Sunday Bird Droppings

Yankees drop doubleheader to Orioles | Newsday
The Yankees dropped a doubleheader to the Orioles on Saturday (9-2 in Game 1 and 4-3 in Game 2) at a damp and chilly Camden Yards.

School of Roch: Showalter speaks after sweep
"It's just what you're supposed to do, regardless of who you're playing, and our guys have all year," said manager Buck Showalter. "They've never given in and they've competed and I'm real proud of them. I know I put myself in Houston's shoes, I know how I would expect a team to play. But I think we all know that's not always the case."

Steve Melewski: Ubaldo Jimenez on his season, T.J. McFarland on the win
"It was way better than last year, for sure. It is not like a great season, but was an improvement compared to last year," Ubaldo Jimenez said. "Every time you have a chance to do that, it feels good. Have to keep working hard and try to be more consistent."

What went wrong: Failure to replace key pieces didn't put Orioles in position to succeed - Baltimore Sun
The genesis of the Orioles' 2015 downfall this season, however, wasn't simply because Markakis, Cruz and Miller departed. It's also how the club filled those holes that became so problematic; the replacements were part-timers or fringe big leaguers ill-equipped to take over the roles.

The Orioles and Darren O’Day have mutual interest in a new contract | HardballTalk
"They’ve expressed interest. I know they like me as a pitcher and as a person, so yeah, I’d love to come back if they’d like to have me back, so we’re going to continue talking about that. I’ve had a good run of things the past four years and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t keep talking about it." - Darren O'Day

Orioles notebook: Club honors minor league award winners - Baltimore Sun
Relievers Oliver Drake and Mychal Givens became the first tandem, and only second in club history, to share the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award since Garrett Stephenson and Armando Benitez in 1993. Trey Mancini won the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year Award for position players.

After run of winning seasons ends, Baltimore Orioles fans worry about the future - Baltimore Sun
The Orioles have spent the last three years reinvigorating their fan base and restoring the luster to a franchise that lay as deep in the dumps as any in baseball for more than a decade. But with a disappointing season ending and some of the team's top players headed for free agency, the mood for Baltimore baseball fans is suddenly gloomy.

Happy Birthday to former Orioles and personal favorite Mark McLemore, and Dave Johnson (not Dad of Steve, though). They share it with 1626 - Richard Cromwell, lord protector of England; 1822 - Rutherford B. Hayes, U.S. President; 1861 - Frederic Remington, US, artist/sculptor of American West; 1895 - Buster Keaton, actor; 1923 - Charlton Heston, actor; 1928 - Alvin Toffler, author; 1928 - Torben Ulrich, Danish musician, dad of Lars; 1932 - Dottie West, country singer; 1934 - Sam Huff, NFL linebacker; 1937 - Jackie Collins, British-American author; 1941 - Anne Rice, author; 1944 - Tony La Russa, MLB manager; 1948 - Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment; 1957 - Bill Fagerbakke, American actor (Spongebob Squarepants); 1976 - Alicia Silverstone, actress; 1979 - Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress; and 1989 - Kimmie Meissner, American figure skater

1969 - Major League Baseball holds its first league championship games. In the National League Championship Series, the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 9 - 5, and the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Minnesota Twins, 4 - 3, in the American League Championship Series.

1971 - Baltimore wins its second straight game in the American League Championship Series, beating the Oakland Athletics, 5 - 1, on four home runs by Boog Powell (two), Brooks Robinson and Elrod Hendricks against Catfish Hunter.

1979 - Baltimore takes a 9 - 1 lead in the ALCS Game 1, but the Angels score seven runs in the last four innings only to fall short, 9 - 8. Eddie Murray drives in four runs for Baltimore.

And in 1993 - American League owners unanimously approve the sale of the Baltimore Orioles to attorney Peter Angelos and his partners.

I can't think of a more momentous occasion in history than that, and so I leave you to your own devices for the remainder of this day. Go O's.