Sunday Bird Droppings

Adam Jones hits two homers to lead Baltimore Orioles to 7-2 win over Boston Red Sox - Baltimore Sun
"Rookie Christian Walker, in his third big league game, added his first major league homer to give the Orioles three for the night and increase their majors-leading home-run total to 202, the first time in club history the Orioles have had three consecutive 200-homer seasons."

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce receives cortisone shot in wrist, to miss several days - Baltimore Sun
"The Orioles "took an X-ray just to make sure there was nothing structurally wrong, and felt good about that," Showalter said. "I know the doctor went ahead and injected it. … During the season, he'd probably play or take a day [off], but we're going to try to clear as many things up [as possible]. That's one of the good things about being able to know you're in early, is things like Nick [Markakis’ shoulder soreness]. During the season, we probably would have pushed it. Same thing with Stevie."

Orioles plan extra rest for starting pitchers ahead of playoffs - baltimoresun.com
"There’s a fine line between not having enough rest and having too much rest, so we’re trying to have every guy that pitches get one extra day before the start," Showalter said. "We’re going to try to give everybody, so you’re not too far away from the ball but you get a little extra rest. They all seem to respond well to that."

How many pitchers will Orioles go with in postseason? | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
"Buck Showalter will have a few sticky decisions to make on his playoff roster. Does he go with 12 pitchers as he did in 2012? Or does he go with 11 and add an extra position players? "Ten or 13? All of them are options," Showalter said."

On Baseball: Wherever the Orioles need him, Flaherty contributes - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
"Ryan Flaherty, 28, a Portland native and Deering High graduate, is not going to contend for a batting title (hitting .215), but he continues to demonstrate his worth. After Friday night, Flaherty had appeared in a career-high 94 games, while playing six positions. To save time, we’ll just say Flaherty has not pitched, caught or played center field."

Cruz says Orioles remind him of Rangers World Series team | Comcast SportsNet Baltimore
"This team reminds me a lot of the 2010 team we had. We have a great offense. We didn’t have an ace in 2010, but we became really good. We had good pitching that nobody knows about, kind of like here, a lot of twos," Nelson Cruz said."

Nats or Orioles? In Washington, some families are a hardball house divided - The Washington Post
"It’s kind of appalling to me," Annmarie Edwards, a 49-year-old public relations consultant, said of her brother’s seamless switch to the new home team in 2005. She remembers him as an Orioles fan so avid that he knew the names of ushers at Memorial Stadium. "To me, it’s the total abandonment of his roots."

On this date in Orioles history, in 1971 - "Dave McNally shuts out the Yankees, 5 - 0, for his 20th win. It is the 4th straight 20-win year for the Oriole ace."

In 1984 - "Rookie Jim Traber makes his debut in Baltimore, first by singing the national anthem before the Red Sox game, then by DHing. The Red Sox are unimpressed, clipping the Orioles, 8 - 0. Traber had sung the national anthem a number of times before minor league games."

In 2012, "The surprising Orioles continue to keep pace (with the Yankees), with a 4 - 2 win over the Red Sox, staying one game behind. Matt Wieters drives in three runs and Jim Johnson saves his 46th game of the year, passing Randy Myers for the team record."

A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying an Open Thread. I only saw her for one second. She didn't see me at all, but I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl.