Dempsey in Durham

MASN markets the Birds down South

by Matthew Taylor

The Durham Bulls have announced that Rick Dempsey will appear at the team's July 3rd game to sign autographs and throw out the first pitch.

Dempsey in Durham? It doesn't make sense on the face of it. The Bulls are affiliated with the Devil Rays; the Mudhens are affiliated with the Tigers. Check out the sponsor, though, and the picture becomes more clear.

It's a shrewd move by MASN to strengthen its ties to the North Carolina market. The Birds were the nearest Major League Baseball team until the Nats started playing ball in D.C., and O's games are regularly televised in the state.

Since MASN broadcasts both the O's and the Nationals, it doesn't matter which organization gets top billing at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). However, the O's have more retired players with name recognition than do the Nats, and fans in North Carolina already have a history with the Birds.

If you haven't been to a game at the DBAP, it's well worth the drive. Having Rick Dempsey there is an added bonus. Time for a road trip.

"JULY 3RD CELEBRATION FEATURES FORMER MVP

Don't miss your chance to meet 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey at the July 3rd game between the Durham Bulls and Toledo Mudhens presented by MASN. Before tossing out the ceremonial first pitch, Dempsey will host an autograph and photo session with from 6pm-6:45pm on the main concourse. Also during the game, the Bulls will wear special edition Red, White and Blue jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit Meals on Wheels. Get your tickets here."
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UPDATE: Turns out that MASN is actually fighting with Time Warner over channel position in North Carolina. The team - and perhaps more accurately, the network - needs all the positive publicity it can get, according to the News & Observer.

In an e-mail, Time Warner spokeswoman Melissa Buscher said that the cable provider believed Orioles and Nationals games were "of little interest" to its customers in North Carolina.

"MASN has insisted on carriage on our basic tier, which would result in almost all of our customers having to pay for a service which very few have any interest in," Buscher said.

Orioles games had been available in the Triangle for more than two decades until MASN obtained the baseball rights to this market from FSN South this season.

"When MASN pulled the rights to these games from Fox Sports Net in 2006, we received virtually no calls from customers," Buscher said.

Jake Arrieta, Kam Mickolio, and Dennis Sarfate Sightings in Durham

The Norfolk Tides looked sharp in Durham this weekend in their black road unis featuring the "Norfolk" script.

Unfortunately, Jake Arrieta's pitching wasn't as sharp in a 4-2 loss.

Arrieta faced occasional control problems during his four-inning stint against the Bulls. More problematic was his inability to effectively mix his fastball with off-speed offerings to fool Durham's hitters.

Justin Ruggiano certainly wasn't fooled when he struck a long first-inning home run that easily cleared the iconic snorting bull at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on a line. Arrieta's line for the evening: 4 IP, 6H, 3 ER, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks.

Kam Mickolio and Dennis Sarfate contributed three impressive innings in relief of Arrieta. Mickolio struck out four, walked none, and gave up one hit in two innings of work. Sarfate tossed one hitless innning with a strikeout and a walk.

Friday evening's finest pitching performance came from Durham's Jeremy Hellickson. In his first Triple-A start, the 22-year-old pitcher went six innings, struck out six, walked three, gave up five hits and allowed two runs.

There also were Jeff Fiorentino and Jorge Julio sightings (see pictures) at the ballpark.

Each player looked comfortable and effective in his respective role - Fiorentino going 1-for-2 with an RBI double while patrolling center field and Julio watching the action from the dugout rail.

Final random note: Former Oriole (1981) and Cincinnati Red (1983) Dallas Williams, now 50 and serving as the Tides' hitting coach, is jacked. The coach is so muscular that Roch Kubatko might be more impressed with Williams' physique than his own. Okay, that's a stretch. But I'd take Williams in a cage match.

The Business of Baseball: In Praise of Peter Angelos?

Not quite, but let's at least give credit where credit is due

by Matthew Taylor

Regionalism. For years now it has been a dirty word in Baltimore, understood by locals to represent an effort to drain the Orioles' organization of its local identity. Regionalism meant business suits and cell phones in Camden Yards; it referred to the absence of the city's name on the team's road jerseys.

Now that D.C. has its own new stadium and team, and Oriole players will soon sport "Baltimore" across their chests whenever they leave the friendly confines, even die-hard Bird watchers should be willing to consider the bigger picture.

The time has come to redefine the word regionalism in our local vocabulary and give it a more positive meaning. Because for as much as Adam Jones, young arms, and 5-for-1 player deals are central to the O's future on-field success, regional appeal - fostered through broadcast rights - is ultimately what will fuel the organization's financial solvency and success.

With this in mind, Oriole fans should have a keen interest in Monday's ruling by a federal arbitrator that Time Warner Cable must carry MASN in North Carolina, a decision that serves as another indicator of the revival of this proud franchise. Tim Lemke of The Washington Times provides a brief overview of the ruling's significance.

First, an arbitrator in North Carolina has ordered Time Warner Cable to carry the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, allowing more than 1 million cable subscribers to begin getting Nationals and Orioles games. The ruling essentially expands MASN's coverage area to nearly all of North Carolina all the way up to parts of Pennsylvania.

The Birds' regional appeal has typically been measured in strict relation to the D.C. and Northern Virginia markets. However, North Carolina and Pennsylvania are in fact two key target markets that have been getting, and will continue to get, marketing attention from the O's.

Take, for example, the presence of Oriole promotions and personalities at Durham Bulls games, including last summer's MASN-sponsored visit by Rick Dempsey to Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Roar from 34 noted at the time: "It's a shrewd move by MASN to strengthen its ties to the North Carolina market. The Birds were the nearest Major League Baseball team until the Nats started playing ball in D.C., and O's games are regularly televised in the state."

Sure, fans from these areas could just as easily gravitate toward the Nationals given that MASN broadcasts both teams' games. Either way the Orioles will benefit. Remember that sweetheart of a deal Peter Angelos got from MLB when the Expos relocated to D.C.? The Orioles currently have a 90 percent stake in MASN, a share that will reportedly decline to a still favorable 67 percent over the next 23 years.

The bottom line is eyeballs, a million or more pairs of which could in theory be trained on MASN should the network continue to hold serve in its battle with Time Warner, thus creating a strong regional sports network (RSN) for the Birds. Keeping up with the big boys of the AL East, those Evil Empires to the north, will forever require the type of financial backing that a strong network can provide.

Consider the insight on RSNs offered by Kurt Badenhausen, a senior editor at Forbes, during a Q&A with the excellent blog "The Biz of Baseball."

Bizball: RSNs have become an incredibly important part of the revenue streams for many clubs. How big of a factor are they, and do they create a have and have-not environment for those clubs that are in markets where they are unable to take full or partial ownership of one?

Badenhausen: We don’t include the value of RSNs in our calculations of team values. From a revenue standpoint, we only include the rights fee that the RSN pays the baseball team. These are supposed to be arms-length transactions to adhere with MLB’s revenue sharing regulations. But there is no doubt that the Yankees and Red Sox are getting below-market rights fees from their RSNs. While we don’t include RSNs in the value of teams, they are an important factor driving the business of the teams that have them. The Yankees and Red Sox collect stars to help fuel ratings on YES and NESN respectively. Both RSNs are extremely profitable allowing the teams to dole out high salaries and potentially lose money on the team itself, while making it up with RSN profits.

Earlier this season, in an article titled "The failure dynasties," ESPN's Jonah Keri snarkily stated, "Every player, manager, GM and hot dog vendor who failed to do the job in the past 10 years is an extension of Angelos' reign of error." Keri accurately identified Angelos as the fans' favorite whipping boy.

By contrast, this is one case that calls for a begrudging acknowledgment of, and a tip of the cap to, the owner's business acumen.

MASN in North Carolina, Sammy in the Dominican Republic

by Matthew Taylor

Two recent items of interest:

-First, the MASN dispute continues in North Carolina, a designated "home territory" for the Birds and Nats. Lots of interesting angles here for anyone interested in the business side of baseball and the economic realities facing the Orioles as they compete in a division with two teams that have the most successful regional sports networks (RSNs).

"In part because Major League Baseball has designated the Orioles and Nationals as the home teams, for the purposes of TV, in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina, Desai rejected Time Warner's argument. The O's and Nationals also are considered two of four home teams -- along with the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds -- in the central region, which includes Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

'We also find unconvincing TWC's evidence purporting to show a low demand for MASN's programming among North Carolina residents,'Desai wrote. 'Although disputed by the parties, the Orioles appear to have a longstanding fan base in North Carolina. ...'

As a recent transplant to North Carolina, I'd like to think that "longstanding fan base" in the Tar Heel state will grow. If the Democrats can turn North Carolina blue during election season, why can't the Birds turn North Carolina Orange and Black during baseball season?

One factor that isn't discussed in the article is the possibility that the Triangle area of North Carolina could become home turf for the Rays. The team's Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, is located in the Triangle and is pushing hard to produce new Rays fans. As an example, the Bulls offered discounts at a local bar during playoff games for fans wearing either Durham or Tampa Bay gear.

Minus - or maybe even with - a strong MASN presence in North Carolina, Triangle-area baseball fans will have an easier time connecting to the Rays than the Birds. Consider that the great majority of players on the Rays' World Series roster cycled through Durham on their way to the Big Leagues. Oh, and then there's that whole winning thing as well.

Some past Roar from 34 postings on the MASN issue: In Praise of Peter Angelos?; Dempsey in Durham.

-Next, Sammy Sosa has been named the Dominican Republic's ambassador of foreign investment. There's a joke in there somewhere, probably even more than one.

"The president of the Dominican Republic has appointed Sammy Sosa the country’s ambassador of foreign investment. Sosa, 39, who has said he plans to announce his retirement from baseball soon, will be responsible for attracting U. S. investors to the Caribbean country for project development. 'I am very proud of this designation,' Sosa said. 'I hope to contribute greatly.' Sosa has 609 home runs and 1, 667 RBI in his career with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. He last played in the major leagues in 2007 with the Rangers, when he hit. 252, with 21 home runs and 92 RBI."

Checking the Tides

I paid a visit to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Sunday, excited about the opportunity to see top prospect Matt Wieters (ever heard of him?) play for the Norfolk Tides. Given the O's gear sprinkled throughout the stadium, I wasn't alone in my mission. However, Tides pitcher David Hernandez stole the show, striking out nine batters against two walks and two hits in 4 2/3 innings of action. So there was some (much needed) good pitching news to be had in the Orioles' organization on Sunday.

Hernandez's fastball topped out at 96 MPH, if the ballpark radar is to be believed. He consistently kept batters off balance with pitches that ranged from the low-80s to the low-90s. Eight of Hernandez's nine strikeouts came on swings or, more accurately, flails at his off-speed stuff.

Less impressive on the mound was Radhames Liz, who struggled in relief. Liz pitched 1.1 innings, walked two, and narrowly escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning thanks in part to an interference call on former Oriole turned Durham Bull Chris Richard. Richard's takeout slide turned into an automatic double play when he extended his leg into Tides shortstop Donnie Murphy.

Wieters did record his first Triple-A hit (pictured below), a single in the sixth inning. He also gunned down Bulls right fielder Elliot Johnson at second base on a fifth-inning steal attempt and showed some agility in snagging John Jaso's botched sacrifice bunt in front of the plate.

Lou Montanez, shown below roaming a different outfield than the one he wants to patrol, recorded two hits on the afternoon. His early season average rests at a cool .583. Durham won 2-1 on a ninth inning RBI single by its number nine hitter, Ray Olmedo, whose third inning homer on a 93 MPH fastball was the only blemish on Hernandez's line.

The photos below include Tides players David Hernandez, Matt Wieters, Lou Montanez, and Radhames Liz (photo credits: Erica Taylor).

Low Tide in Durham

I checked out the Norfolk Tides while they were in Durham last weekend. Unfortunately, I attended the game where the Tides got wiped out by a wave of poor pitching, fielding, and hitting.

Final score: Bulls 10 - Tides 1 (box score).

And to think, this was supposed to provide me some relief from the Orioles' early struggles.

Rhyne Hughes' bat has remained hot following a solid Spring Training. On Sunday, he extended what ended up being an 11-game hit streak to open the International League season with a home run and a double for Norfolk.

Meanwhile, Chris George provided four solid innings of relief work for the Tides.

Otherwise, the highlights were few and far between down on the farm.

One of the prospects I was most excited to see, Josh Bell, went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. 

Most baffling at first glance was the performance of Chris Tillman, who many presumed would be the Orioles' fifth starter this season.

In a first inning that saw the Bulls bat around, Tillman uncorked two wild pitches, walked two, hit one, and allowed four runs. That's not to mention other pitches that Tillman bounced to the plate.

Clearly something was amiss with the young righty, whose struggles to get his off-speed stuff over the plate turned his low-90s fastball into red meat for the Bulls.

Steve Melewski's conversation this week with Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin sheds some light on Tillman's struggles.

Griffin discusses Tillman's efforts to develop a cut fastball and improve some of his other pitches along the way. Definitely worth a read as it helps go beyond the easy theories of sulking and shattered confidence. Often times we fans have little to go on other than guess work. Melewski's article provides some depth.

More ballpark pictures below, including my personal favorite of Robert Andino channeling the Ratpack: "Me and My Shadow."

-30-

Flashback Friday: Sept. 5, 2000

A late-season O's-Twins match-up provided a glimpse of other teams' respective futures

by Matthew Taylor

It was a game that featured familiar faces, all of which are now in different places: Mike Mussina, David Ortiz, Cristian Guzman, Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter, A.J. Pierzynski, J.C. Romero, LaTroy Hawkins, Jerry Hairston, Chris Richard, and then-Major League rookie Johan Santana.

This week's Flashback Friday revisits the O's game from this very date eight years ago - Sept. 5, 2000. The Birds defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-5 before a less-than-robust crowd of 6,285 at the Humpert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Mussina (9-13) got the win, Romero (2-5) took the loss. Ryan Kohlmeier closed it out for the O's, recording the 10th of his 13 saves that season.

Baltimore shared the offensive wealth on the day with six different players recording an RBI: Delino DeShields, Cal Ripken, Brook Fordyce, Chris Richard, Mark Lewis, and Gene Kingsale.

The rookie Santana pitched 3.1 innings in relief for the Twins, giving up one hit, walking two, and striking out none; he finished the season with a career high 6.49 ERA in 86 innings pitched. Ortiz, hardly an O's nemesis at the time, collected two hits in five at-bats and finished the season batting .282 with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs.

The O's were still losing back then, as their 63-75 record attests, but the team hadn't yet started its tradition of late summer swoons; the Birds won 8 of their final 10 games to close out the 2000 season.

Flashback Extra: Speaking of Chris Richard, the former O's first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter is still kicking it around in the minors these days and was recently named the co-MVP of the Durham Bulls. Richard batted .293 with 26 homers and 88 RBIs for the Bulls this season. He also earned the Media "Good Guy" Award and the Team Spirit Award.

Minor Musings

I visited Durham Bulls Athletic Park this weekend, which gave me a chance to see former Oriole Chris Richard belt a two-run homer and former Red Sox-turned Expos-turned Nationals-turned Brewers-turned Blue Jays-turned Columbus Clippers pitcher Tomo Ohka pick up a win after six innings of controlled, mostly less-than-90 MPH pitching. (Ohka, who was once referenced on The Simpsons, is the Greg Maddux of the minors.)

Columbus, the Indians' AAA affiliate, defeated Durham, the Rays' affiliate, 10-6. Sunday's real story, however, was on the mound for the home team - David Price, baseball's No. 2 prospect. (Who's No. 1 again? Some catcher from Georgia Tech.)

Price, whom the O's will see often, struggled through 3.2 innings of work and took the loss after giving up six runs - two of which were earned - on four hits, three walks, and one strikeout (box score). Price's velocity was strong, with fastballs that topped out in the 96-97 MPH range; Columbus typically tallied hits on his off-speed stuff, which rested in the upper-80s.

The runs surrendered by Price could be excused, in part, by the poor defense being played behind him; two first-inning errors allowed Columbus to load the bases and score four unearned. More concerning regarding Price's performance were the lefty's struggles to hold runners on base. Columbus stole two bases on Price and made a deliberate effort to send runners - either for stolen bases or running starts - against the 6'6" prospect.

Price's struggles to hold runners with his long frame reminded me in part of Daniel Cabrera's problems in that regard, though as a lefty Price has less of an excuse. (Note: That's the only time you'll see Daniel Cabrera and David Price in the same sentence unless it's to say, "Daniel Cabrera is no David Price.") Here's hoping Brian Roberts can wreak some havoc on the base paths when Price gets the call from the Rays.

Can the O's and Nats Pull Off a Trade?

With the trade deadline on the horizon, it's time for the Orioles to execute a blockbuster deal with the Washington Nationals. The teams should swap divisions.

The Orioles polished off Philadelphia in the ninth inning on Saturday to guarantee a series victory against the Phightin (Mad) Phils. This comes on the heels of series victories against the Nationals, Braves, and Mets. The Birds' Interleague record stands at 8-3.

Meanwhile, the woeful Nats have engineered consecutive walk-off wins against Toronto as part of a season-best four-game winning streak that includes a series win against the Yankees. The Nats are 5-6 in Interleague play.

So a division trade would be win-win with an edge, of course, to the O's.

Headed into Sunday's games, the O's have the third-highest team batting average in Interleague play (.296) and the third-most runs scored. As Adam Sandler says in The Hanukkah Song, "Not too shabby."

Other O's-related News & Notes:



-The Birds have purchased the contract of first baseman Eric Crozier from the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Crozier is the first-ever Blue Crab signed by the O's. He has spent time with the Indians, Jays, Yankees, Reds, and Red Sox organizations. (See the 2008 Roar from 34 post, "A Visit to Crustacean Nation.")

-Towson University alum and Pasadena, Md.-native Gary Helmick has signed a free-agent contract with the Orioles.

-Former Orioles reliever Chad Bradford continued his minor league rehab assignment in Durham on Saturday, tossing two innings of one-hit baseball. The Moneyball phenom did what he does best, recording ground ball outs during his time on the mound. Bradford's speed regularly rested in the low to mid-70s, with pitches as slow as 63 MPH and topping out at 79 MPH.

Another former Baltimore athlete, this one of the football variety, made an appearance at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday: Super Bowl Champion Tony Siragusa.

Dempsey in Delmarva

The former World Series MVP continues to make the minor league rounds

by Matthew Taylor

Question: What does Rick Dempsey have in common with the likes of Sgt. Slaughter and Gary Coleman?

Answer: He'll be the featured attraction at a minor league baseball game, specifically the Delmarva Shorebirds' Opening Night festivities on April 16.

This isn't the first time that Dempsey has served as a team ambassador for the O's at a minor league game. He did so in June 2007 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.