koji uehara

Orioles: Orioles playing waiting game with unsigned draft picks. Club has had talks with top choice Dylan Bundy; things not progressing well with second-round selection Jason Esposito.

The Red Sox found yet another way to humiliate the Orioles on Monday night, breaking a tie with an eight-run eighth inning on their way to a 15-10 win. ... Andy MacPhail said he received "legitimate interest" from clubs about J.J. Hardy, but he felt the Orioles should keep Hardy instead of dealing him away for prospects. ... Alfredo Simon was headed back to the United States on Monday night after attending a legal hearing in the Dominican Republic and could return to the team by Tuesday. ... Kevin Gregg is still miffed about his suspension. ... Ravens running back Ray Rice said he never intended to disrespect Hines Ward when he commented about the Steelers wide receiver's DUI arrest a week ago, but he still stands by his remarks.

What the Orioles do over the next three months will chart a path for the next few years

Orioles: With another Orioles season derailed, focus again shifts to future. MacPhail, Showalter counting largely on pitching resurgence to right team struggling in every area.

The Orioles are plummeting out of contention, having lost four in a row, nine of their past 10 games and 18 of their past 24. They are 15 games back in the AL East -- can you believe that it's up to 15 now? -- and most of their recent losses haven't been close as they lost three of their past four games by a touchdown.

Oh, the mediocre have fallen. The Orioles, who a month ago were staying somewhat relevant and hanging around in the AL East, now have the second-worst record in the American League and are a dozen games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card standings.

Matt Wieters' selection to next week's All-Star Game was sweet, sweet redemption for the young catcher, who was labeled as one of the biggest busts in baseball history by Baseball Prospectus before the start of the season -- just his third in the major leagues.

When the Orioles played at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Monday night for the first time since that fateful meeting, Buck Showalter was in the visiting dugout.

Derrek Lee smacked a solo homer off Jose Arredondo in the 12th inning, ending the Orioles' 5-4 victory over the Reds in front of an announced 45,382, the second sellout crowd this season.

Orioles: Orioles push Jake Arrieta's start back to Wednesday. Move will allow right-hander to rest ailing elbow; Brian Matusz to start Saturday.

Life in Canada was no different for the Orioles on Tuesday, as the Blue Jays won, 6-5, in 11 innings when Adam Lind hit a walk-off home run against reliever Koji Uehara. ... Mark Connor, who has been with Buck Showalter in each of his four stops as manager, resigned as pitching coach, citing personal reasons. ... The drumbeat of an NFL labor resolution grew louder with rumblings that a deal -- or at least the framework of one -- could be reached within the next month. ... Despite three transfers, two early departures and two academic casualties in recent weeks, Maryland football coach Randy Edsall remains positive. ... The MRI on Orioles pitching prospect Dan Klein's shoulder was inconclusive and he will fly to California for further testing.

Baltimore Orioles: Brian Matusz felt like he needed one more rehab start before rejoining the Orioles. Now, it's up to the Orioles to decide if he was right.

Orioles notebook

Rays make Orioles' Britton pay for one bad inning