Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: vs Red Sox, 1:05

You know how some fans think that their favorite team doesn’t “care” as much as they do? Yeah, that’s a bogus take almost every single time it’s uttered. Regardless, no one can doubt the frustrations of Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. Following the Birds latest loss on Saturday, the skipper had this to say:

Those comments are pretty damning against the current crop of players that the Orioles put on the field every day. He explains that the team lacks top level talent, so they need to maximize their effort and make the routine plays. When they don’t do those things, they get embarrassed, and that is exactly what has happened these last few days.

We all knew that 2019 was going to be a honeymoon type of season for Hyde and GM Mike Elias. No matter how bad things go on the field, they wouldn’t be judged based on this season’s outcome.

The same cannot be said of the players. If they aren’t fulfilling a role that the team needs filled, or if they will not provide value via trade or otherwise down the road, then they will be gone by 2020.

Tanking isn’t fun to watch play out. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t necessary, but it’s still nice to hear the manager echo what many fans feel.

Orioles lineup

1. Hanser Alberto, 3B
2. Trey Mancini, RF
3. Pedro Severino, C
4. Renato Núñez, DH
5. Anthony Santander, LF
6. Jonathan Villar, 2B
7. Chris Davis, 1B
8. Keon Broxton, CF
9. Richie Martin, SS

LHP John Means

Red Sox lineup

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Christian Vázquez, C
3. J.D. Martinez, LF
4. Rafael Devers, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Michael Chavis, 1B
7. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
8. Eduardo Núñez, DH
9. Marco Hernández, 2B

LHP Brian Johnson