Steve Melewski

Will Orioles fans find new ways to analyze a season in 2019?

January 09, 2019, 3:44pm

Orioles

According to one preseason listing of those over and under wins totals used mostly for wagering purposes, the Orioles' win total for 2019 is put at 59. That would be 12 more victories than in 2018, but would also mean 103 losses are coming our way. But such lines are crafted to induce equal wagering on either side, and public perception factors in here. And an over-under wins total doesn't really matter or predict with any certainty what will happen next season. We already knew that the team...

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A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions

January 08, 2019, 2:28pm

Orioles

A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions

If, as it is said, you can never have enough pitching, maybe the Orioles need to consider adding a free agent starter on a one-year deal to eat some innings and help the 2019 rotation. I've written before that I'm mostly not on board with adding a pitcher and am just fine with seeing young pitchers fill out the final two rotation spots. That is after a front three in some order of Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy. But what if there is a chance to trade one of those three with a deal...

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A look at one way where Dylan Bundy can get back on track

January 07, 2019, 5:04pm

Orioles

A look at one way where Dylan Bundy can get back on track

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was a slightly better than league average pitcher in 2016 and 2017, but not in 2018. Last year, he went 8-16 with a 5.45 ERA in 31 starts. While he set career highs in innings, strikeouts, strikeout rate and starts, he also set career highs in homers allowed and tied for the major league lead in losses. The 41 homers allowed jumps off the stat sheet. That was seven more than any other pitcher in the majors, with James Shields of the White Sox next with 34. That...

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O's fans have had time to prep for their players finding new homes

January 06, 2019, 6:26pm

Orioles

O's fans have had time to prep for their players finding new homes

Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day are in Atlanta. Jonathan Schoop is now in Minnesota. Zach Britton is headed back to the Bronx and Manny Machado is on deck. Adam Jones is very likely moving on as well. There seemed to be little consternation around Birdland when Britton agreed to re-sign with the Yankees over the weekend. This could be for several reasons, including that Orioles fans knew he wasn't coming back. They were never rumored to be pursuing Britton. And that old gang of theirs was long...

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Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal

January 05, 2019, 3:48pm

Orioles

Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal

In looking back at the last week on this blog, we got into a few interesting topics and will revisit a few today. Your takes and comments on these topics are very welcome. On Monday, we took yet another look at Chris Davis. He's firmly in the doghouse of fans around Birdland after his struggles hit a new low in 2018. Last season, Davis hit .168/.243/.296 with 192 strikeouts, 16 homers and 49 RBIs. The same player who produced an OPS of 1.004 in 2013 and .923 in 2015 posted a .539 OPS in...

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Does a rebuild provide a chance for creativity for the Orioles?

January 04, 2019, 4:08pm

Orioles

The 2019 season may well provide the Orioles with plenty of chances to do different things and make unconventional moves. In a rebuilding season where many losses are expected, why not? What if the Orioles decide to sometimes use an opener on the mound, but have that player try to pitch three innings rather than one? Bring the starter in to begin the fourth and go from there? See what that looks like. What if the club wants to bring in a defensive replacement for the last four innings and not...

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More on the Orioles and their pursuit of international talent

January 03, 2019, 4:45pm

Orioles

The hiring this week of Koby Perez as the Orioles' senior director of international scouting is the latest step forward for the organization on the international front. For years, the club just didn't do nearly enough in this market, and it hurt the team in numerous ways. Baltimore lacked in producing international talent. Hopefully, those days are over, although certainly it will take years for general manager Mike Elias and Perez to produce significant results. But you have to start...

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O's new head of international scouting on staffing, signing talent and more

January 03, 2019, 8:36am

Orioles

O's new head of international scouting on staffing, signing talent and more

In his first interview with Orioles reporters, Koby Perez, the club's new senior director of international scouting, discussed building a staff and building relationships that will lead to the addition of key young amateur talent from around the world. Under the current system in place, all teams get a similar amount to spend via their bonus pool. So that can make it challenging for a team to set itself apart, as they can't outspend the competition in a significant way. For the signing period...

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Maximizing service time and a Machado take

January 02, 2019, 3:49pm

Orioles

Maximizing service time and a Machado take

Former Orioles baseball operations leader Andy MacPhail once stated that it's better to call up a prospect a month too late rather than a month too soon. The new management of the Orioles may look to adhere to that philosophy. And not just because they agree with MacPhail. Maybe because it makes good business sense. At a time when fans seem excited to see young players get more opportunities with the club, some young players may have to wait their turn. Like most good organizations, the...

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The measure of success in 2019

January 01, 2019, 2:32pm

Orioles

It's a good question. What represents success for the 2019 Orioles? Is it a certain number of wins or something else? Can it even be quantified? Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was asked that question at the Winter Meetings. "I want to improve the aggregate talent base of this organization, and that's going to come in the form of additions to the organization via the draft, international signings, perhaps some trades that might occur," Elias said. "But, just...

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As the Orioles embrace analytics, their fans don't have to

December 31, 2018, 1:23pm

Orioles

As the calendar turns to 2019 today, this will be the year the Orioles embrace analytics. They had better, because that is the background of their new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. His first hire was Sig Mejdal, named the club's assistant general manager, analytics. New manager Brandon Hyde is very much on board with his front office. No longer should we see a player like Zach Britton traded to another team - in Britton's case the New York Yankees - and say this:...

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A new season with new management means a fresh start for Chris Davis

December 30, 2018, 2:14pm

Orioles

A new season with new management means a fresh start for Chris Davis

For Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, a miserable 2018 season got even worse at the end. Davis went 1-for-37 over his last 10 games with 20 strikeouts and then didn't play in the season's last 10 games. Why was never really explained. The player who seemed to get at-bats every night during his huge struggles was not seen much as the 2018 season wound down. The combination of a big salary and little production has not been good for Davis with Orioles fans. They criticize him morning, noon and...

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Should the O's add free agent starting pitchers?

December 29, 2018, 5:54pm

Orioles

Should the O's add free agent starting pitchers?

When the Orioles reach the point of their winter that they consider pursuing a free agent or two or three, should starting pitching be on the list? If you lock in Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy to head up a rotation of five, maybe those final two spots should be left for young pitchers. There is a long list of potential candidates for those two spots to include David Hess, John Means, Luis Ortiz, Yefry Ramirez, Josh Rogers, Dillon Tate and Jimmy Yacabonis. That is just a partial list...

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In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota

December 28, 2018, 5:09pm

Orioles

In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota

The Minnesota Twins have added two former Orioles this month. And the addition of one could really help the other. When Nelson Cruz led the majors with 40 homers and helped the Orioles to the 2014 American League East title and a berth in the AL Championship Series, he was a huge positive force in that clubhouse. He was particularly huge for young infielders Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado. Now Schoop and Cruz will be teammates again in Minnesota. The Twins signed Schoop to a one-year deal...

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Will baseball legislate on defensive shifting in 2019?

December 27, 2018, 3:14pm

Orioles

Will baseball legislate on defensive shifting in 2019?

At a time when there is some talk in Major League Baseball about limiting or even eliminating defensive shifting, the Orioles now have a general manager that came from the team that shifted the most in the sport last year. In 2018, the Houston Astros shifted their defense on 37.3 percent of plate appearances. Tampa Bay was second at 30.0, followed by Minnesota at 28.4 and the New York Yankees at 28.2 percent. The Orioles were among the teams heavily using defensive shifts, ranking seventh at...

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A good start for new regime: Improve organization-wide pitching

December 26, 2018, 2:40pm

Orioles

A good start for new regime: Improve organization-wide pitching

As the Orioles look to build a consistent winner at the big league level from pretty much the ground up, developing solid pitchers will be a key to that. Maybe the key to that. With Mike Elias, Sig Mejdal and minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt all coming from Houston, you have to like the Orioles' chances here. In the 2018 season, Houston's four full-season minor league affiliates all led their respective leagues in strikeouts and three of the four also rated first in their league...

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Checking the analytics flow from front office to clubhouse

December 25, 2018, 1:08pm

Orioles

Checking the analytics flow from front office to clubhouse

As the Orioles look to hire and finalize their coaching staff soon, the ability of those coaches to embrace analytics and pass the data on to the players in a useful manner will be a key. It may be the key factor in which coaches Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hires for his first staff. During the recent Winter Meetings, I asked general manager Mike Elias about this. On that staff, are certain coaches more important in disseminating such information? It stands to reason the pitching coach and...

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Now the work begins for Elias-Hyde management team

December 17, 2018, 10:27am

Orioles

Now the work begins for Elias-Hyde management team

For so many years, we were used to the Dan Duquette-Buck Showalter duo leading the Orioles. But now Mike Elias and Brandon Hyde are in place as executive vice president/general manager and manager. Hyde was introduced Monday at a Camden Yards press conference as the 20th manager in Orioles history. He has pictures of Earl Weaver and Cal Ripken Sr. in his office and he met Brooks Robinson, so he's already off to a good start. Hyde promised to be "patient and positive." Maybe we should put...

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Castro has found a home in the Orioles bullpen

December 13, 2018, 11:09am

Orioles

He might be overlooked sometimes in the Orioles bullpen. He can't touch 100 mph like Tanner Scott. He doesn't get save chances. He doesn't have a career 1.97 ERA like lefty Richard Bleier. But right-hander Miguel Castro has an important multi-inning role, and last year he ranked fourth among all major league relievers, throwing 83 1/3 innings. In 19 of his 62 outings, he gave the Orioles at least two innings. He went 2-7 with a 3.96 ERA and was throwing well late in the year, with a 1.84 ERA...

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After strong AFL season, Ryan McKenna takes momentum into 2019

December 13, 2018, 11:02am

Orioles

After strong AFL season, Ryan McKenna takes momentum into 2019

Orioles outfield prospect Ryan McKenna believes his breakout 2018 season came about as a result of taking care of the little things. He put in the work in the cage, listened to his coaches, and worked on striking out less and using his speed more with grounders and fewer fly balls. He also dealt with some adversity and overcame it. After batting .377/.467/.556 in 67 games for Single-A Frederick, the 21-year-old McKenna lost well over 100 points on his average when he moved to Double-A Bowie....