Every weekday, 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: The reporting on Jackson Holliday up to his Major League Baseball callup and through his time with the Orioles was non-stop. Since he was sent back to Norfolk on April 26th, the pundits have been pretty quiet, it seems to me. What gives with that? From: Tony Tvarkunas, Eagle, Colorado
Answer: Tony, other readers are also eager to know what the Orioles’ plans are for Jackson Holliday, including Michael Janofsky, Charles Lowe and @TroyPurinton, who wanted to know if Jorge Mateo is blocking his return.
Holliday is hitting .244 with two home runs and seven RBIs since he was sent down by the Orioles. He’s walked 20 times and struck out 20 times. His overall on-base percentage for Norfolk is excellent, .429. If he were hitting with more power and consistency, I think you’d be hearing more about him. The OBP is great, but walks aren’t exciting to write about.
Unless there’s an injury to an infielder, I don’t see an imminent callup, but when he heats up, as I expect him to, I think you’ll start hearing more about him again.
Question: Is Jorge Mateo the fastest baserunner you’ve ever seen? From: Dennis Littleton
Answer: Dennis, Jorge Mateo is extremely fast, but I’ve gotten to watch some of the greatest base-stealers in history, including Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock, Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Kenny Lofton, Tim Raines, Joe Morgan, Willie Wilson, and a guy named Herb Washington, who was a designated runner for the Oakland Athletics in the 1970s. I don’t know who’d win in a race, but in their primes, the guys I’ve listed could really run.