BALTIMORE–What happened? The Orioles have a new manager and a new third base coach, but the result on Saturday was a familiar one.
In Tony Mansolino’s first game as interim manager, the Orioles lost to the Washington Nationals, 10-6, before 28,208 at Camden Yards on Saturday.
Brandon Hyde was dismissed on Saturday morning. Mansolino, who was the third base coach, has his first major league managing job. Buck Britton, who held the title of major league coach, is now the interim third base/infield coach.
Tim Cossins, a longtime Hyde associate, who served as major league field coordinator/catching instructor, was also fired. Assistant pitching coach Mitch Plassmeyer will take Cossins’ place in the bullpen for now.
“Not excited. This isn’t a good thing for us,” Mansolino said. “We’re going to miss Brandon in a lot of ways. To me, he did a great job here. It’s the most wins in baseball the last couple of years. It’s a Manager of the Year. So to get to this point where a change is made is not something any of us wanted by any means.”
Mansolino will be the interim manager for the rest of the 2025 season.
Kyle Gibson’s fourth start was a bummer. He allowed the first six Nationals to reach base. All scored, and he was out of the game after nine batters and just two outs.
Gibson (0-3) was booed roundly when he trudged off the mound and replaced by Charlie Morton, who allowed a run in the second inning, then pitched three scoreless innings, saving the Orioles’ bullpen from being further taxed.
“I think anytime a good person is let go and anytime someone you care about is not around anymore, it’s tough,” Gibson said. “Hyder, he was an awesome person. I enjoyed playing for him every single day, so, yeah, it was tough. Did that play into how I pitched? No. But, yeah, I mean, Hyde and Coss were awesome people, so to not have them around, it’s frustrating once again to feel like you had a hand in that firing.”
The Orioles (15-29) lost their fifth straight, getting only two hits in the first six innings against Washington starter Jake Irvin (3-1).
Ramón Urías’s RBI single and Ramón Laureano’s run-scoring double in the seventh cut the lead to 7-2.
Cionel Pérez retired each of his eight batters. With Seranthony Domínguez pitching, Nathaniel Lowe had a two-run double and Kelbert Ruiz an RBI single.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jorge Mateo had an RBI single and Jackson Holliday hit a three-run home run, his fifth.
Outfielder Dylan Carlson has joined the Orioles’ taxi squad. Tyler O’Neill, who was scratched with left shoulder discomfort on Friday night, didn’t play on Saturday.
How does Mansolino feel about managing in the big leagues? Mansolino is 42, and has been with the Orioles as third base coach and infield instructor since 2021. He managed four seasons in Cleveland’s minor league system.
“You don’t see yourself in this position,” Mansolino said. “I’m not a former ex-major league player. I’m a bad minor league player, is what I was … I haven’t sat in the manager’s seat in six years. I did in Triple-A in 2019, but it’s been a while since I’ve done it, so I don’t think you see yourself doing this.
“I thought, maybe 10 years down the road if I was able to hang in this thing a little bit longer, maybe I’d get consideration for a spot like this, but it’s not something you’re looking to do right now.”’
What do Mullins and O’Hearn think about Hyde’s dismissal?
”It’s not how I necessarily expected to hear any news on it but, yeah, I think I was very surprised,” Mullins said. “It’s a tough scenario. I feel like I failed him in a way, just not being able to perform continuously and help get some wins across the board. It’s what it’s about, but it’s the business.”
Mullins came to the major leagues in August 2018 and played for Buck Showalter, and was with Hyde in each of his seven seasons with the Orioles.
“There’s a lot of conversation about how we go about this. It’s new to a lot of people, including me, who’s been here the whole time. So, time doesn’t stop. Still got to play. Still want to win.”
Mullins became the first Oriole to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in 2021, and credits Hyde.
“His want to win and his care for his players is something that sticks out pretty heavily,” Mullins said. “I think he cared about everyone on this team, not just from a baseball standpoint, just making sure guys are OK outside of that as well. Just cared a lot.”
Ryan O’Hearn came to the Orioles in 2023, and under Hyde, he’s become a valued major leaguer.
“Got a lot of love for Hyder and a ton of respect for him,” he said. “He’s meant a lot to me the last few years. Obviously, he gave me a chance to play, believed in me, so we’ll miss him around here. Nature of this game is, when you underperform, they make changes. It sucks, but that’s how this business goes.”
O’Hearn thinks the team let Hyde down.
“Yeah, I think so, I think so,” he said. “He’s not in the box or on the mound. He’s trying to lead us and be the same guy every day and give us the best opportunity to go out and win and we didn’t make that happen
“No, he didn’t lose the clubhouse. Without a doubt, guys respect Hyde and enjoy playing for him.”
What’s going on with Gibson? The Orioles hoped that when they signed Gibson, he’d be able to offer them some decent starts. He’s yet to pitch more than four innings. In four starts, he’s thrown only 12 1/3 innings.
“I think physically I feel good,” Gibson said. “Stuff-wise frustratingly feels good. Bullpen’s feel good, everything’s been pretty normal. I think these first two or three weeks have been frustrating to say the least. Hard to find words really to go into it and to kind of voice it appropriately, honestly. Four times taking the mound feeling like you haven’t given the team a chance to win each time is a pretty big gut punch.
“Feeling like you’re part of getting a manager fired is a gut punch. Just not going out there and being able to compete and give the team a chance to win every five days is frustrating. So, yeah, I don’t know if any of your guys have ever felt the feeling of essentially letting down your co-workers, but it’s a gut punch. It’s not anything I enjoy feeling at all, but that’s kind of been the reality of the first four starts.”
What does it mean? It will be interesting to see how the Orioles perform under a former coach whom they’ve been around for five years but has never played or managed in the majors.
What’s the word? “If the ball rolls our way a little bit, it’s reasonable to get back to .500, and if you do that, you get a little momentum in this game, who knows what we can do?”-Mansolino on Orioles’ chances to turn season around
What’s the stat of the day? In four starts, Gibson’s ERA is 16.78.
What’s next? Zach Eflin (3-1, 3.13) will face Michael Soroka (0-2, 6.43) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich,@BaltimoreBaseball.com