Cleveland Guardians radio play-by-play announcer Tom Hamilton says new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is a great fit and personality for the team.
Albernaz was recently hired as manager to fill the vacancy left by Brandon Hyde, who was fired amid a 75-87 season that left the Orioles at the bottom of the American League East. Hamilton feels confident that Albernaz — who was the Guardians’ bench coach under Stephen Vogt in 2023 and 2024 — has a great personality that brings teams together to win.
“Alby has got that kind of personality that players gravitate to,” Hamilton said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 31. “He’s not intimidated by anybody, whether it’s José Ramírez or anyone else. And yet he’s got a great relationship and a great way of putting guys at ease, having fun with them but being serious when you need to be serious.”
Hamilton believed Albernaz or interim manager Tony Mansolino, whom Hamilton’s son played for in the minor leagues, would have been great long-term fits for the team. Mansolino took over for Hyde in May and recently found a new home with the Atlanta Braves as the bench coach.
The Orioles had three winning seasons under Hyde, including a 101-61 season in 2023. The Orioles have fallen off since then but Hamilton trusts Albernaz will reinvigorate the team with the culture and energy necessary to improve every single day.
“Nothing’s ever been handed to Alby, and that’s the same way here,” Hamilton said. “He could’ve had jobs last winter after one year as Vogter’s bench coach and pulled himself out of the running because it just didn’t feel right. You knew he was going to have choices this offseason of jobs that were open.”
According to Hamilton, there was plenty of thought that went into Albernaz’s decision to join the Orioles this offseason. Some get one shot as a big league manager and nothing after that, and as such, picking the right team to work with is very important, according to Hamilton.
Hamilton was asked about the concern fans may have about Albernaz being a first-time major league manager. He had been a minor league manager, catching instructor, bullpen coach and bench coach during his days with the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and Guardians.
“Some guys have that ‘it’ factor, and others don’t,” he said. “Obviously, Vogter has it and I think Alby does, too. Again, time will tell.”
The characteristic shared by Vogt and Albernaz that Hamilton admires the most is that they don’t think they’re always right. A willingness to figure out the solution even if it means scrapping your own ideas in favor of others’ is what Hamilton believes leads to success.
“The moment you think you know everything, you watch how quickly how little you know,” Hamilton said.
See Also:
• Stephen Vogt: Craig Albernaz Will ‘Absolutely Crush It’ As Orioles Manager
• Curt Casali On Why Former Teammate, Coach Craig Albernaz Is Right Fit For Orioles
• Stan ‘The Fan’ Charles: Orioles Manager Craig Albernaz Inherits Better Situation Than Predecessor
For more from Hamilton, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles