It's another hump day in Birdland, ladies and gents. The Orioles are down in Houston and will try to beat the last-place Astros after an extra-innings loss last night. If you, like me, were asleep when the game ended, check out Tyler's recap for all the grisly details.
Meanwhile here in Baltimore we are having back-to-back sunny days for the first time in recent memory. I'm going to try to focus on that instead of the fact that the Orioles have fallen a game behind the Red Sox for first place.
How are YOU doing today, friend? I want to know! Tell me after you read these links:
Zach Britton: For Brian Matusz, trade 'was kind of like a weight off his shoulder' - Baltimore Sun
Based on this article, it sounds like we aren't the only ones happy to see Brian Matusz leave. Matusz himself was ready to go.
Mets Give Ty Kelly, a Longtime Minor Leaguer, His First Shot in the Majors - The New York Times
Former Oriole farmhand and Matt Shaffner favorite Ty Kelly is finally getting his call to the big leagues after 855 minor league games. Go get 'em, Ty!
What Happened To Brian Matusz? - Camden Depot
Ryan Pollack takes a look at where it all went wrong for Brian Matusz.
Who Are the Orioles' All Stars? - Baltimore Sports and Life
I don't care too much about the All-Star Game, but when there are a lot of Orioles there it makes it a lot more fun. Who do you think belongs there?
How are O's tallying so many comeback wins? - Orioles Buzz
Matt Taylor points out, among other things, that you can't have a comeback win unless you've put yourself in a hole in the first place.
Jones and Wieters on the offensive struggles - MASN Sports
Adam Jones isn't worried about the O's offense, and neither am I really. But that doesn't make their slump any easier to watch.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have a lot of Orioles birthday buddies, the most recognizable of which is Miguel Tejada. Miggi turns 42 today. Man, remember that 2004 season? That's how I try to remember him.
Other former Orioles with birthdays today are Fernando Lunar, Andres Mora, Bill Dillman, Jim Marshall, and Melvin Rosario. Rosario played in just four big league games in his career, going 0-for-3 with the O's in 1997.
On this day in 1965, the National Brewery Company bought 64,000 shares in the Orioles to make Jerry Hoffberger the majority owner. Matt Taylor, who runs the superb blog Roar From 34, wrote about Mr. Hoffberger on Camden Chat back in 2010 in an article titled, "How Mr. Boh helped bring baseball to Baltimore."