Steve Melewski

Don Werner talks about O's minor league catchers

April 03, 2010, 5:39pm

Orioles

Don Werner talks about O's minor league catchers

Don Werner is in his seventh season in the Orioles' organization and in his third year as the O's minor league catching instructor. Werner oversees the instructing of catchers at all levels of the organization. He played seven seasons in the Majors and on June 16, 1978 caught a Tom Seaver no-hitter. Werner recently answered several questions about top catching prospect Caleb Joseph and some of the other catchers on the O's farm. What are your impressions of Caleb Joseph? "He's been...

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steve melewski orioles

O's look to split the series

April 03, 2010, 5:36pm

Orioles

The Orioles take on the Boston Red Sox tonight at 7:05 to try to avenge yesterday's 10-0 loss and split the short two-game series. Jason Berken takes the hill tonight for the Orioles, looking to cool down the Red Sox bats and earn his fifth win of the year. His counterpart, 13-year veteran Paul Byrd, will look to earn his second win. The Red Sox look to follow up on their six-homerun performance yesterday to stay a game-and-a-half up on Texas for the wild card lead. Jason Berken has looked...

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steve melewski orioles

Sox lead 2-1 after 3 innings

April 03, 2010, 5:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles got two runners on with two outs in the 1st, but Melvin Mora flew out to center to end the threat. They could have used those two runs. After two walks by Jason Berken in the bottom half of the 1st, David Ortiz fought off a 3-2 pitch and it rolled down the third-base line for a hit. Jason Bay then did what Mora couldn't do with two outs, drive in two of the runners on base. The Orioles had another shot to take the lead in the 2nd, but couldn't capitalize once again. After...

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steve melewski orioles

O's and Sox tied after 6

April 03, 2010, 5:33pm

Orioles

The fourth inning brought more clutch hitting by the Red Sox. Jason Varitek drove in Mike Lowell to get the Red Sox their third run of the game. In the fifth, Brian Roberts hit his 50th double of the year, stole third and scored on a Nolan Reimold sac-fly. Nick Markakis followed with a single, but Mora flew out to right to end the inning. The Orioles escaped the fifth down only by one, but it could have been much worse. With one out and runners on first and second, Jason Berken struck out...

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steve melewski orioles

Sox beat O's 7-5

April 03, 2010, 5:31pm

Orioles

Tonight's game between the Orioles and the Red Sox wasn't your ordinary ballgame. Through nine innings, the two teams combined to score 11 runs; walk 11 times; get 27 hits and use 13 different pitchers. Dave Trembley talks with Gary Thorne about the O's never giving up in the loss The Orioles battled tonight, but the Red Sox came through when it counted. The game was tied 4-4 in the seventh when the Sox brought in Victor Martinez to pinch-hit with the bases loaded. It didn't take him...

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steve melewski orioles

Slow finish doesn't take away from Joseph's solid season

April 03, 2010, 5:30pm

Orioles

Slow finish doesn't take away from Joseph's solid season

For most of this past season, Caleb Joseph carried a heavy load for the Frederick Keys. As a catcher, he had to handle a pitching staff that included top pitching prospects like Brian Matusz and Zach Britton. As a hitter he batted in the middle of the Keys' order. Joseph delivered on offense and defense. At the plate for much of this season he was the Carolina League's leading hitter. Fatigue finally caught up with him in August and his average tumbled when he batted just .156 for the...

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steve melewski orioles

The uphill climb vs. Boston and New York

April 03, 2010, 5:29pm

Orioles

The uphill climb vs. Boston and New York

In a sport dominated by statistics, I can't find any stats to explain why the Orioles can't beat the Yankees or Red Sox. We all know the O's aren't better than those teams, not even close. And, yes, those clubs are now pushing for the post-season while the O's aren't pushing for anything. But they are 2-13 this year vs. Boston and 3-12 vs. New York. They can't win more than 14 percent vs. the Sox and 20 percent vs. New York? If a team won only 20 percent all year that club would...

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steve melewski orioles

Weekend preview: Orioles at New York

April 03, 2010, 5:27pm

Orioles

Game Preview Orioles (56-83) at Yankees (91-50) Winning road games in the AL East has been a season-long problem for the Orioles. A big one at that. They are just 4-22 on the year in division road games. Starting tonight they will play three of them this weekend vs. the red-hot and almost certainly playoff-bound, New York Yankees. The O's are just 3-12 on the season vs. New York. Series Pitching Matchups: Fri, 7:05p - Chris Tillman (1-3, 4.66) vs. Andy Pettitte (13-6, 4.10). Sat, 1:05p -...

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steve melewski orioles

Tonight's pitchers: Tillman vs. Pettitte

April 03, 2010, 5:25pm

Orioles

Tonight's pitchers: Tillman vs. Pettitte

RHP Chris Tillman (1-3, 4.66) tonight will make his 9th Major League start of this season, his 5th on the road and the 1st of his career vs. the Yankees. In his last start vs. Texas, Tillman gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings. Tillman has allowed 3ER or less in six of eight starts. He has recorded three quality starts on the year. Tillman's first two starts: 6.75 Tillman's last six starts: 4.04 Tillman has been hurt by the longball, allowing 11 homers in 46 1/3. He has...

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steve melewski orioles

O's take lead at New York (update - play ball again)

April 03, 2010, 5:24pm

Orioles

O's take lead at New York (update - play ball again)

The Orioles, looking to snap a ten-game losing streak vs. New York and a ten-game losing streak in New York, scored four in the 6th tonight to take a 7-4 lead on the Yankees. Brian Roberts' two-run single made it a 5-4 lead, the O's first lead of the night. Cesar Izturis followed with an RBI hit and Nolan Reimold added a sac fly. The four runs came off reliever Damaso Marte. Starter Andy Pettitte, who is 26-6 in his career vs. the O's, will not get a decision tonight. He gave up three...

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steve melewski orioles

O's overcome the rain and the Yankees in 10-4 win

April 03, 2010, 5:23pm

Orioles

O's overcome the rain and the Yankees in 10-4 win

In a game played in the rain and wind in New York, the Orioles ended a ten-game losing streak vs. the Yankees with a 10-4 win. The O's also ended a ten-game losing streak in New York. The game was delayed an hour and 24 minutes at the start and for another hour and seven minutes in the top of the seventh. The contest ended at 1:28 AM Saturday morning. Trailing 4-1 after four, the O's went on to score the game's last nine runs. They put up two in the 5th, four in the 6th and three in the...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: O's take series opener in New York

April 03, 2010, 5:20pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: O's take series opener in New York

That streak is over - The Orioles snapped a ten-game losing streak vs. New York with Friday's win over the Yankees. It's their first win over New York since May 9th. The ten-game losing streak vs. New York was the O's longest since 1955. The O's also snapped a ten-game losing streak at New York. They entered tonight 0-6 this year at Yankee Stadium and their last win in New York before this one was on July 29, 2008. The O's are now 4-12 on the year vs. New York, but the Yankees are...

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steve melewski orioles

Saturday afternoon baseball: O's at New York

April 03, 2010, 5:19pm

Orioles

Saturday afternoon baseball: O's at New York

Game Preview Orioles (57-83) at New York (91-51) The Orioles ended a ten-game losing streak vs. the Yankees, but it surely was not easy. They overcame two rain delays and an early 4-1 deficit to post a 10-4 win in a game that ended just before 1:30 am on Saturday morning. Now, a few hours later, the O's and Yankees play game two of this series at 1:05 p.m. as Brian Matusz (4-2, 5.26) pitches vs. the Yankees A.J. Burnett (11-8, 4.19). Chris Tillman picked up his second win and Brian Roberts...

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steve melewski orioles

Today's pitchers: Matusz vs. Burnett

April 03, 2010, 5:17pm

Orioles

LHP Brian Matusz (4-2, 5.26) today is set to make his 8th Major League start of this season, his 5th on the road and the 1st of his career vs. the Yankees. Matusz has wins over Cleveland and Texas over his last two starts, going 2-0, 3.21 in that time. He gave up just one run in seven innings vs. Cleveland and then gave up four runs in seven frames vs. the Rangers. Right-handed batters hit .336 off Matusz while lefties bat just .219. He gives up an average of .237 when pitching with...

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steve melewski orioles

B-Rob notes (updated)

April 03, 2010, 5:15pm

Orioles

Brian Roberts entered today batting .183 since August 23. No one is thinking about that now as his second-inning Grand Slam off A.J. Burnett gives the O's the early 6-1 lead at New York. So, Roberts is 2 for 2 today, making him 3 for 5 with 7 RBI in this series. It was Roberts' second Slam of the year, he also hit one August 20th vs. Tampa. It's his 5th career Grand Slam. Brian Roberts entered today batting .183 since August 23. No one is thinking about that now as his second-inning...

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steve melewski orioles

Matusz and Roberts lead O's past New York, 7-3

April 03, 2010, 5:14pm

Orioles

Matusz and Roberts lead O's past New York, 7-3

Brian Matusz made his first start at Yankee Stadium one to remember and Brian Roberts hit his 5th career Grand Slam as the Orioles beat the Yankees 7-3 Saturday afternoon. The O's have won the first two games in this series. A win Sunday would give the Orioles their first three-game sweep in New York since June of 1986. Matusz gave up just four hits and one run over seven innings. He is now 5-2, 4.63. He threw 106 pitches, topping 100 for the first time as a Major Leaguer. Over his last...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: O's look for Sunday sweep at New York

April 03, 2010, 5:13pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: O's look for Sunday sweep at New York

Matusz was the man - Winning pitcher Brian Matusz went seven innings for the third start in a row and had a strong outing for the third straight start. The 22-year-old lefty gave up just four hits and one run over seven innings, throwing 106 pitches. It's his first time going over 100 pitches in the big leagues. The Yankees went just 4 for 24 at bat today (.167) vs. Matusz and just one runner reached second base after the first inning. Over his last three starts, Matusz is 3-0, 2.57. ...

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steve melewski orioles

Sunday preview: O's go for the sweep today at New York

April 03, 2010, 5:11pm

Orioles

Sunday preview: O's go for the sweep today at New York

Game Preview Orioles (58-83) at New York (91-52) The Orioles entered their weekend series with the Yankees with just one win in their last 24 combined games at Boston and New York. Today, with a victory, they could pick up their first three-game sweep at New York since June 6-8, 1986. The O's sent rookie starters to the mound the last two games, but Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz both produced wins and are a combined 2-0, 3.75 in this series. The O's won 10-4 Friday and 7-3 on Saturday...

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steve melewski orioles

Today's pitchers: Guthrie vs. Sabathia

April 03, 2010, 5:10pm

Orioles

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-13, 4.96) today is set to make his 29th start of this season, his 14th on the road and the 11th of his career vs. New York. Guthrie pitched seven scoreless innings Sunday vs. Texas as the O's posted a 7-0 win for their shutout of the year. Over his last four starts, Guthrie is 3-1, 1.33. Over 27 innings, he has allowed 22 hits, 4 earned runs with four walks and 13 strikeouts. Guthrie has allowed 2ER or less in eight starts this year, including the last four in a row....

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steve melewski orioles

Sabathia wins 17th as New York routs O's

April 03, 2010, 5:08pm

Orioles

Sabathia wins 17th as New York routs O's

CC Sabathia pitched seven strong innings to pick up his American League-leading 17th win as the Yankees beat the Orioles 13-3 Sunday afternoon. The O's won the series but missed their chance for their first three-game sweep in New York since June of 1986. New York held a two-run lead, but then scored eight runs in the 8th to open the ten-run lead. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 13-3 loss to Yankees Sabathia, now 17-7, 3.42, gave up just five hits and three runs over...