Pirates' Derek Shelton firing just turned up temperature on Brandon Hyde's hot seat

The first MLB managerial domino of the 2025 season fell Thursday when the Pittsburgh Pirates fired Derek Shelton. That could be the first of several in-season changes for MLB teams, and eyes are on the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles are at the bottom of the American League East with a 13-23 record as play begins on May 9. At the same time in 2024, the Birds were leading the AL East with a 24-12 record. The question becomes, are the Orioles players buying what manager Brandon Hyde is selling?

Baltimore hired Hyde as manager at a time when the club was in a rebuilding process. His experience in player development was an attraction to a new front office with the task of rebuilding the Orioles into a pennant contender. Combined with his coaching experience at the major league level, Hyde was instrumental in helping to shape the Chicago Cubs into a World Series champion. According to Orioles general manager Mike Elias, these character traits prepared Hyde for the job and distinguished him throughout the interview process.

From 2019 to 2021, Hyde received his baptism under fire as the Orioles' skipper. In his first year, he led the team to a 54-108 record, the second worst in the American League. Since the Orioles were in a rebuilding phase, Hyde exhibited a management style that was emblematic of Hall of Fame New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel: the use of the platoon system, moving runners into scoring position, and having his players attempt sacrifice bunts at a higher rate than any other major league manager.

The Orioles finished with a 25-35 won-loss record in the abbreviated 2020 season, then lost 110 games in 2021. Improvements finally came the next year as Baltimore finished with a winning record for the first time since 2016.

Baltimore turned the corner in 2023 as Hyde led the club to the AL East championship with a 101-61 record, only to lose to the Texas Rangers in the ALDS. The following year, the Birds finished second in the AL East with a 91-71 record, losing to the Kansas City Royals in the wild-card round. Despite the playoff losses, Orioles fans have a higher expectation of the team’s chances to bring the World Series crown to Baltimore.

Clock is ticking on Brandon Hyde's time as Orioles manager

Regardless of the expectations, it would be problematic for any manager to endure the early-season that Hyde is experiencing. Baltimore's starting rotation is horrendous, although the bullpen has shown flashes of brilliance. The team is in a hitting slump except for Jackson Holliday and Ryan O’Hearn. Injuries have constantly plagued the O's.

Due to these hitting woes and the injury bug, it is difficult to determine how well the Birds’ young talent is progressing. However, it appears that the players have not quit on their struggling manager.

Nevertheless, Hyde's job is in jeopardy. His constant juggling of the starting lineup irritates Orioles fans. The club's chances of turning their season around rest on the return of injured players. If wins don't start piling up, there could be a new sheriff in Baltimore.

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