Showalter fired as Orioles manager after 115-loss season
BALTIMORE — Buck Showalter has been fired as manager of the Orioles, who made three playoff appearances under his guidance but this year staggered through the worst season since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954.
A three-time American League manager of the year, Showalter ranks second on the Orioles’ career list with 669 victories, trailing Earl Weaver. He took over in August 2010 and orchestrated the resurgence of a Major League Baseball team that suffered through 14 straight losing seasons.
Once hailed for making baseball in Baltimore relevant again, the 62-year-old Showalter is out of a job after a season in which the Orioles finished 47-115, 61 games behind Boston in the AL East. His contract expired at the end of October, and the Orioles opted against a renewal as they continue a major rebuild that began in late July, when they traded veterans Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Jonathan Schoop and Kevin Gausman for minor league prospects.
Those deals were made by Dan Duquette, the executive vice-president of baseball operations, whose future with the organization is up in the air.
Showalter earned AL manager of the year honours in 2014 after taking the Orioles to the AL East title and a berth in the AL championship series. He was also named manager of year with the Yankees in 1994 and Texas in 2004. His career record is 1,551-1,517, including 669-684 with Baltimore.
“I just think ever since he came here, the franchise just gained a little more accountability, gained an edge for some time,” Orioles outfielder Adam Jones said before the final game of the season. “It’s the end of an era. A great manager, a great tenure. I don’t know if he’s going to coach or manage again, but he’s got grandchildren. Go golf. Relax and go sit on the golf course.”
With his future in doubt, Showalter appeared undaunted during the final series of the regular season.
“You know how good they’ve been to me? I’m not ever going to forget that, regardless of what happens,” he said.
After the Orioles brought Showalter out of retirement, he offered renewed hope by fashioning a 34-23 finish in 2010 for a team that was 32-73 upon his arrival.
Baltimore ended a 14-year playoff drought in ’12, advancing to the AL division series following a victory over Texas in the wild-card game. Playoff appearances in ’14 and ’16 followed.
Last year, however, the Orioles fell to 75-87. Baltimore hoped the addition of starters Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner would enable the team to be a contender this year, but a horrid start quickly dispelled that notion.
The O’s deficit in the AL East reached double digits by April 18 and they were
8-27 on May 8. By the end of July, Baltimore entered rebuilding mode, leaving Showalter with the dubious distinction of overseeing a team that finished with the worst record in the majors and one that surpassed the 1939 St. Louis Browns for most losses in franchise history.