Friday Bird Droppings

Orioles: Five questions facing the team in the second half of the season - baltimoresun.com
Not three, not four, but five questions facing the Orioles in the last 75 or so games.

Orioles Insider: Johnson back throwing; Gonzalez, Roberts and other injury updates
Jim Johnson is throwing, but not on a mound, Gonzalez goes to Norfolk next, Brian Roberts got a day off but expects to play with Bowie next week, Luke Scott expects to start playing with the GCL Orioles next week, Brandon Snyder is hoping to return next week, and Brandon Erbe is getting closer to pitching again.

Wieters to the DL - School of Roch
Matt Wieters will be eligible to come off the DL on Sunday, July 25, the day after I go to OPaCY for my birthday. You owe me a card, Matt.

Orioles' dismal 1st half: 'A giant step backward' - USATODAY.com
"It's a giant step backward," MacPhail conceded. Thank you, Capt. Obvious.

Reimold begins to put things back together | orioles.com: News
"This has been the worst six months of my life," Reimold said in a rare interview inside Norfolk's home clubhouse. "I never imagined I'd be here."

George Sherrill unsure if he'd go to the minors - latimes.com
Ol' Flat Breezy is worried he'd become stuck in the minors if he accepted an assignment. Um, George? Unemployment doesn't pay very well. You think anyone will sign you in the off-season if you take the rest of this season off, waiting for an offer that never comes?

IN THE MINORS

Orioles Insider: Minor league game recaps - July 15
Lots of minor league moves. In game action, Norfolk lost, Bowie won, Frederick lost twice, Delmarva won, Aberdeen lost, Bluefield lost, and the GCL Orioles won.

Interview w/ Jared Diamond – Norfolk Tides Beat Reporter
What's it like covering a minor league team? Find out!

BSR’s interview with Baysox catcher Caleb Joseph | Baltimore Sports Report
Zach Wilt posted an video interview with Caleb Joseph, catcher for the Baysox.

A manager's opinion - MASNsports.com
Gary Allenson says he thinks the Orioles have done a pretty good job developing players. Of course he does.

GCL Notes Day 4 – Twins vs. Orioles
Jordan at OriolesProspects.com headed to Florida and caught some GCL action, including video of one of Luke Scott's at-bats from about, oh, eight feet behind him. Not much distance to the backstop in that league...

AND FINALLY...

Cheerios Love: Video Stories
From the press release: There's a couple weeks left to enter the Cheerios "Do What You Love" Contest. One winner and guest will win a lunch with the ultimate baseball All-Star, Cal Ripken Jr., and get a tour with Cal of the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy. The winner will also throw out the first pitch at the Cal Ripken World Series game and sit in Cal's seats at a professional Baltimore baseball game. For a chance to win exclusive access to Ripken, Americans must submit a 150-250 word original story and photo to cheerios.com/love. The story and photo must showcase what they love to do and how they take care of themselves so they can continue to do it.