With the offseason approaching, former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been making media rounds, pointing fingers at others for the team’s disastrous 2025 campaign. His most recent appearance came in an interview with Bob Nightengale, where Hyde once again avoided accepting responsibility for the failures that ultimately cost him his job.
“I really didn’t expect to be let go,” Hyde told Nightengale. “But we couldn’t have played much worse. We had a lot of injuries, our starting rotation was ranked last in baseball, and our offense was near the bottom as well. Everything just fell apart.”
His remarks suggest that he blames the roster’s health issues and the front office’s missteps for his dismissal. While those factors played a role, Hyde’s lack of energy during the team’s early-season collapse didn’t help matters. At best, his approach made him complicit in the shortcomings of Mike Elias’ front office.
Orioles fans roll eyes as Brandon Hyde won’t own his failures
In discussing his hopes of securing another managerial job this offseason, Hyde seemed to sneak in another subtle jab at his old team.
“I feel more motivated than ever,” Hyde said. “When something like this happens, it forces you to reflect. I’m proud of what we accomplished given the payroll we were up against and the success we managed. Managing in the AL East prepares you for anything, and I’m grateful I had that experience for over six years. I feel ready for whatever comes next.”
While Hyde wasn’t exactly exposing anything new about the Orioles’ spending habits, leaning on that narrative as part of his pitch for another job comes across as disingenuous. His comments hinted that more financial investment from the front office might have saved his job.
Ultimately, Hyde’s tendency to deflect reflects the lack of leadership that defined the Orioles’ clubhouse this season. As the team unraveled, there was no strong voice to steady things. More than anything, that absence of leadership is why he was let go — and why Orioles fans can finally move on from him after this year.