When a team dismisses a manager just months after he was crowned the league’s best, it sends shockwaves. That is what unfolded with the Orioles this month. Brandon Hyde was fired as the manager, citing the team’s sluggish beginning this season. While fans were obviously frustrated, many insiders, including Jim Bowden, think the real mistake is not the firing itself, but what comes after.
So, of course, Bowden bluntly remarked, “The important part is not the firing. The important part is the next hiring.” This criticism is not rooted in sentimentality—it is strategic. Bowden argues that replacing the 2023 AL Manager of the Year with Tony Mansolino looks like a hasty patch instead of an effective fix. It may seem harsh, but in reality, Bowden does have a point given the fact that Mansolino has not managed above Triple-A since 2019. He believes the Orioles’ decision to promote from within does not change the voices in the team.
It only changes the name on the door. If the Orioles wanted a shakeup, Mansolino could not be the voice to deliver it. Interestingly, Bowden did not stop at critiques—the former General Manager also offered some alternatives. On MLB Network Radio, Bowden named three candidates he thinks the team needs to seriously consider: Skip Schumaker, Joe Maddon, and Joe Girardi. And let us just tell you: this trio is not random.
Schumaker brought fresh leadership to the Marlins, Maddon broke the Cubs’ century-long curse, and Girardi has rings both as a player and as a manager. However, is that all Baltimore needs to analyze?
Here are some names @JimBowdenGM hopes the #Orioles consider for their next manager:
Skip Schumaker
Joe Maddon
Joe Girardi#Birdland
https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/P3Dt5wnBF4
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 18, 2025
Let’s break it down. During his time with the Marlins, Schumaker showed poise in difficult moments while also proving he could handle young stars as well as media forces—two aspects the Orioles desperately need. Coming to Maddon, known for his quirky yet effective approach, has a record of turning dysfunction into dominance. And Girardi? He has managed the Yankees for ten whole seasons, and his tenure there was marked by high-stakes playoff runs, including the World Series Championship of 2009. These are not just experienced managers—they are proven winners.
That is where Bowden’s warning hits hardest. Hiring someone with no managerial experience—while leaving powerful stars available—is not just risky, it could derail the team’s entire season. The AL East is no place for on-the-job training. Hyde’s tenure, though not perfect, was proof of what leadership could deliver. And now with the front office’s haste in shifting blame, a question lingers on everyone’s mind: did the team just trade steady for shaky?
What the Orioles can learn from past prospect contenders
Is it only the managers who are at fault? For a team that once sat atop MLB’s farm system rankings, they now find themselves in uncomfortable company near the bottom of the AL standings. However, if history has taught the Orioles anything, it is that a tough stretch does not have to derail a dynasty-in-the-making if the team adapts swiftly. The good thing is that multiple teams in the past faced similar issues. This means there might be some effective lessons that the Orioles would be wise to heed.
Lesson #1: Supplement stars with sustainable arms — Like the 2012 Cardinals
The Cardinals in 2012 rode a mix of homegrown stars and elite veteran signings to three straight playoff appearances. After losing Adam Wainwright, the team turned to youngsters like Shelby Miller and Michael Wacha. During that period, they also traded for John Lackey, whose 5.8 WAR and 2.77 ERA in 2015 kept the team afloat. In contrast, the Orioles have leaned too heavily on aging stars like Charlie Morton and Kyle Gibson. They are posting ERAs exceeding 9.00. If they want to make a comeback, Mike Elias needs to target reliable stars.
Lesson #2: Do not wait too long to make effective deals — learn from the Cubs and Astros
The Orioles appear to be following the Cubs’ and Astros’ blueprints—establish foundation with key stars, then plug gaps with veterans. However, the Cubs and the Astros did not hesitate to move quickly. For instance, the Cubs added Jon Lester and traded for Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks. The Astros made key deals to add Verlander, Cole, and Greinke. Elias, a product of the Astros, has yet to provide that kind of consistent pitching firepower. With elite-level position stars like Rutschman and Henderson in their primes, the Orioles cannot afford to be passive at the deadline, because acquiring a multi-year star, not just a flyer, needs to be the top priority.
Lesson #3: Do not fall into Pittsburgh’s Pitfall
The Pirates from 2013 to 2015 were kind of a cautionary tale. Despite three straight playoff berths, the team’s poor trade decisions, like trading Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and Shane Baz for Chris Archer, stopped any long-term momentum. The Orioles’ farm system, currently ranked 14th by FanGraphs, needs to be smart about which prospects the team trades away. Not every elite star pans out; just ask the Pirates how that Polanco experiment ended.
Lesson #4: Learn from the 2000 White Sox that youth is not enough
The Orioles’ youth movement mirrors the 2000 White Sox. The Chicago White Sox had the second-youngest roster on ESPN’s comparison list; however, it failed to make the playoffs. Their prospect class, which included Joe Borchard and Matt Ginter, performed poorly, and the White Sox stagnated despite early promise. If the Orioles hope to avoid such a fate, the team will need more than power—they will need production. That may mean reshuffling who the team relies on in the middle of their lineup, where stars, like Ramon Urias and Gary Sánchez, currently serve as stopgaps.
By firing their manager, Baltimore triggered a big turning point. With the AL East tightening and their young stars maturing fast, the upcoming move needs to be effective, not rushed. Whether the Orioles rise or regress now hinges on leadership. Baltimore’s front office can’t afford to miscalculate twice.
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