Mailbag leftovers for breakfast

SAN FRANCISCO – The mailbag didn’t empty on my first attempt, so let’s try again.

Here are some leftover questions as we await the second game of the series against the Giants, with a starting time of 4:15 p.m. on the West Coast.

Which prospects recently brought up are you most surprised by with their performance, whether good or bad?
So we’re not counting Jeremiah Jackson, right? You said “prospects.” But he’s definitely a surprise. I didn’t put much stock in his Triple-A numbers. Dylan Beavers is an on-base machine, which isn’t to be confused with Vimael Machín. I just assumed that he’d start slowly like so many others, but he’s worthy of an elevated spot in the lineup – next season after he retains rookie status.

Should Ryan Mountcastle change positions, since first base is crowded with Samuel Basallo on the roster?
Mountcastle already has played four since the Orioles drafted him – shortstop, third base, left field and first base. I don’t think there are plans to put him in the five-timers club and give him a special jacket. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove finalist at first. He’s fine. The bigger question is whether the Orioles give him another raise in arbitration in his final year before free agency, and if so, how they work the lineups with Basallo, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo.

Do you have any preferences for any of the rumored expansion cities? Guess one has to be on the West Coast?
Not sure I’m caught up on the rumors. Salt Lake City and Nashville? I saw the USA Today report last month that those cities are targeted. Bring back Montreal so I can finally make a trip. The Expos had the undisputed worst ballpark in the majors and every beat writer circled those dates on the calendar. Had nothing to do with Olympic Stadium. It was all about the city, which, as the backup on the beat, I never got to experience. Delmarva would be ideal because I could stay with my mom.

Does your mom know you're heading to SF?
She prays and lights candles in church whenever I travel. So yes.

So what’s the deal with the ornithologically correct bird? This team rebranding? What are you hearing there?
Are you 100 percent certain that it’s ornithologically correct? What are the distinguishing features? And wasn’t “ornithological” also OJ Simpson’s first name? Anyway, I checked and the cartoon bird will remain the club’s primary logo in 2026.

What musical artists do the O’s players play in the locker room after a game? If you don’t know the artist, what style? Who picks the music?
It varies, with lots of Latin music earlier in the season, but I find that the postgame music that only plays after wins often features lyrics that can’t be aired on MASN. A member of the PR staff turns it down after we enter the clubhouse. Rap, hip-hop. Anyone can play DJ. The pregame music used to be chosen by the starting pitcher. Not sure if that tradition continues. And it can be pop, country, anything. But it’s different than the raucous postgame celebrations with the light and smoke shows. One exception occurred in Detroit this season. I think it was Gary Sánchez’s playlist, and it was so loud, the only way to interview a player was to ask if he’d step into the hallway.

Throughout your illustrious journalism career, who are the top three players you would’ve loved to punch in the face and not get caught?
I’m saving that for the book. I will say that there are very few players who got me riled. Travis Snider yelled at a group of reporters one day because we were standing in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium waiting for the lineup to be posted. We were allowed access at that time and occupied an area near the hallway that didn’t draw heavy foot traffic. He wasn’t hitting and he wasn’t a team leader. The outburst was unnecessary and misplaced. But punch him in the face? Nah. And the Pirates’ beat writers loved him. (Check his photo on his Baseball-Reference.com page.) Scott Erickson didn’t hide his disdain for me, but I’d just talk to him on days he pitched and ignore him the other four.

Do you believe executive vice president and general manager Michael Elias has redeemed himself with the fan base, and the front office, after pulling off the best draft (according to many publications) and a highly successful trade deadline?
Let me start by complimenting you on using Elias’ full title and first name. Way to go that extra mile. Listen, you can’t please everyone. It’s impossible to achieve 100 percent approval. There are plenty of fans who heap praise on the front office for getting through the rebuild quicker than anticipated with a winning record in 2022 and back-to-back playoff appearances. Only two years have passed since the Orioles won 101 games and the division. Remember that? The farm system jumped to No. 1 in baseball. I’m old enough to remember when the Orioles were bottom feeders. Elias is responsible for fully staffed analytics and international scouting departments. But an offseason that underwhelmed a lot of people, followed by a last-place plummet, has drawn the expected level of criticism. The trade deadline and draft don’t make it disappear. Winning is the only remedy.

Is the front office aware as to how bad the offense is? Do they watch the games? They can't hit any off-speed pitches or changeups? They look at called third strikes. They can't advance runners. They can't hit with RISP? How can anyone think this is just "bad luck?"
Not to nit-pick, but I don’t think all of these qualify as questions. And you can only look at a called third strike. Anyway, yes, the front office studies everything and pours over the data and tries to find solutions. Hitters can be lectured on an improved approach, like not chasing, being aggressive on pitches in the hot zone, etc. But they have to execute it. The “bad luck” part applies more to the injuries.

With the transfer portal, and players bouncing around from team to team, are you still into college sports?
I am, but it’s much harder to be passionate about a program when some of its best players change schools every year. As they say, you’re reduced to rooting for laundry.

What’s the plan with Tyler O’Neill?
Not sure what you mean by a “plan,” except that they’re trying to get him healthy. He’s expected to swing a bat this weekend after receiving a second injection in his right wrist. He can opt out of his contract, but that seems unlikely after he’s gone on the injured list three times and played in only 43 games. The Orioles are paying him $49.5 million over three seasons and will go into spring training with O’Neill projected to start in an outfield corner unless something unexpected develops.

If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
“I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story.

Again, if you had a walk-up song ... 
I suppose the same as my closer entry song: Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock.”

Why bother bringing Jorge Mateo back for September? I’d rather let Jeremiah Jackson finish out the season for our utility role since he potentially has a future with this team, while Mateo’s time as an Oriole should be over.
Mateo's time certainly could be drawing to a close. The Orioles hold a $5.5 million option on his contract for 2026 and that's a lot for the little production that he's offered. But in the meantime, he's worked hard to return and this is a reward and he won't play every day. Jackson isn't going to be buried. The Orioles selected Emmanuel Rivera's contract because they wanted a defensive upgrade. Mateo is a defensive upgrade in the infield. And he's fast. The Orioles are infatuated with his speed.

Who do you miss covering the most?
And don’t say “your mom.” Oh. Too many to mention. But a quick, top of my head roll call would include Trey Mancini, Caleb Joseph, Brady Anderson, Mike Bordick, Jeff Reboulet, Chris Hoiles, Brian Matusz (RIP), Zack Britton, Ryan O'Hearn, Anthony Santander. I’m leaving out a bunch.

Do you think the Orioles will surprise us in September, which is only a few days away, and call up Enrique Bradfield Jr. to play centerfield?
You're more likely to see Enrique Iglesias playing center field. Or for me to reveal the player to be named later in the Chad Bradfield deal. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is at Double-A Chesapeake. No rushing the prospects!

Who was the worst manager/coach you've had to deal with?
I never had a problem with any of them, but Davey Johnson was my first manager on the beat and he wasn’t easy for the newbies. He broke me in, you could say. Ken Rosenthal still repeats a line from Johnson whenever he sees me: “That Rocco is so far over his head.” He thought I second-guessed him in a story because I mentioned that a reliever was ready but he stuck with his starter. He pulled me aside the next day after his dugout media scrum and “reminded” me that I could ask if I had any questions. The other reporters sat on the bench holding back their laughter. It was my turn.

The metrics suggest he’s struggling, so should Jackson Holliday be moved off second base?
No. He should keep working to improve, and people should remember he’s 21 and a natural shortstop. Leave him at second, Gunnar Henderson at short and a healthy Jordan Westburg at third. Also, defensive metrics aren’t the only way to judge a player.

Do you believe Scott Boras is poison for MLB? And do you honestly believe Curt Flood would’ve chosen Boras as his agent?
Don’t know about the second part. And poison might be extreme. Executives aren’t held at gunpoint and forced to hand out record-setting contracts. But he’s the driving force behind escalating salaries and the smaller-market teams having to trade star players or watch them walk. He isn’t the only power agent out there, but he’s the most ripped.

Why does the front office shuffle the roster every day? They make the news literally every day with something roster related.
It isn’t done for thrills. You’ll have to trust me. Injuries force most of those moves. And that pesky trade deadline, of course. The bullpen churn also happens when a fresh arm is needed or a reliever becomes available who’s viewed as an upgrade. It’s been a crazy roster season with … checks notes … 66 different players used to blow past the franchise record.

While I assume they would never speak of such things, has anybody with the team dare said anything about the possibility of realignment and how the O's might end up separated from Boston and New York?
How dare you! I haven’t heard anyone talking about it. I feel like it’s a topic that’s pretty low on the discussion board. As long as the team isn’t moved to the NL West. Or the Pioneer League.  

Going into deep history here. I was upset when the Os sent Nestor Cortes back to the Yanks in 2018 after his rough start. I thought it was the perfect season to have a guy like this pitch when I expected them to be poor as a team. What were your expectations for 2018?
For Cortes? Not much at that point in his career. For the Orioles? Much more, since they contended in 2017 until their September collapse. I agreed that they should go for it one last time rather than start trading their stars. I was wrong.

Are you looking forward to covering the Athletics in Las Vegas?
You bet. But that's a long way from happening. 2028? I'll be in the old sportswriters' home, gumming my sunflower seeds and telling Davey Johnson stories. 

How many Jacksons could play jacks if a Jackson could play jacks?
This is probably a good place to stop.