Swengali: Angelos Is the Birds' Problem

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THE LATEST SHAKE-UP at Camden Yards is as predictable as it is futile.

A mediocre record made terrible (29-40) due to a 1-8 home stand is enough to get most managers fired. Sam Perlozzo is no different. In some ways, he should consider himself lucky — his misery is over.

Targeting Joe Girardi as Baltimore's new skipper and former Twins and Cubs executive Andy MacPhail for the team's COO opening aren't necessarily bad ideas. In fact, both have proven more than qualified for the positions.

Just don't expect this to the be the cure-all the Orioles have been looking for over the past 10 years.

Yes, it was 1997 when a winner last played at that beautiful ballpark along the inner harbor. Then owner Peter Angelos fired manager Davey Johnson over a personality dispute. The rest, as they say, is history.

Interim manager Dave Trembley is the team's fifth leader since the Baltimore swoon began, and Girardi would be No. 6. The only constant has been Angelos, a meddling owner who has no idea how to run a successful baseball team.

Until Angelos sells the team — or lets his executives do their jobs — the Orioles will continue to be a terrible organization. The O's are a big 0-for-10 in the last decade putting together a good pitching staff.

The Oriole way is now losing, and it will be that way until Angelos is gone.

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press