Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Guthrie dominant in O's opening win

Guthrie dominant in O's opening win
What a performance by Jeremy Guthrie. After going 8-4 with an ERA of 2.76 after the All-Star break last year, Guthrie opened the 2011 season with eight brilliant, shutout innings tonight in a 4-1 win over Tampa. Ben Zobrist homered off Jim Johnson leading off the last of the ninth to get Tampa's only run. Guthrie gave up just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Tampa batters went just 3-for-26 against him. Johnny Damon, Evan Longoria and Manny Ramirez were a combined 0-for-9 vs....
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Steve Melewski

Despite today's news, the O's should not call on Britton yet

Despite today's news, the O's should not call on Britton yet
Here is a quick thought on Zach Britton. If the Orioles were not going to have him on the opening day roster, and they did not, they should not call him now if they need another starter due to Brian Matusz's back injury. In terms of Britton, that should just not change anything. I think the O's should stick to Plan A and call him up later. If needed, they can find someone to add to the rotation and there are only four dates in April when they need a fifth starter anyway. Let Britton get...
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Steve Melewski

Tonight's pitching matchup: Guthrie vs. Price

Tonight's pitching matchup: Guthrie vs. Price
Here is a breakdown of tonight's starting pitchers. Jeremy Guthrie will make his third opening day start in the last four seasons for the Orioles. Guthrie is 1-1 with an ERA of 6.35 in his previous day one starts in 2008 and 2009. Guthrie against Tampa in 2008: 5 1/3 IP, 9H, 6R, 5ER, 1BB, 2K. Guthrie against NYY in 2009: 6 IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 3K. I remembered that Guthrie was good after the All-Star break last year, but the stats show he was really, really good then. He went 8-4 with an...
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Steve Melewski

A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues

A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues
Even though the Orioles' 2011 season begins tonight, the club has still not finalized its minor league rosters. The full season affiliates don't begin their seasons until next Thursday, April 7 (or Friday, April 8 in the case of Single-A Frederick). What I wrote about Feb. 12 has pretty much come to pass. It certainly appears that the Triple-A Norfolk roster will be one with more veterans than in previous seasons and not many up-and-coming prospects. One reason for that is Orioles manager...
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Steve Melewski

Tonight we see if the O's can turn optimism into wins

Tonight we see if the O's can turn optimism into wins
The long offseason is over and the Orioles begin the 2011 season tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Birds went 7-11 against Tampa last year and have not won the season series against the Rays since 2007. A lot of people expect a major falloff from Tampa this year with all the free agents the Rays lost. I don't see it. I still see a formidable pitching staff and a possible playoff contender. After years of watching top prospects join the Rays, it will be strange to see them rely on...
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Steve Melewski

Having just one bullpen lefty should not be a problem

Having just one bullpen lefty should not be a problem
I am not concerned in the least that the Orioles will begin the season with just one left-hander in the bullpen. First of all, pitchers like Mark Hendrickson, Clay Rapada, Troy Patton and Chris George all may start on the Triple-A staff and will be a phone call away if needed. Also, there is this big reason not to be concerned: The stat sheet says it won't be an issue. Of the six right-handed hurlers in the O's pen, all but Koji Uehara have better statistics either recently and/or in their...
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Steve Melewski

New season, new radio show

New season, new radio show
It's become a pretty important part of sports-talk on radio. That's the call-in show where fans and listeners can vent, analyze the game and react right after the game ends. Well, this year, after Orioles' games, you will have your chance to do just that and I will be the voice at the other end of the phone line. I am thrilled to officially announce that I will be hosting the "Baltimore Baseball Tonight" postgame edition on weeknights this year on 105.7 FM, The Fan in Baltimore. The show...
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The interesting story of O's minor leaguer Jose Nivar

The interesting story of O's minor leaguer Jose Nivar
He began the Gulf Coast League season in 2010 as a right fielder with a very strong arm for the Orioles entry in that league. He ended the year as a pitcher. Jose Nivar, like a lot of youngsters from the Dominican, apparently has a pretty powerful right arm. He was signed by Carlos Bernhardt on Sept. 7, 2006, and the next three seasons played as an outfielder, mostly in the Dominican Summer League. But Nivar struggled at the bat and many O's coaches and minor league instructors had wondered...
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New season brings new baseball show to MASN

New season brings new baseball show to MASN
With the start of a new baseball season, MASN is expanding its coverage of the Orioles and Nationals. The network that brings you 324 game telecasts of two teams in six states now adds "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report," a new 90-minute show each weekday at 5 p.m. The show makes its debut Thursday after the Nationals game and the "Nats Xtra" postgame telecast. Veteran broadcaster Tom Davis, who has been with MASN since its start in 2007, will host the show and will be joined by Dave...
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Steve Melewski

Hoes takes time to work on his defense and the mental part of the game

Hoes takes time to work on his defense and the mental part of the game
Over the last couple of years I have had the chance to interview many Orioles minor leaguers. Few have been as impressive as LJ Hoes. He's an articulate young man of 21 who has an ability to analyze his play and understand where he needs to improve. He seems very coachable and passionate about the game. This week, I asked him where he learned to value the mental aspects of the game so well. "My father and my high school coach have always stressed the mental aspects of the game," Hoes...
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Hoes relieved after his liner drilled Matusz

Hoes relieved after his liner drilled Matusz
For those watching at the time, it had to be an intriguing matchup. LJ Hoes was in the batter's box and Brian Matusz on the mound. But then Hoes took a swing and one of the O's top prospects hit a liner that drilled one of the O's top pitchers in the left arm. For Hoes, it was a scary moment. He didn't want his name to get in the headlines for this. He didn't want to be the guy that hit a line drive that injured Matusz. "He was trying to get his work in," Hoes said by phone last...
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Orioles cut eight players from spring camp

Orioles cut eight players from spring camp
The Orioles today announced eight spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 30 players. The Orioles optioned outfielder Nolan Reimold to Triple-A Norfolk and outfielder Randy Winn asked for, and was granted, his unconditional release. Non-roster invitees left-handers Clay Rapada and Mark Hendrickson, right-handers David Riske, Ryan Drese and Pat Egan, and infielder Nick Green have been assigned to minor league camp. With the moves, the Orioles have 30 players in camp...
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Steve Melewski

Two predictions for the O's win total in 2011

Two predictions for the O's win total in 2011
I am going to cut to the chase here today. My goal and also prediction for the Orioles for this year is for a season of 82 and 80. That would put to rest the streak of 13 consecutive losing seasons and provide the club with it's most wins since the 1997 group went 98-64, a wire-to-wire first place finish. That would represent a very nice improvement and provide the Orioles with some respectability. It would put them on the road to hopefully a two-year surge upward and perhaps back into a...
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Steve Melewski

Some possible trouble for former O's farmhand

Some possible trouble for former O's farmhand
Vito Frabizio, who in 2009 appeared to be an up-and-coming young pitcher in the Orioles farm system, could be in some trouble. According to this story that Keith Law linked to his Twitter account today, Frabizio was arrested in the New York area for his part in a bank robbery. The right-hander went 4-4 with a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts for Rookie League Bluefield in 2009, but never made a roster last summer and was released by the Orioles in June. I wrote this profile on Frabizio in January 2010...
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Steve Melewski

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian talks about Zach Britton

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian talks about Zach Britton
Tim Kurkjian of ESPN has covered baseball long enough to know when the scouts are buzzing about a player, he should take note of said player. A few weeks back in Florida he ran into a scout. "Have you seen Zach Britton pitch yet?" the scout said to Kurkjian. "If you haven't, go see him." Kurkjian, a one-time O's beat writer for the Baltimore Sun, has now seen Britton in person to confirm what that scout had said with his own eyes. "There was an at-bat that Buck Showalter told me...
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Steve Melewski

Pat Egan talks about returning to the Orioles

Pat Egan talks about returning to the Orioles
When Pat Egan reported to Milwaukee Brewers camp in Tempe, Ariz., Thursday morning, he said he had a feeling it could be his last day with that organization. "I came in this morning and took a look at the travel roster and I wasn't on it and also I haven't thrown in a couple of days. I kind of had an eerie feeling that something was going to happen. Then I got the news," he said. Egan, taken by the Brewers in December's Rule 5 draft after he was left off the Orioles' 40-man roster, is...
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Steve Melewski

I'll bet O's fans approve of Showalter's comments

I'll bet O's fans approve of Showalter's comments
As if Buck Showalter hasn't already done enough to get Orioles fans energized and excited for the new season, now there is this: Although, the headline on ESPN.com may be a bit misleading. Showalter didn't exactly "rip" Derek Jeter. "The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout. Our guys are thinking, 'Wow, he's screaming at Derek Jeter.' Well, he's always jumping back from balls just off the plate. I know how many calls that team gets - and...
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No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011

No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011
One player that I predict will be much-discussed by fans this year is O's third baseman Mark Reynolds. If he gets off to a slow start with the strikeouts mounting, I can see fans getting frustrated. Not Garrett Atkins type frustrated, but still agitated. There is no doubt in my mind that Reynolds' high number of strikeouts is going to bother some fans. There is also no doubt that Reynolds will have a lot of strikeouts. He has averaged 213 strikeouts over the last three years. He won't...
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In search of a 20-game winner

In search of a 20-game winner
I am not necessarily looking to confuse my readers, but now that I wrote in yesterday's blog that a starting pitcher's win total is no way to tell us if that pitcher is any good, let's talk about wins. I'm wondering where all the 20-game winners have gone? The Orioles haven't had one since Mike Boddicker went 20-11 in 1984. From 1968 through 1980, the O's had at least one 20-game winner every year. In 1971, they had four 20-game winners in Jim Palmer, Pat Dobson, Mike Cuellar and Dave...
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Steve Melewski

What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?

What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?
When I was hosting a radio sports show about a week ago on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, a caller came on to say how mediocre he thought Jeremy Guthrie was and that his lack of wins proved that fact. Guthrie went 11-14 with an ERA of 3.83 over 32 starts in 2010. My argument was then, and often is about starting pitchers, that the win category is pretty much the last stat you should look at to rate a pitcher. It is one stat almost out of their control. What if the team doesn't score any runs...
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