Steve Melewski

Remembering that time the O's faced three Cy Young winners

Orioles
Remembering that time the O's faced three Cy Young winners
The Los Angeles Dodgers now have a rotation featuring three Cy Young Award winners, and the Orioles of a few years ago know what it is like to challenge that. I think the Dodgers made a smart move with the free agent signing of right-hander Trevor Bauer. Yes, Bauer can opt after the first or second years of the deal, but Los Angeles hopes to get the top-of-rotation quality Bauer and maybe win another World Series or two over the next two years. For that, they could be out $40 million for his...
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Steve Melewski

On O's podcast, Elias on acquisition of Félix Hernández

Orioles
On O's podcast, Elias on acquisition of Félix Hernández
He may have ultimately opted out of the 2020 big league season, but the Orioles would certainly take a repeat of Félix Hernández's spring training performance from last year when the right-hander takes the mound in Sarasota over the next few weeks. Signed by the club this week to a minor league deal that will pay him $1 million if he's in the majors, Hernández recorded a 1.98 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings. He was well on his way to wrapping up a spot in the Atlanta...
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Steve Melewski

A scout's take on the O's potential double play combination

Orioles
A scout's take on the O's potential double play combination
If Freddy Galvis is at shortstop and Yolmer Sánchez is at second base for the 2021 Orioles, their up-the-middle infield defense will no doubt be very solid. And they could have some real durability. Between 2017-19, Sánchez played in 148 games per year for the Chicago White Sox. From 2015-19, Galvis averaged 156 games per season. I had a recent conversation with a National League scout, who noted that durability in assessing what the O's might be getting with these two players. The...
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Steve Melewski

Félix Hernández brings quite a resume to Baltimore

Orioles
Félix Hernández brings quite a resume to Baltimore
Normally, the signing of a pitcher to a minor league contract who went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in his most recent season would not garner much interest. Or much enthusiasm. There would be a story here and fans would await the pitcher getting his shot to prove he still has it during spring training. But it's not every day a rebuilding team can sign someone with the resume of right-hander Félix Hernández. Some fans, certainly not all, did express some excitement last night when the Orioles...
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Steve Melewski

Prospect positional rankings and other notes

Orioles
Prospect positional rankings and other notes
Baseball America recently released its prospect position rankings, which followed up its release of the publication's top 100, where the Orioles placed five players. Adley Rutschman, ranked No. 2 in the Baseball America top 100 (subscription may be required), is rated as the No. 1 catcher in what Baseball America calls a loaded group of catchers, with nine of their top 10 rated also in their top 100. Baseball America points out that it was only three seasons ago that there were only four...
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Steve Melewski

The rotation after the trade and more on Jahmai Jones

Orioles
The rotation after the trade and more on Jahmai Jones
With right-hander Alex Cobb expected on his way via trade to the Los Angeles Angels, the Orioles rotation, thought to have at least one opening, now has at least two. It's two if you have John Means atop that rotation, which anyone certainly must at this point. But that is if you also have at least penciled in Dean Kremer and Keegan Akin, who combined to make 10 starts late last year. Their chance to make up 40 percent of the starting five may be more secure today than yesterday. But the...
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Steve Melewski

As spring training approaches, the uncertainty remains in MLB

Orioles
As spring training approaches, the uncertainty remains in MLB
Welcome to February. The month, we think, when teams will report to spring training in Florida and Arizona. Orioles pitchers and catchers remain scheduled to report to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Feb. 16. The first spring training game is set for Feb. 27. Opening day is scheduled for April 1 at Boston. And that's no joke. Those are the dates as of this morning. It's all subject to change, of course. We're still in a pandemic. Most teams still could not sell tickets to any fans if they...
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Steve Melewski

On the passing of a great reporter and an even better person

Orioles
On the passing of a great reporter and an even better person
Those of us who work in baseball in this area and region today are feeling such a loss. Our friend here at MASN and MASNsports.com, our treasured colleague, Mel Antonen, passed away last night. Mel was 64 and battled a rare autoimmune disease and other health issues that made his battle against this disease one that was beyond challenging. That word just doesn't do it justice here. Baltimore-area media and friends of Mel would get updates over about the last year this was all going on. Mel...
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Steve Melewski

A few questions for O's fans

Orioles
A few questions for O's fans
Just a short entry today that features a few questions. As always, feel free to answer one, two or all of them. Respond with comments on the answers of your fellow readers too. Feel free to pose any of your own questions with topics you may be wondering about as we are now weeks away from the scheduled start of spring training. We certainly have a few unanswered question about the coming season but we are now less than a few weeks away from report dates around Major League Baseball. So, on to...
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Steve Melewski

The comparisons will be coming for these shortstops

Orioles
The comparisons will be coming for these shortstops
Even though anything he does good or bad for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 won't help or hurt the Orioles, no doubt O's fans will still be quite interested in the performance of former shortstop José Iglesias. After the O's traded Iglesias to the Angels, they signed Freddy Galvis to replace him. So the comparison of the two and how well or not they do this coming season is an obvious one. But it is only a one-season comparison since both players were signed by their respective clubs just...
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Steve Melewski

Dreaming big on pitching prospects

Orioles
Dreaming big on pitching prospects
If you could bat .500 in baseball, you would probably win a few awards and set several records. And if the Orioles can bat .500 with their top two pitching prospects, that might be impressive as well. They dream on going 2-for-2 and producing a pair of No. 1 starters out of right-hander Grayson Rodriguez and left-hander DL Hall. But what if they turn one but not both of that duo into a No. 1 starter? Well, that would still put them ahead of most clubs. Producing an elite starter is very hard to...
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Steve Melewski

Norfolk beat writer remembers Ron Johnson, plus other notes

Orioles
Norfolk beat writer remembers Ron Johnson, plus other notes
The news of the death of former Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson this week hit hard throughout the Orioles organization and beyond. He managed the Tides for seven years through 2018 and sent many a player to help the O's during a period when they made the playoffs three times from 2012 through 2016. Johnson served the Orioles very well. Players were made better having played for him. His last Norfolk team in 2018 included the likes of DJ Stewart, Cedric Mullins, Austin Wynns, Chance Sisco,...
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Steve Melewski

Checking in with new O's shortstop Freddy Galvis

Orioles
Checking in with new O's shortstop Freddy Galvis
New Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis hopes to play some quality defense for his new team and provide some pop in a ballpark where he enjoys hitting. He also brings a career marked by durability and wants to show that to his new club as well. From 2015 through 2019, he played in 151, 158, 162, 162 and 147 games. He had a consecutive games played streak of 349, then the longest in the majors, ending with Toronto on April 24, 2019. "I think it's really important," Galvis said during a Zoom...
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Steve Melewski

Another look at new O's infielder Freddy Galvis

Orioles
Another look at new O's infielder Freddy Galvis
When the Orioles signed José Iglesias as their shortstop on Jan. 7, 2020, he had last played for the Cincinnati Reds. When they signed infielder Freddy Galvis to a one-year deal last night, he also joins the team from the Reds. Galvis was a free agent and signed for one year at $1.5 million per various reports with a bonus of $250,000 if he gets traded. For the 2020 Reds, over 47 games, he hit .220/.308/.404 with seven homers, 16 RBIs and an OPS of .712. In the last full season of 2019, he...
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Steve Melewski

After MLB debut, Keegan Akin will try and stay there

Orioles
After MLB debut, Keegan Akin will try and stay there
The Orioles drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft, No. 54 overall out of Western Michigan University. Later that summer, he made his pro debut at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He moved his way up the ranks, pitching at Double-A Bowie in 2018 and Triple-A Norfolk by 2019. After lefty Keegan Akin made his O's debut and had an impressive start to his big league career last summer, he'll now try to show he can stick in the majors and become a fixture in the rotation. For the 2020...
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Steve Melewski

O's Sig Mejdal on how spin rates impact roster, potential additions

Orioles
O's Sig Mejdal on how spin rates impact roster, potential additions
So after spending some time researching and learning about spin rates and active spin or spin efficiency for Orioles pitchers, it was probably time to turn to a real expert for more. I went to the top and got an interview with Sig Mejdal, the Orioles' vice president and assistant general manager, analytics. "Sig Mejdal is one of the most experienced and accomplished analysts working in baseball today," O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said when he hired him not...
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Steve Melewski

A look back: The possible next top 100 player and more

Orioles
A look back: The possible next top 100 player and more
In a recent story published by Baseball America, the publication noted 13 players (subscription may be required) that could have breakout seasons on the farm in 2021. Before even reading the text, readers could see the picture at the top of that story. It is of Orioles shortstop prospect Gunnar Henderson. For this story in December, I noted that Henderson could be the club's next top 100 prospect. The club recently put five players on the newly released Baseball America top 100. It is just the...
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Steve Melewski

Upon Hank Aaron's passing, the tributes poured in

Orioles
Upon Hank Aaron's passing, the tributes poured in
He was an All-Star player and person, and when Hank Aaron died Friday, the tributes poured in. And poured in and poured in. They talked with great reverence about him yesterday, but also many days before that as well. "As far as I am concerned, Hank Aaron is the best ballplayer of my era," Mickey Mantle once said. "The only man I idolized more than myself," once said Muhammad Ali. "Hank Aaron is near the top of everyone's list of all-time great players," Major League Baseball...
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Steve Melewski

Getting back on the spin rate train

Orioles
Getting back on the spin rate train
It's been about a week since I first wrote in this space about four-seam fastball spin rates. So today, I am jumping back on the spin rate train and presenting more data that is available to all from the baseballsavant.mlb.com website. Once again trying not to hurt myself, pull a hammie or break a hamate and/or injure myself in any way as I jump on the train. Too close to the start of a new season for any reporter setbacks. Today let's look at breaking pitches - sliders, curveballs and cut...
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Steve Melewski

The AL East gets even tougher, plus more prospect news

Orioles
The AL East gets even tougher, plus more prospect news
The Orioles' effort to rebuild a team that lost a combined 223 games over the 2018 and 2019 seasons was always going to be difficult and challenging. The Cubs and Astros rebuilt teams and took them all the way to World Series championships. But they didn't do it in the American League East. It's a division where everywhere the Orioles look they find challenges. There are the traditional powers and big spenders in Boston and New York. The smart, efficient and talented Tampa Bay Rays made the...
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