ANAHEIM, Calif. \u2014 From his perch atop the Orioles dugout, Brandon Hyde lately has the ragged look of a man trying to tamp down heartburn. <\/p>\n
Amid Baltimore\u2019s 14-23 start through Saturday afternoon \u2014 with a dozen players on the injured list \u2014 there are times when it\u2019s all Hyde can do to swallow the Orioles\u2019 unappetizing results. The rocky start has a vocal contingent of the fan base calling for Hyde (just two seasons from earning AL Manager of the Year) to be fired.<\/p>\n
But, following general manager Mike Elias\u2019 backing of his performance<\/a>, Hyde said Saturday that the two architects of the franchise\u2019s rebuild continue to work in lockstep. When asked if he thinks about how an MLB manager has already been fired this season (the Pittsburgh Pirates\u2019 Derek Shelton was canned this week<\/a>), Hyde said no, adding he still sees the groundwork for the O\u2019s season to turn around.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good about what we\u2019ve built here,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re off to a slow start. And we have a lot of players on the injured list and some things haven\u2019t worked out. We have a long season left. Mike has been incredibly respectful to me. He\u2019s been incredibly supportive, as well as everybody else in the front office and ownership. I\u2019m really focused on this team, trying to win games with the roster we have right now and play better baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.<\/a><\/p>\n Elias\u2019 endorsement \u201cmeans a lot\u201d to Hyde, who is in his seventh season. The two talk multiple times a day, Hyde said, and he acknowledged Elias\u2019 backing has taken some of the pressure off<\/a> as the Orioles scramble to turn around their record.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was very patient in my first few years when we were not good, then we got pretty good,\u201d Hyde said. \u201cFor him to show the patience this year, too, and an understanding of where we are roster-wise, I appreciate that very much.\u201d<\/p>\n The Orioles are hoping help arrives soon. <\/p>\n Veteran pitcher Zach Eflin is scheduled to start for the first time since April 7 on Sunday against the Angels. Tyler O\u2019Neill returned from an IL stint on Friday, while Ram\u00f3n Ur\u00edas and Jordan Westburg are hopeful to come back in the next few weeks. Colton Cowser has rejoined the team after fracturing his left thumb in March, though his return to baseball activities is just beginning.<\/p>\n Even though the Orioles have been stung by injury \u2014 also missing starters Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez and reliever Andrew Kittredge this season \u2014 Hyde acknowledged the team hasn\u2019t performed to the standard of the past two seasons of 90-plus wins. <\/p>\n The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.<\/a><\/p>\n The team\u2019s 4-1 win Friday night against the Angels, ending a five-game losing streak, was more emblematic of what Hyde expects from his group. <\/p>\n