So now, even with Ripken still around, the Orioles are shopping for a new third baseman. Many Orioles fans are upset about it. But Syd Thrift, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations, said it was his job to try to improve the club anywhere possible. It is standard procedure for me to evaluate every position, regardless of where we are or who we have there. This really isn't a big deal.
Some people try to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
It can be argued the Orioles were able to build Camden Yards because of Ripken. Not to mention the streaming flow of fans that spun the turnstiles just to say they saw him play. While it might be true that Thrift can't let sentiment dictate what he does behind closed doors in an effort to improve the team, one might expect him to have a little more public-relations tact. Ripken is not only an Orioles icon, he is a native son, born and reared in Maryland. His father, Cal Sr., was a coach or manager with the Orioles from 1976-92.