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Good morning, Camden Chatters.
It might have taken a while, but the Orioles officially have both a general manager and a manager in the fold. Huzzah! Brandon Hyde was introduced as the new O’s skipper in yesterday’s introductory press conference, which Mark Brown dutifully live blogged.
Hyde, like Mike Elias before him, said all the right things in his introduction. He spoke about his experience in developing talent and getting everyone to play up to their capabilities. He talked about his ability to stay positive and patient, qualities he’ll need for a team that’s likely to be very bad the next couple of years. He preached the importance of playing smart baseball and grinding out at-bats. He clearly valued analytics and “open thinking.”
Hyde seems like just the type of manager who can help the front office implement a more analytics-heavy approach while also maintaining strong relationships and communication with his players. He has an extensive background in working with young players, and, as a coach on the 2016 World Series champion Cubs (and the manager of the Southern League champion Jacksonville Suns in 2009), he has the pedigree of a winner.
There will, of course, be growing pains, as there are for any first-time MLB manager. But in a relatively low-pressure environment for an Orioles team that’s not going to contend for a while, Hyde can afford to make a few mistakes as he finds his footing. I’m fascinated to see how it’s all going to play out.
Links
How the Orioles landed ‘up-and-coming star’ Brandon Hyde as new manager - Baltimore Sun
The Orioles’ hiring of Hyde, as with Elias, is being met with near-universal praise. Obviously that doesn’t guarantee things will turn out well, but it sure beats hiring someone who has everyone scratching their heads.
Orioles introduce Brandon Hyde as manager - Orioles.com
More on Hyde. His first gig as a manager is the culmination of a lifetime of scrapping and clawing his way through the baseball ranks. Who doesn’t love a feel-good story?
Hyde hopes for rapid improvement for Orioles - BaltimoreBaseball.com
More on Hyde. He thinks it’s possible for the Orioles to improve a lot more quickly than people expect. He kind of has to say that, but hey, maybe he’s right.
More from Elias and Hyde at today's press conference - School of Roch
More on Hyde. (It’s even in the headline.) It sounds like there’s going to be plenty of collaboration between the Orioles’ new manager and front office, which is a good thing. The previous O’s GM and manager didn’t exactly see eye to eye, as you may have heard.
After Rule 5 draft, Orioles’ roster is chock full of low-risk, low-cost infielders – The Athletic
More on Hyde -- oh, wait, no. Actually it’s Matt Kremnitzer’s assessment of the two infielders the Orioles picked up in the Rule 5 draft. But what does Brandon Hyde think of them?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your O’s birthday buddies are 2011 righty Jeremy Accardo (37) and the late 1964 outfielder Gino Cimoli, who would’ve been 89 today. That’s all I’ve got for you. Sorry.
On this day in 2013, the Orioles traded Danny Valencia, who’d batted .304/.335/.553/.888 for them in 52 games, to the Royals for David Lough. Lough was supposed to be a spark plug and stolen-base threat atop the lineup to replace Nate McLouth, but he couldn’t hit a lick, and he stole just 10 bases in 19 attempts in his two years in Baltimore. He did have incredible abs, though.
