Thursday Thoughts: Wieters’ Backup, Davis’ Comments, & Will Ferrell

This is a weekly column that dives into eight random thoughts about the Orioles/MLB. Why eight? It’s a nod to Cal Ripken Jr. of course. That, and doing 2,632 of these would be a little overboard. – A.S.

1. If Chris Davis wants the Orioles to “commit to the future before he does,” maybe he shouldn’t get himself suspended prior to the postseason…Then he’d be able to contribute and help the team when they reach the doorstep of the World Series.

I didn’t really understand Davis’ comments to the “Baltimore Sun” earlier this week. I don’t really see what the Orioles are doing that isn’t “committing to the future.”

It causes the same confusion that Adam Jones’ recent comments about the front office did. Why are players trying to dictate how the team is put together or run? I think Davis has a lot more to prove than the Orioles do as a team this year. He’s coming off a fairly dismal season that ended with him on the sidelines because of a suspension – the same suspension which will keep him out of the first game of the year THIS season. Davis was nearly an MVP in 2013, but if he wants to parlay his rise to stardom into a huge contract (especially from the Orioles), he’s going to have to prove he wasn’t a one-hit wonder.

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2. The backup catcher job is going to be important this season – again. This might seem like an understatement, but just because Matt Wieters is returning from Tommy John surgery doesn’t mean all is going to be peachy behind the plate. I really think Wieters will have his innings behind the dish limited a bit, especially in the early going. This means someone has to step up.

Caleb Joseph did a great job of it last year after Steve Clevenger’s defensive woes got in the way, but I don’t think the job is Joseph’s to lose this spring. There are a number of challengers, including Ryan Lavarnway, who I think has the inside track to have a role at some point on this team. The one thing Wieters will need to provide is a bat. He hasn’t been relied on in the past to produce huge offensive numbers, but I think that’s going to change this year.

Before his injury last season, Wieters started to prove what type of hitter he can be. If that form returns, everything will be alright.

3. Actor Will Ferrell is scheduled to “play” in five different spring training games in Arizona today. He’ll participate for ten different teams and take a helicopter around the Phoenix area to be able to attend them all. The stunt is all in the name of charity and for a good cause, so I am not going to sit here and rip the effort, but can you imagine the inconvenience this puts on some teams and some managers?

I can’t picture Buck Showalter being too happy about having to put Will Ferrell out on the field for one inning during a spring training game. It’s a prime opportunity to give someone, even if it’s a minor leaguer, a chance to show something. I get that spring training games don’t count, and that they are mostly pointless, but they also provide youngsters a great opportunity to make an impact. The whole charade is nice, but let’s limit it as much as we can.

4. Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman’s injury is going to hurt that team dearly this season. I started to fear Toronto a bit this offseason, not only for their attempts to steal Dan Duquette from the O’s, but also because of who they were acquiring to play on the field. I’d never say that one player’s injury will make or break a team (the Orioles proved this isn’t the case last year), but this one will sting for the Jays. I think it makes them much less formidable in the AL East this season.

5. Second base should be Jonathan Schoop’s job to lose. I know he only has one full season under his belt, but I don’t think the acquisition of Everth Cabrera will push him out. He didn’t do anything on the field last season that made me believe he can’t be a player at this level. He’s a starting second baseman. He’s not Robinson Cano or even remotely an All-Star, but he’s capable of holding down the spot until his play proves otherwise.

6. I’m about as torn as I imagine the Orioles are about what to do with the starting rotation. The real issue is obviously Ubaldo Jimenez, who proved he could barely fill the water jugs last season, let alone hold a spot among the starting five. The money is a problem, the play is a problem, and frankly, the lack of bullpen spots available to slide him into is a problem. It’s all a big problem. I’d love to see Kevin Gausman in the rotation, but I really don’t think it happens right at the start of the season.

7. The Yankees named Hideki Matsui as a special adviser to GM Brian Cashman this week.

It got me thinking, who would be a good player to fit in that type of role for the Orioles? Brady Anderson is obviously already a member of the O’s front office and I guess you could say he plays a similar role. Is there another former player out there who was impactful that could fill such a spot? This is obviously completely hypothetical. We’re talking about a player who knows the game through and through and would be good at analyzing talent.

My vote would be for Ben McDonald. Hearing him call a few games on radio over the last few seasons tells me all I need to know.

8, The Orioles announced their promotional schedule this week. While “Buck Showalter Gnome” caught the eyes of many (and rightfully so), I’m super excited to see exactly what an Orioles Hawaiian Shirt looks like. That is going to be a hoot.

The Birds have done a really nice job with promotional items over the last few years. I just hope fans continue to get good use out of the knit hats they gave out last year…you know, by wearing them to games in October.