Thursday Bird Droppings: Where we didn't get any Cy Young votes either

Hello, friends.

By now the offseason probably bores thee, with days remaining 'til Opening Day numbering 143. It's a bleak prospect, and after the BBWAA announces their MVP winners tonight, there will be no news for anything relating to baseball except for people being signed or traded. If Dan Duquette follows the pattern of his first three offseasons here, there won't be a whole lot of Orioles involvement in any of that.

There are a lot of absurd rumors out there, and some possibly legitimate rumors. How to separate the wheat from the chaff? Remember this simple rule for hot stove season: Most of the time, absolutely nothing is going to happen. You'll be right far often than you're wrong.

And now all of the Orioles stuff that's fit to print from elsewhere around the Internet...

Exclusive: Orioles exec questions media on cap DK on Pittsburgh Sports
John Angelos, son of Peter, gets name-dropped on this blog for the second time in two days. He spoke with independent Pittsburgh writer Devan Kovacevic on the topic of a salary cap in baseball.

Showalter's time a golden one for the Orioles | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
In my short time doing Bird Droppings, I've learned one thing about Rich Dubroff. He always has something new each day, and he always shows up on a Google News search. These are virtues to a Bird Droppings poster. Today, Dubroff sings the praises of Buck Showalter as Orioles manager.

Orioles to meet with Markakis agent; deal with him more likely than Cruz - CBSSports.com
Not that you'd know it from an Orioles writer, since none of them went to the GM meetings in Phoenix, but Jon Heyman weighs in on rare non-Boras client news: The O's met with Markakis' agent on Wednesday, and he's probably more likely to return than Nelson Cruz, who one report said wanted a five-year deal. Yikes.

Elsewhere around the SB Nation MLB network...

Blue Jays inquire on Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and Antonio Bastardo - Bluebird Banter
Our friends up north may be looking to divest the Phillies of some players in hopes of improving their team. Still, keep in mind the rule from above: Probably nothing will happen.

Today is the birthday of former Oriole and personal Cliff Lee destroyer Josh Bell, as well as Pat Hentgen (2001-03) and Larry Harlow (1975-79).

And that's the way it is in Birdland on November 13 - at least, unless something happens later today. Have a safe Thursday.