On Friday, after the Minnesota Twins had swept the Orioles and left them with a 15-27 record, I wrote that it was time for the Orioles to make changes. On Saturday, after the team left 15 runners on base in a one-run loss to the Washington Nationals, the Orioles announced that manager Brandon Hyde had been fired.

Immediate reaction from fans was varied. Overdue. Good riddance. Mistake. General manager Mike Elias should have been the one to go, and so on.

I felt a sadness. Not that I didn’t think something had to be done about the Orioles’ abysmal play, but because Hyde had served this team well, guiding his players through a painful rebuild and then into the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. He was the American League Manager of the Year in 2023, when his team won the AL East and 101 games.

He also presided over a team that had gone 57-74 over 131 games, including 15-28 this season.

That’s not acceptable, even if Elias bears more of the blame for the team’s downfall. Still, there’s no joy in being right when someone of Hyde’s integrity is let go. He always had his players’ backs, never threw anyone under the bus, kept his composure through the ups and downs, made no excuses.

Owner David Rubenstein got it right in his comments about Hyde in a statement released by the Orioles.

“Brandon Hyde is someone I have come to know and deeply admire, not only for his extensive knowledge of baseball, but also for his exceptional leadership as a manager. I am sincerely grateful for his significant accomplishments over the past six years, which have greatly benefited both the Orioles and the city of Baltimore.

“However, as is sometimes the case in baseball, change becomes necessary, and we believe this is one of those moments. The Orioles’ organization is truly appreciative of everything Brandon has contributed during his tenure, and we wish him nothing but success in whatever path he chooses next in the world of baseball. Brandon is a man of great character, and we thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

There was those who thought Hyde was the right choice to lead the players through the rebuild, but not the manager to take them to the next level, although the Orioles surprised everyone in 2022 (83-79 after a 110-loss season) and 2023 (101-61). Hyde didn’t know Friday night’s game would be his last, and made an interesting comment when asked if he would address the physical and mental mistakes made in the 4-3 loss.

“We’ve addressed a lot of things this year, and so if you just continue to address, it’s going to fall silent at times,” he said. “So there’s been a lot of addressing. I’m sure we’re going to talk about some things. I don’t know if tonight’s the right time. Timing’s important. Or tomorrow. Because there are a lot of people who are upset in there right now.”

Oriole players were upset Saturday when they heard Hyde had been fired. Infielder Ramón Urías summed it up: “I feel like we let him down.”

When someone loses their job in sports, fans’ passion usually guides their reaction. “Good riddance” isn’t necessarily meant to be personal but more of a statement on what might be best for the team at a time when a turnaround is essential. Fans are invested in their team, and vent when they see underperformance. It comes with the territory in professional sports.

Hyde could handle the criticism, but he couldn’t figure out a way to get this team back on track. The result is that a good man is out of a job. I agree that the Orioles had to do something, but it comes with a degree of sadness.