More mailbag leftovers for breakfast

I would have an easier time catching a fly ball in left field in a heavy rainstorm while wearing stilettos than catching a break.

I should be coming home today from Sinai Hospital, except the pharmacies contacted don’t have my new AFib prescription and I have to wait until Monday. I can only get it here in-patient.

My response is, why can’t you just slip me a couple to take home?

But enough of my complaining. Let’s dig through more mailbag leftovers while I sit here in my hospital gown and self-pity.

There was talk of David Ross being added as bench coach. Any idea what happened there? Was Ross too expensive?
There aren’t any details available relating to the coaching search. Maybe later. I haven’t seen confirmation that Ross was offered the job. Just that the Orioles were “interested,” according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who didn’t know whether an offer was made.

Take a guess Roch. Do the Orioles sign a free agent to a contract three years or longer this offseason?
The only way that doesn’t happen with the rotation is if they “settle” for a veteran for the middle or back on a smaller deal or swing a trade. Garrett Crochet comes to mind. I’ll say yes to three-plus years because that’s how they’re gonna get their big right-handed bat, whether it’s Anthony Santander or someone else. And any multi-year deal would be the first under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias.

At what point in the future will the number of coaches on a staff outnumber the number of players on the major league roster? We’re heading there, aren’t we? And what would Earl think of having all these coaches?
Earl Warren? Earl Monroe? Doubt that they would have cared.

Earl Weaver.
Oh, him. Yeah, funny to think that there used to be first and third base coaches, a hitting coach and a pitching coach. Did Weaver even have a bench coach besides Frank Robinson in 1986? No, he didn’t. Robinson first held the job in ’85 with Joe Altobelli and later Weaver. Earl was ahead of his time when it came to analytics, but I doubt that he'd want this many people in his dugout.

Are the Orioles having their bullpen work on things this offseason? If Seranthony Domínguez can get movement on his straight-as-a-string fastball, he would be unhittable.
I’m sure there are individual targeted areas that will be addressed in spring training. You mention a good one. They’re hoping for improvement from some holdovers, including Cionel Pérez. They’re hoping that Félix Bautista can regain his dominant form as they ease him back into major league competition. They remain in the market for at least one more reliever.

Would you rather have Corbin Burnes back or a different ace?
Burnes is the best out there and the relationship between pitcher and team was strong this year. It worked out for both sides. But it isn’t my money. Easy for me to spend it.

What's your second-favorite sport?
Football is my favorite to watch, but I prefer covering baseball, if that makes any sense.

Wishing you the best! What interest have the Orioles shown in bringing Tanner Scott?
Thanks! Funny that he was linked to the club at the trade deadline but I haven’t seen any rumors during his free agency. Maybe I missed them. I’ve had periods when I’m detached from social media. The Athletics' Jim Bowden predicts a four-year, $60 million contract that might be more than the Orioles want to invest in the 'pen.

Is Nathan Eovaldi on the club’s radar?
Yes, and that’s not surprising. The Orioles have shown interest in the past and there’s no reason why that would change. Eovaldi would fit nicely in the middle of the rotation, if not higher. I know some fans would be disappointed if the Orioles don’t reel in a much bigger fish, but Eovaldi would upgrade the unit.

Is Alabama the most hated college football team?
Not sure why so many people are down on them. Too many national championships? Boring uniforms? I’ll take Nick Saban over fake accent, Notre Dame bailing Brian Kelly or cartoonish, constantly complaining Kirby Smart, just to name two. No, Bama isn’t the most hated, but it definitely ranks among them for whatever reason.  

Is Tommy Edman worth the $75 million contract or are the Dodgers just showing off now?
It’s only $74 million, but yeah, they’re flaunting their wealth. That’s a lot for a super-utility player, no matter what he did in the playoffs.

This team (surprisingly) won 101 games in 2023, ahead of the perceived rebuild schedule. Then they (disappointingly) won 91 games in 2024, falling behind the newly adjusted rebuild schedule. So, really, isn’t this team right on track? If they make some moves this offseason, win 95 games and make it to the ALCS, things are progressing exactly as we all hoped three years ago. Right?
That’s how I feel. I’ve said and written that they raised the bar much too high in 2023 by going from 83 to 101 wins. Fans would be more excited about how the team is trending if it went from 83 to 91 to 101.

Have you ever been forced to go to a department store for the sole purpose of watching your wife's pocketbook while she shops?
Fortunately, my wife prefers online shopping. She feels the same about stores as me. We have to psych ourselves for a weekend trip to Costco. But unlike me, she refuses to put on eye black.

Who is the most likely non-prospect to get rolled into a trade package?
That’s hard to say because it’s a very deep pool of players outside the top 30 prospects list. Maybe someone like outfielder John Rhodes, who ranked 21^st in 2023 but isn’t listed this year. A guy like that. Or Douglas Hodo III, who has a .376 on-base percentage in three minor league seasons. I’m just tossing out names.

Do the players ever read this blog, and if they did, would they ever admit it?
I know that at least a few check it out and a handful follow me on the former Twitter. Their family and friends are more likely to read and pass along anything of interest. It isn’t like the old days at The Baltimore Sun when stacks of newspapers were delivered to the clubhouse. A guy has a bad game, I write about it, and he sits at his locker or on the sofa and reads the rippage. Definitely awkward.

Will both Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo be on the Opening Day roster? One of them? Neither?
My early roster projection has Kjerstad on it. I don’t know how they make room for Mayo, who has nothing left to prove in Triple-A but could be stuck in a roster crunch.

Is excuse time over and this team has to win a playoff series?
Failing to do so would be a big disappointment and bring more heat. They know how to tear down and rebuild. They know how to create the No. 1 farm system in baseball. Now comes the next step: a deep run in the postseason. This is an important offseason in setting up the Orioles for success.

Apple or Pumpkin?
Depends what I’m doing with it.

Pies, please.
I’m not a big pie guy but pumpkin if those are my choices. I’d probably ditch the crust and just eat the filling.

Do you think the Orioles make a selection in the Rule 5 draft?
I’d be surprised because they aren’t picking until much later in the first round and it’s harder for a contender to basically stash a player for an entire season. It’s often done with relievers, but the Orioles aren’t in a position where they can try to shield a young pitcher from high-leverage situations. Guess it doesn’t hurt to make a pick and later offer him back to his original team, but I’m assuming that they pass.

Nirvana or Soundgarden?
Depends on the song. I’ll say Nirvana. Speaking of which, this mailbag is beginning to smell and it ain’t teen spirit.

How would the Orioles replace 44 home runs if they don't re-sign Anthony Santander?
They might not do it with one player. They could hope for a bundle with a full season from Heaton Kjerstad and if they can fit Coby Mayo on the roster, plus if they sign or trade for an outfielder to replace Santander. They also would happily settle with a big on-base guy who draws walks.

Is Nick Vespi still in the organization? I wish he could have received a longer look in the majors.
Vespi is a minor league free agent. And I feel the same way.

Many once-popular TV shows introduced new child characters in attempts to revive ratings. Who was the worst new character from the following list?

1. Sam from "Diff'rent Strokes"
2. Andrew from "Family Ties"
3. Scrappy Doo from "Scooby-Doo"
4. Olivia from "The Cosby Show"
5. Cousin Oliver from "The Brady Bunch"
Cousin Oliver was cringy, even for that show. And this is probably a good place to stop.

How many edibles is the correct number for Thanksgiving dinner?
This is definitely a good place to stop.