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Good morning, Camden Chatters.
It’s now been two full days since reports first broke of the Orioles hiring Mike Elias as their new GM, and still the O’s haven’t made the news official.
It’s probably fine. There are contracts to be signed, paperwork to be filled out, and other various minutiae to deal with. A brief delay isn’t unusual. This will almost certainly get done.
Still, you can’t blame Orioles fans for being a little on edge. The club has been burned before by signings that were reported as done before falling through at the last minute (Dexter Fowler, anyone?), getting fans’ hopes up only to brutally crush them. So it’s understandable that some may want to wait until all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed before letting themselves get excited.
Assuming Elias takes the reins, though, the Orioles seem to be in pretty good hands, as today’s links reveal.
Links
Dauer on Elias’ ability to build a program “from the bottom up” - School of Roch
Former Oriole Rich Dauer, who worked under Mike Elias in Houston, has some glowing words about the Birds’ soon-to-be head honcho.
What they are saying about soon-to-be-Oriole Mike Elias - Steve Melewski
Here are some additional thoughts on Elias from Dauer, as well as MLBPipeline’s Jim Callis and MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd. So far, the new guy is getting high praise from nearly everyone, which should warm the cockles of even the most jaded Orioles fan’s heart.
Which hitters have dominated the Orioles the most in their careers? - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Ever wondered which opposing hitters have the best career numbers against the Orioles? Your favorite writer digs in to the stats to find out.
The last Orioles world championship team is wondering how long they’ll be known as such - Baltimore Sun
This headline makes me sad.
2018 Top 30 Prospects - Orioles Hangout
Orioles Hangout is continuing to rank its top 30 prospects, as No. 11-20 came out this week. So far, 14 of the top 20 have been pitchers, which either speaks well to the Birds’ pitching depth or poorly to their position player depth.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have an uninspiring list of Orioles birthday buddies that includes 2007-08 righty Fernando Cabrera (37), unwelcome 2010 infielder Julio Lugo (43), and the late 1963 right-hander Buster Narum, who would have been 78 today.
On this day in 1961, the Orioles acquired six-time All-Star second baseman Johnny Temple from the Indians. His O’s career didn’t even last a full year, with the Birds selling him to the Houston Colt .45’s in August 1962.