Sunday Bird Droppings

Steve Melewski: Prospect profile: Calvert Hall's Alex Murphy showed potential with bat in 2015
At FanFest, he was more recognized as the local kid who played high school ball at Calvert Hall than as an Orioles minor league player. But that was fine with 21-year-old Alex Murphy. He was excited to be there and happy to be healthy again after sports hernia surgery derailed what had the makings of a big 2015 season.

School of Roch: Leftovers for breakfast
"As we move closer to 2016, the Orioles still aren't sure who's batting leadoff for them on Opening Day." Thankfully, Buck Showalter still has a few days to think about it.

Baltimore Orioles' new outfielder from Korea comes with his own theme song | FOX Sports
"But what's really distinctive about Kim Hyun-soo is that he has his own theme song. When the Orioles introduced him on Wednesday, they played it for the first time at Camden Yards. Let's hope that's what we hear every time he comes to bat. And after he hits a homer. And makes a great play in the outfield. Hey, it's that catchy." Wow, a Ray Frager sighting!

Tyler Wilson Hopes To Be Part Of Orioles' 2016 Plans - Pressbox Online
Friend of Blog PaulFolk reminds us Tyler Wilson is a person who pitches for the Orioles: "As the Baltimore Orioles work on building their pitching staff for the 2016 season, right-hander Tyler Wilson is trying not to get lost in the shuffle."

Documentary Will Possibly Uncover Use Of HGH In MLB - TKB
"As part of an investigation encompassed by a documentary set to air Sunday titled, "The Dark Side," British hurler Liam Collins went undercover in an attempt to bring to light the ongoing use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports around the world.  In doing so, he will reportedly uncover that Philadelphia Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard, Washington Nationals’ infielder Ryan Zimmerman and veteran catcher Taylor Teagarden allegedly used human growth hormone, better known as HGH, a banned substance by Major League Baseball." Ad some football player who's not even playing now gets mentioned. You may have heard of him - Peyton Manning.

Orioles Buzz: Out of the Park: Christmas trees, Twitter changes and charity work
Caleb Joseph has a new Twitter handle. Update your browsers accordingly.

Happy Birthday to former Oriole Connie Johnson. He shares it with 1571 - Johannes Kepler, astronomer; 1717 - Pope Pius VI; 1822 - Louis Pasteur, bacteriologist; 1901 - Marlene Dietrich, singer/actress; 1931 - Scotty Moore, guitarist (not the former Orioles catcher); 1943 - Cokie Roberts, newscaster; 1944 - Mick Jones, guitarist for Foreigner; 1948 - Gérard Depardieu, French actor; 1960 - Maryam D'Abo, actress; 1966 - Bill Goldberg, professional wrestler; 1969 - Chyna, American professional wrestler; and 1973 - Wilson Cruz, actor.

On this day in Orioles history... nothing of note really happened.

Here's what happened in world history today:

1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regards to native Indians in the New World.
1657 - Flushing Remonstrance petition is signed in the Dutch colony of New Netherland protesting ban on Quaker worship
1825 - 1st public railway using steam locomotive completed in England between Stockton and Darlington
1939 - Between 20,000 & 40,000 die in magnitude 8 quake in Erzincam Turkey
1945 - International Monetary Fund formally established by 29 member countries
1949 - Queen Juliana of the Netherlands grants independence to Indonesia
1979 - Soviet troops invade Afghanistan, Pres Hafizullah Amin overthrown

Consider this your discussion space for NCAA Mens' Basketball: Marshall vs Maryland. I'll be in attendance, assuming it's not actually possible to die of a chest cold.