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.
Question: Is it me or did the Orioles’ recent slide coincide with chatter regarding All-Star selection snubs? Even manager Brandon Hyde got into the act talking about who he thought was left out. My point is, did the team take their eye off the prize for a moment, losing focus and momentum aiding in this (hopefully brief) downturn? Could a more mature team avoid such a distraction? From: Tony Tvarkunas, Eagle, Colorado
Answer: Tony, I don’t think the chatter about the Orioles not initially having more representatives had anything to do with their five-game losing streak.
During the streak, two players, Jordan Westburg and Anthony Santander, were added to the team.
I think the more important components were having just three offdays between May 31st and the All-Star break, playing emotional games against difficult opponents, and losing Kyle Bradish for the season and Danny Coulombe for perhaps three months with elbow injuries, and the failure to produce timely hits.
Question: The Seattle Mariners selected Jurrangelo Cijntje, a switch-pitcher from Mississippi State in the first round of the draft. Are there any rules in Major League Baseball for the playing of such a player in a game? From: John Hall
Answer: John, if Jurrangelo Cijntje makes it to the big leagues, he would be the second switch-pitcher, or ambidextrous pitcher. From 2015-2020, Pat Venditte pitched for six major league teams. I saw Venditte pitch several times, and he had to declare which hand he would throw with before an at-bat began, and he couldn’t change during an at-bat.