Thursday Bird Droppings: Where we've gone zero days since the last Orioles DFA

Hello, friends.

We wake up for a fourth consecutive morning with the Orioles in first place in the American League East. They finally grabbed a win in their series against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, and good thing they did, too, since both the Yankees and Blue Jays were winners as well on Wednesday. If you missed the game, or missed voting on the Most Birdland Player poll yesterday, make sure to check out our game recap here.

The Yankees are off today, though the Rays and Jays both have games to play. The Orioles, most likely, will need a win to preserve their division lead on another day. They could do it, sure, but with the best Rangers starter, Yovani Gallardo, on the mound, they'll need to be at their best.

Now some links from around Birdland to help you get through your Thursday...

School of Roch: Buck Showalter on bullpen and 4-2 win
He's always so full of gold you might as well just call him Casterly Roch. Here's MASN's Roch Kubatko with his roundup of the O's Wednesday win, including a bunch of quotes from manager Buck Showalter.

Orioles designate outfielder Delmon Young for assignment - Baltimore Sun
If you haven't had your fill of Dan Duquettespeak about Delmon Young being sent to the great DFA in the sky, the enterprising folks of the Baltimore Sun have the quotes about the roster move here.

Harold Reynolds: Orioles Will Repeat As American League East Division Champions
Is there any comfort to be found in the fact that Harold Reynolds believes that the Orioles will repeat as AL East champions? I've got to be very honest with you - if you find this fact comforting, you might be crazy.

First pitch at Baltimore Orioles game delivers another smile for Landyn Grove - The York Daily Record
I've been to 20+ Orioles games for each of the past three seasons, and let me tell you, first pitches all blend together. The one I watched on Monday, however, was a very nice little girl who was there thanks to the Casey Cares Foundation. This is her story, and it is adorable.

Orioles fan catches foul ball in beer cup, but it gets stuck | FOX Sports
This actually happened in Tuesday's game. I'm not so sure that this moment is going to go down as the finest moment for Orioles fans everywhere. Dog, if the TV camera catches you taking a selfie, you lost.

This next one is about a past Oriole, rather than the present team...

Bobby Bonilla's deferred buyout has been good for the Mets - Amazin' Avenue
You may know the story of Bobby Bonilla being paid about $1 million by the Mets every year from now until 2035. If you didn't, now you know the story. This Mets fan at our sister SB Nation blog, Amazin' Avenue, undertakes the unenviable task of trying to defend one of the most hilarious recurring yearly stories in the game today.

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 2013, the Orioles completed the trade that sent Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to the Cubs for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger. This trade was misguided, though I am convinced Arrieta would have never succeeded here, so I'm not all that upset about it.

One lone former Oriole has a birthday on this day. That's Pete Burnside, turning 85, who spent a whopping six games with the 1963 Orioles.

If today is your birthday, first off, happy birthday! You share this birthday with three Nobel Prize laureates, including two winners of the prize in Physics - William Henry Bragg (born in 1862) and Hans Bethe (born 1906) - and Herman Hess (born 1877) who won in Literature. This was also the birthday of Justice Thurgood Marshall (1908). And among those still hanging around this mortal coil: Seinfeld co-creator Larry David (1947), wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart (1957), figure skater Johnny Weir (1984), and actress Lindsay Lohan (1986).

It's also the birthday of Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brett Cecil (1986) - ask a Camden Chatter to tell you the story about the time I met his sister. Do not expect them to tell you a true story.

And one final, special happy birthday, to Alex Morgan (1989), competing in the World Cup with the American team that will be playing for the championship on Sunday.

On this day in history...

In 1504, Bogdan III the One-Eyed became Voivode of Moldavia. I know I wouldn't screw with a guy named Bogdan the One-Eyed.

In 1881, Charles J. Guiteau shot President James Garfield, who later died of the wound. We just read about Guiteau being hanged the other day.

in 1900, the inaugural zeppelin flight took place near Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Led came some decades later.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law.

In 2001, the first self-contained artificial heart was successfully implanted. Science is badass.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on July 2 - at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Thursday. This time as I wish you that, it actually is Thursday!