Once Proud Baltimore Orioles Have Hit Rock Bottom

Can it get much worse for the Baltimore Orioles? Peter Angelos has proven to be one of the most incompetent owners in baseball, running a once proud franchise into the ground.

The Orioles are headed to a ninth straight losing season, tying them with the sad sack Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the longest current streak in the major leagues. It's hard to imagine that this was a model franchise in the 1970s, when the team was led by fiery manager Earl Weaver - the Earl of Baltimore.

When it opened in 1992, Camden Yards was the prototype of the new ballparks, and it remains a wonderful place to watch a game. The problem is, there's less fannies in the seats. Who could blame anybody for staying home? Orioles fans have grown sick and tired of watching lousy baseball year after year.

Angelos has alienated the fan base and former players alike, including iron man Cal Ripken Jr. Even if you are a Yankees' fan, you have to shake your head over what has happened to a team that appeared in five World Series between 1966 and 1983 and won three. It's sad, it really is.

In the 1970s, I remember some fierce battles between Weaver and Yankees manager Billy Martin, neither of whom held umpires in high regard. Even though the Yankees captured four pennants in five years starting in 1976, beating the Orioles was never easy. In 1980, the Yankees won 103 games - and finished just three games ahead of Baltimore. The Orioles also battled the Yankees until the final days of the 1977 season before falling short.

Now whenever the Yankees play in Baltimore, it seems half the fans root for the visitors. That's great for the Yankees but embarrassing for the Orioles. After all, this a franchise that in the past boasted of not just great players, but Hall of Fame players. Guys like Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer.

Since their last playoff appearance in 1997, however, the Orioles have averaged just under 89 losses per season. They year, they could be headed for a 90-loss season, which would be their fourth since 2001.

There appeared to be a glimmer of hope last season, when the Orioles actually led the division as late as June 23 and were as many as 14 games over .500. But they faded down the stretch and this season they seem to have taken another step backwards.

The best thing that could happen to the Orioles would be for Angelos to sell the team and just go away. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear as if that is going to happen. Baltimore fans deserve better. If only they could overthrow the owner.