Friday Bird Droppings: This is it

Baseball's a funny game. One day you're cursing its existence, the next day you're pleading for just a little more. If I'd have told you at the end of April that the Orioles starting rotation would be powering a playoff push into the final weekend of the season, would you have believed me? The late season heroics of Ubaldo Jimenez have been something to behold, Kevin Gausman seems to be wresting the top dog role from Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy...Dylan Bundy is healthy and pitching meaningful major league baseball. The Orioles humbled the brash Blue Jays on successive nights and eliminated the Yankees and Royals in the process. Meaningful games in October. These things mean something. Something weird, perhaps, but...something.

How ya like Ubaldo now? - BaltimoreBaseball.com Very much, thanks. More please.

Indians-Tigers rainout could complicate Orioles' life | CSN Mid-Atlantic
"The Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers were rained out on Thursday. That could complicate matters for the Orioles."

Caleb Joseph Can't Buy an RBI Ben Lindbergh from the Ringer on CaJo's odd season.

MLB’s Ponle Acento Campaign Is a Step in the Right Direction – The Hardball Times Ubaldo was sporting a Ponle Acento recently during a postgame interview. A little more about the campaign.

Camden Depot: It's Been A Successful Season For Hyun Soo Kim Thanks for being you, guy.

On this day in 1978, Rich Dauer committed his first error at second base in the season's final game. His errorless streak spanned 425 chances. With a win over the Red Sox on September 30, 2012, the Orioles booked their first postseason appearance since 1997.

Hall of Famer Robin Roberts turns 90 today. His best years (1950-55) preceded the establishment of the Cy Young Award and his solid tenure (1962-65) with the Orioles narrowly missed their first championship season. Baseball Reference also tells me that Yorkis Perez and John De Silva, alleged Orioles, also have birthdays today.