Steve Melewski

Valdez still confounding foes with changeup and Means good again

September 13, 2020, 1:58pm

Orioles

Valdez still confounding foes with changeup and Means good again

What do you say about a 35-year-old right-hander who had not pitched in the majors since 2017, throws mostly changeups, was the Mexican League Pitcher of the Year last season, and now has an ERA of 0.00 in 10 1/3 innings and five outings with the Orioles? You say you're happy he's on their team and it was good fortune and apparently a great move to sign him as a minor league free agent Jan. 9. In his latest strong outing for the Orioles, right-hander CÃ©sar Valdez pitched three scoreless...

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Means strong again, but O's fall 3-1 and are swept (updated)

September 13, 2020, 11:20am

Orioles

Means strong again, but O's fall 3-1 and are swept (updated)

Left-hander John Means was able to follow righty Dean Kremer and throw another strong game for the Orioles on the mound this afternoon. But again, the offense was producing little. The Orioles would need to get at least something going with the bats to pull this game out and avoid a four-game sweep by the Yankees. But they could not do it. Gleyber Torres pinch-hit in the New York eighth with two on and two outs and doubled off Tanner Scott. That broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Yankees a 3-1 win...

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O's game blog: Trying to avoid a four-game sweep

September 13, 2020, 7:39am

Orioles

O's game blog: Trying to avoid a four-game sweep

After losses by 6-0, 10-1 and 2-1 in 10 innings, the Orioles need a win today against the Yankees in New York or they will be swept four straight. They have been swept in a series four times this season and once before in a four-game series. That was at home against Miami in early August. In the first three games of that series, the Orioles scored just one run. In the first three games of this series, they have scored just two. They are batting .119 (10-for-84) this weekend with games of two,...

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The young pitchers are providing hope for the future

September 12, 2020, 2:38pm

Orioles

The young pitchers are providing hope for the future

It has been a disappointing weekend in New York for the Orioles. But it was a real positive to see right-hander Dean Kremer have another strong outing on Saturday afternoon. He faced the Yankees again, and again threw well against them. In two starts versus New York he has allowed five hits and two runs over 11 innings. The Yankees have hit just .135 (5-for-37) against him and he has walked six and fanned 14 in the two games. Over the next year or two, this Orioles' rebuilding effort will...

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Dean Kremer strong again, but O's lose to Yankees

September 12, 2020, 12:04pm

Orioles

Dean Kremer strong again, but O's lose to Yankees

It was another impressive day for Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. Taking the mound after his club got swept in a doubleheader on Friday, Kremer gave his team a very solid outing against New York. Facing the Yankees for the second time in six days, he threw well against a team that had scored 16 runs last night and 23 runs during a three-game winning. But the O's offense did not do its part. The Yankees beat the Orioles 2-1 in 10 innings on a sac fly by Luke Voit. The Orioles fall to 20-25...

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O's game blog: Dean Kremer faces the Yankees

September 12, 2020, 8:42am

Orioles

O's game blog: Dean Kremer faces the Yankees

After a miserable night of baseball - one that saw them lose 6-0 and 10-1 - the Orioles try to regroup today and gain a game on the Yankees as the series continues. It's the third game of a four-game series. The Orioles (20-24) have lost three in a row since winning six of eight games. They are 10-9 on the road and 11-16 versus American League East clubs. They begin play today tied with Detroit, 3 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the No. 8 AL playoff spot. New York (24-21) has won its last...

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McKenna soaks it up during taxi squad experience

September 11, 2020, 7:31pm

Orioles

McKenna soaks it up during taxi squad experience

When young outfielder Ryan McKenna joined the Orioles as a taxi squad player in New York this week, he was a step closer to playing in his first big league game. As he looked around the clubhouse, not only was he reunited with former minor league teammates but he saw them thriving and leading the Orioles to wins. He was the Orioles' fifth pick in round four of the 2015 draft out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Hampshire. The Orioles' first two picks in that draft were DJ Stewart and...

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Rough night at the office: O's outscored 16-1 in twinbill

September 11, 2020, 5:26pm

Orioles

Rough night at the office: O's outscored 16-1 in twinbill

Since the New York Mets' Michael Conforto made that incredible catch with the bases loaded against the Orioles in the sixth on Wednesday night, it seems not a lot has gone right for the club. Tonight, they got blanked in the first game by the New York Yankees, and then the Baltimore defense came unglued in the last of the first in the nightcap. The Orioles came up very flat twice tonight as they lost a doubleheader to the Yankees to start an important four-game series. The O's lost 6-0 and...

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Cedric Mullins on his hot hitting, bunt hits and more

September 11, 2020, 9:31am

Orioles

Cedric Mullins on his hot hitting, bunt hits and more

The Orioles' 2015 draft class has been well represented in several of their recent wins. The club's top pick in that draft, taken No. 25 overall, was DJ Stewart. Then 11 picks later, the Orioles selected Ryan Mountcastle. Much later in round 13, with overall pick No. 403, they added Campbell University outfielder Cedric Mullins. The Orioles have won six of nine games to move into contention for the No. 8 American League playoff spot. And homegrown players including those three and pitchers...

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Young O's to gain some valuable experience in stretch run

September 10, 2020, 4:36pm

Orioles

Young O's to gain some valuable experience in stretch run

A couple of hours before his team was scheduled to open a big series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told us via Zoom interview that his team's demeanor was no different than it had been all year. The game last night would later get rained out, and now this pivotal four-game series will begin with a doubleheader later today and be played out over three days. Just like last weekend, when the Orioles took three of four in Baltimore. "I think we're taking...

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O's game blog: The series begins in the Bronx

September 10, 2020, 1:42pm

Orioles

O's game blog: The series begins in the Bronx

The Orioles have 18 games remaining in this truncated 2020 regular season. Their last playoff berth came in 2016, but this year they've got a shot to get back into what is an expanded eight-team American League field. The Orioles are pursuing the New York Yankees and the teams begin a four-game series with a doubleheader today at Yankee Stadium. New York holds the No. 8 playoff spot right now in the AL, and here are the Yankees closest pursuers: * New York (22-21)* Orioles (20-22) are 1.5...

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O's head to Bronx and Elias talks prospects (game rained out)

September 09, 2020, 8:41pm

Orioles

O's head to Bronx and Elias talks prospects (game rained out)

Few games this season have started so well for the Orioles on offense. They had a 5-1 lead in the third inning after Hanser Alberto singled in a run. To that point in the game, they were 10-for-16 at bat and 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Well, we didn't know then that the Orioles would go 0-for-7 with RISP the rest of that game and score just one more run. It opened the door for a New York Mets comeback and they beat the Orioles 7-6 at Citi Field. Right-hander Jorge LÃ³pez gave...

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O's game blog: Trying to extend a winning streak

September 09, 2020, 2:16pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Trying to extend a winning streak

After hitting four homers in an 11-2 win over the New York Mets last night, the Orioles face the same club tonight as their playoff pursuit continues. The Orioles begin play 1/2 game back of the New York Yankees for the No. 8 American League playoff berth. The Orioles (20-21) have won four in a row and six of their last eight games. They are 9-7 against National League teams, and that is 9-3 since they got swept four in a row by the Miami Marlins at home in early August. The O's team ERA is...

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Several Orioles will wear No. 21 on Roberto Clemente Day

September 09, 2020, 12:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles are joining all of Major League Baseball in celebrating the 19th annual Roberto Clemente Day tonight during their game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. This commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, and a special tribute video will...

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Birdland dream scenario: O's beat out the Yankees for the playoffs

September 08, 2020, 8:37pm

Orioles

Birdland dream scenario: O's beat out the Yankees for the playoffs

It is a scenario that probably the most enthusiastic and exuberant Orioles fans among you could not have imagined: The 2020 Orioles knocking the New York Yankees out of the playoffs. Remember before the season, when some fans wondered if the Orioles could contend in a shortened season with expanded playoffs? Well, those two factors have combined to see the Orioles indeed as contenders with 19 games to play. Through last night's games, every team that is playing .500 baseball would qualify for...

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John Means comes up big as O's win road trip opener

September 08, 2020, 5:58pm

Orioles

John Means comes up big as O's win road trip opener

The Orioles just completed a 4-2 homestand where they hit well and pitched well for the most part. Both continued tonight as they recorded an impressive 11-2 win over the New York Mets. It was a strong start to an important six-game road trip. The trip began with the Orioles trailing the Yankees by 1 1 /2 games for the No. 8 American League playoff seed. But when New York lost 2-1 tonight to Toronto, the Orioles pulled within a half-game of a playoff spot with 19 games to play. The Yankees are...

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O's game blog: The road trip begins

September 08, 2020, 2:32pm

Orioles

The Orioles tonight begin their third and last stretch of 20 games that will complete the shortened 2020 regular season. They also begin their next-to-last road trip of the year. They play the New York Mets the next two nights at Citi Field, then move to Yankee Stadium for four games starting Thursday. The Orioles (19-21) and Mets (19-23) split two games last week in Baltimore. The Orioles won the series opener 9-5 and lost the next night 9-4. The Orioles have won three in a row and five of...

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Carson Fulmer gets latest chance for success with Orioles

September 08, 2020, 11:54am

Orioles

The latest pitcher the Orioles wants to take a look at to see if they can tap into talent that must be there somewhere is right-hander Carson Fulmer. On July 25, Detroit claimed him off waivers from the Chicago White Sox, the club that had drafted him. On Aug. 24, Pittsburgh claimed him from Detroit. On Saturday, the Orioles claimed him from Pittsburgh. That is four teams for Fulmer since late July. Quite a wild ride for a player that had a brilliant college career at Vanderbilt and was drafted...

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O's pitching stats are trending in the right direction

September 07, 2020, 5:10pm

Orioles

O's pitching stats are trending in the right direction

Let's take a few moments today to appreciate the recent improved play of the Orioles. I'll throw some player and team stats into the beginning of this entry that illustrate that better play. I will add that some of this was surprising to me and I've watched every pitch of the 2020 season. * Over the last 14 games, the team ERA is 3.26. That has brought their season ERA down from 4.99 to its current 4.38 which ranks eighth-best in the American League. The 2019 final team ERA was 5.59, which...

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When the call came, O's prospects were ready

September 06, 2020, 2:50pm

Orioles

When the call came, O's prospects were ready

It's challenging for all Major League Baseball organizations. First, to properly develop their prospects and second, to know when the right time is to call them up. Too soon and a player can struggle, lose confidence and start their career maybe questioning whether they belong and can play in the majors. But with left fielder Ryan Mountcastle, pitcher Keegan Akin and yesterday, another pitcher in Dean Kremer, the Orioles' prospects proved to be ready for their moment. When their respective...