The Baltimore Orioles picked up right where they left off to begin 2024 as one of the league’s most talented teams. However, since July 1, the O’s have limped to the tune of a 31-35 record.
Manager Brandon Hyde has rightfully faced an immense amount of scrutiny for the on-going collapse and his seemingly inability to stop the bleeding. However, a manager can only do so much, and I thought it was worth discussing all contributing variables to Baltimore’s rut.
Let’s roll through this together and analyze the situation.
INJURIES
You could reasonably argue that no team has had it worse in the injury department than Baltimore. Listed below are players who have missed significant time throughout the 2024 campaign:
- Félix Bautista: Out for Year
- Kyle Bradish: Out for Year
- Jorge Mateo: Out for Year
- John Means: Out for Year
- Tyler Wells: Out for Year
- Danny Coulombe: 60-day IL
- Dean Kremer: 15-day IL
- Cionel Pérez: 15-day IL
- Grayson Rodriguez: 15-day IL
- Jacob Webb: 15-day IL
- Ryan Mountcastle: 10-day IL
- Ramón Urías: 10-day IL
- Jordan Westburg: 10-day IL
- Heston Kjerstad: 7-day IL
- Zach Eflin: 15-day IL
You can go ahead and check the stats for yourself, but you’re looking at an injured list that at one point or another has consisted of three frontline starters, an All-Star closer, an All-Star third baseman, two other high-leverage relievers, an everyday first baseman and two undervalued utility players.
Some of these players have returned or are close to returning, but the lack of continuity and major blows to both the rotation and lineup have held Baltimore back in a massive way. There’s no way around that fact.
UNDERPERFORMING STARS
The O’s may have been able to survive some of these injuries if their big time 2023 contributors stepped up in a big way. But outside of Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander, really nobody has answered the call.
Since July 1, here are some Oriole slash lines from key figures:
- Ryan O’Hearn: .219/.306/.350/.656
- Adley Rutschman: .188/.280/.284/.564
- Ryan Mountcastle: .250/.281/.355/.637
- Jackson Holliday (since being recalled on July 31): .196/.248/.355/.603
- Austin Slater: .200/.289/.271/.559
Baltimore never would have banked on such a huge step back from their franchise catcher. The O’Hearn/Mountcastle slumps have given Hyde no great option at first base.
Neither of Jackson Holliday/Coby Mayo have been able to find any consistency. Colton Cowser has been hot and cold throughout the season, and Austin Slater is this team’s lead-off hitter against lefties, and that is just a few of the storylines summing up the 2024 Orioles offense.
I’m sure many of you know Jacob Calvin Meyer (Jcalvinmeyer on X). He pointed out just how bad it’s gotten for the Birds the last two weeks.
Since their 0.5-game lead on the New York Yankees 11 games ago, Baltimore has gone just 3-8, has a team slash line of .189/.261/.316/.577 and has fallen to four games back in the division.
Unfortunately, even with the starting rotation finally starting to settle in, those offensive numbers have prevented any sort of consistency Baltimore had for the majority of 2023.
Brandon Hyde is obviously not free of blame. His decision-making isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire, and the play on the field we’ve seen for months now could suggest he’s lost the locker room a bit.
However, with that being said, you can’t sit there and say he’s the sole reason Baltimore is where they are at. If the O’s do part ways with Hyde this offseason, they’ve got a litany of offensive approach issues they will need to address to have any better luck in 2025.
What are your thoughts on this team’s struggles? How much blame should be on the skipper? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Like RJ’s content? Follow him on X – @blaw690
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment