Sunday Bird Droppings

New York Yankees' second inning is enough to stop Baltimore Orioles' six-game winning streak, 3-2 - Baltimore Sun
Buck Showalter, re:Miguel Gonzalez: "But that's what you like to see in pitchers. They're not always going to go out there, and everything's [not always] going to be perfect, but he spoiled us with a real high level of pitching for a while. Today, I think, to keep us engaged in that game, when he wasn't carrying his normal stuff, was impressive for me."

Orioles Fans Overlook Rivalry to Honor Derek Jeter - NYTimes.com
Buck Showalter, re: Baltimore fans applauding Derek Jeter Friday: "Cheer? Why? Anyone who loves the Orioles should be glad he’s retiring. It should be more like, good riddance. He has been a thorn for a long, long time."

The great Baltimore Orioles pitching shuffle is working - baltimoresun.com
Buck Showalter, re: keeping pitchers fresh vs tired hitters: "I think this time of year, some of the fatigue of the position players comes into play, too. I'm not trying to take anything away from the pitching for us, but baseball, in general — if you look at scores and you get into August and September, it's tough."

Showalter names surprise starter for Tuesday | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
Buck Showalter, re: naming Ubaldo Jimenez as Tuesday's starter: "We feel like it disrupts our bullpen the least. We think that he’s the most equipped lengthwise. We feel like he’s better equipped to pitch that part than say behind Mac (T.J. McFarland) or Joe (Saunders). Also, we think he’s our best option to win the game." I was with you until the last sentence, Buck.

Buck Showalter has built winning culture with Orioles, now looks to winning elusive World Series title - NY Daily News
Buck Showalter, re: O's season without Chris Davis: "Life goes on. Everybody thinks players are going to be affected in some big way. But players play. It sounds cold but it’s like Billy Martin told me once, ‘when you’re gone they’ll mourn you for five minutes until the next (guy) walks in the door.' Personally, I’m hoping I’ll get 10 minutes."

Chris Davis might have played last game as a Baltimore Oriole - Baltimore Sun
"While the Orioles deal with the reality that slugger Chris Davis cannot come back this year unless they get past the divisional round of the playoffs, it might be time for Orioles fans to deal with the possibility that he won't be coming back at all." Let's face it, it's a possibility. We call Dan Duquette the Honey Badger GM for a reason.

Mad at Davis and value consistency? You may have work to do - CBSSports.com
"If you're angry at Davis because you believe amphetamine use enhances performance, then you must also be angry at players of the 1950s, '60s, '70s, etc." I'm telling ya, the things were literally in candy dishes in clubhouses in the early 1970s. And players from Henry Aaron to Willie Stargell took 'em. This is not a new problem.

Fan lifts weights during Baltimore Orioles loss (Video) - Fansided
"Do you even lift, bro?"
"Dude, turn on the O's game and I'll show ya!"

Happy Birthday to Delmon Young and former Orioles and "Moneyball" topic Chad Bradford.  "Yom huledet samayakh, yom huledet samayakh!", Delmon!

On this date in Orioles history, in 1987 - "In an 18 - 3 Blue Jay blowout which features Toronto hitting a major league record ten home runs, Orioles' manager Cal Ripken, Sr., in the bottom of the 8th inning, puts Ron Washington at shortstop, ending Cal Ripken's record consecutive-innings streak of 8,264, spanning 904 games."

In 1994 - "The remainder of the baseball season is canceled by acting commissioner Bud Selig after 34 days of the players' strike. There will be no World Series for the first time since 1904."

ZK (or someone) will probably put up an NFL Open Thread over in the FanPosts later this morning. Be on the lookout for it.

Reminder, tonight's game will be a 8:00 p.m. start on ESPN. Well, 8:27 or so, after the Derek Jeter Lovefest Opening Ceremonies conclude. That's totally a guess, by the say. Game might start as early as, oh, I don't know, 8:26.

And for absolutely no particular reason, here's this week's quote...

You can't hardly tell at first, not till they get to the point of slobbering and staggering around. When you see a Open Thread in that fix, you know for sure. But you want to watch for others that ain't that far along. Now, you take a bobcat or a fox. You know they'll run if you give 'em the chance. But when one don't run, or maybe makes fight at you, why, you shoot him and shoot him quick. After he's bitten you, it's too late.