The mailbag needs to pop a Dramamine from all of the travel back and forth in spring training.

You don’t want to see how it empties its own contents.

Since we’ve arrived at the first of two Orioles off-days in camp, let’s dig into some leftovers and hope that they stay down.

I’m liking Cameron Foster as a dark horse candidate to make the Opening Day roster (I know, not a question). Who has passed the eyeball test as your spring training dark horse candidate to make the Opening Day roster?
Foster and Anthony Nunez entered camp as solid candidates for the title and nothing has changed in my book. They each tossed another scoreless inning yesterday. Foster fell behind 3-0 to his first batter and 3-1 to his second, which manager Craig Albernaz reference after the game, but we’re nitpicking here. He hasn’t allowed a run in his three appearances and his fastball is living in the high 90s. I don’t put Rico Garcia in the dark horse stable because he pitched in 20 games with the Orioles last season.

Are the O’s really giving consideration to using a six-man rotation sometime during the season? Rumors abound. Hope all is well with you and yours. Have a great day.
Thanks. You, too. Like Sidney Ponson at mealtime, everything is on the table. (Sorry, I really need to stop doing that.) It isn’t just rumors. They’ve talked about the possibility, whether to begin the season or later in the summer. It’s more easily avoided if Zach Eflin starts the season on the injured list. It makes sense if the club is setting an innings limit for Kyle Bradish, except for the three early off-days on the schedule.

Do you think our new manager is a platoon guy who will match up like Hyder and Manso did?
We’re still learning how Craig Albernaz operates, but he didn’t seem comfortable with the word “platoon” when a member of the media used it at the Birdland Caravan. Albernaz was quick to point out that he never said it. I don’t think he’d go with a strict platoon. Where exactly would it apply? He’s not gonna limit Tyler O’Neill to facing only left-handers. He could try to limit Samuel Basallo’s exposure to tough lefties, but there isn’t a spot where the backup catcher would platoon.

Are the Orioles concerned about Jackson Holliday at second base once he and Jordan Westburg return from the IL? According to many armchair GMs, Mayo would most likely remain at third, Westburg would move to second to relieve pressure on his arm because of the shorter throws, and Holliday could possibly be sent to Norfolk to explore the outfield.
And this is how rumors get started. The Orioles aren’t going to send down Holliday and make him an outfielder. The Westburg-to-second idea has some logic to it. Yes, the shorter throws. But Westburg could be used mainly at designated hitter to relieve that elbow pressure. The Orioles are counting on Holliday to hit.

Are you bothered by people smoking weed while on your blog? And what is the best cut of French fry: waffle, shoestring, steak, crinkle cut, curly, other?
How much did you smoke before asking this question? I’m fine as long as they aren’t driving while doing it. My preference is the thin style fries like the kind you get at McDonald’s. I’ll also accept steak fries. But I do not want your wedge, waffle or shoestring. Curly? Nah, give me mo’ of the thin style. (You see what I did there.)

Could there be a surprise addition to the roster to go north? Aron Estrada? Vance Honeycutt?
A surprise addition is possible but it won’t be your two suggestions. No way. Estrada is 21 years old and he played in 27 games with Double-A Chesapeake last year. Honeycut didn’t get past High-A and he hit .171/.284/.275 with 178 strikeouts. His three home runs in three spring at-bats aren’t getting him north except maybe Frederick. That’s fine. He’s toolsy and he’s going to be much better in 2026.

How do you like the new Southwest seating?
I’m already tired of always being in boarding group 5. I’m not a fan of boarding groups, period. At least I’ve checked a bag each time. That won’t normally happen, and I’ll have to worry about overhead compartment space. In conclusion, I’ll say that I don’t like Southwest deciding to become like any other airline, except it still won’t feed you anything besides those little bags of Graham crackers or pretzel braids. They no longer get you there on time anymore. That ship sailed, so to speak. And now they’re ditching anything else that made them special.

Regarding the “big six” starters and the beginning of the season, what’s more likely in your opinion: Someone’s on the IL, someone’s in Norfolk, someone’s in the bullpen, or all six are in the rotation one way or another? Or something else that I haven’t considered?
I’ll predict that Zach Eflin, being a little behind the other starters, goes on the IL and delays the decision on how to make six work. None of the six would end up in Triple-A. I don’t see any of them being relievers. A six-man rotation would be the other outcome if Eflin is deemed ready for Opening Day.

How comfortable do you think the team would be with J. Jackson at an infield spot for an extended period of time?
Janet Jackson? A wardrobe malfunction on MASN wouldn’t hurt the ratings.

How comfortable do you think the team would be with Jeremiah Jackson …
Jackson is getting lots of looks at second base after only playing right field and third base with the Orioles. Their comfort level is TBD. Blaze Alexander is making the club, and the Orioles flooded the roster with utility types who have better defensive reputations. Let’s revisit this topic later.

Do you think the Orioles would consider moving Dean Kremer into long relief if Tyler Wells has a big spring? If I recall correctly, Kremer has really struggled at times after his first time through the order in past years. I understand he’s made a career as a starter to date, but I’d still think it could be a possibility.
Kremer is a slow starter but he’s become a workhorse, leading the team in innings in 2025. I don’t see long relief in his future. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see it. Tyler Wells is working in one-inning bursts. He’s prepping for relief.

Do you prefer doing TV announcing for baseball or writing about baseball?
I’m a sportswriter who pops into the booth on occasion. I have lots of respect for the guys who are super comfortable with the headset and talk for a living. It ain’t as easy as they make it appear. But let’s see them rewrite a story on a tight deadline! Or make a mailbag conversational!

Who’s going to be the Opening Day starter?
I’m sticking with Kyle Bradish based on the longer track record. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2023 and pitched really well before and after his elbow surgery. Trevor Rogers is the other candidate, of course. Like so many others, I’ve got him No. 2 – which also describes many of my predictions so far this offseason.

Maybe too personal but, have you ever “lifted” with the team or any O’s players past or present?
A beverage or weights?

Weights.
The weight room at the Fort Lauderdale complex was so small that the team set up a tent in the parking lot. Yeah, it was that bad. Many players would head to nearby gyms. I saw David Segui and Jerry Hairston at a Gold’s, but we didn’t work out together. Former closer Jim Johnson works out at the L.A. Fitness that I join for two months every spring, but we don’t spot each other except for across the room. So, no.

What is Heston Kjerstad’s most likely path to the Major Leagues moving forward?
A direct line from Norfolk to Baltimore, or wherever the team is playing on that particular day. He just needs to keep hitting and he’s gonna get the call, however the Orioles make it work. They can’t bury him in the minors. He’s 27 with one more option. This has got to happen in 2026.

What have you seen this spring so far that is the biggest difference from last year?
The giant building attached to the baseball operations center. You can’t miss it.

Who is better, Honeycutt or Trapper John? And don’t say “your mom.”
I’d never! I love a M*A*S*H question. Or did you mean Vance Honeycutt? Anyway, I preferred Trapper, but B.J. was good until he grew the mustache. His character became much more annoying. Probably just coincidence, but it’s true. Who’s with me here? Also, the show hung on too long. Every joke became a pun. They clearly ran out of ideas. Compare the later episodes to the first few seasons. OK, I’m done here.

Who are two players that you think won’t break camp with the major league team but will contribute at that level this season?
So far I’d say Kjerstad. It probably would take an injury to open a spot for him, but he’s going to play in the majors in 2026 and more closely resemble the guy drafted second overall in 2020. I also might have to go back to Anthony Nunez and Cameron Foster. I don’t know that there’s going to be room for them, especially if Albert Suárez makes the club or president of baseball operations Mike Elias brings in another reliever. Or just reach into that pile of utility infielders and pull out one of them.

Haven’t heard as much about Taylor Ward. How has his camp gone so far?
Ward is 3-for-11 with two doubles and some very loud outs. He misplayed a ball in left field, but I’m not grading his defense based on that one mistake.

Who would win in a fight, Polar Bear or Chuck Norris?
Polar Bear, and he’d also be a better actor.

I have been on vacation from school all winter. Is the broadcast crew traveling during the regular season? What did I miss here?
Yes, the MASN broadcasters will keep traveling during the regular season. Nothing has changed.

You may have shared this previously, but how do you feel about the WBC? I’m not a fan, mostly because of the potential for injuries.
Injuries are a concern, especially with pitchers ramping up faster than usual, but players love it, most fans seem to love it, and the intensity is much higher than an afternoon tilt in Bradenton. I could be selfish and complain about having something else that I need to follow … but I won’t be that guy. Just don’t get me started on “Spring Breakout.” That’s forced hyping. The only redeeming quality for me this year is that it gets me out of driving to Tampa for the Yankees game that’s played at the same time.

Who’s your surprise player so far in camp?
We’re back to Kjerstad, who’s 6-for-14 with a double and home run. He’s looked good since his first live batting practice. Can we count Vance Honeycutt, who’s 3-for-3 with three home runs? He isn’t in camp, but he’s come over from Twin Lakes Park.

Who’s the greatest living American, Ryan Gosling or Mookie Betts?
This is probably a good place to stop.

I’ve got a small corn on my little toe. What does the medical staff advise? Should I wait until I have intense pain?
This is definitely a good place to stop.