Blame Elias and Rubenstein for Orioles’ woes

First of all, all the good will once directed at Baltimore Orioles General Manager Mike Elias has long expired (“Orioles fall to Reds, 24-2, in team’s biggest loss since 2007,” April 20). While Elias drafted and put together this current young contingent of players — most of them no-brainers given the team’s high draft picks — I can’t remember a franchise so close to contending being sabotaged by a general manager as the 2025 version of the Orioles.

Look, everyone points to injuries as the reason for the pitiful performance so far this season, but a lot of teams are dealing with injuries. This really started in the offseason. How on earth did Elias think for one minute that he had enough pitching to contend?

Since new owner David Rubenstein arrived, it’s become clear that the Orioles prefer to shop for talent at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and not Saks Fifth Avenue. I sincerely don’t know what to make of this new owner, but I will tell you this team is being run worse than when Peter Angelos owned the team. But that’s only if you want to be honest and nobody is honest because nobody likes to criticize anymore.

Elias has been horrible at running this team since drafting the young kids. Most of his pitching acquisitions have been horrendous and it’s beyond time for him to be criticized. I know it’s still early in the season, but what I have seen so far has erased all the progress that was made and then some.

The people running this organization should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen.

— Bob Lancione, Towson

Van Hollen insults those who immigrate legally

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador to meet with and lobby for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States is an insult to the immigrants who came to this country legally (“5 takeaways after Abrego Garcia, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen meet in El Salvador,” April 20).

It is an insult to immigrants, myself included, who respect and abide by U.S. laws and who have worked hard and paid their tax liabilities and who respect and would never hurt their fellow citizens.

Where is Sen. Van Hollen’s compassion for the families who have lost loved ones to acts of violence perpetrated by undocumented immigrants, specifically those affiliated with the notorious gang MS-13 with which Abrego Garcia is allegedly affiliated? Where is the senator’s apology to the legal immigrants of this country?

It is likely that Van Hollen aspires to run for a higher office and he is grandstanding on issues that will give him more visibility. Unfortunately, his decision to travel to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia reveals very poor judgment on his part. He is attempting to make a political issue out of a clear law and order issue. Van Hollen’s law-respecting constituents will see right through this.

— Petros Antonopoulos, Lutherville

Watching a 401(k) shrink isn’t fun

I read Neil Rauch’s letter to the editor with much empathy as I stopped checking my 401(k) when the stock market went crazy because of President Donald Trump’s lack of understanding about tariffs, what they accomplish and don’t accomplish and who pays the price in the end (“Trump tariffs are threatening my retirement,” April 18).

The falling financial markets obviously don’t affect President Trump and his fellow billionaires. They can sit back and relax while we suffer.

Welcome to the club, fellow retirement account holder. You are not alone.

— Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore