It’s been a chaotic week in Major League Baseball, but the action wasn’t on the diamond; it was in the front office. In an almost unheard-of streak, three managers have been fired in just seven days. As the baseball world is still processing this shake-up, one high-profile skipper has finally broken the silence.

Three managers getting fired in one week sure sounds crazy, but clearly not impossible, and this week proves it. What started on May 8 has now transformed into a domino effect.

The first to get sacked was Derek Shelton, the Pirates’ manager. Then the Colorado Rockies axed Bud Black. And finally, the Orioles said goodbye to Brandon Hyde. And following the last termination, MLB’s second-highest-paid manager, Cubs’ Craig Counsell, shared his thoughts on this managerial massacre.

Counsell shed light on the risky reality of the job. As reported by renowned journalist Bob Nightengale, Counsell said, “It’s unfortunate. It’s part of what you sign up for… Those decisions are never about one person.” Of course, managers play a big role in how a team performs, and they end up taking the blame when things go south. That, as Counsell put it, is part of the job description. But are these decisions entirely fair?

All three teams had disastrous starts to the season, and that’s what ultimately led to the dismissals.

The Pirates were on a seven-game losing streak. With a 12-26 record, they were last in the NL Central. Rockies fans certainly won’t forget that embarrassing 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres. It was the last straw in their brutal 7-33 season. The Orioles, too, have been one of the most disappointing so far, sitting at 15-28, including a recent loss to Washington.

When teams underperform, it is usual that the blame almost always falls on the manager.

Hyde was criticized by the baseball world for the disappointing start of Baltimore. They have taken a nosedive to the bottom of their divisional table. But even amid the public outcry, just weeks ago, the team’s GM stood by him. Mike Elias shared that he was “very confident” in Hyde.

But the dismissal announcement on May 17 proves something otherwise. Still, is Hyde really the only one to blame for the team’s disastrous start?

Hyde’s exit raises bigger questions about Orioles’ front office decisions

The Orioles were clearly having the toughest season start this time, and Hyde ended up taking the fall for that. But when all the blame falls solely on their manager, there’s one thing everyone seems to forget.

This is the same Brandon Hyde who led the team to the heights of the AL East table. They won in 101 games and lost only 61. That stellar performance got their manager the Manager of the Year award in 2023.

Sure, this season has had a rocky start, but one major reason may be the team’s pitching inefficiency.

The Orioles’ ERA is 5.31, which is 28th in the entire MLB. How can they fix it?

The team needs to heavily invest in acquiring pitching resources. And who’s responsible for that? Definitely not the manager. The front office made some questionable offseason decisions, most notably letting go of their ace Corbin Burnes. The new additions, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, haven’t lived up to the expectations either.

It’s clear that the team has a lot on their plate, which needs fixing, and firing one manager won’t do the trick.

Fixing those deeper issues should now be the Orioles’ top priority if they want to bring back their game. With third base coach Tony Mansolino chosen as interim manager, he has a lot to fix. Pulling a team out of a slump takes time and effort, and not just a new name on the dugout card.

If the Orioles continue to struggle, it may become clear whether the front desk made the correct call and who was truly responsible for the slide. No better way to find out than to wait and watch!