Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the Baltimore Orioles (specifically Oriole owner Peter Angelos) turned down Cal Ripken in his overture to join the Front Office.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Sources-say-Orioles-turned-down-Cal-Ripken-for-job-041610
“Peter Angelos recently declined to hire the franchise’s biggest legend, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., in a baseball capacity, according to multiple major-league sources.
Ripken met with Andy MacPhail, the team’s president of baseball operations, about rejoining the organization, sources said.
Angelos, however, nixed the idea in a separate conversation with Ripken, telling him, according to three sources, that he did not want Ripken to receive credit once the team returned to prominence.
Ripken did not discuss a specific role with MacPhail, one source said. However, another source said that Ripken wanted to work with young players such as catcher Matt Wieters and help them “finish off” their developments at the major-league level.
Ripken and MacPhail, according to that source, agreed that their relationship could be mutually beneficial. Ripken would have helped MacPhail with his vast baseball knowledge. MacPhail would have helped Ripken learn the administrative side of the game.
Angelos, however, was reluctant to create any perception that MacPhail was not fully in control, a source said.”
If this is a valid representation of the concerns of Angelos, I can agree with the Orioles owner to a point. If you bring Ripken back into the organization, with his name – the structure of the Front Office does change. Ripken does not join the organization and become a roving Minor League instructor, even with the roll described above. He joins the organization in that capacity, and he becomes the de facto Assistant General Manager. It also starts a death-watch for MacPhail, with everyone in the City (and the Warehouse itself) wondering when Ripken will actually take charge.
Even if you think that is in the best interest of the Orioles long-term, you can understand why there would be some reservations with Ownership for that to happen. Based on who Ripken is to this fan-base, it would be unenviable position for Ownership to ever be faced with the proposition of having to fire him.
Ultimately though I can only agree with Angelos to a point, because there are other things to consider. First and foremost, why only consider the possible negative consequences? What about the good-will established with the casual fans of bringing Ripken back into the fold? What about having Ripken getting to apprentice under an accomplished executive? What about the connection Ripken could likely provide from the players to the Front Office?
What if you were never forced with the proposition of firing him?
The irony of this to me, is that the O’s are going to be beat up more for not hiring Ripken, than they ever would be if they had to replace him down the road.
I do not buy the argument about worrying if Ripken would receive too much of the credit when this team gets turned around. When you win, there is plenty of credit to go around to all corners. How about winning first, and worrying about who receives the credit later?
Lord help the Birds if Ripken winds-up in the Front Office of another Major League organization.
EDIT: Angelos has responded:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5104464
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.