Monday Bird Droppings

Recaps of yesterday's loss can be found at orioles.com,  baltimoresun.com, Carroll County Times, Daily News, and  NYTimes.

Orioles welcome cancer patients, survivors | orioles.com: News
For the sixth year in a row, the club teamed up with St. Joseph's Hospital to bring cancer patients, survivors and their families to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for Sunday's game against the Mets. Haven't these people suffered enough? -duck

Bergy talks about heading back to Triple-A - MASNsports.com
"You know, it's a numbers game sometimes. They told me they want to get me the innings and right now I'm not getting the innings. Of course, I'm not happy, but what's done is done. There are no grudges held here. I'll go down and work my butt off to get back here." Thus spake Brad Bergesen.

Feat of Cla - MASNsports.com
"Cla Meredith was tagged with a blown save today after allowing two runs and two hits, and walking three batters, in two-thirds of an inning. His ERA is up to 16.85." So nice to know that move is working out. -duck.

Z on TV: Despite wretched record, Orioles TV ratings are up
Talk about counterintuitive. Season-to-June 3 (the most recent Nielsen data available), the Orioles games on MASN have earned a 3.8 household ratings compared with 3.4 rating for the same period last year. The 3.8 ratings translates to about 41,420 area households in the Baltimore TV market -- an increase of 12 percent over last year. Never would have guessed that. -duck

The Canadian Press: Samuel keeps the faith as Orioles interim manager while others interview for job
"To be honest, that's not on my mind," Samuel said Sunday. "When I spoke with Andy, it was explained to me it could be two months, it could be three years." Three years? Let's not get crazy now, Mr. Samuel. -duck

On the Pirates: Settling on Taillon wasn't easy
"A great debate," the Pirates' GM called it at draft's end. "There was a lot of spirited and passionate debate about each player. It was not an easy decision. Some have portrayed it as flip-flopping back and forth. We hadn't made a decision, nor was one guy in the lead, until the weekend." So that's how we ended up with Manny Machado. -duck

Carlos Santana steamrolled by Nats' Adam Dunn - HardballTalk
On Sunday, rookie Indians catcher Carlos Santana decided to block the plate against Adam Dunn. Adam Dunn is 6'6", 287. Santana? 5'11", 190. It didn't end well. -duck

IN THE MINORS

Norfolk lost in extra innings as Brandon Erbe didn't allow a runner for the first 5.0 IP, but gave up back-to-back homers in the sixth, Bowie won as only Carlos Rojas had more than one hit and Chorye Spoone went 7.0 IP giving up just two earned runs, Frederick won on a suicide squeeze play in the ninth inning, and Delmarva was off.