Wednesday Bird Droppings

Wieters' first All-Star performance not so memorable - - baltimoresun.com
"With the San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval at the plate, Wieters couldn't handle a pitch from League, the passed ball allowing Pence to move from first to third before scoring on Sandoval's ground-rule double. Unfortunately for Wieters, who did not allow a single passed ball in the first half of the regular season and has been sterling defensively, this one came on a much bigger stage than the Orioles usually play on."

Selfless Martin an All-Star for Wieters | New York Daily News
Martin had been told by American League manager Ron Washington that he would catch the second half of the game last night, leaving Matt Wieters of the Orioles – a first-time All-Star – as the AL’s emergency catcher. 'I went into his office and told him, ‘I’m ready to play, but I think it would be pretty cool if you let Wieters a chance to play in his first All-Star Game,’' Martin said. 'He thought it was pretty classy for me to do that. I just thought it was a good idea." It's extra classy when you tell newspapers about how classy other people think you are.

MacPhail not changing stance, encourages Showalter-Angelos to meet - baltimoresun.com
"Orioles owner Peter Angelos told The Sun in March that MacPhail "is not going anywhere," but I would have to think another poor season along with what MacPhail wants to do will impact that decision. MacPhail also said people should not read too much into the fact that Angelos and manager Buck Showalter meet regularly (nearly once per homestand). In fact, MacPhail said, he encourages the meetings."

O's broadcaster feels right at home in Baltimore - Carroll County Times
"He'd heard all the stories about Baltimore, provincial, not welcoming to outsiders. Not long after arriving here, Thorne was walking on Lombard Street when a woman rolled down her car window and yelled at him. 'Gary, thank you for coming and doing the games,' he recalled her saying." It was one of the highlights of a more than four-decade broadcasting career.

Orioles Buzz: Announcing our rotation of guest bloggers for season's second half
"First things first: Our thanks to Stacey Long of Camden Chat and Anthony Amobi of Oriole Post, first-half contributors who are taking the second half off (but who will hopefully contribute when their schedules permit). Matthew Taylor of Roar from 34 and Heath Bintliff of Dempsey's Army will return to our lineup. They will be joined by Lauren Tilley of BirdsWatcher, Daniel Moroz of Camden Crazies and James Baker of Oriole Post."