Wednesday’s Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles might finally have a manager

Good morning, Birdland!

Every baseball team has a manager. It’s just how things are done. As it stands, the Orioles do not technically have a manager. This will need to be rectified shortly, and it sounds like they have found the person for the job: Brandon Hyde.

Except Mike Elias is saying that it hasn’t happened yet. If he’s saying it’s not a done deal, then there is likely at least a little truth to it. At the same time, it’s rare to see so many media types whiff on something at once. So, despite what Elias says, Hyde is, most likely, going to be the Orioles manager in 2019.

Instant reaction to the appointment? There don’t seem to be many detractors online. He has never had a full-time management gig in the bigs. His background is in player development and minor league coaching. For a young Orioles team that would seem to make sense.

The question that more fans may care about is what the plan will be for Hyde. Is this the guy that Elias thinks can steer the O’s back to the playoffs in three or four years? Or is he simply the stopgap coach who can handle young guys better than a more experienced manager? Going based off of the recent Astros blueprint, it would seem to be the former, but things can change.

Links

Orioles deny reported hire of Brandon Hyde as next manager - Camden Chat
Well, this is awkward. It also sure sounds like Hyde is the pick. Joel Sherman was the first to report the move, but has been backed up by Ken Rosenthal and Bob Nightengale, for whatever that’s worth.

Mike Elias on getting data and analytics to the players - MASN Sports
Elias is a modern front office member that is getting the chance to build his own staff from scratch. Of course the players are going to utilize data. What’s more interesting, to me at least, is what data, exactly, is of interest to this new regime. Are they all in on spin rate and stride length for the pitchers, or is there some new metric we can learn about? Elias isn’t going to cough up too much information, but a nugget here or there would be great rather than speaking about the generic terms “analytics” and “data.”

O’s in position to steal talent in Rule 5 Draft - MLB.com
The latest compilation of names that the Orioles may look to select in Thursday’s draft. The rumor is that Mike Elias wants to make two picks. Everyone knows they could use the talent, and it’s not like they will be adding too many free agents this offseason. For the first time, I’m actually excited for the Rule 5 draft.

Have you picked your new favorite Oriole yet? Don’t become too attached - The Athletic
The current crop of O’s is the worst in franchise history. They did finish the 2018 season with 47 wins, after all, and it’s fair to say that the roster has not gotten any better since then. Still, there can be charm in losing. I grew up during the dark days of the early 2000s and will always have an affinity for the likes of Luis Matos, Jorge Julio and Buddy Groom because of it.

Chris Davis hoping to reignite career, help jump-start O’s rebuild - The Baltimore Sun
There’s not any real interesting information here, but it’s chock full of Chris Davis quotes if you’re into that sort of thing. He says everything you want to hear from a veteran on a rebuilding team, but he was also so terrible last season that it’s difficult to really believe him until we see it in action.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!

You share the day with just one former Oriole, and it’s club legend Garrett Atkins. The now-39-year-old signed a one-year, $4 million deal ahead of the 2010 season to be the team’s third baseman. He went on to hit .214/.276/.286 in 44 games, be released in July of that year and never play in the majors again. It was not the finest free agent acquisition in O’s history, but still better than Colby Rasmus.

1993 - Rafael Palmeiro signs a five-year deal with the O’s and begins his first stint with the club.

1997 - Outfielder Joe Carter inks a one-year pact with Baltimore worth a little over $3 million.

1999 - The Orioles trade infielder Jeff Reboulet to the Kansas City Royals for “future considerations.”

2007 - A massive deal: Miguel Tejada is dealt from Baltimore to the Houston Astros in exchange for Luke Scott, Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Dennis Sarfate and Michael Costanzo.