Brandon Hyde's lousy excuse for lineup construction proves why Orioles are failing

The Baltimore Orioles are spiraling fast toward a full-blown crisis. That might sound dramatic this early in the season, but take a hard look at the results through the first month of 2025, and the writing is already splashed across the wall in bright orange.

This team entered the year with World Series aspirations. Instead, they’re unraveling in real time. Let’s leave no stones unturned —  they were absolutely humiliated on Easter Sunday, allowing 24 runs in a historic beatdown courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds. Then a gut-check series followed against the rebuilding Washington Nationals — a team with plenty of potential, but still very much in development mode. And yet, the Orioles dropped two of three.

Injuries? Sure, they’ve been hit hard, particularly in the rotation that was already suspect to begin with. But that’s not a unique struggle in today’s MLB. Look at the Milwaukee Brewers. Look at the Seattle Mariners. Both teams have been gutted by injuries to core players. And yet, both are scratching, clawing, and staying relevant. Grit, urgency, and accountability. Things you don’t see right now in Baltimore.

The Baltimore Orioles are flirting with disaster and Brandon Hyde might be driving the bus

Instead, the Orioles look like they’re waiting around for reinforcements to arrive. And even worse, they’re making decisions that reek of resignation.

Case in point: Wednesday’s getaway game in Washington. With a chance to salvage some pride after already losing a brutal series, Baltimore turned to Cade Povich, who spun a gritty 6.2-inning gem, allowing just one run and striking out five. The Orioles escaped with a 2-1 win. But that’s where the praise ends, because the lineup card told an entirely different story.

Inexplicably, manager Brandon Hyde penciled in Jorge Mateo at second base — a player not just hitting below the Mendoza Line, but taking residence in its basement at .053/.053/.158, sporting a WAR that’s plunging in the wrong direction. And for what? Hyde’s answer to the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer was telling:

“Just because Jorgie hasn’t played in a while, and I don’t want guys to feel stale on the bench.”

That’s the strategy? With your team spiraling, you punt away at-bats so your worst hitter can get some swings off? Mateo proceeded to hit (if you even call it that) 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being predictably lifted for Jackson Holliday, who probably should’ve been in the lineup from pitch one.

This isn’t about scapegoating Hyde. It’s about a disturbing pattern. The Orioles are making passive choices in an unforgiving division. The AL East is a five-alarm fire every single week. The Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, and Red Sox are all pushing chips to the center of the table in hopes of nabbing a postseason appearance. Meanwhile, Baltimore is content with attempting to tread water, in hopes of staying afloat until the roster heals.

If the Orioles don’t find a spark soon, they risk burying themselves so deep in the standings that even a late-season surge won’t be enough. And along the way, they might burn through elite performances from their young and talented core. Wasting Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, and more would demoralize a fanbase that expected much more.

Baltimore still has time. But that’s only useful if you do something with it. Right now, the Orioles aren’t playing with urgency. And if Brandon Hyde doesn't start managing like every game matters, then a promising season will turn into a cautionary tale before we even reach the end of May.