NEW YORK – Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos rarely visits his team’s clubhouse. This week he twice made an exception.

On Monday, he went to congratulate players after their Game 2 win over the New York Yankees. Four days later, he went to the visitor’s clubhouse to console them after the Game 5 loss.

“These young men and certainly Buck [Showalter] and Dan Duquette and all the other officials of the organization have done a spectacular job,” Angelos said.
“As far as the [Yankees] we just want to tell them we will be back next year. They better get ready for it.”

Duquette, who is in his first year as executive vice president of baseball operations, was happy with how the season unfolded.

“I’m proud of the effort of the whole organization. We took some great strides forward. We’re a first-division outfit. To win 96 games is really an accomplishment and I’m proud of the work and effort that everyone did,” Duquette said.

“The season for the organization was a successful season. Our players connected with our fans. We have a group of core players here that our fans should be able to see that we can build around and field a competitive team. I’m just really proud of all the work and effort that everyone did.”

Duquette is completing his first year of a three-year contract. Showalter is entering the final season of a multi-year deal he signed in Aug. 2010.

Angelos says that he’s happy with the management team, but an extension for Showalter has yet to be addressed.

“That’s something that hasn’t come up. But if they’re interested in staying, nobody’s more interested in keeping him than I am.  And certainly I speak for everyone in the organization. They had Buck as the manager, Dan Duquette as the GM, you certainly couldn’t ask for a better, better combination,” Angelos said.