Sunday Bird Droppings: Where we’re brunching in Birdland

Happy Sunday, Camden Chatters! The calendar is slowly creeping towards the start of baseball season. In 16 days, Orioles pitchers and catchers will report to Sarasota for spring training. And in 60 days the Orioles will be at Camden Yards for 2020 Opening Day. We’ll get there!

I had the pleasure yesterday to attend an event for season ticket holders they called Birdland Brunch. The event, which took place at the B&O museum in Baltimore, was really nice. They had a very good breakfast spread. I enjoyed some blueberry pancakes and bacon. They had caricature artists and face painters for the kids, a photo booth, and other activities. The Bird was there making the rounds while pitchers John Means and Branden Kline mingled and chatted with everyone.

The nicest part of it was that the crowd wasn’t very big. There were a lot of people there, but not so many that it felt uncomfortable. There were lines for some of the activities, but they weren’t too long for kids to stand. And it seems that everyone got personal face time with The Bird. It was a very nice morning for myself, my husband, my daughter, and my nephew. I’m glad the Orioles are taking efforts like this.

Here is the caricature we got done of my daughter:

Links

The curiosities continue over Mountcastle - School of Roch
We all know Ryan Mountcastle is a hitter without a position. Mike Elias answered questions about him at his appearance in Salisbury.

Rio Ruiz looks to be Orioles third baseman again in 2020 - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Headlines like this don't really make me look forward to the season. CC writer Tyler Young wondered if Ruiz was the best person for the job last week.

Which Orioles jersey should you buy this season? | NBC Sports Washington
The answer is obviously Brooks Robinson.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. The late Bob Nieman (b. 1927, d. 1985) had a 12-year big league career, spending 1957-59 with the Orioles where he hit .296/.374/.488 in 352 games. Rick Schu, who had the misfortune of playing on the 1988 Orioles, turns 58 today. And Jemile Weeks, who was traded to the Orioles for Jim Johnson before the 2014 season, turns 33.

Finally, as you have probably heard, former Oriole Adam Jones will be playing in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes this season. Jones arrived in Japan earlier today and it appears he was greeted at the airport like a rock star. I certainly wish him the best in this new phase of his career and still miss him as an Oriole.

Google Translate tells me that this tweet says, “Adam Jones, a new foreigner from ORIX, has arrived in Japan. The airport is overcrowded with the arrival of the star players, but the fans are signing.”