Two full days after the end of the worst season in Orioles history, and there’s been no announcement about the future direction of the franchise.
For the sake of manager Buck Showalter, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette and everyone else in the organization, let’s hope that announcement comes soon.
Showalter isn’t expected to continue as manager in 2019, but since there’s been no indication that the Orioles will go in a different direction, speculation about his future will continue.
There’s no word about Duquette, either. Not only Showalter and Duquette, but everyone else in the organization—coaches, administrators and minor league personnel—is on edge.
The Orioles haven’t changed their general manager and field manager concurrently since 1999 when Syd Thrift replaced Frank Wren and Mike Hargrove took over for Ray Miller, and a full-scale front office makeover may not happen now, either.
But if the Orioles are set to make major changes, they should get started as soon as possible.
Ever since Duquette laid out the organization’s blueprint for rebuilding after Manny Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was clear where the team was headed.
It might have come as a surprise to many how deep and quickly the team would turn over, and it set up possible postseason changes.
With owner Peter Angelos no longer in charge of day-to-day operations, his sons, John and Louis, are making the calls, and the next moves should come now.
If they’re going to jettison Showalter after eight-plus years, the search for a new manager should begin immediately. The Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays are looking for new managers, and presumably some of the candidates for those jobs could intrigue the Orioles.
It’s the same with Duquette. Is he going to stay with the franchise he’s served for seven years? Will he be in the same job? What’s the future role of Brady Anderson, the team’s vice president of baseball operations?
Presumably, all these questions will be answered soon.
When Duquette replaced Andy MacPhail as the team’s top baseball decision-maker, he wasn’t hired until early November. Even though he had a productive and successful first offseason, he inherited Showalter as manager and didn’t have to concern himself with a new hire for the dugout.
If both Duquette and Showalter are moving along, a new top baseball executive has to be selected, and only then could the managerial search begin.
October is a critical month. Lots of preparation can be done. Free agents can be sifted through without the pressure of bidding. Minor league staffs for the next year can be secured, and your own prospects can be evaluated in the Instructional League in Sarasota and the Arizona Fall League.
Oriole fans hungry for news of the next steps deserve to hear quickly, and so do Duquette and Showalter, so they can get on with the rest of their lives—if they’re not going to be a part of the Orioles.
After MacPhail left and just before Duquette was hired, Showalter was around to advise on personnel moves and recommended the Orioles snatch Darren O’Day off the waiver wire, and they did.
But if there’s no Duquette or Showalter, who’ll be there to make those important moves? That shouldn’t be a problem, especially if Duquette’s going to stay on.
Oriole management had two full months to watch the team after the trades were made, and decisions could have been made about the future then. Hopefully everyone involved, and the fans who want to feel involved, will learn what’s next very soon.
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I agree with Jim Palmer’s assessment: “The guy that has put an organization together is Buck. Buck may better be suited as vice president of baseball operations or president of baseball operations right now than as a manager. It’s not that he can’t manage. We know he can manage. He’s been manager of the year three times”
Larry, you're free to speculate until there's an announcement--and even after.
The more this drags out, the less expectable the outcome. Until this week I was believing that Buck was gone and Dan was staying. Right now I believe that out-of-the-box behind the scenes negotiations are occurring. I'm increasing believing it possible that Buck stays with the team in the front office, possibly as effective GM. I agree fully that they need to get on with it quite soon.
Boss, thank you for your speculation, and check back to my latest response to you in the catching article.
I saw. I found what I found on Foxsports-dot-com. Just saying.
Boss, these figures are from Baseballreference.com.
Caleb Joseph 81 685.1 381 5.00
Chance Sisco 55 385.1 215 5.02
Andrew Susac 7 60.0 27 4.05
Austin Wynns 41 300.1 201 6.02
Makes me wonder if the MASN court case is a possible reason for slow decision making. I figure right after WS for a decision. I too like the Buck as Director of Operations if he wants it and is willing to accept the newer ideas and technology. That would leave DD out I guess. All I know is they better get it right.
Orial, the MASN dispute has gone on for years, and may not be settled for several more years. I don't think that has anything to do with the decisions on Duquette and Showalter.
It is very hard to believe that the Orioles still havent made a decision on these two guys. What is the holdup?
I agree with Jim Palmer. Buck has built an organization. Make him the VP for baseball and let Mr. Duquette go to Toronto or wherever. These are important decisions and the Orioles should have been ready to go as soon as the season ended.
Very disappointing.
Thank you for your opinions, Danno. Always great to hear from you.
I hate to think this, but making logical decisions is not a strong suit for the Orioles. Such as, waiting a year too long to make trades, signing guy to huge contract, not being involved in the foreign draft, not resigning key players and many more. So, what I am saying is that I am not surprised that they haven't made a decision on the team leaders yet, and they will probably wait too long and get the leftovers while all the other teams make good hires. It feels like history is repeating itself. I hope I am wrong.
I appreciate your thoughts, Devo.
I agree with the other posters. Keep Buck possibly as GM or President. Dump Dan.
One reason Dan would be a bad choice as top man is his lack of personality. He CANNOT be the "Face of the franchise" It is going to be a long rebuild and someone has to be the man to talk about it with the press and the fans to explain the process and ask for patience. Buck and AJ have been the faces of the franchise for years.
If both go, who is the face? Not the Angelos boys. And Dan certainly does not have the personality for it. Brady could be the Face if he stays but not Dan.
I think the fans will revolt if Buck and Adam are dumped and Dan is retained.
I appreciate you taking the time to add your thoughts, Victor.
How can you fire Buck, but the man that put this team together had a job?
Rich, what are the rules on tampering with managers and execs? I can't see getting someone presently in the playoffs, but is it open season on the other guys? Assuming the O's are searching, when can they do it openly? Really the same question three ways.
In order to interview a manager, coach or executive currently under contract with another team, permission must be requested, Will. They can do it openly for those without a job immediately.
I guess I'm the only Duquette advocate on this site. He's done decent job all the while being hamstrung by Peter Angelos. And now that they seem to have a change in the family rule, we want to fire him? Doesn't make sense to me.
I think there are more Duquette supporters than you might think, Boog.
I think if Duquette has free reign to run the club, he's a good guy for the rebuild. I wish he had gone for quality over quantity in the summer deals, but I'm comfortable with him in charge in the FO.
Buckhas lost the clubhouse. Nothing personal, he was amazing for this club for a number of years, but there comes a time for everyone to move on, and I think it's Buck's time. I'm personally advocating for Bordick to manage.
That's an interesting thought, Sisco.
Dubroff is withholding information pending the fanbase canvas in progress. Then he will reveal that he basically has nothing. This he will ...along with KOO BOT KO..present to the Orioles at a presser. The Org is far more aware of exactly why this season went into the big fishtank and stayed there. Speculation was in the rearview mirror after Jackie Robinson Day . Yes , that soon.
But as long as you have a KOO BOT KO and a FOLKEMER..and A DOO BROFF acting like the go to people for information , you will be strung like fish on a line. LARGE ...even YUGE moves are being finalized. The media swamp is uncomfortable speculating. The Orioles know also what their role was and is. They can stand outside and wait ...
Two good men. But none of this will make a lot of difference until they get past the giant hole in the budget and in on field production that is Chris Davis. As long as he’s on the payroll and in the lineup, competitiveness is a fantasy.
I guess now that we know that Buck is gone, I wonder what type of manager they will look for. Seasoned vet or rookie manager or a hot coach. I am not sure I agree with the new trend of hiring guys who have never managed before, but the Yankees and Sox are both in the playoffs so who knows?
Unfortunately you can’t make chicken salad out chicken-crap, Duq supplied the team, move Buck onto his position....