Sharing some Orioles Birdland Caravan memories and potential questions for 2024

Further details on the Birdland Caravan, which is attaining annual status after Orioles players and front office staff traveled 703.7 miles across the state last year and made 15 stops in 12 cities, should become available in a few weeks.

It runs from Jan. 25-28. Can’t be much longer before the sharing starts.

We’ll get a full roster of participants and confirmation on locations and events, with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde likely available for another media session.

The first Caravan was held in 2020 as a three-day event, replacing FanFest, and included Hanser Alberto, Richie Martin, Dwight Smith Jr. and Rio Ruiz, but then was put on hold due to the pandemic and baseball’s lockout.

A lot has happened since that long weekend.

Last February, Elias met with reporters and other media types in the B&O Warehouse and declared that the rebuild was “behind us.” He basically said the same thing with his “liftoff” comment at the previous year’s trade deadline in Texas, but he drew headlines at the Caravan. Stories were built around it.

“We’ve been very consistent and deliberate, and now we’re at a point where our focus has turned to getting into the postseason and October,” Elias said.

“We’ve got an incredible chance to be a very, very competitive team for years.”

“We’re ready for it,” Hyde said while taking his turn with the media. “It was a tough few years. Not just from my seat, but fans also, everybody around who follows the team. It was hard. To have expectations, we have confidence in our guys, and I think our players have a ton of confidence, and I just want them to take it head-on.”

They did exactly that, winning 101 games and posting the best record in the American League.

I’m hoping that closer Félix Bautista hops on one of the buses again and appears at a brewery or other location. He wasn’t made available to the local beat crew after injuring his elbow.

Bautista is going to say that he feels good, his recovery is going well and he’s working hard to come back. Basically what he told media last weekend at the All-MLB Team awards.

After what happened with Dillon Tate, reporters might grill every player about his health. First question: Any injuries we should know about?

Tate strained his right forearm flexor in November and we found out in February, which explained why he didn’t pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

I’d like to avoid interviewing another injured player without knowing that he’s injured.

Cedric Mullins should be recovered from the leg ailments that he’s certain contributed to a prolonged slump that carried through the Division Series. But it doesn’t hurt to check.

We might not see Jonathan Heasley, the pitcher acquired from the Royals on Monday. If he’s around, I’d like to know what happened on the night of June 10, 2022 in Kansas City, when he shut out the Orioles on one hit in seven innings with no walks and seven strikeouts.

He faced the Rangers later that month and allowed seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3. He faced the Guardians on July 9 and allowed six runs and six hits in 1 1/3. He owns a career 5.45 ERA and 1.436 WHIP in 36 games.

If Kyle Bradish participates, it would be nice to get his reaction to finishing fourth in American League Cy Young voting and whether he thinks he’s the early favorite to start on Opening Day. Of course, that last one could be nixed if the Orioles acquire a pitcher for the top of the rotation.

Tyler Wells and DL Hall will be subjected in camp to questions about their roles. Why wait? It’s happening if they’re involved in the Caravan.

John Means would be asked about the sore elbow that kept him off the Division Series roster. Gunnar Henderson would be asked again about winning AL Rookie of the Year, but also his Silver Slugger Award, and what he might do for an encore.

Terrin Vavra was involved in multiple events last year. He was outrighted after a disappointing season, ruined by a shoulder injury, and might not be a repeat participant. Otherwise, his health is the ice-breaker.

Outfielder Kyle Stowers was counted among the volunteers at The Maryland Food Bank, where my wife is a vice president and the real hero in the family for her devotion to assisting people in need. The same with her previous job at Maryland Legal Aid.

Meanwhile, I write about the Orioles and get more attention.

And this is one instance when I won't apologize for digressing.

Stowers would be an interesting interview after breaking camp with the team and having his season interrupted by a shoulder injury and fractured nose. He was putting up good numbers in the minors.

Joey Krehbiel is a minor league free agent. He was busy last winter, including a guest bartending gig at Crooked Crab Brewing Company in Odenton.

Sig Mejdal poured my beer, and as you’d expect, it was brilliant. An advanced technique that modernized my beverage.

A woman passed her baby over the bar to Austin Hays, and as you’d expect, it was quite amusing.

Jackson Holliday is still too young to pour a beer, but he can drive and guests would appreciate the valet service.

Feel free to share your Caravan experiences and what you'd like to see added in 2024.