Good morning Birdland,
The first managerial hire of the “offseason” has already taken place. Skip Schumaker is the new skipper for the Texas Rangers, replacing Bruce Bochy. Schumaker had spent the 2025 season as a senior advisor to the Rangers president of baseball operations, Chris Young, so this is essentially an internal promotion. He has previously managed, leading the Marlins during the 2023 and ‘24 seasons, and being named the NL Manager of the Year in ‘23.
It’s unclear if Schumaker was ever
on the Orioles radar for their open manager spot. But it may not have mattered. The plan was probably always for Schumaker to succeed the 70-year-old Bochy going into 2026. Bochy will take his four World Series titles out the door with him. It’s unclear if he is looking for another job, or if he is headed for his second retirement.
The Orioles should probably look for someone with a track record, but guys like Bochy, Dusty Baker, and Joe Maddon might have a little too much experience at this point. The team needs to win in 2026, but they also need a long-term solution.
I would be open to a re-tread, even someone that only had modest success like Rocco Baldelli. He wouldn’t be the first skipper to flounder at his first stop and then figure it out with age and experience. David Ross comes to mind too. He didn’t do a bad job in Chicago, they simply had their eye on Craig Counsell.
Ultimately, the choice for manager won’t matter as much as the health of the Orioles best players. If they get that, the team should be better by default in 2026. The right skipper might nab them another couple games.
Links
No shortage of speculated candidates to manage Orioles | Roch Kubatko
All of the names you could ever imagine are mentioned here. Even Ryan Flaherty gets a shoutout. The former Orioles Rule 5 pick has certainly made a name for himself in coaching circles.
Checking in on players Orioles dealt at trade deadline | Baltimore Baseball
An interesting idea! If only someone had done this exact same thing a few weeks ago!
Another right-handed Palmer is in the O’s organization | Steve Melewski
Twine Palmer’s first taste of action within the Orioles organization didn’t go great (9.15 ERA over 19.2 innings). Walks were the big problem, as they are with many young pitchers. Hopefully the O’s can get that straightened out.
The Orioles believe in Tyler O’Neill’s ability to produce. There’s still one issue. | The Baltimore Banner
Injuries have always been a problem for O’Neill, and that was painfully evident in 2025. His bat did show life, but he needs to be available for that to matter. Maybe he will DH a bit more in 2026.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Alec Asher turns 34 today. He spent part of the 2017 season as a swingman option for the Orioles.
- Drew Stubbs is 41 years old. The outfielder played in 20 games for the 2016 Orioles.
- Mark McLemore celebrates his 61st birthday. A journeyman utility player for 19 MLB seasons, he spent three of those seasons in Baltimore from 1992-94.
- Dave Johnson is 77 today. Not to be mistaken for the part-time MASN announcer, this Johnson spent parts of two seasons with the Orioles from 1974-75.
- The late Don Lenhardt (b. 1922, d. 2014) was born on this day. The outfielder came with the organization when they moved from St. Louis to Baltimore, and then played in 13 games for the brand new Orioles in 1954.
This day in O’s history
1969 – MLB holds it’s first league championship series games. The Orioles beat the Twins 4-3 in the AL rendition.
1971 – The Orioles open up a 2-0 series lead over the Athletics in the ALCS. Boog Powell homers twice as part of a 5-1 victory.
1993 – The sale of the Baltimore Orioles to attorney Peter Angelos and his partners is unanimously approved by AL owners.
2001 – Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. becomes the second father-son duo to play in the same game. Senior, who was acquired from the Expos just one day prior, plays left field for the Orioles while Junior mans center.
2016 – The Orioles fall 5-2 to the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card game. O’s manager Buck Showalter sticks with Ubaldo Jimenez in the 11th inning, and he gives up a walk-off three-run homer. Cy Young contender Zach Britton remains in the bullpen for a save chance that never emerges.
