Searching for reasons to be thankful

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and traditions are being shut down like a spring training camp.

Large family gatherings and out-of-state travel are discouraged due to health concerns rather than the bickering and your weird uncle's inappropriate comments.

The two football games today interest me about as much as month-old sweet potato casserole, but I'll still watch them.

They were supposed to be pigskin appetizers before Ravens-Steelers, which is going to be as satisfying as month-old sweet potato casserole.

(I can tackle a plate of food better than the Ravens can bring down a ball carrier, and now they've got half their team in quarantine and won't play until Sunday.)

The pandemic keeps forcing adjustments in our lives and making us search harder for reasons to be thankful. I hope you're able to find your share.

On a personal note, and with both fists knocking on wood, my family seems to have made it safely through a couple of positive COVID results - the bulk of the panic aimed at an infant who thankfully has continued to test negative.

Her exposure to it served as a reminder that exhibiting no symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you're in the clear. And having a swab shoved up your nose isn't nearly as painful as the heartache and incessant worrying that comes after those positive tests.

Be thankful for good health. We never should take it for granted. And love that can be expressed from any distance.

The Orioles must be raising their glasses today to:

* Trey Mancini and his recovery from Stage 3 colon cancer. His last chemotherapy treatment was Sept. 21 and he's been working out and hitting. There are no doubts in his mind about being ready for spring training and playing on opening day.

"I feel really good about things," he said earlier this month. "I've had a lot of pretty extensive blood tests and scans and everything looks great. There was no trace of tumor DNA or cancer in my bloodstream, which is great. But it's still something that you have to monitor. At the same time, that's something that's pretty largely out of my control. I'm doing everything I can physically to be ready to play and to still have a long career and I'm feeling really good about that.

* Adley Rutschman, who is one of baseball's top prospects and nearing perhaps the most anticipated major league debut in franchise history. He lost out on valuable game experience in the minors this summer, but his development was enhanced by his assignments to the alternate camp site and fall instructional camp.

Baseball America placed him on a list of 19 players who scouts, coaches and front office officials identified as the top performers this fall. Kyle Glaser wrote the following:

"Rutschman refined his swing at the alternate site over the summer and showed off the finished product in instructs. He showed the ability to hit for power, hit for average and played at least above-average defense behind the plate. Beyond his tools, Rutschman's polish stood out prominently - evaluators opined he was not only ready for the major leagues, but that he would be one of MLB's best catchers immediately."

* A farm system that MLBPipeline.com ranks eighth. Can't complete a rebuild without it.

Nine of the top 11 players on the list were drafted by the Orioles. Outfielder Yusniel Diaz at No. 8 was obtained from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado deal and should debut in the majors next summer. Dean Kremer at No. 10 showed up with Diaz and made his debut this year.

Twenty of the 30 players are Orioles draft picks and two more - pitchers Alexander Wells and Luis Ortiz - are international signings. The outsiders are being exposed to the Orioles' developmental practices, with infielder Rylan Bannon - yes, also part of the Machado trade - added to the 40-man roster last week.

* Ryan Mountcastle, who proved that he was more than ready for the majors and is expected to make a spirited run at the American League's Rookie of the Year award in 2021. He hit, hit for power, ran and fielded his position. Can't ask for much more than that.

Mountcastle is more athletic than advertised. One person who's no longer in the organization criticized another person who's no longer in the organization for labeling a younger Mountcastle as only a designated hitter. Someone else who's no longer in the organization countered that the first person who's no longer in the organization thought Mountcastle was a shortstop.

All valid arguments. But the point here is that Mountcastle is fine in left field and first base, his bat is legit and he should be a middle-of-the-order hitter for a long time.

* Having multiple candidates for Most Valuable Oriole rather than just one or none. There was an actual debate this summer. How refreshing.

Outfielder Anthony Santander was a deserving winner. I cast my first-place vote for shortstop José Iglesias. Mountcastle belonged on ballots after arriving on Aug. 21 and becoming the team's best player.

Reliever Tanner Scott earned some recognition. A few others were in the running before disappearing in September.

We've come a long way from the year that an injured Albert Belle received a sarcastic first-place vote based on, as the reporter explained, "addition by subtraction." Or when B.J. Surhoff turned to a gathering of media at his locker and said, "I know why you guys voted for me. Cal's injured and you hate Albert."

* A public relations staff that deserved some MVO votes. Working behind the scenes to hold it all together. Satisfying the demands of the team and the media.

Carrying us through this new world without stumbling.

Unsung heroes.

They deserve raises and praises. Unfortunately, that isn't how 2020 works and it's a shame.

* The crew that designed and ran the fall instructional camp in Sarasota, Fla. Director of player development Matt Blood, camp coordinator Kevin Bradshaw, pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt and a collection of instructors that included Tim Gibbons, Ryan Fuller, Anthony Villa, Josh Bunselmeyer, Matt Packer, Tim DeJean, Collin Woody, Christian Frias, Kyle Moore, Dave Schmidt, Josh Conway, Andy Sadoski and Robbie Aviles.

The loss of a minor league season could have proven disastrous to an organization in the midst of a major rebuilding project. The Orioles took a basket of lemons and made lemonade, lemon bars, lemon curd, lemon meringue pie (the gingerbread crust was ambitious), lemon risotto and limoncello.

The pairing of young prospects with upper-level players in the system - Rutschman catching Double-A and Triple-A pitchers is a fine example - and the scheduling of games against the Pirates and Rays kept the development process moving forward.

And don't leave out everyone who set up and ran the alternate camp site in Bowie over the summer - including Gary Kendall, Kennie Steenstra, Buck Britton, Tom Eller, Ryan Fuller, Justin Ramsey and Ramon Sambo. Pass them the gravy.

* Brandon Hyde, who has the full support of the front office and clubhouse as a first-time manager operating under unprecedented conditions. He understands and endorses the rebuild, along with sacrifices that must be made in order to execute it, and also is able to keep his players engaged and focused on winning games.

The record doesn't matter in the grand scheme.

It still does to the guys wearing the uniform.

Hyde garnered even more respect this summer by the way he handled pandemic baseball and how he supported his players on the night they refused to take the field for a game against the Rays to protest systemic racism and police brutality.

Give the man seconds and thirds on stuffing.

* Anyone whose side dish rankings include my mother's stuffing and sour cream mashed potatoes 1 and 1A.

And anyone who demands cranberry sauce out of a can and refuses to be an elitist.

Enjoy the jiggle. And your holiday, however you choose to celebrate it.