The Orioles will meet with Buck Showalter about their managerial job Wednesday and are also planning to schedule a second interview with Eric Wedge. However, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has still not requested permission to interview a candidate employed by another club.
"The first group that we're talking to has experience, has had some success managing and they're not affiliated with any team," MacPhail said. "That's the first group we're talking to. We'll see how we are and how they feel, and then we'll determine from there."
MacPhail declined to comment further on the process, but the club's focus could easily be interpreted as a sign it is content with the candidates it has spoken to — who include Wedge, Showalter and Bobby Valentine — or is in no hurry to hire a permanent replacement for Dave Trembley, who was fired June 4.
MacPhail has said he would be surprised if a new manager is hired before the All-Star break. After Sunday's loss to the San Diego Padres in the series finale, the Orioles fell to 4-11 under interim manager Juan Samuel.
Both Valentine, the former New York Mets and Texas Rangers manager, and Wedge, who managed the Cleveland Indians for seven seasons, interviewed with the Orioles during the last homestand.
Valentine met owner Peter Angelos while Wedge didn't, which could be one of the reasons the Orioles are scheduling a second interview with Wedge.
Wieters dumps slump
Trying to ease the workload on struggling catcher Matt Wieters, Samuel has been sitting the 24-year-old for day games after the team played the previous night. However, Samuel scrapped the plan temporarily to include him in Sunday's lineup and watched Wieters end an 0-for-16 skid with a three-run double in the first inning.
It was just Wieters' fourth hit over his past 35 at-bats. He had been hitless in 10 of his past 16 starts. He went 1-for-3 on Sunday with a walk, leaving his batting average at .223.
Despite his struggle — Wieters is hitting just .190 since May 1 — both MacPhail and Samuel have said there have been no discussions of demoting the highly touted catcher to Triple-A Norfolk.
"We haven't even thought about it," Samuel said. "We just [leave] that to the people that make the decision when they feel it is the time to do something, but it has not been discussed at all."
MacPhail acknowledged that Wieters has had to handle a lot of responsibility in his first full year in the major leagues.
"He's making progress defensively, struggling with the bat," MacPhail said. "We're going to try to do what we can to ease some of the burden off him because that's a heavy load for a young kid — calling the game, working with young pitchers, adjusting to major league pitching. As you've seen, he's been getting more rest periodically. There is a lot on him. Obviously, he has to continue to make adjustments. He's making progress on the defensive part of the game. It's just a lot on a young kid's plate."
MacPhail: No issues with Markakis
MacPhail became the latest member of the organization to say he had no problem with the recent comments by outfielder Nick Markakis, who criticized the approach of the Orioles' offense last week in an article in The Baltimore Sun.
"I thought what he said was accurate to the extent that we're not as disciplined or as patient an offensive group as one would like," MacPhail said. "Our record is what our record is. Our productivity levels are what they are. There is no sense trying to say anything else. I think his comments are, by and large, accurate.
"The reason our record is what it is isn't because [of] Nick Markakis. Since he's been here for a while and he's one of the guys we're building around, it's not inappropriate for him to say what he thinks on occasion. His effort on the field certainly hasn't waned. I don't have a problem with it."
Around the horn
Demoted starter Chris Tillman was sick and not available to pitch out of the bullpen in Sunday's game. He was not used in the Orioles' final five games on the West Coast trip, and there is a good possibility he'll be optioned to Norfolk this week. … Outfielder Felix Pie (torn muscle in back) will play three extended spring training games, starting with one Monday, and then begin a seven-game rehabilitation stint with Orioles minor league teams. The first will likely be at Single-A Frederick, and then he'll probably go to Double-A Bowie. … The Orioles got good reports on reliever Michael Gonzalez's velocity during his simulated game Saturday. He'll throw another Monday and then start pitching in extended spring training games. He's about a week from going on a rehab assignment … Reliever Koji Uehara (right forearm strain) will throw a live bullpen session Monday. … Reliever Jim Johnson (slight tear in elbow) remains pain-free during his flat-ground sessions and could graduate to throwing off the mound this week. Samuel said it's unlikely Johnson will return before the All-Star break … Samuel met with seldom-used first baseman Garrett Atkins before Saturday's game "to let him know that I haven't forgot about him," the manager said. Atkins has started just four of the Orioles' 18 games this month and one of their past 10 contests. ... The Orioles have agreed to terms with 29th-round pick Cameron Roth, a left-handed pitcher out of UNC Wilmington. … Triple-A first baseman Brandon Snyder went on the minor league disabled list with a right shoulder strain.
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