Thursday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles finally won a dang baseball game

Hello, friends.

Well, they finally did it. The Orioles finally won a baseball game again. It felt like it had been forever that they were losing. Really it was only six games, which isn't that many in the grand scheme of things, but it is many in the last week of August when what you need to be doing instead is picking up the pace to get into the playoffs.

If you missed it because you were busy or just disgusted with their recent play, or if you just want to re-live all of the awesome dingers all over again, make sure to check out my recap of the game.

What's one win get you? Not much. Better than the alternative, though. An afternoon contest awaits the Orioles, with a chance to split this four-game series from the Royals, if they don't blow it. That game begins at 2:10pm Eastern. Now let's hit the links as winners for the first time in a week.

Around the blogO'sphere

School of Roch: The final words on an 8-5 win
Non-depressing quotes are emanating from the Orioles clubhouse! No one has to get mad at Manny for using bad words - although I don't know why anyone griped about that in the first place.

Orioles notebook: Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy expected to pitch in instructional league - Baltimore Sun
Hey, maybe not everything is terrible after all. The Orioles have plans lined up for Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy both in order to maximize their usefulness going forward. Good luck with that, all involved parties. Really - all of us need it.

Red Land Little League World Series players enjoy praise from Orioles, James Franklin | PennLive.com
In their ongoing effort to maintain their York bastion in enemy territory, the Orioles have claimed the team from Red Land, PA as they stomp through the Little League World Series. At least some of the players have Orioles as their favorite players, so - go Red Land!

Cal Ripken Jr. reflects on streak as Orioles prepare celebration (Baltimore Business Journal)
As the date of the anniversary of the 2131 game approaches, expect the number of Cal Ripken interviews to increase.

Axios Wine announces "2131" wine " Britt's Bird Watch
And on the subject of 2131, some company is marketing 2131 wine, which I think is a little weird, but hey, the proceeds seem to be going to charity, so I guess that makes it a little less weird.

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 1999, the Orioles traded Harold Baines to the Indians for two minor leaguers, Juan Aracena and Jimmy Hamilton. You'll probably be stunned to know neither of these players ever made the majors. Some six or so weeks later, on the first date of my life, I would fill approximately five minutes of time talking about this trade. I don't remember any more why I thought talking about it was a good idea.

One lone former Oriole has a birthday today. His time with us was short but glorious. He is Jim Thome, and he is 45 years old today. Give him a hearty handshake if you see him today, and if you don't see him, pretend you did.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with sharing this day with Thome, you also have some distinguished departed souls who were born on this day, including Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore (1637), two Vice Presidents - Hannibal Hamlin (1809) and Charles Dawes (1865), and one President, Lyndon B. Johnson (1908). Also An American Tragedy author Theodore Dreiser (1871), and Rolls-Royce co-founder Charles Rolls (1877).

Among those still with us on the mortal coil: wrestler Sgt. Slaughter (1947), longtime Texas football coach Mack Brown (1951 - no relation), No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal (1970), Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld (1979), and Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul (also 1979).

On this day in history...

In 1776, General Howe's British forces defeated George Washington's Americans in the Battle of Long Island. The fledgling American army was spared total disaster only by a heroic rear guard action carried out by the 1st Maryland Regiment - which action gave Maryland a nickname it bears to this day: the Old Line State.

In 1813, French forces under Napoleon defeated a Polish, Austrian, and Russian coalition in the Battle of Dresden. A "gastric spasma" suffered by Napoleon towards the end of the battle kept the French from pursuing the gains they made in the battle.

In 1927, five Canadian women filed a petition asking whether, for the purpose of being appointed to the Canadian Senate, women counted as "persons" in an 1867 law. The Supreme Court of Canada said no, then later a higher British court announced that court was full of morons, and of course women count as persons. What the hell was wrong with you, Supreme Court of Canada?

In 1939, the world's first jet aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, had its first successful flight. Though there was a war going on, this particular plane was never mass produced or flown in combat, probably because it had no armaments of any kind.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on August 27 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Thursday. Go Orioles!