Will Orioles ever retire Mike Mussina’s No. 35? | MAILBAG

 Question: Aside from the fact that Adley Rutschman is wearing it, do you think the Orioles will ever retire Mike Mussina’s number 35? From: Jason Gross 

Answer: Jason, I don’t believe the Orioles will retire Mike Mussina’s No. 35. The only retired numbers are Earl Weaver (4), Brooks Robinson (5), Cal Ripken Jr. (8), Frank Robinson (20), Jim Palmer (22) and Eddie Murray (33).

All of them played for a World Series-winning Orioles team. Mussina never pitched in a World Series while he was with the Orioles, and he chose to enter the Hall of Fame without being identified with either the Orioles or the Yankees.

Question: It seems the O’s have forgotten about the fundamentals. Tuesday night, as an example, Samuel Basallo draws a leadoff walk.  Light hitting Colton Cowser comes up and it’s obvious he should bunt. He hits into a double play.

Throwing to the cutoff man. Covering first base and touching the base when you catch the ball. What about getting in front of the ball so you can block it with your body. So many now get lazy and backhand the ball, such as Adley Rutschman Tuesday night.

I know baseball is hard. I know the players make millions. Yet, is it too much to ask that they get back to practicing the fundamentals? From: Mark

Answer: Mark, the Orioles practice fundamentals throughout spring training. They’re drilled incessantly on fundamentals, but sometimes they’re forgotten in the heat of the game a few months later.

There are times during the season when teams practice fundamentals early in the day.

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.