Some pitchers have bad mechanics, but produce good results

Some pitchers have bad mechanics, but produce good results
When I was the play-by-play broadcaster several years ago for the Aberdeen IronBirds, I can remember watching a young right-hander from the Dominican Republic join our team in 2005 and start dominating New York-Penn League hitters. I can still remember a warm, July night in Burlington, Vt.,when he struck out 15 without a walk in six brilliant, dominant, shutout innings. That year with the IronBirds, he went 5-4, 1.77 in 11 starts and over 56 innings allowed just 36 hits while recording 82...
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Could Reynolds do what Albert Belle once did in Baltimore?

Could Reynolds do what Albert Belle once did in Baltimore?
When looking at new O's corner infielders Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds, you could make a case for either as the club's best power bat acquisition. Lee has a career OPS of .865 to Reynolds' .817. While Reynolds has never had an OPS over .900 in his four big league seasons, Lee's OPS was .972 with the Cubs in 2009. But if you talk strictly homers only, Reynolds moves to the top of the charts. While Lee hit 35 in 2009, Reynolds has averaged nearly 35 over the last three seasons at...
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Is the demise of the AL East being greatly exaggerated?

Is the demise of the AL East being greatly exaggerated?
Many readers on this and other blogs have mentioned two things that fuel their optimism for the Orioles in 2011: The O's have improved while several American League East teams have not. While I, like most of you, feel the Orioles can be much improved with their additions in the field, their young pitching, their strong finish and a full season with Buck Showalter, I am not yet willing to concede that this division is starting to lose its clout. No doubt, right now, Boston is the clear...
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He's angling for a shot in the majors

He's angling for a shot in the majors
Since he was drafted by the Orioles in round seven out of Ohio State in 2007, outfielder Matt Angle has made steady progress through the minor leagues and, in November, he joined Joe Mahoney and Zach Britton in being added to the 40-man roster for the first time. "It was a great day," the 25-year-old Angle said. "It's an honor and for them to think enough of me to be a part of that it's just an honor and was a great day overall. "It's just another step in the ultimate goal of winning...
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Are there issues with the Hall of Fame voting process?

Are there issues with the Hall of Fame voting process?
There are some things I just don't understand about the Hall of Fame voting process that elected Robbie Alomar and Bert Blyleven yesterday. How can a player like Blyleven not be good enough for election for 13 straight years, yet make it on the 14th try? Don't get me wrong, Blyleven deserves to be in, and this was long overdue. Clearly, some voters who didn't vote for Blyleven before did this year. Did he win 18 games last year and I missed it? At least, in his case, the voters eventually...
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Pondering a few Orioles questions

Pondering a few Orioles questions
If you talk to yourself on the bus or at a restaurant, people might stare. But in a blog, I can ask myself some questions and then answer myself. You are most invited to respond with your answer or answers to one or all of the following questions about 2011 O's baseball. What was the Orioles most significant acquisition? No it probably won't be the addition of pitcher Casey Lambert in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. It could be the pickup of third sacker Mark Reynolds. At 27,...
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Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?

Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?
After tearing it up as a college hitter and then being named the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters had a strong rookie year in 2009. He seemed poise for a possible breakout, all-star-type season in 2010. Instead, Wieters took a step back offensively. While some just felt Wieters was over-hyped and not as good as advertised, it's just too soon to make that call. But I think there was a reason - call it an excuse if you want - for Wieters' statistical dropoff...
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Next question: How much better are the Orioles?

Next question:  How much better are the Orioles?
So now that we can say the season (spring training at least) starts next month, some excitement is clearly building for the 2011 version of Orioles baseball. Many fans seem quite pleased with the offseason additions and some seem to even feel the club could contend if a lot breaks right. I would still guess that is a two-year process where you would hope to make a run at .500 and 80-some wins one season while hoping to get to 90-plus and contention the next. So can 2011 be the year where...
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Maybe there will be glee about adding Lee

Maybe there will be glee about adding Lee
New year, new first baseman for the Orioles. After all the worry, hand-wringing and frustration over how long the process played out, the O's got a decent first sacker, one that is one season removed from hitting 35 homers with 111 RBI in 141 games. They didn't get Victor Martinez, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Carlos Pena or Adam LaRoche, who just wasn't worthy of a three-year deal. The O's began the offseason with Martinez as their top target to be their new first baseman. In ending up with...
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Noteworthy day

Noteworthy day
Some notes to wrap up another year of blogging for me here at MASNsports.com. Thanks to everyone for reading all year and Happy New Year! Right before the 2010 season began, I made some fearless predictions about the O's and the AL East. Here are some of those predictions and how they fared vs. what really happened. Steve's predicted 2010 AL East standings: Boston 94-68 Tampa 91-71 New York 90-72 Baltimore 79-83 Toronto 72-90 The actual standings were: Tampa 96-66 New York 95-67 Boston...
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Hobgood: "O's didn't get damaged goods"

Hobgood: "O's didn't get damaged goods"
In a way, Matt Hobgood is relieved that doctors say he has a strained rotator cuff. To him, that perhaps is the best explanation yet why the fastball velocity he had in three high school seasons, has never surfaced in two years of pro ball with the Orioles. Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, had an MRI last week and now doctors have put him on a four- to six-week rehab program to strengthen his shoulder and they say surgery is not needed. In a Wednesday afternoon phone...
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Exclusive: O's prospect Matt Hobgood talks about his shoulder injury

Exclusive: O's prospect Matt Hobgood talks about his shoulder injury
In a phone conversation this afternoon, Matt Hobgood said he felt some soreness in his shoulder during a light, mid-December throwing session and that led him to pre-Christmas visits with Drs. John Wilckens and Lewis Yocum. They both said he has a strained rotator cuff, but does not need surgery. Hobgood described this as "a minor setback" but also said it's possible his shoulder problems could date back to sometime in 2009. He also feels the shoulder issue is the primary reason he has not...
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Still a Hobgood fan? Yep.

Still a Hobgood fan?  Yep.
Today, I find myself once again writing about Matt Hobgood. Some fans and commenters to this and other blogs just can't get enough of the guy and commenting on his selection by the Orioles with their top pick in 2009. I know the majority of fans and readers here wish him the best and support him. I also know there are a few fans who see him as my boy and were likely outwardly excited at the news of his shoulder injury. They can't wait to tell me again how right they are and that I am just...
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O's can never have enough starting pitching

O's can never have enough starting pitching
Do the Orioles need to add starting pitching? I say the answer to that question is a clear yes. Others may say the Orioles already have six pitchers for five starting spots in Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergesen, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton. The only problem with that thinking is that having even six is not enough. Not over a full season. The Orioles used nine pitchers to start games last year and 12 in 2009. No doubt, both Tillman and Britton will get their...
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Roberts, Jones and Markakis at the top

Roberts, Jones and Markakis at the top
It is hard to project what the Orioles batting order could or should be for the 2011 season since all the parts are not in place yet. But I still think the most effective top of the order, or top three spots in the order, could be with Brian Roberts batting first, Adam Jones second and Nick Markakis third. I suspect many fans first thought about this will be negative. They don't see the free-swinging Jones as a number two hitter at all and most realize Markakis statistically hits better...
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Merry Christmas Birdland!

Merry Christmas Birdland!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone in Birdland! Thanks for all you do to keep this blog popular and please know that I never take you for granted. No great baseball thoughts today, except one small one. I hope all long-suffering O's fans realize that anyone can easily root for a winner. Being an Orioles' fan is tough. I know, I've been one for over 40 years. I've seen the glory years and World Championships and I've seen everything since that 1983 win over the Phillies and...
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It's just about time for the gifts

It's just about time for the gifts
Growing up as a kid on Third Street in Overlea, Christmas was a magical time for me. As another holiday season has arrived, I hope we all can experience some of that magic we felt as a kid and remember the special friends and family in our lives. Since my parents would always let us open a few presents on Christmas Eve after returning from my aunt's house, here are a few presents for the Orioles on this Christmas Eve. Nick Markakis: A Gold Glove and continued leadership ability. Everyone in...
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Some random O's takes

Some random O's takes
Well, I am now back from vacation and back on the East Coast. After several days in Las Vegas, my energy and bankroll were both running low so I made it home just in time. I would say more, but, as you all know, what happens in Vegas....... Thanks to the MASNsports.com staff for publishing some stories I had left behind to run over the past few days, mostly on the minor leagues and reader comments also. Thanks to our great fans/readers for leaving some good comments even when I wasn't able...
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Guzman heads for Japan, Reimold a comeback candidate

Guzman heads for Japan, Reimold a comeback candidate
Joel Guzman led Orioles minor leagues in homers and RBIs last year at Double-A Bowie and he recently turned that solid 2010 season into a nice, new contract. But he has to leave the country to get it. Guzman signed a one-year deal with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan. He did not get an offer to join any major league team's 40-man roster. The Orioles let Guzman know they'd like him back, but they also seemed to expect that the minor league free agent would sign elsewhere. "It was our best...
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More Rule 5 draft talk with Lee MacPhail

More Rule 5 draft talk with Lee MacPhail
I had a conversation recently with Lee MacPhail, the Orioles' director of pro scouting, who was heavily involved with the club's preparations for the Rule 5 draft, among other projects. Click here to see his take on Adrian Rosario, the 21-year-old righty the club took with the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. Here is what MacPhail said about the club's prep and plans going into that Rule 5 draft: "We discussed some strategies going into the draft and we put...
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