Monday Bird Droppings: Dreaming of the 2021 Orioles

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! Another weekend is over and we’re inching closer to the end of the year. Tomorrow is December, can you believe it? The 2021 baseball season will be here before we know it, even if we don’t know exactly what it will look like. Will it start on time? Will there be any fans in the stands?

After all we’ve been through this year, I hate to feel confident for anything and am nervous to do anything other than to expect the worst. But even with all of that, I do think baseball season will start on time. And that means 122 days from today.

It will be interesting to see what the Orioles look like, but there are some players I’m already looking forward to seeing. Trey Mancini will be back! Will he be in the outfield or at first base? How many home runs will Ryan Mountcastle hit? Will John Means break my heart or will he live up to my expectations? How glorious will Dean Kremer’s hair look and will I get to see him in the rotation for the entire season?

We just have to get through this long, possibly scary winter and hope for the best as spring approaches.

Links

Remembering the ruined relationship with Rochester - School of Roch
Are you interested a story about the way the Rochester Red Wings severed their affiliation with the Orioles? This is what happens in the off season.

Orioles’ 40-man roster full of youth, flexibility and Mike Elias’ additions - Baltimore Sun
The 40-man roster is currently full, and yes it does have youth and flexibility. But I still see a few names on there that could be cut without me giving them a second though. No offense, Cole Sulser.

Craft beer. Water dogs. Blue Jays early birds are already dreaming of a better ballpark | The Star
This article is about the possibility of a new stadium in Toronto but I had to click it because I was like "What on earth are water dogs?" I thought it was some kind of weird Canadian hot dog. It is not. It is a dog in a canoe. The article does point out some of the nicest parts of parks around MLB, including Camden Yards.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have two Orioles birthday buddies. The first is current member of the organization, DJ Stewart. DJ is celebrating his 27th birthday today. When he blows out his candles, maybe he should wish to be one of the three best outfielders on the Orioles in 2021.

Speaking of, can we all agree that blowing all over the top of a cake and then cutting it up and serving it to your guests is a thing that should no longer exist?

It’s also the birthday of Mark Lewis, who had an 11-year MLB career from 1991-2001. That included 71 games for the 2000 Orioles. I’m sure he made an impression on some Orioles fans in the year 2000, but I was not one of them.

On this day in 1959, the Orioles traded pitchers Billy O’Dell and Billy Loes to the Giants for pitcher Gordon Jones, outfielder Jackie Brandt, and catcher Roger McCardell. Brandt ended up playing six seasons for the Orioles and made the All Star team in 1961.

In 2000, Mike Mussina signed a six-year contract with the New York Yankees, officially ending the dreams of Orioles fans that he might return to Baltimore to continue his Hall of Fame career.