More from the mailbag

Another week has passed since my last shallow dive into my mailbag. And if anyone is well-versed in being shallow, it's this guy.

As usual, you're getting the raw and untampered version. The only editing is done if I catch the wrong punctuation in a sentence or change my mind about using profanity.

Also, my mailbag strips down to its underwear, slaps on a coat of oil and wins every posedown.

Are players chosen in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft required to stay on the team the entire year or be offered back, like in the major league phase?
Nope. The minors don't have the same rules. Players can be assigned to any of the affiliates and move around during the season.

Does a new collective bargaining agreement improve Adley Rutschman's chances of breaking camp with the team?
It couldn't hurt. We're only able to speculate on this, how a change in service time rules might get him to the majors faster. The Orioles never said that he'd begin 2022 in Triple-A under the old CBA. Again, speculation. And maybe a little reading between the lines. He doesn't have a full season at that level. It's been pointed out. But you'd meet a lot of industry resistance if stating that Rutschman isn't ready.

How can the Orioles have the No. 1 or No. 2 farm system in baseball and not lose a single player in the Rule 5 draft?
Maybe because the highest-rated players weren't eligible to be selected. I'm still surprised that the organization made it through the draft without having anyone selected from it, but I wouldn't read too much into it. The major league portion of the Rule 5 is where they could be impacted.

Do you like eggnog?
I may have tasted it once in my entire life and I think it was straight from the carton. It didn't change my life. I might enjoy it if I tried again, a good recipe, but let's face it, a combination of eggs, heavy cream and bourbon is going to be a tough sell for some people.

You also can use rum or brandy.
Still ...

Who comprises, in your opinion, the Orioles' five-man starting rotation in 2022?
John Means, Jordan Lyles and three other guys.

Who are the three other guys?
I'd just be making a prediction here because the Orioles could bring in more competition and they have a batch of prospects and former prospects in the mix. Bruce Zimmermann seems to be one of the favorites. I'm going to pencil him into the rotation. Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer, Zac Lowther, Alexander Wells and Mike Baumann will get another shot. I like Jorge López in the bullpen. I don't get a vote.

If there is a season, which of the prospects are most likely to appear in 2022?
Rutschman is such a slam dunk, the NBA should use him as its logo. Outfielder Kyle Stowers also should debut next season. Infielder Terrin Vavra is a possibility. Outfielder Yusniel Diaz has been a possibility for a couple of years, but can't stay healthy or put up big numbers when he's active. Kyle Bradish and Kevin Smith could be in the next wave of pitchers after reaching Triple-A this year.

Top pitching prospects Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall are the pair getting most of the attention, of course, and for good reason. They haven't been exposed to Triple-A, but could plow through the competition and reach the majors later in the summer. Hall needs to stay healthy after being shut down with a stress reaction in his elbow.

Does Stowers start out at Double-A or Triple-A?
He played at three levels this year, finishing with 11 games at Norfolk. He's done with Bowie.

Do you think Brandon Hyde is the manager in 2023?
There would need to be a really good reason to replace him. Not enough wins in a season when they aren't expected to win? Hyde is working on the option year of his contract, so yes, there's going to be lots of speculation about his future. Some fans already have handed the job to Buck Britton, who's moving up to Norfolk next season. But Hyde has been working with a roster that isn't built to win. No one knows what he could do under better circumstances.

For now, we know that the team plays hard for him and players are united in their support. That counts for something.

Speaking of Buck, what do you think of Showalter's chances to land the Mets gig?
I can only go by what I'm reading, and he's been tabbed the favorite. A heavy favorite by at least one national writer. He's received a bunch of endorsements from New York and national writers, for what that's worth. He checks off some important boxes, including past experience managing in New York and how he turns teams into winners in rapid fashion. Max Scherzer endorsed him. So did Adam Jones, though Scherzer's opinion might carry more weight because he signed a three-year, $130 million contract.

I'd like to see how Showalter constructs his coaching staff. Is he putting the band back together? Bobby Dickerson is returning to the Phillies as infield instructor, but he could recruit John Russell, Wayne Kirby and Roger McDowell. He always thought highly of Alan Mills and Brian Graham. He's close with Brian Butterfield, recently fired as Angels third base coach.

Is lasagna a casserole?
I don't consider it one, though I guess you can make an argument depending on the pan. But no. The layers of noodles, meat, cheese and sauce don't make it a casserole.

Do you expect the new CBA to include a universal designated hitter?
That's what I'm anticipating. And I'm not alone. Trust me, I'll really miss watching a pitcher foul off three bunt attempts or take three strikes and walk back to the dugout.

Which player currently not in the Hall of Fame belongs there, in your opinion?
Shoeless Joe Jackson! (Sorry, didn't mean to yell.) I can no longer say Jim Kaat. He finally made it. Dwight Evans feels like a snub to me. I kept voting for Dale Murphy until he was no longer eligible. I'll always defend Pete Rose the player. Rafael Palmeiro's numbers should have made him first ballot, but, you know.

As for the NFL's Hall of Fame, and you didn't ask, Cliff Branch should have been elected a long time ago and it's a crime that he didn't live to see it happen one day.

Do you think missing out on Scott Boras' annual press conference at the canceled Winter Meetings will leave you somewhat empty this holiday season?
Yes, to the point where I keep searching for crowds of people so I can press my face against someone's back while stretching my arm as far as it will go to mimic holding a tape recorder. And an imaginary recorder picks up as much sound as a real one in that setting.

Roch , any insights as to why the Orioles wouldn't have just drafted Tommy Wilson in the Rule 5 versus waiting for someone to take him and then trading for him?
Must be because they had a full 38-man Triple-A roster after their first two selections. They were bypassed in the team roll call for the last three rounds. They couldn't pick him, but obviously were allowed to get him via trade later in the day.

Now that the minors Rule 5 is over and there's no sign at all of new CBA negotiations that would lead to an agreement permitting any new team activities or transactions to occur, what are your most likely daily article topics?
Here's hoping for more minor league signings. Otherwise, there are lots of players in the organization to write about. Lots of angles going back to the season. The Orioles haven't finalized their minor league staffs or announced the exact composition of their major league staff. More hires will be made. And heck, there's always the random mailbag, quiz or argument over a real Christmas tree versus artificial and whether beef stroganoff is a casserole.