Hello, friends.
Well, it finally happened. The Orioles lost a game. If you got disgusted and tuned out early, or otherwise missed the contest, you can check out Stacey's recap to find out what you missed. They had to lose eventually. Next up are the Texas Rangers, who have come out of their first ten games with a 5-5 record, including a walkoff loss at the hands of the Mariners yesterday.
Now everyone will have to talk about something else. If we're lucky as Orioles fans, the O's will keep winning games to give those people something to talk about. Although their record looks nice, the potential problems with the starting rotation have surely revealed themselves over eight games - and in the one loss last night, the potential problems with the offense when they "only" get one home run also were on display.
A lot can happen in 154 games. Well, duh. Though I sometimes project a gruff, joyless disposition on here, the fact is I'm way more excited about this O's season than I was two weeks ago, and that's pretty cool. Now that I've made that confession, it is up to you, Orioles, to not crush my nascent good feelings. I may regret disclosing this.
Around the blogO'sphere
Orioles eyeing Thursday for Adam Jones' return - Baltimore Sun
We have heard this story before. They really mean it this time, supposedly, because Jones will be better in the Texas weather rather than cold New England whatever weather.
What to make of season's early surprises; bold calls on Story, O's and more - MLB
ESPN's Dan Szymborski looks for the potentially meaningful things in the small sample sizes of the first week of the season - and he, too, is a lot sunnier about the O's as a result of having seven wins banked.
J.J. Hardy Is a Wizard | FanGraphs Baseball
Any day you get to read Jeff Sullivan write about the Orioles is a good day. Here, he tackles Hardy's two home runs from Fenway on Tuesday night.
Here's why the Orioles great start won't last much longer (Washington Post)
Who asked you anyway, Washington Post?
Are Orioles this good, or Red Sox this bad? (Boston Globe)
I'm going to be honest here, I didn't actually read this article because nothing within it can possibly make me as happy as the fact that the headline had to ask the question.
Birthdays and anniversaries
There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: Jeff "Screech" Fiorentino (two stints 2005-09), Gregg Zaun, who I think is somebody's nephew; Brad Pennington (1993-95), Mike Trombley (2000-01), Greg Myers (also 2000-01), 1990 short-timer Jay Aldrich; and the late Frank Bertaina (two stints 1964-69) and Kal Segrist (seven games in 1955).
Wow, that is a lot of birthdays. I think eight is the most I have seen on any day since I have started doing this.
So is today your birthday too? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, you share this day with the following: Flemish cartographer and first modern atlas creator Abraham Ortelius (1527), Dutch astronomer and pendulum clock inventor Christiaan Huygens (1629), baseball union pioneer Marvin Miller (1917), Serpico subject Frank Serpico (1936), compulsive gambler and baseball hit king Pete Rose (1941), current Doctor Who Peter Capaldi (1958), Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (1966), Arcade Fire singer-songwriter Win Butler (1980), and actress Abigail Breslin (1996).
That's also a lot of birthdays.
On this day in history...
In 1471, Edward IV's Yorkist forces defeated Lancastrians under the Earl of Warwick in the Battle of Barnet; Edward IV retook the throne as a result of the battle, though the Wars of the Roses did not end until 1487.
In 1820, Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary. You might have one in your house. Well, not a first edition.
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth; he died the next day.
In 1912, at 2340 hours, the unsinkable RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage; it sank early the next morning.
In 1939, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was first published.
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on April 14- or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Thursday. Go O's!