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Are Orioles Fans Really Angry At Cal Ripken, Jr.?

By on October 11, 2012

Maybe it was the tough extra inning loss or, maybe people just aren’t educated on the subject. After the O’s game last night, and all morning, I’ve had to look at countless Tweets from Baltimore fans who are angry at Cal Ripken, Jr. for his TBS coverage. The argument seems to be that Ripken has been “pro-Yankees” while in the booth during these O’s playoff games. Do I really have to take the time to defend Cal Ripken?

Here’s the bottom line: Cal Ripken has to be impartial. That’s his job as a professional commentator. You can blame TBS for putting him in this uncomfortable predicament, but I’m sure Cal was happy and willing to do it. I heard an interview with Cal on XM radio last week where he talked about his new role in the booth. Cal admitted that he was worried about being impartial and that he would do his best to be. He told radio subscribers that he was admittedly pulling for the Orioles and that he wasn’t sure if he would be able to not make that known in the booth.

Of course Ripken is cheering for the Birds. I don’t have to review his accolades. Might I remind everyone that Cal owns a minor league stadium within the organization. His facility has been partially responsible for the development of multiple Orioles prospects, including Manny Machado last season. He is still a regular presence at the ballpark and at the team’s facilities, both in Baltimore and at Spring Training. Oh, and he’s a Hall of Fame for our team. He is an Oriole. He is forever enshrined as an Oriole.

It’s really a lose/lose situation for Cal with the public. If he openly cheers for the Orioles on national television he will never be asked to do this again. It’s a huge honor for Cal to be in he booth as opposed to being a post-show analyst. In this subject, I have particular expertise as it’s the industry I work in. Being in the booth for a playoff series is a big deal for anyone, especially Ripken.

Can you imagine how much outrage there would be with Yankee fans if Ripken were to cheer against them on television? Like it or not, New York is the dominant baseball market. The Yankees draw television ratings. They have the largest fan base, and millions tune in to root against them. If you anger that market on national television you lose ratings. Then TBS loses money. Nobody wants to lose money in a business, especially a major network owned by a billionaire. So realistically, Cal can’t afford to be biased.

So, Cal he does his best not to be a homer. And what happens next? His own fan base lashes out against him for doing his job. Really people? Really? You’re lashing out against the biggest icon in Orioles history? You’re lashing out against the biggest icon in Maryland history? You’re lashing out against the biggest icon of your life? Just because he’s not allowed to say “Go Orioles” or “I hope Robertson blows it?” We all know he’s thinking it. So stop getting mad at him for not saying it. Because he can’t. Let’s just be happy that the biggest piece of history our team has ever had is being allowed to represent us to the world on such a huge stage.

Don’t turn your back on your hero. I am embarrassed for our fans.

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19 Comments

  1. MGW

    October 11, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Um, might I remind you that Cal also owns a team in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system, too…what does making money have to do with loyalty?

    Remember when Kevin Millar, then a member of the Orioles, threw a first pitch out for the Red Sox – in street clothes – on a night in October when the O’s were done for the season? There was outrage all over sports talk radio. That same year Cal donned a “Rays” uniform – not his minor league team, but a TAMPA BAY RAYS uniform – and threw out a pitch a Tropicana. Crickets chirped as Teflon Cal does no wrong in some Baltimore sports’ fans eyes. Cal’s team was still known as the “Devil Rays”. Not saying Millar was right – he did insist on NOT wearing a Red Sox’ uniform, But Cal never received any criticism.

    Look, my disdain for Cal goes back to his playing days. Nothing to do with the streak, but more to do with his “being above the team”.

    Seperate hotels from his team on the road…his own travel arrangements. Not taking part in team meals. I sent an e-mail once to Cal when he did a Q & A with The Sun asking how he could preach “team work” when he did these things. I got a response back from John Maroon, his PR guy, in which he never disputed any of the things I wrote, but went on the give Cal’s side of things and how “team work happened on the field”. BS.

    Do a “Google” search on Fren Wren and Cal Ripken. Basically, Ripken was 30 minutes late for a charter flight (before he had his own arrangements) and Wren ordered the plane to depart. Ripken was livid and went to ownership. A few weeks later, Wren was relieved of his duties and has enjoyed a fairly productive career with the Braves since then.

    Cal hosted a Sports Memorabilia show 2-3 years ago near BWI. $35 to “get in”. Probably 100 or so HOFers in attendance signing for a fee. The most expensive autograph on the docket? None other than Cal’s.

    Am I begrudging the man for making money? No, not at all. But where is Cal when this club really could have used him? Where was Cal when Frank Robby’s statue was unvieled? He did catch heat for that, saying he had “prior commitments”. That schedule came out in December…he couldn’t arrange his schedule to be there? He never missed another.

    Cal is now trying to make a name for himself as a broadcaster. He’ll do whatever it takes to make it. That’s Cal.

    • Dude

      October 11, 2012 at 3:30 pm

      Cheers to that MGW. I remember the Wren story. I think I’m more pissed at him just doing the coverage cause he stinks! These guys are the most boring commentators I’ve ever heard for the playoffs. They fumble on their words. They aren’t smooth in transition. They try to throw out predictions on pitches like they know whats coming. Just cause you played a sport does not mean you can talk eloquently about it.

  3. Ravens2488

    October 11, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    MGW is spot on!!! CAL roots for CAL and his money… With CAL, it’s all about CAL… Remember when CAL wouldn’t show Manny Alexander the ropes at shortstop during their playing days? Yeah, real team player…

    Mark, you say: Let’s just be happy that the biggest piece of history our team has ever had is being allowed to represent us to the world on such a huge stage.

    My Response: So the Orioles make the Playoffs after 14 years of futility and guess who has to make sure he over shadows the Orioles? CAL! And shouldn’t the Orioles Team represent themselves to the world on such a huge stage and not CAL? It was the Orioles team that made the playoffs, not CAL.

    CAL ain’t nothing but about CAL and making money for CAL. His youth tournaments are the most expensive youth tournaments on the East Coast.

    Mark, you say:

    1. You’re lashing out against the biggest icon in Orioles history?

    My Response – Really? I would bet that many Oriole buffs would say Brooks Robinson. Hell, when I think of the Orioles I think Brooks, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, Rick Dempsey, Eddie Murray, before I even get to CAL.

    2. You’re lashing out against the biggest icon in Maryland history?

    My Response – I would list Willy Don Schaefer a bigger Maryland icon.

    3. You’re lashing out against the biggest icon of your life?

    My Response – CAL isn’t even in the Top 100 of my biggest life icons. Got a feeling that alot of people would agree with CAL not being the biggest icon in their life. MGW? 9Incher? Spy? Others?

    Mark, you also say: He is still a regular presence at the ballpark and at the team’s facilities, both in Baltimore and at Spring Training.

    My Response – So he shows up… Does he actually help the other players? You know, like put on the uni and teach? NOT AT ALL…

    CAL is also in the Hall of Fame for a streak of games. Wow… If Weaver left him at 3rd and there was no streak, CAL’s numbers would not be Hall worthy…

    Your man-love for CAL is way over the edge Mark.

  4. Ravens2488

    October 11, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    BTW, this was in the Washington Post when Frank Wren got fired…

    In the incident involving Ripken, the Orioles’ chartered jet was waiting to take off for California at 8 a.m. on Sept. 17, when Ripken called saying he was stuck in traffic and would be arriving in the next five to 10 minutes.

    “At Wren’s order, the plan[e] took off without Cal, who arrived at the gate a few minutes later. Cal was then forced to make his own cross-country travel arrangements,” Foss said in the release.

    ” . . . In the opinion of management, there was no need for such an arbitrary and inflexible decision. In the meeting [on Tuesday], Wren defiantly dismissed our concerns [and] characterized them as ‘silly.’ . . .

    “The Orioles management cannot and will not abide having a general manager operate in such an unreasonable, authoritarian manner and treat anyone in this way, especially someone such as Cal who has done so much for the Orioles and for baseball.”

    Read that last paragraph carefully… The line that says “especially someone such as Cal”… Now, aren’t the players told to be at the airport at least an hour before departure? So Cal’s in traffic and will be 10 minutes late so why didn’t his ass leave home 2 hours ahead of the flight so that he could arrive 1 hour prior? Nooooo, Cal insures he gets there right when the plane is going to leave because he’s Cal…

    And if you read it, Frank Wren was fired because of Cal. Because Frank Wren put the team first and not one player.

  5. Sean

    October 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    Cal is the biggest icon in Orioles history? No, that would be Brooks Robinson, followed by Frank Robinson.

    Cal is the biggest icon in Maryland history? Are you talking about sports icons born in the state? If so, that icon is not Cal. That icon would be Babe Ruth, followed by Walter Johnson, Lefty Grove, and Jimmy Foxx.

    Biggest icon of my life. Hope, wrong again – that would be Johnny Unitas.

  6. Os fan

    October 12, 2012 at 8:59 am

    C’mon you dopes. Frank Wren wasn’t fired for this. He was fired because the 1999 Orioles were a major disappointment. He was fired for the signing (Belle) that pretty much started the Os down a more than decade long path of futility. In short, he was fired because he sucked. Manny Alexander? Really? You are sticking up for a tiny footnote in Orioles history. Alexander was at best a utility infielder. You should all do this club a favor and go root for the Nats.

    • MGW

      October 12, 2012 at 10:18 am

      You took one piece of what I said and ran with it.

      Given his other inconsistencies, I’d be more inclined to believe the Washington Post story on Wren’s firing than the obvious blind loyalty you are displaying.

      Cal is all about Cal, no one or nothing else.

    • The Intimidator

      October 12, 2012 at 6:35 pm

      So Os fan, do you remember all the ass kicking’s you used to get from the neighborhood kids because you kept pissing your pants and couldn’t get your “Death Ray” to turn on? Well, that’s what this is going to make you feel like.

      So assclown, you’re telling us that you know more about the inner workings of the Orioles then the guys that cover the team, have contacts within the team, have their moles within the team as well as the comments that Ravens2488 quoted were directly from the team heirarchy at the time.

      So after one year Frank Wren was fired because in your words, “he sucked”. How old are you Os fan? 12?

      Then, like a dwarf on PCP, you talk about Manny Alexander totally out of Ravens2488′s context. It doesn’t matter if Manny was a starter or utility guy, did your boy Cal lend him some help like most players would do? Not at all because it wouldn’t have helped out Cal.

      Look Hoss, instead of trying to hang with the big boys on here, go back to your nightly hangout where the dialogue is, “Me so horny… Me love you long time… Me give you Happy Ending…”

      • 9inchnails

        October 12, 2012 at 7:12 pm

        Intimidator, good to see you back. I thought maybe you went back to the Dundalk chapter of the Hell’s Angels or you being an O’Malley supporter, you and Chowman decided to tie the knot.

  7. spy

    October 12, 2012 at 9:23 am

    You better listen to MGW , he knows of what he speaks……………….

  8. jim

    October 12, 2012 at 9:48 am

    Cal Ripken might be oversold in this time of strident hyperbole, and he may have participated in and profited from the process. That doesn’t negate the fact that this was made possible by his being a very good ballplayer and the face of the franchise when they sorely needed one. So far as “Doing whatever it takes to make it”, that would seem to be an indicator of a fierce competitor, which he is known to be.
    No, he is not the unalloyed “Good Guy” that he is hustled to us as being, but I believe the vitriol displayed here is out of proportion to the offenses of Cal Ripken.

    • mystery man

      October 13, 2012 at 8:57 am

      His claim to fame is ,” I played a lot of games ” , wow , if you compare his stats to his peers of that era he was avarage at best , but he did play in a lot of games…he did this at the expense of his team, he played even when most players would have sat down for a spell to get a better bat in the lineup , not Cal , oh boy it’s all about Cal…

  9. 9inchnails

    October 12, 2012 at 10:29 am

    Cal Ripken Sr should have named his first born son, Richard.

  10. Mark Brown

    October 13, 2012 at 3:23 am

    This message board also leaves me embarrassed of our fan base.

    • 9inchnails

      October 13, 2012 at 10:03 pm

      You should be embarassed by the real Cal Ripken rather than the fan base. Ripken is the not the guy everyone thinks he is. He gets a free pass because of the streak.

      More importantly, what about CM Punk smacking a fan? I stay up late at night thinking about smacking The Intimidator but he would probably kick my ass.

  11. The Intimidator

    October 13, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    Your “Man-Love” for Cal embarrasses the fan base Mark.

    Seems alot of the fan base doesn’t agree with your “Man-Love” for Cal so your feelings get hurt. Get over it, Cal isn’t the God you think he is to the majority of Oriole fans.

  12. Chow

    October 14, 2012 at 8:30 am

    even in Japan cal lipken no liked. People in Japan think cal allogant and cal fol heself. chow think 9inchnailman have fantasy smack intimidatol on leal end.

  13. Justin

    October 14, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    You really think that TBS would lose ratings? So fans just won’t watch the game bc they don’t like a few things that the broadcaster said? That just sounds untrue.