Boxing Day Bird Droppings: Where everything is quiet in Birdland

Good morning, Birdland! How was your holiday?

Christmas is over, and that can be kind of a bummer. However, if you take a page out of the British book you can celebrate Boxing Day and extend the seasonal celebration for at least one more day. You know how there is a ton of football on Thanksgiving and basketball on Christmas? On Boxing Day, it’s all about soccer, baby! So kick back, relax and watch...Fulham take on Wolves. I mean, I didn’t say it was going to be the most interesting matchups.

There isn’t a whole lot else going on today. The baseball rumor mill is expected to be nearly silent until next week. So, if you don’t like soccer, but you are lucky enough to be off from work today, then heat up some leftovers and play with something fun that Santa brought you yesterday while you stare out the window and wait for spring training to come. There’s only 49 days until pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota.

Links

How did Mancini improve at the plate in the second half? - MASN Sports
I like Trey Mancini a lot as a guy. He’s kind of dorky, and his mannerisms and mechanics are those of a player that makes average Joes say “Pshh, I could do that!” That is why it is so important for him to bounce back next season and slug .500. He gives us all hope.

Orioles’ highlights and lowlights from 2018 - Valdosta Daily Times
This is a Jon Meoli piece from the Sun, but I’m out of articles for the month, so we go to southern Georgia instead. I have to think this was a Herculean feat by Meoli. First, he had to find “highlights” from that dreadful campaign, which seems impossible. On top of that, he had write a “lowlight” list without mentioning just about every game of the season and turning in a 50,000 word piece. Well done!

Quick Hits: Kevin Cash, Orioles - MLB Trade Rumors
A recap of Roch’s piece that Mark linked to yesterday along with some input on the Orioles additions made during the Winter Meetings. Our situation gets compared to the early work Theo Epstein did for the Cubs prior to giving them a World Series championship. Hooooo boy!

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!

Happy 57th birthday to the big right-handed pitcher Storm Davis, an Oriole from 1982 through 1986 and the then again in 1992. Former first baseman and sporadic member of the Orioles from ‘84 through ‘89 Jim Traber is also 57. Outfielder Jeff Stone is 58; he spent 26 games with the Birds during the 1988 season. Infielder Wayne Causey, a role player in Charm City from 1955 through 1957, celebrates his 82nd birthday. Finally, it would have been the 91st birthday of Stu Miller (d. 2015) , a right-handed hurler for the O’s from 1963 until 1967.

1995 - The Orioles trade Curtis Goodwin and Trovin Valdez to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for portly pitcher David Wells.