The play still haunts Jordan Westburg and serves as a hard lesson.

Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ young star, reached on a tie-breaking infield single with two outs in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the Wild Card series. Westburg’s throw to first base was late as Kyle Isbel crossed the plate in a 2-1 loss that completed the sweep at Camden Yards.

Westburg keeps replaying it in his head, with the same result. He made a diving stop on a ground ball up the middle with runners on the corners, and Gunnar Henderson raced to second base in case Westburg tried for the force.

“Witt is fast,” Westburg told the media while standing at his locker inside a quiet clubhouse. “I got to the ball and made a stop. It’s kind of sandwiched in between dirt and my glove. Didn’t pick it clean right away. Probably took an extra half second to kind of get my feet underneath me and try and get off a throw and he was too fast. Yeah, I want to make that play. It’s a tough play. I’m trying not to beat myself up over that.”

"I was in the hole a little bit, so I was doing my best over there to get it," Henderson said. "Felt like whatever way he decided to go. Obviously the guy at first (Michael Massey) can run and Bobby obviously can run really well. Just tough play."

Not long after Mike Elias' addition to head up Orioles baseball operations is made official, one of his first big moves will be choosing which manager he hires to succeed Buck Showalter. Would Elias consider someone from Houston? If he does, he could look to Astros bench coach Joe Espada, who has interviewed for multiple managing openings this year, including in Toronto. He's been a hot candidate after serving just one season as Houston bench coach. He joined the staff in 2018, replacing Alex...

Players who remain in recovery mode from a 115-loss season that left marks on them continue to process the changes that have been made and brace for the ones that are coming. The Orioles chose Mike Elias, who turns 36 next month and hasn't worked above the assistant level, to replace executive vice president Dan Duquette. He's allowed to hand-pick the next manager, who won't bring the same experience and honors as predecessor Buck Showalter. None of the coaches are under contract and an...

There is a lot to like about Mike Elias, who is expected to soon officially join the Orioles and head up the club's baseball operations. He got his start in scouting in a sharp and smart St. Louis Cardinals organization. He worked closely in Houston with general manager Jeff Luhnow for perhaps the most progressive and forward-thinking organization in the majors. Elias saw Houston lose 107 and 111 games in his first two years in that organization in 2012 and 2013, and then was a big part of...

Former Orioles second baseman Rich Dauer offered a strong endorsement yesterday of Mike Elias, who's been chosen to head the baseball operations department. Three seasons in Houston as first base coach and infield instructor gave him a nice perspective while Elias rose to assistant general manager and became a hotter commodity. Reached on the phone before attending last night's reunion of the 1983 World Series team, Dauer said the Orioles are "getting a good one." They just haven't made it...

HOUSTON - Unfortunately for the Orioles, a three-game losing streak has truly been a team effort. Has the offense or the starting pitching been worse? They have both been pretty bad and that is why they've been outscored 19-3 in losing the last three games. The O's offense has produced one run the last two games and three runs on 12 hits the past three. During the same span, O's starting pitchers have allowed 15 runs (14 earned) on 20 hits, with seven homers allowed over 13 innings. On top...

It was interesting to read a report from MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko a few days ago about the Orioles approaching Zach Britton earlier this year to gauge his interest in returning to a starter's role. It seems Britton was just fine with staying as a closer and all of this happened before his recent Achilles surgery, which will delay his start to the 2018 season. While the Orioles seem very unlikely to move a reliever into a starter's role for 2018, I have often thought the reliever best...

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen gave up singles to George Springer and Jose Altuve on his first two pitches this afternoon, but he escaped the jam with a pop-up, strikeout and fly ball. Altuve was in a 3-for-32 slump over his last eight games. Preston Tucker and Jonathan Villar opened the second inning with singles to create another jam, but Hank Conger bunted into a 1-5-3 double play. So this is Chen's plan against the Astros? Two quick singles followed by three outs? Apparently not....

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - While the Orioles decide on their next third base coach, one of their early candidates, Rich Dauer, has taken a job as manager with Double-A San Antonio. Dauer never heard from the Orioles and yesterday accepted an offer from San Antonio, a San Diego Padres affiliate. "We've been talking for a couple of weeks," said Dauer, who was dismissed as Rockies third base coach after the season. "Nothing seems to get done real quick. Everybody's taking their time and I was...

It doesn't appear that the Orioles will hire a third base coach before convening in Nashville for the Winter Meetings. Rich Dauer is in their Hall of Fame. He's on their list. Now he's just waiting for their phone call. Dauer spent all 10 seasons of his major league career with the Orioles and played on the 1979 and 1983 World Series teams. Recently fired as Rockies third base coach following manager Jim Tracy's resignation, he's hoping to go full circle and land in Baltimore. "I...

As expected, former Rockies third base coach Rich Dauer and former Rangers and Indians third base coach Steve Smith are confirmed outside candidates for the Orioles job. Dauer was fired following the 2012 season, his fourth in Colorado, and the Indians decided not to retain Smith after hiring Terry Francona as manager. Dauer, 60, has local ties, though no connection to Orioles manager Buck Showalter. He spent all 10 seasons of his major league career with the Orioles and played on the 1979...

New Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Mussina said he understood that some Baltimore fans were mad at him when he signed with the Yankees. But he said time heals some of that and he was pleased with the reception he got tonight as he entered the Orioles' Hall. "I think time settles things down," Mussina said. "I think it was a nice reception today. I think the people were glad to see me come back. It was nice to be on the field again. It was a nice reception and I think right now most people are...

Mike Mussina still has the same thin build that we remember when he stood on the mound for 18 seasons, including the first 10 in Baltimore. The only real change in his appearance is the goatee, which is speckled with gray hairs. Otherwise, he looks like the same guy who won 147 games and spun three one-hitters with the Orioles. Mussina and former second baseman Rich Dauer will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame before Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards....

Upon announcement of his election to the Orioles Hall of Fame today, Mike Mussina said he could understand that the Baltimore fans were frustrated with his decision to sign with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2001 season. "Looking back, I can understand people being upset, frustrated and bitter. Especially when you leave Baltimore and go to a rival city in the same division. I can understand that. It was a decision that I made at the time and it probably worked out for me," Mussina...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The choice was obvious. How Mike Mussina will be received at Camden Yards remains the mystery. Mussina has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame, setting up a reunion that was destined to happen in spite of his final eight pinstriped seasons. Former second baseman Rich Dauer was chosen by the Veterans Committee. And longtime scout Walter Youse was chosen as the Herb Armstrong Award winner for non-uniformed personnel who have made significant contributions to the ballclub...