What’s the biggest mistake the Orioles have made since 2024? | MAILBAG

Question: The question of what mistakes were made and what went wrong with the Orioles has to be traced back to the All-Star break in 2024. Prior to that date, the O’s were performing very well.

Thus, what mistakes did Mike Elias and the various managers make from the All-Star break in 2024 to now? From: Noel F. Marks, Lebanon, PA

Answer: Noel, I think the biggest mistake was the overreliance on the team’s young players. It was just assumed that Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser and Grayson Rodriguez were going to keep improving, and as we know, that wasn’t the case.

As a result of this misjudgment, the Orioles didn’t prioritize surrounding these players with quality veterans. They should have kept James McCann as the backup catcher and brought in a handful of other experienced vets.

Question: I am a lifetime Oriole fan who has lived through the highs and lows of the past 60 years. I have a friend in New York who wants to know why I hate the Yankees so much. For me, any season that the Yankees don’t win the World Series has been a success. I am interested in hearing what other Oriole fans would say. For me, the number one reason is Yankee fans – their arrogance and obnoxious behavior. I would also say the traditional Yankee approach of buying up the best talent by outspending all competitors. I still associate the Yankees with George Steinbrenner. What would you add to the reasons that Orioles fans hate the Yankees? From: Mike Kirchner

Answer: Mike, I think you summed up the reasons that Orioles fans dislike the Yankees very well. I don’t have anything to add.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.