Saturday’s Bird Droppings: Where it is Brandon Hyde’s one-year anniversary as Orioles manager

Good morning, Birdland!

This is an important date in Orioles history. Just how important it will be remains to be seen. Exactly one year ago today, Brandon Hyde was named as the replacement for Buck Showalter, taking over as O’s manager. Those a re big shoes to fill. Showalter was one of the franchise’s better managers, perhaps the best one to not win a World Series. It would be tough for Hyde to measure up.

After one year, we don’t know much more than we did on the day that he was hired. It’s difficult to learn much about a manager when the talent he has at his disposal is barely major league quality.

The 2019 Orioles finished the season 54-108, a seven game improvement from 2018. They were the second-worst team in baseball. It wasn’t a lot of fun to watch and it doesn’t seem like there was a whole lot that Hyde could have done to make the O’s much better in the standings.

One memory that does stand out from last season was when Hyde and Chris Davis had a shouting match in the dugout.

What was said? It’s unclear, and no one from the team told the press about any of the details. It probably wasn’t too nice considering Davis’s reaction. This situation could go either way. The team was in the midst of a losing season, and it can be easy for frustrations to boil over. Or it is indicative of a team with some chemistry issues. It’s unfair to make a determination of Hyde as a manager based on one moment.

Things could get more interesting this season. Hyde’s ability to manage a pitching staff will be challenged. Also, the club could begin introducing some of their more interesting prospects to this mix. Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer and Ryan Mountcastle are all expected to debut at some point in 2020. How Hyde handles their playing time will also be important to monitor.

Links

2020 Is A Pivotal Year For Ryan McKenna - Birds Watcher
Ryan McKenna has a skill set that makes him an intriguing major league prospect. He can handle all three outfield spots and is a threat on the bases. If he can hit enough, he is a natural fourth outfielder with the chance to be a little better than that. His ability to hit is in doubt though, as he has stalled a bit at Double-A Bowie these last two years.

Learning and confirming more about the Orioles - School of Roch
Roch bombards you with a ton of little tidbits here, including the thought that Hanser Alberto has a chance to play some shortstop in 2020. Eh, I don’t like that. Don’t like that at all!

A look at how one O’s minor league pitcher used technology to improve - Steve Melewski
We are SO advanced now, you guys! Hopefully this allows the Orioles to find a few more diamonds in the rough on the mound than they previously did.

Five things we learned about the Orioles at the 2019 winter meetings - Baltimore Sun
Things are changing in Baltimore. It’s not necessarily evident on the major league roster as we are still a couple of years from seeing a somewhat competitive team back at Camden Yards, but there has still been a pretty obvious overhaul.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

It is the 44th birthday of Rodrigo Lopez, one of the Orioles better pitchers during the dark times of the early 2000’s. From 2002 to 2006, Lopez pitched in 167 games and started on Opening Day three times. (‘03, ‘05, ‘06). As an Oriole, he had a 4.72 ERA and 9.2 bWAR.

The late Jeff Robinson (b. 1961, d. 2014) was born on this day. The right-handed pitcher played in just 21 games for the Orioles as part of the 1991 team. He allowed 60 runs and struck out 65 batters in 104.1 innings.

Another posthumous birthday shoutout to Sam Jones (b. 1925, d. 1971), an O’s hurler for seven games in 1964.

And finally, it is the birthday of the late Bobby Adams (b. 1921, d. 1997). Adams was an infielder in the big leagues for 14 seasons. Only 41 games were spent in Baltimore during the 1956 season.

1963 - The O’s acquire pitcher Harvey Haddix from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade for infielder Dick Yencha plus cash.

2011 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada signs a two-year deal worth $8.15 million with the Orioles. He would never pitch in a game for the team.

2018 - After much speculation, Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde is named as Orioles manager.