Today is my 35th birthday. I am not a rich man but I hold my own in an industry I have made entirely my own way in. I understand failure and its importance. I am a lifelong Orioles fan and, like it or not, my mood can swing depending on the outcome of their games. I am truly grateful to go to bed tonight with us in sole possession of first place in our division. With a bullpen that is the best in the major leagues, with coaches who are embracing of crucial moments, with players who hustle, make mistakes yet put them behind themselves instantly. The cultural change in this years team is thickly palpable and

fascinating to watch. I want to thank JJ Hardy for being the best shortstop in the major leagues and Adam Jones for thanking Maryland by tapping his sleeve in his home run ritual. I want to thank Wei Yin Chen for giving a dire example of toughness with tact and intelligence as opposed to brute force.We have players who other teams covet, and this I find refreshing. Maybe we lose every game for the rest of the year, maybe we sink to the familiar basement in the East. But for tonight, completely selfishly, we are unbeatable. We are a majestic home run from tying the score in the 8th in a strange city. We are the greatest group of castaways to ever play the game. Its my birthday and I'm being dramatic but I don't care. I love the Orioles and am so happy for this team that has realized that sometimes if you punch hard enough for years on end, people pay attention to the welts forming on their bodies. Thank You for a fantastic ride and its continuation. Go O's.