My Two Cents on the Newest Markakis Saga

All those speculating on the Markakis "story" and bashing him or reliving the Birds' off-season...just stop already and move on to the 2015 Orioles.

My father often says, there are two sides to every story, with the truth often found in a combination of both perspectives. So unless you were in the room and heard how the interview transpired, you don't know if Markakis offered up those comments; if he was baited by the reporter (my 20 years of experience verifies that SOME media members do just that to reach their angle); if all of the conversation or context made it to print; if Nick was itching to unload; and so forth. I wasn't there either, so I take it with a grain of salt and rely on what I do know when evaluating the content of the piece.

Christina & Nick Markakis unveil
The Right Side Foundation

Markakis and his wife were my clients in a past life and I have made no secrets about my fondness for them. I got to know two really good people, who did a lot for Baltimore outside of the view of cameras, tape recorders and social media posts. That said, I also know that Nick is not a guy who goes running to the media, dying to talk or get publicity (trust me, that part was maddening at times when I was trying to promote things for him/his wife). He's actually the opposite, and many have mistaken his quietness for him being aloof or some type of asshole, when in fact he is just not a wordy guy who craves attention.

Do I think the O's made a wise business move in not committing that type of length and dollars to Nick or Nelson Cruz, probably.  Was I a little biased based on my knowledge/interactions with Nick, his family and others tied to him, probably. In the end, the moves made were what each side believed was in its respective best interest. It will be weird not seeing him in RF, but I will get over it and root loud as hell for whoever mans that spot.  Steve Pearce is one of my favorite Orioles, and I hope Travis Snider live sup to the hype.  But I will still appreciate Markakis' consistency, durability and approach as he played in 1,365 of a possible 1,458  (Thx C.C.)...especially since all he knew for six of his nine seasons with the O's was losing (and God awful teams.)

Maybe I'm influenced by my many years in various aspects of the sports business and having access to a lot of inner workings that the average fan never sees.  But one of the things that experience did do for me was teach me that things are not black and white and only I decide what I think. Oh, and it also proved that my pops gives great advice.

Now, go O's.