Steve Melewski

Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman provide hope for future rotations

January 03, 2017, 4:43am

Orioles

Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman provide hope for future rotations

At a time when the Orioles farm system gets plenty of criticism, the organization also may be heading into a near future with two first-round draft picks heading up its starting rotation. Perhaps for many years to come. The Orioles drafted right-hander Dylan Bundy No. 4 overall out of Owassa (Okla.) High School in 2011. He was the last first-round pick by scouting director Joe Jordan. They selected Kevin Gausman, also No. 4 overall, in 2012 out of LSU. He was first top pick for current scouting...

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The Orioles may have to move on from Mark Trumbo

January 01, 2017, 2:04pm

Orioles

For free agent Mark Trumbo, the new year begins with old questions: Will he be an Oriole in 2017? If not Baltimore, where does he end up? And at what price? Trumbo turned down the Orioles' qualifying offer. They then made him at least one four-year offer that was reported to be in the $52 million range. While that seemed low, it seems more in line when you consider that Ian Desmond got a five-year, $70 million deal from Colorado and Edwin Encarnacion got three years and $60 million with a...

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For starters, another look at the rotation

December 31, 2016, 2:23pm

Orioles

For starters, another look at the rotation

Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Orioles will go as far as their rotation will take them. We seem to say it about every year and it's pretty much true just about every year. So on the first day of 2017, let's say it here for the first of many times it will said and written, both before and during next season. Along those lines, can the O's rotation be better next season? Of course it can and maybe there were signs in the second half of last season that it actually will be. At...

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Some final 2016 gripes while looking ahead to 2017

December 30, 2016, 6:05pm

Orioles

Some final 2016 gripes while looking ahead to 2017

It's the last day of the year and you know what that means - one last chance to gripe or complain about something about the Orioles for this calender year. If you don't do it here today, you will have to wait until 2017 to start anew. I kid, I kid. Hey, I can be as snarky as the next guy or gal, probably more so. My emotions can get the best of me in the comments section sometimes. But I do try to always be true to my feelings and thoughts and just say what I feel. Sometimes I write things...

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Some fans see the future and are very concerned

December 29, 2016, 1:43pm

Orioles

Some fans see the future and are very concerned

When I wrote this blog yesterday pondering the Orioles' future, we saw some interesting reactions and comments from fans and readers. Some see the future and see, well, pretty much a disaster. Here is what one reader wrote: * The window has already closed. When you do nothing of significance while the teams directly around you get better, the window has closed. It is the height of foolishness to claim repeatedly that our rotation is good. Our rotation is terrible. We have two, possibly three,...

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The Orioles balance a hopeful present with an uncertain future

December 28, 2016, 1:16pm

Orioles

It is often debated among Orioles fans how the organization should look to balance keeping a strong core of players intact to try and win through 2018 while also looking to the future beyond that. We see almost daily comments here suggesting that a trade of Manny Machado and/or Zach Britton could help rebuild and reload a farm system rated in the bottom third by most national analysts. No doubt such a trade could benefit the club's future, but what would it mean for the present and the next...

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A statistical look at the Orioles' 2016 team pitching

December 27, 2016, 2:01pm

Orioles

Yesterday, we took a statistical look at how the 2016 Orioles' team offense ranked against the rest of the American League. Today, we do the same with the team pitching stats. After each stat, the rank within the AL is listed along with the AL average, when available. * 4.22 team ERA (10th, 4.20)* 4.72 starter ERA (13th, 4.43)* 3.40 bullpen ERA (first, 3.84)* 1 complete game (tied for 11th, 3)* 69 quality starts (tied for 11th, 76)* .258 batting average against (ninth, .257)* 1,248 strikeouts...

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A statistical look at the Orioles' 2016 team offense

December 26, 2016, 1:03pm

Orioles

Here is a look at how the Orioles offense ranked against the rest of the American League in the 2016 season. Each stat is listed along with how that ranked in the 15-team AL along with the AL average number when it was available. Some stats were compiled from FanGraphs.com. * .256 batting average (ninth, .257)* .317 on-base percentage (10th, .321)* 253 home runs (first, 197)* .443 slugging (second, .423)* .760 OPS (third, .744) * 1,324 strikeouts (fifth, 1,273)* 21.7 strikeout rate (fifth)* 468...

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The search for an outfielder continues

December 25, 2016, 4:39pm

Orioles

If the Orioles found an outfielder under their tree yesterday, they are not saying so yet. That must have been a pretty big tree, however. As the end of the calender year approaches, the Orioles' search for an outfielder is ongoing. If said player has some speed, a good on-base percentage and plays solid defense, that would be quite welcome in a lineup that needs the first two and an outfield defense that needs the third. Here are four players that have been linked to the Orioles. These are...

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Christmas Day takes

December 24, 2016, 11:39am

Orioles

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, Birdland! I hope you have a great day today and a great holiday season with your family and friends. I'm sure baseball will be a part of it, either with gifts you may give or receive, or conversations at the dinner table. Providing a short entry today, so feel free to jump in with any comments and/or questions. Here are a few topics we've discussed here recently along with one or two in the news in the last few days. What is the ceiling for Manny Machado?:...

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Memo to batters: Hit it high and let it fly

December 23, 2016, 11:48am

Orioles

Memo to batters: Hit it high and let it fly

On MLB Network yesterday, there was an interesting discussion about hitting. It is simplistic, but one analyst suggested that hitting the ball on the ground is generally not a good idea. While ground balls do get through the infield, they are often gobbled up by fielders who not only may have good range, but are now positioned most often, through shifts, where the hitters actually hit the ball most often. Hitting the ball in the air obviously produces more damage and there is one fewer fielder...

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Notes on Gunkel's splitter, Mancini's power, Encarnacion's new deal

December 22, 2016, 11:47pm

Orioles

Notes on Gunkel's splitter, Mancini's power, Encarnacion's new deal

It was a suggestion from his Double-A pitching coach that came after the 2015 season and before opening day in 2016. For right-hander Joe Gunkel, it was advice that he put to good use. A pitcher that was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster in November, Gunkel has always been minus a blazing fastball. He gets outs with a fastball between 88 and 92 mph, so he is always looking to work on and improve his secondary pitches to improve overall as a pitcher. That suggestion led to him making a change...

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Matt Wieters' market has been slow to develop (Xu likely for WBC)

December 13, 2016, 5:46pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters' market has been slow to develop (Xu likely for WBC)

For now, the assumption is that catcher Matt Wieters has played his last game for the Orioles. Everything is subject to change - things can change with one phone call - but that appears to be the case. The club's first-round selection (taken No. 5 overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech, Wieters has played 882 games in an Orioles uniform. In 124 games last year, Wieters hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 doubles, a triple, 17 homers, 66 RBIs and an OPS of .711. Among catchers...

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Should the Orioles trade one of their veteran starters?

December 13, 2016, 11:42am

Orioles

The Orioles have six starters for five spots. That we know. We also know there have been reports about the club being open to trading one of its veteran arms. While the club is excited about what Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy could do at the top of the rotation, what about Yovani Gallardo, Wade Miley and Ubaldo Jimenez after that? The Orioles have hopes that a healthy Gallardo in 2017 could pitch more like he did in 2015 with the Rangers, when he went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA....

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Minus big fastball, Joe Gunkel found his way to the 40-man roster

December 13, 2016, 11:36am

Orioles

Minus big fastball, Joe Gunkel found his way to the 40-man roster

In a sport that often seems almost obsessed with high-end velocity, right-hander Joe Gunkel has had a strong minor league career without lighting up any radar guns. Now he wants to take a shot at doing that in the major leagues. Gunkel took a big step toward his major league debut when the Orioles added him to their 40-man roster on Nov. 18. He'll go to spring training as a long shot to make the team, but during the 2017 season, he might get his chance to help the Orioles at some point. From...

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Pondering a contract extension for pitcher Chris Tillman

December 13, 2016, 11:25am

Orioles

Pondering a contract extension for pitcher Chris Tillman

Heading into the 2016 season, there was some concern about right-hander Chris Tillman, a pitcher who has been the club's opening day starter the last three years and who was a 2013 American League All-Star. In the three seasons from 2012-2014, Tillman went a combined 38-16 with an ERA of 3.42. In those years, he ranked tied for 11th in the AL in wins and was 15th in ERA. From 2012-14, the Orioles went 55-27 (.671) in Tillman's 82 starts. But the concern about Tillman heading into last year...

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What is the ceiling for Manny Machado?

December 13, 2016, 11:17am

Orioles

At 24, third baseman Manny Machado has become an Orioles superstar, producing two back-to-back finishes in the top five of American League MVP voting. He produced a career-high OPS of .861 in 2015, then topped it last year at .876. While Orioles fans ponder if the club has a realistic chance of signing Machado to a long-term deal, there is another question worth debating: How much better can this kid get? First, a look at the last two seasons for Machado: 2015: .286 average, .359 OBP, .502...

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Final 2016 edition: "10 Questions for O's Fans"

December 13, 2016, 11:11am

Orioles

Final 2016 edition: "10 Questions for O's Fans"

Get your answers in before the year ends. It's the last edition of "10 Questions for O's Fans" for 2016, as we take a look back and ahead. As usual, answer one, two or all 10 questions. Leave a short answer or a longer one, the choice is yours. And now today's 10 questions: 1. Catcher Caleb Joseph drove in 49 runs in 320 at-bats in 2015, then drove in zero runs in 132 at-bats last year. How many RBIs will he have in 2017? 2. Who will be the Orioles' best starting pitcher next year? 3. Who...

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Trey Mancini: "It was the craziest and best 2 1/2 weeks of my life"

December 13, 2016, 11:00am

Orioles

Trey Mancini: "It was the craziest and best 2 1/2 weeks of my life"

He has only had 14 major league at-bats, but he sure got a lot done in a short amount of time. Trey Mancini began his major league career in September by becoming the third player in major league history to homer in his first three starts. Not bad for a player who was not even called up at the beginning of September, but who ended the year making the Orioles roster for the American League wild card game. When the season ended, Mancini took some time to let his body rest and ponder what he did...

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Rehab road: Hunter Harvey's comeback from Tommy John surgery is underway

December 13, 2016, 10:47am

Orioles

Rehab road: Hunter Harvey's comeback from Tommy John surgery is underway

Don't blame Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey if he feels he is due for some good fortune over the next few seasons. That might make up for the last few seasons. Harvey, who had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on July 26, has pitched just 12 2/3 innings since July 25, 2014. Ranked as the No. 68 prospect in the sport by Baseball America after the 2014 season, Harvey's O's career started off in very promising fashion after the club made him the 22nd-overall pick out of a North...