Sunday Bird Droppings

School of Roch: Another intrasquad game, Tony Clark leftover and missing Monica
"The clubhouse is closed again this morning because it's photo day. It's also an anniversary that will bring strong emotions to the surface. We miss our friend. Former Orioles public relations director Monica Barlow passed away two years ago. We received the news shortly before leaving for Port Charlotte for the first exhibition game against the Rays."

School of Roch: Wrapping up the ninth day of workouts
"Manager Buck Showalter still is deciding between Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson as Tuesday's starter in the first exhibition game against the Braves in Lake Buena Vista. They're both going to pitch."

Orioles face challenge of keeping Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard, even after Dexter Fowler debacle - Baltimore Sun
"I've always played the Rule 5 guys a lot," Buck Showalter said. "Yeah, he's going to play a lot, but what's a lot? The last four innings of a game? He's going to need a couple pairs of gray [road uniform] pants. I can tell you that, especially if he slides a lot. But he's interesting."

If this year's planned exhibition in Cuba goes well, will door open for Orioles to return? - Baltimore Sun
"Even though it won’t be this year, the Orioles have long had interest in returning to Cuba to play an exhibition game there. And if all goes well with the Tampa Bay Rays’ exhibition game in Cuba next month, it could open the door for the Orioles to follow."

MLBPA head Tony Clark addresses concerns about MLB’s one-game Wild Card format | For The Win
"Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates’ best and most recognizable player, told John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times that he hoped to address the format with MLB Players Association head Tony Clark on Saturday during Clark’s annual tour of spring-training facilities, saying, "You play all season to get to the playoffs and it doesn’t seem quite fair that you have no margin for error."

Clark also concerned about Gallardo contract | CSN Mid-Atlantic
"Medical information shouldn't be public. There's a reason why individuals’ medical information is protected. The idea that those who shouldn't have access to it have access to it and feel compelled to offer it is a concern," MLBPA President Tony Clark said.

The Orioles have banned pie-in-the-face celebrations | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
"As of Saturday, the Orioles have officially banned pie-in-the-face celebrations, meaning it's back to celebratory drawing board."

Happy Birthday to former Orioles Mike Milchin and Dallas Williams. It's also the birthday of  1901 Linus Pauling, American chemist/peace activist; 1906 Bugsy Siegel, gangster created casinos in Las Vegas; 1915 Zero "Samuel" Mostel, actor, Fiddler on the Roof; 1940 Mario Andretti, racer (1969 Indianapolis 500, 1978 Formula One World Champion); 1953 Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, professional wrestler; 1953 Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize in Economics 2008; 1955 Randy Jackson, guitarist in Zebra. Go ahead, tell me the end of that song isn't epic.

On this day in Baltimore baseball history...

1900 - John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson sign contracts with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League. When the long-rumored move by Baltimore to disband occurs, the two players are assigned to the Brooklyn Superbas, but they will refuse and sit out the first third of the season instead. Finally, McGraw and Robinson are sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In world history on this date..

202 BC Coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place, initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty's rule over China
1710 In the Battle of Helsingborg, 14,000 Danish invaders under Jørgen Rantzau are decisively defeated by an equally sized Swedish force under Magnus Stenbock.
1854 Republican Party formally organized at Ripon, Wisc
1915 WWI: After the French try to drive the Germans forces back into the Champagne region, they gain a few hundred yards - at the cost of 50,000 casualties
1947 228 Incident: In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with the loss of 30,000 civilian lives.

Consider this your discussion space for NCAA Womens' Gymnastics - Maryland at Georgetown. Because I need a break from the men's' basketball team right now.