Calling the Pen: It’s time for Orioles owner David Rubenstein to assert himself

So when does owner David Rubenstein say, enough is enough? When does he acknowledge that whatever process his Orioles say they trust isn’t working? When does he start demanding changes?

The 24-2 Easter embarrassment might have come too soon to start making moves. The sweep in Detroit, culminating with a 7-0 loss, was still in April, and starting pitcher Dean Kremer said you can’t lose a season that early.

But Thursday’s 4-0 loss at home to the Minnesota Twins that followed a doubleheader defeat the day before marked game number 42 of a season that seems doomed by injuries and ineptitude. We’re a week away from Memorial Day weekend, when the opening of pools and beach trips might divert our attention from the lost boys of summer.

As some point, Rubenstein has to address accountability. His Orioles, who made the playoffs the past two seasons, are a bad baseball team. They can’t hit, pitch or field well enough to win. They’re 15-27 and have won three series. Their talented young players are either falling short of expectations, with the exception of Jackson Holliday, or hurt. Their rotation has faltered from the start, and the bullpen is showing more wear and tear.

When Thursday’s game ended, there were audible boos from the fans who were still there. This team looks listless and hopeless. They’re turning off fans who expected more, much more, and now expect the team to lose. There’s such a thing as defensive indifference — when a baserunner isn’t credited with a steal because the defense doesn’t make a play in a lopsided game — but fan indifference is much worse. And it couldn’t come at a worse time for a team that suddenly resembles the 2021 team (52-110) more than the 2023 and 2024 teams that won 192 games and appeared to have a bright future.

How the Orioles have become this bad this quickly is difficult to figure out, although the signs were there before this season. Since June 21st of last year, the Orioles are 57-73 over 130 games.

It makes one wonder about the conversations between Rubenstein and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, whose rebuild seems to be showing serious cracks. It was predicated on drafting well and building a foundation of young talent who would get better over time. Three of those building blocks — starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Colton Cowser — have been non-factors because of injuries. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who remains the team’s best player, missed most of spring training because of an injury, appeared to rush back and seems to be trying too hard to lift this team out of its lethargy. Catcher Adley Rutschman, whose first game on Preakness Day, 2022 carried such promise, hasn’t hit for close to a year, creating doubts about his future.

If all of them were healthy and performing at a level that was expected, the Orioles would be a much better team. Adding Rodriguez to the starting rotation would put others in the slots they belong. Adding Andrew Kittredge to the bullpen might do the same. But that’s not the Orioles’ reality.

Reality is a .226 batting average and a 5.34 earned-run average. Reality is going 0-23 when trailing after the sixth inning.

Reality is something needs to change. And that change needs to come from the direction of Rubenstein. He can’t afford to wait much longer. Enough is enough.