Mike Mussina, 1999 Upper Deck #48

Mike Mussina is acknowledging the crowd at Camden Yards with a wave, but he could just as easily be shielding his eyes from the sun. We'd nearly forgotten what sunlight looked like here in Baltimore; all last week, it was gray, chilly, and damp. Yesterday we finally had bright, clear skies, so naturally the O's flew up to Minneapolis for a three-game series with the Twins. Tonight's opener was rained out. Enough already!

Mike Bordick, 1999 Upper Deck #45

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...incredibly conspicuous product placement for Bud Light!

Charles Johnson, 1999 Upper Deck #316

Here's an excellent action shot of Charles Johnson tagging out a runner at the plate during the Orioles' 3-2 exhibition win against the Cuban National Team in Havana on March 28, 1999. It was an historic event, the first match-up between an American and a Cuban team in 40 years. The Birds prevailed in the 11th inning thanks to an RBI single from Harold Baines. Who knew that Upper Deck sent a photographer to Cuba for the occasion?

Mike Bordick, 1999 Upper Deck #45

You can't keep a good Bird away from the nest for long.

Eight years after he played his last game in an Orioles uniform, erstwhile shortstop Mike Bordick has returned to the organization. The 44-year-old was recently hired as minor league offensive coordinator, which may sound bizarre considering his .685 career OPS. However, his chief duty is being described as instructing on fundamentals - "small ball", as Bordick himself says. If you're a progressive-minded baseball fan like me, you may roll your eyes at the mention of that cliche phrase. However, if you watched even a handful of O's games last year, you know that Mike's expertise is sorely needed. If you're going to bunt and hit and run, you may as well ensure that your players have even the slightest bit of aptitude in those areas. He'll also be coaching 'em up on baserunning, which...I can't even talk about the way the Birds ran the bases (often directly into outs) in 2009, or I'll start getting the shakes. In short, I think that Mike Bordick is the right man for the right job, and I always liked him during his playing days. It'll be good to see him in orange and black again.

Scott Erickson, 1999 Upper Deck #47

So, Scott Erickson is ready for a comeback.

Yes, seriously.

The 15-year veteran will be 41 by Opening Day 2009. He hasn't pitched since June 8, 2006. He missed the 2001 and 2003 seasons due to injury. He hasn't had an earned run average under 5.55 since 1999, when the Oriole outfield consisted of Brady Anderson, B. J. Surhoff, and Albert Belle. 1999 was also the last time he had a winning record.

Of course, nobody's going to be able to convince Scott that he's being foolish if he's made up his mind. Besides, compared to Jamie Moyer and Greg Maddux, he's still a young pup. In a year that has seen Carl Pavano and Mike Hampton return to the mound, who am I to say that a Scott Erickson comeback can't work? As starved as most teams are for pitching, someone should give him a Spring Training invite. I'll keep my ear to the ground on this one. It would make a good story, after all.