The fireworks are done and my mailbag can leave its safe space in my house.

Let’s dig into it while the Orioles prepare to finish their series in Cincinnati, enjoy another off-day – since Major League Baseball loves to clump them together – and wait to play the Cubs and Royals prior to the All-Star break.

You ask, I answer, or at least try, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2009 original.

Remember when I thought it first ran in 2008? Those were good times.

I treat editing questions about the same as holding sparklers on the wrong end. This is a safe space for length, clarity, style and brevity.

Also, my mailbag grills marinated steaks and your mailbag flips ground meat on a hot sidewalk.

Any chance Heston Sawyer Kjerstad gets another chance or is he just trade bait?
His middle name is Sawyer? Yep, it sure is. Kjerstad is quietly, and that didn’t seem possible until now, having a nice season in Triple-A. He’s playing every day and entered Friday slashing .287/.311/.439 in 39 games. The power was down, which also didn’t seem possible, but he recently hit two in a two-day span. The Orioles went back to five outfielders on their roster, but they made room for Dylan Beavers, another left-handed hitter who can play center and is better defensively. Kjerstad must continue to wait his turn, but he’s got to be a consideration if a spot opens. It’s just harder with Beavers and Cowser in the outfield and Samuel Basallo, also from the left side of the plate, getting starts as the designated hitter. The other possibility, as you mentioned, is taking advantage of his improving trade value. This can be a win-win for the Orioles, benefitting either way from his resurgence.

If you could do one thing (money is no object) to make an immediate impact on the team, what would you do?
Find a way to steal Shohei Ohtani, Jacob Misiorowski and Mason Miller. I’d need a genie and a lamp. Otherwise, I’d get multiple high-leverage relievers, including a left-hander. Trade for a bat and figure out later how it fits, just like in the offseason.

Has Taylor Ward been encouraged to abandon the walk-first hitting approach in favor of a hit-first approach?
The Orioles aren’t messing with Ward other than moving him down to second or third in the order. He gets on base to, in theory, set up the hitters behind him. Imagine Brad Pitt in “Moneyball” sitting at a table with his scouts. What does Ward do? Yeah, he gets on base. He also ranked first on the team in average among qualified hitters at .250 heading into the Reds series. His .720 OPS was second. And, get this, his 82 hits were tied with Gunnar Henderson for first. He’s hitting and walking.

Are there any former Orioles that you are aware of that have had an amazing second career in something not baseball/sports related?
I heard that a former first baseman from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s got into the barbeque business and attracted new generations of fans.

Lee May got into barbeque?
Next question.

Is Mike Elias on the hot seat?
If I posted a daily mailbag, this question would appear in each one. We don’t really know. All we can do is speculate that the seat gets warmer if the Orioles miss the playoffs again. Elias knows it. That’s the nature of the business. But we can’t speak for ownership, which has been extremely supportive of Elias since Day 1. The blame game can be flawed. Players have to produce, they have to do their jobs. If they don’t, the first fingers should be pointed at them. But you know how it works. Heads have to roll – managers, coaches, front office personnel. Elias signed Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley and traded for Taylor Ward and Blaze Alexander, which look like steals. Let’s see what happens with Shane Baz and the four minor leaguers that he surrendered in the trade before grading it. Samuel Basallo is here only because Elias convinced the previous owners that the Orioles needed to become a presence in the international market. But some of his high-round draft picks haven’t popped yet, and the Tyler O’Neill signing hasn’t worked out. He tried to land one of the top-rated free-agent starters over the winter, making an aggressive push for Ranger Suárez. But fair, unfair or somewhere in between, Elias is feeling some heat just because that’s how it works in sports.

Who shot first? Hahn or Greedo?
Do you mean Billy Hahn, the former Maryland basketball player and assistant coach? Or Han Solo, who shouldn’t be confused with Hope Solo?

Never mind.
George Lucas edited the scene later to make Greedo shoot first and miss from point-blank range. I had to look it up. It’s called the internet, which I still believe is a fad.

Are we buyers or sellers?
Too soon to pin a label on this team, but it needs to stack series wins or be forced to sell again. That’s always a last resort. Elias wants to buy. He’s all-in as long as the Orioles convince him that they can make a legitimate run at a Wild Card. They have to chip away at the deficit. Going forward and back every week won’t get it done.

From your perspective, what are the odds on Adley Rutschman resigning from both his side and management?
You mean re-signing. He won’t quit. And you’re welcome. The Orioles want a long-term relationship with Rutschman. I’ll again share Elias’ response when asked about the possibility of trading Rutschman: “He’s been the cornerstone basically since I’ve been here. He’s an enormous part of it. I wish our commitment was greater than it is. We want him here forever.” However, Rutschman becomes harder to keep the closer he gets to free agency. We don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, but yeah, the clock is ticker louder. I won’t place odds, but I feel confident in saying that the chances of signing him to a long-term contract are much greater under this ownership group. It wasn’t happening before that.

Have you reached the conclusion yet that the Orioles are pretty unlikely to contend this year?
I feel less confident than I did maybe a few weeks ago, but I’ll say again that the league is mediocre and the Orioles could make a run at it. The rotation is so much better right now, and that’s where it starts. But injuries and sudden offensive and defensive breakdowns work against them. The bullpen needs reinforcements. It’s transitioned from a strength to a concern.

If you were picking in this draft, what would your priority be? A certain position, pitching or best baseball player available?
I’d want the best available and hope that he also strengthens an area in the system that needs it. I wouldn’t balk, so to speak, at a stud infielder, outfielder or catcher. High school or college. I don’t think they’re using the No. 7 pick on a pitcher, but it’s in play if he’s the highest-rated prospect on the board when the first six selections are completed. I wouldn’t be adverse to it. But I’m intrigued by outfielders Drew Burress and Eric Booth Jr. If one of them is on the board at No. 7, yeah, that’s probably where I’m going.

Are you a fan of grilled sweet corn ? I’ve got all butter and seasoning. I’ve nailed it. I can grill, sir.
I’ll be right over. Does it count as not showing up empty-handed if I have a napkin tucked inside my collar?

Please tell me the Blaze outfield experience is over. I know, that’s not a question.
It is not. The Orioles have gone back to carrying five outfielders, which reduces the need to use Alexander. He could return there if circumstances dictate it, but you’re more likely to find him at third base or second base, or at shortstop if Gunnar Henderson is used as the designated hitter or rested.   

As always, PureWager Pavilion … what up wit dat?
I’m not sure where you’re going with this, but it seems important to you. It’s a gathering spot below the center field videoboard featuring a covered patio, a bar and food. It’s available for private group rentals of up to 300 guests and open to all fans when it’s not booked for these events. It’s obviously sponsored by the gaming technology company. I hope this answers your question. If not, try again!

Is there anything more refreshing than Blaze’s way of playing the game? So fun to watch and such a gamer. And he seems like such a cool dude.
I agree with every word of this. I love his energy and enthusiasm. And yeah, he’s a great guy to have in the clubhouse. Diamondbacks media hated to see him go. If the Baltimore beat crew had a good-guy award, which has been discussed, he’d be one of the leading candidates. “Such a cool dude,” as you called him, fits like a glove.

If the Orioles are a contending team with starting pitching woes towards the end of the season, do you think the O’s front office would put their worries about service time aside and call up Boston Bateman and/or Joseph Dzierwa for pitching help, assuming they continue to succeed in the minors? I would love to see those two in particular pitching in an Oriole uniform sooner rather than later as they have the physical build of a major league pitcher at such a young age.
The Orioles would rather hold off there and rely on the depth provided by the likes of Cade Povich and Trey Gibson. Dzierwa is in his first professional season and began the year at High-A Frederick. He’s still impressing at Double-A Chesapeake and he’s posted an overall 2.33 ERA in 16 minor league games, but he’d have to get a bump to Triple-A Norfolk in the second half and then make his major league debut. That’s four levels. That’s asking a lot, especially from a contending team in your scenario. The more likely scenario is that he finishes with Norfolk and perhaps earns the organization’s Pitcher of the Year award. Bateman is 20 years old and still with Frederick. That ain’t happening in 2026, but he’s also a legit prospect and the jewel of the Ryan O’Hearn/Ramon Laureano trade. The Padres didn’t want to surrender him, but that deal wasn’t happening otherwise.

I’ve only noticed one pitcher make an ABS challenge. Is there a philosophy against it, like not showing up the ump, or are the pitchers so focused that they just move on?
I wouldn’t call it a philosophy as much as it’s simply the catchers handling the task. It’s got to be done quickly and they’re the ones receiving and framing the ball. None of us will forget Ryan Helsley trying to make a challenge in Pittsburgh and the team was out of them. That turned out to be a killer. Add it to the many oddities in 2026.

Did Alby really not have a plan for who would cover the infield if a player got hurt just like Baz did? Was he just joking or did he really walk down the bench in that moment and ask Cowser?
You mean Blaze. See, I don’t edit the questions. The team got into a bind because Coby Mayo was the designated hitter and Jackson Holliday was unavailable due to some groin tightness. (I’ve always thought “Groin Tightness” would be a good name for a cover band, but I digress …) Leody Taveras always has been viewed as a possibility based on his athleticism and how he fields ground balls all the time in the outfield. An ideal solution? No. But they got away with it. The stuff with Cowser sounded more like a joke, just to get a reaction. I wasn’t there for it, but that’s my read.

If attendance at OPACY continues to decrease, will the Orioles wear City Disconnect uniforms?
This seems like a good place to stop.