Father's Day Bird Droppings

Happy Father's Day to all  to whom it applies. I actually have both of my kids at home for one of the few times this summer that will occur. So, I already have my present. On to the news...

Yesterday was such an easy game to play

Orioles Snap Blue Jays' 4-Game Streak With 4-2 Victory - ABC News
Manny Machado had three hits, scored a run and played flawlessly in his return to third base, and the Orioles beat Toronto 4-2 Saturday to end the Blue Jays' four-game winning streak.

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Machado on dropping appeal of suspension (plus Gallardo quotes) - Steve Melewski
"I’ll be down for a couple of days. With J.J. (Hardy) back now and how the team has been playing, hopefully they can pick up some slack and I won’t be missed as much as I will be. I’ve got confidence in my teammates that they will pick up for the mistake that I did. I have confidence they will keep playing good baseball." - Manny Machado

Showalter uses joke to avoid publicly criticizing Machado suspension | CSN Mid-Atlantic
Manager Buck Showalter seemed more than a bit surprised when told about the suspension reduction of the Royals pitcher. "Without a hearing? I’ll let you guys critique that. I’m trying to have enough money to finish up the garden," he said.

Yordano Ventura-Manny Machado brawl gets WWE video game treatment | The Kansas City Star
This video game version of the brouhaha was done by an ESPN baseball analyst Dan Szymborski. Because of course he did.

In Other News

Orioles make three roster moves - MASN News & Information

"The Orioles ... announced that they have reinstated right-hander Yovani Gallardo and infielder J.J. Hardy from the 15-day disabled list and optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk."

With few external options, struggling Orioles rotation still searching for 2014-like roll - Baltimore Sun
The hope is this group can be like 2015. My fear is, it's closer to September 2002.

Orioles minor league report: Mancini, Walker endure a power outage - Baltimore Sun
Trey Mancini hasn't homered since June 3. Christian Walker hasn't homered since May 31. The two accounted for more than a third of Norfolk's 42 home runs through 67 games. Ouch.

RIP, trusty laptop - Baltimore Sun
Geez, and I worry about mine falling off the couch.

A special Father's Day at the ballpark: first pitch, milestone birthday | News | fredericknewspost.com
Charles "Buck" Lockard of Middletown has many reasons to celebrate on Father’s Day this year: He’ll be surrounded by four generations of relatives, he’s turning 80 and he’s throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game.

Birthdays and History

Happy Birthday to former Orioles Val Majewski, Bruce Chen, Willis Roberts, Butch Davis, and Don Ferrarese. They share this birthday with 1566 James Stuart (James I of England); 1623 Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist and Christian philosopher; 1897 Moe Howard,(The 3 Stooges); 1903 Lou Gehrig, MLB Hall of Famer; 1962 Paula Abdul, American singer-songwriter; 1978 Dirk Nowitzki, German basketball player; and 1978 Zoe Saldana, American actress.

On this day in Baltimore baseball history...

2010 - Kevin Millwood, signed in the off-season to be the Orioles' ace, finally records his first win of the year for the last-place team, after 8 straight defeats. It's a hard slog, as the O's prevail, 5 - 4, over San Diego and Millwood needs the help of three relievers, including Alfredo Simon, who picks up the save in his return from the disabled list.

On this day in world history...

1829 Robert Peel founds the London Metropolitan Police (Bobbies)

1862 Slavery outlawed in US territories

1944 World War II: First day of the 2 day Battle of the Philippine Sea, US naval forces defeat Japanese fleet

1991 Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar surrenders to police

2000 Tiger Woods wins golf's US Open by 15 shots, a record for all majors, with a US Open to-par record score of -12

Happy Father's Day, and consider this your discussion space for the U.S. Open.