Markakis meets with Angelos

The Baltimore Sun reported on Thursday evening that right fielder and Orioles veteran Nick Markakis had lunch with team Owner Peter Angelos to talk about the state of the organization and its direction. Markakis, one of the quietest players on the team, told reporters after Thursday's win over the Marlins at Camden Yards that meeting with Angelos was something he had wanted to do for quite some time.

In response to The Baltimore Sun article written by Jeff Zrebiec, a few reporters met with Markakis Thursday night to discuss the purpose and contents of the meeting.

"I just thought it was an appropriate time," said Markakis, who was surprised the news of his lunch got leaked. "I had wanted to talk to him for a while now. Besides the point of baseball, I just wanted to see where we are as far as gong forward form here and basically just talk to him."

Markakis then paused when asked if it was his idea to meet with Angelos before responding, "Yeah."

"It was normal chit chat over lunch.... as far as baseball wise there was just what this team lacks, what we need, this and that and for the most part he was real easy to communicate with. We were on the same page and that was all we were asking for. Ideas here and there.... see where we're standing and be on the same page.

"We have some holes on this team and everyone knows where we need to improve. You want this organization to do well I know he wants this organization to do well and that's all you can ask for."

When I asked Markakis if his urge to meet with the owner went beyond this season he said, "I think it was at the point now where it's no secret what's going on here. I felt it was the right thing to do... get some answers here and there. For the most part he was very understanding and pretty easy to talk to. It went better than I expected.

"It was just to get to know him. He is my boss. He is my owner. I'm just happy we are on the same page."

With the 2010 Orioles' season being one to forget, to say the least, Markakis (and Ty Wigginton) seem to be the two guys who clearly hate losing the most. That's not to say the other 23 guys in the clubhouse enjoy it by any means, but it wouldn't surprise me that Wigginton or Markakis, two respected veterans not only on the Orioles but in the Majors, would take the bull by the horns. Leave it to the soft-spoken Markakis to take matters into his own hands.

"I think it got to that point where everyone knows I don't say much and I just go about my business and I help out the guys anyway I can," said Markakis when asked if he felt it was his obligation as a veteran leader to speak with Angelos. "I felt it was something we needed... to get it off your back, get it done with, get it over with and move on.

The contents of the meeting can respectively stay between Markakis and Angelos, but Markakis certainly made a statement, not only to the organization but to his teammates... He's had enough of the losing and it's time for things to turn around.

But will they?