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Sunday Bird Droppings

The Orioles win, Brian Roberts sounds like he's OK with being done, and Kevin Gausman learns MLB hitters can time any fastball you throw if it's straight.

The Hero of Taiwan made his last 2013 start. It was OK.
The Hero of Taiwan made his last 2013 start. It was OK.
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Red Sox (5) at Baltimore Orioles (6) | MLB.com BAL Recap
"Led by a three-RBI night from Steve Pearce, the Orioles secured the season series over the Red Sox with a 6-5 win on Saturday night." Woo hoo! So we're better than Boston, right? I mean, we beat them more than they beat us. So, we're totally better, right?

Steve Melewski: Roberts said he could understand if Orioles choose to not sign him for next year
"It is going to come at some point, whether it is now or later. I'm sure they would have good reasons for both, whether they want me back or don't want me back. They don't really have to have a good reason for me, to tell you the truth." This sounds like a man who's ready to be done.

Orioles' Nick Markakis receives Tim Wheatley Award - baltimoresun.com
"Nick Markakis was awarded this year's annual Tim Wheatley Award, which was created in 2010 by the Baltimore Sun Media Group to honor a local athlete whose contributions off the field are as important as those on the field. Markakis was presented the award prior to Saturday's game." The Right Side Foundation does wonderful work, and this is a well-deserved honor.

School of Roch: Markakis reflects on his 2013 season
"I just didn't feel comfortable at the plate this year," he said before collecting two singles, grounding into a double play and striking out last night. "With hitting, it's all about adjustments and being able to find that fine-tune and it just seems like I wasn't able to click and find it this year. But when you have a long enough career, things like that are going to happen. You learn from it and you try to get better from it." So, he's still saying he's not hurt. Oddly, I don't find this reassuring at all.

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen looks to get deeper in games in 2014 - baltimoresun.com
“This is the last start for this year,” Wei-Yin Chen said through interpreter Tim Lin. “I definitely wanted to finish on a good note and finish strong. This year, you can tell, there were a lot of ups and downs, so that’s a lesson I have to learn and improve. And next year, I’ll come back stronger.” I have no doubt this will be the case for The Hero Of Taiwan.

Orioles: Gausman adjusts to bullpen - Carroll County Times: Baltimore Orioles
The Goose learned some hard lessons in his starts for the Orioles: “These guys are good enough that it doesn’t matter how hard you’re throwing it or if you set them up for that pitch. If it’s right down the middle and it’s belt-high, they’re going to hit it,” Kevin Gausman said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 95 [MPH] or 105, they’ll time it up.”

Happy Birthday to Rather Large Human Being Calvin Pickering, Craig Lefferts and Mike McCormick. Today in Orioles history, in 2012, "Rookie Manny Machado homers off Felix Doubront in the 7th inning to give Baltimore a 4 - 3 win over the Red Sox. With New York's 3 - 2 loss to Toronto earlier today, the two teams are now tied for first place in the AL East."