Serving mailbag leftovers for breakfast

Before we get to the holiday leftovers and play the game of “does this smell OK,” we should dig a little deeper into the mailbag.

Grab a shovel.

My editing consisted of thinking “maybe I should” and changing it to “absolutely not.”

The bullpen sorely lacked strikeouts in 2024. Was that due more to lousy luck or the arms not having strong "out" pitches? How do they improve on that in 2025?
The Orioles ranked 22^nd in relief strikeouts with 571. They were 14^th in 2023 with 614, and the total would have been higher with a healthy September from Félix Bautista. His return figures to ramp up the Ks. A full season from Seranthony Domínguez, who averages 10.4 per nine innings in his career, also is going to make a difference. You could say the same about Gregory Soto, who averaged 11.2 with the Phillies and 10.7 with the Orioles. Yennier Cano struck out 65 batters to match last year’s total, but he did it in 60 innings compared to 72 2/3 in 2023. Keegan Akin has averaged 10.3 and 11.1 the past two seasons in 23 2/3 and 78 2/3 innings, respectively. Danny Coulombe averaged 9.7, but only in 29 2/3 innings due to his elbow surgery. How was this team 22^nd?

I see that Cedric Mullins is now a member of the Executive Committee for the MLBPA. I'd be interested in knowing what is currently being discussed and how Cedric feels about being part of the inner workings of the Players Association.
That isn’t a question. Me, too, and he’ll be asked about it if he’s at the Birdland Caravan or in spring training.

Are we more likely to find a starter who will be a free agent after the season or acquire someone who will be under contract for a couple of years?
They could go either way here. They'll take a rental like Corbin Burnes or the extra team control. More emphasis was placed at the deadline on controllable starters because Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells were beginning 2025 on the injured list and John Means was a free agent also recovering from elbow surgery. Holes had to be filled. Why wait until the last minute?

Baltimore is one of the leading ports in the world for exporting heavy farm equipment. Do you think free agents put enough weight on this when deciding whether or not to come to Baltimore?
Probably after the crab cakes.

With the Tomoyuki Sugano signing, some have reported, "One goal of the Orioles’ new ownership is to build a greater presence in Japan." Can you provide some context to this? Does this simply involve more scouting and possible signings?
The club already scouts in Japan, but a signing like this certainly improves its visibility. This is a recruiting tool as well as a way to improve the rotation. Sign a decorated pitcher like Sugano and others could follow. As you’ve read, Sugano will be only the third Japanese player with the Orioles and the second in that group to sign as an international free agent.

Does Cal Ripken want to sign Corbin Burnes? Does he get a say?
I haven’t asked but I doubt that he’d have any negative feelings about it. Free-agent negotiations are outside of his lane, however. I’m sure he’d chime in if asked, but this is Mike Elias’ territory.

Can you get me into the clubhouse for a pool tournament? I'm dirty on the table and would love to challenge the top players.
You being dirty on the table isn’t the image I want to carry around with me the rest of the day. Sorry.

Right now, as teams in the American League East are currently constructed, who is first? Who is third? Who is fifth?
That’s some interesting spacing. Yankees first, Red Sox third, Blue Jays fifth (barely behind the Rays).

Any chance that Chayce McDermott breaks camp with the team?
There's always a chance but it probably would take some injuries for him to make it, especially if another starter is signed or acquired in a trade. You'd have to put Albert Suárez and Cade Povich ahead of him. The Orioles expect a much better version of Trevor Rogers. But McDermott can keep developing at Triple-A and be ready if called.

Who has been your favorite non-player person associated with the Orioles (coach, executive, groundskeeper, whomever) to talk to in your years covering the team?
There are quite a few and I’ll end up forgetting someone, but I always enjoyed my conversations with Brady Anderson when he played and that continued when he moved into the front office. Bunch of managers, including Brandon Hyde. Bunch of coaches, including Sam Perlozzo (who later managed), Alan Mills, Tony Mansolino, Scott Coolbaugh and Bobby Dickerson. Triple-A manager Gary Kendall, former coach and executive Brian Graham, athletic trainers Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel, many members of the public relations staff.

Any way MLB changes game day rosters to mimic the NFL? Perhaps 30-man rosters with 25 game day active players.
I could see that happening, though with 26 active, mainly because MLB is obsessed with implementing changes. A year can't go by without a new rule. And this would simplify replacing an injured player. But first, MLB will come up with the idea of having two pitchers on the mound - one to throw, the other to field comebackers. Or baserunners must carry batons and pass them to the player ahead of them.

Do you have a direct line to Mike Elias or anybody in the warehouse? If you're not allowed to say, just wink twice.
I have a cell number, which I’ll post below. (Kidding).

Did the Orioles replace head athletic trainer Brian Ebel?
Yes. Scott Barringer has been hired after spending the past six seasons in the same role with the Brewers. He was an assistant with the Astros and their minor league medical coordinator before joining the Brewers, so there’s a connection to Mike Elias. Barringer also worked as a minor league athletic trainer in the Diamondbacks (2011-12) and Cubs (2013-15) organizations. He was also an athletic trainer for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League in 2013. Barringer previously served as an associate professor in 2012 at his alma mater, East Stroudsburg University, and he earned his Master’s degree in athletic training from East Carolina University. I do not know his turn-ons and turn-offs, though I’d think the injured list is an annoyance.

When will the School of Roch line of merchandise be available? T-shirts (size smedium only), smoking jackets and pint glasses would surely be huge sellers.
Shot glasses and bed sheets, too. We’re working on it. In the meantime, you’ll have to be satisfied with sticking my Fathead on your wall.

When is 2025 Orioles schedule coming out, so SOR Day can be planned?
Click here, and let me know the date.

Has anyone asked about Danny Coulombe yet?
Daily. He’s still a free agent. Baseball is filled with tough business decisions. Et cetera.

Would you support a name change of the stadium to just Camden Yards? Oriole Park was added because some people thought there would be confusion with Camden, N.J. I never cared for the Oriole Park part.
I did not know that and now I have to look it up. Not that I don’t trust you, but … Anyway, I never use Oriole Park. It’s just Camden Yards in my articles, though I’ve written OPACY on the former Twitter.

Are there any incentives or extra bonuses built into your agreement with MASN similar to Sugano?
There’s an agreement? And this is definitely a good place to stop.