Steve Melewski

Would occasional use of an opener work for the Orioles?

February 13, 2019, 5:49pm

Orioles

There are some who see use of the opener in baseball as at least intriguing and maybe even innovative. Others push back against such a pitching plan and don't like it or don't see it working well for teams much moving forward. An opener is a pitcher who starts a game but faces only a few batters or stays in for only an inning or two. The tactic allows a team to bring in the scheduled starter in the second or third inning and potentially begin his outing versus the bottom of the order. If that...

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A few more questions for spring training

February 12, 2019, 3:08pm

Orioles

A few more questions for spring training

We recently looked at a few questions that we should get answers for during spring training in this space. It included a look at the catcher position, the leadoff spot in the order and the rotation among other topics. Clear here for a look back at that entry. Today let's throw a few more questions and topics out there. Who will emerge from the glut of middle infielders?: No doubt Jonathan Villar will be starting at either second base or shortstop on opening day, but who will be playing with...

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Farmhand Yastrzemski invited to take his shot

February 11, 2019, 3:52pm

Orioles

Farmhand Yastrzemski invited to take his shot

Playing in a major league spring training game is going to be nothing new for Orioles outfield prospect Mike Yastrzemski. He's played in 30 such games in four different seasons. The difference is that he previously came over from minor league camp. This spring - for the first time in his pro career - he's in major league camp as a non-roster invitee. He's got a locker at Ed Smith Stadium. "Very excited," Yastrzemski said last week from Nashville, where he trained at his alma mater,...

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In Sarasota, Yefry RamÃrez will make his case for a rotation spot

February 10, 2019, 12:03pm

Orioles

In Sarasota, Yefry RamÃrez will make his case for a rotation spot

For a player who began his pro career at 17 playing third base in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, right-hander Yefry RamÃrez did OK as a pitcher in 2018. Dealt by the Yankees to the Orioles at the trade deadline in 2017 for international bonus money, RamÃrez pitched well at Triple-A Norfolk and made his major league debut June 13 for the Orioles versus the Red Sox. RamÃrez went 3-5 with a 3.88 ERA on the farm for the Tides. With Baltimore, he was 1-8 with a 5.92 ERA in 17...

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Would a three-batter minimum for pitchers be good for baseball?

February 09, 2019, 3:59pm

Orioles

Would a three-batter minimum for pitchers be good for baseball?

Baseball officials are reportedly suggesting several changes in the game to the Major League Baseball Players Association in a continuing attempt to streamline and improve the game and pace of play. One change would require any pitcher to face at least three batters before he could be replaced by another hurler. At first glance, this seems like a positive. Fewer bullpen moves would speed up the game and make for less late-game tedium when managers can overdo the matchup thing. No more pitchers...

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O's Gary Kendall talks about managing Norfolk in 2019

February 08, 2019, 10:31am

Orioles

O's Gary Kendall talks about managing Norfolk in 2019

In the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Brandon Hyde and Gary Kendall managed against each other in the South Atlantic League. Hyde was at Greensboro and Kendall managed Single-A Delmarva. They were in opposite dugouts then, and they won't be in the same dugout when this season starts, but they will be on the same team. They'll surely talk often, with Hyde the manager in Baltimore and Kendall his Triple-A skipper. For the last eight seasons, Kendall was the manager at Double-A Bowie, but this year he...

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What they are saying about Frank Robinson, remembering '89 and O's add a pitcher

February 07, 2019, 4:30pm

Orioles

What they are saying about Frank Robinson, remembering '89 and O's add a pitcher

You talk about a man who had a massive impact on a sport - and his country, really - it was Frank Robinson, who died yesterday at 83. The tributes has been flooding in from so many. He made his mark on the Orioles, leading the club to four World Series, winning two, during his six years as an O's player from 1966-1971. He was later a coach, manager and executive for the Orioles, the only person in team history to play for the club and serve in those roles as well. On April 28, 2012,...

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Frank Robinson made a good Orioles team great

February 07, 2019, 10:26am

Orioles

Here is all you need to know about Frank Robinson's massive impact on the Orioles: They have won three World Series since moving to Baltimore in 1954, and two of those three came during Robinson's six seasons with the club between 1966 and 1971. So, two World Series titles in six seasons with Robinson and one in the other 59 seasons he was not on the club as a player. Taking that further, they played in four World Series in his six seasons and twice in the other 59 years. They won 100 or more...

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One year after O's debut, Steve Wilkerson hoping for return trip

February 06, 2019, 6:17pm

Orioles

One year after O's debut, Steve Wilkerson hoping for return trip

For the Orioles' versatile Steve Wilkerson, the 2017 season was a very solid one. He was hoping 2018 would find him competing for a job as the club's utility infielder who can also play some outfield. That didn't happen and 2018 was a real challenge for him, even though he will always remember it as the year he made his major league debut and checked off a few firsts. The Orioles selected Wilkerson in the eighth round in 2014 out of Clemson. Mostly a second baseman for his first three years...

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Can a former overslot Houston draft pick make it with the Orioles?

February 05, 2019, 3:04pm

Orioles

In June 2012, current Orioles general manager Mike Elias was a key contributor to what was a strong draft for the Houston Astros. It was one that got them shortstop Carlos Correa and pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. for their first two picks. Houston's fifth pick in that 2012 draft was a California high school infielder named Rio Ruiz. He played for the Astros until they traded him to Atlanta in January 2015. During the Winter Meetings this December, the Orioles claimed Ruiz on waivers from...

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O's Keegan Akin on Michigan winter workouts, 2019 outlook

February 04, 2019, 1:26pm

Orioles

O's Keegan Akin on Michigan winter workouts, 2019 outlook

Give Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin credit for being smart enough to know that while he had a strong 2018 season, hitters won't care about that when they face him in 2019. And Akin did have one impressive 2018 season. For Double-A Bowie, he went 14-7 with an ERA of 3.27 in 25 starts. Over 137 2/3 innings, he allowed 114 hits with 58 walks, 142 strikeouts and a .225 batting average against. Akin was named co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Orioles, winning the Jim Palmer...

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After brief shot in majors, Cedric Mullins looks for more this season

February 03, 2019, 5:32pm

Orioles

After brief shot in majors, Cedric Mullins looks for more this season

As Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins gets set for the new season - one where he could be the everyday center fielder - he said the major league experience he gained late last year is very valuable to him now. "I think it was pretty important," said Mullins, who made his major league debut Aug. 10. "You get the nerves out. You get to see a lot of the guys that you will be facing in the future already. And get to study them." Mullins had a remarkable debut, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two...

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Pre-spring training edition: 10 questions for O's fans

February 02, 2019, 4:49pm

Orioles

Pre-spring training edition: 10 questions for O's fans

It's been too long. Our last edition of 10 questions was before Christmas, and now the countdown to the report date for Orioles pitchers and catchers is in single digits. The team will be playing spring training games in less than three weeks. So, per usual, answer one or all 10 questions and provide short answers or answers that are very expansive. Respond to the answers from other readers to keep a good conversation going. But also feel free to skip any questions you like. But dive in on...

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Still waiting on Machado and Harper as Kendall moves to Triple-A

February 01, 2019, 3:41pm

Orioles

Still waiting on Machado and Harper as Kendall moves to Triple-A

At the start of the offseason, MLBTradeRumors.com released its predictions for the free agents this winter. Bryce Harper was predicted to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and get a 14-year contract for $420 million. Manny Machado was projected to sign with Philadelphia for 13 years and $390 million. So it's February and we are still waiting. Will either of these players get anywhere close to those numbers? For years we heard that teams like the Yankees were pointing specifically to this...

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Austin Wynns is set to bring intensity and passion to the field

January 31, 2019, 3:36pm

Orioles

Austin Wynns is set to bring intensity and passion to the field

When spring training begins and catcher Austin Wynns tries to show the new coaching staff what he can do, we know passion will not be in short supply. He's a high-energy, intense player who is clearly very invested in the pitcher-catcher combo and working together with his hurler to get a good result. Wynns made his major league debut last June 5 at the New York Mets and singled in his first at-bat. The club's 10th-round pick in 2013 got into 42 games with the Orioles and hit .255/.287/.382...

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Pondering a few questions as spring training gets close

January 30, 2019, 2:36pm

Orioles

Pondering a few questions as spring training gets close

The start of spring training is getting close for the Orioles. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, the first full-squad workout is Feb. 18 and the first game is set for Feb. 23. Opening day is March 28 at Yankee Stadium and a new season will be officially underway. With all this fast approaching there are still plenty of unanswered questions for the 2019 season. Here are a few of them. Who will fill out the starting rotation? In some order we know that Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan...

After strong Double-A year, Ryan Mountcastle is closer to the majors

January 29, 2019, 3:19pm

Orioles

After strong Double-A year, Ryan Mountcastle is closer to the majors

Many Orioles fans were not happy when the team failed to re-sign free agent slugger Nelson Cruz after his big 2014 season in Baltimore. It was a year where he led the majors in homers and the Orioles fell one step shy of the World Series. It was hard for fans to see Cruz go. The Orioles' consolation prize at the time was a compensatory draft pick, No. 36 overall, in the June draft in 2015. The Orioles selected a high school infielder from Florida named Ryan Mountcastle. Now one of the club's...

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So how did pitcher Dean Kremer get all of those strikeouts?

January 28, 2019, 2:59pm

Orioles

So how did pitcher Dean Kremer get all of those strikeouts?

As Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias told us last week in this interview, one key stat to help size up pitching prospects is strikeouts. Elias believes that stat can show dominance and tell us much about a pitcher's ability. Said Elias: "It just speaks to the quality of your stuff and the quality of your skill relative to your competitors. It's not perfect, but it's probably the most stable and one of the most trustworthy stats in terms of how good a pitcher's...

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With renewed confidence, Chance Sisco is ready to attack 2019

January 27, 2019, 1:46pm

Orioles

With renewed confidence, Chance Sisco is ready to attack 2019

Coming off a season where he posted the worst offensive numbers of his pro career, it would seem Chance Sisco's goal for the 2019 season is lofty. But as he rebuilds his confidence and hopefully finds his previous batting stroke, he feels it is reachable. "Obviously, I want to be the starting catcher," Sisco said during a FanFest interview. "Who doesn't want to be a starter? I want to be back there every day. I just want to keep growing and keep learning. We've got a really good coaching...

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FanFest follow-up: Notes and quotes with Hyde, Davis, McKenna, Mountcastle and Hall

January 26, 2019, 5:21pm

Orioles

FanFest follow-up: Notes and quotes with Hyde, Davis, McKenna, Mountcastle and Hall

Young players on the Orioles will be getting some on-the-job training in 2019. It's been said of prospects in baseball that many truly finish their development only when they get to the majors. New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde concurs and expects some of that to be happening with players on his first team in Baltimore. "I think it's not just us," Hyde said. "Players are getting younger in the big leagues and there is so much development that is still happening with even championship-level...