Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

In the game of compensatory draft picks, the Orioles have come up short

In the game of compensatory draft picks, the Orioles have come up short
No matter how you feel about Joe Jordan's record as the Orioles' scouting director from 2005 through 2011, there is one area that hurt the Orioles during his time with the club that was out of the control of the scouting department. The Orioles had fewer picks than their American League East rivals in the top three rounds during those seven drafts - in some cases many fewer picks - as other teams took advantage of the draft rules to obtain more picks. They got many compensation picks for...
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Steve Melewski

An opinion on baseball in Venezuela and a look at Yu Darvish

An opinion on baseball in Venezuela and a look at Yu Darvish
In recent years, there has been talk of the Orioles increasing their presence in Venezuela. It is a nation that has produced current players like Asdrubal Cabrera, Felix Hernandez, Victor Martinez, Freddy Garcia, Magglio Ordonez, Johan Santana and former Oriole Melvin Mora to name just a few. The kidnapping this week of Nationals' catcher Wilson Ramos sheds light on the dangers that pro baseball players from that country face. It makes you wonder if any of this impacts the Orioles and other...
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Steve Melewski

Posada to the Orioles? Don't see much chance for that

Posada to the Orioles? Don't see much chance for that
For the life of me I don't see Jorge Posada, who is a free agent, as a fit for the Orioles. Jon Heyman of SI.com tweeted this yesterday: "If posada decides to play, i'm thinking orioles or marlins. but i hope he retires. great career. terrific guy." Posada turned 40 last summer and while the Orioles need a backup catcher and might have some DH at-bats available next season as well, I don't see a player at that stage of his career being anyone the Orioles could use in 2012. Posada was...
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Steve Melewski

One vote for Nolan Reimold as the everyday left fielder

One vote for Nolan Reimold as the everyday left fielder
Nolan Reimold began the 2011 season in the lineup at Triple-A Norfolk. He ended it with a huge ninth-inning RBI double for the Orioles against Jonathan Papelbon that capped a big September. Will it be enough to get him in Buck Showalter's starting lineup as a regular in left field in 2012? I say the answer to that should be yes. After a strong rookie season in 2009 and a poor year in 2010, Reimold's bat came to life late last year, again showing fans a glimpse of the kind of player many...
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Steve Melewski

Ron Hopkins expresses interest in O's scouting director job

Ron Hopkins expresses interest in O's scouting director job
One of the first key hires for new Orioles vice president Dan Duquette will be a new scouting director to replace Joe Jordan, who left to take a job with the Phillies. Duquette said yesterday he would consider internal candidates for any openings and the Orioles have a man on the staff now that is interested in the scouting director job. That is Ron Hopkins, who from 2004 through 2009 was the Texas Rangers' scouting director and he joined the Orioles before the 2011 season as a national...
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Steve Melewski

Going one on one with Dan Duquette

Going one on one with Dan Duquette
The man who used to pretend he was Brooks Robinson as a kid and who later delivered newspapers to the Massachusetts home of Mark Belanger made his way into the MASNsports.com studios today for a one-on-one video interview. I had a chance to ask new Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette about getting back into the game, his initial top priorities, working with manager Buck Showalter and more.
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Steve Melewski

Duquette on staffing, free agency and the minors

Duquette on staffing, free agency and the minors
After his press conference today, new Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was asked about staffing and the makeup of his front office. "I staff my office or my team from strength. I try to put the people that are strong in one area, in that area. I try to pair up the person's passion with their strength. Once I decide what people are good at and passionate about, then I assign titles. It's not really about the titles to me. It's about pairing up skills with...
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Steve Melewski

Winter ball updates

Winter ball updates
Here are some current stats on players from the Orioles organization that are playing in winter ball leagues around the world: In the Dominican: * Pedro Florimon is batting .235/0/1 going 4-for-17 with seven strikeouts. * Pedro Viola is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 11 games. In 7 1/3 he has allowed four hits and one run. * Jose Diaz is 0-0 with an ERA of 0.00 over eight games. In 8 2/3 innings, he has allowed just one hit and no runs with a batting average against of just .038. Austrailian Baseball...
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Steve Melewski

Looking at some issues facing Dan Duquette

Looking at some issues facing Dan Duquette
As Dan Duquette becomes the latest top executive to try and turn the Orioles around, many Orioles fans must be hoping the Buck Showalter-Duquette pairing will be the one to finally take this team back to the top of the standings. While no one can blame fans for being doubters and skeptical about that, a new face at the top does provide hope. Hope that this time some things will be different. Hope that Duquette will bring some fresh ideas and/or staff to the front office. Hope that it all will...
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Steve Melewski

Will Dan be the man for the Orioles? (updated with deal done)

Will Dan be the man for the Orioles? (updated with deal done)
The idea of Orioles fans being held hostage may soon be over. If Dan Duquette gets the general manager's job, the club will have its new top executive and you can get on with your lives, not to mention the rest of the offseason. Personally, I was and remain a big fan of De Jon Watson of the Dodgers. I think this guy is going to be a top GM for someone soon and hope the Orioles didn't miss out on a guy that shows leadership, the ability to produce a solid player development system and...
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Steve Melewski

A question about the fans: What if they jump ship?

A question about the fans: What if they jump ship?
Here is a good question to ponder this weekend: How do you feel about a fan that dumps one team for another? How would feel about an Orioles fan that dumps the Birds for say the Nationals or Red Sox or Yankees or any other baseball team? I think fans have the right to be upset with their team, to rip their team on the message boards and talk shows and clearly they have the right to decide against purchasing any tickets or team merchandise. No one could blame any longtime Orioles fan to be...
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Steve Melewski

Can the Orioles solve their "perception problem"?

Can the Orioles solve their "perception problem"?
This just in: The Orioles are getting crushed by the national columnists right now. ESPN's Buster Olney published a column yesterday that was titled: "Orioles stalled by a perception problem." Here is part of what he wrote: "The Orioles have a significant perception problem now, slowing down a team already viewed within the industry as one that is all horse-and-buggy in a wireless world. Think about what we just saw in the last week: The Orioles - a team with a rich history, a landmark...
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Are the Orioles making any improvements on the international front?

Are the Orioles making any improvements on the international front?
The Orioles' international signings in recent years have been rated poor by many of the so-called experts, but there were some indications this year that the Orioles may have made one or two gains on the international front in 2011. While I put almost no stock in a minor league team's record as it relates to their quality of prospects, the Orioles' Dominican Summer League team this year did finish in first place in its division and made the playoffs with a 46-24 record. Jonathan Schoop...
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Steve Melewski

Markakis on Roberts and an error-free season

Markakis on Roberts and an error-free season
Nick Markakis has played plenty of games in right field with Brian Roberts patrolling second base. Markakis talked to Roberts recently and hopes Roberts can return to regular duty next season after playing in just 98 combined games the last two years. "I talked to him not too long ago," Markakis said. "I know 100 percent he plans on coming back. He wants to be a part of this as much as anybody else. It's unfortunate with the injury he has right now. It's a long healing process and I hope...
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Steve Melewski

Markakis updates an injury and talks about Gold Glove

Markakis updates an injury and talks about Gold Glove
On a conference call to talk about his Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Nick Markakis updated reporters on an injury. If you recall, he was taken out of the last game of the season with a bone bruise in the abdomen area. "It happened a couple of weeks prior to the end of the season, stealing a base, just dove in and hurt myself. As far as healthy right now, I'd say I'm about 70 to 75 percent. Just a slow healing process. I'm taking it easy, resting. That's about all you can do for a bone...
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Steve Melewski

Xavier Avery talks about being named to AFL Rising Stars Game

Xavier Avery talks about being named to AFL Rising Stars Game
Orioles outfield prospect Xavier Avery rode an 11-game hitting tear right onto a roster spot for the East squad in Saturday's Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game. The rosters were released Tuesday and Avery earned a spot on the East squad that will take on the West team Saturday night at 8:10 p.m. Eastern time in a game that will be televised live on the MLB Network. "I'm happy about it. It's a compliment. It's great," Avery said by phone last night from Arizona. In 19 AFL games...
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Steve Melewski

Should the Orioles pursue Prince Fielder?

Should the Orioles pursue Prince Fielder?
If the Orioles wind up shocking the baseball world and signing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder this winter, I would have no problem getting on board with that. He would give the team a feared middle-of-the-order slugger who, at 27, could be heading into the best years of his baseball life. People always question his weight, but the guy has played 157 games or more for six straight years. He would provide the team with some needed star power. Since their first-round draft pick is...
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Steve Melewski

It will take more than one man to fix the Orioles

It will take more than one man to fix the Orioles
I think there is one point that all of us need to keep in mind when it comes to the Orioles and the search for the next general manager: One man cannot, by himself, fix the Orioles. Just as one player can't turn around a team and it takes many players and teamwork and chemistry, the same is true of the front office. The top executive makes the biggest decisions and provides his vision for the organization. But usually he doesn't make those decisions without the help, input and knowledge of...
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Steve Melewski

Avery's bat heats up in the AFL plus other winter ball news

Avery's bat heats up in the AFL plus other winter ball news
Xavier Avery, the Orioles' 21-year-old outfield prospect, got off to a terrible start for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, but now he is starting to hit and make up for lost time. After going just 2-for-26 (.077) in his first eight AFL games, Avery is batting .419 (13-for-31) in his last eight games. In that span he has three triples, seven RBIs, 10 runs scored and four multi-hit games. In 16 games overall, Avery is batting .263 with one double, four triples, no homers and nine...
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Steve Melewski

Don't understand some of the fan reaction to Stockstill

Don't understand some of the fan reaction to Stockstill
Let me start by saying I don't know if John Stockstill would be a good general manager or not for the Orioles. But I do know he has a strong resume in the game in a variety of roles and is well respected by a lot of people. Some of the comments I have read and reaction to this are just over the top. It is one man, with a solid resume in the game, getting a chance to interview for a top position. No Orioles fan needs to begin rooting for another team, no fan needs to move out of town and no...
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