Mel Antonen

Is MLB's new slide rule too severe?

Nationals Orioles
Is MLB's new slide rule too severe?
Major League Baseball is trying to make sliding plays at second base safer, but, as the season starts, the debate has shifted to whether MLB has gone overboard with regulations. This started in October's playoffs when the Dodgers' Chase Utley slid late into second base and broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. A rules committee was formed. Now there are rules that put restrictions on the play where a runner can break up a double play. Are the rules too severe? The new Rule 6.01 says...
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Mel Antonen

Some predictions for the 2016 season

Nationals Orioles
Some predictions for the 2016 season
As the season opens, here are thoughts, predictions and tips on how the season is going to go: * The Nationals are going to win the National League East by eight games over the Mets. Outside of Bronson Arroyo, what problems have there been? The offense will be much improved with the left-handed bats of Daniel Murphy and Ben Revere - players who seldom strike out - adding balance. And it helps that Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon are healthy. Last spring training, Rendon had four...
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Mel Antonen

Digging deeper into possible AL storylines for the coming season

Orioles
Digging deeper into possible AL storylines for the coming season
Has there ever been a season where the three American League divisions have been more wide open? The Orioles, in the postseason in 2012 and 2014, spent more than $200 million to keep a talented roster together, and they are going to need all of that to contend in the AL East. The defending champion Toronto Blue Jays have firepower, but questions in the rotation. Boston has added rotation and bullpen help to one of the worst staffs in the AL in 2015 As usual, Tampa Bay has pitching depth. But...
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Mel Antonen

Breaking down the National League storylines for 2016

Nationals
Breaking down the National League storylines for 2016
As the Nationals enter their 12th season in Washington, they'll have a new manager, Dusty Baker, who is trying to get over the same hurdle as the team itself. Baker, at 66 the second-oldest manager in the majors behind the Mets' Terry Collins, is trying to win his first World Series ring as a manager. He came close in 2002 when his Giants lost the World Series in seven games to the Angels after leading three games to two. The Nationals lost in the National League Division Series in 2012 to...
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Mel Antonen

Blast off: Could powerful O's order make home run history?

Orioles
Blast off: Could powerful O's order make home run history?
The Orioles are loaded with home run hitters this season and could have a history-making power lineup. The Orioles have a chance to be the first team in history to have five players with at least 30 home runs. In fact, there could be six. Count 'em. Chris Davis hit 47 last season, Manny Machado 35, Adam Jones 27. Jonathan Schoop hit 15 in 86 games. Mark Trumbo has two consecutive 30-home run seasons on his resume with the Los Angeles Angels, hitting 32 and 34 in 2012-2013. Imagine what he'll...
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Mel Antonen

Looking at position battles, including Trea Turner's shot as the Nats' shortstop

Nationals
Looking at position battles, including Trea Turner's shot as the Nats' shortstop
At 22, Trea Turner is one of the Nationals' top prospects after arriving in a trade from the San Diego Padres. He hit .322 in 116 games for three minor league teams in two organizations last season. And with Ian Desmond now the Texas Rangers left fielder, Turner is the Nationals shortstop of the future. The question is, "When will the future begin?" The answer starts to unfold this week as the Nationals open Grapefruit League play. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says that Turner can be...
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Mel Antonen

For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign

Nationals Orioles
For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign
Former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond not only has a new team and a new league, he has a new position. At 30, Desmond signed for $8 million to play left field for the Texas Rangers. Desmond has played four games in the outfield during his career. He'll get the advantage of playing 15 home games in Texas during April. Desmond, who hit .233 last season, goes to Boston's Fenway Park to battle the Green Monster the first week in July. The Rangers' plan was to use Josh Hamilton in left field,...
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Mel Antonen

Nationals, Mets look like the pitching leaders in NL East race

Nationals
Nationals, Mets look like the pitching leaders in NL East race
As Nationals pitchers and catchers settle in for their final spring training in Viera, Fla., some familiar faces will be elsewhere. Jordan Zimmermann, who came up in 2008 and had a 3.32 ERA in 117 starts, signed with Detroit. Reliever Craig Stammen, a National since 2009, is with Cleveland and Drew Storen, who saved 95 games after joining the team in 2010, was traded to Toronto. So after missing the playoffs in 2015, the Nationals takes aim at knocking off the New York Mets and their collection...
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Mel Antonen

Looking at the pitching landscape in the AL East

Orioles
Looking at the pitching landscape in the AL East
With a .500 record and a third-place finish, the Orioles didn't meet expectations last season. And now, as pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Orioles will have to beat reconstructed pitching staffs in the American League East to make the playoffs for the third time in five years. The defending champion Blue Jays have former Nationals closer Drew Storen for their bullpen, but their rotation is without David Price, who signed with Boston. The Red Sox beefed up their bullpen...
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Mel Antonen

Questions for each American League team heading into spring training

Orioles
Questions for each American League team heading into spring training
Spring training camps open this week in Arizona and Florida, and of course, there are questions to be answered for American League teams: Kansas City: Can the Royals make a third consecutive World Series and be the first team to do so since the 1998-2001 Yankees? The Athletics were also in three consecutive World Series from 1988-1990. Toronto: Will former National Drew Storen, who lost his closer's role to Rafael Soriano and then Jonathan Papelbon in D.C., unseat 21-year-old Roberto Osuna as...
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Mel Antonen

Questions for each National League team going into spring training

Nationals
Questions for each National League team going into spring training
Spring training has arrived in Florida and Arizona, and I have questions about every one of the 15 National League teams. Here they are: St. Louis: Can the Cardinals, who won 100 games last year despite key injuries, be able to get rebound seasons from pitcher Adam Wainwright, catcher Yadier Molina, first baseman Matt Adams and outfielder Matt Holliday? Los Angeles: How much will the Dodgers miss Zack Greinke, who signed a free agent contract with the Diamondbacks and broke up the best one-two...
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Mel Antonen

With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions

Nationals Orioles
With Super Bowl in the books, time to turn attentions to baseball's questions
Super Bowl 50 is complete. The Denver Broncos are celebrating a 24-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers. This all means, of course, that baseball spring training is the next big event. The Orioles' first workout for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 19. The Nationals start a day later. Both teams' pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18. The Orioles' biggest questions are pitching and right field. The Nationals' new manager, Dusty Baker, will have five new bullpen pitchers and a rotation...
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Mel Antonen

Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball

Nationals Orioles
Finding connections between the Super Bowl and baseball
This is the NFL's Super Bowl week. It is the 50th Super Bowl. It should be Super Bowl L, in keeping with the sport's Roman numeral tradition, but this year, the NFL decided to go with "50" instead of the capital L. So while the Super Bowl is grabbing all the headlines, let's see how many baseball angles we can find to the Carolina-Denver game that's going to be played Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.: * Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, was supposed to be built in San...
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Mel Antonen

How the NL East mound staffs look heading into spring

Nationals
How the NL East mound staffs look heading into spring
The New York Mets are set to defend their National League pennant with the pitching staff that had the fourth-best ERA (3.44) in the league. The Nationals have a new look to their rotation. The Marlins are hoping for health and a chance to show they were better than last season. The Braves and Phillies are dealing with rebuilding projects. As the mid-Atlantic moves snow and baseball fans look forward to spring training, here's how pitching stacks up in the National League East: ATLANTA...
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Mel Antonen

Breaking down the pitching staffs in the AL East

Orioles
Breaking down the pitching staffs in the AL East
The Rays rotation is deep and returning to health. The Yankees have a trumped-up bullpen, a candidate to be the best in baseball. The Red Sox signed David Price to anchor their rotation and Craig Kimbrel to be their closer. The Blue Jays have Drew Storen, the former Nationals closer. The Orioles have a strong bullpen, but rotation questions. Here's how the American League East pitching shapes up as the mid-Atlantic shovels snow and dreams of watching live batting practice: BALTIMORE...
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Mel Antonen

Answers to pressing questions as offseason turns into home stretch

Nationals Orioles
Answers to pressing questions as offseason turns into home stretch
It's question-and-answer time: Q: The Orioles and Nationals each need a starting pitcher. Did they miss a deal when Ian Kennedy signed for $70 million with the World Series champion Royals? A: Kennedy, 31, was the best of the starters on the low-risk, high-reward free agent list, but it was shocking that the Royals, of all teams, gave him that kind of money. Kennedy is coming off a down year with the Padres after expectations were high that he'd be a key to keeping them in contention in 2015....
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Mel Antonen

Looking for a landing spot for Ian Desmond

Nationals Orioles
Looking for a landing spot for Ian Desmond
As spring training nears and big-name free agents such as Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes look for contracts, free agent shortstop Ian Desmond is lost in the shuffle. Desmond, 30, who was the last link to the Nationals' history in Montreal, is facing a looking for a tight for shortstops. Desmond turned down a long-term contract worth at least $100 million from the Nationals. Then, he turned down their qualifying offer, meaning that the team that signs him has to give up a draft pick to the...
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Mel Antonen

Notes on Chen, Parra and more offseason moves for the Orioles and Nationals

Nationals Orioles
Notes on Chen, Parra and more offseason moves for the Orioles and Nationals
The Miami Marlins have signed pitcher Wei-Yin Chen and the Colorado Rockies have added outfielder Gerardo Parra, so that puts the Orioles in the middle of trade speculation and free agent signings with pitchers. The news focus is left-handed batting outfielders, whether it is the Nationals or the Orioles. Parra, who played for the Orioles last season, gets three years and $27 million. He gives the Rockies four left-handed hitting outfielders along with Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon and...
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Mel Antonen

Griffey makes Hall of Fame clean, so what about those connected to steroids?

Nationals Orioles
Griffey makes Hall of Fame clean, so what about those connected to steroids?
The two biggest stories coming out of Wednesday's Hall of Fame election were Ken Griffey Jr. missing a unanimous selection by three votes and the ramifications of Mike Piazza opening the door for Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, two players that have been tied to performance-enhancing drugs. The hunt is on for the three voters who didn't select Griffey. It is within the voters' rights to use a ballot for political statements. Maybe the voters were protesting the Steroids Era. Maybe they...
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Mel Antonen

Are Nats' Storen, Papelbon the right relievers to fill bullpen holes elsewhere?

Nationals Orioles
Are Nats' Storen, Papelbon the right relievers to fill bullpen holes elsewhere?
The Nationals have spent the offseason rebuilding their bullpen, adding Trevor Gott, Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez and Yusmeiro Petit. With Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon, it would appear the Nationals' bullpen is set. But, given that Storen asked for a trade and Papelbon attempted to choke Bryce Harper at the end of last season, there are questions: Will Storen and Papelbon stay in D.C. and can their issues not be a distraction? If the Nationals can't trade Papelbon, do they release him at...
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