Baltimore Orioles Ineptitude Could Change Their Future

The Baltimore Orioles are the worst team in the major leagues, and their current play could be changing the organization’s future plans.

The Baltimore Orioles are stumbling, bumbling, fumbling and doing everything possible to lose recently.

Word is that those losses piling up could impact the future of Buck Showalter. I think it has been widely assumed that Dan Duquette wouldn’t be brought back after this season.

Brady Anderson played a very active role over the winter, including being the lead architect of several deals. Duquette seemed to be off in the corner, playing a limited role.

However, Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) wrote Thursday for The Athletic that the team’s poor play could be impacting Buck as well. Rosenthal refers to several sources who say that Showalter’s future is no longer secure.

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In all honesty, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Showalter has a bad team, but it isn’t that much different from last year. As detailed yesterday, the only positions that changed significantly are catcher and right field.

While the players at those positions have struggled, it has not been as bad as some of the other positions, where players were expected to perform. First base, second base and left field are all examples, with Chris Davis as the worst player in baseball, Jonathan Schoop swinging at everything and Trey Mancini hitting near .220.

When you are this bad, something has to change. Yet, Showalter is loyal to ‘his guys.’ That is why Davis has played so much despite being awful. It is why Scott Coolbaugh still has a job, as well.

I’ve said this before, but I used to support Showalter in most that he did. Not everything, mind you. Leaving pitchers in too long and rarely pinch-hitting got under my skin in previous years.

This season is much different. The Spring Training conversations with Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays started it.

Since, a number of decisions have further confirmed that Showalter should not return, despite his great work from 2012-2016. Chance Sisco should be starting, not platooning. Chris Tillman‘s leash was too long. The defense has been a major liability, after numerous attempts to fix it.

Some of these issues aren’t Showalter’s fault either. They may not necessarily be Duquette’s as well. If both Showalter and Duquette are done in Baltimore, it will mean a new manager and potentially a new general manager, depending on what role Brady Anderson has moving forward.

That’s a problem.

The Orioles need to get their front office in order. If Anderson wants to have the liberty to do what he wants when he wants, then he either needs to be shown the door, or given less power. If he wants power, then make him the GM.

If the Angelos sons are going to take over the day-to-day operations from their father, Peter, then who will be doing what. The rumors of contracts falling through because signatures or agreements couldn’t be obtained from the front office is, quite frankly, asinine.

This is a major league sports franchise, but right now, between the play on the field and the uncertainty in the front office, it is being run as one of the worst in sports. Joe Girardi isn’t going to step into this mess as manager. Neither would a guy like Jim Thome, who some have floated as future manager material.

Next: Orioles Hope Zach Britton Can Prove His Trade Value

When it comes to the Orioles’ future, leading up to the trade deadline will speak volumes. What happens once the season ends, or potentially before if firings take place, could potentially mean even more long-term.

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