Football is finished, bring on baseball
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! And may I be the first to wish you a happy baseball season! Last night’s Super Bowl, a bloodbath of a win by the Eagles over the Chiefs, marks the end of football season. Now there is nothing more to do but wait for baseball. And it won’t be a long wait.
The first full workout for pitchers and catchers will take place on Thursday, so keep an eye out for pictures of players reporting no later than Wednesday. A bunch of the guys are already down in Florida as social media caught Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, and Jordan Westburg spending the day at Disney World over the weekend.
In 45 days, we’ll be tuning in to Opening Day for these Orioles. That still feels far away but it’ll be here before we know it.
We’ve spent months breaking down the moves and lack of moves made by Mike Elias. Those talks will continue based on how things shake out on the field, but I for one am ready to just see things happen. Reacting to what happens in games and during the season is so much more enjoyable than reacting to offseason moves. I can’t wait.
Links
I have been on Monday morning Bird Droppings duty for a long time. During the season, I love this time slot. Sunday games end early so I can start writing early, and there is plenty of news from the weekend to catch up on.
In the offseason, it’s not so great. Sundays are quieter than the rest of the week and when the sports world is focused on football, there isn’t much written about the Orioles. This is never more true than on Super Bowl Sunday. So please forgive me if these few links aren’t the freshest. The good news is next weekend when I sit down to write, we’ll be in the midst of spring training.
Westburg on Asche: “I’m happy that he’s still around and I’m pumped for him” – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko has info and quotes from and about Cody Asche, who is now the solo hitting coach in Baltimore. Jordan Westburg has good things to say.
SuperBook Sports restaurant is leaving Camden Yards – The Baltimore Banner
This has been something of am embarrassing saga. The Orioles shut down Dempsey’s to open a bar branded by a local sports book. You couldn’t actually make bets there, thought it seemed that was the way it was heading. Then SuperBook was shut down in Maryland. Whoops! So it’s back to the drawing board. How about nothing more related to gambling?
Orioles 2025 Spring Training FAQ – MLB.com
Have you been to spring training before? I have just once, way back in 2015. As we approach the date, here is info for those attending as well as those paying attention from home.
Trey Mancini agrees to Minor League contract with D-backs – MLB.com
We’ll be rooting hard for Trey!
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have five Orioles birthday buddies. Jorge López turns 32 years old today. López was a waiver claim in August 2020 and failed as a starter for the Orioles in 2020 and 2021 before putting together an All-Star campaign in 2022 as the team’s closer. It was an incredible turnaround that resulted in his trade to the Twins in exchange for Yennier Cano, Cade Povich, and others. Things haven’t gone so well for López since then, though he finished strong with the Cubs last year. He signed with the Nationals about a month ago.
Also born on this date in history are César Izturis (45), Alberto Castillo (55), Lenny Webster (60), and the late Billy O’Dell (b. 1933, d. 2018). The thing I always remember about Izturis is that despite having an OPS+ of just 51 from 2009-11 with the Orioles, he was given a t-shirt day. Those were dark times.
O’Dell began his major league career with the inaugural 1954 Orioles and pitched to an 2.86 ERA in 125 games through 1959. He missed 1955 due to military service.
On this day in 2009, the Orioles signed infielder Ty Wigginton. Wigginton appeared in 276 games in 2009 and 2010 and made his only career All Star appearance in 2010. It was a head-scratcher of a selection, but the 2010 Orioles weren’t exactly flush with slam-dunk choices. My favorite story about Wigginton is how he delivered his own baby.