Steve Melewski

When he gets here, Rutschman's biggest foe may be expectations

January 19, 2021, 1:22pm

Orioles

When he gets here, Rutschman's biggest foe may be expectations

When catcher Adley Rutschman got rated as baseball's No. 2 prospect this week by Baseball America, he achieved a ranking that only three other Orioles reached since the publication's first top 100 poll in 1990. Manny Machado never got to No. 2. He never even made the top 10 with rankings of No. 14 in 2011 and No. 11 in 2012. Rutschman joined Matt Wieters, the only Oriole to garner the No. 1 spot in the initial Baseball America poll release of each of the last 32 years. Wieters was ranked No....

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Rutschman, four other O's reach Baseball America top 100

January 18, 2021, 11:52am

Orioles

Rutschman, four other O's reach Baseball America top 100

A new Baseball America top 100 prospects list (subscription may be required) was released yesterday and it was a good day for the Orioles. Baseball America has published 32 lists since its first in 1990. And just twice - first in 2008 and now in 2021 - has the club put five players in the top 100. They have never had more than five. I should point out that this is tracking the initial release of each list each year since Baseball America's first top 100, which was released in 1990. For many...

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Taking a closer look at the MLB Draft League

January 17, 2021, 3:04pm

Orioles

Taking a closer look at the MLB Draft League

When the Frederick Keys field a team this summer, for the first time they will not be sending Orioles prospects to the field. As part of the restructuring of minor league baseball, the Keys have joined the inaugural MLB Draft League. Six teams will begin play in a 68-game season beginning in late May and running through mid-August. It is a wood-bat league made up of amateur players from the college ranks that are draft-eligible. The All-Star break will be centered around the First-Year Player...

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Notes on Villar, spin rates and more

January 16, 2021, 11:32am

Orioles

Today we're reviewing a few stories from recent days for further discussion as we move closer to the start of February and we wonder if that will indeed be the month that spring training starts. Reunion anyone?: In this entry a few days ago, we wondered if Jonathan Villar could reunite with the Orioles and this time become the regular at shortstop? The club needs to replace JosÃ© Iglesias, who had a big 2020 season. The last time we saw Villar in 2019 in Baltimore, he had a pretty big season...

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Another look at a "landmark day" for the O's organization

January 15, 2021, 1:28pm

Orioles

Another look at a "landmark day" for the O's organization

If anyone still doubted that the Orioles were serious about their international amateur signings, those doubts surely vanished yesterday. From the first day he was on the job as executive vice president and general manager, Mike Elias made producing and developing a strong international program a priority. Now Elias, along with senior director of international scouting Koby Perez and his staff have put together their second signing class, which was unveiled yesterday. And while there were years...

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Basallo, HernÃ¡ndez lead O's international class (updated)

January 15, 2021, 6:42am

Orioles

Basallo, HernÃ¡ndez lead O's international class (updated)

The Orioles today announced a signing class of 17 international amateurs, including the club's first two players signed for seven figures. Per industry sources, the club has contract agreements with catcher Samuel Basallo from the Dominican Republic for $1.3 million and with Venezuelan shortstop Maikol HernÃ¡ndez for $1.2 million. The Orioles announced that 11 more from this group are six-figure agreements. Of the 17 agreements, 13 are from the Dominican Republic and four are from...

Notes on Epstein to MLB, international signings and more

January 14, 2021, 1:08pm

Orioles

Notes on Epstein to MLB, international signings and more

Now that he has helped the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs win a combined three World Series, Theo Epstein will try to help baseball improve its game. Maybe get more action in the game and work on rules that fans will embrace. Major League Baseball yesterday named Epstein a consultant regarding on-field matters. Under the supervision of the commissioner and the competition committee, Epstein will work with baseball analytics experts from the commissioner's office and the clubs to determine the...

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Noting a few more O's pitchers via spin rate data, plus other notes

January 13, 2021, 3:34pm

Orioles

Noting a few more O's pitchers via spin rate data, plus other notes

OK, don't panic but I'm going to throw out a few more notes today on four-seam fastball spin rate. Basically just add a few pitchers to the Orioles I listed among the data presented in this entry yesterday. If you recall, the spin rate data yesterday was produced for every big league pitcher last year that threw 250 or more pitches. Not just four-seamers, but total pitches. Of which they had their data for those pitches - to include four-seam fastballs. Last night I lowered the standard to...

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Taking a look at fastball spin rate data

January 12, 2021, 1:20pm

Orioles

Taking a look at fastball spin rate data

The data is available on the baseballsavant.mlb.com website and anyone can find it. Trying to understand exactly what it all means is a whole different story. I am talking about spin rates for major league pitchers. No doubt, big league teams like the Orioles have reams and reams of data not available to the public and interpret it in ways you and I could only dream of. They are experts and I am a beginner. But with some help while using what is publicly available, I want to try and learn more...

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A Jonathan Villar reunion, anyone?

January 11, 2021, 3:44pm

Orioles

There were some frustrated Orioles fans when the club traded infielder Jonathan Villar on Dec. 2, 2019. The club was not prepared to pay him a projected $10.4 million through arbitration, even coming off his strong 2019 season. So he was dealt to the Miami Marlins for minor league lefty Easton Lucas. The trade doesn't look so bad today, even though Lucas has yet to throw in a game on the O's farm. Villar produced an OPS+ of 109 for the 2019 Orioles, which tied for the second-best of his...

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This Means had a remarkable end to his 2020 season

January 10, 2021, 1:08pm

Orioles

This Means had a remarkable end to his 2020 season

No doubt left-hander John Means is the Orioles' top starting pitcher and likely opening day starter for 2021. But is he an ace pitcher? Not quite yet, but he sure showed signs of it in his last four 2020 starts. If Means can become the Orioles' first bonafide ace since Mike Mussina, he will truly beat the odds. Unlike Mussina, he was not a first-round draft pick or hyped prospect. He was drafted in round 11, the 331st player taken in the 2011 draft. He was never ranked as a top 30 prospect by...

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Notes on Mansolino, shifts and potential shortstops

January 09, 2021, 12:42pm

Orioles

Notes on Mansolino, shifts and potential shortstops

Today we're taking a look back at some recent articles you read here on MASNsports.com to check on some important topics and get more of your thoughts on them. The new coach: The Orioles made their eight-man coaching staff official this week. Their latest hire is Tony Masolino, 38, who comes to the club from the Cleveland Indians. I had wondered if the O's would consider hiring from within for this position, but Mansolino joins the club from the Indians. He will coach third base and work as...

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International amateurs can get there sooner and with great impact

January 08, 2021, 12:55pm

Orioles

International amateurs can get there sooner and with great impact

When I wrote this entry earlier this week, I detailed the Orioles' efforts to reach agreements with 20 international amateurs for their upcoming signing class. It will be the second international class since Mike Elias took over as the club's executive vice president and general manager. Elias and the team's senior director of international scouting, Koby Perez, both have extensive international experience and contacts and it is beginning to pay off for the Orioles. It will take years before...

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Ninth means the last three outs, but not necessarily the biggest outs

January 07, 2021, 2:13pm

Orioles

Ninth means the last three outs, but not necessarily the biggest outs

Who will be the closer for the 2021 Orioles? Who knows today? But is it really that important for a rebuilding team? Probably not. The Orioles had five pitchers record saves last year. Cole Sulser was 5-for-8 in save chances, while CÃ©sar Valdez was 3-for-3. Miguel Castro was 1-for-3, Tanner Scott 1-for-2, Travis Lakins Sr. 1-for-1 and Thomas Eshelman 0-for-1. Sulser was the only player in the major leagues with two saves of at least two innings each. Scott picked up his first career save...

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New O's coach brings youth and more to his job

January 06, 2021, 5:23pm

Orioles

New O's coach brings youth and more to his job

New Orioles third base coach Tony Mansolino had zero ties to the Orioles organization. That is, until they sought to interview him. He got the gig and now he will look to add to the club and help players as he becomes the youngest member of the coaching staff. Mansolino, 38, spent the last 10 years with the Cleveland Indians organization. The next youngest member of the O's staff is first base coach Anthony Sanders at age 46. Mansolino served the Indians, first as a minor league batting coach...

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O's international efforts will soon take another big step

January 05, 2021, 12:44pm

Orioles

O's international efforts will soon take another big step

The Orioles continue to make some huge strides in their pursuit of international amateur talent. A class of what would eventually be 44 players was added in the signing period that began July 2, 2019 and ended in October. The Orioles will sign fewer players in the coming class, but were involved with many more players commanding bigger signing bonuses. This is the latest sign that the club is serious about becoming a player on the international front and the club will be making history when it...

Will some MLB rule changes be used again in 2021?

January 04, 2021, 2:03pm

Orioles

Will some MLB rule changes be used again in 2021?

Today is sort of a follow-up on yesterday's entry, where we discussed whether defensive shifts should be eliminated or at least reduced. Today I pledge my personal support for two rules I would like to see continue in 2021. And maybe just in 2021. The current collective bargaining agreement runs through the coming season. Why not take another look at some of these rules and then decide whether they stick around more long-term starting in 2022. See what they look like through 162 games - or...

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Is it time to take a harder look at defensive shifts?

January 03, 2021, 1:54pm

Orioles

Is it time to take a harder look at defensive shifts?

Are defensive shifts hurting the game of baseball? I would expect many fans to answer yes. Many players may well answer yes, too. The defensive shifts are taking away hits, and some feel they are taking away action in the game. The game needs more balls in play, not fewer. I have never been against shifts for one basic reason - I don't think we should tell the defense where to play. Years ago, advance scouts helped teams set their defense by scouting opponents and noting where they often hit...

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What will keep the fans invested in 2021?

January 02, 2021, 12:53pm

Orioles

What will keep the fans invested in 2021?

It was about this time last year when I wrote something similar to this, asking what will keep fans engaged in 2020? Now it's time to ponder the same question about 2021. An obvious answer is the ability to get back to attending games. That goes without saying. We all want that back. But the interest level in this rebuilding team remains high, even though fans could not attend this past year. So what is keeping the fans' interest right now? Here are a few possibilities. The young pitchers...

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Would O's trade a Cy Young winner with three years left on deal?

January 01, 2021, 3:08pm

Orioles

Would O's trade a Cy Young winner with three years left on deal?

In the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays garner a lot of respect. Among fans, media, just about anyone that marvels how they keep up with the big boys on such a low payroll. There are ways O's fans would love to see the Orioles emulate the Rays - mostly in how they win. But probably not in actually how they get there, a point hammered home with their most recent big move. But the Rays have done a lot of winning since 2008. From 2008-2013 the club won 90 or more games five times in six...