O's president Andy MacPhail made the decision this morning to option Craig Tatum to Triple-A to make roster room for Matt Wieters, who comes off the DL today. A few minutes ago, outside the manager's office, MacPhail talked about the decision to send Tatum out and also had some comments on the current trade market in baseball. "All the time I've been in baseball, sometimes the hardest thing for players to really get their arms around is sometimes things happen to him that really don't...

The good news for Craig Tatum is he avoided the disabled list. The bad news is he couldn't avoid the minors. The Orioles optioned Tatum to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Matt Wieters. Tatum, who's batting .271 in 32 games, met with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and interim manager Juan Samuel. "They just said, 'Go down to Norfolk and we'll see when we can get you back,'" Tatum said. "Andy told me it wasn't from a lack of production or anything like...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton DH Felix Pie CF Matt Wieters C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Twins: Repko CF Casilla 2B Young LF Thome DH Cuddyer 1B Kubel RF Valencia 3B Punto SS Butera C Slowey RHP Interim manager Juan Samuel just called Craig Tatum into his office after he spoke with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.

Craig Tatum has his right hand wrapped in ice, but he swung a bat and did some throwing earlier this morning and hopes to avoid a trip to the disabled list. Tatum was hit by a foul tip last night and left the game. "It's fine," he said. "It feels good. I threw and hit and it didn't really hurt. The swelling just disappeared overnight. It was really swollen last night, and I woke up this morning and it's gone. "It's still sore, but not too bad." The Orioles need to clear room on...

Brian Matusz hates questions about his previous starts. But he had to know someone would ask how he dealt with giving up 10 ER over 4 2/3 coming into this start tonight. Was it a test for him mentally as he took the mound tonight vs. Minnesota, coming off those two outings? "For me, I take one game at a time. If I have a bad game, I forget about it. But the media likes to put a lot on, you know, if he has a couple bad starts is he going down (to the minors) and you guys make a big deal...

Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler gets the start today in the final game of the series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Detwiler pitched seven scoreless innings Wednesday afternoon for the Harrisburg Senators. Detwiler thinks it will actually help him having only four days rest. "I think it will be better. It is close to my bullpen day so I think I will be better because my location is finer. "I felt good after my seven inning game Wednesday. Normally, I ride the bike for 15 to 20...

X-rays taken on catcher Craig Tatum's right hand came back negative. He's dealing with a bruise, but nothing more serious at the moment. The club will check on him tomorrow before deciding whether he needs to go on the disabled list. If he does, Matt Wieters will take his place on the 25-man roster. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters that the swelling has gone down in Tatum's hand.

Catcher Craig Tatum left the game in the seventh inning after taking a foul tip off his right hand. Jake Fox has replaced him with two outs and Jason Berken on the mound. Berken's pitch glanced off Jason Repko's bat and caught Tatum in the hand. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells rushed onto the field, and Tatum accompanied him into the clubhouse. Matt Wieters comes off the disabled list tomorrow and the Orioles need to decide whether to eliminate Tatum or Fox from the 25-man roster....

Well, this was a better outing for lefty Brian Matusz. Not good, but better. After giving up 10 ER in just 4 2/3 over his past two starts, tonight he gave up six hits and three runs over five innings. Matusz's velocity seemed to be up over his last outing and he hit 91 and 92 on the gun, more Matusz- like. But his control abandoned him at the start as he walked three of the first four hitters to load the bases. But he gave up just one run that inning and did a very good job of minimizing...

In case you were wondering, Luke Scott hasn't cooled off. Twins center fielder Denard Span robbed him of a home run in the second inning, but Scott wouldn't be denied in the fourth. He drove a fastball over the right field fence after Nick Markakis was hit by a pitch, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Scott gave Adam Jones another hug on the on-deck circle before reaching the dugout. He did the same thing last night. Scott is 10-for-22 with four homers since coming off the disabled...