robinson (No. 5) and Cal Ripken (No. 8). The group walked in line through the lower deck before departing. Baltimore is in the midst of their club-record ninth consecutive losing season, all of them under the leadership of Angelos, who gained control of the franchise in 1993. Baltimore fans wear their hearts on their sleeves. (AP) "We are here to show our dissatisfaction with his role, and some of the stupid decisions he has made," said 43-year-old fan Eric Hunter. "We want someone in there who will spend the money to do the things that will bring the fans back." Angelos defended the fashion in which he runs the team, which last reached the playoffs in 1997. "Whoever joins that protest has no comprehension of what it costs to run a baseball team," Angelos said in a telephone interview from his law office in Baltimore. "When you get down to facts, putting together a team that can compete in the AL East means having a payroll between $100-$110 million. That money comes from the consumer, and I have chosen to keep ticket prices to a minimum. "Our payroll is $75 million, and our ticket prices average $22. Some of the teams we compete against charge an average of $45," Angelos said. "We're going to have to match the competition. How to do that is a decision I will make in the future." The rally was organized by Nestor Aparicio, owner of radio station WNST-AM and the nephew of former Oriole shortstop Luis Aparicio. "We have a chance to make a memorable civic statement about how we, as fans, are fed up with the embarrassment that the Orioles have become," Aparicio said. "He is a very unimportant person who has delusions of grandeur," Angelos said. "To begin with, to leave in the middle of the game is an abuse of the players who have worked hard and played their hearts out." Aparicio spoke beforehand of bringing in between 3,000 fans and 10,000 fans, but the group fell far short of that amount. Still, they made their presence known by chanting and rooting for the Orioles from well before the game started. Raymond Burke, 54, wore a dark suit over his black "FREE THE BIRDS" shirt. "This is all part of my kids having the experience that I had as a kid coming to the games -- of experiencing the great teams and teams that meant something to the community," he said. "This is all part of my kids having the experience that I had as a kid coming to the games - of experiencing the great teams and teams that meant something to the community," he said. After the game, Orioles vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan said, "They showed a lot of passion and exuberance. They want to win and we want to win. Hopefully, we're headed in that direction in the offseason." AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Copyright 2005-2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
September 22, 200619 yr QUOTE(Brian @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 09:17 AM) They paid money for their tickets. I think it is the club that is laughing. ^^ Morons.
September 22, 200619 yr It's quite sad to watch that franchise for the past decade though, in terms of the mistakes management has made. I mean I honestly couldn't believe they didn't take what the Angels were offering for Miggy Tejada at the deadline.
September 22, 200619 yr QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 09:50 AM) It's quite sad to watch that franchise for the past decade though, in terms of the mistakes management has made. I mean I honestly couldn't believe they didn't take what the Angels were offering for Miggy Tejada at the deadline. Or the Astros.. Roy f'ing Oswalt
September 22, 200619 yr QUOTE(Felix @ Sep 23, 2006 -> 01:11 AM) Or the Astros.. Roy f'ing Oswalt Oh yeah exactly. Good luck to them trying to get something of a similar value for him this off-season.
September 22, 200619 yr They did hurt the Orioles any as they had their tickets paid for. The only way they could possibly get the message across would be if nobody showed up for the games.
September 23, 200619 yr They paid money for their tickets. I think it is the club that is laughing. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. He doesn't care. He still gets their dough. My brother who is a Cubs fan, has told me he won't go to any games until the Cubs care about winning. No protests or angry signs will get anything done, like that protest in May, when I was thinking of going undercover.
September 23, 200619 yr Well, they did get publicity and we are talking about it so it accomplished something.
September 23, 200619 yr Well, they did get publicity and we are talking about it so it accomplished something. No it didn't. Peter Angelos still got his dough. Edited September 23, 200619 yr by Cuck the Fubs
September 23, 200619 yr The Orioles fans walking out will have the same effect that our fans not giving a standing ovation at the last home game will. It won't hit the pocketbooks, but it'll damn well get the point across that the fans are pissed.
September 23, 200619 yr The Orioles fans walking out will have the same effect that our fans not giving a standing ovation at the last home game will. It won't hit the pocketbooks, but it'll damn well get the point across that the fans are pissed. Angelos won't care as long as he gets the dough
September 23, 200619 yr QUOTE(Brian @ Sep 22, 2006 -> 09:17 AM) They paid money for their tickets. I think it is the club that is laughing. I was goignt o say the same thing. Protest by giving the team money? HAHAHAHA!! I am square against abortion.... here's $50 to build your new clinic.
September 25, 200619 yr "When you get down to facts, putting together a team that can compete in the AL East means having a payroll between $100-$110 million. That money comes from the consumer, and I have chosen to keep ticket prices to a minimum. Look at the Marlins! They play in the NL East. A division dominated by the Braves till this season. Yet they have won 2 World Series titles since they came to being back in the early 90’s. $$$ is not always the solution and IMO the Florida Marlins are a good example of that.
September 25, 200619 yr QUOTE(Yoda @ Sep 24, 2006 -> 09:15 PM) Look at the Marlins! They play in the NL East. A division dominated by the Braves till this season. Yet they have won 2 World Series titles since they came to being back in the early 90’s. $$$ is not always the solution and IMO the Florida Marlins are a good example of that. Didn't the Marlins load their payroll up with huge deals when they won that first World Series?
September 25, 200619 yr Didn't the Marlins load their payroll up with huge deals when they won that first World Series? Yeah, and the owner lost 40 million
September 25, 200619 yr QUOTE(Yoda @ Sep 24, 2006 -> 07:15 PM) Look at the Marlins! They play in the NL East. A division dominated by the Braves till this season. Yet they have won 2 World Series titles since they came to being back in the early 90’s. $$$ is not always the solution and IMO the Florida Marlins are a good example of that. The Marlins don't have 2 teams spending $350 million between them sitting ahead of them. And even given how good the Marlins' scouting department is...you can also note how the highest payroll team in each league was the first to clinch a playoff spot.
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