Orioles showing what 2025 was missing after Craig Albernaz's Opening Day celebration

The 2025 Baltimore Orioles were missing a lot of things. They didn't have enough pitching, they didn't hit at all with runners in scoring position, and they played sloppy defense. What they lacked most of all was something you can't trade for or find in the free agent market: vibes.

Before 2025, the Orioles had great vibes. They came up with unique celebrations that involved the whole team, and they rented boats together on road trips. The 2025 team still got along well; there were no reports of any locker-room divide, but the losing, especially the way they were being blown out with regularity, sapped the players of the joyful energy they played with in seasons past. After the season the Orioles had last year, they desperately needed a vibes reset, and it looks like they may have gotten one in the form of their new manager, Craig Albernaz.

After a frustrating 2025 season the Orioles are ready to have fun again

From the moment Albernaz was introduced to Orioles fans, a vibe shift definitely seemed possible. He was funny, he had a funny voice, and he made funny jokes about his funny voice. What more could you ask for? Besides the jokes at the press conference, Albernaz also made a point to talk about his coaching philosophy, which was about recognizing that each player is unique and has to be coached and communicated with differently, but the most important thing was to be honest and authentic.  

Honesty, authenticity, and a bit of good humor go a long way for players. As spring training went on, there were hints that the players were enjoying working with their new manager, but the celebration following Albernaz's first career win as a manager. As soon as Albernaz walked into the locker room, he was tossed into the laundry cart, wheeled into the showers, and doused with beer. The highest honor a clubhouse can bestow upon a beloved leader.

A good vibes team that's bought in is a major advantage, not just because happy baseball players play better. When an entire team is bought in, that's when the little things that create wins happen. You'll see players happy to sacrifice themselves to move a runner over, and when they throw the ball in from the outfield, they'll hit the cutoff man because they know their teammates will hold them accountable before the manager even has to. These are small things that winning teams do that losing teams don't, and it all starts with "the boys", as Albernaz calls them, being bought in and locked in.

Obviously, there won't be a beer shower after every single Orioles win this season. There will be losing streaks and tough conversations that Albernaz will have to deal with, but as long as he maintains his commitment to honesty and authenticity, the lows won't linger longer than they have to.