Thursday Bird Droppings: Where we're all going to get rained on

Hello, friends.

Well, we're all about to get drenched, aren't we? Nobody seems to know how much just yet. Hurricane Joaquin looms large over the last few days of the regular season. The Orioles might not even get to play their full schedule out. If a game needs to be cancelled from the weekend series against the Yankees, there will be no point in making it up if the Yankees have already clinched their postseason position - which they will do the next time they win a game.

The first consequence of all of this arriving weather is that today's game against the Blue Jays, as you've probably heard, has been moved up to the uncivilized time of 12:05pm. Maybe that will actually work out OK for the Orioles, being as the Jays were busy celebrating their clinching of the division last night. I read one thing where that noted O's destroyer Munenori Kawasaki asked for questions to come in Japanese because he'd had too much champagne to do interviews in English. Kanpai!

Around the blogO'sphere

Blue Jays beat Orioles to clinch AL East title | Toronto Star
Going north of the border to get the view on the Jays clinching the division. I'm sure they are also celebrating over at Bluebird Banter, the SB Nation Blue Jays blog. Although I have written some not nice things about the Jays and have had some unpleasant interactions with some Jays fans on my own blog, I know for a fact the good writers over at BB deserve to get a winner.

Orioles Announce Plans For Fan Appreciation Weekend " CBS Baltimore
Some interesting things will be happening at Camden Yards this weekend - assuming there are games played for these interesting things to occur, anyway.

Could Orioles tension set up Cal Ripken for manager? | New York Post
I don't link to you this article because I care what some joker at the New York Post writes about the Orioles, nor because I think that you care. Rather, so that we can all share in the words of wisdom given by Nelson Muntz: "Ha ha!"

Gerardo Parra return makes sense for Baltimore Orioles (Call to the Pen)
People keep writing articles saying Gerardo Parra can or should return to the Orioles next year. I would feel a lot better about the prospect if he hadn't managed to play even worse than the DFA'd guys he was supposed to replace.

In Jonathan Papelbon, Nationals got their closer - and their kiss of death (Washington Post)
This is the third part in a three-part series on the demise of the Nats. It's all glorious. If you haven't read any of the parts yet, I heartily recommend it all. My friend and fellow Camden Chatter Stacey wondered yesterday if the Orioles beat crew could ever crank out a story like this. What do you think?

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 1997, the Orioles got their postseason under way by beating Randy Johnson and the Mariners in Game 1 of their ALDS, 9-3. Mike Mussina pitched seven innings and gave up two runs. Three Baseball Hall of Famers played in this series, plus Ken Griffey who's guaranteed to be elected this year, and four others could end up being Hall of Famers before all is said and done.

Three former Orioles have today as a birthday: 2011 short-timer Mitch Atkins, 2001 short-timer Chuck McElroy, and the late Bob Boyd, a first baseman from the 1956-60 O's teams.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Some people with whom you share this birthday are: William Boeing (1881), founder of Boeing, actor Walter Matthau (1920), former President Jimmy Carter and late Chief Justice William Rehnquist (1924), and the first Dumbledore, the late Richard Harris (1930).

Some others: Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew (1945), who got mad hits, actor Randy Quaid (1950), former Baltimore Stallions champion Mike Pringle (1967), funny man Zach Galifianakis (1969), and actress Brie Larson (1989).

On this day in history...

In 331 BC, Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Little known historical footnote is that the Smurfs played a part in this triumph at Gaugamela.

In 1800, the Treaty of Ildefonso was signed between Spain and France, giving Louisiana to France, where it could later be taken off their hands courtesy of Thomas Jefferson.

In 1903, the first modern World Series game was played between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1918, T.E. Lawrence, who you may also know as Lawrence of Arabia, led a force of Arabs that captured Damascus.

In 1975, Muhammed Ali defeated Joe Frazier in a boxing match now simply known as the Thrilla in Manila.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on October 1 - at least, until something happens later. Have a safe (and dry!) Thursday. Go Orioles.