Because You Asked - First Class

The baseball playoffs have provided nightly thrills that seem to be directing teams and media toward cross-country travel for the World Series.

You won’t rack up any mileage reading my mailbag. It comes to you.

This is the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 blockbuster. There could be some leftovers later. Don’t be too bummed if you didn’t make it into today’s edition.

Don’t be too upset with my refusal to worry about style, length, clarity, brevity and all that jazz. Also, my mailbag hits walk-off home runs and your mailbag’s dates walk off after about 15 minutes.

After the firing of two hitting coaches, will this be the strategy moving forward?
Not sure what you mean by “strategy.” Replacing coaches? Also, Matt Borgschulte took a hitting coach position with the Twins. We don’t know whether he had the option of staying, but he was allowed to pursue another opportunity. The Baltimore Banner reported that it was Fuller’s decision to leave. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall. Don't know.

Will MLB standardize ball park dimensions? Every other major sport plays on the same size field/rink regardless of location. At what point does MLB consider the same? Or do they like when the announcers say that would have been a homerun in 28 other stadiums?
I get a little tired of that last stat, though I’ve used it. All that matters is the ballpark that you’re playing in. But it provides some perspective and further tortures Ryan Mountcastle. As for your first question, absolutely not. They aren’t rebuilding or redesigning stadiums to make them uniform. The differences are a big part of the charm. You really want Fenway Park and Wrigley Field to have the same look as, say, Guaranteed Rate Field? Or all 30 ballparks to have a Green Monster in left? You silly man.

What will be first, a free-agent signing or a trade?
One or the other. Seriously, it would just be a guess. I’ll say minor league free agent signing with a spring training invitation, and I’m not counting catcher Daniel Bañuelos, who technically was first. Starting right now, I’m going with a signing.  

Would a left-handed starter make more sense in free agency or a trade because of the left field dimensions?
There's certainly logic to it, but a better idea is a starter who's just really, really good and doesn't need to worry about it. Any of those around?

Do you have any special plans to celebrate the Orioles big Winter Meetings player signings in Dallas?
Riding a mechanical bull wearing only a cowboy hat.

Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?
I’ve never even worn a cowboy hat.

Your thoughts on a full-time designated hitter?
It limits roster flexibility and the spot really becomes valuable if you're carrying Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo, for instance. But if the 2014 version of Nelson Cruz walks through that door, tackle him and don't let him get away.

If ownership said we could have one top-tier free agent, who would provide a better return, Burnes or Soto (the outfielder)?
I didn’t think you meant Gregory. I always say that it all starts with starting pitching. A true ace, a No. 1. And I’m not letting the offensive funk in the second half and Wild Card influence my thinking. Give me a rotation with Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer as the top four, with Kyle Bradish coming back late in the second half, and I’ll take my chances. But I’m also counting on bounce back seasons from some slumping hitters, especially Adley Rutschman. Bringing in a big-time veteran bat would be smart, however.

What percent chance would you give to a regular being extended past his current free agency year.
I would have placed it at maybe 2 percent before the ownership change. But I’m also leery of making bold spending assumptions. I always find it encouraging when Mike Elias says, “It’s something we work on quietly in the background,” and “It would certainly be front and center for a front office to be working on those things.” But he also issues the usual warnings about the difficulties in lining it up, effort doesn’t always equate to results, how the club will make “every responsible attempt,” which doesn’t suggest blowing up the payroll. And that’s my long-winded way of not really answering your question.

Was the media given copies of MLB’s script for Yankees vs. Dodgers in the World Series?
I’m no longer on their mailing list. But I saved the ones from 1977, ’78 and ’81. I covered the Subway Series in 2000 when The Baltimore Sun actually sent multiple reporters to the playoffs, even if the Orioles weren’t involved. Crazy, crazy times. It was an electric atmosphere. I paused for a few seconds on the field to watch Derek Jeter taking batting practice – like Chevy Chase taking a quick look at the Grand Canyon in “Vacation” – before I went back to stressing over my pregame notebook. But I’m sure the star power of Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto would be a ratings winner.

I know contracts are kept tight to the vest but any guess how many years are left on Brandon Hyde’s or even Mike Elias’ deal.
The closest any of us can come is that they blew past the original deals and are operating under extensions. That’s all I’ve got.

What is your Halloween costume going to be? And don’t say “your mom.”
I’d never! I’m not a big dress-up guy, but I wore a T-Rex costume last year because my granddaughter loved dinosaurs. I'd post a photo in the comments section if a former employee hadn't killed that option to prevent a troll from abusing it. There’s always my old “Bastardo” Phillies jersey if I want to put zero effort into it. I have the Tampa Bay giveaway “Flappy Boi” hoodie. A neighbor is having a party that requires dressing like your spouse. That could mean a Maryland Food Bank shirt and 100-point increase in my IQ.

Could you give us a complete list of relevant winter dates?
Complete ain’t happening. Sorry. Free agency begins five days after the World Series, and that’s also when teams decide whether to exercise player options and to make qualifying offers to pending free agents. I’d expect the Orioles to do it with Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander. The GM Meetings are Nov. 4-7 and the owners meetings are Nov. 19-21. The non-tender date for arbitration-eligible players is on Nov. 22. The Winter Meetings are Dec. 9-12 in Dallas, with the Rule 5 draft on the 11^th. Arbitration players and teams exchange salary figures on Jan. 9, with hearings scheduled between Jan. 27-Feb. 14. The international signing period begins Jan. 15. The overly hyped Spring Breakout runs from March 13-16. My over-reactions to everything began after the last out of the Wild Card series.

Have you ever taken a cruise beyond the Caribbean Sea?
The only cruising I did was in my ’75 Camaro. Unlike being on a ship, I'd inevitably wind up alone in a McDonald's drive-thru lane.

Since everything is bigger in Texas, will the Orioles have a bigger purse at the Winter Meetings?
They’ll spend responsibly. But yes, they’re carrying a bigger purse. Owner David Rubenstein gave a recent interview to National Public Radio and talked about the urgency in winning a championship. “I'm now 75 years old. It's unlikely I'll be doing this for 20 more years. So I've got to speed up the effort to get a World Series a lot sooner than maybe some younger owners would.” And how is this done? The Yankees and Dodgers would point to a willingness to spend, though they go to the extreme.

Do players have to buy their own bats? What about gloves?
Players are provided the equipment but often custom-order their own. Company reps go locker-to-locker in spring training, which is annoying when it’s done during media access. But I digress.

If the Birds don’t win a playoff series next year, do you think that will be it for Hyde, even though Elias sings his praises at every turn?
I won’t go that far. Hyde’s name will appear higher on those preseason “first to be fired” lists, which are meaningless unless you bet on that stuff. Get help. This just shows how much expectations have risen. Back-to-back playoff appearances don’t lessen the heat. A healthier roster in 2025 and fewer hitters staying in deep freezes would make Hyde a more effective manager. But the pressure builds if the Orioles are bounced early again. And certainly if they don’t make the playoffs.

Which is worse, bronchitis or pneumonia? Also, what's with the P?
That’s a pnew one. I’m sure that pneumonia is worse. I’ve seen the cold-to-bronchitis-to-pneumonia chart. However, I’m not happy with the bronchitis and would like it to leave my system ASAP before I cough up both lungs.

Will the O's trade for a starting pitcher or sign a free-agent starter?
Doesn’t have to be one or the other. Again, I’d just be guessing. They’re obviously willing to do both. You don’t have to find a partner or surrender prospects if you sign a free agent. You don’t have to convince a pitcher to sign if you work out a trade, and it’s cheaper unless you’re taking on a massive contract. The Burnes trade demonstrated a willingness to go for it, but Elias also could focus on mid-to-back-end rotation guys because he’s got Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez.

So this is my goofy question. When you are thinking about the next step in your career after School of Roch, do you ever wonder what this blog community will do without you? Will you take us into consideration when choosing your career path?
The path hopefully leads me to retirement and a less stressful existence, where I wrestle away control of my life from a baseball team. That’s the goal. Let's launch that podcast! But I absolutely have thought about our community and what would happen if I didn’t work for the site and network – whether or not it’s my choice. You’d come with me, right? Not into retirement, of course. I don’t have that many spare rooms. But if I went somewhere else. OK, now I’m sad and this is a probably good place to stop.

Do the players on the Saguaros know ahead of time if they are on the roster, or is it a Surprise?
I see what you did there. And this is definitely a good place to stop.