Steve Melewski

New extra-inning rule seems destined to be met with criticism

Orioles
New extra-inning rule seems destined to be met with criticism
The date was April 5, 2018 and it was opening day in the Double-A Eastern League. That night, the Orioles' Bowie Baysox affiliate and the visiting Harrisburg Senators became the first two teams in the minor leagues to experience a new rule. Starting on the farm that year, when games progressed to extra innings, a runner would be placed at second base to start each half-inning. It was an attempt to end games sooner, with extra benefits of keeping teams from running out of pitchers and keeping...
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Steve Melewski

Taking a shot at some O's questions for the 2020 season (with video)

Orioles
Taking a shot at some O's questions for the 2020 season (with video)
So can the Orioles keep it real interesting in a 60-game season by playing much better than expected at the outset and moving into contention? It seems unlikely, but with a 30-game midpoint it would seem they could put together a run in that span that leaves them close to a playoff berth. Yep, some strange things can and likely will happen in a 60-game season. The Cy Young Award winner might win just six games. We could see a .400 hitter. And we could see unlikely teams in the playoffs. It...
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Steve Melewski

A look at some of the 2020 rules as MLB returns

Orioles
A look at some of the 2020 rules as MLB returns
In about 30 days, there will be Major League Baseball. The season will consist of just 60 games, which is 37 percent of a normal season. But we will see the Orioles return. They'll play against the American League East and also against teams from the National League East. Last night, MLB players and owners finalized their protocols for health and safety during a pandemic. That was about the final hurdle before MLB could announce, as it did last night, that opening day will be July 23 or 24....
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Steve Melewski

Closing in on a baseball season

Orioles
Closing in on a baseball season
It should surprise no one that Major League Baseball owners and players could not reach agreement on the number of games to play in the 2020 season. Last night, we found out the players' vote on the owners' latest 60-game proposal. They voted 33-5 against accepting that. Now we wait and expect to find out that commissioner Rob Manfred will implement a schedule. He was given that right in the March 26 agreement and could implement a schedule of 60 games that begins in late July. This could...
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Steve Melewski

A look at Orioles' post-draft math

Orioles
A look at Orioles' post-draft math
When the Orioles selected Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad No. 2 overall in the recent First-Year Player Draft, the assumption was they took him there to save some money to spent later in the draft. And while it could work out that way, the Orioles made it clear he was their top choice. Any savings would be an added bonus. We didn't know it then, but the Orioles would not go overslot until their last two picks, drafting high school players in the fourth and fifth rounds. There have been no...
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Steve Melewski

Still waiting on baseball

Orioles
Still waiting on baseball
To play 60 games or 70 games. Decisions, decisions. Something this important should take days to resolve. Actually, this should have been resolved weeks ago. But on we go. Still not sure if there will be a baseball season, how many games it will consist of and how the schedule will look. While the sides haggle over this, there have been several players apparently on both minor league and major league rosters that have tested positive for the coronavirus. There are four members of the Yankees...
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Steve Melewski

Trying to remember what I love about baseball

Orioles
Trying to remember what I love about baseball
My feelings on the sport of baseball are a bit conflicted right now. There is disappointment that we still don't have an announcement about the start of the 2020 season. I still expect there to be a season, but the harsh words and mistrust between Major League Baseball owners and players are pretty strong right now. But, I'd like to take a moment away from that. I'd like to take a lot of moments away, really. I'm trying to remember today what makes baseball great for me. It is not as easy...
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Steve Melewski

Taking a look at the undrafted free agents

Orioles
Taking a look at the undrafted free agents
There was one school of thought that amateur players that signed after the draft would get scooped up by the best teams. While a case could made for that based on what we've seen so far, it is the Kansas City Royals that have signed the most players off the pre-draft Baseball America top 500 list of ranked players. We should point out that some of the "signings" may really be agreements and have not yet been announced and become official. But some teams may have officially announced some of...
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Steve Melewski

MLB takes a step toward a 2020 season

Orioles
MLB takes a step toward a 2020 season
Will we hear the cry to "Play ball!" in July? One day after I wrote in this space about how bad it looked and how we had a right to be disappointed in both the players and owners, it seems an actual deal may be getting closer. The players held firm to get 100 percent of prorated salaries and they will reportedly get that. But just for 60, 65, or 66 games, something in that neighborhood, although they could negotiate for more. The owners didn't want to pay full prorated salaries for much more...
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Steve Melewski

A hope that baseball can quickly get it together

Orioles
A hope that baseball can quickly get it together
Here are a few - but certainly nearly not all - of the reasons that baseball has gotten to the point where there is a chance there will not be a 2020 season. * The Major League Baseball owners and players negotiated an agreement on March 26. But now they can't even agree on what they negotiated or agree on the language in said agreement. * The agreement failed to address the economics of how the sport would return if there were going to be MLB games played with no fans, which was a real...
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Steve Melewski

Curt Blefary's grandson wants to follow grandad to the Orioles

Orioles
Curt Blefary's grandson wants to follow grandad to the Orioles
The Orioles' third-round draft pick, University of Mississippi shortstop Anthony Servideo, has ties to the organization. His grandfather on his mother's side is Curt Blefary, the 1965 American League Rookie of the Year for the Orioles. But beyond the family connection, no doubt the organization took note of Servideo's huge improvement at the bat from 2019 to 2020. It was a small sample size, but the stats took a big leap. In 2019 for Ole Miss, the lefty hitter batted .287/.429/.388 in 66...
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Steve Melewski

A conversation with Ken Guthrie, Heston Kjerstad's scout

Orioles
A conversation with Ken Guthrie, Heston Kjerstad's scout
When the Orioles made the final call on their No. 2 draft pick, selecting Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad on Wednesday night, it was a big moment for the player and his family. But it was also a big moment for the Orioles scouting staff. Area scouts can follow players for years and years, file numerous reports, get to the know the player very well, meet his family, see hundreds of games over many seasons and then not even see that player drafted. Much less see one of their players taken...
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Steve Melewski

O's use draft to fortify shortstop position on farm

Orioles
O's use draft to fortify shortstop position on farm
Last winter, the Orioles signed free agent shortstop José Iglesias to a one-year contract with a club option for 2021. At a position where you want to have a plus defender, he will be that for the Orioles when we see baseball again. He posted a career-high 1.4 Defensive Wins Above Replacement last season and leads all major league shortstops in fielding percentage since 2015. But the Orioles hope the long-term future of the position is currently on the farm, where in recent years, the club...
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Steve Melewski

Negotiation fatigue is real for the fans of baseball

Orioles
Negotiation fatigue is real for the fans of baseball
At a time when turning on the news can be depressing in so many ways, baseball had the chance to be our hero in recent weeks. We turn to sports for enjoyment and entertainment. It is a great diversion from life's issues for a few hours. Baseball had the chance. But so far, baseball has failed. The constant bickering between the players and owners, I believe, has had an opposite effect. I call it negotiation fatigue. Fans are tiring of the back and forth and tired of hearing another day when...
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Steve Melewski

Notes and quotes on the draft and more with Brad Ciolek

Orioles
Notes and quotes on the draft and more with Brad Ciolek
The Orioles selected six players the last two nights in the First-Year Player Draft and the first five-round Major League Baseball draft ever is in the books. In a Zoom call with Baltimore reporters late last night, O's supervisor of domestic scouting operation Brad Ciolek expanded on the club's scouting and interest in top pick Heston Kjerstad, the University of Arkansas outfielder that went No. 2 overall. "We liked him as a bat coming out of high school," Ciolek said. "At Arkansas, he...
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Steve Melewski

Wrapping up the draft with the O's Brad Ciolek

Orioles
Wrapping up the draft with the O's Brad Ciolek
The Orioles completed their draft tonight, making four more selections and six total over five rounds and two days. They selected four college position players to start their draft, added a high school infielder in round four tonight and a prep pitcher in the fifth and last round. So, four of six taken were from the college ranks and five of six were position players. The Orioles' supervisor of domestic scouting operations, Brad Ciolek, talked to Baltimore reporters on a Zoom call tonight and...
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Steve Melewski

Another look at the O's picks of Kjerstad and Westburg

Orioles
Another look at the O's picks of Kjerstad and Westburg
On night one of the First-Year Player Draft the Orioles got two Southeastern Conference players from Texas to add to their farm system. They selected an outfielder and an infielder. They added Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad (pronounced KERR-stad) with the No. 2 overall pick and they selected Mississippi State infielder Jordan Westburg at No. 30. Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias made it clear last night Kjerstad was the player the club liked the most at No. 2,...
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Steve Melewski

New Oriole Kjerstad confident in himself and his new club

Orioles
New Oriole Kjerstad confident in himself and his new club
New Oriole Heston Kjerstad, taken by the club with the No. 2 pick tonight in the First-Year Player Draft, showed some confidence when he talked to reporters during a Zoom interview. After Detroit took Spencer Torkelson as expected, the Orioles pulled a surprise with the selection of the lefty-hitting outfielder from the University of Arkansas. "I'm just excited to be a part of Birdland now and embark on my next journey of professional baseball," Kjerstad said. "Right now, I'm just stoked...
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Steve Melewski

A look back and a prediction as draft day arrives

Orioles
A look back and a prediction as draft day arrives
Draft day is here. The First-Year Player Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. and the draft will be televised by both ESPN and MLB Network. The Orioles will have two picks this evening when they select No. 2 and No. 30 overall. Their first pick is the second pick of a first round that will last 29 picks. Their second pick is the first selection of Competitive Balance Round A that will comprise picks 30 through 37. The draft resumes Thursday at 5 p.m. with rounds two through five. The Orioles have...
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Steve Melewski

Another look at O's options for the No. 2 pick

Orioles
Another look at O's options for the No. 2 pick
When the First-Year Player Draft begins on Wednesday night, the Orioles will have some big decisions to make. They may well be choosing between one of three options with their No. 2 overall pick. * Take a real good hitter in Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, if he doesn't go 1/1 to the Detroit Tigers, or add Vanderbilt's Austin Martin. He features some defensive versatility and is the best pure hitter in the draft with plus bat skills and bat speed and the potential to add...
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