I have two questions concerning BA's less-than-flattering comments about Peter Angelos and his interfering on Draft Day 2004. First, given the lack of success of Orioles first-round and supplemental first-round picks from 1998-2002, can you blame Angelos? Second, as we know, three of BA's top prospects entering the draft (Jered Weaver, Stephen Drew and Chris Nelson) slid considerably. It seems to me that 10-15 teams passed up on at least two of these guys if not all three, and surely several other teams had one of these three as the best available player besides Baltimore. Perhaps other teams had better communication between their owner and those drafting, or those drafting had a better understanding or acceptance of their draft budget, but I would be shocked if you told me that Baltimore was the only franchise that didn't select the player at the top of its draft board. So why is it BA calls out Angelos, who may have spent more money than any owner on the drafts from 1998-2002? There's no disputing that Baltimore's track record with first-round and supplemental first-round picks from 1998-2002 is not good. Just take a look at the names—Rick Elder, Mamon Tucker, Mike Paradis, Rich Stahl, Larry Bigbie, Keith Reed, Josh Cenate, Scott Rice, Brian Roberts, Beau Hale, Tripper Johnson, Chris Smith, Mike Fontenot, Bryan Bass, Adam Loewen—and little more needs to be said. There are a lot of busts, a few guys with a chance to be decent big leaguers and one very high-ceiling lefty with a torn labrum (Loewen). Total cost in bonuses: $20,907,500. And it's obviously Angelos' right as the owner to decide how much of his money to spend and how to spend it. But he also deserves the blame for the first-round fiasco with Wade Townsend in 2004, and isn't guiltless for some of the past picks who flamed out. Recently fired Tony DeMacio had perhaps less autonomy than any scouting director in the game. Many of Baltimore's first-round picks were compromise decisions involving several club officials, some of whom had little scouting expertise, and many of them were chosen because they'd be willing to sign for less than slot money. It's Angelos' fault for fostering that kind of atmosphere, so even though he wrote the checks he also was part of the problem. With this year's draft, the Orioles were never seriously on Weaver, BA's top-rated prospect who fell to the Angels at No. 12 because he reportedly wants an eight-figure big league contract. Baltimore was believed to have some interest in Drew, BA's top-rated position player, but decided it didn't want to give him a major league deal in the high seven figures. He dropped to the Diamondbacks at No. 15. Several other clubs backed away from both players, as Adam notes. DeMacio and his staff wanted to take Nelson, who didn't slide because of his bonus demands. He signed for slot money ($2.15 million) after going to the Rockies, who picked right after the Orioles. Nelson had a chance to go as high as No. 4 to the Devil Rays, and he ultimately lasted until No. 9 because there was a run on pitching at the top of the draft. Angelos didn't want Baltimore to take a high schooler, and he wanted a college pitcher who would sign for no more (and preferably less) than MLB's slot recommendation of $2.2 million. As misguided as basing a decision on demographics may be, I won't dispute Angelos' right to run the club as he sees fit. But it's indefensible for Angelos to relay those wishes to DeMacio after the draft already had begun. Not only did DeMacio find out minutes before he'd pick that Nelson was off limits, they also were supposed to choose a player who would accept certain financial parameters—with no opportunity to discuss those parameters with him beforehand. Had they been given time to do their homework, the Orioles scouting department probably would have learned that Townsend wasn't going to react well to a lowball $1.85 million offer (the same bonus Baltimore's 2003 first-rounder, Nick Markakis, took in a predraft deal as the No. 7 overall pick). They could have opted for Thomas Diamond, Bill Bray, David Purcey or whomever. I like Townsend more than those other pitchers, and don't fault DeMacio for choosing him. But it sure would have been nice for a floundering team to be able to sign the eighth overall choice. --

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