Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Some props for Doug Brocail, expected to be O's pitching coach

Some props for Doug Brocail, expected to be O's pitching coach
The Orioles are expected to hire Doug Brocail as their next pitching coach. The club however, has not yet officially announced the addition of any coaches for new manager Brandon Hyde. But Brocail's anticipated addition drew some praise this week. The 51-year-old former big league pitcher worked in the Houston organization from 2010 through 2015 and was the Astros' major league pitching coach from June 2011 through the 2013 season and was later a special assistant. He was pitching coach for...
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Steve Melewski

How many top 100 prospects for the Orioles?

How many top 100 prospects for the Orioles?
The new lists of top 100 prospects in baseball will be released soon by several national outlets including Baseball America, MLBPipeline.com, ESPN and others. Last year, on the Baseball America list, the Orioles had three players ranked for just the second time since 2013. They had a list of three after the 2014 and 2018 seasons. Here is a look back at the Orioles on the lists last winter. Baseball America: Austin Hays (21), Chance Sisco (68) and Ryan Mountcastle (71)MLBPipeline.com: Hays (23),...
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Steve Melewski

For fans tracking Machado and Harper, fatigue or intrigue?

For fans tracking Machado and Harper, fatigue or intrigue?
So when will teams start spending the "stupid" money? When will the saga of free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper come to an end? Where will they end up and could the Chicago White Sox actually wind up with Machado? So far, the free agency of the dynamic duo is not living up the hype. And this has been hyped for literally years. Hype that said they could both get north of $300 million and maybe even more than $400 million. Hype that said both could have numerous suitors among the big...
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Steve Melewski

Defense and pitching: Could the first make the second better for the Orioles?

Defense and pitching: Could the first make the second better for the Orioles?
We certainly know that Orioles pitchers didn't collectively do very well in the 2018 season. Baltimore ranked last in the American League with a team ERA of 5.18, well over the league average of 4.27. The starters' ERA ranked last in the league at 5.48, with the AL average at 4.39. The bullpen ERA was 4.78 to rank 14th and above the league norm of 4.09. But as longtime Orioles fans know, the team won often back in the day due to strong pitching and defense, and the two work hand in hand. The...
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Steve Melewski

Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman remains atop draft boards

Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman remains atop draft boards
Baseball America recently released its list of the top 100 prospects available for the First-Year Player Draft in June and Oregon State switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman is No. 1. Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is No. 2. That is the same top two that we saw on MLBPipeline.com's list. For just the second time in Orioles history, the club will make the overall No. 1 pick on June 3. In 1989, the Orioles selected LSU right-hander Ben McDonald 1/1, with the first pick in the first...
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Steve Melewski

How will the O's handle their catchers in 2019?

How will the O's handle their catchers in 2019?
The Orioles' current catching situation shows Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco on the 40-man roster and recent addition Carlos Pérez and holdover Martin Cervenka as two of the top catchers on the farm. Andrew Susac was designated for assignment on Friday. That leaves the team pretty thin at the position right now, with not much big league experience on the roster. Can the Orioles get enough out of that group of four, or do they need to add a veteran catcher? Caleb Joseph was non-tendered by...
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Steve Melewski

A look at Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Jonathan Villar after contract agreements

A look at Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Jonathan Villar after contract agreements
If he made a list of goals for the 2019 season, avoiding any arbitration hearings would be well down the list for Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. But it's nice anyway for the first-year GM to avoid hearings and he will accomplish that after reaching agreements with three arbitration-eligible players yesterday. The O's came to terms with pitchers Dylan Bundy and Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar. Barring trades or injuries, all three should play key...
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Steve Melewski

The 2019 season provides a chance to fully evaluate Mullins

The 2019 season provides a chance to fully evaluate Mullins
He was the Orioles' 13th round draft pick out of Campbell University in 2015. He showed such promise playing in 2016 at Single-A Delmarva and in spring training chances with the Orioles the following March that he skipped Single-A Frederick and went right to Double-A Bowie to begin the 2017 season. Outfielder Cedric Mullins was on a fast track, one that would take him to Triple-A in June of last year and later to the majors for his first call-up on Aug. 10. He became the Orioles' everyday...
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Steve Melewski

Will Orioles fans find new ways to analyze a season in 2019?

Will Orioles fans find new ways to analyze a season in 2019?
According to one preseason listing of those over and under wins totals used mostly for wagering purposes, the Orioles' win total for 2019 is put at 59. That would be 12 more victories than in 2018, but would also mean 103 losses are coming our way. But such lines are crafted to induce equal wagering on either side, and public perception factors in here. And an over-under wins total doesn't really matter or predict with any certainty what will happen next season. We already knew that the team...
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Steve Melewski

A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions

A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions
If, as it is said, you can never have enough pitching, maybe the Orioles need to consider adding a free agent starter on a one-year deal to eat some innings and help the 2019 rotation. I've written before that I'm mostly not on board with adding a pitcher and am just fine with seeing young pitchers fill out the final two rotation spots. That is after a front three in some order of Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy. But what if there is a chance to trade one of those three with a deal...
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Steve Melewski

A look at one way where Dylan Bundy can get back on track

A look at one way where Dylan Bundy can get back on track
Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was a slightly better than league average pitcher in 2016 and 2017, but not in 2018. Last year, he went 8-16 with a 5.45 ERA in 31 starts. While he set career highs in innings, strikeouts, strikeout rate and starts, he also set career highs in homers allowed and tied for the major league lead in losses. The 41 homers allowed jumps off the stat sheet. That was seven more than any other pitcher in the majors, with James Shields of the White Sox next with 34. That...
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Steve Melewski

O's fans have had time to prep for their players finding new homes

O's fans have had time to prep for their players finding new homes
Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day are in Atlanta. Jonathan Schoop is now in Minnesota. Zach Britton is headed back to the Bronx and Manny Machado is on deck. Adam Jones is very likely moving on as well. There seemed to be little consternation around Birdland when Britton agreed to re-sign with the Yankees over the weekend. This could be for several reasons, including that Orioles fans knew he wasn't coming back. They were never rumored to be pursuing Britton. And that old gang of theirs was long...
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Steve Melewski

Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal

Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal
In looking back at the last week on this blog, we got into a few interesting topics and will revisit a few today. Your takes and comments on these topics are very welcome. On Monday, we took yet another look at Chris Davis. He's firmly in the doghouse of fans around Birdland after his struggles hit a new low in 2018. Last season, Davis hit .168/.243/.296 with 192 strikeouts, 16 homers and 49 RBIs. The same player who produced an OPS of 1.004 in 2013 and .923 in 2015 posted a .539 OPS in...
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Steve Melewski

Does a rebuild provide a chance for creativity for the Orioles?

Does a rebuild provide a chance for creativity for the Orioles?
The 2019 season may well provide the Orioles with plenty of chances to do different things and make unconventional moves. In a rebuilding season where many losses are expected, why not? What if the Orioles decide to sometimes use an opener on the mound, but have that player try to pitch three innings rather than one? Bring the starter in to begin the fourth and go from there? See what that looks like. What if the club wants to bring in a defensive replacement for the last four innings and not...
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Steve Melewski

More on the Orioles and their pursuit of international talent

More on the Orioles and their pursuit of international talent
The hiring this week of Koby Perez as the Orioles' senior director of international scouting is the latest step forward for the organization on the international front. For years, the club just didn't do nearly enough in this market, and it hurt the team in numerous ways. Baltimore lacked in producing international talent. Hopefully, those days are over, although certainly it will take years for general manager Mike Elias and Perez to produce significant results. But you have to start...
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Steve Melewski

O's new head of international scouting on staffing, signing talent and more

O's new head of international scouting on staffing, signing talent and more
In his first interview with Orioles reporters, Koby Perez, the club's new senior director of international scouting, discussed building a staff and building relationships that will lead to the addition of key young amateur talent from around the world. Under the current system in place, all teams get a similar amount to spend via their bonus pool. So that can make it challenging for a team to set itself apart, as they can't outspend the competition in a significant way. For the signing period...
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Steve Melewski

Maximizing service time and a Machado take

Maximizing service time and a Machado take
Former Orioles baseball operations leader Andy MacPhail once stated that it's better to call up a prospect a month too late rather than a month too soon. The new management of the Orioles may look to adhere to that philosophy. And not just because they agree with MacPhail. Maybe because it makes good business sense. At a time when fans seem excited to see young players get more opportunities with the club, some young players may have to wait their turn. Like most good organizations, the...
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Steve Melewski

The measure of success in 2019

The measure of success in 2019
It's a good question. What represents success for the 2019 Orioles? Is it a certain number of wins or something else? Can it even be quantified? Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was asked that question at the Winter Meetings. "I want to improve the aggregate talent base of this organization, and that's going to come in the form of additions to the organization via the draft, international signings, perhaps some trades that might occur," Elias said. "But, just...
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Steve Melewski

As the Orioles embrace analytics, their fans don't have to

As the Orioles embrace analytics, their fans don't have to
As the calendar turns to 2019 today, this will be the year the Orioles embrace analytics. They had better, because that is the background of their new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. His first hire was Sig Mejdal, named the club's assistant general manager, analytics. New manager Brandon Hyde is very much on board with his front office. No longer should we see a player like Zach Britton traded to another team - in Britton's case the New York Yankees - and say this:...
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Steve Melewski

A new season with new management means a fresh start for Chris Davis

A new season with new management means a fresh start for Chris Davis
For Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, a miserable 2018 season got even worse at the end. Davis went 1-for-37 over his last 10 games with 20 strikeouts and then didn't play in the season's last 10 games. Why was never really explained. The player who seemed to get at-bats every night during his huge struggles was not seen much as the 2018 season wound down. The combination of a big salary and little production has not been good for Davis with Orioles fans. They criticize him morning, noon and...
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