Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles are still 0-for-spring

Hello, friends.

There are now 30 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. This number has been used by Chris Tillman since the 2012 season, and although it didn’t appear this way a couple of weeks ago, that will continue on this season. Perhaps we can all rebound from a nearly-8 ERA today.

Spring training rolls on and the Orioles remain winless, although there is one tie in there, so at least they haven’t lost every game. It doesn’t matter because none of it counts yet, but the clock continues to tick towards when it does matter.

The exception to the “it doesn’t matter” rule is if someone gets hurt, which unfortunately happened in Monday’s loss, with Kevin Gausman colliding with a Tigers player who was in the on deck circle while Gausman was trying to back up home plate on a play. Gausman left the game but later appeared before the media making jokes, so hopefully that’s a sign he didn’t suffer a concussion and will not have to miss any time.

The Orioles play another game that doesn’t count today, on the road against the Rays. The game will not be on TV anywhere, and will only be available on the radio if you have access to MLB.tv. It’s too bad that it’s not on TV because Hunter Harvey will be starting the game.

Although how Harvey looks this year probably won’t (or shouldn’t, ahem, Orioles) impact the big league club this season, it would be nice if he can have a good season because that could position him to be an answer in the rotation as soon as next season.

Around the blogO’sphere

Gausman’s fine; looks like he “got in a bar fight” (Baltimore Baseball)
Looks painful, but hopefully no lasting problems. Stitches could still be necessary.

Hunter Harvey looks to prove health (Orioles.com)
I think everyone in Birdland is looking forward to this happening.

Gentry sidelined with hamstring injury (School of Roch)
The fate of Craig Gentry is probably not as important now that Colby Rasmus is around, but he is what passes for depth, so get well soon!

Everyone can stop worrying; Jonathan Schoop is just fine, but Orioles lose again, 8-6 (Baltimore Sun)
Peter Schmuck concludes that the fact that Jonathan Schoop hit a home run means that he’s fine from his elbow bursitis. Fine yesterday doesn’t always mean fine today!

The backstory on one of the greatest moves in Orioles history (Steve Melewski)
The scout who found Erik Bedard for the Orioles also recommended when to trade him. Thanks!

The Orioles have room to improve at many positions (Camden Depot)
The starting rotation is, of course, the biggest problem, but it’s always worth remembering that the Orioles had many problems last season.

Despite roster crunch, Pedro Alvarez back for another ride with Orioles (Baltimore Sun)
El Toro has made about $20 million in salary in his baseball career and he’s still been willing to take minor league contracts with the O’s the last couple of years. Maybe things will play out where he can get back to MLB later in the year.

A semi-complete taxonomy of baseball ejections, Part I (Fangraphs)
Some of the most fun pieces of baseball writing can be described as, “Let the author pursue an esoteric interest in great detail.” Bonus: Features two Orioles ejections and several GIFs of angry Joe Girardi!

Birthdays and anniversaries

There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: 2016 pitcher Yovani Gallardo, 1998 reliever Pete Smith, and 1965 nine-gamer Carl Warwick.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: Constantinople re-namer Constantine the Great (272), poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807), insulin co-discoverer Charles Herbert Best (1899), author John Steinbeck (1902), actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932), Spanx founder Sara Blakely (1971), TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas (1971), singer/actor Josh Groban (1981), and actress Kata Mara (1983).

On this day in history...

In 1560, the Treaty of Berwick was signed, thus kicking the French out of Scotland.

In 1782, the House of Commons in Great Britain voted against pursuing any further war in North America.

In 1922, the Supreme Court ruled in Leser v. Garnett that the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote, was in fact added to the Constitution appropriately.

In 1933, Germany’s Parliament building, the Reichstag, was set on fire, after which the Nazi Party was able to consolidate power.

In 1951, the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution, which limited presidents to two terms, was ratified upon its approval by Minnesota. Maryland did not act on the amendment until the next month, becoming the 39th state to ratify the amendment. The two states to reject this amendment were Oklahoma and Massachusetts.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on February 27 - or at least, until something happens later, which it certainly will, even if none of it counts. Have a safe Tuesday.