That's a 4-0 lead (updated twice)

That's a 4-0 lead (updated twice)
You'll forgive Brian Matusz if he doesn't recognize it. In his last five starts, Matusz had received a total of six runs while he remained in the game. In his last 10 starts, he received 12. Tonight, the Orioles hung four runs on the board in the bottom of the second, beginning with back-to-back homers from Luke Scott and Adam Jones. Scott jumped on a breaking ball, Jones a fastball. It was the first time the Orioles had gone back-to-back since Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold turned the...
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MacPhail discusses managerial search

MacPhail discusses managerial search
Buck Showalter became the latest candidate to interview for the Orioles' managerial position, meeting for about three hours earlier today with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and majority owner Peter Angelos. MacPhail admits that it's an awkward process to keep updating reporters on the proceedings while Juan Samuel is currently serving as interim manager. He didn't provide many details on today's meeting beyond saying that it was "enjoyable" and that he finds these...
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From one interim to another

From one interim to another
The Marlins will trot out their own interim manager tonight when Edwin Rodriguez, fresh from Triple-A New Orleans, takes over the ballclub. Does Juan Samuel have any advice for Rodriguez? "Maybe I need some myself, instead of giving some of those guys advice," he said, grinning. "I'm trying to do what I can here with my club to get them going, and I'm sure he's going to do the same." Fredi Gonzalez's firing hit close to home for Samuel, since he took charge of the Orioles following...
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Koji progressing (w/Tillman update)

Koji progressing (w/Tillman update)
Koji Uehara is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game tomorrow, his first chance to face live hitters. The Orioles will determine whether he needs to go on an injury rehab assignment. Uehara made 30 throws off flat ground yesterday. As far as we know, he hasn't stood on a mound during his time in Sarasota, so a rehab assignment seems like the next logical step. "It all depends how it goes, whether he stays here or if he needs to go on a rehab assignment," interim manager Juan Samuel said....
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Marlins: Coghlan LF G. Sanchez 1B Ramirez SS Cantu DH Uggla 2B Ross CF Stanton RF Helms 3B Paulino C Nolasco RHP Koji Uehara is here. Bobby Valentine won't be here, and the timing of his public dismissal of the Orioles is most interesting with Fredi Gonzalez being fired today. I think we can connect the...
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Another one bites the dust

Another one bites the dust
Apparently, it's not a good idea to manage at Camden Yards. It doesn't do much to enhance your job security. The Marlins have fired Fredi Gonzalez and replaced him on an interim basis with Triple-A New Orleans manager Edwin Rodriguez. When is the last time that two interim managers squared off in a three-game series? The Marlins also fired bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley. Imagine if they had the worst record in baseball? Florida is 34-36 after last night's 10-4...
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Do you remember?

Do you remember?
The news that the Orioles designated Cla Meredith for assignment yesterday reminded me of spring training and the optimism that flooded the clubhouse. They were 0-0 in the regular season. It wasn't standing-room-only for the disabled list. Times were good. Meredith was really good, allowing one earned run in 10 2/3 innings, with no walks and five strikeouts. He looked like an extremely valuable part of the bullpen, a ground ball machine, but he was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games with the...
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Jeremy spoke

Jeremy spoke
Jeremy Guthrie lost his fifth consecutive start tonight despite dominating in the middle innings. I thought the location was better later in the game," he said. "I made terrible pitches with the slider, especially in the inning that hurt me. I didn't really make great ones with it later on, so I just pretty much tried to quit throwing it. "Pitch execution was definitely the biggest difference between the second and the other innings." The Marlins jumped Guthrie for four runs in the...
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Juan and done

Juan and done
Interim manager Juan Samuel mentioned after tonight's 10-4 loss to the Marlins that starter Jeremy Guthrie "didn't look right" in the early innings. To be more precise, Guthrie was missing his spots, hung a few breaking balls and fell behind, 4-0, in the second. "But he settled down after that. We just couldn't hold them," Samuel said. "He just did not look good there the first couple of innings. Pitch count was getting up there. I started to worry a little bit, but then he kind of...
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Don't cry for Wolf

Don't cry for Wolf
Reliever Ross Wolf was excited to have his parents fly into Norfolk yesterday. He had no idea that their arrival would come on the same day that the Orioles traded him to the Oakland Athletics for utility man Jake Fox. "Bittersweet," he said. I had a brief chat with Wolf this afternoon while he waited for his flight to Las Vegas, where Triple-A Sacramento was playing later that night. Wolf, 27, said he found out about the trade after arriving at the ballpark yesterday, though both teams...
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Fox on MASN

Fox on MASN
Jake Fox made his Orioles debut tonight, pinch-hitting for shortstop Cesar Izturis as the potential tying run with one out in the seventh inning. The Marlins countered with left-hander Taylor Tankersley, which blew the percentages out the window. So much for righty vs. righty. Fox, who arrived at Camden Yards this afternoon, stepped out of the box twice while waiting for the ovation to die down. I'm kidding. Fox flied to the warning track in center on a 1-1 pitch, with Adam Jones advancing...
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The calm after the storm (updated twice)

The calm after the storm (updated twice)
Not sure if the Matt Wieters home run is the reason, but Jeremy Guthrie sure settled down after the second inning. Guthrie has retired 10 of the last 11 batters since he drilled Jorge Cantu on the left side and caused plate umpire Doug Eddings to warn both benches. Ronny Paulino's single leading off the fourth inning is the only smudge in that streak. Guthrie just turned in a routine fifth, getting two ground balls and a strikeout. He threw 55 pitches through the second. His count stands at...
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Unraveled early (w/update)

Unraveled early (w/update)
The Marlins sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Pretty much everything went wrong. Jeremy Guthrie gave up four hits, including Hanley Ramirez's two-run double. He hit his second batter of the game, Jorge Cantu, who followed Ramirez to the plate, and umpire Doug Eddings warned both benches. Guthrie also walked leadoff hitter Cody Ross to start the rally, and second baseman Scott Moore failed to glove Chris Coghlan's liner up the...
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Reimold, Gonzo and Pie updates

Reimold, Gonzo and Pie updates
Nolan Reimold is starting at first base tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. Reimold is carrying a five-game hitting streak that's raised his average to .221. He's hitting .450 in that span, with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. Reimold has hit safely in 13 of 17 games in June, batting .297 with a home run and seven RBIs. Left-hander Michael Gonzalez is scheduled to throw another inning Friday night for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He could pitch Monday for one of the in-state...
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More pre-game points

More pre-game points
Interim manager Juan Samuel joked that you "add a little headache" when trying to find at-bats for Garrett Atkins, who survived today's roster moves. "We've got some lefties coming up, and now that we're in our league, the DH spot is always open to get somebody in," Samuel said. "If you need to give Luke (Scott) an off-day or give Corey Patterson an off-day, we might face some lefties where Atkins needs to be in there. We've got a righty tomorrow, lefty next day, so we'll see what we...
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Gonzo's velocity is up (w/quotes)

Gonzo's velocity is up (w/quotes)
Michael Gonzalez threw 19 pitches in the first inning for the Gulf Coast League Orioles, and his fastball was clocked in the 90-91 mph range. He had trouble hitting the mid-80s a month ago. Felix Pie went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts as the designated hitter. "Those guys are going to continue to do their rehab down there," interim manager Juan Samuel said. Pie is expected to join an in-state affiliate later this week, perhaps by Thursday. Single-A Frederick will be...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Marlins: Coghlan LF Sanchez 1B Ramirez SS Cantu DH Uggla 2B Ross CF Stanton RF Helms 3B Paulino C Sanchez RHP Jake Fox's name is listed among the Orioles reserves. He's wearing No. 47. Cla Meredith, designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster, was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 games with...
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GCL update (w/Tillman update)

GCL update (w/Tillman update)
Michael Gonzalez began his injury rehab assignment today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles, throwing a scoreless first inning before Aaron Swenson replaced him. Gonzalez allowed a two-out single and struck out two. He retired the other batter on a pop up to first baseman Tyler Townsend. Felix Pie is serving as the designated hitter again and batting third. He's 0-for-2 with a strikeout and fly ball. Update: The Orioles optioned Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for newly...
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Atkins diet sheds him from lineup (w/Fox update)

Atkins diet sheds him from lineup (w/Fox update)
It's only been a week since the Orioles played a game at Camden Yards, but it feels much longer to me. I'll have to remind myself to put down the boxes and head to the ballpark this afternoon. The Orioles begin a three-game interleague series against the Marlins, and they aren't real familiar with right-hander Anibal Sanchez. Cesar Izturis is 2-for-3 with a double against him. Garrett Atkins and Julio Lugo are 0-for-3, and Luke Scott is 0-for-2 with a walk. That's it. Will another...
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Bergy through four (updated)

Bergy through four (updated)
Brad Bergesen has completed four innings tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, allowing one run and three hits, with no walks and two strikeouts. Bergesen retired the first eight Lehigh Valley batters before surrendering three straight singles (with two stolen bases mixed in). Bergesen has thrown 63 pitches, 46 for strikes. He threw 65 in 2 2/3 innings in his last start. Norfolk leads, 4-1. Josh Bell is 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. Rhyne Hughes added a two-run double, and Nolan Reimold is...
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