Baltimore Orioles: Would ten random fans really be a better front office?

The Baltimore Orioles have been awful lately, but are they really bad enough where ten random fans would be an improvement in the front office? Well…

Since the end of the 2016 campaign, and a Wild Card berth, everything has gone wrong for the Baltimore Orioles. They finished in the basement of the American League East, but still made an effort to buy at the trade deadline, instead of selling their assets. Heading into this season, the Orioles again made a push to reach the postseason again, essentially bringing back the same disappointing team, with Alex Cobb added in.

Unsurprisingly, the Orioles have again been a disaster. They are already 17 games out of first in the AL East, tied with the Reds for the worst record in the game. Their -72 run differential is the worst in the game, 14 runs behind the Royals. And, let us not forget that Baltimore has lost their last six games.

It is not a surprise that the fanbase is upset and frustrated. The Orioles have been a disaster on the field, and do not appear to have a plan going forward. Those frustrations with the front office and ownership were succinctly summed up in this entertaining tweet by ESPN baseball analyst Dan Szymborski:

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Interestingly enough, he may actually be correct. Ten random fans would have realized that bringing in Jeremy Hellickson at the 2017 trade deadline would not change the team’s fortunes. Likewise, they would not have blocked trading Zach Britton to the Astros. The offseason would likely have been much different, with players like Manny Machado and Adam Jones put on the trade block. Or, if the intent was to contend in 2018, Alex Cobb would not have been the only notable move.

Those differences would likely be felt on the minor league level as well. International free agents would not be regarded with the same reaction as syphilis, Sleeman Clear, and the music of Carly Rae Jepsen. Chance Sisco would not be the Orioles best prospect in the past four years. There may actually be a definitive direction.

During the disaster that the Orioles have become, one has to feel bad for Dan Duquette. The Blue Jays wanted to bring him in as their CEO/President, but the Orioles would not budge. That stubbornness from ownership has hamstrung this once proud franchise, turning the Orioles into a laughing stock. Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken would be spinning in their graves.

Next: Potential Manny Machado trade destinations

Would ten random baseball fans have more success with the Baltimore Orioles than the current front office? It may be hard to argue otherwise.