Monday Bird Droppings

Recaps of yesterday's series-sweeping win can be discovered at MASNsports.com, orioles.com, Dallas Morning News and The Canadian Press (because why not right?).

Orioles vs. Rangers: Orioles feeling a 'good vibe' - baltimoresun.com
"You can't feel any happier for these guys. They are playing hard and come in here and win all four games on the road at this ballpark," Orioles interim manager Juan Samuel said. "These guys are feeling pretty good in there." Well if a four-game sweep wasn't going to brighten their mood, nothing short of OxyContin and Thai hookers would do it. -duck

Ugandan king throws first pitch in Arlington | texasrangers.com
So, Uganda still has a king, and he got to throw out the first pitch Sunday. Oh, and he's only 18. Nice work if you can get it. -duck

Orioles Insider: Juan Samuel will manage Orioles at start of second half
Not sure how this makes any sense, since Friday may be the only game in the second half of the season Juan Samuel manages. Seriously, how does this make a lick of sense? -duck

Samuel aware change could be made | orioles.com: News
Juan Samuel's not exactly picking out new carpet for the manager's office at OPaCY. -duck

The Weekend That Was; The Left Coast... - The Orioles Post
Thoughts on this weekend from TOP -duck

Orioles Insider: O's, Showalter a hot topic on ESPN
"Mike Greenberg, co-host of the show, then piped in and asked Olney to tell Showalter, an ESPN baseball analyst and former Yankees and Diamondbacks manager, not to take the Orioles job. Greenberg said the American League East is "unwinnable" for the Orioles and that if Showalter waits a much better job will come along." Yet another reason to dislike Mike Greenberg. I've been keeping a list. -duck

MacPhail's take - MASNsports.com
"We're making progress," O's president Andy MacPhail said. "Unfortunately, in our sport, it doesn't come overnight. But we've probably introduced more players to the big leagues over the years I've been here, than maybe I would have expected.   

Twitter / MLB: PAYBACK!
"PAYBACK! @jfinch27 (Jennie Finch) becomes 1st woman to homer in #ASG Legends & Celebrities Softball Game" -duck

IN THE MINORS

Norfolk held on for 5-4 win Dennis Sarfate came in and got the last 2 outs after Durham hit a 3-run home run to make it close in the ninth inning, Bowie won 9-7 as five hitters recorded multi-hit performances, Frederick cruised to a 11-2 win scoring seven runs in the last three innings, Delmarva won 7-2 as Matt Hobgood threw four effective innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run, Aberdeen won in dramatic fashion as Trent Mummey capped off a five-run rally with a game-winning grand slam home run, Bluefield lost 6-5 despite eight different batters collecting hits, and The GCL Orioles had the day off. -duck

Futures Game Scouting Roundup - MLB FanHouse
"Zach Britton, LHP, Orioles: Slowly but surely the Orioles are making some noticeable progress in developing a homegrown core at the big-league level. Britton may end up being a major piece of that core. The hard-throwing southpaw sat at 92-94 mph with his fastball on Sunday and showed off a good feel for his changeup and slider. His fastball reached as high as 96 mph on my gun and showed excellent sink. He was clearly one of the standout all-around arms of the day, showing command and plus raw stuff." Radar hit 96 mph? I like that. Then again, I'm a man of simple tastes. -duck

Orioles have more prospects on horizon - Carroll County Times
"So what’s left in terms of prospects? There are no Stephen Strasburgs, Jason Heywards, or Bryce Harpers in the system. But there are some guys with plenty of potential, perhaps none more than left-hander Zach Britton." -duck

Meeting tonight about baseball training complex – Sarasota Herald-Tribune
If you happen to live near Sarasota and want to find out what's up with the Orioles' Spring Training complex, by all means drop by. -duck