Some fans are probably happy that the Baltimore Orioles’ season is over. But for the vast majority the end of baseball season is always somewhat sad and reflective. If for no other reason than it means cold temperatures will eventually be setting in. Kyle Bradish got the start this afternoon at Yankee Stadium in the season finale. Bradish’s line: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K.
Bradish surrendered a solo home run to Rice in the first inning, but allowed no further damage. However back-to-back home runs in the fourth gave the Orioles the lead. Jordan Westburg got the party started, and his solo homer was followed by one from Gunnar Henderson.
However the O’s did have a lead in this game. That is until Stanton’s RBI-single in the home half of the frame tied it back up at two. And the game would be knotted at two for almost the rest of the way. However Rice’s solo shot in the eighth ended up putting New York over the top, and they won 3-2 over the O’s to close the season.
The big question in the air for the Orioles now is where do they go from here. One thing we know indubitably for sure; Tony Mansolino has managed his final game as interim manager. He’ll either be offered the full time job, or the Orioles will hire someone else. Either way, today was his last day with that interim tag.
I maintain that if Mike Elias was going to extend Mansolino, he would have already done so. So my prediction is a new guy will man the dugout next year. One way or the other, odds are it won’t be announced during the MLB postseason. Teams tend to lay low during that time.
Make no mistake, the 2026 Orioles are not a tear down and rebuild. This is a team that was done in by injuries before the season even started. I would submit that it started going awry when Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells went down last season. On top of that, Gunnar Henderson went down in spring training, stunting his early season. Not to mention Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, and others.
Point being, this season was doomed in advance. However that also means that IF the O’s don’t suffer that same fate in 2026, things could be different. I maintain that they need an experienced manager who’s been around the block. Someone who isn’t freaked out by analytics, but also one who isn’t bound to them. Someone who manages more by the book as opposed to by the computer.
There’s an entire off season to discuss this. But one way or the other, hope will spring eternal in a few very short months. Before you know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting. And everything is renewed.
Birdland Crush 