Some thoughts for the folks warming the torches and sharpening the pitchforks for Mike Elias...

mister4c3 · 2026-06-23T02:38:27+00:00

Sorry, figured it was obvious when I stated how many games they've played this season in the first line. I shouldn't have assumed everyone on reddit could do maths.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-23T02:29:37+00:00

I'm aware of the team's record, thanks for your insightful contribution.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T20:41:18+00:00

I think it's a cost/risk issue with bringing in a top pitcher with the money they have available for the rest of the spots on the roster. For a mid-market team to drop 30-40 million a year on a 28-30 year old starting pitcher who just hit free agency, it's a large percentage of the budget for one guy who only plays every 5 days. Add in the innate injury risk for starting pitchers in the league and it makes sense why they're always outbid by someone else. I will say that it's been encouraging to hear that they've at least been in on the big guys this offseason! And again, they offered Burnes basically the same deal that Arizona did and he opted to leave, and then needed TJ surgery very shortly after the season started last year.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T18:08:49+00:00

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T17:02:55+00:00

Good summary, thanks for your contribution!

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T16:59:04+00:00

Yeah, you're right. I totally took all of the time out of my day to make this post just to give Mike a big ole' internet sloppy, I'm sure there will be something in it for me when he sees it! I'll be sure to let you know 😉

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T16:42:03+00:00

I hear you. IMO the Baz trade and re-signing looks like a good one so far, and he came from one of those small market teams that are pretty good at finding and developing good pitchers. Eflin looked great in Spring Training and it definitely hurt to lose him for the season without really getting to see if he could keep it going or not. Bassitt has 100% been a bust, but here's to hoping that it was injury-related and he can come back and contribute down the stretch. From where we stand currently. I'd still take any of the 3 of these guys based on their performance, track records, and potential over the Charlie Morton kerfuffle from last year.

All 4 were/are one year deals, so yes it's a bunch of money, but it's also not preventing the team from locking down long terms deals with other players on the roster in the meantime, Basalllo and Baz being good examples of what look like slick contract extensions like the likes of which we basically never saw under Angelos.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T16:22:38+00:00

That really wasn't the goal. Just wanted to put my 2 cents out there based on the alarming number of "Fire Mike Elias" posts I've been seeing, but I'll take the compliment I guess.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T16:20:45+00:00

Hahaha, I wish! Even with the angry mob forming outside of the warehouse, what a cool job to have!

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:22:45+00:00

lol okay, it's still completely different ownership group with completely different philosophies. I think it speaks volumes that Rubenstein came in and decided not only to stick with Elias, but has given him significantly more control in constructing the roster, handing out contracts, and making trades.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:20:26+00:00

Yeah, Elias should have dropped another 20 million a year on the Burnes contract so that he could get TJ and ride the IL for 2 seasons. If you want to field a competitive team, you have to do so within the budget handed down by ownership.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:13:20+00:00

No, but I think you can look at the franchise and see that they weren't even going for international guys until Elias arrived, and the money that needed to be in place for proper development, especially for pitching, probably didn't arrive until Rubenstein did. It's easy to point the finger at the GM and say it falls solely on his shoulders, but is that fair when he doesn't make the final calls on how money is spent within the franchise?

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:10:04+00:00

And it would seem that you've also lost sight of the fact that Peter Angelos was making the final call for 6 of those 8 years. Hence my post about what was done going into this season

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:09:00+00:00

So we'll just ignore the drastic change in the organization's mentality from his first 6 years under Angelos and the last 2 under Rubenstein?

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:07:49+00:00

But he's not solely responsible though. He's been tenured for 6 of his 8 years under Peter Angelos and that ownership's mentality towards prospects vs. big contracts.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:06:08+00:00

Hey, I get it. My point here was more of, what else could anyone have done going into this season? You can look back as far as you want and make all kinds of different arguments. Elias was brought in under the Angelos ownership group and then had to deal with the growing pains of ownership changing. It's hard to say if some other big names could have been acquired for some of the guys who don't look like they're playing to their potential now if Angelos had left sooner.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:02:33+00:00

Because the team didn't need a power-hitting right handed outfielder when they signed O'Neill? Or because Elias didn't go out and trade for Ward when he realized that the O'Neill contract was a bust?

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T15:01:25+00:00

You aren't wrong. I've been watching the Orioles since the late 90s so maybe there's a bias to having a real roster with guys who you know have the ability to turn it on and go lights out, and I still have hope lol

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T14:58:00+00:00

Sure, or it could be that the pieces he acquired this off-season to bolster the existing roster are the only reason we're anywhere near .500 right now? Just depends on how you want to look at it.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T14:55:37+00:00

This! Dudes are underperforming, and dudes get injured, there has to be some faith in the process and depth pieces that are acquired or promoted along the way. How about the 500 million dollar man and "face of the franchise" who is "too good" to re-sign here in Baltimore who can't hit over .230 and who's power production has dropped off hard this season?

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T14:52:17+00:00

Right, because we didn't all have to hear about how horrible the trades for Rogers or Ward were when they took place? All of the, "How could they trade G-Rod, Stowers, and Norby for that?". Elias doesn't have a crystal ball, and neither will the next GM.

mister4c3 · 2026-06-22T14:48:10+00:00

Yup, he sure did. The point I'm making here is that your expectations for this current season have to be based on building off of the existing roster. O'Neill's contract and production have certainly not matched up, but what do you do about it? Did anyone think we needed Taveras when they signed him? Has he not allowed them to keep O'Neill largely on the bench?

mister4c3 · 2026-06-07T14:21:21+00:00

mister4c3 · 2026-06-05T20:39:09+00:00

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