Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Rising star in the O's Minors

Rising star in the O's Minors
We're talking about a coach, not a player. But a coach that has had a major impact on some key O's minor league pitchers for two years now. Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin was the winner of the 2009 Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award. It goes to the person who best exemplifies the qualities of the late O's coach and manager. Griffin joined the O's organization for the 2008 season and was immediately matched with some of the club's top young arms at Bowie. The Baysox were...
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Steve Melewski

How do O's young pitchers stack up?

How do O's young pitchers stack up?
In this space yesterday, I featured Mike Griffin, the O's minor league pitching coach who spent most of the last two years tutoring pitchers like Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez and Jason Berken. They made up the bulk of his pitching rotations at Bowie in 2008 and Norfolk this past season. All four pitchers made the Majors this year and were happy to give Griffin a lot of credit for his help. Griffin has a track record of developing Major League pitchers. While in the Boston...
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Steve Melewski

O's rally late on Baseball America lists

O's rally late on Baseball America lists
It may not be quite as exciting as a bottom of the ninth come-from-behind win, but the Orioles made a late rally on Baseball America's top 20 minor league prospects lists. When I wrote about this last Wednesday, the Orioles had just three players named among the top 20 of five different leagues. But, with a late rally, the O's had three players named on Double-A lists and three named in the International League.
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Steve Melewski

A temporary Angels fan

A temporary Angels fan
One way to tell you are somewhat of a die-hard O's fan. When Boston was eliminated in the post-season, you either shouted out loud or muttered under your breath "take that Red Sox nation!" Next year when they parade into the Yard acting like winning is their birth right, remind them they won as many playoff games this year as the Orioles did. There was a time when a small part of me wanted to see the AL East teams win in October. But no more. If you are like me, after years of watching...
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Griffin on Arrieta, Patton and more

Griffin on Arrieta, Patton and more
Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin has been featured in two of my blogs this week. In his two years in the O's organization, he has made quite an impact on some of the O's top, young pitchers. In this entry today, he talks about some hurlers not addressed in those earlier stories. How did Jake Arrieta do for you this year and what is his outlook for the future? "Jake came to us at the half-way point and really learned a lot of things he needed to get done at Triple-A. He put some...
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Steve Melewski

Goodfellas (minor league version)

Goodfellas (minor league version)
I'm borrowing a blog idea from Roch today. He recently wrote about some of the all-time good guys he has covered working the O's beat. From 2004-2006 after I left WBAL Radio, I had the pleasure to be the play-by-play guy on the radio for the Aberdeen IronBirds. I count it as one of the special experiences of my life. I met some great people, worked for great people, and saw some neat places and towns along the way. I enjoyed just about every minute of it.
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Pondering Questions

Pondering Questions
Some O's questions to ponder while marveling and wondering why Mariano Rivera is just about the only closer out there not yet to melt down in the post-season:
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Markakis on the youth and O's future

Markakis on the youth and O's future
Nick Markakis has had four very solid seasons as the O's right fielder. Before he put the 2009 season to bed, he shared some thoughts on the year and the club's future. He believes the current crop of young players is solid and the club's future is bright.
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Brandon Snyder on his big game and goal to start at 1B for the O's

Brandon Snyder on his big game and goal to start at 1B for the O's
Not long after he finished up a monster game at the plate in the Arizona Fall League, Brandon Snyder was on the other end of the phone line. He was talking about his 7-RBI day on Wednesday. But before long the conversation shifted to the 2010 season. If the O's have an open competition for their first base job, Snyder is determined to emerge the winner and first base starter come opening day for the Orioles.
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Snyder on his struggles at Norfolk

Snyder on his struggles at Norfolk
It was a bit of a mystery from the Orioles minor leagues during the 2009 season. How could Brandon Snyder hit so well at Double-A Bowie and go on to struggle when promoted to Triple-A Norfolk on June 19th?
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O's farmhand leading hitter in World Cup

O's farmhand leading hitter in World Cup
While fans in the United States were taking stock of pennant races in the Major Leagues in September, three O's minor leaguers were raising their stock by performing well in baseball's World Cup in Europe. Paco Figueroa, who hit .305 this year in 62 games at second base for Bowie, went 17 for 34 for Spain and led the entire 20-nation tournament in hitting. Paco batted .500 with a homer, 8 RBI, 10 runs and four steals in ten games, helping Spain advance to the second round.
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Monday morning thoughts

Monday morning thoughts
Three Oriole prospects in the Arizona Fall League have been hitting so well to date it makes you wonder about the quality of pitching they are facing. Plus, the Phoenix team has ten .300 hitters at this early stage. But still, of the club's four .400 hitters, three are Orioles with Josh Bell at .464, Matt Angle at .406 and Brandon Snyder at .400. Snyder leads the club with 15 RBI, Bell with four doubles and Angle is tops in runs and steals.
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Steve Melewski

A question of character

A question of character
When the Orioles acquire a player, should they consider the character of that player? When looking to add a player through trade, free agency or the First-Year Player Draft, is it mostly about talent, or should character come into play? Do fans care about having a team full of good guys or do you just want hits, homers and wins? It's a complicated question and one that probably provokes different answers for different players.
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And the Oriole award for mental toughness in 2009 goes to...

And the Oriole award for mental toughness in 2009 goes to...
...Jason Berken. I have respect for anyone good enough to ever put on a Major League uniform. But during the Orioles' 2009 season, I gained a ton of respect for pitcher Jason Berken. As the losses mounted for Berken, so did speculation that he'd soon be headed back to Triple-A. For a while there, his fate seemed to hang on every pitch. And some of those pitches hung as well, ending up in the left field seats.
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McCrory thinking positive after surgery

McCrory thinking positive after surgery
You have to admire Bob McCrory's positive outlook. The Orioles' right-handed reliever has been mostly hit hard in 15 games covering 13 2/3 Major League innings the past two seasons. Now he's had a second major surgery in four years, yet he remains upbeat. He thinks he can be ready for spring training next year and wants to prove to the club that he can pitch in the big leagues.
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How Datz landed in Baltimore as the O's new bench coach

How Datz landed in Baltimore as the O's new bench coach
New Orioles' bench coach Jeff Datz already had one of the most special days of his baseball life in Baltimore. Now he hopes for more after joining the O's coaching staff Thursday. "I'll never forget I got my first Major League hit in Baltimore in 1989 and was able to hand that baseball to my mom and dad. "Being from south Jersey I had about 30 family members there. I was a September callup of the Tigers in '89 and got a base hit off Gregg Olson. I only got 10 at bats that year and...
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Steve Melewski

More from the new bench coach

More from the new bench coach
In this space yesterday we presented a story on the O's new bench coach, Jeff Datz. The 2010 season will be Datz's 29th in pro ball. During last eight years he's been a coach with Cleveland, spending about four years as bench coach for the Indians. He played professionally, mostly in the minors, as a catcher, from 1982-90. In 1989, he saw his only Major League action as a September call up for the Tigers. He went 2 for 10 at the plate, getting his first big league hit in Baltimore off...
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Steve Melewski

Good and bad ideas

Good and bad ideas
This pitcher made six starts in September, going 2-3, 5.45 for his team. In 34 2/3, he allowed four homers among 46 hits. Opponents hit .317 against him that month. Was it Jason Berken? David Hernandez? No it was Cliff Lee of the Phillies. Hit hard in Septmeber, Lee pitched Philly to a win in game one of the World Series and is 3-0, 0.54 this post-season. Meanwhile, check out these thoughts and let me you know if you agree or disagree.
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A look at the Frederick Keys 2009 season

A look at the Frederick Keys 2009 season
Over the next several weeks, we'll review how the O's minor league teams finished this season, with an in-depth look at each team and some of their top players from the 2009 season. Today we take a look at the 2009 Frederick Keys with comments from Keys manager Richie Hebner. (Stats listed are for games with Frederick only).
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Motivations for pursuing free agents

Motivations for pursuing free agents
There seem to be some solid reasons out there for the Orioles to sign one or more big dollar free agents this winter. For one, they would improve the team's talent base. And, maybe get a needed bat for the lineup. Both good reasons to add a player. But, is another reason to enhance the club's credibility with its fan base? And another to prove to everyone, once and for all, that the club is willing to spend money.
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