:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68584431/1228539854.jpg.0.jpg)
Good morning, Birdland!
When a team signs a player to a free agent deal the details of the contract are pretty well known. At the very least, journalists are able to uncover the length, salary and any possible options included. The same cannot be said for managers.
According to a report from The Athletic earlier this month, it is believed that Brandon Hyde’s deal with the Orioles is set to expire after the 2021 season with a club option for 2022.
It seems unfair to make any judgements on Hyde’s ability as a manager based on his team’s records these last two seasons. Mike Elias has been pretty open about how he has not be interested in investing much in the current major league squad, preferring to develop the minor league system and aim for winning in the future. As a result, Hyde’s team’s have not been especially competitive, finishing no higher than fourth in the AL East over the last two seasons.
That all could change in 2021. Some of the club’s young talent has begun to emerge on the major league scene, and there is more to come over the next season or two. Once guys like Adley Rutschman, D.L. Hall, Grayson Rodriguez and Heston Kjerstad have started to lace up their cleats in Camden Yards the expectations will shift. That is when the organizations will need faith in their manager.
There is no reason to believe Hyde will be relieved of his duties any earlier than next offseason. Now that he has slightly more talent to deal with, his performance can be judged with a more critical eye.
Links
Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts | MLB Trade Rumors
There is the possibility that Mike Elias may also be entering his final season under contract with the Orioles. However, it would seem unlikely that Elias gets the boot after three seasons considering how methodical he has been in his approach. Elias is going to be in charge of the O’s for a while longer.
Orioles facts and what we learned from them | School of Roch
Roch comes with some tongue-in-cheek analysis here after providing a bunch of interesting (and possibly meaningless) factoids about the 2020 Birds.
Remembering a long O’s career | Steve Melewski
Elrod Hendricks played before my time. I remember him as the Orioles bullpen coach, and once got his signature when he and the Orioles Bird were at a local mall for some sort of pre-season publicity tour.
Examining The Orioles Rotation | MLB Trade Rumors
I am tempering my expectations for this unit. That said, all signs point to it being one of the most intriguing parts of the team. The trio of John Means, Dean Kremer and Keegan Akin could all have important roles on this club for a few years to com. And a truly healthy Alex Cobb is a valuable asset to have on your roster.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Michael Bourn turns 38 years old today. The outfielder wrapped up his 11-season MLB career with a 24-game pit stop in Baltimore at the end of the 2016 season, helping the club clinch the AL’s final playoff spot that year.
The late Connie Johnson (d. 2004) was born on this day in 1922. The righty was an O’s hurler from 1956 through 1958, totaling a 3.42 ERA and 375 strikeouts over 544 innings.
This day in history
Not much has happened on this day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. So, here are some things that occurred away from Birdland.
1932 - Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City.
1968 - The first orbital manned mission to the Moon ends after Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.