Sunday Bird Droppings: Where Trey Mancini has a birthday today

Hello, friends.

There are now 11 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. This number was most recently in use by the destroyer of the 2011 Red Sox, Robert Andino, and over the years has also belonged to Doug DeCinces and Gus Triandos.

The spring training schedule rolls on today, but who really cares about that? UMBC is playing another game in the NCAA tournament tonight! As someone who watched a bunch of games from the pep band area in a past life, this is very exciting.

Anyway, you can experience both of these things today if you want. The Orioles game which starts at 1:05 will be long over before UMBC and Kansas State tip off at an approximate 7:45. It’s a home game for the Orioles, against whatever version of the Mets squad shows up today. Of course it won’t be televised, but it will be on 105.7 in Baltimore if you want to listen.

Counting today’s game, there are only eight more Grapefruit League games to be played by the Orioles. I’m ready for some real baseball, even if I’m not sure that the Orioles rotation is ready.

Around the blogO’sphere

These first two links are a Before and After.

Mike Wright Jr. reaches final turn of rotation audition having shown Orioles his growth (Baltimore Sun)
A starting pitcher can’t actually show much growth in spring training because you don’t face lineups three times in a game.

Orioles’ Mike Wright Jr.: Shaky ending to Saturday’s loss ‘doesn’t help’ rotation case (Baltimore Sun)
This is more along the lines of what we saw from Wright when he wore a younger man’s uniform number.

Trumbo taking cautious approach with injury (Orioles.com)
Mark Trumbo is aware of the estimated 3-4 week timetable for his quad injury, but he’s not going to rush back. Nobody should rush back from injuries. That’s how they get hurt worse, like Zach Britton last year.

With shoulder now sound, Austin Hays looks to earn a roster spot (Steve Melewski)
If for no other reason than service time manipulation, I don’t expect Austin Hays to be on the Opening Day roster. Hopefully he’s back in Baltimore soon.

Lefty Tanner Scott being used traditionally in spring, but still ticketed for starter role in minors (Baltimore Sun)
When you’re just so desperate to pretend that there is any pitching prospect in the high minors...

Machado says Aaron Judge pitch was no big deal (ESPN)
“Things that we say on the field usually stay on the field,” Machado said. He did not add that everyone already knows he’s going to the Yankees regardless of whatever Aaron Judge says.

Birthdays and anniversaries

One current Oriole has a birthday today. Happy 26th birthday to Trey Mancini. May his 2018 season be even better than what he did last year.

A few former Orioles also have birthdays today. They are: 2010-11 catcher Craig Tatum, 1997 outfielder Geronimo Berroa, and the late Dick Littlefield, who pitched in three games for the 1954 Orioles.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: 22nd/24th President Grover Cleveland (1837), diesel engine inventor Rudolf Diesel (1858), soldier/poet Wilfred Owen (1893), novelist John Updike (1932), Ben and Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen (1951), actress Vanessa Williams (1963), rapper Queen Latifah (1970), periodically funny man Dane Cook (1972), Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine (1979), and actress Lily Collins (1989).

On this day in history...

In 1766, the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, although the American colonists were still sore about it a decade later.

In 1892, Canada’s former Governor General Lord Stanley pledged to donate a silver cup, to be named after him, as an award for the best hockey team in Canada: The Stanley Cup.

In 1942, the United States established the War Relocation Authority, an authority whose purpose was to take Americans of Japanese descent into custody during the war.

In 1968, Congress officially repealed the requirement that there be a gold reserve backing American currency.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on March 18 - or at least, until something happens later, even if it doesn’t count. Have a safe Sunday, and go UMBC!