Matt Wieters certainly has taken big strides toward becoming a complete player at the toughest position on the field. I am very happy to see how well he is throwing the ball.
His footwork right now is as good as it's going to get. I am impressed that he is calling so many good games. It will get even better as the pitchers improve, but I really like his creativity. He is doing things now that will make a big difference in the way the starters approach their games. In the long run it will pay dividends. He is taking charge more and more and that means his ability to communicate is improving.
That is so important that he does it his way, not mine or anyone else, just he himself bringing them all together. He is the one who sees it first hand and the one who has to choose the options. I see a much better set-up behind home plate which will help him in all areas; blocking, throwing and receiving.
He still needs to quiet down a bit before delivery, which means there is too much motion, but tons better than it was last year. Framing pitches and getting those strikes on the corners is getting better also. It takes a bit more time for a big catcher to settle in and get comfortable, but I am sure he is heading down the road to being one of the best defensive catchers in the game.
]]>We already know that Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis are quality hitters, but now that we have Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero in the middle, it seems to put the rest of the lineup in places in the order that are more suitable for them.
Yes, Luke Scott was our big home run guy the past couple of years, but he was still prone to those slumps that took a lot of punch away at times. Guerrero and Lee command a lot of respect because they are not one-dimensional hitters. They can give you average and power along with production on a regular basis, which makes them a constant threat.
With Adam Jones, Scott, Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds in secondary roles, it's nice to know that one or two of those guys are probably going to hurt the opposition on a nightly basis. Plus, it gives them a chance to watch the two big bats and learn something about patience and aggression that apply while they are getting more major league experience.
The balance of this lineup is tethered at the bottom with J.J. Hardy, who seems to be able to do anything. He also packs some punch and has a feel for situational hitting.
To sum it all up, we have a lineup that can match up with just about everyone - as long as we can stay healthy.
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After being shuttled between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore this season, Brad Bergesen has had a resurgence of late in the starting rotation.
In the latest version of "Dempsey's Dugout," Rick thought it would be interesting to get an inside look at a side session for the O's young right-hander.
Rick Kranitz gives Bergesen some tips on what he needs to work on in his last few starts of the 2010 season.
Watch the full edition of "Dempsey's Dugout" below.
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Nick Markakis' power numbers are down in 2010, but he is still producing at the plate by spraying the ball all over the field.
In his latest demonstration, Rick explains why Nick has gotten so many hits all over the field, especially to left and center.
Rick says a lot of Nick's success has a lot to do with his hitting mechanics.
Watch the video below for the entire demonstration.
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In his latest edition of Dempsey's Dugout, Rick Dempsey caught up with former Orioles' first-round pick Ben McDonald. Ben signed a Major League contract in 1989 and got a September call up in that season.
Ben tells Rick he had trouble fitting in due to his contract and that he didn't know how to pitch at the big league level.
Rick asks Ben to analyze Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz.
Watch the full interview in the video below.
Rick Dempsey has noticed a marked improvement in the defense of Matt Wieters this season. As a former catcher, Rick knows the ins and outs of catching, along with the difficulties that come with learning the game at the Major League level.
Rick points out details on how Wieters has improved his defense and why he's been able to throw out a better percentage of runners this year.
Watch the video below for a demonstration on catching by Rick.
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There's plenty of excitement surrounding the O's first-round pick from this year's draft, Manny Machado. Machado is a potential five-tool player that has been compared to the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez.
Rick Dempsey and Tom Davis discuss the potential of the Birds' first-round pick.
Watch the video below for the full breakdown on Machado.
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The Orioles have a very young pitching staff that still has to work on its mechanics.
Rick took some time to talk with Jim Palmer about pitching and what some of the young pitchers need to work on.
Watch the video below as Palmer talks about the significance of a high leg kick and how it helps the pitcher get on top of a pitch.
From rest to bullpen sessions, watch the video below to find out how Arreita goes about preparing from Day 1 after a start to his next trip to the mound.
Nick Markakis changes his batting stance throughout the season for a few different reasons.Currently, Markakis is hitting with an open stance.
RIck asked Nick to explain his stance and what the importance of a batting stance. Nick also touches on why some players use a wide stance or have a quick step toward the pitcher.
Watch Nick show Rick different batting stances.
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Mike Boddicker joined Rick Dempsey for the latest edition of Dempsey's Dugout, and the pair of former Orioles kicked off the segment by talking about how Boddicker found his comfort zone when he got the call to the bigs.
Boddicker also went on to give his impressions of Jake Arrieta and David Hernandez. Watch the video below to find out who Arrieta reminds Boddicker of and what he thinks could be behind Hernandez's increased velocity from the bullpen.
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Nick Markakis has been the most consistent Oriole on offense this season, but hitting wasn't always easy for the Baltimore right fielder.
Markakis struggled to hit for the first two months of his rookie season before he settled in and began to hit big league pitching.
Rick Dempsey took some time to ask Markakis about his development as a hitter and how he became so consistent.
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Mike Boddicker was a rookie in 1983, but was a valuable part of Baltimore's World Series run that season. He demonstrates a mechanically sound delivery to set up the pitcher to play defense.
Rick then explains why some pitchers aren't ready to field the ball after they have thrown the ball home.
]]>Since the O's pitchers haven't been getting him out, Rick decided to show what he thinks is the best way to bring down the Red Sox slugger.
Rick caught for 24 years in the big leagues, watch to see how he would pitch Drew.
This week, Rick got the opportunity to talk with Ty Wigginton about hitting, fielding and what Ty likes to do to prepare for a game.
Also, Ty tells Rick about the adjustment he made early in his career that he credits to him becoming a better hitter.