D12: Elderly Pirates fans are putting the pressure on Clint Hurdle

Duk's Dozen, a selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items, has returned in 2011 to start your baseball news day off right. Got links? Send 'em here or via Twitter.  

1. We've all faced high expectations when heading into a new job, but it sounds like first-year Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is being asked to deliver some immediate results under a timeline that may not be realistic.

"One thing I hear from fans is, ‘My Dad's got one foot in the grave, and he wants to see the Pirates win ..." Hurdle said. "I've heard that more than anything. That's our goal."

Personally, I'd like to tell all those near death to enjoy the Steelers and Penguins in their remaining time on Earth rather than engage in what could be some dangerous fretting over a squad that has been its own worst enemy. But I do admire Hurdle as he refrained from saying exactly what kind of winning these fans want to see. (A five- or six-game winning streak at some point should do the trick, no?) Tribune-Review via Rum Bunter

2. Contrary to reports coming out of New York, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon claims that Rafael Soriano was not a "problem child" in the clubhouse. Rays Report 

3. Chris Needham looks at the confounding Tom Gorzelanny and concludes that the Washington Nationals' newest pitcher is like a Gobot. "The Gobots could play," Needham writes. "Especially for the family on a budget." Capitol Punishment 

4. You know it's January when baseball bloggers are editing amphetamine-related sitcom clips together and making one giant YouTube reel of awesome. Wezen-Ball

5. Why the 2011 Oakland A's are poised to contend. Athletics Nation

6. Jose Bautista's 54-homer breakout season contains the ingredients to make what could be the offseason's most interesting arbitration case. Toronto Star 

7. Should San Francisco Giants fans be concerned about the new Showtime reality series being a distraction in the clubhouse this season? McCovey Chronicles 

8. Gaby Sanchez is the latest Florida Marlins player to join Twitter. FishStripes

9. While Dave Cameron thinks that Matt Garza is a rich man's Aaron Harang, Zachary Chiang believes Garza is actually the poor man's Matt Cain. Splashing Pumpkins

10. John Danks is in line for a nice raise this arbitration season. Chicago Tribune 

11. With fantasy football out of the way, Scott Pianowski answers some burning questions for the fantasy baseball season ahead. Roto Arcade

12. Finally, "Dave Niehaus" and "rap tribute" don't really seem like they would go together. But this one really works. NotGraphs

Bianca Kajlich Giulianna Ramirez Ashley Greene April Scott Mia Kirshner