masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOne of the common refrains in baseball is how hustle never goes into a slump. New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is a firm believer.
The Orioles won’t present a roster with the same level of talent as the contenders. That’s not how a rebuild works.
It won’t bring the same experience. It won’t include the same number of elite prospects. But there’s no reason why other teams should be able to outwork the Orioles, to put forth more effort.
Jogging up the line on a ground ball, conceding the…

One of the common refrains in baseball is how hustle never goes into a slump. New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is a firm believer.

The Orioles won’t present a roster with the same level of talent as the contenders. That’s not how a rebuild works.

It won’t bring the same experience. It won’t include the same number of elite prospects. But there’s no reason why other teams should be able to outwork the Orioles, to put forth more effort.

Jogging up the line on a ground ball, conceding the out, remains an unacceptable approach and Hyde won’t tolerate it. The Orioles, in his words at his press conference, are going to “play the game right.”

The point was driven home again last week on the “Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan.

“Obviously, effort and energy and enthusiasm in how we play is definitely going to be talked about right away, and it’s going to be repeated throughout the season for sure,” Hyde said.

“I think the more aggressive you are on the bases, the more you cause havoc defensively, so we’re going to be the kind of club that is going to run the bases hard, that is going to take chances in the right situations, is going to put pressure on the defense.

“The home-to-first effort, that’s a league-wide issue and it’s not something that … It’s really about mindset. It’s about understanding what the right thing to do is and respect for the game. So, we’ll have a lot of conversations about that.”

Jonathan Villar will like the part about taking chances, but Hyde added “in the right situations.” Villar made the first and last outs trying to steal third base in two games with the Orioles. He knew right away that he messed up and he’ll need to harness that energy.

* Hyde interviewed with five teams before landing the job with the Orioles. I wondered about the similarities and discrepancies. How his meeting with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and assistant Sig Mejdal, which included dinner at a Baltimore hotel restaurant, might have differed from the others.

“All interviews were a little bit different,” he said. “I think it’s been reported how I interviewed in Anaheim, we did a written test kind of thing. I can say that because I know it’s already out there. But yeah, every interview process is different and every business is different, every organization is different. And they’re all great experiences.

“They’re all long days. You’re going to dinner at night at the end of a long day, and it’s really just a get-to-know. They’re trying to get your philosophy, you’re trying to get a feel for them. Is this going to work, is this a good fit?

“I wasn’t in a hurry to do anything. Like I said at the press conference, I’m Joe Maddon’s bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. I wasn’t looking to move on except that I was getting these opportunities to talk to other people. People had interest, which was great to go out and see what else was out there and if there was a really good fit. And I was really attracted to the vision that Mike and Sig threw out there, and we had a really, really good day and a great conversation.

“I just liked the fact of this challenge and this great tradition here, and it was a great fit.”

* Hyde put his tour of Baltimore on hold to take his family on a trip to Maui. He was in town for about a week.

There hasn’t been much time to establish any favorites due to his press conference, a holiday party, various interview requests and work done toward hiring coaches and learning about the personnel in the organization.

How much was he able to get outside?

“Not much,” he replied on Thursday. “I’ve been from the hotel to the ballpark. I walked a little bit last night, went out to eat. I’ve been down to Fells Point for a couple nights for dinner and that’s about it. That’s all I’ve seen so far.”

Hyde can add the newly opened “Bunzzz Sports Bar & Grill” on E. Pratt St., where he appeared as a guest on the “Hot Stove Show.”

Got any suggestions for Hyde? I’m pushing for him to head over to Little Italy. “Aldo’s” and “Amicci’s” are two of my favorites in Baltimore, the latter a lot easier on the wallet.

* Dylan Bundy had a miserable second half, posting a 7.11 ERA and 1.566 WHIP in 13 starts and losing seven of his nine decisions. He led the majors this season by serving up 41 home runs. He won’t offer any excuses, including the ankle he sprained at third base in Atlanta. But a little more run support wouldn’t hurt him.

Bundy-Orange-Road-sidebar.jpgAs Jim Hunter noted earlier this month on the “Hot Stove Show,” the Orioles scored two runs or fewer in 20 of Bundy’s 31 starts. They scored 93 runs for him, with 58 coming in six starts.

The margin for error was thin.

“You can’t control that. You’ve just got to go out there and pitch your game and try to come out with a lead,” Bundy said.

“If your team scores six runs, you’re allowed to give up five. You just don’t want to give up that last run and tie the game or let the other team ahead. You just want to stay one run below what our score is on the board. You just want to go out there and compete and give your team the best chance to win.”

* No one is going to pick the Orioles to win their division or play in the wild card game.

No one outside of the clubhouse.

“It feels like that’s every year that they’re counting us out. That’s nothing out of the normal, I guess,” Bundy said.

“You show up in spring training and it’s a new year and new faces, and you’re always excited to get the season going and head up north to Baltimore. You go into spring training expecting to contend every year.”

* I submitted my Hall of Fame ballot last week, choosing again to include Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens after previous omissions. I don’t feel great about it. I didn’t feel good about excluding them in the past.

It’s become a stressful endeavor and one that had the joy drained out of it a long time ago. But it’s an honor to be eligible and a responsibility that I take seriously.

I just don’t enjoy it, tiring of playing judge and jury with players in the “steroid era” and absorbing criticisms from both sides. I’ve been told that I should lose my voting privileges for putting Bonds and Clemens on my ballot and for leaving them off.

Here’s some breaking news: There isn’t only one correct ballot. But anyone voting for Ted Lilly has some explaining to do.

I checked nine boxes, one short of the maximum. Reliever Billy Wagner would have been the 10th, and someday I might include him.

Making the cut were Bonds, Clemens, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martínez, Fred McGriff, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera, Curt Schilling and Larry Walker.

I changed my opinion on McGriff, as I did with Schilling last winter. I don’t feel good about Schilling, but it’s due mostly to his personality, which I didn’t allow to cloud my judgment.

I could be talked into Omar Vizquel in the future.