Joe Flacco, age 40, outdueled 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers Thursday night in Cincinnati. The Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer, at age 41 and making the 500^th start of his career, earned the win in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in Seattle.

My mailbag is 17, old enough to drive but not to drink. The fluctuating weight is normal. You fill it and I try to empty it.

Here’s my latest attempt. No editing, no disclaimers about editing. You ask, I answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

Also, and this is important, my mailbag stretches singles into doubles and your mailbag stretches the truth.

Your thoughts on Albert Pujols as the manager? I am starting to warm to the idea. Keep Robinson Chirinos as bench coach.
I’m lukewarm to the idea of Pujols as manager, but maybe that’s just my personality. I also think it isn’t happening. Pujols has managed in the Dominican Republic, so he isn’t entirely new to the job. However, if major league experience isn’t important, the Orioles could just bring back Tony Mansolino, who has the advantage of his previous interim status and familiarity with the organization. Or they could hire Ryan Flaherty, who’s worked in a variety of roles, including Cubs bench coach. He’s also a big analytics guy. The Orioles are making it tough to project what they’ll do because their requirements are so broad. Experience is “overwhelmingly usually a big positive,’ as Mike Elias described it, and will carry a lot of weight. But it’s not a requisite for success. I don’t know if anyone constitutes a sure thing in his business, but other candidates would qualify more than a first-timer, which makes someone like Pujols a gamble to a team that must win.

When poor old Brandon Hyde got canned, Mike Elias indicated (if I remember correctly) that it was an organizational decision, and that the owner and perhaps others had input. Do I have that right? Is that normal? Is ownership going to be involved in the manager hire?
Owners routinely are involved in hirings and firings. It’s their teams. George Steinbrenner kept hiring and firing Billy Martin. Dan Duquette didn’t fire Buck Showalter and himself. What’s unclear is how much David Rubenstein pushed for a change compared to, say, Elias and Michael Arougheti. The Orioles didn’t go into detail. As for the next hire, Elias said the following at his season-ending press conference: “The different members of the ownership group will be very involved. Other members of baseball operation, Catie Griggs, members of her side of the organization, I'm sure, will be involved.” Now, I’m not saying every team pulls opinions from this many people, but ownership has a strong voice.

Have you seen any odds posted on the next manager?
If you’re betting on the next manager, you probably need an intervention. Beware of odds from any site that isn’t using specific information and models, like win projections by sportsbooks,  and instead just throws out names with numbers attached, hoping you’ll throw down some money. Giving a starter the best odds to win the Cy Young Award is one thing. Picking Ryan Flaherty or someone else as the favorite to manage the Orioles is pointless. Based on what?

Is there any chance that a young pitching prospect such as Boston Bateman, Zach Fruit or Trey Gibson is called up to the Orioles down the stretch if they are contending? It seems like rookie starters have succeeded in the postseason for other teams, and I think with so many young arms the O’s could really take advantage of that.
There’s a chance one, two or all three could be pitching for the Orioles at some point in 2026, but Bateman would be a reach because he finished this season at High-A Aberdeen. Fruit made 12 appearances at Double-A Chesapeake. Gibson went from Aberdeen to Chesapeake to Triple-A Norfolk this year and was selected as the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He should debut next season, especially if the rotation is overrun with injuries again. There’s also Nestor German and Cameron Weston to consider, among others. Hot hands get the ball.

Have you ever had to pay anyone to do an interview with you? Have you ever seen another journalist pay someone to do an interview?
I’ve never done it or seen it. I hear that sort of thing happens in tabloid journalism, like at The National Enquirer. But people are so happy that I want to interview them, they actually try to pay me. It can be awkward.

How long after the World Series do you think the O's will pick a manager? Think they already got one in the bag, if you will?
If so, they better let him out so he can breathe. I think an announcement will come shortly after the World Series. The Orioles want to get it done quickly without rushing, if you will.

How important does the organization view having a manager in place before they start negotiating trades and free agent signings?
An organization is an “it,” not “they.” Singular. You’re welcome. Elias is more important to that process, but free agents probably will want to know which manager they’re playing for before making a commitment. That’s a good reason to avoid having the process drag along.

What do you think is going on behind the scenes in the O’s org during October, when MLB doesn’t like announcements that they think undercut the focus that they want on the postseason?
MLB is an “it,” not “they.” Singular. You’re welcome. The Orioles are lining up interviews for the manager’s job. They’re prepping for 40-man roster moves after the World Series. The annual general manager meetings are Nov. 10-13 in Las Vegas. They’re checking the field to see how many divots are left by the Rams.

What happens if a player gets a jury duty notice during the season?
Grovel to avoid the gavel?

I wish I could avoid these exchanges.
A job can help you get out of jury duty by providing a basis for a hardship or extreme inconvenience excuse. The employer can support the request with a letter detailing how your absence would critically affect the business. So it seems pretty easy for a player to ditch jury duty. I don’t know if it’s harder for a taxi squad catcher.

Which Oriole prospect(s) will be placed on the 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 draft?
No one among the Top 30 prospects is eligible. Pitchers Anthony Nuñez and Raimon Gómez were acquired from the Mets for Cedric Mullins, and pitcher Cameron Foster was acquired from the Mets for Gregory Soto. They could be possibilities.

How much did the Orioles (and you) know about Colton Cowser's rib injury during the year, and how much did it impact his hitting this year?
The club knew and one person in the organization downplayed the impact on Cowser beyond having to play through the discomfort. This information wasn’t for publication at the time. I heard about it later.

Your predictions on the World Series winner? And don’t say, “Your mom.”
I’d never! I’ll say the Dodgers, but I don’t have a strong feeling about it. I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen that the Bills are winning the Super Bowl, and they’ve lost two straight. I’m sticking with them. Not that you asked.

The last player/manager in Major League Baseball was Pete Rose, who served as manager for the Cincinnati Reds from 1984 to 1986 while also playing on the team. Of the current Orioles, who would be the best player/manager?
This would have been an easy one before James McCann became a free agent, and before the Orioles traded Ryan O’Hearn. I don’t think there’s anyone on the roster who profiles as a manager, whether due to a lack of experience in the majors or a quiet personality. You forcing me to pick? OK, Tyler O’Neill. He’s been around a while, and who’s gonna challenge him?

Would you like to see MLB teams do the “handshake line” at the end of a playoff series, like the NHL?
I like that tradition, just like NFL players beating up each other for 60 minutes and then hugging on the field after the game. But baseball players go wild after a playoff series. Are they supposed to calmly line up to shake hands after the final out? Or is the losing team supposed to wait until the celebration is over? I don’t think it can work. And it’s fun to watch players behave like little kids.

Do you really care who plays for the Orioles or are you just a fan of the Orioles’ team? As long as they play well as a team.
The fandom ends as soon as you start covering the team. That’s how it’s supposed to work as reporters. You can like covering a winning team and the postseason. But at the end of the day, I want good stories and good relationships when possible that make the job easier and more enjoyable. Players who cooperate and understand that dealing with the media is one of their responsibilities. And games that finish in under three hours. Rewrites in the ninth inning are a pain. Let’s have fewer of those, too.

Have you ever spent irresponsibly on something?
Just the money I slip to someone in exchange for an interview. (That’s a callback.)

What should we expect for pitching upgrades this offseason? Please no more one-year Jordan Lyles or Charlie Morton deals.
You could be subjected to it again for starting depth, someone to compete at the back end of the rotation. I think the Orioles will sign or trade for multiple starters and one of them will slot in the top third, a No. 1, 2 or 3. I’ll say again that bumping Kyle Bradish to No. 2 or finding a starter who fits between Bradish at 1 and Trevor Rogers at 3 would give the Orioles a formidable rotation. And especially if Grayson Rodriguez stays healthy. You factor in Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer, and that creates an excess. But you never have too much pitching. If that’s the biggest problem in 2026, the Orioles could be popping champagne corks.

Have you selected a costume for the Orioles/MASN Halloween party?
There’s a Halloween party? My invitation got lost in the mail. I would have gone as General Soreness.

Once they hire a manager, what are the odds that you find out the exact contract terms? We know, for example, that Alex Cora got a three-year contract for $21.75 million. We know that Dave Roberts got a four-year contract worth $32.4 million. We know that Craig Counsell got five years and $40 million. We know that the Yankees exercised a three-year option on Aaron Boone worth $15 million. With the Orioles, we seem to never know anything.
Mind your business. No, seriously, the Orioles don’t reveal contract terms. We used to get the years, at least, but that ended with the new regime. I heard that Brandon Hyde had one more year left on his contract when he was fired, which The Athletic confirmed. But we’ve had to work under assumptions that Elias and Hyde received extensions because they were still here. There’s always the possibility that terms will be leaked. It’s probably more likely that the new press box will leak after a heavy rain.

If Ryan Flaherty were to become the O's manager, would the club instantly become perennial Rule 5 drafters like days of yore?
I know you’re joking, but Flaherty wouldn’t make that decision.

With overall stadium upgrades - a new, larger center field video board, a right field wall display, and numerous new ribbon boards for in-game visuals and replays, club behind home plate with VIP amenities etc. - what is your gut feeling on how much financial support for upgrades the actual baseball team will get, what O's ownership wants to invest into the team this offseason? Wouldn't an upgraded team be sweet to watch from the new suites?
We aren’t given specific budget numbers, but Mike Elias always mentions how much ownership supports roster upgrades and an increased payroll. “They’re going to make available everything that we need to responsibly invest in the team and the baseball operation and the stadium and the facilities,” he said earlier this month. “You don’t want to be wasteful, and you don’t do it for its own sake. But these guys are a huge positive for us, and I’m very blessed to have that behind me.” I’ll highlight the word “responsibly,” as a reminder that the Orioles aren’t gonna start throwing around money with the same velo as the biggest spenders.

Want some whiskey in your water? Sugar in your tea?
We’ve entered the weird zone, so this is probably a good place to stop.

Why is the MASN website having such a problem posting your 4 a.m. story, with all the technology we have today?
It’s become a fun little game for me. Wake up around 4 or 5, grab my phone, call up the site, jump out of bed and turn on my laptop while still groggy so I can post the story manually. Go back to bed and stay awake for about an hour because my mind already is in work mode. Happened three mornings in a row this week. I’d say more but … this is definitely a good place to stop.