A few notes and Showalter's ranking in poll

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed last night that Miguel Gonzalez would start Sunday afternoon's game in Chicago, and the right-hander is officially listed in that spot. It's no longer TBD.

Bud Norris' role still needs to be determined. The starters for next week's series in Minnesota haven't been revealed.

According to STATS, the Orioles' 36-0 record when leading after seven innings is tied for the best mark in the majors. The Orioles are 39-0 when leading after the eighth, placing them among 12 teams without a loss.

The Orioles enter tonight's game ranked fifth in the majors and fourth in the American League with 97 home runs. Chris Davis is eighth in the league with 18 home runs and Manny Machado is tied for 10th with 16.

Last night's 2-0 loss was the sixth game at Camden Yards this season without a home run by either team. The Orioles had 12 homerless games in Baltimore last season, going 6-6.

According to STATS, last night marked the 234th homerless game in the history of Camden Yards. It also proves that there's a stat for pretty much everything in baseball.

An ESPN.com poll has determined that Showalter is the second-best manager in baseball behind the Giants' Bruce Bochy, winner of three World Series titles in a five-year span. The poll consisted of 50 scouts, executives, coaches and media members.

Four percent of the players chose Showalter as the manager they'd most want to play for other than their own. The Cubs' Joe Maddon was first with 35 percent.

Showalter was chosen as best tactician and tied with Bochy as the best at using an entire 25-man roster, was second behind Bochy at handling a pitching staff, third as most creative, tied for third with Terry Francona for best leader and fifth at developing young players.

His reaction to his garden gnome should rank first.

A National League executive who voted for Showalter as the best overall manager said: "You look at the Orioles' roster from 1 through 9 and it's not like you say, 'Oh my god, they're loaded with unbelievable talent.' Showalter never puts his team in a position to lose, and he massages a bullpen really well. Every time you play against Showalter, you're not going to just get by unless you're on your toes.''