Thursday Bird Droppings: Where Dan Duquette is still the Orioles GM (for now)

Hello, friends.

There are now 81 days until Orioles Opening Day. The Orioles, as we all know, did not win 81 games from 1998-2011. It was a sad time for all involved parties.

It may be a coincidence that the good times started happening immediately after Dan Duquette was hired. It's probably at least something of a coincidence. The groundwork for a good team had been laid down already by those who came before, even if it took longer than we wanted it to. But still I am nervous when I consider this whole Duquette to the Blue Jays possibility. Could they find someone else? Get another slapdick in there, as Buck Showalter might say. Probably they could, but I'd rather we not have to find out.

A few links from across Birdland on this Thursday...

Orioles' Dan Duquette Appears To Have One Foot Out The Door (Press Box)
Stan the Fan thinks that the Orioles should let Duquette go to the Jays since it's what he wants to do. This opinion is not shared by Orioles owner Peter Angelos, which is probably for the best.

Blue Jays still looking to replace Paul Beeston with Dan Duquette, have discussed compensation package with Orioles - Bluebird Banter
A little perspective on this whole Duquette saga from the other side of the border, with our Blue Jays blog counterparts reacting to the back and forth.

That's enough about Duquette until something new happens, or at least until a new, possibly worthless rumor bubbles up to the surface.

2015 MLB roster outlook: Baltimore Orioles | Comcast SportsNet Washington
CSN Washington with a little breakdown of the Orioles 2015 roster. Why don't they just stick to the Nationals? I do not know.

Mark Hendrickson, now a grandfather, wants a shot with Orioles | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
You may have heard a little something about how the 40-year-old Hendrickson is trying to get himself a spring training invite with the Orioles. It would be a cool story, but cool stories unfortunately do not automatically result in baseball ability.

With Logan Verrett and Jason Garcia, Orioles hope to continue Rule 5 draft success - Baltimore Sun
The Sun has a little bit about the Orioles' two Rule 5 draft picks, who they are and what kind of chances they have to stick with the big league club.

Happy birthday to these former Orioles today: Delino DeShields, who is forever linked in my mind with the early dark years (1999-2001), and Bobby Grich, who was a much more awesome Oriole. Grich was #10 on Camden Chat's Top 40 Greatest Orioles last year.

And that's the way it is in Birdland on January 15 - which, hopefully it stays that way, because if it doesn't, that probably means we need a new GM. Have a safe Thursday.