Thursday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles are out there looking for a lefty

Hello, friends.

Remember how much you were annoyed at the Orioles following Tuesday's game? After all, both Monday and Tuesday brought us frustrating games. For as bad as those two games were, the Orioles have survived Manny Machado's suspension by going 2-2 in those four games, and thanks to some other teams helping out, they've even extended their lead on the Red Sox in that time. The O's now lead by two games.

The Orioles helped themselves, too, by capitalizing on an Ubaldo Jimenez quality start in Wednesday's game. If you missed it, make sure to check out Stacey's recap of the game - and don't forget to make your voice heard in the Most Birdland Player poll in the recap, either.

After a much-deserved off day, the Orioles will tackle the Rays. They get first place all to themselves on this off day. They need it, too, to give the bullpen a rest, to give everyone a rest, really. With four games coming in up in three days this weekend, the fresher they can get before that, the better.

Now let's roll through an off day edition of the links.

Around the blogO'sphere

Showalter on Jimenez: "I would have signed up for that" - School of Roch
It's always a treat to hear from Buck Showalter, and here he is on last night's win. It's not a sure thing that Jimenez will make the next start on this turn in the rotation.

Orioles interested in acquiring lefty starter | MLB.com
There will be more to say about this on CC later today - check back later in the morning - but for now, it seems the Orioles are interested in getting a lefty starter, like Pittsburgh's Francisco Liriano or San Diego's Drew Pomeranz.

Orioles infielder Paul Janish will accept outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk - Baltimore Sun
If you've been losing sleep over the fate of Paul Janish, fret no longer. He's heading back to Norfolk and staying with the organization.

O's Brian Duensing on heading to the DL, Ashur Tolliver on returning to team - Steve Melewski
MASN's Steve Melewski talked to both of the Orioles relievers involved in yesterday's transaction.

As Jonathan Schoop's offense continues to improve, his spot in Orioles batting order rises - Baltimore Sun
Schoop is hitting better and thus hitting higher in the order. He was third in the lineup yesterday. We'll see how this continues once Manny Machado is back in the lineup.

Where is Manny Machado most valuable to the Baltimore Orioles? (ESPN)
Speaking of Machado, should he be at third base or shortstop? This has always been something of an academic question as long as J.J. Hardy is in good health.

Orioles sign 15 Draft picks, for total of 21 | orioles.com
Just a bit of routine business. The Orioles signed another 15 draft picks yesterday. The highest of these was fifth rounder Alexis Torres. They also signed my new favorite minor leaguer, 34th rounder Lucas Brown. No relation.

Birthdays and anniversaries

Of all the players to ever play for the Orioles, only one has a birthday today: former NBAer and 2009-11 Oriole Mark Hendrickson, who turns 42 today.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include the following: Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534), sex researcher Alfred Kinsey (1894), famous abdicator Edward VIII of England (1894), codebreaker and artificial intelligence father Alan Turing (1912), former Ravens owner Art Modell (1925), Fargo actress Frances McDormand (1957), Firefly creator Joss Whedon (1964), infamous head butt deliverer Zinedine Zidane (1972), and the Camden Chat community's favorite hurdler, Michelle Jenneke (1993).

On this day in history...

In 229, in China's Three Kingdom's period, Sun Quan proclaimed himself the Emperor of Eastern Wu. Sun Quan was the longest-lived of the original founders of the kingdoms of the era. He ruled until 252.

In 1314, as part of the First War of Scottish Independence, Scottish and English forces began fighting the Battle of Bannockburn, which Scotland would win. This is the battle at the very end of Braveheart.

In 1894, the International Olympic Committee was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris.

In 1926, the College Board administered the first SAT.

In 1972, President Nixon and his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman, were taped discussing how to use the CIA to impede the FBI's investigation of the Watergate break-ins.

**

And that's the way it is in Birdland on June 23 - or at least, unless something happens later. Have a safe Thursday. Go Orioles!