Wednesday Bird Droppings

Virtual Vensanity: Ty Wigginton doesn't last long in MLB All-Star Game 
"Really? We all stayed up late for this? Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton played just one inning in the field during tonight's MLB All-Star Game. He was due up in the bottom of the seventh, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi pinch-hit for him with the American League trailing, 3-1." -duck

Gonzo update - School of Roch
Mike Gonzalez pitched for a second straight day, although the results weren't as encouraging as yesterday's. -duck

Ranking the Orioles - MASNsports.com
Will Lingo of Baseball America has the O's in the middle of the pack as far as minor league prospects. -duck

Baltimore Sun Schmuck column: Juan Samuel's stock is going up - baltimoresun.com
Juan Samuel won't get the O's job, but he might be proving he deserves a shot somewhere else. -duck

Orioles All-Star break report card - baltimoresun.com
Jeff Zrebiec's mid-season grades. -duck

National League snaps its losing streak in All-Star game - baltimoresun.com
National League won. Sorry guys. I"m in a hurry, that's all I got. -duck

Wigginton all smiles after All-Star debut | orioles.com: News
"Ty Wigginton didn't get a hit or make a diving stop in his first All-Star Game, but he left Anaheim with a smile on his face and memories for a lifetime." -duck

Orioles Insider: Facts (with some speculation) on Buck Showalter and the Orioles
What we know, what we think we know, and what we know that we don't know. -duck

It's personal for 40-year-old All-Star rookie Arthur Rhodes - baltimoresun.com
"Nineteen years and eight teams into his big-league career, Cincinnati Reds setup man Arthur Rhodes has made his first All-Star team, an honor the left-hander called "the best thing that's happened to me in my whole career." Dude was one of my favorites when he was on the team, and I'm glad he earned this honor at the close of his career. -duck

Source: Buck Showalter to Take Over as Orioles Manager This Weekend - MLB FanHouse
"Buck Showalter is expected to take over as Orioles manager on Saturday or Sunday, a source familiar with the organization told FanHouse on Monday." -duck

2011 MLB draft: Rice's Anthony Rendon is primed to take over the draft - ESPN
"It's weird. I can just see it really early," says Rendon. "I can just pick up the pitch, the spin, like, as the hand comes forward. I just feel like I get a really good view of it early, and it makes my reaction better." It's an ESPN Insider article, so you only get the first few paragraphs, but even those are worth the read. -duck

The Best (and Worst) from MLB's Broadcast Booths: Lists: GQ
The Orioles don't make either list, but a certain MLB Radio morning host makes the bottom five. -duck

MASN2 HD Now on FiOS1 in D.C., Maryland, Virginia - Verizon
For those of you in the Washington Metro area and have FiOS, you now have MASN2 in HD. Which is nice. -duck

IN THE MINORS

Orioles Insider: Minor league game recaps -- July 13
Aberdeen won and the GCL Orioles won. Brian Roberts went 2-for-3. -duck