By John Manuel
September 29, 2004

The Orioles continued an overhaul of their player development staff that began Monday, when they announced that they were not renewing the contract of scouting director Tony DeMacio. Wednesday, the Orioles announced the same fate awaits farm director Doc Rodgers.

Rodgers had a shorter tenure with the Orioles, whom he joined in January 2003. DeMacio had worked for the organization since 1999.

"On behalf of the entire organization, Mike Flanagan and I want to thank Tony for his loyal service to the Orioles," said Jim Beattie, who with Flanagan runs the organization's baseball operations as executive vice president. "And we certainly wish him well in the future."

Wednesday, Beattie issued a similar statement regarding Rodgers.

DeMacio has overseen the Orioles' last six drafts (1999-2004), producing two big league regulars in 1999 draftees Larry Bigbie and Brian Roberts. They were two of the seven first-round picks the Orioles had that year. DeMacio and the Orioles have had poor luck with subsequent first-round picks, as 2000 and 2001 first-rounders Beau Hale and Chris Smith have both missed significant time with arm problems.

In 2002, the Orioles drafted Adam Loewen with the fourth overall pick, but their negotiations with the Canadian lefthander went nowhere. DeMacio and the O's eventually got the deal done as Loewen signed in May 2003 as a draft-and-follow. DeMacio weathered a change in management during the time Loewen was first drafted and then signed, as the Orioles fired general manager Syd Thrift and hired Beattie and Flanagan as his replacements. Only DeMacio kept his job as the duo overhauled the rest of the Orioles’ player-development staff.

Difficult negotiations also have dogged the Orioles this year, with first-round pick Wade Townsend returning to school at Rice. The Orioles drafted Townsend only after owner Peter Angelos insisted the organization draft a player it could try to sign to a pre-draft deal, negating DeMacio's desire to draft either Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew or Georgia prep shortstop Chris Nelson.

In addition, national crosschecker Shawn Pender made it official Monday, leaving the organization to become the head coach at St. Joseph's. Pender has spent the last 18 years working in pro ball for five different major league organizations. Also, the contract of Mickey White, the former Indians and Pirates scouting director whose official title is international scout with the Orioles, ends at the end of October.

Rodgers’ two-year tenure as farm director was marked by an emphasis on fundamentals and discipline. The Orioles improved their minor league win-loss record significantly from 2002 to 2003, going from a .433 winning percentage to .486. However, in '04, Baltimore’s farm system's record sank to a combined 323-382 (.458).