The Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday after the team’s subpar 15-28 start to the season.
As news broke of Hyde’s firing, fans and analysts quickly jumped on social media to share their opinion. For some fans, Hyde’s departure was a long time coming. There were frustrations with the team’s seemingly constant lineup tweaks and disappointment in some of the manager’s postgame comments after losses.
On the flipside, others feel Hyde wasn’t given much leeway. He led Baltimore through a rebuild, helping the franchise win 192 regular-season games over the past two seasons. Even with swift playoff exits, is it Hyde’s fault the Orioles failed to re-sign pitcher Corbin Burnes in free agency and added several veteran arms struggling to compete?
Here’s a look at some of the social media reaction from X.
Jim Palmer, MASN analyst and Orioles legend
The O’s are playing disheartening baseball. So they make a change. Tony Mansolino is a really good baseball man. But so was Brandon Hyde. I will not forget the joy of how the O’s played during the 101, 91 wins the last two years. This year is about change, injuries, different team chemistry and the roster not performing to their capabilities. Elias didn’t get Hyde fired, his players did.
Dave Martinez, Nationals manager
It’s tough. Brandon and I are close. Love the guy. We all know what we sign up for when we take this job. But it really does stink. He’s a good man. I know he’ll land on his feet. I wish him all the best. But it’s a tough, tough gig.
Buster Olney, ESPN
Brandon Hyde is not responsible for the decision to not invest significant resources in pitching, this year, or last year, or the year before that. But here we are.
Glenn Clark, 105.7 The Fan
I don’t think this was Brandon Hyde’s fault. I don’t think this will magically change things. But I think this is how baseball works. Now the spotlight shines BRIGHTLY on Mike Elias.
READER POLL: Should the Orioles make more changes after firing Brandon Hyde?
Jeff Passan, ESPN
The Orioles have been the most disappointing team in baseball this season. They are 15-28, the fourth-worst record in MLB. They have an ERA of 5.33, the worst in the AL. Their offseason acquisitions have flopped. A nightmare season they’re hoping a managerial change can salvage.
Jayson Stark, The Athletic
The 2023 managers of the year were Brandon Hyde and Skip Schumaker. 18 months later, you won’t find either managing. The 2022 managers of the year were Buck Showalter and Terry Francona. 30 months later, Showalter isn’t managing and Francona isn’t in Cleveland. Tough gig.
Randy Wilkins, filmmaker and director of ESPN’s The Captain
Brandon Hyde did not build the starting rotation. He was also getting very little out of the young guys that were supposed to take over the American League. I’m not sure how anyone can suggest he’s a scapegoat. That team stinks across the board.
Mark Zuckerman, MASN
Managerial firings are a reaction to a lot of things, not just one moment gone wrong. But Brandon Hyde’s inexplicable decision to pitch to James Wood with first base open and Keibert Ruiz on deck in the 8th inning last night sure feels like it had to be the final straw.
Lou Merloni, NESN
Yup Brandon Hyde was the problem. Didn’t replace Burnes or Santander. Haven’t locked up any of the kids. Didn’t make any trades to add some veterans. Definitely Brandon Hyde’s fault. GM/Owner problem.
Ken Weinman, Inside Access 1057
Brandon Hyde wasn’t Earl Weaver. Miles from it. That said he didn’t take a 100 win team and turn it into a horse bleep roster. I doubt Hyde was banging the table for Morton and Kimbrel and O’Neill and Sanchez.
Brandon Wile, MLB supervising editor at The Score
Hyde deserves better after the offseason Mike Elias had.
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.
