Welcome to the dead zone of sports.

The subsequent days after the MLB All-Star game are some of the quietest days on the sports calendar. Maybe you’ll catch up on cheap reality TV shows or watch marathons of your favorite drama series.

We’re not taking days off at the BSR headquarters, however. No chance.

An exciting second half of the baseball season is on tap as the O’s look to distance themselves in the A.L. East standings starting tomorrow night in Oakland against the Athletics.

In what is sure to be an intriguing matchup and potential playoff preview, both teams have had major success in the second half of the baseball season. According to STATS Inc, the Athletics sport an MLB-best .636 winning percentage after the All-Star break in 2012 and ’13 combined. Oakland’s record during that time is 91-52, the Orioles themselves are pretty good during that time frame, sporting an 80-63 record, good for 4th in the majors.

Here are your headlines for Thursday, July 17th.

Baltimore Orioles

Orioles promote Mike Yastrzemski to Double-A Bowie [Camden Chat]

Dominic A. Vadala writes that tomorrow starts “the season” for the Baltimore Orioles [birdswatcher.com]

Brittany Ghiroli’s piece on the Orioles hope to maintain their first half success [mlb.com]

Baltimore Ravens

The No. 3 ranked Ravens player heading into the 2014 season as written by Jamison Hensley [espn.com]

The Ravens are the 19th most valuable sports franchise in the world [baltimorebeatdown.com]