Steve Melewski

Opening night blowout: O's lose big at Boston

July 24, 2020, 6:20pm

Orioles

Opening night blowout: O's lose big at Boston

In search of their ninth opening day win in the last 10 years, a couple of bad innings happened to the Orioles tonight. A couple of really, really bad innings. They got bombed 13-2 at Fenway Park in the 2020 season opener. Instead of another opening day win - and the club was 15-4 its previous 19 openers coming in - the Orioles have lost back-to-back opening day games for the first time since 2007 and 2008. Lefty Tommy Milone was making his first career opening day start and his Orioles debut....

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O's Austin Hays on first road trip travels and season outlook

July 24, 2020, 12:10pm

Orioles

O's Austin Hays on first road trip travels and season outlook

For the Orioles it was another step along the way in trying to stay healthy to both begin and complete this unique 2020 Major League Baseball season. It was a flight to a road city, the hotel check-in and some things that were not exactly as they had been in previous seasons. But center fielder Austin Hays said the trip to Boston went smoothly. He spoke to reporters via Zoom today, just a few hours before tonight's season opener. "Actually, it wasn't too crazy," said Hays. "Everything is...

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O's game blog: The season opener arrives

July 24, 2020, 9:05am

Orioles

O's game blog: The season opener arrives

The Orioles begin their 2020 season tonight with the beginning of a three-game series at Fenway Park in Boston. Tonight the Orioles begin their 67th season in Baltimore. The year starts with a five-game trip to Boston and Miami. The Orioles tuned up for this with three exhibition games. They won 5-1 at Philadelphia and lost by scores of 4-2 and 6-4 to the Washington Nationals. The Orioles lost on opening day last year to the Yankees in New York. Before that they had won the previous three...

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It's the Orioles and Red Sox as a new season begins

July 23, 2020, 3:14pm

Orioles

Their opening day roster does not include John Means, Hunter Harvey or Trey Mancini. But ready or not, the Orioles begin their 67th season tonight at Fenway Park in Boston. The Orioles, individually and collectively, seem anxious to show the rest of baseball they are not a complete pushover and that they are making improvements. In a season shortened to 60 games, could they make a playoff run? Sure they could. It seems quite improbable. But I guess it became even more possible as Major League...

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At Bowie, players will look to stay sharp and ready

July 23, 2020, 10:05am

Orioles

At Bowie, players will look to stay sharp and ready

The Orioles currently have 13 staff members working with a group of players at Prince George's Stadium, the alternate site for the club's 60-man player pool. Soon the player numbers will grow at Bowie, as the O's today cut down to their 30-man opening day roster. The challenge for coaches at Bowie will be to keep that group energized during a hot summer where they currently are not allowed to face outside competition or players from other teams. Daily intrasquad games will help, but after a...

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The offense was trending up last year, but does that continue?

July 22, 2020, 1:14pm

Orioles

The offense was trending up last year, but does that continue?

Is it possible, even minus Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar, that the Orioles offense improves in the 2020 season? Those are two huge losses. Mancini was the club's Most Valuable Oriole and became the 10th player in club history with 30 doubles, 30 homers and 100 runs. He hit .291 with an .899 OPS. Villar set career highs in hits (176), runs (111), triples (5), home runs (24) and RBIs (73). The 111 runs were the most by an Oriole since Melvin Mora also scored 111 in 2004. According to...

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Mullins in battle for outfield roster spot, plus other notes

July 21, 2020, 5:00pm

Orioles

Mullins in battle for outfield roster spot, plus other notes

When Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was interviewed on the MASN telecast on Monday night in Baltimore, he was asked if any players had jumped out at him during summer camp. Elias cited catcher Pedro Severino and outfielder Cedric Mullins and said there are plenty of others that have looked good, better than they had in Sarasota in the first spring training. He said Severino has been swinging the bat very well. Elias said of Mullins: "He's looked great, which...

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O's game blog: O's and Nats in exhibition finale

July 21, 2020, 1:44pm

Orioles

O's game blog: O's and Nats in exhibition finale

The Orioles (1-1) play their third and final exhibition game tonight ahead of Friday's opener at Boston. The Birds travel to Washington to face the Nationals (1-1) at Nats Park. The club will hold a workout at Camden Yards tomorrow and then travel to Boston on Thursday for the start of that three-game series. Washington won 4-2 over Baltimore last night at Oriole Park. O's right-hander Alex Cobb allowed two hits and two runs over four innings. He fanned five, including four of the first six...

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Rays' loss is O's gain in the bullpen

July 20, 2020, 6:26pm

Orioles

He has had not one, but two Tommy John surgeries and pitched in the minor leagues since 2013 before finally getting his first big league chance last September. It went well for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Cole Sulser. After a very strong finish to his Triple-A season, he made his big league debut that month with 7 1/3 scoreless innings and nine strikeouts for the Rays. Then he was designated for assignment. That might have been a bit surprising, even for the pitching-rich Rays. Sulser can throw...

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O's game blog: O's host Nats in Oriole Park exhibition game

July 20, 2020, 12:48pm

Orioles

O's game blog: O's host Nats in Oriole Park exhibition game

With four days left before opening night, the Orioles will play their only home exhibition game tonight at Oriole Park. The Orioles (1-0) host the Washington Nationals (0-1). The same clubs meet at Nats Park on Tuesday night. The Orioles beat the Phillies 5-1 in game that went 9 1/2 innings last night at Citizens Bank Park. Pedro Severino, Cedric Mullins, Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle hit solo homers for the Orioles and Hanser Alberto added an RBI single. Right-hander Thomas Eshelman pitched...

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Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes

July 19, 2020, 6:39pm

Orioles

Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes

The Orioles could have some big decisions to make later today. They'll check on All-Star left-hander John Means and his availability to make the opening day start Friday night at Boston. Means was scratched from last night's start due to arm fatigue and a case of dead arm. But pitching in his place at Philadelphia, 26-year-old right-hander Thomas Eshelman, he of the 6.50 ERA last year, threw another solid outing. Between four games in the first spring training and three in the current summer...

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Eshelman throws scoreless ball in win over Phillies

July 19, 2020, 4:47pm

Orioles

Eshelman throws scoreless ball in win over Phillies

Thomas Eshelman might be making a late push for a rotation spot. Or if John Means can't make his first start, that could make room for right-hander Eshelman, who made a case for himself tonight in Philadelphia. Eshelman threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four singles, as the Orioles beat the Phillies 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park. It is the first of three exhibitions for the Orioles ahead of their July 24 opener at Fenway Park in Boston. Eshelman actually made the last exhibition game start...

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Still trying to find a way to get minor leaguers on the field

July 19, 2020, 9:17am

Orioles

Still trying to find a way to get minor leaguers on the field

Beyond the players that are in Bowie or Baltimore on the 60-man player pool, the Orioles would love to get some of their minor league players on the field in some way this year. The regular minor league season has been canceled, but the club is hoping there will still be a chance for players to work out and perhaps play intrasquad games. During a Zoom interview with reporters this morning, Orioles director of player development Matt Blood was asked if such a plan is in place. "Definitely...

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10 questions and one roster long shot making a nice impression

July 18, 2020, 12:30pm

Orioles

10 questions and one roster long shot making a nice impression

We are now days away from the start of a Major League Baseball season unlike any other. Teams will play 60 games and the Orioles will open Friday night at Boston. They'll play three at Fenway Park and then two games in Miami before the home opener on Wednesday July 29, also against Miami, at Oriole Park. So this is our last offseason edition of 10 questions. Answer one or all and feel free to respond to other readers' opinions. That makes the blog go around and keeps it fun. And bring on...

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Michael Baumann on making player pool, Bowie camp (with video)

July 17, 2020, 2:00pm

Orioles

Michael Baumann on making player pool, Bowie camp (with video)

When baseball shut down on March 12, it shut down throughout both the majors and the minor leagues. Orioles minor leaguers at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota had not even played any spring training games against other organizations to that point. Most did not know which affiliate they would be sent to in April. When the shutdown came, 24-year-old right-hander Michael Baumann, born and raised in Minnesota, headed to Jacksonville, Fla., where he played college...

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Making a pitch: Eshelman looks to stay in rotation battle

July 17, 2020, 10:59am

Orioles

Making a pitch: Eshelman looks to stay in rotation battle

He can be a player that gets overlooked. When discussing the O's rotation, others seem to get more play then he does. But he's pitched twice in intrasquad games for the Orioles and right-hander Thomas Eshelman gave up one unearned run over three innings his first outing. In his second, he allowed one run over five innings with four strikeouts. He's pitched twice opposite left-hander Tommy Milone and both are in line to start the fifth game of the season. Only one will. "It's been fun to...

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With a week to go, projecting the opening day 30-man roster

July 16, 2020, 1:00pm

Orioles

With a week to go, projecting the opening day 30-man roster

The 2020 Baltimore Orioles' season is set to start a week from today. The Orioles, for the first time since 1966, will open at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. The club started with 44 players on its 60-man player pool and that number is now 56. Several players have already been assigned to the alternate site at Double-A Bowie. Players there could make the opening day roster but it's probably less likely. Now that we are seven days out, let's take a shot at projecting the opening day...

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All in the family for Pat Valaika, plus other notes

July 15, 2020, 1:38pm

Orioles

All in the family for Pat Valaika, plus other notes

Beyond their coaches, big league hitters sometimes have someone else close to them they trust to help with their swing. It can be a friend, family member or even a player on another team. Orioles infielder Pat Valaika has his own hitting coach in his family. Valaika, 27, is one of five children, and his oldest brother, Chris, played four seasons in the majors with three clubs. Now he's the minor league hitting coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. "During the quarantine he lived in Arizona and...

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Wynns trying to earn a roster spot as the outfield takes shape

July 14, 2020, 2:29pm

Orioles

Wynns trying to earn a roster spot as the outfield takes shape

Orioles catcher Austin Wynns doesn't duck the question. He was asked if the 2020 season represents a big year for him. "Every year is huge," he said during an interview Tuesday afternoon. "Every year, for everyone. You can't take anything for granted. Each year, you have to take in strides. You have to improve, you have to be better and make adjustments. This game is built on adjustments. And physically, mentally you have to be there. To answer your question, it's huge. Every year,...

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Rutschman finds the comfort zone and LeBlanc impresses

July 13, 2020, 3:39pm

Orioles

Rutschman finds the comfort zone and LeBlanc impresses

Catcher Adley Rutschman should be in the midst of his first full minor league season right now, possibly playing at Single-A Frederick or Double-A Bowie. But the baseball shutdown changed all of that. On Friday, he reported to Camden Yards to join the Orioles' 60-man player pool. Stranger things have happened, but it seems unlikely they would use him in a major league game before he's even played above low Single-A ball, but he's back mixing with the big league players again. He was also a...