Question: I’ve learned there are certain players you must keep in your core if you are to succeed at a high level. Jordan Westburg is clearly one of these. So, as an owner, I would value Jordan like the Royals value Bobby Witt Jr., and he would be my No. 1 target over the other young stars, if he has the persona and respect to be the clubhouse leader.
Is Scott Boras taking the same stance with Westburg as he is with the other young Orioles he handles? And might Westburg be open to a long-term contract offer? From: Jeff LaVine
Answer: Jeff, While Scott Boras encourages the players he represents to explore the free -gent market, if a client he has expresses a strong desire to stay with a team, he’ll negotiate an extension. Houston’s Jose Altuve is the most recent example of that.
I am a huge admirer of Westburg, and while I think he can definitely be a leader in the clubhouse, I don’t know whether he’d be open to an early extension.
Question: It seems to me that the home team has a great advantage in regular-season games now with the phantom runner on second base in extra innings. The home team can strategize better knowing if the visiting team’s runner had scored or not. How did the Orioles perform as the home team in extra innings, and what was the league’s or MLB’s record for home teams in extra innings? From: John Flato
Answer: John, I would have thought that the home team had a great advantage, but this year, visitors had a 109-107 edge over home teams. In 2020, when the rule was first used, and in 2023 and 2024, visitors lead 477-465. From 2017-2019, home teams had a 312-294 advantage.
The Orioles are 6-8 in extra innings at home since the adoption of the automatic runner.
Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.