Because You Asked - The War Of The Rohirrim

SARASOTA, Fla. – The best way to celebrate a safe return from Dunedin is to update the will again and empty the mailbag.

You ask ‘em, I answer ‘em, we have our latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, and I promise myself that I’ll try harder next time.

The extent of my editing is to remove the references to politics from some of you lunatics. You worry about injuries and blame the current or former president. You say the Orioles are scrambling to find pitching and complain about the price of eggs. You attempt to make a Zach Fruit pun and only come up with the word “impeach.”

One last thing: My mailbag hits fungoes and your mailbag keeps hitting the Funyuns.

Is Hyde seriously thinking of Cedric Mullins batting first and Adley Rutschman second?
Are you reading too much into a spring training lineup? Shame on you. Haven’t you memorized the cliches about spring training lineups, and how you never fall in love with spring and September stats. Also, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape and you don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger. And don’t make me go over the rules regarding yellow snow. Gunnar Henderson is the leadoff hitter when healthy. MLB Network’s projected Orioles lineup had Mullins third. Third? Outrageous. Mullins could be a backup leadoff guy if Henderson is out and the matchup is favorable, but he’s far more likely to be in the lower part.

What is your sense of the feelings of the MLB players and coaches regarding automated assist for calling balls and strikes now that they've had a minute with it? What would you do with the tech and its implementation if you were Czar of Home Plate?
I think the majority is in favor of it. The delays are minimal, so there can’t be an argument about slowing the pace. They’d rather get the call right and this is a way to do it. Plate umpires aren’t thrilled. Imagine their embarrassment as they stand there watching the video board and hearing the heckles when they get it wrong. That’s gotta be tough. It’s akin (not to be confused with Keegan Akin) to one of my stories being put on the board with all of the typos highlighted. But I’m good with the ABS system.  

Assuming Gunnar Henderson is ready for Opening Day and Jorge Mateo is not far behind, who goes from the active roster? I'd hate to see Heston Kjerstad get sent down and have to wait for someone else to go on the IL, but they're paying Ramón Laureano $4 million. Any chance they trade a veteran like Ryan O'Hearn or Ramón Urias?
I’d be surprised by such an early trade if Mateo is “not far behind.” But you pose an excellent question. The club would be back at the seven projected infielders, which eliminates an outfielder. And as you point out, Laureano isn’t getting $4 million to pass through town. Kjerstad would seem vulnerable. Or is it Mateo? Yeah, let’s blow some minds here. The Orioles love his speed and defense and he can back up at shortstop and he’s set to earn $3.55 million. But … maybe? I don’t see how Mateo’s status is tied to O’Hearn, a left-handed hitting first baseman. Urías hits more than Mateo and can play anywhere. This should be fun.

Are beat writers eligible for the Orioles Hall of Fame? If so, what year should we set aside for your induction?
The Herb Armstrong Award is given to non-uniformed Orioles personal, so I guess it’s possible if that writer is connected to the team. I’m more likely to get the Stretch Armstrong Award because I’ve often been confused with a gel-filled action figure. Or the Neil Armstrong Award for the nights as a drunken teen when I mooned other drivers.

What has Vimeal Machín’s defense looked like? I've seen him at second base but not at third.
Nice timing with this one. Machín has been fine at second from what I’ve seen when paying attention to the game. He had a rough time at third yesterday in Dunedin, but the official scorer spared him an obvious fielding error.  

What is the difference between cortisone and PRP injections? Is Grayson Rodriguez getting a cortisone injection over PRP good news?
Cortisone is for quick, short-term pain relief and inflammation reduction. Platelet-rich plasma is for longer-term healing. Cortisone masks pain. PRP has healing properties that spur cellular growth and tissue regeneration. So yeah, cortisone is much better news. PRP is like a last-ditch effort to avoid surgery. It’s the Hail Mary of medical procedures.

What's your favorite part of driving back to Sarasota from Dunedin?
When I put the rental in park. It took about two hours yesterday to get back to my hotel because of typical Florida traffic. It’s stop-and-go, which for me means I keep stopping to avoid a collision, and that second bottled water makes me have to go.  

Why wasn't Kyle Virtbitsky invited to camp?
Because you can’t spell his last night. You blew it for him, pal. Virbitsky seemed like a candidate, but so did others who were excluded, including Patrick Reilly. There’s only so much room and so many innings to go around.

Any update regarding the construction of the new wall? Will there really be nothing going in the space between the new wall and the previous wall?
The splash zone is expanding. Construction is near completion. The media will get a look at it after we return from spring training.

If you had to guess, where will the Tampa Bay Rays be playing in 2026?
I don’t know much about construction unless it’s a sentence, but I’m gonna say Tropicana Field. The Rays announced yesterday that they aren’t moving forward with their plans to build a new ballpark as part of a redeveloped Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg. Mayor Ken Welch said the commitment will be honored to repair The Trop. I can confirm from driving past it multiple times that it needs a new roof, and since there’s no drainage inside, I’m guessing there’s a bit of a water and mold situation. But everyone involved sounds like 2026 is the intended date to reopen the ballpark.

Which politician will be throwing out the first pitch this year for the Orioles’ home opener?
The club hasn’t announced any details on Opening Day festivities and whether a politician is doing the honors. But hey, let’s hope so. That way, we can get more political posts here in the comments. Yeah, fantastic.

Sarcasm much?
Next question.

How many wins do you think the O's will have by the end of the regular season?
I’m setting the over/under at 90. If I had to choose, I’d take the over. Maybe it’s by one or two, but it’s over.

Why the gap between Cade Povich starts? Kid was lockdown on March 1.
Povich tossed four innings on a back field before getting the ball yesterday. The Orioles did the same with Zach Eflin.

What is your most memorable and most emotional Orioles moment?
Is it one moment or one of each? Why am I asking? You can’t answer me. I attended the final game at Memorial Stadium as a fan. The Field of Dreams theme was incredibly emotional. Tears were shed. Losing PR director Monica Barlow brought the same reaction. Zack Britton handing me a beer in the clubhouse during “Clinchmas,” hearing me say that I couldn’t partake, and responding with, “For Monica.” I was part of The Baltimore Sun’s coverage for 2,130 and 2,131. I was in the Yankee Stadium press box for the Jeffrey Maier “incident.” My dad taking me to Game 2 of the 1971 World Series, the first game I ever attended. And because of the rainout and rescheduling on a Monday, I missed a day of school. I was glued to the radio - I often had household accidents like that as a kid - when Doug DeCinces hit the home run that started "Orioles Magic." Give me time and I’ll come up with dozens more.

Any thoughts on what lineups the O’s will use vs. both RHPs and LHPs?
I think you see Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman in the first two spots. Doesn’t matter who’s pitching. You could see Ryan O’Hearn at first base or DH against right-handers. You could see Heston Kjerstad in right field instead of Tyler O’Neill against some right-handers. You could see Ramón Laureano in center field instead of Cedric Mullins against many left-handers. Gary Sánchez will be in the lineup against many left-handers, which could move Rutschman to DH. You’re gonna see O’Neil, Mountcastle and Cowser in that middle chunk in some order.

Will they continue to hold Mayo at Triple-A or does he have a shot to make the Opening Day roster?
I get this one a lot, and I still think it would take a specific injury for him to break camp. I say “specific” because putting Henderson on the IL is more likely to create a spot for a middle infielder. Losing a corner infielder would improve Mayo’s chances. I’m expecting Mayo to be optioned to Triple-A, tear up International League pitching as usual, and get another opportunity.

If Seranthony Domínguez gets lit up like a gas can again, it's time to start worrying, right?
Who am I to tell you to have rational emotions? However, I don’t think you need to go to church and start lighting candles. Domínguez was better in his last outing, though the first two batters reached. He’s made an adjustment in where his hands are set in his delivery. Like other pitchers, he’s “working on things.” You hear it all the time. How he attacks a hitter in Sarasota might not be how he does it in the regular season. That’s why you take exhibition numbers with a grain of salt. Better to line your glass with salt and reach for the tequila.  

How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand? How many years must a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea?
The answer my friend … won’t appear here because this seems like a good place to stop.

Did Beavers hit Ward hard in a simulated game?
I see what you did there. How Cleaver of you. And this is definitely a good place to stop.