The voting is complete, the rosters are selected, so now it's time to dissect how everyone did in the All-Star voting for next week's game in Kansas City. First of all, it's a good thing that fans, players and managers each get to have a say on which players make the team. The system works. Here's the nutshell: Every team needs to be represented, but the rosters should be cut to 27 and starters should be required to play at last four innings. The winner shouldn't get home field advantage...

About midway through the Saturday afternoon game at Camden Yards, the comment at work was made that the mentions of the Orioles on Twitter were blowing up. Granted, it wasn't for the Birds' game in the least, as they eventually dug their own graves in an 11-5 loss to Cleveland. Instead, attached to every tweet was the name of Jim Thome. A veteran in the truest sense of the word, the 41-year-old is once again on an American League roster and serving as the O's designated hitter. As an...

When it comes to the Orioles these days, the great debate centers on the biggest concern. The defense? It's been tagged for 69 errors in 78 games, most in the majors. The offense? It perked up a little over the weekend with a combined 14 runs in two games, but the Orioles managed only two yesterday and didn't have a baserunner until the fifth inning. The pitching? The starters have a 4.82 ERA that's the fourth-highest in the majors. So what's a team to do? Well, the Orioles traded for...

So, did anything happen the last two days at Camden Yards? Well, first Earl Weaver was honored and it was amazing, emotional and special. Just as we were finishing writing our stories on that came word of a trade and that Jim Thome would be headed to Baltimore. Then we interviewed the other players talking about Thome's addition. Then we found out the Orioles had three All-Stars and Jason Hammel could become a fourth. Then we interviewed them to talk about the honor. Then the game...

The Orioles are preparing to recall right-hander Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk and insert him into their bullpen during their West Coast trip that begins tomorrow night in Seattle. Johnson will replace left-hander Brian Matusz on the 25-man roster. Matusz was optioned after today's 6-2 loss to the Indians at Camden Yards. Johnson, 24, is 3-5 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 games, including nine starts. He's allowed 43 hits, walked 24 and struck out 63 in 62 2/3 innings, and opponents are...

The Indians lost five straight games before arriving in Baltimore, but they took three of four in this series. Brian Matusz gave up five runs (four earned) and seven hits in four innings and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He hasn't been the same pitcher since holding the Rays to one run and two hits in 7 1/3 innings back on June 2. What happened? "The same thing that Miguel (Gonzalez) did really well, he hasn't been able to do, and that's command his fastball," said manager Buck...

After a lengthy postgame stop in the manager's office, Brian Matusz emerged today to talk about being sent back to the minor leagues. Was he surprised that he is being sent back to Triple-A? "No, not at all. My last five or six outings or so just haven't been getting the job done. Today was just really inconsistent. There were signs of good pitches, but just haven't been putting it together. You know, it's killing the bullpen and makes it tough. Moves have to be made. I have to go down...

The Orioles announced that they have optioned left-hander Brian Matusz to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. Matusz is 5-10 with a 5.42 ERA in 16 starts this season after taking the loss in today's game (4.0IP, 7H, 5R/4ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR). He is 0-5 with an 8.44 ERA (21.1IP, 20ER) in his last five starts.

The changes keep coming to the Orioles' 25-man roster, and to their rotation. Less than 24 hours after Tommy Hunter was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles made the same move with left-hander Brian Matusz following today's 6-2 loss to the Indians at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed the move after meeting with reporters. He called Matusz into his office to break the news. Matusz is 0-5 with an 8.44 ERA (21 1/3 innings pitched, 20 earned runs) in his last five...

After getting hammered in two mid-week games against the Angels, the Orioles were hoping to get back on track with a four-game series against Cleveland. The Tribe came to Camden Yards riding a five-game losing streak and a record of 11-19 over its previous 30 games. But another poor outing by another starter led to another loss today as the Tribe beat the Orioles 6-2. Cleveland scored 32 runs in the series in taking three of four. Today, Brian Matusz could not get an out in the fifth inning...