Let’s use the Orioles 2023 season as a general case study and compare with a study I learned about via well known journalist and author, Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History podcast. (Season 1, Episode 6, “My Little Hundred Million”. )
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968?i=1000372836942
At minute 12:15 or so, Gladwell discusses whether it is a greater help to a sports team if the worst player on the roster is replaced with a better player or if the team brings in an even better player as its top star. That is, does it help more to strengthen your strongest link or your weakest link?
His conclusion is: It depends on the sport. In basketball one player can dominate the court in offense and defense. So improve your top player. In soccer, a tital team sport improve the weakest player.
It set me thinking is baseball a strong link or weak link sport?
It seems that in constructing the 2023 roster, Elias, whether intentionally or not, used the improve the weakest links strategy.
Gibson replaced Lyles
McCann replaced Benboom
Frazier replaced Odor.
Additional improvements occurred with adjusting playing time levels of players in the organization for both 22 and 23.
The result was a stellar 101 win season!
The Orioles 2023 regular season experience suggests that baseball is a strengthen the weakest links sport.
But then the playoffs. The consensus seems to be we lacked the superstar who can carry the team.
It seems that baseball in the playoffs is more of a strong link sport.
So, to put it together, the 2023 Orioles season experience suggests that the regular season is improved with an improve the weak link strategy. While playoffs often need a superstar.
So, if this theory holds true, do the Orioles need to specifically add more proven All Star level players or do we simply depend upon the hope that one of these years we will have a good player get hot at just the right time?