Friday Bird Droppings: Where we’re still playing the waiting game

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Seven weeks from tomorrow, the Baltimore Orioles will take the field to play baseball for the first time in 2019. Fake baseball, but still. They’ll kick off their Grapefruit League schedule with a matchup against the Twins in Sarasota.

What will the Orioles’ roster look like by then? Well, at the rate they’re currently going, it won’t look vastly different than it does right now. The Orioles have been too busy replacing their front office and coaching staff this offseason to focus much on the on-field personnel, and the rebuilding club doesn’t figure to spend much money on roster upgrades in the immediate future. They might look to pluck a couple warm bodies off what’s left of the free agent market as spring training approaches, but nobody who’s going to excite you.

Still, it’s all part of the process. The most notable work right now is being done behind the scenes, including the Orioles’ recent hiring of Koby Perez as international scouting director, a position that was heretofore unknown in Baltimore. The O’s are continuing to put together a new infrastructure to set up the team for success in the long run.

The short run, though? It won’t be pretty.

Links

O’s new head of international scouting on staffing, signing talent and more - Steve Melewski
For those who think the Orioles have nobody left to sign with their bounty of international bonus pool money, Koby Perez is hopeful there could be a “late bloomer” who pops up before the slots expire in June. I appreciate his optimism, but I still think there’s a 99% chance that money will go to waste.

Adam Jones remains unsigned on free-agent market, but it’s unlikely he’ll be back - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff notes that Adam Jones’ market has been slow to develop this winter. As an Adam Jones fan, part of me wants him to stay with the Orioles, but a bigger part of me wants him to get a chance to play for a good team again. That ain’t happening here.

Wynns’ offseason includes instruction from Dempsey - School of Roch
Rick Dempsey’s MASN analysis doesn’t quite appeal to all Orioles fans, but if there’s one thing I trust that he knows, it’s catching. Dempsey working with Austin Wynns on his defense can only be a good thing.

The Best And Worst Teams Of 2018 In (Almost) Any Sport | FiveThirtyEight
Guess who earned the prestigious honor of worst sports team of 2018? We did it, everyone!

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your only Orioles birthday buddy is 1988-90 righty Jay Tibbs (57), who lost 10 consecutive decisions in the Orioles’ horrible 1988 season, and then won all five of his decisions in their miraculous 1989 season. As goes Jay Tibbs, so go the Orioles. I believe Confucius once said that.

On this unforgettable day in 2011, the Orioles reached agreement on a two-year contract with closer Kevin Gregg. Eight years later, I still haven’t acquired a taste for his pitching.