Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where it’s down to single digit days until real baseball

Hello, friends.

There are now just nine days to go until Orioles Opening Day. That is a mere Brady Anderson days to go until there is real Orioles baseball being played, not that the currently-forecast winter weather event for tonight and tomorrow in the Baltimore area will make us feel very much like that is the case.

If it is snowing tonight where you are, you will be able to sit at home and watch the Orioles, though - assuming that you get MASN. The 6:05 game against the Rays will be both televised and on the radio in Baltimore. Counting this game, there are just six more spring training games remaining to be played before the Orioles head north.

The Orioles didn’t make any cuts on Monday, so the roster is no closer to being settled than it was before - unless the calf injury that kept Danny Valencia out of the lineup on Monday turns into something that affects his Opening Day status, assuming he’s even ticketed for the Opening Day roster at this point.

Around the blogO’sphere

Chris Tillman rebounds in second spring start (Orioles.com)
We’re now into the “Excited article about Chris Tillman pitching five innings without striking anyone out” phase of spring training.

Santander cementing spot on Opening Day roster (School of Roch)
Did the Orioles actually manage to find a player in the Rule 5 draft who might some day be worth playing in a regular role? I don’t want to get my hopes up, but it’s nice that Anthony Santander is having a nice spring.

As spring progresses, confidence grows for Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo (Baltimore Sun)
And speaking of Rule 5 picks who the Orioles are weirdly trying to get to make the jump from High-A to the MLB level... Pedro Araujo is also having a nice spring.

Manny Machado finds comfort at shortstop as he prepares for his next big move (ESPN)
Over the offseason, Manny Machado cut out pizza and McDonalds from his diet. One might also be left with the impression that he does not lack for confidence. Here’s hoping it shows in his results this season.

Susac on his time with the Orioles and the catching competition (Steve Melewski)
I may be rooting for Andrew Susac to be the backup catcher at this point because I feel like having Chance Sisco up at the MLB level only to not be the starter would be a waste.

Birthdays and anniversaries

In 1995, the Orioles cancelled all remaining spring training games due to their refusal to field replacement players.

There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: 1992-96 infielder Manny Alexander, 1989-98 catcher Chris Hoiles, 1982-87 outfielder Mike Young, and 1983 three-gamer Paul Mirabella.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: poet Ovid (43 BC), playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828 AD), television’s Mr. (Fred) Rogers (1928), movie man Spike Lee (1957), wrestler Sting (1959), and Linkin Park singer-songwriter Chester Bennington (1976).

On this day in history...

In 1815, Napoleon re-entered Paris with an army of hundreds of thousands of men behind him, resuming his imperial rule, at least until Wellington got involved.

In 1852, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was first published. This is regarded as the first widely-read American political novel, influential to the abolitionist cause.

In 1915, Albert Einstein published his theory of relativity.

In 1942, General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia after having been ordered away from the soon-to-fall Philippines, vowing: “I came out of Bataan and I shall return.” A bit more than two and a half years later, he kept this promise.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on March 20 - or at least, until something happens later, even if it doesn’t count. Have a safe Tuesday, especially if you’ll be driving in the wintry weather.