Hello, Camden Chatters! Happy Sunday. FanFest was yesterday, did you go? Was it a good time? Was everyone in a bad mood because the Orioles haven’t made any moves since the season ended? Tell us!
The big news out of FanFest was the absence of a number of their players, most notably Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. You can read more about that in the links below.
We are now 60 days away from Opening Day. It’s creeping up quickly! Relief pitcher and possible closer for this year’s team, Mychal Givens, wears uniform number 60 for the Orioles. Believe it or not, Givens is the best #60 the Orioles have had.
We’re also just 16 days from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Sixteen! That basically nothing. After reporting, their first workout date will be on Valentine’s Day. Don’t you wish you were a professional pitcher so you could get out of that ridiculous holiday? “Sorry, babe, our first workout is that day.”
Thanks to FanFest, today isn’t like the rest of the Sundays in the off season. That’s right, we things to talk about! Let’s jump in.
Showalter confirms: Manny Machado will be moving to shortstop in 2018 - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Friend of the blog (and husband of the Bird Droppings writer) Paul was at FanFest yesterday covering the news of the day. Buck Showalter confirmed that Manny will be a shortstop this year. So does that mean they're not going to re-sign J.J. Hardy?
Orioles Fanfest notes: Machado's and Schoop's absences loom large - BaltimoreBaseball.com
You might have heard that Buck wasn't happy about Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop missing FanFest. Get his choice quotes here, and some other good stuff from Adam Jones.
Jones yet to have significant contract talks with Orioles, ponders future at FanFest - Baltimore Sun
Do you want Adam Jones to be with the Orioles after 2018? What are the odds it'll happen? "Ask Mr. Duquette," says Adam.
Trumbo talks about the value of less as more - School of Roch
Just gotta focus easier!
Michael Kelly on rotation chance, Austin Hays on building on 2017 - Steve Melewski
You know how at FanFest you can wait to take a picture with whatever Oriole is there when you get to the front of the line? I saw one on Twitter yesterday of a fan with Michael Kelly and I was legit like, "Who?" Anyway, apparently he wants to be in the starting rotation.
Orioles' Britton says rehab 'a little ahead of schedule,' hopes to be on a mound this spring - Baltimore Sun
Can you remember the last time a rehabbing baseball player admitted to being behind schedule? Me neither.
Austin Hays Ready to Compete - Baltimore Wire
I certainly hope so!
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy, and he was barely an Oriole at all. Wesley Wright turns 33 years old today. Wright was a relief pitcher signed by the Orioles to a one-year contract in December 2014 but only appeared in two games before going on the disabled list. When he still wasn’t ready to pitch in July, the Orioles released him. He signed with the Angels and appeared in nine games for them at the end of the season, but hasn’t pitched in the majors since.
On this day in 1982 the Orioles traded third baseman Doug DeCinces to the Angels for outfielder Dan Ford. This turned out to be a pretty bad trade for the Orioles as DeCinces went on to have a number of good to great seasons for the Angels, while Disco Dan Ford didn’t come close to replicating the numbers he had for the Angels. That’s not to mention that the up-and-coming third baseman for the Orioles, Cal Ripken, was moved to shortstop.