Sunday’s Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles don’t appreciate Manny Machado

Morning, Birdland!

The saga of Manny Machado in Baltimore is a complicated one. At this point, it has boiled down to a rather simple scenario: The Orioles are going to trade him by July 31, and he will then sign somewhere other than the Charm City this offseason. It could have all gone down so differently.

But it didn’t, and so here we are. I’m not sure where you are in the grieving process, but I have made it to acceptance. The sadness is all gone. Instead, I’m just enjoying these last couple days or weeks we have with one of the finest players in franchise history.

Oh yeah, the Orioles lost again yesterday, but you probably already knew that. This time it was 6-2 loss to the Angels mostly thanks to a bullpen implosion. They look to avoid a second consecutive sweep later today.

Links

O’s agree to deal with 37th overall pick, Cadyn Grenier - MLBTradeRumors
The College World Series hero is now a professional. His next stop is apparently Delmarva. His final amateur season just finished up, so the middle infielder should be in fine shape to help out the Shorebirds.

Are two favorites emerging for Manny Machado? Or is it four? - Fancred Sports
In case you missed it, FanRag is now Fancred. Anyway, Jon Heyman is still around and in this piece he focuses in on the Phillies as potential leaders in the Manny sweepstakes.

O’Day to have season-ending surgery - Orioles.com
Fudge. Fudge. Fudge!! Richard Bleier was already out for the season, and now he is joined by Darren O’Day. It’s a shame. The submariner was in the midst of another solid season, and the Baltimore bullpen could use his veteran presence.

Machado: In early extension talks, Orioles ‘never reached out and showed that appreciation like the Angels did to Trout’ - Baltimore Sun
If I’m following this story straight, the Orioles DID reach out to Machado a few years ago regarding an extension, BUT they didn’t do it enough in a way that showed they cared. HOWEVER, Manny is happy anyway. Got it.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!

It’s the 46th birthday for 2007-2009 left-handed reliever Jamie Walker. During his time in Baltimore, Walker pitched to a 4.67 ERA, 98 ERA+ and 5.40 FIP over 111.2 innings. Also celebrating is Nelson Cruz, who turns 38 today. He spent the 2014 season with the O’s and hit .271/.333/.525 while leading the league with 40 home runs. Cruz now plays for the Mariners and makes all Orioles fans resent the fact that he left after just one year in town.

Other notable birthdays: Dan Akroyd (1952), Carl Lewis (1961), Missy Elliott (1971), Patrick Kluivert (1976), Ruud van Nistelrooy (1976), Liv Tyler (1977), Jarome Iginla (1977).

1957 - George Zuvernik and Frank Zupo form the first “Z” battery in MLB history for the Orioles in a 3-2 win over the Yankees.

1967 - Jim Palmer (a close personal friend of mine, you know) gives up a grand slam...in a minor league rehab appearance for the Rochester Red Wings. His manager that day: Earl Weaver.

1979 - Sony introduces the Walkman.

1983 - The “PG-13” rating is introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America.

1987 - WFAN becomes the world’s first all-sports radio station when it launches in New York City.