orioles

Monday morning musings

March 26, 2010, 5:37am

Orioles

It was a good weekend for O's starting pitching. Four starters worked a combined 20 innings and pitched to an ERA of 2.25. Brian Matusz got it started with 5 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings Friday vs. Philly. Tillman and Bergesen pitched well in split-squad games Saturday and Kevin Millwood gave up just one run Sunday vs. Philly. Don't the O's seem to pitch well vs. the NL Champs? A switch to the NL East anyone? The four combined: 20IP, 10h, 5er, 7bb, 17K. Let's not talk about...

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steve melewski orioles Chris Tillman

Minnesota's gain, New York's loss

March 26, 2010, 5:36am

Orioles

There were likely many fans and front office people around baseball delighted to see catcher Joe Mauer sign his megabucks contract with the Twins. Mauer's eight-year, $184 million deal tops even Mark Teixeira's eight-year, $180-million package. By the way, Mauer's OPS last year was 1.031 to Tex's .948. Jason Stark of ESPN wrote that if Mauer had made it to free agency, the Yankees and Red Sox may have upped the bidding to 30 million per year for Mauer. Only A-Rod and Derek Jeter have...

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steve melewski orioles

After setback, Flacco looks forward to the 2010 season

March 26, 2010, 5:36am

Orioles

After setback, Flacco looks forward to the 2010 season

When Mike Flacco reported to Bluefield last summer, many Orioles fans were following his progress closer than they might with most 31st-round draft picks. That had a lot to do with the fact that Mike is the younger brother of Joe Flacco, the Ravens quarterback. But if you look into Mike's baseball past, you find a player with his own story to tell, someone that is working to make his own name for himself. Mike Flacco was a 2005 high school grad. But over the next three years his baseball...

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steve melewski orioles Buck Showalter

B-Rob comments

March 26, 2010, 5:34am

Orioles

Brian Roberts said he is making solid progress as he attempts to get in some exhibition games soon and be ready for Opening Day. Roberts was a guest today on the phone on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and 105.7FM the Fan during MASN's Brian Roberts report. "I've taken batting practice three times now with no ill effects of that. The swing is starting to feel better and I've taken ground balls and run around. I'm very close to getting into game action and preparing for April...

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steve melewski orioles Andy MacPhail John Stockstill

David Stockstill will oversee the setup of O's minor league rosters

March 26, 2010, 5:34am

Orioles

David Stockstill will oversee the setup of O's minor league rosters

We've learned a few more nuggets of info today and tonight about the front office changes coming with the O's organization. It's been reported that David Stockstill is expected to move into international scouting while his brother John moves into a role leading the farm system operations. While the announcement may come Friday, their official new positions will not take effect until at least opening day. David Stockstill will stay on in his current role to help set the season opening...

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steve melewski orioles

Brian Matusz questions and answers

March 26, 2010, 5:32am

Orioles

So Brian Matusz gave up three runs. That matched the total runs he had given up in his three previous outings. They said he didn't have his best stuff, yet Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday went a combined 0-for-6 against him. All pitchers should struggle so. With a 3.10 spring ERA and 19 strikeouts to three walks in 20 1/3 exhibition innings, the kid is playing to rave reviews throughout Florida. Will fans get carried away with their expectations for the lefty? Am I Polish? Yes and yes. ...

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steve melewski orioles

Saturday baseball: O's at Chicago

April 04, 2010, 5:19pm

Orioles

Game Preview Orioles (50-72) at Chicago White Sox (62-60) Led by a Brian Roberts home run binge, the Orioles have now won back-to-back games on their current road trip and could win their first series since the All-Star break with a victory tonight. Roberts hit his 4th career Grand Slam, leading the O's past Tampa on Thursday. Last night he homered twice as the O's beat Chicago 5-1 in the opener of a three-game series. Over the last three games, Roberts is 6 for 14 with four homers and 8...

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steve melewski orioles

Next for Hobgood: Delmarva

April 04, 2010, 3:24pm

Orioles

Right-hander Matt Hobgood reported to the O's minor league camp several weeks early this year and his goal was to make the Delmarva starting rotation this season. Mission accomplished. The 19-year-old that the O's selected with the fifth pick in round one of the draft last June, will head north this weekend with the rest of the Shorebirds. "I'm really excited about my first year of long season ball," Hobgood said. "We should have a really young team and I'd like to think a lot of us...

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steve melewski orioles

Will there be another change for Rowell?

April 03, 2010, 2:38pm

Orioles

Will there be another change for Rowell?

The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield. Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys. The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field. The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...

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steve melewski orioles

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

April 02, 2010, 6:40pm

Orioles

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday. A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation. The order of the rotation has not been announced. Here are some guesses at...

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steve melewski orioles

Where do you stand on "the plan"?

April 01, 2010, 12:47pm

Orioles

Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"? It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo). The proof is in their actions. They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile. They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...

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steve melewski orioles

If you are watching or listening to today's game......

March 31, 2010, 11:01am

Orioles

If you are watching or listening to today's game......

.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in. I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County. While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well. We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...

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steve melewski orioles

Mounting concern over Guthrie

March 31, 2010, 11:00am

Orioles

When Robinson Cano launched that 3-1 pitch over the fence Monday night, you could almost feel Orioles fans confidence in Jeremy Guthrie drop another notch. He has not done much this spring to provide fans with hope that he will have a bounce back season. But I do think the concern, some would say panic, over Guthrie's struggles, is a little over the top. *Why is he being handed a starting rotation spot? That is the question from some fans. He does have a track record of success, two years...

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steve melewski orioles

Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

March 31, 2010, 10:59am

Orioles

Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

So after being named Carolina League MVP last year while also winning the Brooks Robinson award as the O's Minor League Player of the Year, what will Brandon Waring do this season for an encore? In his second year in the O's organization he'll move up to Double-A Bowie and tangle with Eastern League pitching. "This year will be the most challenging year yet," the 24-year-old Waring said. "The pitchers are more refined, they have a plan and can throw all their pitches for strikes. I'm...

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steve melewski orioles

Some pitching and some hoops

March 31, 2010, 10:58am

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie seems to be one pitcher that many fans feel is in for another poor year. Some reporters are questioning his confidence. Some don't even feel he should begin the year in the rotation. I am not in that camp. He showed me enough in 2007 and 2008 and I am not yet overly concerned about his spring performance. Only 15 pitchers in the AL worked more innings than Guthrie last season and that should count for something. His 5.04 ERA came down some in the second half when he...

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steve melewski orioles

Plenty of reasons to watch the minors

March 31, 2010, 10:55am

Orioles

While the Orioles are closing in on another opening day, so are their four full-season farm teams: the Norfolk Tides, the Bowie Baysox, the Frederick Keys and the Delmarva Shorebirds. With the parent club rebuilding around youth and pitching, there will be plenty of reasons to follow the O's minor leaguers this year. Bowie - Early on, this may be the most interesting team to track. The rotation could feature top pitching prospect Zach Britton along with Steve Johnson, Chorye Spoone and...

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steve melewski orioles

Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon

March 26, 2010, 5:31am

Orioles

Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon

Whether he's getting hit with batted balls or getting sore after shooting a commercial, maybe nothing can stop Brad Bergesen from his mission to become a solid Major League pitcher. Throughout his career Bergesen has heard the critics - he doesn't throw hard enough, he doesn't strikeout enough hitters, he's just not a top prospect. Click here for a recent Fangraphs article where the author seems to want to convince himself that Bergesen is a decent pitcher, but just can't. In fairness...

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steve melewski orioles

David Stockstill comments on his new role

March 26, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that David Stockstill will officially begin in his new position as the club's director of international scouting on April 5th. Stockstill, who has headed up the O's minor league operations since November of 2004, is in Florida now and will remain there through early April to help setup the club's minor league rosters. In his new role, David will oversee all the club's international operations, including scouting in the Far East, Latin America and beyond. He...

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steve melewski orioles Buck Showalter

Luke Scott's spot in the order

April 06, 2010, 9:39am

Orioles

As expected, Luke Scott is batting fifth tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields. The lowest that he figured to drop was sixth behind catcher Matt Wieters, but fifth seemed to be his most likely destination. I had an interesting conversation with Scott earlier this spring - and most of them are interesting because the talk often shifts away from baseball - about his placement in the lineup. He actually suggested that he would make an ideal No. 2 hitter. Scott has accumulated...

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orioles

For Rowell: Back to the dirt

April 06, 2010, 9:55am

Orioles

Billy Rowell is changing positions again. He's moving back to the infield and back to third base. Also, Rowell will begin this year with the Class-A Frederick Keys instead of playing for Bowie as some had speculated he might. Rowell, the Orioles first-round pick in June of 2006, played in right field at Frederick last year. In his first three seasons in the organization he played at third base. "I feel like this is a good plan. The new farm director John Stockstill has a plan for me in...