648 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

MLB released the 2026 schedule today. The Orioles will open the season at home on Thursday March 26 against Minnesota.

 

https://www.mlb.com/...chedule/2026-03

[makoman]

I was gonna say opening against the Twins felt weird, but then saw we did in 2012, 2016, and 2018, so what do I know? Seems like it's always the Rays and Sox.

[BSLRoseKatz]

I was gonna say opening against the Twins felt weird, but then saw we did in 2012, 2016, and 2018, so what do I know? Seems like it's always the Rays and Sox.

 

Genuinely amazed it was only 3 times, felt like it's been way more than that lol

[makoman]

Genuinely amazed it was only 3 times, felt like it's been way more than that lol

Throw in 2013 as the home opener.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Im gonna put this in the 2026 thread cuz F the 2025 season. I desperately need ownership to hold everyone under them accountable. It starts with Elias and goes down from there. The culture has to change. This ballclub at the MLB level is soft, lacks accountability, lacks fundamentals and plays dumb baseball. 

[BaltBird 24]

They've always been a soft group of players.

Everything went right in 2023 and they won 101 games, but once they faced some adversity in the playoffs they folded like a cheap suit.

Started off hot last year, had some injury issues, faded much of the 2nd half. Once again folded like a cheap suit in the playoffs.

Don't really remember the dumb play/ lack of basic fundamentals really begin happening until last year, however. They seemed pretty sound in 2022/23.

[Mackus]

They've always been a soft group of players.

Everything went right in 2023 and they won 101 games, but once they faced some adversity in the playoffs they folded like a cheap suit.

Started off hot last year, had some injury issues, faded much of the 2nd half. Once again folded like a cheap suit in the playoffs.

Don't really remember the dumb play/ lack of basic fundamentals really begin happening until last year, however. They seemed pretty sound in 2022/23.

 

They also slumped late in 2022 when making the playoffs became a possibility.

 

They choked in '22 and '23 then imploded in the middle of '24.  Can't handle any adversity.

 

Agree that I don't remember the sloppy, unfocused play to this degree until the downturn in June of last season.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

The culture has to change

[weird-O]

It's strange to me, that Rutschman was the team captain in college, and that his leadership trait didn't follow him into his pro career. It's not like he joined an O's team that was loaded with Adam Jones types.

[makoman]

It's strange to me, that Rutschman was the team captain in college, and that his leadership trait didn't follow him into his pro career. It's not like he joined an O's team that was loaded with Adam Jones types.

The team changed completely exactly when he came up, from years of losing to winning right away, so it seemed like more than merely adding a good hitting catcher. Maybe it was just random, who knows.

[jamesdean]

You have to walk the walk before your teammates will follow your lead and be willing to have you hold them accountable. Adley's lame performance doesn't hold much water. Put up the numbers and others will listen.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Positive energy can have tangible effects. Same with negative energy. I mean he also hit pretty darn well after an initial slow start to his career. That helps the team too.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Put up over 5 WAR in 113 games. Thats pure production

[weird-O]

You have to walk the walk before your teammates will follow your lead and be willing to have you hold them accountable. Adley's lame performance doesn't hold much water. Put up the numbers and others will listen.

I agree with you, in principle. You can't be a scrub and try to tell others to be better. But he showed up and had ~two awesome seasons, and was good for a portion of 2024. What he did for 2.5 seasons, was enough to position himself. Especially since he's the catcher. But he hasn't been a captain type. Maybe he didn't want that role in his pro career. maybe he didn't think he'd earned it yet.   

[Mackus]

You have to walk the walk before your teammates will follow your lead and be willing to have you hold them accountable. Adley's lame performance doesn't hold much water. Put up the numbers and others will listen.

Did you not watch any games in '22 and '23? Even the first half of '24 he was awesome. Wasn't until July of last year that he fell apart and your comment makes sense.

[jamesdean]

Did you not watch any games in '22 and '23? Even the first half of '24 he was awesome. Wasn't until July of last year that he fell apart and your comment makes sense.

That was then, this is now.  

[jamesdean]

I still say the whole leadership thing is overrated.  If you need another player to show you how to play the game at the major league level, then something is wrong with the picture.  Talent and playing up to your potential are what's going to win you games.  Everyone keeps mentioning Adam Jones but he was part of some lousy teams too.  His influence didn't help then.  Lacking a team leader isn't why the team has played like crap for over a year and a half.  Not enough talent and the ones who have it, haven't showed up.  

[Mackus]

Talent and playing up to your potential are what's going to win you games.

Seems like you do think leadership is important, because I'd argue that it's the overall leadership that heavily influences the "playing up to your potential" part. Coaching leadership a part of that, not just player leaders. But I definitely think you get more "while greater than the sun of the parts" results when leadership is active and trusted.

[jamesdean]

Seems like you do think leadership is important, because I'd argue that it's the overall leadership that heavily influences the "playing up to your potential" part. Coaching leadership a part of that, not just player leaders. But I definitely think you get more "while greater than the sun of the parts" results when leadership is active and trusted.

Nope, don't agree with you on this one. If you need someone else's leadership to show you how to play up to your potential,something got lost in the maturation process. Or you just never had it to begin with. If you have the talent and the potential to be a great player, its up to you to have it come to fruition, not a teammate showing you the way. Do you think Earl Weaver's best teams would have 100+ games three years in a row if all he had was Frank Robinson and the rest of the team sucked? A team leader is the least of this team's problems.

[Mackus]

Leadership is irrelevant is certainly an opinion.