Saturday Bird Droppings - One bad pitch was all it took

Just grand: Upton's dramatic slam backs Verlander, Tigers win - Detroit News
"I knew after that at-bat (with Adduci) he'd want to get ahead," Upton said. "I was aggressive...I was looking for something to drive to the outfield. A slider sat in the middle of the plate and I took care of it."

Upton slam off Givens gives Tigers 5-2 win over Orioles (with quotes) - School of Roch
“There’s a lot more to that game. We scored two runs. That’s probably more of the story - for me, anyway." - Buck Showalter

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado's first triple play was worth the wait - Baltimore Sun
“The first one ever,” Manny Machado said Friday. “It was pretty awesome. Me and Schoop have been talking about it for the last two or three years. He always tells me, ‘Anything hit that way, try to turn it.’"

Orioles' Trey Mancini sits Friday after fouling ball off knee, hopes to return Saturday - Baltimore Sun
"Hopefully, it's not very long," manager Buck Showalter said. "It's just below the kneecap. ... Really, the tibia — there's not much protection there. Right around the patellar tendon there. I could tell. He basically hit a line drive off his kneecap, right below his kneecap. That hurt. But it's one of those things where once you get off it, he's a little sore today. ... He's sore. Hopefully he's available soon."

Showalter on Tillman: "If Chris says he's fine, I believe him" (O's down 5-2) - School of Roch
“If they’re saying they’re fine, we’re not going to invent some DL,” Buck Showalter said. “If Chris says he’s fine, I believe him.” Oh, sure, NOW this team believes in the sanctity of the disabled list.

Thoughts on the roster and how it can change - School of Roch
"Manager Buck Showalter wants to go back to a four-man bench, especially with Trey Mancini day-to-day with a bruised left knee. He has six starters and seven relievers, and placing Chris Tillman in the bullpen - if that’s the move - only shuffles the deck. Same number of cards."

Details emerge on Astros-Orioles failed Zach Britton deal | MLB | Sporting News
"Details have emerged on the failed deals and the consensus is pretty simple among insiders: the Astros got too attached to their prospects."

Catching up with ... former Orioles infielder Lenn Sakata - Baltimore Sun
“Earl Weaver made me a major league player,” the 63-year-old Lenn Sakata said of the former Orioles manager. “He saved my career. In Milwaukee (Sakata’s previous team), all they did was tell me how crappy I was. I went six weeks there without stepping on the field. But Earl was a winner who used everyone to win the game. Just wearing the Oriole uniform made me feel like I was worth something.”

Birthdays and History

Happy Birthday to former Orioles John Wasdin and Nelson Briles. They share this birthday with famous people including film director John Huston 1906; first man on the moon Neil A. Armstrong 1930; actress ("WKRP in Cincinnati") Loni Anderson 1946; "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! " actress Maureen McCormick 1956; guitarist Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) 1959; author David Baldacci 1960; actress Tawney Kitaen 1961; NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing 1962; M.C.A. of the Beastie Boys Adam Yauch 1964; and MLB player and dinosaur denier Carl Crawford 1981.

Today in Baltimore baseball history...

1901 - Burt Hart punches John Haskell and will be banned for life as a result his assault on the umpire. The Oriole first baseman will play only 58 games in his major league career.

1996 - The Orioles score six runs in the 8th inning to take a 13 - 3 lead over the Indians. After scoring one run in their half of the inning, Cleveland comes back with six of their own in the 9th, but falls three short and loses, 13 - 10. Chris Hoiles drives home four runs for the Orioles.

Today in world history...

1833 - The village of Chicago was incorporated. The population was approximately 250.

1861 - The U.S. federal government levied its first income tax. The tax was 3% of all incomes over $800. The wartime measure was rescinded in 1872.

1884 - On Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid.

1914 - The first electric traffic signal lights were installed in Cleveland, Ohio.

1921 - The first play-by-play broadcast of a baseball game was done by Harold Arlin. KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, PA described the action between the Pirates and Philadelphia.

1960 - For the first time two major league baseball clubs traded managers. Detroit traded Jimmy Dykes for Cleveland's Joe Gordon.

1963 - The Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed by the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. The treaty banned nuclear tests in space, underwater, and in the atmosphere.

2011 - Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on a mission to Jupiter. It was the first solar-powered spacecraft to go to Jupiter.

Consider this your discussion space for last night’s series finale of @midnight - I’ll be firing up the DVR myself this morning.