CHICAGO – The White Sox announced last night’s attendance at 11,020, but the entire upper deck was empty and the lower bowl had rows and rows of unoccupied seats. Tickets sold don’t equal bodies in the ballpark. The Windy City isn’t keen on supporting a team that …
You can fill in the rest.
The mailbag carried the necessary weight to avoid tipping over. Time to sort through it.
This is the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. You ask and I answer. The sarcasm comes at no extra charge.
Also, my mailbag lays down squeeze bunts and your mailbag gets chased out of bakeries for squeezing bundts.
I keep reading comments the Orioles should extend Trevor Rogers. While I think this would be great, I cannot think of a good reason he would do so since he is going to get a big payday after 2026. What are the chances that the Orioles would extend Trevor Rogers, and what incentives might there be for Rogers to consider such an extension?
Imagine if I told you a year ago that we’d be debating whether the Orioles should give Rogers an extension. You’d order me to recite the alphabet while standing on one foot and touching my nose. I think it makes sense to at least approach Rogers’ agent with the idea. The worst that can happen is he prefers to hit the market for a potentially bigger payday. That’s also a roll of the dice. Rogers would be betting on himself. The incentive to accept the Orioles’ offer is to avoid the risk of regression. And he’s also thriving under their watch. They set up a plan after optioning him last year that’s turned around his career. With the high cost of pitching in free agency, the Orioles could attempt to reach agreement on a team-friendlier contract and still give Rogers a big raise and security.
Which player(s) are on the bubble to be non-tendered/released after the season?
I’m always uncomfortable speculating on lost jobs, but since we’re talking about the bubble, Jorge Mateo is perched on it after being hurt again this season, struggling at the plate again in his limited action, and with $5.5 million owed in 2026. The Orioles need to replace utility player Ramón Urías, but Mateo hasn’t hit. Speed takes you only so far. Quickly, of course, but only so far. Ryan Mountcastle has one more year of arbitration eligibility after making $6.787 million, but he’d more likely be a trade candidate. The Orioles would find suitors.
Did you know that Mike Elias had been promoted to President of Baseball Operations before the season started, or were you in the dark like the rest of Birdland?
I carry my own flashlight. No one in the media knew about it until The Athletic broke the story. I don’t know why it was kept under wraps. The team’s staff listing has the old title. The press release on manager Brandon Hyde’s firing included a quote from Elias with his old title. The Orioles value their privacy. They never announced contract lengths and other terms for Elias and Hyde. They never publicize contract extensions. News of Elias’ promotion was bound to leak, especially when seeking out candidates for the role of general manager.
The Orioles have used 68 different players, right? Who’s gonna be the 69th? And don’t say “your mom.”
Nice question. And I’d never! This one was submitted before yesterday’s news that the Orioles claimed left-hander José Castillo on waivers from the Mariners. Castillo didn’t report yesterday, but he’s on the verge of becoming the 69th. Livan Soto appeared in 12 games last season after the trade deadline and none this year. An injury to an infielder in theory could create a spot for him. I don’t think he’d be the first choice. Reliever José Espada is on the 40-man roster. The Orioles go through bullpen arms like they would boxes of tissues if wearing their alternate pollen uniforms.
Will Buck Britton remain with the O's if he doesn't secure the managerial job? Hope all is well and do hope your recovery is going smoothly and successfully. All the best.
Thank you. My cardiologist says the heart sounds “great.” I’ll stop taking the AFib medication after the season and see how I respond. You know, after all this in-season pressure is gone. That could lead to ditching the blood thinners. But enough about me. I’m also curious about Britton’s future. New managers usually pick their own coaches, though Elrod Hendricks seemed to have a lifetime contract. The Orioles didn’t want to lose Britton and they promoted him to major league coach and then third base coach, but Brandon Hyde’s firing has left a cloud of uncertainty over the entire staff.
Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?
This ranks as one of my all-time favorite mailbag questions. Thanks. “The Odd Couple” is one of the best sitcoms in television history and why I wanted to become a sportswriter, though sitting on my bed with a typewriter, eating a tuna sandwich and drinking a beer isn’t really an accurate portrayal of the job. Sometimes, it’s turkey and cheese.
Is there any concern about Gunnar Henderson having a relatively down year, especially power wise?
None. I’d say it’s more of a disappointment than a concern, but check his numbers compared to everyone else on the club. He’s ranked first in just about every category. An exception is home runs, and he’s only one behind Jackson Holliday. I understand that the roster underwent some changes at the deadline, but he was atop the fWAR leaderboard yesterday at 4.2. Trevor Rogers was first with a 5.5 bWAR, followed by Henderson’s 4.5. Such an exact formula, right? Henderson also has played an outstanding shortstop. The bar’s just raised with him, and a .789 OPS going into last night was meh. If the Orioles have 99 problems, and I think it’s fewer than that, Henderson ain’t one.
Why have a coaching box for first and third base coaches if they are under no obligation to stand anywhere near it?
Those boxes are mostly decorative. By rule, the coaches are supposed to stay in them prior to the pitch, and they can move to signal a player after the ball is in play. I never see it enforced. They stand so far back, they can hold hands with the umpires. A few of them get yellow paint on the back of their jerseys from leaning against the foul poles. But it’s much safer that way. I see no reason why anyone should care.
MVO? I say Trevor Rogers but Jackson Holliday makes a good case.
You know who else makes a good case? Gunnar Henderson, who is going to get plenty of first-place votes. I can’t reveal my ballot. To take it a step further, I haven’t filled out my ballot. There’s room for three names and those three players are good choices. I’ll say that much.
What do you think about the published managerial candidate lists? Please don't take the easy way out and answer with a poo emoji. You're a writer.
I think sites should be careful about treating these lists as news. Names that you read or hear are speculative and nothing more. These aren’t all confirmed candidates. Lots of people in the industry are assuming that the Orioles will express some level of interest in Brad Ausmus, Mike Matheny, Skip Schumacher and Scott Servais, if track records begin to matter. Former Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, now the Cubs’ bench coach, would make sense if the club goes in another direction. He served as the Padres quality control coach, offensive coordinator, bench coach and acting manager. Tony Mansolino could get consideration for the full-time job, but it isn’t shocking that he hasn’t been promised it. Or that Buck Showalter isn’t returning. Or that the Orioles will conduct an extensive search.
Are you excited about Frederick once again becoming an Orioles affiliate? How does Cal Ripken Jr. feel about Aberdeen no longer being an Orioles affiliate and now part of the MLB Draft League?
Maybe “excited” isn’t the right word, but I’m happy for fans in Frederick who get the kind of baseball that they deserve. It’s a shame that the IronBirds didn’t attract bigger crowds. I’m far removed from the situation but I’d think the facility and previous ties to Cal Ripken Jr. would have made for an ideal marriage. Aberdeen Mayor Patrick McGrady has expressed his displeasure with the deal and the Ripkens sold their majority stake in the team to Attain Sports, a Virginia-based company that owns other minor league and independent teams. The city lacked the necessary funds for stadium upgrades, and a dispute arose over how much money it should receive from the IronBirds. Aberdeen will still have baseball. It just won’t be affiliated. I don’t think it’s gonna hurt attendance.
If the O's intend to hire a manager other than Tony Mansolino, do they wait until hiring a new GM to fill the role with Mike Elias' reported promotion to president of baseball operations?
Reported and confirmed. The Orioles haven’t announced Elias’ promotion, so no one knows how they intend to handle the process of finding a replacement. They probably want to hire a GM before a manager.
Is Buck Showalter managing the team next year?
Highly unlikely. #Breaking.
With Mike Elias being promoted, do you still see things being done the Elias way? Meaning, “trust the process?”
It wouldn’t make sense to promote Elias and then stop trusting it. The front office is undergoing a restructuring, but the basic philosophies are expected to remain intact. The Orioles aren’t going to scrap everything they’ve done under Elias after one post-rebuild dud of a season.
Have there been any other stealthy promotions within the organization? Is Nicole Sherry now the Grand Poobah of the Playing Field Surface? Is Clancy the beer vendor now the Executive Licensed Victualler? Has the bat boy been promoted to Batting Implement Transporting Czar?
Thanks for forcing me to look up “victualler.” I thought that was a person who could throw his voice without moving his lips. I’m not aware of any promotions, but … you know.
What are the chances it was actually the Orioles who traded for Garrett Crochet last winter and they're just keeping that secret, too?
What is this, open mic night?
Have the Orioles been eliminated from the playoffs?
Not yet. One more loss eliminates them. Maybe the can run the table. Stranger things have happened, though they usually involve lingerie, jumper cables and a goat.
Could Kyle Bradish be the No. 1 starter next season?
He could. He's got ace stuff. He looks like an ace much of the time. But Bradish also could be No. 2 depending on whether the Orioles make an aggressive attempt to acquire a No. 1, like they did with Corbin Burnes. The rotation could use another starter for the upper portion of it, whether ahead of behind Bradish. A legit 1 or 2. Slot Trevor Rogers third and that's a deep group. Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich, Brandon Young, Trey Gibson, Nestor German, Cameron Weston and others can fight it out, with the first two obvious favorites. Grayson Rodriguez is the wild card. He can be anything from an eventual 1 to a reliever to a spectator again. The Orioles can't hold a spot for him. Expect nothing and hope the reverse works.
What will the nature of the relationship be between the Orioles new GM and Mike Elias since his promotion to President of Baseball operations? Is Sig Mejdal going to be considered for the GM position? Do we have any idea why a GM was not hired last offseason? Do you know if the staff listing will be changed? Thank you.
Hold on, what?
What will the nature of …
The work arrangement will become clearer when the Orioles are ready to talk about it. Elias will still be the man in charge, just with a different title and salary. The GM won’t operate independently while Elias tends to other business. But Elias has more on his plate in this role. A president typically is involved in budgeting and finances. He works more closely with ownership. But how much of this is different? The president is the primary liaison between the baseball front office and the team's owner or board of directors. He makes the final roster decisions, negotiates contracts, oversee player development, handles hirings and firings, sets the organization’s philosophies. He oversees all of the departments. I don’t think this is gonna be a reach. Mejdal might be a candidate. Assistant Eve Rosenbaum might be a candidate. We don’t know why a GM wasn’t hired over the winter. The staff listings eventually will be changed, maybe after other hires are in place.
Why do stars suddenly appear every time you are near?
Funny coincidence, since my wife and I just watched a Karen Carpenter documentary. What a voice (both of them.) Sad ending to one of the world’s most talented performers – both singing and playing the drums. But also, this seems like a good place to stop.
Have you ever watched a mukbang? Sounds dirty but it's not.
I’m giving Google a workout. And this is definitely a good place to stop.