Wednesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles didn’t participate in the All Star Game

Happy Wednesday, Camden Chatters! We’re still two days away from baseball resuming, so enjoy your reprieve from Orioles baseball for a bit longer. The good news about last night’s All Star Game is that the American League continued to assert its dominance over the National League.

The bad news is that the lone representative for the Orioles, John Means, did not get to make an appearance. I was really hoping to see him, even if I didn’t think it that likely. But at least he’ll be well rested for the second half. The Orioles are gonna need him to keep from being totally embarrassing.

Links

Baltimore deserves and needs an All-Star Game - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Tell 'em, Rich!

Is Andrew Cashner A Possible Target Of The Boston Red Sox? - Birds Watcher
I know Cashner has been decent this year, but would he really bring back anything worthwhile in a trade?

Orioles prospect Mason McCoy tells himself he’s the best hitter in the league. This year, he has been. - Baltimore Sun
Jon Meoli has a nice story on one of the most surprising over achievers in the Orioles minor league system this year.

Orioles' Latin American Signings Mark 'Pretty Significant Shift' - Press Box Online
Baseball America's Ben Badler weighs in on the O's entrance into the international market.

All-stars like looks of regional attractions - Sandusky Register
I am showing this to you all because it's weird. It appears that someone from the Sandusky Register made a homemade poster with pictures of things to do around the town of Sandusky, Ohio. It included captions written in sharpie. During media day they had all of the players pose with the poster and tell them which things on the poster they'd be interested in doing. "Nolan Arenado, a six-time Gold Glove Award winner from the Colorado Rockies, likes the look of a seafaring voyage in a sailboat around Sandusky Bay. 'That would be real peaceful,' Arenado said." There is a pic of John Means with the poster but no word on what activity he'd like to do.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You are birthday buddies with Orioles pitcher Josh Rogers, who recently underwent his second Tommy John surgery. Rogers turns 25 years old today and I’m hopeful he’s in good spirits despite his recent setback.

And he’s not the only birthday buddy you have from the Orioles! Also:

• Recently-converted-to-the-bullpen pitcher David Hess turns 26 today. Hess is currently with the Norfolk Tides but I’m sure he’ll get another chance in Baltimore soon.
• Johnny Giavotella, who played in seven games for the 2017 Orioles, turns 32 years old today. Those seven games were his last as a major leaguer and he officially retired in August 2018.
• Marty Cordova, an outfielder for the Orioles from 2002-03, turns the big 5-0 today! Cordova’s playing time in Baltimore was unmemorable, but he’ll always be remembered for that time he had to miss a few games because he fell asleep in a tanning bed.
• Lefty relief pitcher Buddy Groom turns 54 today. Groom appeared in 330 games for the Orioles from 2000-04. His best season was in 2002 at the age of 36 when he posted a 1.60 ERA in 70 games.
• Bob Bailor turns 68 years old today. Bailor appeared in five games for the 1975 Orioles and nine games for the 1976 Orioles. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft and went on to appear in 522 games for Toronto from 1976-80.

On this day in 1968, Earl Weaver replaced Hank Bauer as the manager of the Orioles.

In 2001, Cal Ripken made his final All Star appearance. Cal hit a home run in the 4-1 American League win and took home MVP honors.