This, that and the other

The local media doesn’t vote on an award that honors the Most Improved Oriole. Deciding on an MVO can be hard enough, and the field expanded this year. Too many players to fit on a three-man ballot.

Who deserved recognition as the imaginary MIO?

Maybe it was outfielder Anthony Santander, who registered career-best numbers in multiple categories. Or shortstop Jorge Mateo, who led the American League in stolen bases. Or starter Dean Kremer, who lowered his ERA from 7.55 last year to 3.23 and his WHIP from 1.640 to 1.253. Or one of the relievers, with Félix Bautista and Cionel Pérez leading the pack.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias couldn’t single out one player back on Oct. 5 when asked who took the biggest step forward.

“I think one of the things that I’m most proud of with this year’s team is you can take all 28 guys who are in that room right now and pretty much make the argument that every single one of their careers is in as good or a better place than it was a calendar year ago,” Elias said.

“That’s, first and foremost, a testament to them, but I also think it shows to the universe of players that we’ve got a good system here, that we’re interested in making their careers better, keeping them healthy, getting them to perform well. And so, I think that it’s a pretty cool statement about our group that I think is accurate.”

* Baseball America graded the 10 best East Division rookies and Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was No. 1.

The publication gave Rutschman a 75 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale before the season and didn’t change it.

The text read as follows:

“Rutschman entered the season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball and is an even better bet today to be a franchise player. He had one of the best seasons ever for a rookie catcher, batting .254/.362/.445 with 13 home runs and 65 walks in 113 games, while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense and showing himself to be a team leader.”

Bautista was 10^th and given a 50 grade after being unranked in the preseason.

“Bautista finished 2021 in the Triple-A bullpen but made an impact with Baltimore for the entire 2022 season, notching 15 saves for the upstart Orioles after taking over for traded closer Jorge López. It may be a shorter peak for Bautista based on his age, but he could have a few seasons as a top-shelf closer.”

Two through nine on the list were Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, Braves pitcher Spencer Strider, Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Braves second baseman Vaughn Grissom, Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera, Phillies shortstop Bryson Stott and Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore.

* JustBaseball.com placed seven Orioles on its end-of-season top 100 prospects list, led by infielder Gunnar Henderson at No. 2 and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez at No. 3.

Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, the 16^th overall selection in the 2019 draft, is ranked No. 1. Carroll made his major league debut on Aug. 29, beating Henderson by two days.

Outfielder Colton Cowser is 23^rd, shortstop Jackson Holliday is 29^th, left-hander DL Hall is 67^th, infielder Jordan Westburg is 89^th, and infielder Connor Norby is 93^rd. Hall debuted this year, and Cowser, Westburg and Norby are expected to follow in 2023.

Holliday was the first overall pick in this year’s draft, he’s 18 years old, and he played in 20 games this summer – eight in the Florida Complex League and 12 with Single-A Delmarva. MLBPipeline.com sets his estimated arrival in 2025.

* The World Series begins Friday night in Houston, and the rosters for the Astros and Phillies will be announced several hours before Game 1.

Trey Mancini is the only former Oriole with a shot at playing in it.

Mancini went 0-for-6 in the American League Division Series and 0-for-6 with a sacrifice fly in the Championship Series.

Alex Cintron is Houston’s hitting coach. He appeared in 61 games with the Orioles in 2008.

You’re forgiven if you forgot.

The Phillies lost some of their Orioles ties over the years, but many remain.

The front office includes assistant general manager Ned Rice, director of baseball development Ben Werthan, and senior advisor Pat Gillick. Bobby Dickerson is the infield coach, and longtime Orioles minor leaguer Paco Figueroa is first base coach. Dean Albany is a scout.

My prediction: Astros in six.