Ex-Reds player catches heat after Orioles manager's bizarre Jackson Holliday decision

Wait, wait, the Baltimore Orioles benched Jackson Holliday with no outs and the bases loaded? That's right. Orioles' manager Brandon Hyde's latest decision even has David Bell scratching his head.

The Baltimore skipper made a crucial call in the Orioles game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, that ultimately worked, but had a number of the team's fans screaming at their television sets. Not only that, but former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Slater was part of the equation.

Ex-Reds player Austin Slater caught in the middle of controversial decision in Orioles-Blue Jays game

With Baltimore trailing Toronto 5-1 in the eighth inning, the O's loaded the bases with a walk and pair of singles. The Blue Jays made a pitching change with baseball's top prospect heading to the plate. Holliday, who was recently recalled to the big leagues, was due up with a chance to tie the game.

But Hyde went with a different option. The Orioles manager called upon Slater — who Baltimore received from Cincinnati at the trade deadline for cash considerations — to pinch hit for Holliday. Hyde justified his decision by falsely citing Slater's success against left-handed pitching this season.

To be fair to Hyde, Bell would have used the same logic, and if we're talking about career splits, you'd be onto something. Throughout his big league career, Slater has a .275/.366/.435 slash line against lefties. But against southpaws this season, Slater has hit just .193/.307/.205. Slater's .758 OPS against right-handed pitching outshines his .512 OPS against left-handers.

But while Slater caught some strays from the O's fanbase for Hyde's awful decision, it actually worked. The former Reds outfielder drew a walk and recorded an RBI as the runner on third base crossed home plate. But the O's then saw back-to-back hitters strikeout and the rally fell apart.

So don't forget, Reds fans, as bad as some of Bell's decisions are, they could always be worse. Yikes!

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