The 2015 Baltimore Orioles has ended, and we ask ourselves “where do we go now?”
It is tough to swallow that the Orioles failed to reach the postseason after a great 2014 season and their first AL East title since 1997. It is tough to swallow that the Orioles have free agency decisions looming with 2015 Most Valuable Oriole, first baseman Chris Davis, 2015 All-Star reliever Darren O’Day, long-time catcher Matt Wieters, and starting pitcher Wei-Yen Chen. Not to mention, the reportedly heated relationship between Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette. I’ll be honest; I’m scared probably like most of you, on where the 2016 Baltimore Orioles will stand after free agency, and all these issues but I say….don’t give up.
I say don’t give up, because I noticed most fans, whether in fan blogs or groups, have said they will give up on this team if they fail to replace or resign certain players.
Why give up on this team? Do we deserve a great baseball team that competes every year? Yes, absolutely but we don’t know what the Orioles have planned. Adam Jones has also pledged to talk to the O’s front office, and try to plead for a better offseason than the one we went through last year. So if you’re worried that you’re the only one fearing this offseason, know that we also have our All-Star center-fielder worried as well. He wants to make the situation better. People may say Jones has no right to be involved, but can you blame him, after the Orioles failed to resign Nick Markakis, Andrew Miller and Nelson Cruz last offseason?
I understand that the business side of MLB doesn’t guarantee that your favorite players will be back, but if you want to compete you have to re-sign guys as well as try to make the team better. I mean you have MLB HR leader Crush Davis, about to be a free agent. You have Darren O’Day, an absolute beast in the bullpen since his arrival, Wei-Yen Chen, a stable starter in a rotation of hit-or-miss starters, and Matt Wieters, who has been long praised and loved by Orioles fans, all waiting for their day in free agency. Not to mention Gerardo Parra and Steve Pearce…the list toes on. There will be a lot of question marks and a lot of questions answered, but do we hit the panic button? NO!
It may be a dark place for most Orioles fan, but don’t panic just yet. I believe in this front office. Dan Duquette was Executive of the Year last year, but I say to also include Buck Showalter in these decisions, because they are the nucleus of how Baltimore has transformed from a doormat in the cellar of the AL East to a possible contender every year. It’s about to be four years since Showalter and Duquette started working together, and this 5th year could be a make or break for this ball club. But don’t lose faith in these two just because of rumors of tension; if they can put together a ball club that can compete year after year, they can figure out a way to get past this and redesign this team.
Fans are concerned – I am too, but I do know I believe in this organization. In four years, we have transformed from a joke to a Wild Card team in 2012 to an ALCS team last season. This season was a setback, but it doesn’t mean it’s time to wave the white flag.
All the questions have not been answered, and we will wait to see them answered. As Aaron Rodgers says, R-E-L-A-X because the Orioles will be OK.
