Talking about Rutschman, Hall, Baumann and more

Today’s forecast for a traditional, throwback-style doubleheader calls for cloudy skies. Rather than do my usual over-thinking about why we say “skies” when there’s only one, I’ll simply appreciate the dry conditions and celebrate mothers everywhere who perform a job much harder and more important than mine.

The farm system keeps dividing our attention, and in the best possible way.

Adley Rutschman is back at Triple-A Norfolk, with media and fans debating his debut date in Baltimore. Must happen at home, right? Like Matt Wieters on May 29, 2009.

Is May 16 too soon, a Monday when the Orioles open a four-game series against the Yankees? Otherwise, they could select his contract May 20 to begin a weekend series against the Rays.

The Orioles aren’t home again until May 31 against the Mariners, after they play three games in the Bronx and five – yes, five – in Boston.

Rutschman could be catching DL Hall in the middle of this week, unless he’s playing first base, as he did Friday night, or serving as the designated hitter. The Tides are down to three active catchers with Rutschman, Jacob Nottingham and Brett Cumberland.

Beau Taylor is on the seven-day injured list with a non-sports injury. The Orioles released Chris Hudgins.

Rutschman was behind the plate last night and went 1-for-4.

Hall lasted one 3 2/3-inning start at Double-A Bowie before his promotion, a bit of a surprise considering he only made seven last summer. It speaks to his ability and the organization’s confidence that he has nothing else to prove in the Eastern League – or any other name that the sport decides to call it.

Hall’s lone outing in spring training, against the Phillies in Clearwater, delivered more than the team probably should have expected. The side retired in order with two strikeouts, a fastball in the 98-100 mph neighborhood.

The 2017 first-rounder dominated in his one start with High-A Aberdeen, tossing four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and toting much more in the arsenal than just a plus fastball. It’s like Félix Bautista getting ahead 0-2 with 99 mph fastballs and then throwing his changeup. Almost seems unfair.

Hall was charged with two runs in his start at Bowie, but they scored after he left the game. Six more strikeouts.

The Orioles evaluated his stuff, which one person in the organization called “electric,” and how he executed his pitches. From extended spring training to Aberdeen to Bowie, it was exceptional and came with a ton of strikes.

That’s why Hall is pitching for the Tides. However long he’s there.

Every affiliate offers reasons to keep checking the box scores and pitching lines, to pry information and opinions from talent evaluators. But interest in Norfolk is growing after periods when the roster filler caused the focus to shift lower in the system. The prospects are busting out of the Class A and AA leagues.

Some are moving up, others getting resets after stints with the Orioles.

Mike Baumann broke camp with the team but was optioned April 29 to make room for Kyle Bradish. He allowed five earned runs and six total with seven hits in 7 1/3 innings, but the six walks and inability to stay ahead in the count really led to the move.

The Orioles need him pounding the zone again, and in a controlled environment, with specific days set aside for him. Can’t really do that in the majors.

Baumann made his first Norfolk appearance on Tuesday and didn’t allow a run or hit in two innings, but he also walked three batters. He took the loss last night in Nashville, after Grayson Rodriguez’s 5 1/3 scoreless innings, but he allowed just one run, walked none and struck out three.

“Obviously, we have a little more flexibility to line things up for him, as opposed to in the big leagues, it’s like, you’ve got to find the innings sometimes and it’s not always going to be easy,” said Norfolk pitching coach Justin Ramsey. “We can certainly help with the routine aspect of that. And the focus is to get on plate a little bit more often with the weapons. We’ve all seen him getting back to normal and the uptick as he’s gotten back into shape. He worked hard this off-season to clean up some delivery things, and now it’s just getting more comfortable with getting on plate.”

The Tides’ rotation also includes Rodriguez, the top pitching prospect, and left-hander Zac Lowther. Former first-rounder Cody Sedlock started Friday night in Nashville, where third baseman Rylan Bannon hit a grand slam, giving him nine RBIs in the first four games of the series.

The infield also includes Jahmai Jones, Patrick Dorrian, Cadyn Grenier, Richie Martin and Terrin Vavra, the latter currently on the injured list. Options for the outfield include Kyle Stowers, Robert Neustrom, Johnny Rizer and Yusniel Diaz.

Like a good crab cake, there’s very little filler on the 2022 roster. And if you’re using cocktail sauce on a crab cake, as I saw people do when the Orioles used to serve them in the dining room, we have nothing else to talk about here. And those crab cakes were mediocre. Still unacceptable.

Actually, I’m done anyway.

Let's play two.