Tuesday Bird Droppings: Orioles minicamp roundup

Hello, friends.

There are now 83 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. As the year 1983 is, of course, the most recent year where the O's won the World Series, this will obviously be an auspicious day for all of us. This is more reliable than a horoscope. Only one Oriole has ever worn the number: Justin Turner in 2009.

At some point this week, something that resembles interesting may happen for the Orioles, since they have gathered some players in Sarasota for the annual minicamp. More of the beat writers seem to have gone to cover the minicamp this year, though curiously they have taken fewer pictures than ever before. Chris Tillman stopped by, although he's not in the minicamp, so we may not get another edition of Tillman Gut Watch.

If nothing else, later in the week you can probably look forward to glowing reports of how players did at minicamp from the usual suspects. Those reports will be lightly mocked at the appropriate time.

Around the blogO'sphere

Orioles notes: Buck Showalter still seeking another left-handed bat in outfield - Baltimore Sun
One enduring question is why the Orioles are so fixated on getting a left-handed bat when they have been literally the worst AL team against left-handed pitching for two years running - and they just traded for a lefty bat in Seth Smith already.

Orioles sluggers are their most valuable fantasy cogs (USA Today)
You shouldn't play fantasy baseball. But if you do, maybe you will want to read what this USA Today guy thinks about some Orioles.

With Mychal Givens competing in WBC, Orioles manager Buck Showalter has some concerns - Carroll County Times
We can only hope that the effect on a relief pitcher is not as great as the effect on a starting pitcher. At least Givens is the only O's pitcher who will be involved.

Left field lessons continue for Christian Walker - School of Roch
There are some things that - much like "fetch" in Mean Girls - people should just stop trying to make happen.

A look at both first-pitch swings and working counts, plus links - Steve Melewski
You might not believe this, but Steve Melewski thinks it's not so bad when the Orioles swing at the first pitch all of the time.

Myriad O's Thoughts: McDowell and minicamp; pursuing arms; next bat up? - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Here's Dan Connolly for the importance of minicamp for the O's new pitching and bullpen coach tandem. Hey, that actually kind of makes sense!

Orioles could reunite with slugger Mark Trumbo | MLB.com
A headline that surprises no one except for those people who think that the public statements of Dan Duquette are meant to be taken seriously.

Twins haggling with Dodgers over potential Brian Dozier trade | FOX Sports
This headline doesn't sound interesting, but apparently there are over 70 Orioles employees who don't have contracts for the upcoming season yet. Not clear whether this being brought up is Ken Rosenthal sharpening his grudge against Peter Angelos or if this is another instance of the Orioles being total weirdos.

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 1991, the Orioles made "that" trade - yes, you know the one. Glenn Davis for Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and Curt Schilling. Not so good. A bit more on the positive side, this was also the day in 2012 where they signed Wei-Yin Chen.

There are two former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: 2016 trade piece Ariel Miranda, and 2001-05 bullpen guy Rick Bauer.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: historian Stephen E. Ambrose (1936), singer-songwriter Rod Stewart (1945), boxer and grilling and muffler enthusiast George Foreman (1949), singer-songwriter Pat Benatar (1953), and Maryland's new U.S. Senator, Chris Van Hollen (1959).

On this day in history...

In 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon river, initiating a civil war that, after he won it, ultimately led to the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. "Crossing the Rubicon" is a phrase still used today.

In 1776 AD, Thomas Paine published his pamphlet, Common Sense. His later pamphlet series, The American Crisis, produced many quotes that still ring out today, including: "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

In 1863, with the opening of service between London Paddington station and Farringdon station, the London Underground - the oldest underground railway in the world - began to run. These stations are still in use today.

In 1984, the United States re-established diplomatic relations with the Holy See (Vatican City), overturning an 1867 act of Congress that banned the use of public funds to support such a diplomatic envoy. Let's not give the 2017 Congress any more ideas.

**

And that's the way it is in Birdland on January 10 - or at least, unless something happens later, which you never know, it might! Have a safe Tuesday.