More thoughts on the Duquette/Showalter news conference

I'm happy to report that the end of the 2015 season hasn't diluted the passion here. Executive vice president Dan Duquette's comments yesterday at an exit press conference stirred the masses.

A few of you were shaken.

Here's what I took out of the 30-minute session with Duquette and manager Buck Showalter:

* The Orioles want to re-sign Chris Davis. Duquette said it, Showalter said it, managing partner Peter G. Angelos said it. But stating the intention isn't the same as offering a guarantee, which is impossible to do without knowing how the market is going to play out.

It really isn't news that the Orioles want to bring back Davis. No need to stop the presses, or the blog equivalent. I wouldn't devote an entire entry to it. They also wanted to bring back Nelson Cruz last winter, but they wouldn't offer him a fourth year. It's going to come down to money with Davis. Lots and lots of money. And the Orioles have no way of knowing whether they have a realistic chance of keeping him until other teams start flashing their cash.

* It would be wise of the Orioles to make aggressive plays for their free agents before they hit the market after the World Series. Reading between the lines yesterday, it's obvious that Duquette doesn't think Scott Boras clients will bite. So be it. Get Darren O'Day locked up now before a team like the Tigers, for instance, takes another look at its bullpen and backs up the truck.

* The chances of extending Manny Machado this winter seem pretty slim, but that doesn't mean the Orioles will wait three more years and start scrambling. It's tough to commit X-number of dollars to Machado, who's entering only his first year of arbitration eligibilty, while having six pending free agents and a to-do list that includes upgrading the rotation.

Duquette would like to find a No. 1 starter and noted how it could come via free agency or trade. He also stressed the importance of developing the pitchers in the farm system. Here's a thought: Keep 'em healthy, however that's done.

* Duquette and Showalter kept referencing the need to pitch better. As you know, I've pinned most of the blame for the .500 season on the rotation's decline. More than losing Cruz and Nick Markakis. More than anything. Upgrading the pitching and improving the depth seems to be the top priority.

* Showalter stated more than once that the Orioles must play better on the road. He couldn't explain why they went 34-50. He just knows that it can't be repeated.

I'm not exactly sure how you improve a road record except to start winning more games. How do you tackle that problem in the offseason?

* Duquette and Showalter seem exhausted by all the attention given to the "friction" between them and have decided to mock it. They can't let it become another distraction. They can't let it be a topic of conversation all winter.

More than once yesterday, Showalter made Duquette laugh as the executive VP was in the middle of an answer. I don't picture them watching the RedZone Channel together on Sundays and eating taco dip, but they're trying to show the world - or at least our little portion of it - that they can continue to work together for the common good. And no, Showalter isn't eyeing Duquette's job and the Orioles aren't considering Cal Ripken Jr. as their next manager.

* The Orioles have stated that they need to improve their on-base percentage. Drink.

* Everyone wants the coaching staff to remain intact, but there are genuine concerns about losing pitching coach Dave Wallace. I've heard how other teams are sniffing around. I've heard that he was considering retirement, but decided that he wanted to come back. I've decided to stop trying to figure it out.

* Duquette gladly will sit down with Adam Jones and talk about the club's direction in the offseason. Angelos told me yesterday that he'd do the same, apparently for the second time. But they're not going to magically re-sign all six of their free agents. And the discussion will include an explanation of how the budget works and the constraints that go with it.

* Duquette said the Orioles are considering qualifying offers to Davis, Wei-Yin Chen and Matt Wieters. My interpretation goes as follows: The Orioles will make qualifying offers to Davis and Chen, but they're no longer certain about Wieters.

No player in the majors has accepted a qualifying offer, and Wieters didn't seem like a pioneer, but there are people in the industry who think he might do it. Who think he would be wise to take the $16 million and re-enter the market next winter after proving that he can handle a heavy workload behind the plate and beef up his offensive numbers.

Do the Orioles want to run the risk of committing that much money to Wieters next season while trying to re-sign other free agents, hand out raises to arbitration-eligibles and make other upgrades? Let's just say it's a hot topic in the warehouse.

What would you do?

* Here's a leftover quote from Duquette:

"The strength of our team has been our defense the last four years. Buck puts a lot of emphasis on that. It was good again this year. Our bullpen was strong and we also had a lot of power. We could do a better job of finding guys who get on base and that's going to be one of our priorities again this offseason so that when you need a run or you hit a home run, you've got a guy on base.

"There's a lot of work to be done. In addition to the pitching staff, we've got to staff the positions so we maintain the top quality defense. But again, we have some things to build on. We've got a decent talent base in our organization already, we had some plusses in the minor leagues. You've got some good players in (Trey) Mancini, this kid (Chance) Sisco, the catcher in Double-A, who's highly regarded by other organizations. I can tell you we've got a lot better players in our farm system than the perceived value of those players out there. And you'll see next year when we get to spring training."

* Here's Showalter on the reported friction and whether he wants to stay in his current role:

"It's a great honor to manage the Baltimore Orioles and I don't plan on doing anything else. I've told you all, this is my last rodeo. As long as they think I can be a contributor, this is what I want to do.

"We've got a lot of work to do this offseason. If you think this year is good enough, you haven't been watching. Our fans should feel very comfortable with what is going to go on between now and first pitch next year. We've already started. The bar has been raised here.

"Dan and I share the same passion for the same things. That is for the fans and the Orioles. That is what this is about. We better disagree about some things and kick things around. I disagree with my coaches and they disagree with me. We have some great ones in there. Then we go out and have a cold beverage together. That is the least of our challenges. We have a healthy draw of opinions throughout our organization. We've already started. It's time to go (to work)."