Will he be back in Norfolk next season?

Not if the decision is based solely on on-field performance. Mitchell is the Wes Timmons of the Orioles. He’s spent the last six seasons with the Orioles AAA affiliates — 2005 and 2006 in Ottawa; and since 2007 in Norfolk. He’s gotten consistently worse — in 2006, his ERA was in the 2′s; 2007, in the 3′s; 2008, in the 4′s; 2009, in the 5′s; and last season in the 6′s. He’s a sidearmer without great stuff, so unless he keeps his pitches way down he can’t be effective. Last season, he gave up almost 2 hits an inning (63 hits in 32 2/3 innings) and it wasn’t all his defense.

On the other hand, Mitchell is willing to cooperate with the team — he spent much of the season on the Aberdeen roster, which basically meant he hung around with the Tides but couldn’t pitch. He may have dreams of becoming a coach. The Orioles obviously like him. If he’s willing to continue doing what he’s been doing, he may be back.