Saturday Bird Droppings

Schoop takes Roark deep in ninth as Orioles rally to beat Nationals, 3-2 - The Washington Post
"In front of the largest crowd to fill Camden Yards this season, the Nationals’ bullpen was given a 2-1 lead but couldn’t get the game’s final six outs." Jonathan Schoop went deep, y'all. It was beautiful.

Orioles notebook: Manny Machado looking forward to Home Run Derby - Baltimore Sun
"I'm not going try to go out there and blow my back or anything, try to overdo it," Manny Machado said. "I'm just going to try to go out there and put some good swings out there and put on a show.

Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez expected to stay with Orioles through break - Baltimore Sun
"Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen are starting this weekend for the Orioles, and are not expected to make any detours to the minors during the All Star Break, according to manager Buck Showalter."

Orioles will celebrate 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken’s 2131 game - The Washington Post
"The Orioles on Thursday announced plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken’s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game on Sept. 1." Details contained herein.

Orioles joke that ex-Yankees pitcher is a 'serial killer' | NJ.com
"Reliever Tommy Hunter jokes that Roe is the most likely Oriole to drive a white van with tinted black windows." And there's even more quotes from The Sun's article on him by teammates. You gotta read this.

Catching up with former Orioles second baseman Bobby Grich - Baltimore Sun
"The handsome black mustache, once the talk of baseball, is gone. "Too many gray hairs were popping in," Bobby Grich said." No!!!!!!!!

Baltimore Orioles prospects Frank Crinella, Seamus Curran reflect on first days of pro ball | masslive.com
Seamus Curran and Frank Crinella of the Orioles' GCL team get the "local boys done good" treatment.

Zach Davies deserves a shot with Orioles | Baseball Essential
Deserve's got nothing to do with it, kid.

103-year-old Orioles follower to throw out first pitch - The Frederick News-Post : Baseball
Cora Purcell, 103, will throw out the first pitch tonight. She'll be 104 on Thursday. We should live so long.

Happy Birthday to Zach Clark! You're it for current for former Orioles players with a birthday today. Also born today were Robert Bruce, King of the Scots, Pres. John Quincy Adams, William Robert Grove, a Welsh Physicist and inventor of the first fuel cell, Alfred Binet, French child psychologist, E.B. White, whose Elements of Style drove editing instruction for damn near a century, fashion designer Giorgio Armani, and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. Livin' on a Prayer indeed.

On this date in Orioles history, in 1968, "Earl Weaver, who never played in the majors, manages his first game with the Baltimore Orioles. The Birds defeat the Washington Senators, 2 - 0, on Dave McNally's two-hitter. Baltimore will win 11 of its first 15 games under Weaver."  In 1987, "1987 - Billy Ripken, 22, joins his brother Cal Ripken Jr. in the Orioles' starting lineup in Baltimore's 2 - 1 loss to the Twins. Orioles manager Cal Ripken, Sr. is the first to manage two sons in the majors."

Consider this your discussion space for UFC 189: McGregor vs Mendes. I personally cannot wait to see Irish loudmouth, misogynist and general all-around jerk Conor McGregor get his face punched off by American Chad Mendes, a former two-time NCAA Division I All-American in wrestling. Take him down and beat him up, Chad. MMA's counting on you.