Steve Melewski

2018 season recap: For Dylan Bundy, it turned south around midseason

October 29, 2018, 7:27pm

Orioles

2018 season recap: For Dylan Bundy, it turned south around midseason

As June came to an end, Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had a 6-7 record and an ERA of 3.75. In June, Bundy went 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four starts. He was well on his way to a solid 2018 season, but it didn't end up that way. Not even close. Completing his third straight year as a key member of the pitching staff and second straight in the rotation, Bundy went 8-16 with a 5.45 ERA in 31 starts. While he set career highs for starts, innings, strikeouts and strikeout rate, he also had the...

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Long World Series game was more what's right than wrong with MLB

October 28, 2018, 8:31pm

Orioles

Long World Series game was more what's right than wrong with MLB

I've heard few complaints about the length of Game 3 of the World Series, but this being sports and this being 2018, no doubt someone griped about it. Sure it ended about 3:30 a.m. Eastern time and some who started watching at the beginning, over seven hours before that, could probably not make it to the end to see the walk-off homer to complete an 18-inning game won 3-2 by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Boston Red Sox. But can we blame Major League Baseball for anything here? I don't think...

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These qualities could be important for the next O's general manager

October 27, 2018, 8:18pm

Orioles

These qualities could be important for the next O's general manager

Now that Chaim Bloom will not become the next general manager of the New York Mets, he could be in the running to join the Orioles front office. That is simply my speculation and based on nothing from the club, which has been completely tight-lipped on anything that may be happening or about to happen involving its front office. But Bloom would interest most teams, you would think. Bloom joined the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2005 and become a director of baseball operations in November 2011. A...

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Rebuilding O's will need to max out team control for youth

October 26, 2018, 8:23pm

Orioles

Rebuilding O's will need to max out team control for youth

In hindsight, it was probably not a good idea for the Orioles to call up outfielder Austin Hays on Sept. 5, 2017. The Orioles started his service clock and player options before they needed to. And while at the time of his call-up the Orioles were still very much in the American League wild card race, Hays hardly played in the first week to 10 days after he was added to the roster. So he wasn't added to immediately play and help the team win. The Orioles selected Hays in round three of the...

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Velocity and strikeouts are up and the Orioles need to get on board

October 25, 2018, 7:16pm

Orioles

It is not exactly this easy, but one way for the Orioles could improve their pitching staff is to add pitchers who throw with premium velocity and/or pitchers who have strong strikeout rates. It is not a direct correlation, but the teams with the best strikeout rates and those that throw the hardest are often good teams with good pitching staffs. The sport keeps trending toward more and more velocity, and the trend of managers pulling starters sooner just gets teams into bullpens sooner, and...

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A look ahead: Is Renato NÃºÃ±ez the choice for third base in 2019?

October 24, 2018, 7:17pm

Orioles

A look ahead: Is Renato NÃºÃ±ez the choice for third base in 2019?

The Orioles acquired third baseman Renato NÃºÃ±ez off waivers from Texas on May 13 and sent him to Triple-A Norfolk. On July 20, he got the call to join the Orioles and stuck with the team through the remainder of the season. After almost eight full seasons in the Oakland organization, NÃºÃ±ez is trying to find a major league home, and so far his biggest chance to play has come with the Orioles. In the big leagues, he got 15 plate appearances with the Athletics in 2016 and 16 in 2017....

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DÃaz struggled with Bowie as he made swing adjustments with his new team

October 23, 2018, 6:23pm

Orioles

DÃaz struggled with Bowie as he made swing adjustments with his new team

The Orioles lost out on signing Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa, who signed with Miami. He was the No. 1 ranked international amateur prospect. But they have another Cuban outfielder in their system in Yusniel DÃaz, who was ranked as the No. 3 international prospect in 2015. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed DÃaz then, and he became a top 100 prospect on their watch. They traded him with four other players on July 18 in the deal for Manny Machado. The Dodgers paid $31 million to sign...

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Machado's Boston return, World Series odds and more

October 22, 2018, 6:40pm

Orioles

Machado's Boston return, World Series odds and more

As he returns to Fenway Park tonight to begin the World Series, Manny Machado will be a bad guy again in Boston. But Matt Barnes probably won't throw at his head this time and maybe Chris Sale won't throw one behind him and tell us the pitch got away from him. That Sale is a real cutup. A few games and an entire year plus have gone by since Machado was thrown at in Boston in May 2017. After that game, he said he lost respect for the Boston organization, but this time he says he simply is...

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After 2018 low point, odds are against Chris Davis being productive again

October 21, 2018, 4:18pm

Orioles

After 2018 low point, odds are against Chris Davis being productive again

It may be very difficult - and perhaps almost impossible - at this point for first baseman Chris Davis to salvage his career and his frosty relationship with Orioles fans. It would seem about the only way that could happen would be for Davis to once again become one of the most productive hitters in the American League or something reasonably close to that. He can only win fans back by playing better. A lot better. After his performance of the last two years, that seems like a longshot and it...

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O's miss out on Victor Victor Mesa, the World Series is set and more

October 21, 2018, 6:28am

Orioles

O's miss out on Victor Victor Mesa, the World Series is set and more

According to various reports, the Orioles will lose out on signing both Victor Victor Mesa and his younger brother, Victor Mesa Jr. Both are now likely to sign with the Miami Marlins and that is expected to become official during a press conference on Monday. It was fun while it lasted for fans in Birdland to think their club could actually sign the highest-rated international amateur after years of mostly neglecting that market. There is no prize for finishing second here, only frustration for...

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How to build a winning roster

October 19, 2018, 6:49pm

Orioles

When it comes to 40-man roster makeup, the numbers can sometimes be deceiving. The Boston Red Sox are four wins from winning the World Series. Yet according to rosterresource.com, the Orioles have more homegrown players on their 40-man roster than Boston, 18 to 15. Of course, right now the Orioles have a roster of 44 per that website, counting players currently on the 60-man disabled list. That roster will be changing, presumably when the new regime is in place. But this article from MLB.com...

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2018 season recap: Givens thrived in closer role

October 18, 2018, 4:40pm

Orioles

2018 season recap: Givens thrived in closer role

If you just look at a few basic stats, it appears that Orioles reliever Mychal Givens had a much better season in 2017 than he did in 2018. In 2017, he went 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA. This year, he was 0-7 with a 3.99 ERA. But a look at other stats shows Givens' last two seasons were more comparable than the above would indicate. And he had a stunningly strong finish to the 2018 season, but it went under the radar as the Orioles were setting a team record for losses and there was rampant speculation...

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A look at Wade Miley's very brief start and more Manny Machado

October 17, 2018, 2:56pm

Orioles

A look at Wade Miley's very brief start and more Manny Machado

Baltimore fans who remember Wade Miley's lack of success as an Oriole probably thought he might not pitch deep into Game 5 of the National League Championship Series yesterday when his Milwaukee Brewers faced the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were right. Miley lasted one batter. He threw just five pitches as he walked Cody Bellinger. But he wasn't pulled due to ineffectiveness or an injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had loaded his lineup with right-handed hitters to face the left-handed Miley....

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2018 season recap: Andrew Cashner's battle for consistency

October 16, 2018, 4:43pm

Orioles

2018 season recap: Andrew Cashner's battle for consistency

If the rebuilding Orioles are going to take a turn for the better during the 2019 season, no doubt they'll need solid starting pitching to do it. One pitcher who has room for improvement is right-handed starter Andrew Cashner. His stats took a big fall from his 2017 season with Texas. On Feb. 15, Cashner signed a two-year free agent deal with Baltimore worth $16 million with an option for 2020. The $10 million option for 2020 will vest if he reaches 340 combined innings for 2018 and 2019....

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Manny Machado jogged to first and got ripped for it

October 15, 2018, 2:46pm

Orioles

Manny Machado jogged to first and got ripped for it

Former Oriole Manny Machado is 8-for-27 (.296) with three homers and nine RBIs in seven playoff games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's had some big swings and made some outstanding plays in the field. But he was in the news during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday for the wrong reason. For not running hard to first base on a ground ball to the right of Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia. Machado jogged to first base and broadcaster Joe Buck called him out twice for...

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For the Orioles, will the dollars make sense?

October 14, 2018, 5:31pm

Orioles

As a rebuilding team intending to rely on younger and less experienced players, the Orioles will also likely be a team that may not pursue many free agents this winter and certainly not many commanding significant dollars. The Orioles' payroll is going down as they attempt to reset it. Cot's Baseball Contracts ranks the O's year-end 40-man roster payroll at 14th in the majors from 2013 to 2015. It ranked 12th in 2016, at $169.3 million, and 11th in 2017, at $179.9 million. Some have observed...

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First offseason edition: "10 questions for O's fans"

October 13, 2018, 9:07pm

Orioles

First offseason edition: "10 questions for O's fans"

If you've been reading here for a while, you are probably quite familiar with today's blog format and it doesn't take much explaining on my end. Today I've posed 10 questions and are looking for your responses. Answer one question or all 10. Provide short answers or long. Respond to answers by other readers. It's all good. Here are the questions: 1. Who do you like to become the next general manager of the Orioles? 2. Who do you like to become the next manager of the Orioles? 3. Will the...

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A look at organizational rankings and other notes

October 12, 2018, 8:32pm

Orioles

A look at organizational rankings and other notes

When Baseball America released its latest organizational rankings in early August, the Orioles fell three spots. Ranked No. 17 at the start of the 2018 season, they were now ranked No. 20 among all the farm systems in baseball. That seemed strange since it followed the July trades in which the Orioles added 15 players to their organization, including one top-100 prospect in outfielder Yusniel DÃaz. Baseball America ranks him at No. 44. So after adding that talent, the Orioles fell in the...

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Could Johnny Baseball have a reunion with the Orioles?

October 11, 2018, 8:21pm

Orioles

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop had a career year in 2017 and was named Most Valuable Oriole. He's had a pretty terrible year in 2018 and didn't start any of the three games for the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series against Colorado. Here's a crazy thought: Has Schoop played so poorly for the Brewers that they will non-tender him, making him a free agent? Could that lead to him re-signing with his old team, the Orioles? If that scenario played out, he could then team...

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After strong 2018, Paul Fry may be fixture in the bullpen

October 10, 2018, 8:08pm

Orioles

After strong 2018, Paul Fry may be fixture in the bullpen

He began the 2018 season pitching well in the bullpen at Double-A Bowie and ended the year pitching well in the Baltimore bullpen. He may have found a home in that 'pen and projects as a key member of the 2019 Orioles. It was quite a ride during the season for left-hander Paul Fry. He spent about six weeks with Bowie, about five with Triple-A Norfolk and then got a late June call to Baltimore, and never went back to the minors. Three levels in one season. "I didn't really expect it (to get...