Tuesday Bird Droppings: The World Series once again begins without the Orioles

Hello, friends.

There are now 159 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day 2016.

Today marks the beginning of the World Series, which, as it has been for every such occasion in my life, is an Orioles-less affair. I don't know about you, but I missed out on all of the fun by about a month, not that I would have been conscious enough to appreciate it at that time. Not that having not been born stopped me from attending a game of the 1983 World Series - it's just that nobody had to pay for me to have a ticket and the seat had something of an obstructed view.

We're all rooting for the Mets, right? I guess if you're still not over the 1969 World Series, maybe you're not rooting for the Mets. That was a little bit before my time, and besides, the Orioles did in fact win it all the very next year, even if they didn't have to go through the Mets. So it's not like the Miracle Mets cost the Orioles their one chance. No. They got another chance and made the most of it. The O's of my own lifetime have had scarce few chances and they certainly haven't made the most of getting another chance.

Things remain mostly quiet in Birdland until after the World Series is over, which will mark the beginning of various deadlines on the offseason calendar. Maybe something will actually happen then. For now...

Around the blogO'sphere

Orioles free agents will be free after World Series - Baltimore Sun
Hey, speaking of that post-World Series stuff - the free agents will officially be free agents then. The above article contains a vague quote from Darren O'Day's agent meant to give the impression that he and the O's are negotiating. Maybe that's actually true.

Steve Melewski: Another look at Matt Wieters and the possibility of a qualifying offer
With the level of insight you'd typically expect from Melewski, once more around the bend on the idea of Matt Wieters and the qualifying offer.

School of Roch: Machado places fourth in Comeback Player of the Year voting
If you were out there wondering how Manny Machado would place in The Sporting News' Comeback Player of the Year voting - which was voted on by the players - well, he came in fourth. Prince Fielder was the winner of the award.

Orioles prospect Dylan Bundy expected to pitch in Arizona Fall League November 2 - Baltimore Sun
What this means is that Bundy will basically be available for half of the Arizona Fall League season. I don't know if that was part of the plan all along or what.

Speaking of that AFL action, a favorable report from yesterday:

Heard that Tanner Scott worked in high 90s, touching 100 today in AFL. May now be among O's top 15 prospects.

— Steve Melewski (@masnSteve) October 26, 2015

Tanner Scott was the Orioles sixth round pick in the 2014 draft. He is a 6'2" lefty reliever. Let's not dwell on the abject meaninglessness of praising a player by proclaiming that he "may" be one of the Orioles top 15 prospects. Even teams with good farm systems, which the Orioles surely ain't, aren't ever likely to get much from their #15 prospect - or #10 prospect - at a given moment.

Pirates Claim Jorge Rondon Off Waivers From Orioles – Pirates Prospects
The Orioles claimed Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates, designating Jorge Rondon for assignment. The Pirates claimed Rondon off waivers from the Orioles. Probably none of this will end up mattering in the end.

Birthdays and anniversaries

There are three living former Orioles with birthdays today: Jason Johnson (1999-2003 Orioles), Pedro Swann (blink and you missed him in 2003), and the immortal Eric Bell (1985-87 Orioles).

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Among your historical birthday buddies are Isaac Singer (1811), founder of the Singer Corporation, whose sewing machines you may have used at some point in your life; President Theodore Roosevelt (1858), Baltimore-born etiquette specialist Emily Post (1872), baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner (1922), and poet/novelist Sylvia Plath (1932).

Some are still alive to celebrate with you: Monty Python maestro John Cleese (1939), E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent (1949), proto-blogger Matt Drudge (1966), The Weather Channel meteorologist Stephanie Abrams (1978), and basketballer Andrew Bynum (1987).

On this day in history...

In 1275, the city of Amsterdam was founded (according to tradition).

Speaking of foundings, in 1682, the city of Philadelphia was founded; the newly-minted Philadelphians promptly booed upon hearing this news.

In 1904, the first underground New York City Subway line opened. Part of this subway line is still in operation today as part of the Lexington Avenue Line, which is the most-used train line in the US - about 1.3 million riders per day, according to 2012 figures.

In 1967, Catholic priest Phillip Berrigan led a small group that became known as the Baltimore Four in a protest of the Vietnam War. The four poured blood on Selective Service records. Berrigan served six years in federal prison for this action.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on October 27 - or at least, unless something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday.