masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI’m wearing rubber gloves today while sorting through my mailbag. All of my clothes are made out of Glad trash bags. Safety first.
Don’t use the scented brand. They’ll give you a headache.
I’d keep a six-foot distance from the mail, but my vision is pretty bad. Also, my arms wouldn’t reach it.
You know what’s also a reach? Trying to convince anyone that there’s an actual bag. But treat it as you would “Rocky IV” and suspend disbelief.
(The Soviet crowd chanting his name at the end?…

I’m wearing rubber gloves today while sorting through my mailbag. All of my clothes are made out of Glad trash bags. Safety first.

Don’t use the scented brand. They’ll give you a headache.

I’d keep a six-foot distance from the mail, but my vision is pretty bad. Also, my arms wouldn’t reach it.

You know what’s also a reach? Trying to convince anyone that there’s an actual bag. But treat it as you would “Rocky IV” and suspend disbelief.

(The Soviet crowd chanting his name at the end? Come on!)

This is my latest sequel to the original. No one is chanting my name. It’s just a bunch of questions that come at me like stiff jabs.

I return them, but they just keep coming.

What is the minimum number of games that need to be played in order to have a legitimate season?
No one knows.

What’s the cutoff date for the season to start?
No one knows.

How many weeks will be needed for spring training 2.0?
No one knows.

Will spring training return to Sarasota or move to Baltimore?
No one knows.

Could the season begin with games played only in Florida and Arizona?
No one knows.

What about only Arizona?
No one knows.

(How are we doing so far?)

Will rosters expand from 26 to 29 players for the first month?
That’s the expectation.

Do you still project a rotation of John Means, Alex Cobb, Asher Wojciechowski, Wade LeBlanc and Tommy Milone?
Yes, I do.

Are you only providing three-word answers today?
I hope not.

Did you read the report on ESPN.com about the possibility of games played by May, but exclusively in Arizona?
Yes, and the idea seems ridiculous. Is it really worth starting the season with so many reported restrictions, including isolating teams in their hotels except for trips to and from the ballpark, no mound visits by pitching coaches and catchers, an electronic strike zone to keep the plate umpire six feet back, teams sitting in the stands with the proper spacing instead of the dugout, and seven-inning doubleheaders? The article includes how games could be played “at stadiums with no fans in the greater Phoenix area, including the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, 10 spring training facilities and perhaps other nearby fields.” Facilities and nearby fields? How is this going to simulate a real season or anything close to it? And there’s the sheer joy of playing in 110-degree temperatures. And putting stadium workers, security, police and hotel workers at risk. My vote doesn’t count, but I’m going with a hard “no.”

So you don’t think it’s going to happen?
There’s a better chance of People Magazine finally choosing me as “Sexiest Man Alive.” I’d settle for Orioles Magazine.

How will an expanded roster impact the Orioles?
They can carry at least a few more relievers to protect their starters and perhaps enable manager Brandon Hyde to rest some of his late-inning guys. The depth will be extremely important.

Does the shutdown hurt the Orioles more than some other clubs?
Everyone is in the same boat, but the waters seem choppier for a rebuilding team like the Orioles. They want to funnel some prospects onto the major league roster over the summer. Their plan is dependent on the ability to do it. But the shutdown is disrupting the timelines for guys like outfielder/first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and left-hander Keegan Akin, among others. It’s tough for Mountcastle to work on his plate discipline at home. It’s tough for Akin to work on throwing more strikes at home. Pitchers Dean Kremer and Bruce Zimmermann and outfielder Yusniel Diaz aren’t receiving the necessary innings and at-bats while furthering their development. And the impact obviously reaches levels below Triple-A.

Wells-Warmups-ST-sidebar.jpgHow are the Orioles going to fit so many starters in Norfolk’s rotation?
They have an abundance of them, especially with the front office wanting to assign a few veterans to the Tides in case of injury to a major league starter. David Hess already has been optioned and the camp roster is holding Thomas Eshelman, Chandler Shepherd and Ty Blach. I wouldn’t be shocked if Michael Baumann, Zac Lowther and Alexander Wells are forced to begin the season at Double-A Bowie, but I’m not working with inside information here.

How many hours in the day are you spending inside?
I make the occasional drive to the grocery store and Emily takes me for walks when she returns home. The tail-wagging provides some laughs. Otherwise, a big day for me is moving from the upper-level couch to the lower-level couch.

What do you miss most about the baseball season?
Delayed flights.

What do you really miss most about the baseball season?
My Southwest points.

Again, what do you really miss most about the baseball season?
The feeling that the only risk to my health is a foul ball or the press meal.

Which Oriole could emerge as a breakout player in 2020?
I’m under surveillance to prevent me from breaking out of the house. Otherwise, I’m picking Anthony Santander, who’s going to get regular at-bats in left or right field depending on Trey Mancini’s availability. He can hit for power from both sides of the plate and I’d expect his average to climb. He needs to improve on last season’s .297 on-base percentage, which should come with better plate discipline and pitch recognition. The Orioles are working on it. He has an intriguing set of tools, which allowed him to slash .290/.368/.494 with 42 doubles, 20 home runs and 95 RBIs in 128 games at Single-A Lynchburg in the Indians’ system prior to the Orioles selecting him in the Rule 5 draft.

Any updates on Trey Mancini?
Mancini and his family have asked that we respect their privacy and that’s what I’m doing. I’m not going to dig for details or share anything that I’ve heard. I’m sure you understand. The club hasn’t provided any updates since executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias’ second conference call, but Mancini is out of the hospital and feeling good.

Will Mancini be able to play in 2020?
No one knows.

Any good quiz questions to pass the time?
Name three Orioles pitchers from the ’50s who were Scorpios and liked their steaks cooked medium rare.

I guess not.
That’s not a question.

Could the bullpen be improved this season?
There’s a chance. A full season with Hunter Harvey, a healthy Richard Bleier, the adjustments made by Shawn Armstrong, perhaps earlier usage of Mychal Givens, the possibility that Tanner Scott improves his control and becomes the dominant late-inning reliever that’s been expected. Miguel Castro didn’t allow a run in his three spring outings and struck out four batters, though he also walked three. Eric Hanhold and Cody Carroll aren’t locks to make the club, but they were very good prior to the shutdown. The Orioles really like Dillon Tate’s arm and potential. So, I’m saying there’s a chance.

When should we expect the Orioles to make more cuts?
The rosters are frozen, so after they thaw.

Will you be doing the “Wall to Wall Baseball” show with Tom Davis?
The building in Timonium remains closed, so we’re shut down. And I’m not going to be the one trying to teach Tom how to Zoom.

Ever consider having former umpire Richie Garcia as a guest? He could talk about Jeffrey Maier.
Garcia tried to join us, but he blew the call.

Your most vivid Yankee Stadium memory as a reporter?
I covered the 2001 World Series and the Tino Martinez and Scot Brosius game-tying home runs off Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim that made me wonder if the building was going to collapse. I wrote about Derek Jeter’s walk-off single against Orioles reliever Evan Meek in the future Hall of Famer’s final at-bat in the Bronx, and listened to Meek afterward talk about how it was “an honor and a privilege” to be on the same field as Jeter. I covered the Subway Series in 2000. I sat in the press box for the game played exactly one year after the 9/11 attacks. And I watched Armando Benitez plant a fastball between Martinez’s shoulder blades in 1998, touching off a wild brawl after I had already filed my story and was counting down the minutes until I could get back to my hotel. And that’s just off the top of my head.

Ever been drilled by a fastball on the top of your head?
No, but I took a foul ball off my right hand in the press box a few years ago. Almost broke the skin.

Not all heroes wear capes.
Again, not a question.

How many times have you watched the replay of 2,131?
That many times. I wrote sidebars off 2,130 and 2,131 as part of The Baltimore Sun’s expanded coverage, and I missed a chunk of the first game while working on an essential piece about the team store running out of commemorative baseballs. Yeah, I’m being sarcastic. I was standing on Eutaw Street when confetti began to fall in the fifth inning. I made certain that I was in my seat in the auxiliary press box – which was stationed in left field – for the moment that 2,131 became official. I was supposed to take notes on how the Angels dugout reacted, but had to be reminded by the co-worker next to me because I was mesmerized by the ovations and the lap around the warning track. There was a nice local angle because Dundalk native Mike Bielecki worked the sixth inning for the Angels. I also remember approaching Rod Carew for an interview about Ripken, introducing myself and extending my hand. Carew glared at it, shook his head and walked away.

Ever approach a player for an interview and were shocked that he did it?
Roberto Alomar inside the Blue Jays clubhouse before a 1995 game at Camden Yards. I can’t remember why I was there, since my beat was covering the small local colleges – meaning everything except the University of Maryland. I wanted to ask him about free agency and whether he’d be open to signing with the Orioles. Never met the guy. Was nervous. A teammate told Alomar that it was time to go on the field for batting practice, just as I had walked up to him as he sat on a couch. Not only did he give me a few minutes, but he was extremely nice about it and confirmed his interest. I wouldn’t expect a player to eliminate a team. That’s bad for negotiations. But I was pretty sure that he was going to decline my request.

Who was the best player you ever covered?
It might be Alomar. He could beat you in so many different ways. His hitting, his power, his speed, his defense – the best I’ve seen. But he shouldn’t be in the team’s Hall of Fame, in my opinion, because he played only three seasons and declined in the third while counting the days until he could leave. He wasn’t happy. But man, it was a joy to watch him play second base. Worth every dollar paid to him.

How do you keep getting paid with no games?
No one knows. I mean, shut up.