Tuesday Bird Droppings

Both O's split-squad games were washed out yesterday due to torrential downpours. booo. But that's fine so long as the weather gods give us 65 degrees and clear blue skies in Baltimore on March 31st. That's not so much to ask for, right? So let it be written, so let it be done. Long range forecasts will be coming out for then in a couple of days. Here's hoping...

School of Roch: Offering a few thoughts on the off day
Can you smell what the Roch is cookin'? Machado notes. Rotation & Bullpen musical chairs; with an interesting (at least to me) note on Britton's role.

After breakthrough year, Orioles RHP Chris Tillman named Opening Day starter - baltimoresun.com
Congrats to him. Here's hoping he goes out and has a year worthy of becoming the first Oriole to start consecutive Opening Days since Guts in '08 & '09.

Hunter has a minor league day throwing fastballs | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
Tommy searches for ways to go 'Boom' less often.

Orioles Bullpen Shaping Up To Be An Asset | Baltimore Sports and Life
Sure looks that way on paper. Time will tell if that translates into on-the-field performance.

Could Alex Gonzalez Make Orioles' Opening Day Roster? : PressboxOnline
His name has been a hot one of late in O's camp, it seems.

OriolesNation Mailbag 3/10 - 3/16
Tucker Blair answers questions submitted to Orioles Nation for the week of 3/10 - 3/16. Topics include Britton's role & trade speculation, Alex Gonzalez's shot at making the club, and minor league pitchers Zach Davies & Daniel Ayers.

Orioles, Mets, Rays all talking to Mariners about Nick Franklin - CBSSports.com
All boils down to the price. But a 2015 infield of Davis, Franklin, Manny, & Schoop sounds pretty sweet.

Ranking the Minor League Systems by Impact: #1-15 | FanGraphs Baseball
Former Mariners front office official Tony Blengino gives his overview of each farm system.

Orioles' Ohlman Tries To Prove Bigger Is Better - BaseballAmerica.com
He's got one of the best to mentor him in Matt Wieters.

MLB Prospect Watch: Jonathan Schoop Leading Orioles' Second Base Battle
The Orioles best hitting prospect may not be ready for the majors just yet, but he may also be team's best second baseman.

Fantasy Team Names ... of the Future! - CBSSports.com
Does Jonathan Schoop have the most pun-worthy name of any Oriole for use in Fantasy team names?

Danny Salazar among those projected to break out based on 'stuff' - MLB - ESPN
For you In$ider subscribers. An O makes this list. Care to gander a guess as to who?

Supercomputers: Game on | The Economist
An undisclosed MLB team just purchased a supercomputer to crunch data. Maybe it was the O's! (it likely wasn't the O's).

Happy birthday to former backup Catcher Craig Tatum. Alas he never hit a tater as an O. It is also the birthday of '97 O, Geronimo Berroa.

I want you to go in that bag, and find my wallet.
Which one is it?
It's the one that says 'Open Thread'.