Tuesday Bird Droppings: The Orioles still have the best record in MLB

Hello, friends.

For another morning, we wake up with the Orioles having the best record in all of Major League Baseball. This AL East-heavy month has seen the O’s start out with a 13-5 record through 18 games, including last night’s 6-3 victory over the Rays. Check out Stacey’s recap of the game and make sure to vote in the Most Birdland Player poll!

Not a bad outcome for a game where the Orioles starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, couldn’t finish the fourth inning and the 3-4-5 hitters were a combined 0 for the entire game. The Orioles actually have yet to lose a Jimenez start even though he was pretty bad in three of his four games. Baseball is often weird.

The Orioles currently have a two game lead over their nearest AL East competitor, the Yankees. The last place Blue Jays are eight games back of the Orioles.

Prospects for the second game of the series, scheduled for tonight, are a bit more dodgy because of the weather. There was a good bit of rain during last night’s game and there may be even more still tonight.

Around the blogO’sphere

What they're saying about the tense weekend between Manny Machado and the Red Sox - Baltimore Sun

Surprisingly, the national media has been fairly unified in condemning the Red Sox actions on Sunday, although there’s less consensus than you’d hope about who ordered the code red when I think we all know who.

Olney: Red Sox deserve all the blame for Machado incident - Buster Olney Blog- ESPN

Even a big ESPN writer is laying all of the blame at the Red Sox feet. We’re living in strange times here, friends.

Britton plays catch, Tillman readies for next rehab start - School of Roch

Zach Britton won’t be on the DL for the minimum ten days. And Chris Tillman probably won’t be back as soon as May 2. For now, the Orioles are getting along without them.

Hyun Soo Kim on getting few starts and his first hit against a left-hander - Steve Melewski

One thing you can read about Kim in this article is that he’s aware that there’s a segment of fans who are wanting to see him play more and he says he loves it.

The New Generation of Ballparks Is Pushing Us Away | FanGraphs Baseball

Everyone knows Oriole Park at Camden Yards is great, which is touched on briefly in this article, but it’s mostly about why many of the post-Camden Yards stadiums aren’t so great.

Atlanta Braves trade David Hernandez to Angels - Talking Chop

Here is an old friend alert. Hernandez had only been playing for the Braves Triple-A team and now he’s headed into the Angels organization. Hernandez last pitched for the O’s in 2010. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Birthdays and anniversaries

There are three former Orioles with birthdays today. They are Birdland hero and Red Sox destroyer Robert Andino, 2000 short-time reliever Darren Holmes, and 1955 swingman Art Shallock. Mr. Shallock turns 93 years old today. An extra special happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, your birthday buddies for today include: British dictator Oliver Cromwell (1599), jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917), actor Al Pacino (1940), Starbucks co-founder Zev Siegl (1955), The Simpsons voice man Hank Azaria (1964), and actress Renee Zellweger (1969).

On this day in history...

In 404 BC, the Peloponnesian War came to a close after the Athenians surrendered to the Spartans under Lysander.

In 1644 AD, the Ming Dynasty of China also came to an end when its final emperor, Chongzhen, committed suicide. The Ming had been ruling for 276 years.

In 1898, the United States declared war on Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War, one of only five American wars that was actually formally declared by Congress.

In 1915, as part of World War I, a British-led force initiated an invasion of Gallipoli, setting off a battle against the Ottoman Empire that raged for eight months before the British called it off, their objectives not having been achieved.

In 1960, the submarine USS Triton completed the first-ever submerged circumnavigation of the globe.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 25 - or at least, until something happens later, which it really should, unless rain washes away the game. Have a safe Tuesday. Go Orioles!