The Orioles introduced the new “voice” of the organization Wednesday, hiring highly respected executive Andy MacPhail as president of baseball operations.
“The fans have been sending a strong message that they want change. The Orioles have heard that message and are responding,” Orioles general counsel H. Russell Smouse said.
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He continued his introduction of MacPhail, saying, “[MacPhail] has a reputation for judgment and integrity unparalleled in baseball.”
MacPhail, 54, comes to Baltimore after five years in the front offices of Major League Baseball. Prior to that, MacPhail was general manager for the Chicago Cubs (1994-2002) and GM for Minnesota (1985-1994), winning a pair of World Series titles with the Twins.
He is charged with turning around a once-proud franchise that has struggled through nine straight losing seasons and is closing in on a 10th. He will have absolute control of the team?s day-to-day baseball decisions.
“If I didn?t feel [I had control], I wouldn?t be here,” MacPhail said. “It?s just that simple.”
Phone calls to Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos ? often criticized for the club?s decision-making ? were not returned.
The Orioles entered Wednesday night?s late game at San Diego with a 29-41 record, which puts them last in the American League East. MacPhail, whose father, Lee, is credited with building the Orioles? 1966 championship team, pointed back to those glory years and said the club must find “a new Oriole Way.”
“I think it?s important to try to develop a team that has a character and an identity,” said MacPhail, who attended Friends School. “It?s hard to do today.”
But, as MacPhail pointed out, it begins with starting pitching. And the Orioles? strength is in their young, talent-laden starting rotation.
“You may not be as far away as you think you are,” MacPhail said.
Executive Vice President Mike Flanagan and Vice President Jim Duquette had been making the club?s baseball decisions up to MacPhail?s hiring. And the new boss will lean on them heavily.
“I?m looking for all the help I can get. First of all, they know a heck of a lot more about this team right now than I do, that?s for certain,” MacPhail said. Still, he made no secret who the final decision-maker would be.
“I?m absolutely responsible for the baseball operations,” MacPhail said. “I like one voice. I like simplicity.”
In Chicago, MacPhail took a team that had reached the postseason just twice in the previous 50 seasons to a pair of postseason appearances.
MacPhail won numerous executive awards in 1991, taking the Twins from last place to a World Series title in one year.
In recent years, the Orioles? goal has been simply to reach .500.
“I don?t have a goal of getting over .500,” MacPhail said. “We shouldn?t be here for that; no team should be here for that.”
