April 7, 2009

Meeting Angelos

Before Monday, only two players on the Orioles had met Peter Angelos:

Despite the public perception of a meddling owner, Angelos has had almost no interaction with his million-dollar chess set the past few years. While he hasn’t been shy about advising past front office officials, he’s had a hands-off approach when it comes to players and, for the most part, recent managers and coaches. The owner has, however, quietly picked up dinner tabs in restaurants. He has let players fish in his pond. He and his wife have sent congratulatory cards and gifts when some players have become fathers.

But face-to-face conversations? Angelos talks with his players about as often as Karl Rove and Barack Obama play pickup ball together.

In fact, there are only two players on the 40-man roster who had even met the owner before this week. Melvin Mora talked with him when he negotiated his last contract. And Roberts met Angelos two years ago after agreeing to his first extension.

He met players as he toured the club house with Vice-President Biden on opening day, and the players would really like to see more of the man who signs their pay checks:

“To see the owner, the guy who signs your check at the end of the day, it’s good to see, to know his face,” Adam Jones said. “Even if he comes once a month, three more times all year, just the opportunity to see him, it goes a long way in my mind.”

I guess the players want a connection to the boss.

Thanks to Shane Bauer for the link.

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