Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where the American League playoffs make us sad

Hello, friends.

There are now 173 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day 2016.

Are you happy with how the playoffs are progressing so far? Considering the obvious that the Orioles aren't in them, of course. I found yesterday's American League outcomes disappointing, all the moreso because each of the teams that lost now must go on the road to defeat the teams that we in BIrdland mostly love to hate. Is it much consolation then, that the Cubs, who I prefer over the Cardinals, defeated their opponent in a game where both Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop pitched?

Yeah, about that...

On the other hand, the Mets putting a beat-down on the Dodgers (on the scoreboard, that is) was at least a satisfying outcome from a karmic standpoint. But who cares about all of those teams? Let's run down the O's links of the day.

Around the blogO'sphere

Steve Melewski: Playoffs game blog: A look at the O's against the playoff field and tonight's games
The short version, which you most likely already know, is that the Orioles stunk against above-.500 teams this year, so they also stunk against the playoff teams.

Colby Rasmus wouldn't have been of much help to the Orioles - Baltimore Sun
Dan Connolly at the Sun has noticed Rasmus' success in the ALDS and maybe wants to forestall more wailing about cheap Peter Angelos. But I don't think he's right in this case, which I hope to elaborate on in an article for tomorrow.

School of Roch: Sports Legends Museum searching for new home
I've got to be honest with you, I've never been to this place even one time and thus I do not anticipate missing it as it departs or possibly closes.

thetowerlight.com | Davis not worth crushing the bank
From the Towson University student newspaper, an undergrad (I presume) opines that it is not worth it for the Orioles to sign Chris Davis.

Camden Depot: Blueprint For The 2016 Orioles (Option 4): Well-Rounded And Not Tied Down
The assorted people at Camden Depot have been offering their opinions of what the O's should do this offseason throughout this week. This particular writer's plan for the offseason is among the more depressing possibilities that I could contemplate.

Birthdays and anniversaries

Two different Orioles teams won World Series games on this day in baseball history - the 1970 Orioles knocked off the Reds in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead. Also, the 1979 O's beat the Pirates, 9-6, in Game 4 of that series to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship. Unfortunately, we know how that one ended.

Only one living former Oriole has a birthday today. It's the 31st birthday for Hayden Penn, whom you might remember as the player the Orioles traded for Robert Andino. I remember him as the first Orioles starting pitcher who was younger than me.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Among the people with whom you share this birthday are Leon Leonwood Bean (1872), founder of, yup, you guessed it, L.L. Bean; the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1925), singer Paul Simon (1941), Dallas Cowboys owner/billionaire Jerry Jones (1942), the late ESPN hockey guy Tom Mees (1949), Borat funny man Sacha Baron Cohen (1971), and basketballer Paul "I called game!" Pierce (1977).

What color was your L.L. Bean backpack? If you had one - which if you're around my age you probably did. Mine was green.

On this day in history...

In 54, Roman emperor Claudius was poisoned and died, paving the way for his stepson, Nero, who I understand was rather good with the fiddle, to become emperor.

In 1582, due to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, this day did not exist in Italy, Portugal, Poland, or Spain. That was the case last week as well, and will be the case again tomorrow.

In 1792, the cornerstone of the building now known as the White House was laid. Its original name was the United States Executive Mansion.

In 1885, the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) was founded. 122 years later, they provided the Orioles with a catcher.

In 1958, Paddington Bear made his debut.

**

And that's the way it is in Birdland on October 13 - unless something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday.