Because You Asked - The Revenge of Kitty Galore

The Orioles are off today but my sarcasm switch never flips.

Open dates on a baseball schedule inevitably lead beat writers to open up their mailbags and answer fan questions. Mine also includes unicorns, dodo birds, the tooth fairy and a bloodied Kevin Costner.

You know how this works. You ask, I answer, someone else asks and I answer again. And again. It's our repetitive little dance and it doesn't require music or comfortable shoes.

Also, no chaperones.

Enjoy the latest sequel while keeping in mind that they're rarely as good as the original.

When will Dylan Bundy get a start this season?
It's going to happen as long as he stays healthy. Manager Buck Showalter always has been targeting the second half of the season, and more importantly, spring training 2017. That's when the Orioles want Bundy to compete for a spot in the rotation. In the meantime, yes, he's going to get a start at some point. He may not have to wait until September, as originally thought. The Orioles are desperate for rotation help and he could fill the current vacancy or bump Ubaldo Jimenez. As Showalter says, it's when not if. But I'll stress again that he hasn't gone more than three innings in any relief appearance and the Orioles want to be careful with his arm. It's not as simple as just putting him in the rotation tomorrow and hoping that he spews quality starts.

How much longer must I watch Ubaldo Jimenez?
I could ask him to close his blinds.

I mean in the rotation. How much longer?
Jimenez is listed as start-to-start. He's in the rotation now out of necessity and the mound has been replaced by thin ice. That could explain the difficulty in repeating his delivery. Anyway, the Orioles are willing to eat the remainder of his contract, so money isn't the issue here. But Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson were sent to the minors and Showalter seems to prefer Odrisamer Despaigne in the bullpen. It's still a little too soon for Bundy. Jimenez clearly is running out of chances, whether it's in the rotation or on the roster. That much is apparent.

When is Dan Duquette going to go out and get us another starter?
If only it were that simple. It's not like he isn't working the phones. The situation is so dire, Showalter told reporters in Los Angeles that the Orioles checked on Bud Norris. This is a guy who wore out his welcome in Baltimore, but he started to get hitters out again, so all is forgiven. The Pirates are filling their rotation with young prospects and are believed to be shopping Jon Niese, who's 7-6 with a 4.87 ERA in 17 starts and throws with his left hand. The last part brings special appeal. His latest knee examination does not. The Orioles are familiar with him from spring training and whatever scouting has been done. Another lefty, Francisco Liriano, also is available, but not everyone in the Orioles organization is sold on him. And it always comes down to whether there's a match. The Pirates gladly would take more young pitching. How much more can the Orioles surrender?

What's Travis Snider doing these days?
Batting .259 in Omaha.

What's Dee Snider doing these days?
Still fronting Twisted Sister, performing with other bands, acting and doing radio.

What's Schneider from "One Day at a Time" doing these days?
He's dead and I'm all cried out. Let's move on.

Would you trade Mark Trumbo for a starting pitcher?
Only after my labotomy. Listen, I do understand the logic. They have enough power without him and won't get far without upgrading the rotation. But that's a big hole to punch in the lineup. Plus, Trumbo isn't an all-or-nothing bat. The average and on-base percentage are more than respectable for a guy who happens to lead the majors in home runs. Plus, he's a pending free agent and teams will take that into account. I get that his value may never be higher. I also get that he's needed on this team. I'm not robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Will Caleb Joseph get an RBI this season?
Yes. He'd bet his right ... never mind.

Any chance Dylan Bundy gets a start this season?
Yes. Just not in the first half of it.

When is Darren O'Day coming back?
I haven't been with the team since San Diego, but Showalter reportedly said it could happen shortly after the break. I'd be more encouraged if O'Day already had started a rehab assignment or a date had been announced. There's no doubt that his absence is putting a strain on the bullpen.

Is Adam Jones hurt?
Pick a body part. The guy is banged up as always because he plays hard. You saw him dive for a ball in shallow center field yesterday that resulted in a two-run single and, I'm assuming, more pain in the shoulder. See, I just picked a body part. But he functions with pain as if it's not there. He plays through it. Jones belongs on any list of toughest Orioles in franchise history. It's one of his most underrated traits.

Why is Ryan Flaherty on this team?
He provided a few more examples yesterday. Turned three double plays as if he's the regular shortstop. By the way, he was playing shortstop. Buck trusts him at every position, including emergency catcher. Whatever he hits is gravy - and he had a single, double, RBI and a walk yesterday - because he's the super-utility guy. Every team needs one.

Who's starting Friday night's game?
Jimenez seemed to be the likely choice unless Buck had something up his sleeve, like a starter from Norfolk. Wright, for instance. I'd assume that we'd already know because one arm would look so much bigger than the other. But seriously, those are the reported choices and Wright could return after the Orioles optioned left-hander Jayson Aquino last night. Bundy threw 56 pitches yesterday and that's too many, in case anyone was going to ask.

What's your favorite snack?
That's an odd baseball question. I'm more of a salt junky than a sweet tooth. Pretzels rank high on the list. An underrated favorite: Cold egg rolls. I always order one with my carryout and put it in the fridge for the next day.

Would the Orioles consider making Brad Brach a starter?
Besides his enormous value in his current bullpen roles, it also must be noted that he's never started in the majors or the minors. That's 522 total games and zero starts.

Zach Britton was never a closer.
That's not a question.

Britton was never a closer, so why not experiment with Brach?
The Orioles were forced to put Britton in the bullpen because he was out of options and they knew he'd be claimed off waivers. Giving him the ninth inning after Tommy Hunter failed in the closer's role wasn't as much of a stretch as stretching out Brach and making him a starter. As far as I know, it hasn't been part of any discussion inside the warehouse or the manager's office.

Why won't the Orioles give Dylan Bundy a start this season?
They will. Just not right now.

Any chance Hyun Soo Kim accepts a minor league assignment?
I really need to clean out this mailbag more often.

What's the timeline for Dylan Bundy getting a start this season?
I think it's time to go.