Upcoming second half to Orioles' season leads to questions and curiosities

Today feels like an actual break in the 2022 baseball season.

The MLB Draft is over, the All-Star Game was played last night and there’s only Trey Mancini’s inevitable – I’m calling it, anyway – ESPY tonight for Best Comeback Athlete.

WNBA player Diamond DeShields, the daughter of former Orioles infielder Delino DeShields, had a tumor removed from her spine in December 2019 that threatened to leave her paralyzed, and she later suffered tremors and spasms that led to months of rehabilitation. She didn’t share her ordeal until two months ago. In any other year, I’d say she was the runaway favorite.

The Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson has returned from a torn ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals and torn Achilles leading into the 2020-21 season. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during his rookie season and played in this year’s Super Bowl.

Impressive comebacks, but I can’t place them ahead of Mancini’s colon cancer and DeShields’ spinal tumor. Fear of death or paralysis is hard to beat, as it were.

The winner will be happy to accept the award while also hoping that he or she is never a repeat winner. One of those dubious honors.

The Orioles aren’t back at the ballpark until Friday, unless they show up a day earlier for a light workout. There are 70 games left and they’re .500, 1 ½ out of fourth place and 3 ½ out of the final wild card spot.

Their run differential is down to -7, a stat that jumps off the screen like it has springs attached.

During this brief period of downtime – the media also needs a reset - I find myself wondering about the following:

* How much longer for DL Hall?

The knocking on the door is much louder. His knuckles should be raw.

Hall, the International League's Pitcher of the Week, has struck out 99 batters in 59 innings. He’s stretched out if the criteria is pitch count. The Orioles want him to be more economical and get deeper in games.

In Hall’s last start, he blanked Worcester on two hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts in five innings. Six would be better. But the importance of it is open to debate.

(Not within the warehouse, just among us.)

Does he need to keep getting into the sixth or seventh? He won’t be the No. 1 starter. The order becomes jumbled anyway after a few weeks.

The Orioles wanted him throwing more strikes, and the one walk issued Sunday had to grab their attention. They’re also taking the same care with Hall, who stayed back at extended spring training after making only seven starts with Double-A Bowie in 2021, as they did with catcher Adley Rutschman following his right triceps strain in March.

Hall won’t be rushed. But we’ve reached the point where it must be asked whether July is rushing him.

* Has anyone seen Jonathan Araúz?

I did. He was in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field. He sat on the bench. He ate, showered and headed back to the team hotel.

The Orioles selected Araúz off waivers from the Red Sox on June 15 and recalled him 13 days later. They optioned infielder Rylan Bannon, who didn’t appear in a game in his second stint with the team.

Araúz has played in eight games, none since July 8. His last start was July 7.

Health isn’t an issue or he’d be on the injured list. Going 4-for-24 hurts, though.

Ramón Urías is the guy who’s really keeping Araúz on the bench. He came back from an oblique injury and is batting .385/.429/.667 (15-for-39) this month with two doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 42 plate appearances. The defense is good, too.

Jorge Mateo is the everyday shortstop. Rougned Odor gets the bulk of the starts at second base. Tyler Nevin is the first alternate at third base.

Araúz’s ability to play up the middle and his major league experience led the Orioles to claim him. Perhaps those traits keep him on the roster. Maybe they haven’t completed their evaluation of him. But he’s collecting cobwebs.

I didn’t know whether to shake his hand or dust him.

* Will the Orioles make any roster changes on Friday?

This is a common occurrence following the break, especially if there’s an injury. Day-to-day status only goes so far.

The Orioles are healthy beyond the usual bumps and bruises. Reliever Félix Bautista has four days to let his right hand heal after the exercise band mishap, as it will forever be known, unless you come up with something better.

(Don’t “Bandgate” me. That never makes sense. Watergate didn’t involve water.)

Bautista’s accident doesn’t register highest on the Orioles’ freak injury scale. I’m pretty sure Marty Cordova’s tanning bed burns, which forced his removal from the lineup in a day game with threatening sunshine, is the undisputed champion – unless you come up with something better.

Anyway, the Orioles could rearrange their bench or bullpen. The rotation hasn’t been announced, so we’re only assuming that it’s the same starting five.

Kyle Bradish should be nearing a return. Bruce Zimmermann won’t spend the rest of the summer in the minors. And yes, Hall.

* What’s happening at the trade deadline?

Oh yes, the elephant in the room.

The Orioles are having so much fun and winning more games than in the teardown/rebuild past. Fans are excited about the team. The national media just remembered that there’s baseball in Baltimore. The Mayflower truck didn’t roll into Camden Yards (too soon?).

But the clubhouse is likely to undergo some changes by Aug 2. The Orioles aren’t going to stand pat and make a run at the postseason. They aren’t going to become aggressive buyers and make a run at the postseason. They aren’t going to divert from their plan and mortgage their future by trading prospects for veteran pieces and make a run at the postseason.

Bud Norris and Andrew Miller aren’t walking through that door.

Well, unless they’re invited to the 30^th anniversary celebration, and I’m assuming they aren’t.

I’ll say it again. I expect a few players to be dealt for prospects of some caliber. Mancini seems the most vulnerable, and it’s going to be hard to watch, even if you understand the business side of the game. Anthony Santander, Jordan Lyles, Odor, a bullpen arm or two. All in play.

Less of a chance if the player isn’t a pending free agent, but still possible. Santander has been a chip for a few years, and his sudden ability to draw walks and get on base is attractive.  

The odd deadline flexibility comes with the Orioles also able to buy under the right circumstances. And I’ll say again, if they can get a starter who’s under team control beyond 2022, as I wrote in the June 30 mailbag: “Here’s a realistic scenario: A team makes a controllable starter available, no rentals, and the Orioles decide to get more aggressive. They’d consider it because of the impact on 2023.”

Trading some players would open the door for prospects who are deemed ready to debut or return. Kyle Stowers and Terrin Vavra, for instance. And yes, Hall.

Need a veteran starter if Lyles goes, and if one isn’t acquired in the above scenario? Matt Harvey is pitching in Triple-A Norfolk. We can debate that one, as well.

Let’s not forget that a minor league player could be traded. Our focus shouldn’t rest solely on the 26-man roster. Reliever Shawn Armstrong was dealt to the Rays last year after being designated for assignment and pitching for Norfolk.

If there’s a veteran in Triple-A that another team finds appealing, and he’s blocked in Baltimore, he could be packing his bags.