It’s been a tough couple of months if you’re a Baltimore or Maryland sports fan. In January, the Ravens had a devastating loss to the Buffalo Bills after Ravens TE Mark Andrews dropped the ball to tie the game. on March 15th, Maryland’s men’s basketball team missed an opportunity to advance to the Big 10 Championship game after Michigan hit the go-ahead bucket to win 81-80 with 0.4 seconds remaining. Now, fans will try and shift gears to baseball season, which won’t be easy. After all, being an Orioles fan never is.
The last six months were a rocky ride for the O’s, full of disappointment and surprises. After losing the AL East to the Yankees by only three games (the disappointment), they were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the wild card round of the playoffs — as if the Chiefs haven’t done enough damage to this area (the surprise, because they scored just one run in two games).
The offseason has been underwhelming, as the O’s couldn’t re-sign their ace Corbin Burnes and didn’t necessarily replace him in the process. They did sign Charlie Morton and Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. The concern? Morton is 41 years old and entering his 18th season in the majors, while Sugano has never pitched in America until now. The O’s also let fan-favorite Anthony Santander walk (or fly) to Toronto as he signed with the Blue Jays. They did sign Tyler O’Neill to replace Santander, but O’Neill has dealt with injuries pretty often over the years.
So far, this offseason has looked like the others under the Elias regime. Active, but no major signings and honestly, not enough signings.
Fans have been looking for new ownership to invest in free agency, to show that they are serious about contending. So far, this offseason has looked like the others under the Elias regime. Active, but no major signings and honestly, not enough signings.
The Orioles have dealt with big blows to their pitching, especially on the back end. Starter Grayson Rodriguez is dealing with a right triceps injury, while newly signed middle reliever Andrew Kittredge will miss multiple months with a knee injury. To add insult to injury, Félix Bautista, the Orioles star closer who many thought would be available by Opening Day after having Tommy John surgery in 2023, may need a little more time.
Between the current injuries and not enough activity in the offseason, it feels like a recipe for disaster.
“I definitely think they could have adjusted the bullpen more,” says Zach Moore from the PigTownSports Podcast. “Going into the season, I was pretty excited to have Félix [Bautista] back, but there’s been some question marks. It would’ve been nicer to have 2-3 guys that you could really depend on once you hit that 8th inning, you know, that you could just throw out there, like Tanner Scott,” referring to the former Orioles pitcher who was available this past offseason. Scott eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“That’s a part of the expectations that grows when you have a contending team. So I get being disappointed [in the lack of big-name signings] because you care so much.”
Ryan Ripken, sports media personality
Are fans asking for too much, or do they just want to see the Orioles elevate into true contenders? If you ask media personality Ryan Ripken of Ryan Ripken Media, the offseason bickering from the fanbase has been a great sign of the Orioles returning to what they once were.
“I love the fact that the Orioles are relevant again, because you feel like there’s this hope that this team can win it all and when you have the higher expectations, usually that entails the fans specifically [to say], ‘Let’s go make those big splashes,’” says Ripken. “That’s a part of the expectations that grows when you have a contending team. So I get being disappointed [in the lack of big-name signings] because you care so much.”
The one thing that could overshadow the lack of depth from the pitching staff could be the offense. Now, I know what you’re thinking. The same offense that couldn’t drive in a run in the playoffs last year if their lives depended on it? Yes, that offense.
After a tough second half in which the offense sputtered out in the playoffs, the Orioles hired Cody Asche and Tommy Joseph as their new hitting coaches. Adley Rutschman, who struggled heavily in the second half last season, has had a great spring training. Jordan Westburg, their most consistent hitter in 2024 who was missing late last year due to injury, is back in the lineup. Ryan Mountcastle has been back to form. Jackson Holliday has finally gotten the Similac off his breath and will be starting his first Opening Day. O’Neill brings a veteran presence to this young team, while hitting 31 home runs last year. Oh, and two words — Gunnar Henderson.
Why aren’t the Orioles getting better? Well, who says they’re not? Despite their flaws, this team is still constructed to win a lot of games in 2025.
It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. The Dodgers are spending money the way Kim Kardashian spends money on her surgeries. The Yankees lost out on Juan Soto but got Max Fried. The Red Sox have revamped their team as high rollers in free agency. The Rays are quietly building a great pitching roster. Why aren’t the Orioles getting better? Well, who says they’re not? Despite their flaws, this team is still constructed to win a lot of games in 2025.
“I think they are very capable of winning the AL East,” Ripken said. “But to be honest, you just need to get in [the playoffs]. I don’t care how they do it, just get in. When you look at the Baltimore teams, they’re not going to be judged for the regular season. It’s going to be, what did you do in the postseason? Doesn’t that sound familiar with the Ravens?”
Thanks for reminding us, Ryan.
So buckle up, Birdland. The 2025 baseball season is upon us. There will be ups and downs, trials and tribulations. But I believe they will be ready for the challenges of getting the bad sports taste out of the mouths of many Baltimoreans and Marylanders alike.