The New York Yankees kicked off “Rivalry Weekend” with a win over the Mets and watched their division rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, hit rock bottom the next morning. On Saturday, the Orioles parted ways with manager Brandon Hyde following a disastrous 15-28 start to the season.
Hyde, once hailed as the architect of Baltimore’s rise and the 2023 AL Manager of the Year, lost his job after a series of setbacks, including an underwhelming offseason. General Manager Mike Elias seemed more focused on signing aging pitchers like Charlie Morton, Kyle Gibson, and Tomoyuki Sugano than building a legitimate contender. The lack of meaningful upgrades doomed the team from the outset.
Also dismissed was field coordinator Tim Cossins whose name many fans likely just heard for the first time. Tony Mansolino will take over as interim manager, though it’s doubtful that alone will solve much.
Just a year ago, the Orioles looked poised to dominate the AL, led by rising stars Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman neither of whom has been signed to long-term deals. But after a disappointing postseason in 2023 and a weak offseason, the team spiraled further in 2024. Rather than bolstering the roster around a rental ace in Corbin Burnes, Elias opted for bargain-bin solutions, and the team quickly unraveled.
While it might seem unfair for Hyde to take the fall for the front office’s poor decisions, his frequent dramatics especially against the Yankees haven’t helped his case. From sparking conflicts over minor incidents to focusing on faux rivalries, Hyde became more known for theatrics than winning.
For Yankees fans, watching Hyde lose the job he once held with such bravado may feel like a fitting end to a rivalry chapter that never quite lived up to the hype.
