Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Nearly halfway into the season, the Orioles remain a frustratingly inconsistent team. At times they look great and capable of beating the best teams. Other times they are unable to avoid making silly mistakes against lesser teams and they waste opportunities to stack up wins against that level of competition. At 34-39, it feels like they should be hopelessly out of the race, but, with the state of the AL being what it is this year, they are only 2.5 games out. If they can ever go on a 5+ game winning streak, they should be in a good position.
The trade deadline is still about a month and a half away. In this week’s survey, I want to know where you think this team will land in this back and forth. Will they stay close enough to be buyers, or are they going to fall out and end up as sellers for a second consecutive year?
There is also the Mike Elias track record to consider. He made the 2022 team into sellers even after their July resurgence, an unpopular decision that prompted him to say “it’s liftoff from here,” which I suspect nearly four years later he regrets having said. Even if Elias ends up buying, he’s unlikely to be as aggressive as fans would like. But that’s not the question. Just break it down: Do they buy or do they sell?
Recent Orioles play is probably going to lean the responses in one direction. In asking this question, I’m more interested in seeing how lopsided it is. Perhaps the votes will surprise me. It’s happened before.
Read the full article here