"Saturday was Dan Duquette's official welcome to Baltimore baseball fans.

Amid the hoopla and carnival atmosphere that filled the Baltimore Convention Center for the team's annual FanFest event, it was the executive vice president of baseball operation's introduction to Orioles fans.

Orange balloons were everywhere. Fans brought backpacks of memorabilia, posters, bats and jerseys for their favorite players to sign. Approximately 9,000 fans — about 1,000 fewer than last year — braved the aftereffects of the season's first snowstorm to attend the team's official season-kickoff event.

"That just shows that this city is loyal," Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said. "If we were to win, I think this whole damn convention center would be packed."

But it was Duquette, a self-proclaimed builder who anchored construction projects with the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox, who was under the spotlight — and scrutiny — that accompanies his task of turning around a streak of 14 losing seasons.

He participated with two Q&A sessions with fans — both with Orioles manager Buck Showalter — where he was grilled on the state of the franchise. And, yes, free-agent slugger Prince Fielder came up quickly on both occasions."