Hello, friends.
There are now 44 days until Orioles Opening Day. The number was last worn by the late Elrod Hendricks.
So, spring training is under way, and no, the Orioles still haven't signed Yovani Gallardo or Dexter Fowler. Are they not going to do it after all? Is someone else going to sign these guys instead? What the heck is the holdup, really? Money in some form, I suppose, but it's still weird. You'd think both sides would have sufficient incentive to make something happen at this point in time. Well, so far they're not missing much, so I guess it doesn't matter yet.
Meantime, the Orioles are either radically curtailing or entirely removing the current presence of Natty Boh beer at Oriole Park at Camden Yards' wandering vendors and stationary concession stands. Look for some more thoughts about that here a little later today.
For now, let's hit the links! And I don't mean the golf kind.
Around the blogO'sphere
Manny Machado's present -- and future -- loom large at Orioles camp - Baltimore Orioles- ESPN
Manny Machado needs to keep being awesome for the Orioles to keep going places. I think we can all agree it's an important factor, if not the sole factor.
Orioles face unique situation of developing Dylan Bundy at major league level - Baltimore Sun
The situation is a bit off-kilter, off-kilter meaning pretty messed up. But here's hoping they can make the most of what's available to them at this point in time.
All hail the Orioles’ cartoon bird on its 50th anniversary | MLB | Sporting News
The cartoon bird turns 50 this year, although of course it hasn't been actively used on game hats for all 50 of those years. We have, thankfully, emerged from the dark period without it.
School of Roch: Wrapping up the first workout
Neither Dylan Bundy's nor Hunter Harvey's arms fell off, and that's not nothing. Then again, they also didn't throw any bullpen sessions yesterday.
Steve Melewski: MLB Network analysts debate the Chris Davis contract; Brian Graham talks Bundy, Harvey
Speaking of Bundy and Harvey, the Orioles farm director thinks they're both doing great. Since that completely unbiased source has proclaimed he's not worried, none of the rest of us should worry either. That was sarcasm just there.
All eyes on Miguel Sano’s big move – especially Butch Davis’ – Twin Cities
This article is of interest to Orioles fans for a couple of reasons. One is that the O's were very close to signing Miguel Sano before he ultimately went to the Twins. The other is that the Twins coach who's going to try to help Sano move from third base to the outfield has seen this scenario once before ... in the Orioles organization, with Billy Rowell. (shudder)
Birthdays and anniversaries
One lone former Oriole has a birthday today: the late Jim Wilson, who was an Oriole all the way back in 1955 and 1956. He pitched in a total of 41 games.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: director Robert Altman (1924), actor Sidney Poitier (1927), Indy car and truck rental magnate Roger Penske (1937), Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker (1950), basketballer Charles Barkley (1963), model Cindy Crawford (1966), Nirvana singer-songwriter Kurt Cobain (1967), Six Feet Under actress Lauren Ambrose (1978), and singer-songwriter Rihanna (1988).
It took until the 20th century to get to an interesting birthday, but that's not a bad lineup there. And you, of course.
On this day in history...
In 1472, the islands of Orkney and Shetland are pawned to Scotland by Norway as dowry for Margaret of Denmark, who was marrying Scottish King James III. As Margaret's father, King Christian I of Norway, never paid up for the dowry, Scotland just kept Orkney and Shetland.
In 1792, the Postal Service Act, which established the United States Post Department, was signed into law by President George Washington.
In 1816, the Rossini opera The Barber of Seville had its premiere at the Teatro Argentina in Rome.
In 1942, Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare became the first American flying ace in World War II, shooting down three Japanese bombers in a single action off the USS Lexington - he received a Medal of Honor for the flight. O'Hare did not survive the war. It is his name that O'Hare Airport in Chicago bears to this day.
In 1986, the Soviet Union launched the Mir space station into orbit, although it took ten years to be fully assembled - in orbit. It remained up there for 11 years until it fell on Kenny's head in the zombie episode of South Park season 1. (It actually stayed in orbit until 2001.)
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on February 20 - or at least, unless something happens later. Have a safe Saturday.