The Orioles Can't Get Right

 The MLB regular season is over and after a rain canceled last game yesterday, the O's finish the season 79-82 and in fourth place in the AL East. Which to be fair and honest, is a better record than what alot of people anticipated. However, although no one who pays attention honestly expected the team to make the playoffs this year, we expected a bit more than what we got. I've yelled to the sky too many times about the problems that continue to plague the Orioles, and I've come to realize they just cannot get out of their own way.

I've wrote about it before, but time for Elias to go. He's made some good signings (Polar Bear Pete) and seems to make good, conscious draft decisions. However, the system he's built and continued overreliance on analytics has been a detremint to the team. The player development just doesnt produce the results we would expect from high draft picks. After a continual decline, Adley Rutschman was traded to the Red Sox (which to be fair, I didnt mind that trade at all) and seems to have turned things around. Pitching continues to be a achilles heel for the team, which I still attribute to Mike Mussina. And Mike continues to make what the hell decisions?

Albernez as a first year manager was going to have growing pains, that's the nature of any job. Especially a first time leadership job, no matter how good of a leuitetant you were. However, the regression of stars like Gunnar and some of the most asinine decisions on the field players made. You often wondered what kind of message he was giving the team. Combined with his responses to the media and some of his lineup decisions. You had to wonder this was the best candidate during the interview process?

Then there's Rubenstein, who gave us hope a true new era was upon us when he bought the team in early 2024. Now he's a very smart businessman, and I'm sure he didn't want to come in and start making drastic changes. 2027 will be his fourth season as owner (barring we have a season), and he continues to support Elias while the team underperforms. The side eyes will be even more heavy as we expect a different approach from this new ownership group.

Then there are the players themselves. Look 162 games during the hottest time of the year is a task, mentally and physically. There are bound to be injuries, hitless streaks and other outside factors that affect performances. However, it often looked like the team as a while lacked fundamentals and a good IQ of the game. Baseball is a very situtational game, and sometimes the situation was a stinker. Hopefully they watch their game film, work on their reps and come back a bit better next season.

All these factors combined with the notorious history of the team the last 30 years. Continual pitching woes and inability to sign and develop true aces. The overreliance on analytics, and signings they can get on the low. Making the playoffs and then completely tanking. I'm convinced more than ever, they just can't get out of their own way. They are in fact the can't get right team of major league baseball.