Thursday Bird Droppings

You know it's gonna be a great day when your 10-year-old wakes you up at 6:50, 15 minutes before your normal departure time, and says "Dad, shouldn't we get ready to go to school?" Stupid malfunctioning alarm clocks...

Recaps? Got ya covered. MASNsports. The Sun. Orioles.com.

Rays Give Away Tickets Before Losing to Orioles - NYTimes.com
"After David Price and Evan Longoria complained about a lack of fan support, the Rays gave away 20,000 tickets for their home finale." And THEN they lost. Ha ha ha ha ha ha...

Orioles Insider: Pre-game notes: Buck on coaching staff, Simon's suspension cut by a game, Arrieta won't have surgery, Roberts still out
"It clearly will be a tough process for Showalter, who has been pleased with how hard his staff has worked. He did say that there is a possibility that the staff will return intact." No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Orioles exploring renovations to Camden Yards - baltimoresun.com
"As another Orioles season ends Sunday at Camden Yards, team officials will enter the beginning stages of planned renovations to the 18-year-old stadium."

Orioles Insider: Millwood not ready to hang them up
"The only thing I’m certain of right now is that I want to play again next year," said the 35-year-old who has pitched in 413 games over 14 big league season, and logged 2,498 innings. "I’m just going to go in the offseason thinking about preparing for next season." Thank God it won't be with the O's. The team has no plans to re-sign him, according to Jeff Zrebiecc of The Sun.

School of Roch: Closer look at Koji
"Koji Uehara picked up his 11th save tonight to preserve a 2-0 victory over the Rays, striking out two more batters while retiring the side in order. Since allowing Alex Rodriguez's three-run homer on Sept. 17, Uehara hasn't given up a hit, run or walk in five appearances covering five innings. He's struck out 11 batters, many of them with the splitter that he abandoned in that game against the Yankees. Uehara has walked five and struck out 52 in 42 innings this season."

Arrieta to avoid surgery after second opinion | orioles.com: News
"Orioles rookie right-hander Jake Arrieta has decided to not undergo surgery to repair the bone spur in his right elbow after getting a second opinion from Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum on Wednesday afternoon."

Orioles P Simon has suspension reduced - Baseball Wires - MiamiHerald.com
"Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon had his suspension reduced from three games to two after appealing a decision handed down on Monday."

Garbage pickup starts Monday at Camden Yards | delmarvanow.com | The Daily Times
"With the Orioles' 2010 season coming to a close, it's good to look back and see who's a keeper and who should be sent to the curb."

Stephen Kaus: Plea to Buck Showalter: Please Play Ty Wigginton at Second Base One More Time This Year
"If he plays just one more game at second, one pitch even, he will reach our league's minimum qualification of 40 appearances at a position. Then, we will be able to count his statistics from the 148 at bats that we foolishly played Wigginton at second, during which he amassed 25 RBI and 5 home runs." This is what fantasy baseball has done to our once proud sport.

Steve Melewski: Can a pitcher with 13 victories win the Cy Young?
"I say the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Despite being the owner of just 13 wins, I believe that 24-year-old right-hander Felix Hernandez should be the winner of this year's AL Cy Young Award."