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Morning, Birdland!
It’s FanFest day! It all kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center. As of this writing, there do appear to still be vouchers available for several of the signing stations at FanFest. So, if you would like the John Hancock of Donnie Hart, Luis Ortiz, Joey Rickard and Jimmy Yacabonis then you had better hurry!
Some good nuggets always emerge from FanFest, whether it’s quotes from players, coaches and GMs, the questions from the kids’ press conference or even the first-hand accounts of fans interacting with players.
So, if you do head out to FanFest then have fun and let us know how things go. Drop us a comment or write up a FanPost, if you feel so inclined.
Spring Training is right around the corner, people! Things are getting serious. Who’s ready to cheer on a 60-win team? Believe it or not, I am more than ready!
Links
Mussina HOF Plaque Will Not Have Oriole Or Yankee Logo - Forbes
This is a fair conclusion for the latest Hall of Famer to come to. Mike Mussina was a really good pitcher for both the Orioles and Yankees. He would not have earned his spot in Cooperstown had he only played those 10 seasons in Baltimore or only the eight years in the Bronx. He needed them both.
Top prospects Diaz, Mountcastle among Orioles spring training invites - Camden Chat
How important are non-roster spring invites? Eh, probably not that important, but it’s something to talk about until the O’s all gather in Sarasota, so let’s do it!
Baltimore Orioles: Complete Winter League Roundup - Birds Watcher
Slide show, baby!! But it’s a short one, and it provides a decent recap of how all of the different Orioles players that competed in off-season leagues around the world this year.
Inexpensive free-agent options would present upgrades to the O’s - The Athletic
It’s tough out there for free agents. Teams seem unwilling to shell out a few million dollars, even if that player does represent a slight upgrade to their roster. A team like the Orioles has less incentive than their more competitive peers. That could mean they end up with a bargain bin price on one or two veterans that actually could make a difference when it’s all said and done.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!
Jemile Weeks, an O’s infielder for three games in 2014, celebrates his 32nd. Rick Schu played 90 games for the Birds from 1988 to 1989, and he turns 57 today. Finally, it is a posthumous birthday for Bob Nieman (b. 1927, d. 1985), an Orioles outfielder across three seasons in the late 50’s.
According to Baseball Reference, there have not been any significant events in Orioles history to take place on January 26. Bummer! However, things have happened elsewhere in the world.
1837 - Michigan becomes the 26th state in the United States.
1920 - The Lincoln Motor Company is launched by former Ford executive Henry Leland.
1934 - The Apollo Theatre reopens in Harlem, New York City.
1965 - Hindi becomes the official language of India.