Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian talks about Zach Britton

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian talks about Zach Britton
Tim Kurkjian of ESPN has covered baseball long enough to know when the scouts are buzzing about a player, he should take note of said player. A few weeks back in Florida he ran into a scout. "Have you seen Zach Britton pitch yet?" the scout said to Kurkjian. "If you haven't, go see him." Kurkjian, a one-time O's beat writer for the Baltimore Sun, has now seen Britton in person to confirm what that scout had said with his own eyes. "There was an at-bat that Buck Showalter told me...
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Steve Melewski

Pat Egan talks about returning to the Orioles

Pat Egan talks about returning to the Orioles
When Pat Egan reported to Milwaukee Brewers camp in Tempe, Ariz., Thursday morning, he said he had a feeling it could be his last day with that organization. "I came in this morning and took a look at the travel roster and I wasn't on it and also I haven't thrown in a couple of days. I kind of had an eerie feeling that something was going to happen. Then I got the news," he said. Egan, taken by the Brewers in December's Rule 5 draft after he was left off the Orioles' 40-man roster, is...
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Steve Melewski

I'll bet O's fans approve of Showalter's comments

I'll bet O's fans approve of Showalter's comments
As if Buck Showalter hasn't already done enough to get Orioles fans energized and excited for the new season, now there is this: Although, the headline on ESPN.com may be a bit misleading. Showalter didn't exactly "rip" Derek Jeter. "The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout. Our guys are thinking, 'Wow, he's screaming at Derek Jeter.' Well, he's always jumping back from balls just off the plate. I know how many calls that team gets - and...
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Steve Melewski

No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011

No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011
One player that I predict will be much-discussed by fans this year is O's third baseman Mark Reynolds. If he gets off to a slow start with the strikeouts mounting, I can see fans getting frustrated. Not Garrett Atkins type frustrated, but still agitated. There is no doubt in my mind that Reynolds' high number of strikeouts is going to bother some fans. There is also no doubt that Reynolds will have a lot of strikeouts. He has averaged 213 strikeouts over the last three years. He won't...
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Steve Melewski

In search of a 20-game winner

In search of a 20-game winner
I am not necessarily looking to confuse my readers, but now that I wrote in yesterday's blog that a starting pitcher's win total is no way to tell us if that pitcher is any good, let's talk about wins. I'm wondering where all the 20-game winners have gone? The Orioles haven't had one since Mike Boddicker went 20-11 in 1984. From 1968 through 1980, the O's had at least one 20-game winner every year. In 1971, they had four 20-game winners in Jim Palmer, Pat Dobson, Mike Cuellar and Dave...
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Steve Melewski

What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?

What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?
When I was hosting a radio sports show about a week ago on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, a caller came on to say how mediocre he thought Jeremy Guthrie was and that his lack of wins proved that fact. Guthrie went 11-14 with an ERA of 3.83 over 32 starts in 2010. My argument was then, and often is about starting pitchers, that the win category is pretty much the last stat you should look at to rate a pitcher. It is one stat almost out of their control. What if the team doesn't score any runs...
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Steve Melewski

Offense is nice, but pitching and defense rule the day

Offense is nice, but pitching and defense rule the day
Some fans may have been surprised this week when manager Buck Showalter was asked about Jake Fox. A reporter wanted to know if someone with seven homers (Fox) could still possibly not make this team come Opening Day. "Yes," Showalter replied. I would guess he said that for a couple of reasons. One, he knows there are still almost two weeks of games left and a lot can still happen. Two, he knows defense is still such a big part of the equation. Not a knock on Fox's defense, but it seems...
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Orioles lineups present and past

Orioles lineups present and past
When watching the MLB Network's "30 Clubs in 30 days" show this week on the Orioles, they listed the club's potential starting lineup. 2B - Brian Roberts RF - Nick Markakis 1B - Derrek Lee DH - Vladimir Guerrero LF - Luke Scott CF - Adam Jones 3B - Mark Reynolds C - Matt Wieters SS - J.J. Hardy This lineup makes a lot of sense in that it puts several players in spots where they figure to be quite comfortable and where they have succeeded before. When batting second last year, Markakis...
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Steve Melewski

A special NCAA tourney memory

A special NCAA tourney memory
Non-baseball entry alert! I promise I will get back to baseball talk with another entry in a few hours, but I want to start off today with a memory from an NCAA tourney 20 years ago. If it matters, it involves a kid from Maryland and Cole Field House. Hope you take the time to read on. If you're not interested and only want a baseball entry, I will file one in a few hours, so check back. Anyhow ... Watching the Richmond Spiders beat Vanderbilt Thursday afternoon reminded me of a special...
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MLB Network talks Orioles

MLB Network talks Orioles
The Orioles were the featured team last night on MLB Network's 30 in 30 club previews. Analysts John Hart and Dan Plesac had several positive comments about the club and its outlook for 2011. "There should be a lot of excitement with the finish they had with Buck Showalter," Hart said. "There used to be a time when the Oriole Way really meant something. I see that coming back with Showalter - attention to detail, fundamentals. I think they are really going to make an improvement, even...
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Draft could be focus in baseball labor talks

Draft could be focus in baseball labor talks
No one is talking about any strikes or lockouts in Major League Baseball, but the collective bargaining agreement in the sport does expire after this coming season in December. The sides have already had labor talks in Florida and they are expected to resume soon in Arizona. Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan expects discussion about the First-Year Player Draft and the possible changes to it to be on the table over the next several months. "Yeah, I do. I don't know necessarily what...
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Joe Mahoney: It was a good first impression

Joe Mahoney: It was a good first impression
After producing seven hits in 17 at-bats for a .412 batting average in his first major league spring training camp, Orioles' first base prospect Joe Mahoney seems to have made the most of his initial chance to play for the Birds. "It was a great experience. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot," Mahoney said last night. "I was fortunate enough to play well and hopefully make a good first impression with both the coaching staff and management." "I think he's primed to have that year...
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Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?

Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?
Heading into spring training, I had assumed that Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta were pretty much locks to make the starting rotation and that, if healthy, Justin Duchscherer would join them. That would allow for Rick VandenHurk to compete for a bullpen role and Chris Tillman and Zach Britton to begin the year at Triple-A. Well, those plans could be changing. The Orioles knew Duchscherer making the opening day rotation was a gamble, thus the...
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Steve Melewski

Some weekend quick takes

Some weekend quick takes
A few impressions and opinions on the happenings at Orioles camp in Sarasota. *The injury news about Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee reminds us of the biggest issue facing this team this year. It's not how much Vladimir Guerrero has left, the progress of the young rotation or the development of Matt Wieters. It's the health of this team. They can't afford to lose many players and certain guys like Roberts and Lee are pretty critical to the hopes that this team is better and a good year is...
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Steve Melewski

When it comes to drafting high school or college, do O's have a preference?

When it comes to drafting high school or college, do O's have a preference?
When it comes to the June draft, do the Orioles have a preference when it comes to drafting a high school or a college player? Some teams have been said to have preferences, but O's scouting director Joe Jordan said the Orioles do not. "For me, I don't care. It's the best player, what fits the best for that round. That's really how we look at it. If there's a 21-year-old player that we have a lot of looks at and they're available and that's a good solid pick, that's a good decision...
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Third-round pick Klein out to show his stuff in 2011

Third-round pick Klein out to show his stuff in 2011
Coming off some dominating performances late last year and after a winter of workouts near his Orange County, Calif., home, O's minor league pitcher Dan Klein is now ready for his first full professional season. Klein, the O's second pick in last June's draft, which came in round three, reported to minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, Fla., on Sunday Some O's fans had to be excited about Klein's potential when he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances for Short...
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Steve Melewski

Yeah, Zach Britton was pretty good vs. Yankees

Yeah, Zach Britton was pretty good vs. Yankees
When we all got to see Zach Britton pitch so well on the MASN telecast Monday night, many O's fans may have been thinking the same thing: I hope this is a glimpse at a future when young pitcher after young Orioles pitcher takes the mound and shuts down another American League East opponent. Despite the fact it was just an exhibition game, you probably got excited also watching Britton buzz through Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira on just 13 pitches in that first inning. Whenever...
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Steve Melewski

Check out this interview with Dave Trembley

Check out this interview with Dave Trembley
When Dave Trembley was dismissed as Orioles' manager last year, a good man lost his job. I think O's fans realize that Trembley is a good guy who put everything he had into a very difficult job. I wish the guy nothing but the best in his new role with the Atlanta Braves and hope our paths cross at some point during the coming season. Feel free to check out this long interview that David Laurila did with Trembley about his time managing the Orioles. Here are some excerpts: "The first...
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After mechanical adjustment, Steve Johnson is excited for the new season

After mechanical adjustment, Steve Johnson is excited for the new season
For pitcher Steve Johnson, it had to be frustrating and confusing and a little difficult to deal with. First, he was traded to the Orioles, his hometown team as a kid from Baltimore, and that was exciting. Then, after the trade with the Dodgers, he pitched to a 2.84 ERA over seven starts with Double-A Bowie late in the 2009 season. Then he comes out in 2010, with the same club and halfway through the year is 3-6 with an ERA of 6.14 over 17 starts. "I can deal with getting hit around a...
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Are the fans too hard on Jones?

Are the fans too hard on Jones?
As we get set for our second MASNsports.com chat with fans tonight at 6 p.m at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium, I am reminded of part of the conversation there the last time. We had a question or comment from someone about Adam Jones. It probably sounded a little to the fans there like I was coming to Jones' defense, but I said that night, "Hey, Jones hit .284 last year with 19 homers. You don't just fall out of bed and do that." I was really reminded of those words reading Buck...
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