MINNEAPOLIS – Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano was playing catch in left field yesterday during early batting practice when a Twins player hit a line drive at him. Sugano reacted late, stumbled and fell as interpreter Yuto Sakurai – standing in front of him - leaped and deflected the ball.
Sugano stayed on the ground laughing before finally getting back on his feet to resume his long tossing.
This is proof that the Orioles can avoid some injuries, and their sense of humor remains intact. The losses haven’t broken them. They’re in a good headspace. They just need to get on the right side of the score.
A heavy mailbag can lead to pulls and strains, so let’s lighten the load. You ask and I answer, creating the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.
My editing consisted of changing “last night” to “Tuesday night” in a question. I tossed and turned over it, which is OK in bed, but it impacted my driving.
Also, my mailbag steals home and yours swipes sugar packets at Denny’s.
Will we ever see a complete game from an Orioles starter again?
You don’t see many complete games from any starter. Injury risks. Stricter pitch counts. Changes in how bullpens are used from the good ol’ days. But then, you watch Dean Kremer throw 82 pitches in seven scoreless innings against the Royals and know that it’s possible. Manager Brandon Hyde was prepared to remove Kremer even if the leg hadn’t stiffened from the line drive, but one day he could push a little harder and, presto, a complete game. Kremer is the most recent to do it in Sept. 23, 2022 against the Astros.
Why would the Orioles use their high-leverage relievers with an eight-run deficit?
If you’re referring to Tuesday, why would you consider Cionel Pérez and Matt Bowman as high-leverage relievers? Gregory Soto pitched the eighth because someone had to do it.
Should the Orioles consider being buyers and sellers at the deadline? Trading away expiring contracts while trading prospects to acquire controllable pitching beyond 2025?
That’s an interesting scenario and there’s logic to it. Makes sense on both sides to bring in more young talent but also try to help the major league club immediately and in the future, like with Zach Eflin last summer. Having him under control in 2025 was a big motivator. But let’s put deadline strategies on hold until we get through May, see how the team is playing in June. It isn’t too early to be concerned, but white flag waving is premature.
Wait, the Orioles traded for Luis Castillo?
Yes, they did. How did you miss it? Luis Felipe Castillo from the Mariners for cash considerations. He was optioned to Triple-A. Crazy coincidence, right? Two Luis Castillos in Seattle’s organization. This one pitched in Japan the last two years before the Mariners signed him and gave him two starts. He allowed six earned runs and seven total with 12 hits and seven walks in seven innings. Left-hander Walter Pennington was designated for assignment to keep the Orioles’ 40-man roster at 40.
Which struggling Oriole(s) do you have the most confidence in turning things around?
Adley Rutschman is a skilled hitter and I think the earlier version is most accurate. He isn’t just a catch-and-throw guy. He’ll get hot again. I also feel strongly about Jordan Westburg, who’s on the injured list with a strained hamstring. Does Gunnar Henderson still fall in that category? If so, I’ll add him to my list. And just because I didn’t mention Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on them. They just popped into my head later than the others. I feel so much pressure.
Is Adley Rutschman a no-hit catcher?
He is not. Too much evidence to the contrary. He had hits in 12 of his first 14 games and was 4-for-9 in his last three April starts and 8-for-24 in seven, but he was 2-for-16 this month before his single in the fourth inning. He was robbed of another hit by a sliding catch in left field in the eighth. I know what happened in the second half last season, but I also know what happened in the first and in spring training this year. And in his first two seasons in the majors. And in his minor league career.
What hesitations do you think Brandon Hyde has about using position player pitchers in the eighth or ninth inning of a game that’s out of hand? Like (Tuesday) night, he used Soto, who could be valuable in late innings in the next game. I know that it’s embarrassing, but I think it’s important to focus on winning the next day and don’t worry if you have to use position players to save the bullpen in a blowout.
Hyde has the same hesitation as most or all managers. It's a last resort and they hate it. You saw what happened with Jorge Mateo and Gary Sánchez. The game is turned into a mockery and you wind up with scores like 24-2. Soto hadn’t gotten into a game since April 30 and those 14 pitches against the Twins didn’t make him unavailable the following night.
At what point do stats like expected average and expected OPS no longer matter? Like, it's great that Adley is hitting the ball hard, but he's still not getting base hits and/or knocking in runs.
I feel you. I was thinking about it a few days ago. Get out of my head! It can be a useful stat but is overused in my opinion. At the end of the day, it’s results that matter. You don’t have expected final scores that impact the expected standings. Yes, hard contact is better than weak contact in the long run, but give me a couple broken-bat bloop singles or infield hits with runners in scoring position. There aren’t prizes or parades for lining out to short.
Is Mr. Splash on the hot seat?
If so, he knows how to cool it down. That gives him an advantage.
Do you see another major rebuild coming? Right now, it's a terrible major league team, a barren farm system, and worse off, the player development is failing miserably. Is it time to go beyond the expiring contracts and trade guys like Gunnar Henderson and Félix Bautista to try to be good again in three or four years?
No, no, no, no. That’s the short answer. A barren farm system is inaccurate. It just isn’t No. 1 anymore. Samuel Basallo is the No. 2 prospect in baseball and Coby Mayo is 12th. MLB.com ranks the system 15th and writes: “It’s hard to compete in the big leagues and keep a farm system at an elite level. The Orioles have graduated a good number of their top prospects, helping create a young major league roster.” But if you want it to look better, send down Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad and a healthy Colton Cowser. You don’t trade Gunnar Henderson, you try to extend him or make moves around him to win while the window is open. It hasn’t shut. If there’s another rebuild coming, the Orioles aren’t rushing into it. They went through that horror once and don’t want to live it again.
Are there more announcements forthcoming about the planned upgrades to Orioles Park or is that it for the upcoming offseason?
I wasn’t anticipating the most recent one this week. I suppose they could share more information later, but for now, it’s a new center field videoboard, right field wall display, upper deck and club level ribbon boards, and a unified control room. And I know fans have been clamoring for a unified control room. Enough with the divisive control rooms!
Are you going batty?
If I was, maybe I could help with runners in scoring position.
Does Cal Jr. have any regular contact with players where he could offer advice or guidance about playing the game?
Ripken was in camp this spring, working with players in a non-guest role. I hear that he spent a lot of time with Jorge Mateo. And he’s frequently at the ballpark, sitting in his seats behind home plate. He’s available to players if they seek him out or he’s asked, but he isn’t going to step on any toes and just hang out in the clubhouse going locker to locker, or stand behind the cage during batting practice.
Have you heard anything about why these top rated prospects are struggling so badly to adapt to the majors? To me it seems the all have almost been taught one approach and when a good pitcher is on they all just look silly.
A simple answer doesn’t exist. Brandon Hyde talked about it this week, how some young players handle the jump to the majors more easily than others. Gunnar Henderson was a unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year. Adley Rutschman was a runner-up and is a two-time All-Star. Colton Cowser was a runner-up. Jordan Westburg was a worthy All-Star replacement. Heston Kjerstad was swinging the bat well before his concussion. It was harder for Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo and others. Kyle Stowers was 2-for-30 with the Orioles in 2023, but he’s off to an exceptional start with the Marlins. The approach that you reference is drawing more critics since the second-half decline, but it was lauded earlier and probably will be again as guys get hot.
How close are Cameron Weston and Alex Pham? Could they be called up for extra bullpen support and/or a spot start?
Close as in friends? Alex Pham was assigned to Double-A Chesapeake, which surprised me. He seemed like Triple-A material. Now, he’s on the injured list with right forearm inflammation. The Orioles won’t be doing anything with him besides trying to get him healthy. Weston, an eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Michigan, had a 5.96 ERA in six starts with Norfolk before allowing two runs in five innings last night and lowering it to 5.53. That doesn’t eliminate him from consideration, as we’ve seen with other pitchers who are brought up with inflated stats. But he isn’t on the 40-man roster, which can work against him. Weston is a possibility later, but whether he's close also can depend on the team’s needs and willingness to overlook what I just pointed out.
Any chance of Kyle Brnovich being promoted?
I’d put him ahead of Weston, if we can tie together two questions. He allowed one run and two hits in five innings Tuesday night and his ERA slipped below 4.00. He’s averaging 4.3 walks per nine innings but also 10.2 strikeouts. He’s averaged 10.5 in the minors, and that’s the kind of stat that makes the Orioles’ eye bulge out like the cartoon wolf. Brnovich isn’t on the 40-man but the Orioles can make room if he keeps giving them a reason. His issue has been health, not his pitching.
When are Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez eligible to come off the injured list?
O’Neill was Sunday and Sánchez is today. O’Neill will meet the Orioles in Anaheim and be reinstated this weekend.
How do the Oriole make room for Tyler O’Neill when he returns?
Take a few steps to the left or right and let him pass. Or do you mean on the roster? The choices seem to come down to optioning Dylan Carlson or Heston Kjestad. Carlson is with the club because of O’Neill’s neck inflammation, so they’ll probably swap places again. Kjerstad is playing every day. He just needs to start hitting, which happened last night with a pair of singles.
Has Oriole management ever discussed adding a pitching or hitting coach who had sustained success as a player at the major league level?
The Orioles value experience that can enable a coach to more easily relate to a struggling player, and vice-versa. Been there, done that, and here’s how I got out of it. It’s part of Cody Asche’s appeal. But the ability to understand and incorp]orate all of the data that’s available into specific methods of teaching is a priority. Former players like Alan Mills, Terry Crowley and B.J. Surhoff aren’t around anymore. But the guest instructors at spring training prove my earlier point.
I’d like to ask MASN why they don’t show The Mountain’s entrance on TV? It’s the coolest thing live and I know I’d like to see it when I can’t be at the park.
I wasn’t aware that Félix Bautista isn’t shown coming through the bullpen gates. I’m usually in the press box. I’m sure there’s an obligation to go to commercial since advertisers are paying for that time.
What’s the latest on the Chayce McDermott recovery and rehab timetable?
This is an old one or you ain’t paying attention. McDermott was reinstated and optioned, and he’s starting Friday night for Norfolk.
Would a Coby Mayo walk-off home run be called a Miracle Whip or a Coby Jack?
Man, that’s a tough call. They’re both good. Maybe alternate them, like the orange and black jerseys. If he goes on the injured list with a sinus infection, would it be a Mayo-Nasal? OK, I’m still workshopping it.
Jordan Westburg is on the 10-day injury list as of May 2. Any more updates on him?
Westburg is working out with the Norfolk Tides and could be in their lineup as early as tonight. He’s close.
If Mike Elias was to dip into the trade market for a pitcher, would it be more expensive now or closer to the trade deadline?
More teams would be in the bidding near the deadline, right? That should drive up the price. Trades are hard to make this early. Fewer teams are conceding. But the Orioles did get Luis F. Castillo from the Mariners late last night.
Can we keep panicking? And if not, why?
Oh, the heck with it. Panic away. Panic your brains out. Panic at the disco. Wear your flowered shirt and bell bottoms. Photo or it didn’t happen.
Without improved results, what do you think would be the earliest they would move on from Charlie Morton or Kyle Gibson? Let's assume Trevor Rogers and/or Chayce McDermott are presenting themselves as replacement options in Triple-A.
The replacement options are an important caveat because the Orioles don’t have an embarrassment of riches. Morton has a $15 million contract and that buys you a long leash. He can be useful in relief as the consumer of innings, with Albert Suárez out for an extended period. Of course, he must be willing to stay and not decide to retire. He seems to be having an internal tug of war. The financial obligation with Gibson is much lighter at $5.25 million. The Orioles won’t rush to judgement because Gibson didn’t have a normal spring training and they understand that it’s going to be a process, but I don’t think they’d keep running him out there every fifth or sixth day through the first half if he’s making quick exits. And especially if if there are viable alternatives. Here's my prediction: Gibson gets deeper into games, gives the Orioles a chance to win on most nights and holds onto his job.
Do you ever get tired of inane questions?
Like this one? Yeah, sometimes. This is probably a good place to stop.
If Andy Etchebarren returns from the dead, will that be enough to get him into the Orioles Hall of Fame?
His acceptance speech still would be longer than Mike Mussina’s. And this is definitely a good place to stop.