Wednesday Bird Droppings

You have only three days left to vote in the Mobbies. Perhaps you've grown complacent. I will ban each and every one of you MF'ers who has grown complacent! So vote already, sheesh.

Question of the Day: Yesterday Stacey made the point that perhaps only one Oriole was deserving of some Gold Glove love - Matt Wieters. The Orioles as a whole were thoroughly mediocre in basically every statistical category on defense...but how good do you think this group is on defense, and how good can they be, and if they have been underachieving, what's been holding them back? -Andrew

In the news...

Orioles Insider: More Orioles' coaching candidates: Randolph, Allenson, Thomson, Donnelly, Bordick
Dan Connolly goes over some possibilities for the two open slots on the coaching staff. For reasons I can't articulate I think I'd dig Willie Randolph on the bench. 

Cal Ripken Jr. launches nationwide math challenge - baltimoresun.com
Ripken Baseball is trying to make sure the kids of America are a little less stupid with online math games. There will apparently be lots of prizes. And if you want to hear Ripken speak about the initiative, you can click below to hear his appearance yesterday on ESPN Milwaukee.

Thoughts on Nishioka | FanGraphs Baseball
Since we talked about Tsuyoshi Nishioka yesterday, here is what Fan Graphs thinks of him. The verdict is a Ryan Theriot/Chone Figgins type of player. Hm...would Figgins like being lumped in with Ryan Theriot?

School of Roch: Answering the Nishioka question
The Orioles have scouted and would be interested in Tsuyoshi Nishioka, but Roch Kubatko thinks they won't be interested in ponying up the money for him.

Orioles Insider: Dave Trembley takes job with Atlanta Braves
Trembley will be the minor league field coordinator for the Braves. Godspeed, Diamond Dave. 

Camden Yards to improve sightlines, seats | MLB.com
Roomier seats, tables in the left field club level, and a capacity of about 2300 less are in store for Camden Yards next year. I cannot believe it's about to be twenty years old.

Ed Smith Stadium Gearing Up for Orioles | WUSF Public Media
Looks like the O's will be re-using those old thinner seats at Ed Smith, which will receive refurbished seats from Camden Yards to replace the old ones. And apparently priority one was shade for as many seats as possible. Makes sense. -duck

Merklinger's three hitless innings lead Dogs | MLB.com
"Orioles CF Xavier Avery doubled and knocked in two runs in the loss. He was in a 4-for-31 slide before the game. ... Oliver Drake, the Orioles' 43rd-round pick in 2008 out of the U.S. Naval Academy, made his fifth start for Scottsdale and allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over 1 2/3 frames. He struck out three." -duck

Ingraham: It needs repeating: Pitching wins titles - news-herald.com
"Prior to the Giants this year, the last team to win a World Series using an entirely home-grown starting rotation was the 1966 Baltimore Orioles." Hey, we can be next, too! Well, assuming Jeremy Guthrie doesn't make the rotation by then. -duck

The Platoon Advantage: No, the American League Just Really Has Been That Much Better
Suck it, National League.

And in honor of Derek Jeter winning his 5th Gold Glove...
First, a graphic to determine if Derek Jeter is actually any good.
Derek Jeter Wins American League Cy Young Award
Report: Derek Jeter Demands to be Paid $1 Million for Each Intangible
Derek Jeter Leads Yankees to Victory with Dramatic Walk-Off Intangible
Derek Jeter Honored For Having Fewer Hits Than Harold Baines
Derek Jeter Makes Easy Play Look Easy
Experts: 'Derek Jeter Probably Didn't Need To Jump To Throw That Guy Out'