Hello, friends.
We are now living in a world where Ubaldo Jimenez has pitched the only Orioles complete game in the last two seasons. This is a crazy world where many things seem possible that did not before. Really, what makes Jimenez's outing seem even more remarkable is the fact that he gave up all three runs in the first inning. Jimenez was looking every bit like the Ubaldo you don't want to see pitch the mound... and then he finished the rest of the game and gave up no more runs.
What's even better is that the Orioles offense finally got some clutch hits in order to power the team to a win! Oh, sure, it was against the lowly Rays, but still. A win is a win. If you missed it, make sure to check out Joe Wedra's recap of the game and vote in the MBP poll - although if you do not vote for Jimenez, comrade, you may receive a visit from the Birdland Re-Education Bureau.
That's the good news. The bad news is, as great as that win was, every single other dang team in the wild card race that the Orioles could hope would lose were winners on Labor Day Monday, so they got this incredible outcome and gained absolutely no ground on anyone in the wild card chase! Well, unless you count gaining a game on Boston for the first wild card - they're now just a game ahead of the Orioles. Hmm. Interesting.
Around the blogO'sphere
Orioles notebook: Duensing returns, Despaigne designated, Kim bats ninth - Baltimore Sun
Why the Orioles feel that they need Brian Duensing so much that they kept him and sent Odrisamer Despaigne to the great DFA in the sky is one of those great mysteries.
Miley's struggles accentuate O's lack of rotation punch - BaltimoreBaseball.com
From the Department of the Obvious, and also the Department of Nobody Writes Much Over Labor Day Weekend.
Jimenez's complete game, Davis' big hit and a 7-3 win - School of Roch
If you're looking for quotes from Jimenez on his complete game, along with some quotes from others, Roch has got you covered.
Duquette talks Bundy and Gausman, plus a look at the RISP stat - Steve Melewski
In which Dan Duquette says some stuff about Dylan Bundy that could be true or could be dissembling. Melewski thinks that Bundy does not have an innings limit, which seems totally crazy.
All of that out of the way, a hearty boo to the Rays Logan Morrison for being a sore loser.
#Rays Morrison said "no reason" #Orioles Jimenez should've thrown CG, was good but "wasn't that good, we got ourselves out a lot."
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 5, 2016
You know what, dude? Nobody cares.
Birthdays and anniversaries
On this day in 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking the old streak that had been held by Lou Gehrig. Play was stopped for 22 minutes for a standing ovation once the game became official.
And in 2012, the Orioles, on Cal Ripken Jr. statue giveaway night, hit three home runs in the eighth inning to beat the Yankees, 10-6, and raise up to a tie for the American League East lead.
There is one current Oriole with a birthday today, along with three former Orioles. Happy 25th birthday to Donnie Hart. Former O's with birthdays today are Derrek Lee (2011 Orioles), Roy Smith (1991 rotation), and the late Jim Fridley (1954 outfielder).
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those current and former Orioles, your birthday buddies for today include: atomic theory pioneer John Dalton (1766), father to a president and senators Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (1888), funny man Jeff Foxworthy (1958), The Wire actor Idris Elba (1972), and Washington Wizards basketballer John Wall (1990).
On this day in history...
Lots about Europeans sailing places.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed from the Canary Islands, his final stop before making the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1522, the Victoria, part of Magellan's expedition and the only survivor of the same, returned to Spain, thus becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the globe - which as Civilization players know is good for a +1 bonus to naval movement for your ships for the rest of the game.
In 1628, the Puritans settled Salem in what later became the Massachusetts Bay Company, although the witch hunts came later.
In 1972, nine Israeli athletes who were taken hostage at the Munich Olympics were killed by their kidnappers during a failed rescue attempt.
In 1997, the funeral for Diana, Princess of Wales, was held in London. Wikipedia informs me that 2.5 billion people watched this funeral on television, which at that time would have been more than 40% of the world's total population.
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on September 6 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday. Go Orioles!