"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT, THE PASSING OF PETER ANGELOS.

WE WILL HEAR HOW THE LONG TIME ORIOLES OWNER ANSWERED VIEWER QUESTIONS ON THIS PROGRAM TWO DECADES AGO.

THAT'S COMING UP.

>>> FIRST WITH COLON CANCER AFFECTING YOUNGER PATIENTS HAVE SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS CHANGED?

JOINING US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS IVANE CHUA A COLON AND RADIOACTIVE TALL SURGEON AT ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE THE OVERALL DECLINE FOR DECADES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING OF COLON CANCER AND WE HAVE IT AFFECTING YOUNG ARE PATIENTS.

LET'S START WITH THE ONE THAT IS EASIER TO EXPLAIN THE DECLINE IN DEATHS.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> IT'S ACTUALLY ACCESS TO BETTER SCREENING.

SO COLON CANCER SCREENING TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN AT AGE 50 AND WE LOWERED IT TO 45.

WE WILL GET BACK TO THAT IN A BIT.

BECAUSE DETECTION HAS GOTTEN SO GOOD WITH SCREENINGS WE ARE DETECTING PRECANCER CELLS EARLIER.

WE ARE DETECTING COLON CANCERS EARLIER.

WE CAN TREAT THEM MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH A GREATER SURVIVAL RATE.

>> Jeff: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SCREENING IN A SECOND.

WITH YOUNGER PATIENTS, COMING DOWN WITH THIS CONDITION, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY VERY MUCH SO.

AS SORT OF A WHOLE, WE'VE NOTICED THAT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER PEOPLE BEFORE THE AGE OF 50 INTO THE AGE OF SORT OF STARTING AT 45 WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THEM WITH ADVANCED POLYPS AND EARLIER COLON CANCERS WITHOUT A FAMILY HISTORY.

WE ARE NOT SURE WHY THAT IS HAPPENING.

BUT WE HAVE NOTICED THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING RECTAL CANCER EARLIER.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THAT?

IS IT WHAT WE EAT?

THE ADDITIVES?

YOU READ A LOT ABOUT MICRO PLASTICS HUMAN BIOME A WHOLE OTHER SUBJECT.

WHAT COULD BE GOING ON?

>> WE ARE NOT EXACTLY SURE.

IT IS A CONUNDRUM.

I THINK IT IS A MULTIFACTORIAL ISSUE INCLUDING THE WAY WE EAT, THE WAY WE EXERCISE.

MAYBE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC OF MORBID OBESITY.

OBESITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF COLON CANCER, HIGH PROCESSED FOODS, RED MEATS LESS VEGETABLES ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF COLON CANCER.

>> Jeff: AND THE THING THAT HELPED THE GENERAL POPULATION LOWER ITS MORTALITY RATE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO SOMEBODY IN THEIR 30s BECAUSE NOBODY IS TELLING THEM TO GET COLONOSCOPIES.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS.

SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS CAN BE VERY KIND OF SNEAKY, SUBTLE.

SO IT CAN BE THINGS LIKE A LITTLE BLOOD IN YOUR STOOL.

A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE IN IN YOUR BOWEL HABITS, MORE CONSTIPATED OR DIARRHEA.

A LOT OF THE FEELING YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM BUT CAN'T.

THE CHANGE IN THE CALIBER OF YOUR STOOL.

ALL THESE THINGS CAN BE SUBTLE.

KIND OF SIGNS OF COLON CANCER AND A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ATTRIBUTE THIS TO OH, MAYBE I JUST ATE SOMETHING BAD OR MAYBE I HAVE A HEMORRHOID.

BUT IF YOU DON'T CHECK YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES YOU MISS PRETTY IMPORTANT COLON CANCER.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT COLON CANCER, COLON COLONOSCOPIES, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND AN E-MAIL.

DOCTOR, YOU MENTIONED THE SCREENING AGE FOR COLONOSCOPY WAS LOWERED TO 45.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS IT WAS AGE 50.

AND BECAUSE WE'VE STARTED SEEING YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED ADD GNOME MAS OR COLON CANCER WE LOWERED IT TO ALL 445 AND CAN BE YOUNGER WITH A PATIENT WHO MIGHT HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER OR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

>> Jeff: COLONOSCOPIES ARE LIFE-SAVING BUT THAT NOT POPULAR.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW?

>> THEY ARE NOT THAT BAD.

REALLY.

I MEAN THE WORST PART IS THE BOWEL PREP.

THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU ARE DRINKING IN STUFF THAT WILL MAKE YOU GO ON THE POTTY ALL NIGHT.

WITH THE ADVENT OF iPADS CAN YOU WATCH A SHOW.

WHILE YOU ARE DOING YOUR BOWEL PREP.

AND THE NEXT DAY IT IS A LIGHT ANESTHESIA SEDATION IT TAKES 20-30 MINUTES TO DO IT.

WE LOOK AT THE CLEAN COLON AND SEE POLYPS WE TAKE THEM OUT.

NOT EVERY POLYP A GROWTH INSIDE OF THE COLON TURNS INTO CANCER.

BUT THAT'S WHERE CANCERS COME FROM.

THE IDEA IF YOU CAN TAKE OUT THE POLYPS AT THE TIME OF COLONOSCOPY YOU CAN PREVENT THEM FROM TURNING INTO CANCER IN THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: I WATCHED A LOT OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL THIS WEEKEND AND I SAW MUTUAL TELL ADS FOR THE HOME SCREENING COLLOW GUARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

PROS AND CONS TO THAT?

>> PRO, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO A BOWEL PREP.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO UNDER ANESTHESIA.

IT IS NOT A PROCEDURE.

SO IT IS A SAFE SCREENING.

COLLOW GUARD AND TESTS LOOK FOR ABNORMAL DNA THAT HAS BEEN SHED INTO YOUR STOOL.

SO YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM, YOU SEND IT TO A SPECIAL PLACE AND THEY LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ABNORMAL DNA.

WHAT IT CAN MISS, IT CAN MISS THE POLYPS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT TURNED INTO CANCER YET.

SO LEFT INTO PLACE THEY COULD TURN TO CANCER WITH COLLOW GUARD IF YOU HAVE A CO-LOW GUARD WITH A POSITIVE TEST.

>> I THINK I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> YOU NEED A COLONOSCOPY.

ANY SCREENING IS BETTER THAN NO SCREENING AT ALL.

REMEMBER WITH COLO GUARD THE ONLY TIME IF YOU DON'T HAVE HIGH-RISK NO BLOOD IN YOUR STOOL, NO HIGH-RISK FAMILY HISTORY, NO INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

IF YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR COLO GUARD.

>> Jeff: A PHONE CALL FROM RICH AND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING G AHEAD.

>> I WAS WONDERING DO ALL INTESTINAL POLYPS OR STOMACH OR RECTAL POLYPS TURN INTO CANCER?

AND HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE FOR THEM TO TRANSFER?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION THANKS FOR CALLING IN.

NOT EVERY POLYP TURNS INTO CANCER.

YOU CAN HAVE POLYPS THAT ARE PRECANCER CELLS.

THOSE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF TURNING INTO CANCER BUT NOT EVERYONE TURNS INTO IT.

WE FIND THAT AS POLYPS GET BIGGER AND BIGGER THEY HAVE MORE POTENTIAL OF TURNING INTO A CANCER.

THE IDEA IF YOU CAN GET THEM OUT WHEN THEY ARE SMALL WITH A SCOPE THAT CAN HELP PREVENT CANCER IN THE FUTURE.

IN TERMS OF STOMACH AND OR INTESTINAL POLYPS MUCH THE SAME.

AND SORT OF OVERALL IT CAN TAKE A POLYP ON AVERAGE SEVEN YEARS BEFORE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF TURNING INTO CAPPER IS.

IF YOU HAVE'S HAD POLYPS BEFORE, THEY SEE EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

THEY DON'T LET YOU GET TO THE 10-YEAR MARK.

>> Jeff: I READ SOMETHING ABOUT A NEW BLOOD TEST IN THE PIPELINE.

WHERE IS THAT IN THE PIPELINE?

>> IT'S PRETTY NEW.

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ABOUT IT.

IT IS ALSO LOOKING AT DNA COMING FROM A CANCER CELL BASICALLY.

THAT IS FLOATING IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IT'S NOT FDA REGULATED YET, NOT FDA APPROVED AND NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE YET.

IS THAT SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE?

ABSOLUTELY.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S SO NEW WE ARE NOT SURE.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY IS FOUND TO HAVE COLON CANCER, WHAT IS THE TREATMENT LOOK LIKE TODAY?

THE SURGICAL TREATMENT, THE MEDICAL TREATMENT.

>> SURE.

SURE.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE THAT DIAGNOSIS OF COLON CANCER YOU GO THROUGH TESTS BLOOD TESTS, CT SCANS TO DO STAGING TO SEE IF THIS CANCER HAS BASICALLY SPREAD.

OR DOES IT LOOK CONTAINED.

IF IT LOOKS CONTAINED OR EARLY THEN YOU GO THROUGH A RESECTION WHERE MY JOB COMES IN.

I DERESECTION BOTH BY LAPAROSCOPIC WHICH IS LITTLE CUTS AND CAMERAS OR SOMETIMES A TRADITIONAL OPEN SURGERY.

EVERYTHING TO DO TO REMOVE THAT CANCER, THE SURROUNDING TISSUES AND ALL THE LYMPHS TO SEE IF THERE'S CANCER IN THE LYMPH NODES WHICH MAY REQUIRE CHEMOTHERAPY IN THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: THE CALLER HAS A QUESTION ABOUT PREP.

IT ALLOWED SOLID FOOD INSTEAD OF CLEAR LIQUIDS.

ANY COMMENT ABOUT THAT?

THE IDEA IS TO GET RID OF THE SOLID FOOD?

>> I USUALLY AM OKAY WITH PEOPLE HAVING A LIT BREAKFAST BEFORE THE BOWEL PREP THE DAY BEFORE.

AND ONCE THEY START THE PREP I PREFER THAT PEOPLE ONLY DRINK CLEAR LIQUIDS YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO MAKE STOOL.

YOU WANT TO CLEAR EVERYTHING OUT.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A POOR BOWEL PREP WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE POLYPS OUT.

PEOPLE WITH BAD BOWEL PREP NEED COLONOSCOPIES SOONER THAN THE 10 YEARS.

>> A QUESTION ABOUT A DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE -- IT'S NOT LIKE A DIGITAL CLOCK DIGITS.

YOU DOCTOR DOESN'T PERFORM A MANUAL CHECK ON MY COLON IN MY PHYSICAL SHE PROTECTS THE -- CHECKS THE PSA LEVEL ONLY.

HOW OFTEN DOES THAT EXAM TURN UP SOMETHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE A COLON OR RECTAL SURGERY?

WHEN A GENERAL DOCTOR DOES THAT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR COLON CANCER.

>> THEY ARE NOT.

THEY ARE NOT.

IN GENERAL WHEN THEY ARE DOING A DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM THEY ARE CHECKING FOR JUST THE LOWER PART OF THE RECTUM AND THE AN NEWS.

THE COLON IS FIVE, SIX FEET LONG YOU YOU ARE SEEING THAT LAST BIT.

THAT CAN IDENTIFY THINGS LIKE ANAL CANCER OR RECTAL CANCER BUT CANNOT SEE COLON CANCER.

THEY CAN SEE IF THERE'S GROSS BLOOD THAT WOULD BE A SIGN TO GET A COLONOSCOPY.

>> Jeff: A PHONE CALL FROM WASHINGTON D.C. ANDREA THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> HI.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS A COLON PREP VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL CAN YOU USE LYNN ZEST WITH MIR LAX PRIOR TO HAVING A COLONOSCOPY.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU FOR THE PHONE CALL.

>> LINZEST IS USED USE FOR CHROC CONTIES PARTICIPATION.

YOU CAN USE MIRA LAX AND SPLITTING IT THROUGH ELECTROLYTE OR A CLEAR LIQUID AND DRINKING THAT EVERYTHING IS CLEAR.

THAT IS BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS THE PRESCRIPTION ONE.

>> Jeff: WHICH ONE DO YOU PRESCRIBE?

>> WELL, I WILL EITHER PRESCRIBE MIRALAX, AN OVER-THE-COUNTER.

OR SOMETHING CALLED SUPREP A SMALLER VOLUME.

BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO GIVE YOU THE GO LIGHTLY.

IT'S EFFECTIVE BUT IT'S THIS MUCH FLUID TO DRINK.

>> Jeff: ONE MORE E-MAIL QUESTION.

THIS GENTLEMAN SAYS FRANK MY LAST COLONOSCOPY I TOLD AFTER 80 I AM NOT A CANDIDATE.

WHY THE CUTOFF?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO AFTER 75 OR SO, AND ON TO 80, WE START SORT OF TAILORING WHO GETS ANOTHER COLONOSCOPY.

IF YOU'VE HAD POSITIVE COLONOSCOPIES IN THE PAST YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE.

EVEN AT 80 OR 80 PLUS.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE OF TIME.

BUT TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT.

Dr. IVANE CHUA AT ST. JOSEPH MANAGE CENTER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: TO THE PASSING OF LONG TIME ORIOLES OWNER PETER ANGELOS.

23 YEARS AGO, Mr. ANGELOS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US IN THIS STUDIO AND HE GAMELY TOOK SOME VIEWER QUESTIONS EVEN AFTER LOSING SEASON FOR THE ORIOLES.

TONIGHT WE'LL REPLAY A LONG SEGMENT OF THAT PROGRAM A WINDOW INTO THE MAN WHO RETURNED THE TEAM TO LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

>> TOUGH SEASON FOR FANS A LOT OF LOSSES.

WHEN DO YOU SEE IT TURNING AROUND?

>> WE HOPE NEXT YEAR WILL BE A MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL YEAR THAN THE PAST SEASON.

ACTUALLY REBUILDING A TEAM TAKES THREE TO FIVE YEARS AND WE ARE IN THE SECOND OR THIRD YEAR OF THAT.

>> DO YOU EXPECT FANS TO BE PATIENT FOR THAT LONG?

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PATIENT.

BASEBALL IS NOT A GAME WHERE YOU CAN WIN A WORLD SERIES IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT TAKES MUCH LONGER THAN THAT TO BUILD YOUR MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM FROM THE BOTTOM ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP.

AND YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE MANY YOUNG PLAYERS THROUGH DRAFT AND OTHER ACQUISITIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ULTIMATELY HAVING A TEAM THAT IS COMPETITIVE AND CAN GO DO THE JOB.

>> VIEWERS CAN JOIN US BY TELEPHONE OR E-MAIL.

THIS FRANK IN OWE WARD COUNTY, TELL US YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON THE FARM SYSTEM?

WILL YOU GROW YOUR OWN TALENT IS IT IMPORTANT TO THE CLUB'S FUTURE.

HAS THE FARM SYSTEM BEEN PRODUCING ENOUGH TALENT?

>> ACTUALLY NO.

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE TEAM APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS AGO, THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM WAS NOT IN GOOD SHAPE TO PROVIDE THE YOUNG PLAYERS TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM TO BE COMPETITIVE.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS IS BUILD THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM AND WE THINK IT IS AT A POINT WHERE IT'S COME A LONG WAY TOWARD BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PLAYERS.

>> I AM NOT ENOUGH OF A SPORTS FAN TO KNOW ALL THE NUMBERS AND FINANCES OF THE TEAM, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL AT THIS POINT TO MAKE SOME BIG TICKET PLAYER ACQUISITIONS IN THE OFF SEASON?

>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE FREE AGENCY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE WORLD SERIES.

AND, WHILE WE THINK THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY TO GO, AN ACQUISITION ONE OR TWO OR MAYBE THREE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PLAYERS MAYBE IN THE WORKS.

>> IS THERE ANYBODY YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON ANY POSITION YOU NEED TO SHORE-UP?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLAYERS THAT WERE PART OF THE FREE AGENCY GROUP THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

I CAN'T NAME THEM, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TAMPERING WITH THEIR PRESENT CONTRACTS WITH THE TEAMS WITH WHICH THEY ARE PRESENTLY SIGNED.

BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN MAKING ACQUISITIONS.

>> FROM A MARKETING STANDPOINT, DO YOU NEED TO MAKE AN ACQUISITION?

CAL RIPKEN IS RETIRED DO YOU NEED TO BRING IN FRESH BLOOD FOR NEW EXCITEMENT ON OPENING DAY?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T FOCUS IT ON AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER.

I THINK IT IS A TEAM SPORT AND WHAT YOU STRIVE TO DO IS GET THE TEAM TO A LEVEL WHERE IT'S COMPETITIVE AND HAS A CHANCE EVERY SEASON TO GO AT LEAST TO THE PLAYOFFS.

GETTING TO THE WORLD SERIES IS ANOTHER MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB AND THAT TAKES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DOING AND PUTTING A TEAM TOGETHER.

AND GETTING THE BREAKS IN THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.

>> LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL.

NANCY ON THE LINE.

GO AHEAD.

>> MY QUESTION IS I'M WONDERING WHO YOU SAID IT TAKES THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO BUILD A TEAM, WHO HAVE WE BROUGHT IN IN THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS WHO CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO OUR TEAM?

I DON'T FEEL THERE IS A DEEP, DEEP COMMITMENT ON YOUR PART AS THE OWNER TO INVEST IN GOOD, HOT STRONG PLAYERS?

I'M WAITING FOR YOUR ANSWER.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOOD, HOT PLAYERS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHED STARS IN THE GAME TODAY AND THAT WOULD BE PLAYERS THAT YOU WOULD ACQUIRE IN THE FREE AGENCY PROCESS.

THE PLAYERS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT IN ARE WE HAVE SIX MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS.

AND ACTUALLY WE SPEND 25 MILLION A YEAR ACQUIRING PLAYERS FOR THOSE SIX TEAMS.

THE IDEA BEING THAT THROUGH THE PROGRESSION OF THOSE SIX TEAMS IF A PLAYER CAN BEGIN AT THE BOTTOM AND EMERGE AT THE TOP OF THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM YOUR AAA CLUB, AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM, THEN YOUR SYSTEM IS PRODUCING.

PRESENTLY WE HAVE AT LEAST SIX PLAYERS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.

THREE OF WHICH ARE PITCHERS AND THREE OF WHICH ARE POSITION PLAYERS.

AND I WON'T NAME THEM BUT THEY ARE THERE AND THEY ARE YOUNG MEN WHO EVOLVED THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO THE LEVEL THAT WE THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY NEXT YEAR ON THE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM.

>> WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN WITH TICKET PRICES?

>> WE HAVE NOT RAISED PRICES.

THIS WILL BE OUR FIFTH YEAR OF NOT RAISING PRICES WE ARE LOOKING IN THE CENTRAL SEATS THE BETTER SEATS.

BUT NOT A GENERAL ACROSS THE BOARD PRICE INCREASE.

>> TEAM'S BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF MANAGERS OVER THE YEARS.

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF HOW THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT IS DOING?

>> WE'RE VERY SATISFIED WITH MIKE HARGROVE'S PERFORMANCE AND HE HAS BEEN HERE TWO YEARS AND HIS CONTRACT RUNS FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO-YEAR PERIOD.

>> HOW ABOUT CAL RIPKEN?

A LOT OF PEOPLE FOCUSED ON CAL THROUGH THE LAST LAP THE FINAL SEASON.

DO YOU SEE ANY ROLE FOR HIM IN THE ORGANIZATION?

AND WOULD IT BE IN MANAGEMENT OR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ROLE?

>> WELL, CAL HAS IS IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING WHAT IS CALLED A PEN TEAM A TEAM THAT PLAYS 72 GAMES A YEAR WHICH WILL PERFORM IN THE STADIUM THAT IS BEING BUILT IN ABERDEEN WHICH CAL WILL OPERATE THE TEAM THAT HE'S PURCHASING.

HE ALSO IS INTERESTED IN A ENTERPRISE THAT DEALS WITH THE TRAINING OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE GAME OF BASEBALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SO HE'S INVOLVED EXTENSIVELY ON AN ENTREPRENEURIAL BASIS IN THE TEACHING OF BASEBALL AND HE WILL BE CONNECTED WITH OUR MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATE SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH THIS PROGRAM IN THE METRO DC AREA.

AND OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND YOUR OPPOSITION TO HAVING A NEW TEAM COMPETING IN THE SAME GENERAL MARKETPLACE.

THERE'S ALSO AN EFFORT IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO BRING A TEAM THERE.

I WANT TO FIND OUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER YOU HAVE THE ABILITY WITHIN WHATEVER THE RULES OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WOULD BE TO BLOCK SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN BLOCKING ANYONE.

WE ARE TALKING STRICTLY ECONOMICS.

YOU CANNOT LOCATE TWO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FRANCHISES WITHIN 40 MILES OF EACH OTHER OR LESS AND THAT IS THE PROPOSAL YOU REFERRED TO DEALS WITH.

THAT WOULD BE CREATE A COMPETITION FOR THE ORIOLES RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA INTEREST CLAIM MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S AND HOWARD HAS PART OF THE NATURAL MARKET.

YOU CAN SEE IF THAT'S THE CASE THESE ARE COUNTIES 25 MILES FROM BALTIMORE CITY.

THAT MEANS THAT THEY WOULD BE CUTTING INTO OUR POTENTIAL ATTENDANCE VERY SUBSTANTIALLY.

BUT NORTHERN VIRGINIA STANDING ALONE WITHOUT INTRUDING ON THE ORIOLES NATURAL DEMOGRAPHIC AREA, SIMPLY CAN'T SUPPORT A TEAM ON ITS OWN.

WE DON'T THINK THE TWO TEAMS LOCATED IN THAT FASHION WITHIN THAT 40-MILE PARAMETER I'M TALKING ABOUT CAN COMPETE.

YOU WILL HAVE TWO TEAMS WHICH WILL BE IMMEDIATE OCTOBER CUSTOMER IN ATTENDANCE AND HAVING THEM COMPETING WITH THE YANKEE TEAM THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WOULD BE AN IMPOSSIBILITY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU MORE.

LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL.

RECEIVE IS ON THE LINE FROM CARROLL COUNTY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE ORALS ARE ON THE ROAD AND -- ORIOLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND UNIFORMS WHY THEY DO NOT HAVE BALTIMORE ON THE FRONT AS PER THE YANKEES OR THE RED SOX WHEN THEY GO ON THE ROAD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR A WHILE.

>> THAT WAS STARTED UNDER JERRY HUFF BURGER'S REGIME.

WE DID NOT INITIATE IT.

THE ORIOLE TEAM IS PRESENTED AS A REGIONAL BASEBALL FRANCHISE NOT ONE PECULIAR TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

WE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS FROM THE EASTERN SHORE THE OTHER DIRECTION THAT THE TEAM SHOULD NOT BE CALLED THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES THEY CONSIDER THE ORIOLES A MARYLAND BASEBALL FRANCHISE.

IT IS A REGIONAL BALL GAME AND JERRY SAID HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL BASEBALL OPERATOR AND HE FELT AND WE AGREE THAT YOU NEED TO DRAW FROM A LARGER AREA THAN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF 600,000 PEOPLE.

AT ONE TIME IT HAD A POPULATION OF 900,000.

NOW IT'S DIFFERENT.

SO THE ANSWER IS THAT WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION HERE.

IF WE WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE NEW YORKS AND THE BOSTONS, BOSTON DRAWS FROM ALL OF NEW ENGLAND.

SOME FIVE MILLION ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.

WE HAVE TO TO APPROACH IT ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE GATE.

>> THE COMMISSIONER SAID HE IS CONSIDERING THE IDEA OF CONTRACTION, HE WANTS TO FOLD SOME TEAMS AND GET RID OF THEM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA OR SMALLER MARKET THAT IS LOOKING FOR A TEAM?

>> WELL, YOU SAY A SMALLER MARKET OR NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

MY ARGUMENT IS NORTHERN VIRGINIA CANNOT SUPPORT A MAJOR LEAGUE FRANCHISE WITHOUT INTRUDING ON THE NATURAL AUDIENCE OF THE ORIOLES.

AND I WILL SAY THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

WE CAN CALL THEM THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

WE NEED TO DRAW BEYOND BALTIMORE AND BALTIMORE COUNTY IN ORDER FOR US TO DRAW THE THREE-AND-A-HALF MILLION PEOPLE WE NEED TO PUT A SUCCESSFUL TEAM ON THE FIELD.

THOSE ARE THE BASIC FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMICS OF THIS BASEBALL PICTURE.

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TEAMS DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE.

ONE, IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS CHASING THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS.

EXPANSION PLAYS INTO THE HANDS OF THE SO-CALLED BASEBALL UNION.

WHICH WOULD LIKE TO SEE NOT 30 TEAMS MAYBE 50 TEAMS AND THE OWNERS CAN STRUGGLE TO SIGN PLAYERS AND KEEP ELEVATING THE SALARIES OF THE BASEBALL PLAYERS.

WE THINK THE SALARIES ARE TOO HIGH NOW AND ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCREASE IN TICKET PRICES AS WELL AS THE INCREASES IN CONCESSIONS.

WEWE'D LIKE TO GET THAT SETTLED NOW.

WE THINK GOING TO A BASEBALL GAME IS ALREADY TOO EXPENSIVE.

AND THE MORE TEAMS YOU HAVE THE MORE TEAMS VIE FOR THE SAME SMALL GROUP OF PLAYERS ELEVATING THE PRICES THAT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR THEIR TALENT.

>> Jeff: PETER ANGELOS WAS 94 YEARS OLD.

THE SALE OF THE TEAM TO ANOTHER BALTIMOREAN DAVID RUBEN STEIN IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE THIS WEEK RIGHT BEFORE OPENING DAY.

>>> AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO@MPT.TV.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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