Tuesday Bird Droppings: The Orioles are undefeated

Hello, friends.

No more counting down to anything. Opening Day has come and gone and the Orioles were victorious in their first game. They are 1-0, tied with both the Rays and the Red Sox atop the AL East. There are 161 games still to play, with the next game sadly not being until Wednesday evening at the standard civilized baseball time of 7:05pm Eastern.

If you didn't get to see the game, or just want to re-live it, make sure to check out Joe Wedra's recap of the extra innings win. For one day at least, it was a good idea for the Orioles to re-sign Mark Trumbo. The game wasn't flawless, but a win is a win. They don't have to give it back.

Although it's frustrating to get excited for baseball to be back only to immediately have an off day, the Orioles will surely make use of the day off. It's another day for Darren O'Day to recover from a bout with the flu. Manager Buck Showalter claimed yesterday that O'Day was available "as we see fit" but the bullpen choices he made suggest that O'Day was not, in fact, available.

Anyway, let us march on undefeated into this batch of links.

Around the blogO'sphere

Blue Jays' Jose Bautista still good for boos from Orioles fans - Baltimore Sun
A lot of Blue Jays got booed for a lot of reasons yesterday, but only Jose Bautista got booed for the lone crime of being Jose Bautista.

Manny Machado makes amazing play on one knee | MLB.com
We should all definitely enjoy the 323 games where Machado is still contractually a member of the Orioles and every great moment that he pulls off in that time - like this one from yesterday.

Smith atop the order, O'Day and Miley health updates and more - School of Roch
Wade Miley is also still recovering from the flu, although you are possibly a bit less excited to see his reappearance.

Mark Trumbo on his walk-off homer, plus other clubhouse quotes - Steve Melewski
The man who hit the walkoff dinger held court postgame, and some other Orioles talked to the press too.

What Song Was Playing During Orioles Opening Day Ceremonies? " CBS Baltimore
There was a nice little hype video the Orioles played at one point during Opening Day. I can't show you the video, because that would require an MLB team wanting to see their product, but I can give you a link that includes the music video of the song in the Orioles video.

Woodbine's Qualls is 'glue that binds' Orioles minor league system - Howard County Times
A "local boy makes good" article from the actual local paper. You may learn something about Kent Qualls, the director of player development.

True Bromance | Baltimore magazine
Click on this link right now and enjoy the adorable photos of Machado and Jonathan Schoop. You might like to read the article too.

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 2011, Zach Britton made his MLB debut, pitching for six innings while giving up just one run. Things didn't go well for him as a starter, but I'd say it turned around, wouldn't you?

There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: recent ex-Oriole Odrisamer Despaigne, 1995 short-timer Jim Dedrick, 1990 reserve Brad Komminsk, 1966-67 part timer Mike "Superjew" Epstein (really, check his B-Ref page), 1967 two-gamer Tom FIsher, and 1966-73 bullpen guy Eddie Watt. Mr. Watt turns 76 years old today. Happy birthday all around.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, your birthday buddies for today include: MLB Hall of Famer Tris Speaker (1888), blues man Muddy Waters (1913), poet Maya Angelou (1928), actor Robert Downey Jr. (1965), and actress Natasha Lyonne (1979).

On this day in history...

In 1147, the city of Moscow appears for the first time in a historical record.

In 1818, the United States Congress adopted a United States flag with the 13 stripes for the original colonies as well as 20 stars, one for each state at the time.

In 1841, President William Henry Harrison became the first president to die in office, setting a record for the shortest administration that still holds today.

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on April 4 - unless something happens later, which it probably won't, because after all, this is only the off day following Opening Day. Have a safe Tuesday. Go O's!