The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

Yet another day where not much has changed. The rumor du jour is that now we’re trying to re-sign him before we trade him. Well, why not?

Outside of the will-they-or-won’t-they, there are two things about this situation that I think need more attention.

First, nobody has said much of anything about how all of this must affect Bedard. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. It must suck in untold ways to be yanked back and forth every day, not knowing where you’ll be reporting to work in two weeks. I realize he’s handsomely compensated for his troubles, but he’s still a human being. I hope, for his sake, that he gets some clarity sooner than later.

Second, how many beatings do you think it would take to get certain chattering teeth in the local media to just chill out when it comes to whining about how Peter Angelos has “meddled” with this deal? When Andy MacPhail comes out and says that Peter hasn’t blocked his moves, I’m going to take him at his word. Why? Because at this point I don’t have any reason not to.

Besides, to hate Angelos so much that it colors every single thought you have about the team speaks of an emptiness that is, frankly, sad.

Of course, that’s not to say that this situation hasn’t been weird — at best.

The latest news on the Erik Bedard front, according to the Sun, is that, well, nothing much has changed. Discussions are still ongoing, and apparently there may be more than one team involved.

Of course, as we know, that could all change with “one phone call.” So here’s to Day Three of the Bedard Watch. The floor is yours for thoughts, analysis, breaking news (I might not be around), etc.

At 9 am today this is what we know: Erik Bedard is still a Baltimore Oriole. He’s also been the subject of heated trade talks that could make him a Seattle Mariner sooner than later.

Everything else is still speculation. And don’t get me wrong — I love speculation. I just don’t like it when the line between speculation and news gets too blurry. There is — or ought to be — a difference.

The best article I’ve seen this morning summing everything up is this one. They say Wednesday at the earliest, and that the deal doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy. That matches up with what both Andy MacPhail and Bill Bavasi have said publicly, and until I have a reason not to I’m going to take those gentlemen at their word.

So we wait another day. Anyone want to talk about the Ravens retaining Rex Ryan as Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach? I’m not sure it’s the right move, but then again it appears to have been made with Harbaugh’s blessing.

By now you’ve all no doubt heard the news that Erik Bedard is just thiiissss close to packing his bags for the Great Northwest.

In return, the Orioles are looking at a package of prospects headed by 22-year old Adam Jones, along with 3-4 other players. There’s not much else to say until a deal is finally confirmed, which looks like it could come later today or tomorrow at the latest. Or this whole thing could fall through.

Your thoughts in the meantime?

UPDATE @ 2 pm: ESPN has “a source” who claims that Peter Angelos hasn’t yet signed off on the deal.

Two things there. One, I’m pretty fucking sick of “sources” and how much they “know” about what’s going on with trades and whatnot. They’re wrong as often as they’re right. Two, even if this source is right it sounds to me like there’s a big difference between “meddling” and “hasn’t signed off yet.”

That said, we’ll have to wait and see. Again.

Maybe so. They’re up nine at the half on the hated Duke Blue Devils, and Mike Kreejaweeski is already in top whining form. Seeing him and Bambale Osby sharing the same air is proof that god has a great sense of humor. Feel free to chime in if you’re watching.

I’ll update this post later or tomorrow with some thoughts on the game.

Update: yeah…Maryland lost. They played well for the most part, but sloppiness and turnovers in the second half did them in. Anyone who has followed the team at all over the years knows that’s not a surprise.

Next up: Virginia comes to College Park on Wednesday.

First: I had a great time on the Fighting Ungers radio program yesterday morning, and I hope at least a few of you had a chance to listen in. I hope to get the chance to do it again in the future — in the meantime, tune ‘em in if you’re up between 8 and 11 on a Saturday.

Moving on…

Just so everyone knows I’m not afraid to admit when I’m wrong, I present the following gem:

I’m telling you, wait and see on Flanagan. I like the continuity, I like the fact that there’s a chance that Angelos will actually trust him and give him some decision making power. What does he know about being a GM? Maybe not much, but it can’t get any worse. 

I was freeing up some space on my hard drive tonight (exciting goings on for a Saturday night, no?) when I found that statement in an email I sent to a friend on October 12, 2005.

Naturally, that gives rise to questions about whether or not I’m being blind again as I evaluate the early months of the Andy MacPhail regime. Which means, basically, that we have two choices. We can continue to identify the good and/or smart moves and believe in them, or we can fall back on the past ten years and say “fuck it, the Orioles are screwed.”

I take no joy in watching if I believe my team is permanently screwed. On the other hand, I can stomach the losses when I believe they come with a purpose. Whether or not they do is somewhat beside the point.

Good news: I’m going to be a guest tomorrow morning on the Fighting Ungers radio program on WNST. I’ll be in at 8:30 am, which means that you’ll be witnessing something extremely rare and captivating (me being up that early on a Saturday).

Tune in to 1570 AM in the local area, or go to wnst.net and click on “listen live”.

I — and Marc Unger, I’m sure — sincerely hope you’ll give it a listen.

It’s a shame, really, that an Erik Bedard trade seems all but inevitable. It makes sense, sure, but damn if I don’t love having this guy in a Baltimore Orioles uniform.

I just stumbled across this interesting profile of the mercurial young lefty, from the Ottawa Sun.

“I don’t want to be in the spotlight,” he says. “You look at superstars like A-Rod and (Derek) Jeter, they can’t go to the store and get a bottle of water. That’s not for me. I’m a small-town guy. I like to stay around my roots — my friends and family.” 

I’ve been saying all along that, despite the misguided opinions of the local media/fans, Bedard is just a quiet guy, and not necessarily unpleasant or rude or standoffish.

My only issue with Andy MacPhail so far? That he hasn’t dialed Bedard’s number and said “name your price”. This is the kind of guy, and talent, you want on your team.

I mention that because of this, by far the most interesting quote in the piece:

“If everything was right, I wouldn’t mind staying in Baltimore,” he says. “But I can’t worry about where I might be traded. It’s out of my hands. There are always rumours. That’s part of the business. If I get traded, it’ll be to a team that wants me and wants to sign me.” 

Read into that what you will, but I find it more than a bit troubling.