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Old habits really do die hard, just like playoff teams.

I keep wanting to check pitcher-hitter matchups and search for game notes and prepare for lineups to be posted. I almost typed a dateline to start this blog entry.

Fans calling for manager Buck Showalter's head - a group desperately in need of a longer memory - are in for a disappointment. There's no talk of replacing Showalter, who's under contract through the 2018 season. He's here as long as he wants to stay.

The same goes for executive vice president Dan Duquette, though more rumors will swirl linking him to other front offices. It's already started.

I finally saw the replay of Edwin Encarnacion's home run yesterday after I returned home. Saw it over and over while waiting for a call from "High Heat" on MLB Network. I hadn't noticed catcher Matt Wieters' reaction, probably because I was too busy updating my game story in the press box and watching out for flying beer cans.

Wieters came out of his crouch and spun toward the first base dugout the instant that Encarnacion made contact, a display of frustration or anger or whatever you want to call it that usually doesn't surface. The ball hadn't cleared the infield and Wieters already was pained.

You have to wonder what ran through his mind beyond a season ending. How about an Orioles career?

From what I've gathered, the Orioles are open to bringing him back, but probably not at the price that he's going to command on the free-agent market. The $15.8 million that he received from accepting the qualifying offer was deemed a stretch by some members of the organization. It's estimated at $16.7 million this winter and the Orioles aren't expected to extend it.

Agent Scott Boras is going to want Wieters to test the market this winter. It's thin for catchers, especially with Wilson Ramos tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Boras and Duquette engaged in a light conversation regarding Wieters last month, nothing intended to strike a deal. Not even close to it. Boras didn't meet with ownership.

I'm hearing that the Orioles would like to re-sign Mark Trumbo. There's serious interest in keeping him, along with the usual concerns about the number of years and the dollar amount that he's going to command. He may be their top priority among their crop of free agents that also includes Steve Pearce, Pedro Alvarez, Tommy Hunter, Michael Bourn, Drew Stubbs and Nolan Reimold. He also may be the toughest to sign after leading the majors in home runs.

It's too early to handicap, but Pearce has a decent chance of returning. He's expected to be ready for opening day after undergoing surgery for a flexor mass injury. It would be wise to make an early offer while he's still on the shelf rather than let other teams become more intrigued later and join in the bidding as he begins baseball activities.

Just a thought.

It probably got lost in everything else that happened in the wild card game, but I wonder whether the Orioles and their stagnant offense would have benefitted from having Alvarez in the lineup. A left-handed bat with 22 home runs in the regular season.

It only takes one swing.

The counter argument centers on Bourn being an upgrade in right. Showalter leaned toward defense and put Trumbo in the designated hitter spot, which again forced Alvarez to the bench. He was rewarded with a fine running catch by Bourn in the corner, a ball Trumbo may not have gotten to, but he also failed to grab Kevin Pillar's fly ball in a similar spot in the fifth inning that was scored a double, putting runners on second and third and leading to Ezequiel Carrera's game-tying RBI single.

The Orioles had only one baserunner after Manny Machado's two-out infield single in the sixth inning. Chris Davis walked with one out in the seventh. That's a huge part of the story that has been drowned out by the outcry over Showalter ignoring Zach Britton.

Two runs and four hits in 11 innings against Marcus Stroman and that bullpen. Sixteen of the last 17 batters retired. The Orioles retired in order in seven of 11 innings.

An offense that scored three runs or fewer in 12 of the last 16 games.

Don't let it completely off the hook. The bats did the team no favors, and if not for the rotation stepping up, we wouldn't be debating anything about the wild card game besides whether to root for the Jays or Tigers.

The Orioles probably don't make it without Ubaldo Jimenez. Remember him as the guy who allowed 13 earned runs in 47 2/3 innings in his last seven starts. Not the guy who was put in a bad spot Tuesday night.

Jimenez gave up 21 earned runs in the first inning this season for a 7.77 ERA and opponents batted .352 against him. Being a slow starter and working your first inning in a tie game in extras is a potentially toxic mix.

I'm not suggesting that Showalter flashed back to the 1999 playoffs, but anyone remember Game 4 of the National League Division series between his Diamondbacks and the Mets?

Arizona was down 2-1 in games. The teams were tied 3-3 in the eighth inning and Showalter brought in his closer, Matt Mantei, at Shea Stadium, the double switch putting Matt Williams on the bench.

Todd Pratt stepped to the plate with one out in the 10th and ended the Diamondbacks' season. The closer in a tie game on the road working multiple innings took the loss.

Going back to Game 5 of the 1995 American League Division Series, Showalter's Yankees lost to the Mariners 6-5 in 11 innings with starter Jack McDowell on the mound. David Cone went 7 2/3 innings and setup man Mariano Rivera recorded two outs.

Closer John Wetteland gave up four runs and didn't retire a batter in the eighth inning of Game 4, and he never surfaced in the clincher.