Hello, friends.
The Orioles are now 1-0 after walking off the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day. It was quite glorious in the end. If you missed it, or if you want to re-live it, check out my recap of the game. This leaves them tied with the Blue Jays for first place in the American League East.
It's a semantic argument that will probably be rendered moot before long, but just supposing that the Orioles managed to remain on top of the division for the remainder of the season, would you say that they could be said to have gone wire-to-wire? They were not in first place on Sunday, after which the Jays had played, but they are now in first place after the first day where they had a game.
I know, I know, it's not even worth worrying about it right now. Anyway, the Orioles are off today, but the Jays are in action against the Rays once again, so we'll see how that goes. The Yankees and Red Sox will be getting their first games played of the year today, separately. They were rained and snowed out, respectively.
Around the blogO'sphere
Here's where you can get Natty Boh at Camden Yards this Orioles season - Baltimore Sun
Turns out that Natty Boh will be back this season after all after what was apparently a last-minute deal worked out... however, there will be no cans on the roving beer vendors, and the number of stands with the beer has been curtailed.
'It's just like a holiday': Scenes from Orioles Opening Day - Baltimore Business Journal
What do you mean "just like" a holiday? Opening Day is a holiday! Some great pictures from yesterday.
Opening with optimism: Fans flock to Camden Yards to celebrate Orioles' first game of 2016 - Carroll County Times
They came all the way from Carroll County to see the Orioles yesterday. I know, that's serious.
Orioles' fans grin at lineup, cringe at rotation (Delmarva Daily Times)
Yes, this sounds about right, though some among us may get carried away by flights of fancy after Chris Tillman's two innings yesterday.
The Orioles and the Baltimore accent | Maryland News - WBAL Home
A fun little segment from WBAL TV about the Bawlmer accent. How 'bout dem O's, hon?
School of Roch: Hearing from Showalter after a 3-2 walk-off win
Oh yeah, and let's not forget about the game itself. Manager Buck Showalter held forth on various topics, as is his custom, following the game.
Steve Melewski: Joey Rickard on the day and win: "It was amazing" (plus other clubhouse quotes)
The man of the hour weighs in on his big league debut. It seems like he enjoyed it - and the crowd certainly enjoyed him too. Did you hear them chanting his name? Amazing indeed.
Birthdays and anniversaries
On this day in 1966, the Orioles released Don Larsen, who was the last active player who'd been on the St. Louis Browns. Also on this day in 1979, Earl Weaver won his 1,000th game as an MLB manager.
There are a number of former Orioles with birthdays today, including Steve Clevenger, the Pride of Pigtown; 2006 short-timer Winston Abreu; Ron Hansen (1958-62); 1956 short-timer Fred Basana; and 1955 one-gamer Roger Marquis.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, your birthday buddies include: Leviathan philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588), "Atlanta Compromise" speaker Booker T. Washington (1856), actor Spencer Tracy (1900), To Kill A Mockingbird actor Gregory Peck (1916), music dude Pharrell Williams (1973), Agent Carter actress Hayley Atwell (1982), and Downton Abbey actress Lily James (1989).
On this day in history...
In 1242, Alexander Nevsky's Russians beat back a force of Teutonic Knights in the Battle on the Ice of Lake Peipus. In the present day, Lake Peipus is the biggest transboundary lake in Europe. It borders Russia and Estonia.
In 1614, in Virginia, Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. Genealogy tells us that two different First Ladies of the United States, Edith Wilson and Nancy Reagan, were descended from Pocahontas.
In 1792, President George Washington exercised the power of the veto for the first time. He vetoed a version of the Apportionment Act, which, when amended and passed about a week later, provided for the number of members of the House of Representatives at the time.
In 1951, the Rosenbergs, Julius and Ethel, were sentenced to death for spying for the Soviet Union. They were convicted of passing information about the atomic program to Russia. Contemporary information has cast doubt on Ethel's guilt.
In 1994, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain committed suicide, though his body would not be found until three days later.
**
And that's the way it is in Birdland on April 5 - at least, unless something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday.