File Photo Andy MacPhail

MacPhail attended the four-game series between Frederick and Wilmington this week, the first time this season he has seen the Keys, who were swept.

Matusz, the Orioles' top pick in the 2008 draft, began the season with Frederick , went to Bowie and is now with Baltimore, even though it is only his first year of pro ball. He has thrown 131 2-3 innings

"We are going to manage his inning load," MacPhail said Thursday as he watched Frederick lost to Wilmington, 6-5. "It's unlikely that we'll let this load get too heavy for him. I would imagine his work load is going to be reduced."

Rowell, the Orioles' top pick in the 2006 draft, is batting .225 with the Keys this year after hitting just .248 last year.

"I would think he would benefit from a change of scenery," MacPhail said. "His bat hasn't come around like we hoped when we drafted him. He's still young."

Rowell will be 21 on Sept. 10.

Despite the Keys' troubles this week, MacPhail has been impressed with many of the players.

"It's an interesting team. I think a lot of these guys have a chance to progress pretty far up the chain," he said.

He said he hasn't been too surprised by shortstop Pedro Florimon, who is batting .265 for the Keys this year after hitting just .222 in his first five.

"We had some guys last year that thought he was going to get stronger with the bat," MacPhail said. "They had an indication that he might have a breakthrough season off the way he finished last year at Delmarva."

MacPhail sees Brandon Waring staying at third base after playing first base during the first part of the season. Waring, whom the Orioles acquired in an offseason trade with Cincinnati, is batting .277 with 23 home runs for the Keys.

"Third base is certainly a position we need in the system," he said. "It made sense for us to make the switch."

Like most officials with the Orioles, MacPhail has been pleased with first baseman Robbie Widlansky, who is batting .365 after spending the early part of the year in extended spring training.

"I wasn't that familiar with him until he came there, that doesn't necessarily mean very much," MacPhail said. "I'm pleased, so is everybody, with the way he's swung the bat."

MacPhail said that center fielder Matt Angle has done a nice job the past two years.

"The report I've gotten on him is that since he put on an Orioles uniform is that he's a baseball player, he knows how to play the game," MacPhail said.

He feels that catcher Caleb Joseph has started to wear down because he has caught so much. Joseph is batting .297 after hitting over .300 most of the season.

"Leading the league in hitting is hard for a catcher," MacPhail said.

Zach Britton started for the Keys on Thursday and has his worst performance of the year, giving up five runs, three earned, in 4 2-3 innings.

But MacPhail was impressed nonetheless: "He's got real good stuff, good velocity, good movement for a left-hander which is always what we like to see."