Carrying questions to Orioles Birdland Caravan

The important dates in the offseason are dwindling, a notable exception being the international signing period for amateur free agents that begins today. Arbitration hearings start on Jan. 27. Spring training is right around the corner, with Orioles pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 12 and the first full-squad workout held on the 18^th.

Wedged within these milestones is the three-day Birdland Caravan that replaced the annual FanFest event in 2020 and was canceled the next two winters by the pandemic and baseball’s lockout.

Ten players have committed to the tour: Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Colton Cowser. Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Ryan O’Hearn, Albert Suárez, Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde also will attend.

Elias, Hyde and Cowser have granted past media access this offseason, with the young outfielder holding a media scrum at the Winter Meetings after announcing the draft lottery results. He’s a confirmed participant with his nine teammates at the Jan. 31 Karaoke Happy Hour at PBR Baltimore in Power Plant Live!, and to appear at Bowlero Columbia, the Kids Rally in Severn and the PLAY Ball Rookie Clinic at Meadowbrook Athletic Complex on Feb. 1.

Cowser will have another chance to field questions about finishing as runner-up to Yankees pitcher Luis Gil for American League Rookie of the Year. Gil totaled 106 points and Cowser 101. He also can discuss the hand that was fractured in Game 2 of the Wild Card series and the exact nature of his surgery, his offseason workouts and attempts to become more consistent at the plate, playing left field with the wall moved in, and sharing an outfield with Tyler O’Neill.

These are just some of the many possibilities, and Cowser is assured of providing at least one laugh.

Henderson already is emerging as a team spokesmen, a guy who’s at his locker and fielding the hard questions, including the Wild Card sweep that gutted an entire organization. He’s only 23.

Players like Henderson will be asked again about the disappointing end to the season, how long it took to get over it, whether the 2025 Orioles can do better. Why the group stopped hitting, especially in the clutch. How much he benefited from a full season at shortstop. Oh yeah, and that fourth-place finish in Most Valuable Player voting.

Henderson rebounded from a .234/.303/.405 August to slash .316/.385/.537 in September. Why the turnaround?

Rutschman should brace for more questions about his struggles in the second half, when he hit .207/.282/.303, and whether they were health related. See if his answer changes. I’m guessing “no.”

Any progress made in a contract extension? Anything at all? And he has a new backup in veteran Gary Sánchez. That’s worth our attention, seeking his opinion on the arrangement. There’s also the task of building a comfort zone with Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and bonding with 41-year-old Charlie Morton.

(Just like the law that required everyone to use “Baltimore native” with Bruce Zimmermann, no reference to Morton can be posted without his age.)

Mountcastle is referenced so many times in articles about the wall that his face should be painted on it. He’s going to be asked about it at the Caravan. Maybe he can share a prediction on his home run total.

Back-to-back Gold Glove nominations are a worthy topic. The lineup without Anthony Santander and where those 44 home runs are coming from.

Westburg can talk again about his first full major league season – what he learned and what he needs to improve. Avoiding a pitch to the hand would be a good starting point. He probably will be asked about playing third and second base, and whether he’s hoping for a few more starts at shortstop.

There’s also the reverse splits. He hit .275/.318/.491 against right-handers and .230/.294/.450 versus lefties. And .304/.350/.542 at home, compared to .228/.275/.423 on the road.

How about that wall?

I wonder how confident Ryan O’Hearn was that the Orioles would exercise his $8 million option. Does he expect to play more right field this season, less or about the same? Does he expect the offense to bounce back?

Pretty much every hitter will engage in banter about the bats.

We could spend hours on Jackson Holliday. What he got out of his first season. His confidence in breaking camp with the team. His comfort playing second base. His adjustment at the plate with the toe tap.

His younger brother, Ethan, as the likely first-overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Albert Suárez most definitely will be asked about his role this season and whether he thinks that he can stay in the rotation. Cade Povich will be asked about his chances of breaking camp in the rotation, and whether he’s been told about the bullpen as a fallback. Chayce McDermott will be asked about his own chances and that one major league start in 2024.

Check out Orioles.com/Caravan for more information. And  let me know which events you plan on attending.

I’m not above accepting a drink at a Happy Hour, but you didn’t hear that from me.