FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It has been a solid ride, the past 13 seasons here, even in an obsolete ballpark.

Great restaurants, beautiful beaches and a conscientious stadium staff. Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar called Fort Lauderdale "the best city in Florida."

The people and places here will be missed, but it's time to wave goodbye and head two hours north to Vero Beach.

Because the positives that come with spending spring in an eclectic, bustling city do nothing for what should be the Orioles' end goal: to be a better baseball organization.

Having its major league camp at Fort Lauderdale Stadium and its minor league complex in Sarasota, three-plus hours to the northwest, is counterproductive at best - ludicrous at worst.

"They need this and the minor league complex together like every other team has got," Orioles reliever Jamie Walker said. "This is a joke ... to be honest with you."

In December 2006, the Orioles and Fort Lauderdale officials agreed to a $38 million renovation plan that would strip and rebuild the current complex and also construct a minor league facility on the site of Lockhart Stadium across the street.

It's a fine idea, but the plan has been held up awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (an executive airport is adjacent to the stadium land), and there's no guarantee it will happen soon. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are leaving their expansive complex in Vero Beach for new digs in Arizona - likely at the end of this spring. Vero officials have an option agreement with a big league club to potentially replace the Dodgers, and that's believed to be the Orioles.

If the choice is staying in South Florida and eventually improving the cramped, dilapidated complex here or descending on Dodgertown, with its pristine fields, renovated facilities and relative proximity to other spring camps, it's a no-brainer.

"I hope we are moving to Vero Beach," Walker said. "I don't mean that [against Fort Lauderdale], but we need that. We need them kids here, because, for one, us older guys can talk to some of the young guys."

There are two obvious reasons the Orioles should relocate. The first problem can't be fixed with a new structure here. Fort Lauderdale is too far away from the other spring clubs. Only one other complex is within a 90-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale; four are within 90 minutes of Vero.

But the real need for a move is to create an atmosphere of continuity throughout the spring as soon as possible.

In their current situation, the Orioles can't easily transfer players between Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale. Prospects can't get a quick taste of the big leagues; they can't even watch a spring Orioles game without a 200-mile drive.

And that's ridiculous.

Here's Walker's take on that: "When I was coming up with Houston and you got called over to the big league side, you got to dress with the big leaguers, you got your $25 meal money, you were happy," he said. "And you sat there and listened. And you learned. I think it hurts the organization by doing this."

Scott McGregor, an Orioles spring instructor and the Aberdeen IronBirds' pitching coach, remembered his first camp with the New York Yankees in Fort Lauderdale, when the Yankees' minor league camp was a 15-minute drive away.

"I'm 19 years old and I am here with Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle and I'm going, 'Holy God, what is this?' " McGregor said. "There is nothing more intimidating or more wonderful than that. ... It really is good for the whole chemistry of an organization."

It's possible that the Orioles could create that kind of feeling here, assuming they have enough space across the street or if they can build a minor league facility within a short drive.

"Obviously you'd like to be closer, but they don't have to be contiguous," club president Andy MacPhail said of the minor-major dilemma. "But you would like them in closer proximity."

When MacPhail arrived in June, he had a wish list of things he needed to accomplish to get this franchise pointed in the right direction. He wanted a stronger international presence, a technology upgrade, a renewed commitment to scouting and development, and a better farm system.

One by one, he has checked them off. The last remaining priority is settling on one spring training site for the entire organization. That ultimately is in the hands of owner Peter Angelos and his son, John, who has been supervising this project.

From a business perspective, it's much more enticing for fans, corporate partners and minority owners to visit entertaining Lauderdale than sleepy Vero.

But this decision needs to be about baseball. And in that context, it's time to leave Fort Lauderdale behind.

dan.connolly@baltsun.com