Take the money and run

Mr. Flip's Rant

So maybe Jay Gibbons should give Brian Billick a call.

After all, they now have something in common: Each man is going to get millions from a Baltimore team that has decided it would rather eat the rest of a contract than keep him around.

Billick could advise Gibbons about what to do when you're paid a lot for doing nothing. (Take out the words "a lot" and that could describe Mr. Flip, as a matter of fact.)

But here's the important thing: If Orioles fans had any doubt - even after the Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard trades - that club president Andy MacPhail is being given the latitude to reshape the team without undue interference from ownership, releasing Gibbons should remove those thoughts.

In the meantime, Mr. Flip will get in touch with Gibbons and Billick and see whether they're free for lunch. Their treat, of course.