Monday Bird Droppings: Here come the Twins

After an extended slide on the road, the O's were able to right the ship at home against Toronto, yesterday's frustrating loss notwithstanding. The Twins are in town to start the week, though the forecast looks rainy for every day of the series.

Orioles notebook: Machado to have precautionary X-rays on left hand after being hit by pitch - Baltimore Sun "Just a precaution," they say. Pardon me for a retaining a slight sense of dread.

Myriad Orioles Thoughts: Machado's importance; another low-risk deal; Bourn dilemma; Jackson's status; Janish up - BaltimoreBaseball.com Expect O's beat twitter to be all over Michael Bourn today.

Brach leans on support system to straighten out problems - School of Roch
Managers manage.

The bullpen revolution has not been televised
Another look at the evolving nature of modern bullpen usage.

Lefty Grove died on this day in 1975. The Lonaconing native ultimately was inducted into the Hall of Fame on account of his career in Philadelphia and Boston, but played the bulk of his minor league ball in Baltimore.

A middling starter in Baltimore, Jose Mesa became a pretty solid closer in his post-O's career. He turns 51 today.