Sunday Bird Droppings: Where we’re ready to start losing with a purpose

Happy Sunday, Camden Chatters! How is your weekend going? Getting ready for Turkey Day? Is it lame to call it Turkey Day? Whatever. Gobble gobble!

As is the usual for a Sunday in the off season, there isn’t much to report on the status of the team. The hiring of Mike Elias has me all pumped for baseball season to start up again, but then I remember that even if he does all of the right things the Orioles are still going to be terrible in 2019. So maybe I should hold my horses.

Links

Questions awaiting Elias at Monday's introduction - School of Roch
Roch is kind of all over the place in this story, but some of his posed questions are interesting.

Wrapping up the Arizona Fall League - Birds Watcher
The Arizona Fall League wrapped up on Saturday afternoon; several Baltimore Orioles prospects showed some much needed upside over the short season.

What Mike Elias Means For The Orioles - The Runner Sports
It means the Orioles are trying to do the right thing. Let's hope it works.

Rule V Prospects That Each Team Must Decide To Protect Or Possibly Lose In Next Month’s Draft - Inquisitr.com
Do you think Dan Duquette is at home reading this list, a single tear rolling down his cheek?

Comparing new Orioles general manager Mike Elias to predecessor Dan Duquette - Baltimore Sun
This article is...not what I was expecting. I thought it might have to do with how the two men compare in building a major league team. Instead it's just a list of facts about their lives. But it's Sunday, so you get it.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have two Orioles birthday buddies. Jamie Moyer often seemed ageless during his playing days, but in fact today he turns 56. Moyer pitched for the Orioles from 1994-1995, leaving them when he was 32 years old. He last pitched in the majors in 2012 at the age of 49.

Steve Bechler would have been 39 years old today, but tragically died at the age of 23 in spring training 2003. The heat stroke that caused his death was attributed in part to ephedra that was found in his system. Ephedra has since been banned in the United States.

On this day in 1955, the Orioles and Yankees completed a 17-player trade which brought to the Orioles Gus Triandos among others.

In 1964, Brooks Robinson was named the American League MVP.