Three nagging questions about the Orioles

BOSTON - With years spent dumping out my mailbag, making snow angels with the contents, reading the questions and spending way too much time searching for movie sequel titles that I haven’t already used, I’d like to switch it up and provide some inquiries of my own.

See how the other half lives.

Nothing about timelines for major league promotions, players to be named later or casseroles. And especially not casseroles to be named later.

Sorry to bore you.

And I’m limiting myself to only three off the top of my head.

I’m still waiting for someone to explain why the Orioles and Red Sox are playing tonight instead of the early afternoon. No one here seems to know, either.

Is Rougned Odor becoming a trade chip?
Odor was riding the struggle bus. Actually, he was driving it.

The month of April produced nine hits in 50 at-bats with 17 strikeouts for a .180 average and .573 OPS. He had two walk-offs within three games earlier this month and crafted a career-high 11-game hitting streak that ended in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Odor collected a hit in seven of 20 games in April. He had a hit in 19 of 23 in May prior to yesterday, including his three-run homer in the nightcap.

A player who appeared to be on the roster clock has six doubles, two triples, four home runs and 17 RBIs this month.  

In an ideal Baltimore baseball world, Odor would produce like he did in Texas before the ill-advised extension, and the Orioles could flip him at the deadline. They’re paying him the league minimum, a small investment that would look more profitable with a young player acquired in a trade.

They also could open up second base for a player in their system who needs to be evaluated, though Jahmai Jones underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday and was designated for assignment the next morning.

There are other infielders who could get starts.

You keep Odor if you’re suddenly in the thick of the race. You keep him if his leadership and enthusiasm, which are lauded in every corner of the clubhouse, mean too much to relinquish.  

You marvel, either way, at how he’s turning around his season and sparking this conversation.

Is Keegan Akin the first quarter Most Valuable Oriole?
There’s no such award, but I’ve chosen him when asked – unless it’s Jorge López or Austin Hays or someone else. And I don’t care what happened in Game 1 with Bobby Dalbec’s pinch-hit home run.

Only the second homer Akin has allowed in 31 2/3 innings.

Maybe it sounds crazy, a reliever who isn’t the closer or working in a setup role. But Akin most definitely is the biggest surprise with his 1.23 ERA and 0.818 WHIP in 12 appearances before Saturday. So, yeah, why not MVO?

We wondered if he’d begin the season in the rotation. We wondered if he’d begin the season with the Orioles. Young starters were beginning to pass him in the organization.

The bullpen and a new approach have been quite beneficial to his career health. A more aggressive and confident Akin, with ticks up in his velocity, is providing important coverage in games. And he’s doing more than just taking one for the team.

We’ve seen that before. “Hey, thanks for those 4 1/3 innings. Sorry about your ERA. Oh yeah, and we’re optioning you because we need a fresh arm.”

Akin is the first Orioles reliever to throw two innings or more in his first 13 appearances to start the year. No other reliever in the majors has more than nine this season.

The last major league reliever to throw at least two innings in his first 13 appearances was Chuck Crim (14) in 1987.

Who’s Chuck Crim?
I didn’t intend to include this among my three, but Crim was a third-round pick of the Cubs in 1979 out of Thousand Oaks High School and a 17th-rounder by the Brewers in 1982 out of the University of Hawaii.

Go later in the draft but live in Hawaii. Sounds like a wise choice.

Crim spent parts of eight seasons in the majors, pitched in 449 games and had back-to-back seasons with 70 or more appearances and an ERA below 3.00. How have you not heard of this guy?

Anyway, back to our original story, already in progress.

You’re not gonna bring up Jimmy Haynes again, are you?
No, and … hey, these are my questions!

Does Spenser Watkins reclaim his spot in the rotation when he’s healthy?
This is sort of a promotion question, but also not.

I didn’t say anything about Grayson Rodriguez. I don’t know how many more starts must be made with Triple-A Norfolk and how much stretching out must be done before he’s viewed as ready.

In the meantime, Watkins is throwing on flat ground, as he did Saturday and yesterday. From about 70 feet with low effort. Testing the range of motion in his arm. Experiencing only some stiffness.

Watkins could come off the injured list when he’s eligible June 7. The 10-day period likely would have prevented it, but the stay for pitchers increased to 15.

I don’t know whether Rodriguez will be in the majors by then. He didn’t reach 90 pitches in his latest dominant start Friday night, and the Orioles want him above the mark.

I also don’t know what’s happening with the rotation on Tuesday against the Mariners at Camden Yards.

Tyler Wells starts tonight in Boston and Kyle Bradish goes Wednesday on normal rest.

If I can’t help you there - or help myself under this format - I’ve got no way of knowing if Watkins is on the hill when his turn comes up after June 7.