Thursday Bird Droppings: The calm before the doubleheader

Hello, friends.

We are now 44 games into the Orioles season and they sit with a 21-23 record. That is one game better than where they were at this time last week. The record seems rather poor yet they are only 2.5 games back in the American League East, trailing the Yankees as well as the second place Rays. Today's doubleheader could represent a crucial swing in either direction... or just kind of treading water. It's hard to sweep or get swept in a doubleheader.

A doubleheader that is its own two-game series is pretty weird. The third game of the series, played a month ago in front of an empty stadium, was also weird. Here's hoping this doubleheader goes as well as the game without fans did for the O's.

You've only got a few hours to go until there's one Orioles game after another - here are some links to tide you over in the meantime...

Orioles morning observations on the O's offensive woes, Chris Davis and Brian Matusz - Baltimore Sun
Yesterday's game notwithstanding, the Orioles have been in a struggle offensively of late, a fact of which I am certain you are well aware. Here's hoping this article is soon obsolete.

Orioles announce signing of Cuban prospect Ariel Miranda : Fantasy News
A little while ago, there was a report that the O's would be signing a lefty pitcher who'd defected from Cuba, Ariel Miranda. They introduced him during the rain delay yesterday.

White Sox-Orioles Preview - Yahoo Sports
The folks over at Yahoo have a preview of today's doubleheader, which is awfully kind of them.

Despite report that Orioles will play in Cuba, MLB says no decision has been made - LancasterOnline: Orioles
First there was a report that the Orioles would play an exhibition in Cuba next spring. Now there is a report saying that there is nothing official that the Orioles will play an exhibition in Cuba next spring. I'm glad we got that cleared up.

School of Roch: Wrapping up a 5-4 win
MASN's Roch Kubatko rounds up the usual suspects from yesterday's win against the Astros in the way that only he can.

OLD FRIEND ALERT

Mariners play Tampa Bay Rays, strike out 14 times, then...win? - Lookout Landing
Nelson Cruz hit a three-run home run to break a scoreless tie in the ninth inning to give the Mariners a 3-0 victory over the Rays. Thanks for doing us a solid there, Nelson.

One lone former Oriole has a birthday today. That is Daniel Cabrera, who vexed us in the mid-00s. If you were to say that phrase out loud, what would you say? Would you say "the mid-two thousands"? "The mid-oh-ohs"? "The mid-aughts?" I'm fond of the aughts, personally, because it makes me think of The Music Man. Harold Hill, from the gold medal class of aught five - which, of course, never existed.

If today is your birthday, first of all, happy birthday! You share the day with some famous and infamous people who have walked this mortal coil in the past, including UK Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard, James Bond creator Ian Fleming, and Olympian Jim Thorpe.

Among those still alive, you share this birthday with a trio of politicians who have all had their share of scandals: Rudy Giuliani, Mark "I hiked the Appalachian Trail" Sanford, and former Toronto mayor and current Toronto councilman Rob Ford. It's also the birthday of singer Kylie Minogue, former Baltimore Raven Michael Oher, and current WWE champion Seth Rollins.

On this day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge officially opened.

And that's the way it is in Birdland on May 28 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Thursday.