Leftovers from the mailbag

Dumping the contents of my mailbag last week was an incomplete task. A few letters stuck to the bottom.

How is this possible? Maybe from using the bag to make caramel apples over the holidays. That's one theory.

Let's avoid overthinking it and just get to the core of the issue.

Here are a few more questions, posted word for word. If you need more clarity or the length challenges your attention span, I can't help you.

If Rougned Odor wins the second base job, who will be at third base?
Odor could lose the second base job and still not play third base. He hadn't been used at the position until making 29 starts last summer with the Yankees. And that includes the minors. But that experience probably increased his curb appeal for the Orioles. Couldn't hurt. As for third base, the lockout is preventing teams from making 40-man roster moves. The Orioles eventually could sign someone like Maikel Franco, who didn't make it through the 2021 season. Otherwise, Kelvin Gutiérrez comes closest to being the incumbent based on his starts down the stretch. Ramón Urías also is a possibility, but he might be the primary shortstop. The left side of the infield is a mystery.

Do you happen to know if Ed Smith Stadium would frown upon fans standing outside the fence during the minicamp, but face pressed against the screen to try to catch a glimpse of the future of the organization?
Thanks for not saying "try and." I've already seen some video shot from beyond a fence. Can't really get much out of it, but hey, it's a whiff of baseball in January. Breathe deep. Fans just aren't allowed inside the facility. I don't think guards would chase away anyone outside of it.

How highly regarded is Robert Neustrom amongst the outfielders in the O's farm system? He put up good numbers at Bowie and Norfolk last season, but we usually hear more about Kyle Stowers, Colton Cowser and others. He seems to be going under the radar a little bit.
The attention on Neustrom intensified last summer with his impressive showing with Bowie, and the combined 31 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 83 RBIs and .344 on-base percentage in 518 plate appearances, including 257 with Norfolk. He wasn't placed on the 40-man roster and is exposed in the Rule 5 draft, but the Orioles certainly like him. The invite to minicamp is solid evidence. Manager Brandon Hyde and three coaches are watching him.

Roch, do you see us taking another left-handed hitting college outfielder? I ask because James Madison/Eastern Panhandle OF prospect Chase DeLauter has jumped to the No. 1 college draft eligible player in some ranking services.
It would be a simple assumption that the Orioles don't need another one, but they took Cowser one year after Heston Kjerstad. And they also had Stowers climbing the prospect rankings. But DeLauter is blowing past everyone in draft rankings. He batted .386/.508/.723 in 2021, with 12 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 21 RBIs in 26 games. He drew 25 walks and struck out only 14 times. Totally fits the profile of a hitter that the Orioles want in their system.

DeLauter slashed .298/.397/.589 in 34 games in the Cape Cod League, with seven doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 21 RBIs, and again walked more than he struck out. Could be too good to pass up. But there's also prep outfielder Druw Jones, Texas Tech third baseman Jace Jung, Cal Poly shortstop Brooks Lee, IMG Academy outfielder Elijah Green, prep second baseman Termarr Johnson and lots of others who could appear on the draft board. A board that can change many times before draft night.

The Orioles do tend to lean toward college players in the first round, but they also keep fortifying the middle infield with high picks. They haven't done much with pitching and aren't likely to use the first-overall pick - if that's where they remain slotted under a new collective bargaining agreement - on an arm. No one seems worthy. So, long answer to your question, which I obviously did not edit for length or clarity, I'd say DeLauter is a possibility based on his skill set. He could be deemed the best player available. Forget need picks.

Have the Orioles released their minor league staffs?
Released everyone? No way they'd do that. Sure, there are changes each year, but ...

Have the Orioles released the names of their minor league managers and coaches?
No, but it's January. Shouldn't be much longer. I've pieced together some moves. Lots of others are unknown. Manager Buck Britton and pitching coach Justin Ramsey go from Bowie to Norfolk. Manager Kyle Moore and pitching coach Josh Conway go from high Single-A Aberdeen to Bowie. Felipe Rojas Alou Jr., director of the Dominican academy, is expected to manage low Single-A Delmarva.

Jaylen Ferguson, a ninth-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been hired as a hitting coach in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Ferguson was released in June while playing for Bowie. Troy Marrow, a native of Lutherville, Md., who played at North Carolina Central University and worked in baseball operations with the Giants, will serve as a development coach in the FCL. Dave Barry was named minor league player development hitting analyst and Adam Schuck was named player development pitching analyst.

Will Britton be the O's manager in 2047?
This seems like a good place to stop.