Steve Melewski

One publication ranks Orioles schedule as toughest in majors

March 06, 2015, 3:26pm

Orioles

Is strength of schedule important in baseball? Even if it is, how do you quantify it? For me, yes, there is some importance to it, but the quantifying part is the difficult part. Strength of schedule can have some significance with an unbalanced schedule as it relates to getting one of the two wild card berths. Since all teams play more than 50 percent of their games within their division, it stands to reason that if you are in a very tough division, you are at a disadvantage against a team...

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O's gear up for draft, Rule 5 duo off to a good start and looking for a spring surprise

March 05, 2015, 1:03pm

Orioles

O's gear up for draft, Rule 5 duo off to a good start and looking for a spring surprise

This is going to be a very different First-Year Player Draft for scouting director Gary Rajsich and his staff. The Orioles have more picks early in the draft and are allotted more money to spend in their bonus pool from MLB. After not having a selection last year until the 90th overall pick, which came in the third round, now the Orioles have five of the first 102 picks. They will select No. 25 overall in the first round, No. 36 overall (compensation for losing Nelson Cruz), No. 68 in the...

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A look at AL East outfields

March 04, 2015, 3:05pm

Orioles

So how do the Orioles rank against the rest of the American League East in terms of outfield play? They have an All-Star in Adam Jones and some questions after that. They are trying to replace Nick Markakis, who started 147 games in right field, and Nelson Cruz, who had 60 starts in left field when he was not serving as the O's designated hitter. Here is a look at players that are expected to see time in the outfield around the division. Of course, playing time is subject to change, but these...

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Orioles' minor league spring camp roster and schedule

March 03, 2015, 2:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles have a group of 72 pitchers and 14 catchers scheduled to report to their minor league spring training camp at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park on Friday, March 6. They will be joined by 40 infielders and 26 outfielders due to report on March 10. That group of 152 players is due to begin minor league exhibition games on March 18, and that schedule will run through April 4. Keep in mind this group will grow in numbers as the Orioles make cuts from major league camp...

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O's reach agreement with former draft pick Pedro Beato

March 03, 2015, 12:18pm

Orioles

O's reach agreement with former draft pick Pedro Beato

Once a high draft pick of the Orioles, right-hander Pedro Beato has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the club, pending a physical. The deal does not include an invitation to major league spring camp. The 28-year-old Beato, who has pitched in the majors with the Mets, Red Sox and Braves, was the 32nd overall selection by the Orioles in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He spent four seasons pitching in the O's organization from 2006-10. After he went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in 43...

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A look at some possible reasons for predictions the O's will have a poor season

March 02, 2015, 4:56pm

Orioles

A look at some possible reasons for predictions the O's will have a poor season

Don't worry, Orioles fans, I am honestly not trying to get your blood pressure elevated and I'm not trolling you. But I do want to spend some time today discussing this topic: O's season predictions. Keep in mind this very, very important fact: Predictions are interesting to look at and debate, but they mean nothing. If you don't believe me just go back to some predictions for last year, which missed on the Orioles by a mile. But even after the Orioles posted 96 wins, an American League...

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O's don't steal much, but maybe Everth Cabrera can change that

March 01, 2015, 4:13pm

Orioles

O's don't steal much, but maybe Everth Cabrera can change that

When it comes to the Orioles offense, one much-discussed stat category is on-base percentage. We know the O's are somewhat lacking there. Their .311 team OBP last year ranked 11th in the American League. But the Orioles were at least within sniffing distance of the league average mark of .316 in that category. But in another stat category, the Orioles ranked last in the AL, last in the majors and were not even close to league average. That category is stolen bases. The Orioles had just 44 as a...

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Will Moncada signing push MLB even closer to an international draft?

February 28, 2015, 2:55pm

Orioles

Will Moncada signing push MLB even closer to an international draft?

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Smyly drew some reaction for a comment he posted on his Twitter account recently. After the Red Sox signed Cuban-born amateur Yoan Moncada for $31.5 million, Smyly made this remark: * It's not right that a Cuban 19yr old gets paid 30m and the best 19yr old in the entire USA gets prob 1/6th of that. Everyone should have to go through same process. Later, Smyly told the Tampa Bay Times his comment was not personal about Moncada, but about the system of acquiring...

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Early camp helps minor league pitchers build innings, plus other notes

February 27, 2015, 2:02pm

Orioles

Early camp helps minor league pitchers build innings, plus other notes

A group of 38 Orioles minor league players began workouts at Twin Lakes park in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday. This early minor league camp allows these players to get in some extra work before the full minor league camp begins March 6. It also gets these players ready in case they are needed in early Orioles spring training games. But O's director of player development Brian Graham said it also provides the 20 pitchers at the camp a chance to build up more innings that might allow them to...

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ESPN analysts say Kevin Gausman will be Orioles' X-factor this year

February 26, 2015, 11:31am

Orioles

When ESPN's cameras and reporters were in Sarasota, Fla., to visit Orioles spring training earlier this week, they discussed which one player could be the X-factor for the club this year. Analysts Curt Schilling and Buster Olney had the same answer: Kevin Gausman. They feel the 24-year-old right-hander with 25 career big league starts and 161 innings under his belt could take a nice step forward this year - one that could lead to his becoming a top-of-the-rotation starter. "I like Kevin...

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As O's look to reduce rotation from six to five, Jimenez aims to make decision a tough one

February 25, 2015, 8:22am

Orioles

As O's look to reduce rotation from six to five, Jimenez aims to make decision a tough one

The question has been asked a lot this winter. Now we have finally reached the point where, in a few weeks, we may have the answer: How will the Orioles reduce six starting rotation candidates to five to begin the 2015 season? If it were put to a fan vote, Ubaldo Jimenez would probably be the odd man out. Luckily for him, this is not up for a vote, and his performance on the field during spring training could enhance his position and remind the Orioles of the pitcher they hoped they were...

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Orioles' early minor league camp roster

February 24, 2015, 3:44pm

Orioles

The Orioles have a list of 38 players that reported to their minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla., at Twin Lakes Park today. This group of players will get a jump on the rest of the minor league players and will be available to help the Orioles in early major league exhibitions. Their workouts begin tomorrow. Here is the roster: Beal, Jesse - RHP Bleeker, Derrick - RHP Bridwell, Parker - RHP Bundy, Robert - RHP Chleborad, Tanner - RHP Davies, Zachary - RHP Escat, Gene - RHP Gailey, Frank -...

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Trader Dan: Duquette discusses dealing prospects for major league talent

February 24, 2015, 1:39pm

Orioles

Trader Dan: Duquette discusses dealing prospects for major league talent

Since Dan Duquette took over as Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations on Nov. 8, 2011, we have seen the team make several trades involving minor league prospects. There was a time when the Orioles were on the other end, trading established big league talent for prospects. The Erik Bedard deal is an example of this, but now the contending Orioles have a different approach. Looking to make any and every move to improve the team, they've made several of these deals where they...

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Boston gets Moncada, O's brass gets some props and more

February 23, 2015, 3:26pm

Orioles

Boston gets Moncada, O's brass gets some props and more

Checking in on a few topics around the baseball world: * So should we be surprised when the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees flex their financial muscles? Not at all. The Red Sox are going to spend a total of $246 million on three players they've acquired since last season ended. That was a season that the Red Sox finished in last place at 71-91 and 25 games behind the Orioles. But Boston has added Pablo Sandoval on a four-year deal worth $88 million, Hanley Ramirez on a five-year deal for...

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What happened when an opinion on a bullpen session and sabermetrics met on Twitter

February 22, 2015, 1:03pm

Orioles

What happened when an opinion on a bullpen session and sabermetrics met on Twitter

So I had an interesting couple of hours on Saturday afternoon. It had nothing to do with the snow that turned Baltimore into utter chaos for quite a while. My "fun" came via Twitter. My colleague, Roch Kubatko, wrote an entry where he mentioned this about young pitcher Hunter Harvey: "A group of veterans, including (Darren) O'Day, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton, and Tommy Hunter, stayed around to watch the young pitchers' bullpen sessions. Tillman and Britton shook Harvey's hand when he was...

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Cruz and Markakis contracts called among worst deals of the offseason

February 21, 2015, 9:32am

Orioles

Cruz and Markakis contracts called among worst deals of the offseason

We've spent much time this winter discussing and debating the Orioles' losses from last season of Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz and Andrew Miller. At least according to one writer, the signings of Markakis and Cruz were among the four worst moves by all teams this winter. The Braves signed Markakis to a four-year deal worth $44 million and the Mariners signed Cruz to a four-year deal worth $58 million. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs ranks these as the four worst moves of the offseason: 1 - Padres...

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A look at where Bundy and Harvey landed on another top 100 list

February 20, 2015, 3:01pm

Orioles

A look at where Bundy and Harvey landed on another top 100 list

As the opening of a new baseball season gets closer by the day, the end of prospects ranking season is just about here. At a time when many publications produce their top 100 prospects list, the Baseball America list is still the granddaddy of them all - and still very respected. Published for the first time in 1990 when Steve Avery was the No. 1 prospect in the sport, Baseball America's 25th anniversary list was released Thursday night, with the top 50 presented during a live telecast on MLB...

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Graham: "We are absolutely one of the premier development systems in baseball"

February 19, 2015, 1:49pm

Orioles

Graham: "We are absolutely one of the premier development systems in baseball"

It was a question that took only a few words to ask, but a long, passionate and well-thought out answer was provided. I asked Orioles director of player development Brian Graham this week to provide his take on the Orioles taking a fall in several publications' organizational rankings. Last year the Orioles farm system was rated No. 10 by ESPN.com and No. 12 by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. This winter, the Orioles have dropped to No. 22 by ESPN.com and Baseball Prospectus....

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A few minor league notes and a look at Chris Davis' opposite-field homers

February 18, 2015, 3:27pm

Orioles

A few minor league notes and a look at Chris Davis' opposite-field homers

When the Orioles announced their minor league staff assignments this week, it became official that some staff members do return to the organization, but at different affiliates from 2014. Not that this is all that unusual on the farm. It happens pretty much every year. As for the managers, Orlando Gomez moves back to Single-A Frederick after two years as Gulf Coast League skipper. He led Frederick to the 2011 Carolina League championship. That is the last title by any O's affiliate. Luis...

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A quick take on O's potential addition of Everth Cabrera

February 18, 2015, 5:21am

Orioles

A quick take on O's potential addition of Everth Cabrera

With the news of the Orioles' potential signing of free agent Everth Cabrera, two questions come to mind: What role will he play on the team, and are the Orioles taking a risk on a player with baggage? While Cabrera was an All-Star in 2013 and led the National League in stolen bases with 44 in 2012, he served a 50-game suspension at the end of 2013 season for his involvement in the Biogenisis performance-enhancing drug investigation. Beyond that, he was charged in November with resisting...