The non-mathematical second half of the season couldn’t commence without another mailbag.

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

The Orioles would like to edit out a lot of the issues that marred their attempts to make a playoff push before the break, but I’m largely hands-off with your questions. I find your clarity, length and style to be endearing.

Also, my mailbag hits the facing of the second deck and your mailbag gets hit in the face.

If you had to guess, are the O’s buyers, sellers, some of both, or standpatters at the upcoming deadline?
I don’t think they stand pat. There should be movement. Any guess right now would discount whether they go on a long winning or losing streak in the next week or so. We’d be living in the now, and right now I think they’ve given president of baseball operations Mike Elias reason to add. But I can envision a scenario where he’d move one or more pending free agents and bring in controllable players who are upgrades for 2026. That sounds more like “some of both.” I don’t think it’s a repeat of 2025 with the lack of any gray area. The Orioles were straight-up sellers. But again, let’s see what they do coming out of the break with trips to Houston and Boston, a home series against the Braves, a trip to Detroit and a home series against the Phillies that leads to the Aug. 3 deadline.

What is your favorite All-Star memory?
I was fired up for these games as a kid because it was special to see the American League play the National League, which isn’t the case anymore. Yawn. It also seemed like both rosters were filled with future Hall of Famers. They were legends. Not so much anymore. As a baseball beat writer, I’ll say the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park is a favorite because Ted Williams rode onto the field in a golf cart and was surrounded by players who were simply in awe of him. Huge stars just wanted to get close, shake his hand and talk. It was fascinating to watch. And afterward, I got stuck in one of the rickety old elevators. I’ll also include the 2018 game in D.C. when news broke that the Orioles were close to trading Manny Machado to the Dodgers. I’ve told this story. He was interviewed at his locker before the game, offering very little to the media, and then asked someone with the club’s public relations staff to summon the beat crew to a private area where he could say goodbye, thank us and pose for a photo.

Let’s say we are buyers at the deadline, which players or prospects may be on the table to be moved?
I’m hesitant to toss out names without really knowing if these guys could be on the move. It seems reckless. But if the Orioles are aiming high, teams are gonna ask about Nate George, Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy, for example. Some of the high-round draft picks in recent years. And also pitching prospects like Joseph Dzierwa, Luis De León, Boston Bateman, Nestor German and JT Quinn. Trey Gibson also could come up in discussions.

When a team starts the second half after the break on the road, do the players report individually to that city, like Houston, or do they all have to report to Baltimore and fly together?
It’s my understanding that they can make their own arrangements. Seems like a lot to ask for players to fly home after Sunday’s game, then fly back to Baltimore and hop on a charter to Houston on Thursday.

Who are some of the players eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft?
Among the names are catchers Creed Willems and Silas Ardoin, infielders Aron Estrada and Carter Young, outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr., Jud Fabian, Thomas Sosa, Douglas Hodo III and Frederick Bencosme, and pitchers Luis De León, Nestor German, Levi Wells, Juaron Watts-Brown, Trace Bright, Alex Pham, Carlos Tavera, Kiefer Lord, Braxton Bragg and Patrick Reilly. Cameron Weston fell off the list when the Orioles put him on the 40-man roster. This is a prospect-heavy load of players who need to be protected.

Eggs: over-easy or scrambled? Also, thoughts on daylight savings time.
I like both styles of eggs. Not to brag here, but I made a grilled cheese sandwich earlier this week by sliding an over-easy egg in the middle before putting it in the pan. I also love a big scramble. Breakfast for dinner is a favorite of ours. Gotta have cheese in the scramble, and chopped up green onions and tomatoes if available. As for daylight savings time, I want it lighter longer. I hate darkness by 5 p.m. I hate the clocks changing. Spring forward and stay there.

Anything new on Ryan Helsley?
This is an old one. Sorry. Helsley has inflammation around the UCL in his right elbow and will rehab with the team. We’re told that he didn’t suffer a tear.

Has any Orioles team in the past not won more than three games in a row? It seems like even in the bad years, the teams had a few weeks in the sun.
Also an old one, since they won their fourth in a row before the break. I checked with STATS and the record for shortest winning streak in a season is three in 2021. They failed six times to make it seven in a row. They started out 3-0 after sweeping the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Do you think the possible impending strike will be as bad as they say, wiping out the 2027 season? If so, would this be Adley Rutschman’s last season then? Also, if so, should they trade him this year to get something for him or would you give him a qualifying offer?
Whoa. OK, first, the 2027 season won’t get wiped out. I don’t know who “they” are, but I expect to be watching baseball next year. Rutschman is a free agent after the 2027 season. I wouldn’t consider trading him unless it’s next year’s deadline and the Orioles are sellers and teams are dangling top prospects and an extension can’t be worked out. You’d have to consider it. If he’s still on the team, yeah, the qualifying offer. But in my perfect Orioles world, the Rutschman/Basallo tandem is around for a long time. We don’t have to relive the days of the ol’ catch-and-throw, light-hitting backup.

Is it just me or are more balls disappearing in the right field corner? Did the team change the dimensions?
I can’t say whether you’re disappearing in the right field corner, but yes, some baseballs are rattling around in that area behind where the stands jut out. The Orioles didn’t alter the dimensions or put another bar in there. Funny you bring this up because the corner was a recent topic of conversation in the press box. Our view has changed since we moved over to make room for the Truist Club. I’ve actually grown to enjoy having a better view of the pitch location, peering into the dugout and tracking balls hit down the right field line. And it’s been strange to watch right fielders chase them, disappear from our sight and take way too long to reappear, like they got lost and need to ask for directions. They also have to run around the stands to make the throw. I never noticed it happening in past years. Maybe we just got spoiled by Nick Markakis’ defense.

Will Chris Bassitt pitch again this season?
The Orioles think he will and Bassitt thinks he will. Manager Craig Albernaz told reporters in Houston yesterday that Bassitt long-tossed from about 120 feet and threw off a mound. That’s good progress from surgery to remove a bone spur in his lower back. Albernaz added that Bassitt is in a “good spot.” He certainly seems to be trending in the right direction.

Why no more concerts at Camden Yards?
First, they have to spend money on ballpark renovations and the roster. And then, they have to do the concerts. (See what I did there?) There are concerts. Nelly performed in May. The “I Love the 90s” tour arrives next month. Or maybe you’re thinking more along the lines of Billy Joel and Paul McCartney. But don’t look down your nose at Vanilla Ice!

Given the uneven play, do you suspect the Orioles would be reluctant to trade the next wave at Fredrick for upgrades to the current roster?
I don’t like to speak for Mike Elias. I will say, however, that he was willing to trade catcher Caden Bodine and outfielder Slater de Brun as part of the package for Shane Baz. You stock up on prospects to provide the kind of depth that lets you go out and make deals without crippling the farm system. If Elias is all-in, he’s gonna have to dip into his stash.

Who’s the first have MVO?
Man, that’s a tough one. You can make arguments for Pete Alonso, Blaze Alexander, Brandon Young, Samuel Basallo, Taylor Ward, Adley Rutschman. I’ll go with Alonso, but Alexander’s prolonged hot stretch and ability to play six positions is deserving of recognition. I’m also putting Young on my fake ballot because the Orioles would have been in a world of hurt if he didn’t step up after so many injuries to the rotation.

Do you think, in your opinion, regardless of what the front office thinks, that the left field wall should be moved in?
No. Let’s leave it alone. The wall needed to be pushed back to prevent lazy fly balls from landing in the seats, but the Orioles went too far. They “overcorrected,” as Mike Elias put it. They had to correct the overcorrected. Elias said it was important to find a happier medium. I know right-handed hitters still aren’t real happy about it, but they’re homering anyway. And it’s more important to get rid of the bandbox reputation that scared away free-agent pitchers.

If this Orioles season were a Taylor Swift song, which one would it be?
I love this question, and so did my wife. “Shake It Off” if the season is ruining your summer fun. “My Tears Ricochet” is a good one. “Paper Rings” made me chuckle. Think about it. “Back to December” if you’re reflecting on how you felt after the Orioles brought in Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and Ryan Helsley. But I’ve got to go with “Cruel Summer.” At least so far.

Has ABS grown on you?
I was never against it. My concern was the constant stoppage, however brief, that seems to have lessened over the course of the season. Remember the game early in the year when the teams combined for, like, 400? They were challenging the Gatorade flavors. But I’d rather get the call right.

What will the Orioles do at third base without Blaze Alexander?
Try to lure Melvin Mora out of retirement. Assuming that doesn’t work, they have Coby Mayo, Jeremiah Jackson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who was recalled Thursday night in the middle of my dinner. Jackson Holliday has played 10 innings at the position this season. I don’t know if the Orioles would be willing to move Gunnar Henderson to the corner. They might target an infielder at the trade deadline.

Did you expect the Orioles to take Eric Booth Jr.?
I expected them to take Booth or Drew Burress, depending on which outfielder remained on the board. I wrote up capsules on both players that I could plug into my story. If both were gone and prep infielder Jacob Lombard remained on the board, I expected the Orioles to grab him. Turns out, all three of them were available, and given those choices, I liked Booth’s chances of being the pick. From a beat writer’s standpoint, the worst-case scenario is a name that leaves you scrambling to look up stats and scouting reports. I still remember tearing through pages of the Baseball America draft preview in 2001 when the Orioles selected Cumberland University left-hander Chris Smith seventh overall. I didn’t have much luck. And neither did Smith.  

The 2026 MLB All-Star Weekend wasn’t a huge success, if a success at all. What would you do, or what do you think can happen to bring more attention to the events during MLB All-Star Weekend?
Maybe this is a separate rant, but humor me. Stop making the draft part of the All-Star Weekend. It doesn’t increase visibility, which was the intent, and there’s no reason to lump them as if they belong together. They don’t. Spread it out. Give the draft its own space. And maybe, I don’t know, keep it on one network instead of making fans search for it after the 10th pick and again the next day. How dumb. But also, we must accept that it’s never going to be as popular as the NFL draft because these high school and college players get far less national exposure and they won’t make an immediate impact on their teams. At least both commissioners get booed, so there’s that. The Futures Game began Sunday after Day 2 of the draft was underway and shortly before major league games started. That isn’t a good way to call attention to it. The Home Run Derby moved to Netflix and drew its smallest audience since 2003. My interest died a long time ago and I didn’t watch a single swing because the Orioles didn’t have a rep. The All-Star Game is superior to the Pro Bowl, but the absence of some star players this year was a downer. Injuries happen, of course, but they weren’t the sole reason. And interleague play has killed the mystique. Seeing the leagues compete against each other just isn’t a thrill anymore.

Which players within the organization do you foresee making their major league debut in the second half?
This isn’t a prediction as much as it’s stating some possibilities, like pitchers Nestor German and Andrew Magno, for obviously different reasons. Magno is a southpaw reliever with an ERA that was under 1.00 until he allowed two runs in an inning in his final appearance of the first half, but he’s also walked 20 in 34 2/3 innings. The bullpen is light in lefties. The club might want to give him a shot. I’m curious about Enrique Bradfield Jr. and whether his speed and defense might get him to Baltimore later in the summer. Don’t forget about roster expansion in September, though it isn’t like the old days when you could summon your entire 40-man.

Who was or is your Mom’s favorite player? And don’t say Cal.
I’d never! I mean … She LOVED Jim Palmer when I was a kid. She saw him walking through the parking lot at Memorial Stadium, which is hard to imagine nowadays, and I thought she’d faint. She wasn’t thrilled about arriving that early and my father said, “Well, I guess you aren’t mad about it now.” And also, you know, the underwear ads. But let’s ask her. She’s sitting right here. … Yep, still Palmer.

Has Cal Ripken Jr. reported any of his findings since the Orioles announced his expanded role consulting on minor league fundamentals? I haven’t seen any updates. Has anyone else?
To be clear, Ripken isn’t bouncing from affiliate to affiliate working with the minor leaguers. He’s around to assist the Orioles if they come to him. He’s observing, taking notes and obviously available to offer his input. That could be something as simple as pulling aside Gunnar Henderson or Jackson Holliday to go over positioning on cutoffs and bunt plays. Anything related to defense. Anything that jumps out at him while watching games. He isn’t going to bring too much attention to himself, and that includes sharing his findings. You’ll notice that he isn’t quoted in any of these articles. He isn’t a source.

Is there really anyone on the “trade block” from the O’s? The guys who are on expiring contracts aren’t exactly attractive. Adley and Gunnar probably garner attention, but it doesn’t seem like either are necessarily available given their control remaining.
I don’t expect Rutschman or Henderson to be traded. I’ll respectfully disagree that none of the pending free agents are attractive to other teams. Trevor Rogers will have suitors if he’s on the table. Teams looking for an outfielder would want Taylor Ward. Andrew Kittredge would fit into a contender’s bullpen. But would the Orioles trade any of them? Let’s see where they are in a week or so. This stretch against the Astros and Red Sox on the road could offer a hint.

How can O’s minor leaguers make it to the major leagues with such poor fundamentals, especially on defense? They spent years, probably starting with little league, playing baseball where fundamentals are taught , or at least were when I played.
The only way that I can answer this, and it probably won’t help, is that the organization puts heavy emphasis on fundamentals, and it isn’t a recent trend. It’s been this way for years. The instruction and drills begin in spring training and continue through the season. I sit in the press box and watch infield work and pitchers fielding practice before players step into the cage to hit. But mistakes happen. The game speeds up on younger players. Some guys, to put it mildly, have defensive ceilings and probably won’t get much better. But it isn’t due to a lack of effort.  

What’s your starting lineup and pitching staff of Muppets?

Here’s mine:
1. Kermit, CF
2. Rizzo, 2B
3. Gonzo, SS
4. Swedish Chef, DH
5. Fozzie, 1B
6. Rowlf, C
7. Scooter, 3B
8. Bunsen, LF
9. Beaker, RF

Rotation
1. Sam the Eagle
2. Miss Piggy
3. Statler
4. Waldorf
5. Lew Zealand

Animal is the closer.
In all the years that I’ve done mailbags, I don’t think there’s ever been a better place to stop. Right here.

Note: Orioles pitching prospect Boston Bateman exited last night’s game with High-A Frederick after 1 2/3 innings due to left triceps tightness. The club says it was done as a precaution.

Bateman, the organization’s No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, threw 39 pitches, 21 for strikes.