Because You Asked - Shock Treatment

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are off today. My mailbag never rests.

This is the spring training edition. You ask and I answer, just like in the summer, fall and winter.

The clarity, length and style are fine. No reason to mess with them - or for anyone to know if I do. Sue me.

Also, my mailbag hits home runs over the scoreboard and yours fouls out to the catcher.

If he plays, say, 145-150 games, do you think Tyler O'Neill will make us forget about Anthony Santander?
Let’s get one thing straight: We shall never forget about Anthony Santander. Never, I tell you! He was too impactful on the field and in the clubhouse. However, O’Neill has the power to make fans worry a lot less about the 44 home runs subtracted from the roster, and he’s a more accomplished outfielder. O’Neill has exceeded 100 games twice in his career and he hit 34 homers in 2021 and 31 last season. You get him in the 145-150 range and he’s going to do some serious damage. And then you hope that he doesn’t decide to opt out.

Roch, was Vance Honeycutt invited to spring training? If not, where is he now?
(Don’t say “at your mom’s,” don’t say “at your mom’s.”) Hi. Honeycutt was not invited. It’s too soon for last year’s top draft pick. He’s on the minor league side at Twin Lakes Park.

Can you explain Tomoyuki Sugano’s contract? Specifically, he’s a rookie this season, so how does that impact team control?
Sugano signed a one-year deal out of Japan. He can become a free agent after the season. It isn’t the same as a rookie coming up from the minors.

Has MLB Pipeline updated its prospect rankings?
Yes, finally. They were posted yesterday. The Top 10 consists of Samuel Basallo, Coby Mayo, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Chayce McDermott, Vance Honeycutt, Dylan Beavers, Griff O’Ferrall, Michael Forret, Keeler Morfe and Patrick Reilly.

Any updates on Chayce McDermott?
McDermott reported to camp with a “mild” lat/teres strain. Mild when it isn’t your lat/teres. He’s playing catch, which is better than being shut down, per an industry source with direct knowledge of the obvious.

What nickname does manager Brandon Hyde use when talking about Tomoyuki Sugano?
Everyone is calling him “Tomo.” I guess the choice came down to that or “Sug.” It’s obvious that “Yuki” wasn’t catching on.

If Bryan Baker impresses in spring training, who goes to make room for him?
This is the issue, and it’s a pleasant one for the Orioles. The bullpen seems to be set barring an injury or trade. Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez, Andrew Kittredge, Albert Suárez, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin add up to eight relievers. My math stinks and I can calculate it. The Orioles aren’t going to carry a ninth because four-man rotations went out of style a long time ago. They’re baseball’s bike shorts. Who would you remove out of this group? Yes, that’s right, I’m asking the questions now. Baker is pitching for 29 other teams, too – at least the ones that need a veteran reliever. If the Orioles don’t have room for him, he might be available in a trade or could be a waiver claim. He’s out of options.

What is Roch Kubatko’s starting rotation when the season starts?
Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson. Or aren't you talking about 1971? Everyone should be in agreement that it’s Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano. Manager Brandon Hyde pretty much confirmed the obvious a few days ago, saying that Albert Suárez would be the sixth starter and Cade Povich the seventh.

Who’s the Opening Day starter?
Hyde isn’t nearly ready to make that announcement. I’m predicting Eflin over Rodriguez based on his experience. He has the track record. Here’s what Hyde told the assembled media in Fort Myers Friday about what goes into the decision: "A lot of things. For me, it's track record, opponent, but also deserving of being an Opening Day starter. I'm very sensitive to that it's a big deal and a big deal in somebody's career."

Still think the O’s are working on a trade for a starting pitcher or has that talk quieted down?
The deeper that we get into spring training, the less likely that the Orioles bring in a new starter. They seem comfortable with the current five. Mike Elias isn’t shutting down. He’s always looking and listening, and he said yesterday on the MASN broadcast that conversations could pick up again as the final cuts approach, but there’s a lull and they’re “kind of past the point where people are actively having trade talks.” If I had to make a prediction, I’d say the starter ship has sailed, but the trade deadline is another matter.

Apologies if you've answered this before. What are your favorite go-to restaurants and watering holes in Sarasota? We'll be there in two weeks for a week and looking for some different options.
I can’t remember the last time that I’ve been watered – in a hole or otherwise. Now bars, that’s a different subject. Here’s my annual suggestion: Drive to Main Street, find a spot to park and just walk. You could spend six weeks here, as I’ve done, and get a good meal every night. That includes going down the side streets. If you love Italian food – if you don’t, well, I suggest intense therapy – you can’t go wrong with Mediterraneo. It’s my favorite spot overall. We’re talking northern Italian. Get the prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella with radicchio appetizer that they pop into the pizza oven behind the bar. You can thank me later. 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen offers fantastic Greek cuisine and has outdoor seating. Duval’s is the place to go for fresh fish. Owens Fish Camp is hugely popular, but you have to put in your name when it opens at 4 p.m. and kill about two hours before your name’s called. Yume had the best sushi, but it closed. I still leave a wreath outside the door. You’ll also find a bunch of terrific spots at St. Armands Circle. It's another great area to walk around.

And the award for longest answer goes to …
Shut up.

Is Trevor Rogers gonna be the Baysox opening day starter?
The short answer is “no.” The shorter answer is “n.” Rogers is a ways away from facing hitters. When he’s ready to pitch again, he’ll be in Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation and hoping that a spot opens for him in Baltimore. I’m confident that he’ll get back in the majors. The Tides should have an impressive rotation if Rogers, Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young are included in it.

With Sacramento added to the list of MLB cities, do you envision it ranking above or below Toronto on your list of least favorite places to cover a game?
Do you go through customs when entering or leaving Sacramento? Though I do like a ballpark with a roof. The Athletics will be playing in a minor league ballpark, and Sacramento typically experiences around 23 days of 100-degree heat annually. Temperatures in recent years have climbed to 110. I should point out that I got this information from an AI-generated article, which also stated that Sacramento is known as the "City of Shrubs" and the A's used to play in Oshkosh.

Who's the manager if Brandon Hyde gets thrown out of a game?
The bench coach. This year, it's Robinson Chirinos. And before you say that he doesn't have any managing experience, he did it for 50 games with a team in Venezuela that played in the summer. 

Are any Orioles games airing on Apple TV+?
Only the first half schedule is available: March 28 in Toronto (yes, the second game of the season), June 13 vs. the Angels and June 27 vs. the Rays.

Who has been the biggest surprise so far in camp? And don’t say, “your mom.”
I’d never! Infielder Vimael Machín signed a minor league deal on Nov. 13. He hadn’t played in the majors since 2022 with the Athletics. He’s a career .208/.290/.261 hitter in 112 games. But he’s swung a hot bat, delivering an RBI single and walking twice yesterday to make him 7-for-14. Bryan Baker has retired his six batters, the fastball is 97-98 mph, and he’s got the changeup as a weapon.

How many spots on the Opening Day roster, if any, are up for grabs?
There don’t appear to be any real competitions barring an injury or trade. I don’t recall a camp with the roster set this early. The clincher was the news that Jorge Mateo wouldn’t be ready to start the season. The Orioles went from seven to six infielders and Ramón Laureano became the fifth outfielder. That’s how it looks on paper anyway. The rotation and bullpen also are lacking mystery. I could prewrite my roster story now, but I don’t want to show off.

If Pinocchio's nose grows when he lies, what happens if Pinocchio says his nose is going to grow? If it does grow, then he told the truth and shouldn't have grown, but if it doesn't grow, then he lied and it should have.
This is probably a good place to stop.

Is the Oriole Bird mascot concerned about catching the bird flu? And is he an anti-vaxxer?
This is definitely a good place to stop.