Vanessa: If you think a cancelled game means a lost cause, you clearly haven't been watching the Baltimore Orioles this year. We are live on the Beatline Podcast Network, and today we are digging into the mailbag to answer your burning questions about Pete Alonso’s historic power surge, the rotation battles for 2027, and whether that 79-82 record was actually a success story in disguise.
Nick: Exactly. It’s a weird season to look back on. You’ve got an AL East contender sitting at second place, but then you have a rain-canceled finale and a roster full of young arms fighting for spots. It’s messy, it’s exciting, and it’s very much worth your time to listen closely because we’re covering three big things: Pete Alonso’s home run chase, the starting pitcher logjam, and what this team looks like when the calendar flips to spring training.
Vanessa: Let’s get right into it. We’ve got emails, tweets, and voice notes flooding in. First up, Marcus in Chicago asks: 'Pete Alonso homered twice to take over the AL lead with 43, including a massive 471-foot drive against the Yankees. Is he just a one-year wonder, or is this sustainable?' Nick, you were on this last week.
Nick: I am glad you asked, Marcus, because if you only looked at the box score from that doubleheader opener, you might think Pete was having a career year fueled by luck. But the launch angle data tells a different story. That 471-foot ball wasn’t a fluke; it was pure barrel efficiency. He’s manipulating his swing path to keep the ball in the air consistently.
Vanessa: And he routed the Yankees 10-2 in that opener. The crowd went wild.
Nick: They did. And honestly, looking at his plate discipline, he’s not chasing pitches outside the zone anymore. He’s letting the fastball go and punishing the breaking balls in the zone. If he keeps that OBP up, 43 homers isn’t a peak; it’s a floor. But here’s the nuance: can he maintain that exit velocity against elite pitching in October? That’s the real question.
Vanessa: Right. Because they didn’t make October. That’s the sting. Sarah from Rochester sends in a tougher one: 'The Orioles finished 79-82 but second in the AL East. How do you justify that standing when you lost more games than you won? Did the division collapse around them?' This feels like a complaint about the team's actual performance.
Nick: It’s a fair frustration, Sarah. But baseball standings aren’t about total wins; they’re about head-to-head records and games behind. The AL East was a mess. The Yankees won 93 games, sure, but everyone else was scrambling. The Orioles played .500 or better against most of their divisional rivals until the final stretch. It’s not a perfect season, but being second in a division where the Yankees are dominant is a victory in itself.
Vanessa: Still, losing 82 games hurts. @OriolesFan88 wants to know: 'With Pete Alonso now on the team, does that change how you view the rest of the lineup? Specifically, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday.' Are they overshadowed?
Nick: Not overshadowed, supported. Look at the defensive positioning and the platoon splits. When Pete draws walks or hits those deep outs, he takes pressure off the middle infielders. Gunnar and Jackson don’t have to carry the offensive load alone. They can play more aggressively on the bases because they know Pete is cleaning up behind them. It creates a cascade effect.
Vanessa: That makes sense. It’s about spacing. But let’s talk about the elephant in the room. David Stearns, the Mets exec, said there are no 'mulligans' on leaving players like Alonso. Does that apply to Baltimore? Did we miss out on someone else? Or is this the core we stick with?
Nick: Stearn’s comment is about regret, and Baltimore doesn’t seem to be operating in that space. The focus here is forward-looking. You’ve got Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third base. You’ve got Samuel Basallo catching. The front office isn’t looking back; they’re looking at the ABS challenge system rankings and seeing where they need upgrades. The roster is young, hungry, and currently second in the division.
Vanessa: So, no regrets on the roster construction, just hunger for more. Let’s move to Segment Two. We’re talking depth charts. Chris Johnson in Boston writes: 'You guys mentioned the third base logjam before. With Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Blaze Alexander all on the roster, who wins the job in spring training?' This is a huge question for fantasy fans and real fans alike.
Nick: It’s a classic Orioles problem: too much talent, not enough seats. Coby Mayo has the raw power, but his strikeout rate needs trimming. Christian Encarnacion-Strand brings the defensive reliability and the contact hitting. Blaze Alexander is the wildcard with his athleticism. I’d bet on Encarnacion-Strand winning the day-one spot because of his versatility and plate discipline. He minimizes mistakes.
Vanessa: But Mayo is the fan favorite. His pop is undeniable.
Nick: His pop is real, Vanessa. But if he can’t put the bat on the ball consistently, he’ll end up in Norfolk or as a DH against lefties. Platoon splits matter. Against right-handed pitching, Encarnacion-Strand offers a higher floor. Mayo might be the closer in September, but Encarnacion-Strand gets the start.
Vanessa: Okay, so third base is settled for now. What about center field? Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Christian Franklin, Luis Robert Jr., Leody Taveras, Reed Trimble. That’s six names for maybe two spots. Who stays?
Nick: Luis Robert Jr. is the clear starter if he’s healthy. His speed and power combination are unmatched. Colton Cowser is the secondary option, providing excellent defense and a high OBP. The others—Beavers, Franklin, Taveras, Trimble—are likely trade chips or depth pieces. Unless one of them has a breakout camp, the door is pretty narrow.
Vanessa: Rece Hinds is also in the mix for outfield duties. Do you see him cracking the everyday lineup?
Nick: Rece Hinds has the tools, but his strikeout rate is a concern. In a tight AL East, you can’t afford to miss. He’ll compete, but unless he shows significant improvement in pitch selection, he’ll be a fourth outfielder. The bar is high for anyone trying to push Robert or Cowser.
Vanessa: High bar. Got it. Now, let’s talk pitching. You mentioned the rotation earlier. Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Trey Gibson, Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young, Yosver Zulueta. That’s a lot of arms. Who starts Game One next year?
Nick: Shane Baz is the ace-in-waiting if he stays healthy. His stuff is electric. Chris Bassitt provides the veteran stability. The competition will be fierce between Baz, Bassitt, and perhaps Povich if he continues to develop his secondary pitches. This is where the 'two reliable starters' prediction comes in. The current group is talented but unproven over a full playoff push.
Vanessa: And the bullpen? Felix Bautista is the closer, but who else steps up? Yennier Cano, Luis De Leon, Cameron Foster...
Nick: Felix Bautista is a force. Behind him, Yennier Cano has shown flashes of dominance. The key will be managing innings. You can’t rely on Bautista every single night. De Leon and Foster need to provide consistent relief innings. The bullpen depth is good, but it’s not elite yet. It’s a area where acquisitions could help.
Vanessa: Acquisitions. That seems to be the theme. Let’s wind down with Segment Three. A fun hypothetical. If the Orioles could acquire ONE player to fix their biggest weakness, who is it? And we’re going lightning round after.
Nick: Lightning round first. I’ll go with a proven ace. Someone like Jacob Misiorowski, who led the majors in ERA, strikeouts, and opponents' batting average last year. If the Brewers would trade him, Baltimore would jump at that chance. He stabilizes the entire rotation.
Vanessa: Misiorowski is a monster. Okay, my pick is a versatile infielder who can play both second and short. Maybe Jose Barrero moves to second, and we bring in a elite defender for shortstop. It opens up the offense.
Nick: Solid thinking. Versatility is gold in a tight division.
Vanessa: Before we sign off, I want to take a quick second. If today’s episode helped you understand the Orioles’ chances better, or if you enjoyed hearing our takes on Alonso and the roster battles, consider supporting us. Just a small contribution helps keep these daily episodes free for everyone. Please check the link in the episode description to chip in. It really makes a difference.
Nick: Thanks for listening. We appreciate every bit of support.
Vanessa: We’re going to be back tomorrow with another deep dive. Until then, keep your eyes on the ABS challenge stats and enjoy the offseason. Go Birds!