Brandon Hyde: "We are trying to set the right culture here"

OAKLAND - Several Bay area media outlets were in the Orioles dugout before Monday's game in Oakland. They wanted to interview a local product who is now a major league manager. Orioles skipper Brandon Hyde grew up in Santa Rosa, about 50 miles north of Oakland.

He is enjoying a homecoming here this week. He's been in this area previously many times for games, but never as big league manager. He's got plenty of family and friends in the stands for the games in Oakland and will have some friends with him later this week in Seattle.

As a kid he would go see his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. But he would also come with his family to Oakland to watch players like José Canseco, Mark McGwire and Rickey Henderson.

The Bay area media had several questions for Hyde about his job with the Orioles and how he has been dealing with a tough season.

"I've enjoyed all of this," said Hyde. "I'd just like to see our team win a bit more. It's just a really inexperienced group that hasn't won in the big leagues much. We are trying to set the right culture here. We're trying to get guys to play the game the right way. As we start getting better players and more experienced players in our organization, this is going to grow. But right now, we are in the start of this process. Giving guys a chance to show they are major league players. Some guys are taking more advantage of it than others."

Hyde discussed trying to stay positive and upbeat during a losing season. He's trying to provide leadership for a young team while at the same time he learns what it is like to be a manager at this level.

"It's never easy. It's not easy to lose," he said. "Fortunately and unfortunately I've been through this before. I've been on a 100-loss club, not in the manager's seat but on the coaching staff. I was with Miami when we traded away a lot of veteran guys at the deadline. So, I understand what this is about.

"That being said, it's just not easy to lose. Even if you are thinking big picture and thinking process and trusting everything that is going on. You want to see guys rewarded for playing well and want to see guys have success. And a lot of times that comes with wins. When you've only won 21 games to this point it's not easy. I feel bad for our guys and want our guys to feel good after games."

Hyde recently said the Orioles are "taking inventory of our team and the players" in discussing how the club is assessing and evaluating players to see which ones will be part of a hopefully much better future.

"I think we are starting that. I don't want to put a small sample size of two months on guys. Part of this is to find out who is going to be around in three years and be part of something special that is going to happen here. We're just at the very start of it. We want our guys to showcase that they are big league players and can be part of a winning club," Hyde said.

After Monday's 3-2 loss the Orioles (21-51) will play at Oakland (37-36) again tonight, looking to break a six-game losing streak. Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (0-3, 5.02 ERA) gets the start against A's left-hander Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.89 ERA)