Steve Melewski
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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Steve Melewski

Should the O's add free agent starting pitchers?

Should the O's add free agent starting pitchers?
When the Orioles reach the point of their winter that they consider pursuing a free agent or two or three, should starting pitching be on the list? If you lock in Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy to head up a rotation of five, maybe those final two spots should be left for young pitchers. There is a long list of potential candidates for those two spots to include David Hess, John Means, Luis Ortiz, Yefry Ramirez, Josh Rogers, Dillon Tate and Jimmy Yacabonis. That is just a partial list...
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Steve Melewski

In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota

In 2019, two former O's will reunite in Minnesota
The Minnesota Twins have added two former Orioles this month. And the addition of one could really help the other. When Nelson Cruz led the majors with 40 homers and helped the Orioles to the 2014 American League East title and a berth in the AL Championship Series, he was a huge positive force in that clubhouse. He was particularly huge for young infielders Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado. Now Schoop and Cruz will be teammates again in Minnesota. The Twins signed Schoop to a one-year deal...
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Steve Melewski

Will baseball legislate on defensive shifting in 2019?

Will baseball legislate on defensive shifting in 2019?
At a time when there is some talk in Major League Baseball about limiting or even eliminating defensive shifting, the Orioles now have a general manager that came from the team that shifted the most in the sport last year. In 2018, the Houston Astros shifted their defense on 37.3 percent of plate appearances. Tampa Bay was second at 30.0, followed by Minnesota at 28.4 and the New York Yankees at 28.2 percent. The Orioles were among the teams heavily using defensive shifts, ranking seventh at...
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Steve Melewski

A good start for new regime: Improve organization-wide pitching

A good start for new regime: Improve organization-wide pitching
As the Orioles look to build a consistent winner at the big league level from pretty much the ground up, developing solid pitchers will be a key to that. Maybe the key to that. With Mike Elias, Sig Mejdal and minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt all coming from Houston, you have to like the Orioles' chances here. In the 2018 season, Houston's four full-season minor league affiliates all led their respective leagues in strikeouts and three of the four also rated first in their league...
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Steve Melewski

Checking the analytics flow from front office to clubhouse

Checking the analytics flow from front office to clubhouse
As the Orioles look to hire and finalize their coaching staff soon, the ability of those coaches to embrace analytics and pass the data on to the players in a useful manner will be a key. It may be the key factor in which coaches Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hires for his first staff. During the recent Winter Meetings, I asked general manager Mike Elias about this. On that staff, are certain coaches more important in disseminating such information? It stands to reason the pitching coach and...
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Steve Melewski

Now the work begins for Elias-Hyde management team

Now the work begins for Elias-Hyde management team
For so many years, we were used to the Dan Duquette-Buck Showalter duo leading the Orioles. But now Mike Elias and Brandon Hyde are in place as executive vice president/general manager and manager. Hyde was introduced Monday at a Camden Yards press conference as the 20th manager in Orioles history. He has pictures of Earl Weaver and Cal Ripken Sr. in his office and he met Brooks Robinson, so he's already off to a good start. Hyde promised to be "patient and positive." Maybe we should put...
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Steve Melewski

Castro has found a home in the Orioles bullpen

Castro has found a home in the Orioles bullpen
He might be overlooked sometimes in the Orioles bullpen. He can't touch 100 mph like Tanner Scott. He doesn't get save chances. He doesn't have a career 1.97 ERA like lefty Richard Bleier. But right-hander Miguel Castro has an important multi-inning role, and last year he ranked fourth among all major league relievers, throwing 83 1/3 innings. In 19 of his 62 outings, he gave the Orioles at least two innings. He went 2-7 with a 3.96 ERA and was throwing well late in the year, with a 1.84 ERA...
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Steve Melewski

After strong AFL season, Ryan McKenna takes momentum into 2019

After strong AFL season, Ryan McKenna takes momentum into 2019
Orioles outfield prospect Ryan McKenna believes his breakout 2018 season came about as a result of taking care of the little things. He put in the work in the cage, listened to his coaches, and worked on striking out less and using his speed more with grounders and fewer fly balls. He also dealt with some adversity and overcame it. After batting .377/.467/.556 in 67 games for Single-A Frederick, the 21-year-old McKenna lost well over 100 points on his average when he moved to Double-A Bowie....
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Steve Melewski

Austin Hays looks to regain top form in 2019

Austin Hays looks to regain top form in 2019
After a frustrating year where he missed many games and ended it undergoing ankle surgery, Orioles outfield prospect Austin Hays is heading into 2019 with a positive outlook and a right ankle that is returning to full health. Hays had surgery Sept. 13 to repair cartilage damage that led to several other issues with that ankle during the season. But after a two- to three-month recovery, he should be fine for spring training, where he can make a run at a 2019 roster spot. The injury limited Hays...
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Steve Melewski

Post Winter Meetings edition: "10 questions for O's fans"

Post Winter Meetings edition: "10 questions for O's fans"
It's that time again: time for me to ask you some questions and get your responses. Answer one question or all 10. Provide short answers or long. Respond to answers by other readers. It's all welcome. It's all good. So on to the questions. 1. Will the Orioles trade Alex Cobb and/or Andrew Cashner this winter? 2. Who will be the 2019 opening day starter? 3. New GM Mike Elias takes over a 115-loss team. How soon can he have the Orioles playing at least .500 baseball? 4. Over the next five...
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Steve Melewski

Some of the best quotes and takes from Las Vegas

Some of the best quotes and takes from Las Vegas
We covered a lot of topics and got the opinions and thoughts of a few national reporters and analysts over four days of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Today, we'll take a look back at some of the most interesting and pertinent quotes of the week. ESPN's Keith Law provided a take on new GM Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal: "I think this is exactly what they needed. The fact that these guys have worked together for a while now and had so much success in Houston points to this being a great hire. I...
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Steve Melewski

Up next for the Orioles: Hire the skipper as the rebuild moves on

Up next for the Orioles: Hire the skipper as the rebuild moves on
LAS VEGAS - As expected, the Orioles were not very active in player acquisitions at the Winter Meetings, but the process of hiring a new manager moved near completion and the business of rebuilding the team is fully underway for new general manager Mike Elias. It was a chance for beat reporters to get a few opportunities to meet with the new GM and get his thoughts on a variety of topics over a few days in Las Vegas. At some point in the next few days the Orioles should make official the hiring...
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Steve Melewski

A few post-Rule 5 draft quotes on the new Orioles

A few post-Rule 5 draft quotes on the new Orioles
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are a bit short on middle infielders and they added two today via the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. They selected Oakland shortstop Richie Martin with the No. 1 pick in the draft. After the draft, it was announced they had acquired infielder Drew Jackson, who been selected by Philadelphia from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Orioles sent international bonus money to the Phillies for Jackson. In the Triple-A phase of the draft, the Orioles selected right-handed...
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Steve Melewski

Can O's use "secret sauce" to get more strikeouts from farm pitchers?

Can O's use "secret sauce" to get more strikeouts from farm pitchers?
LAS VEGAS - If new O's general manager Mike Elias can get Orioles minor league clubs to play as well as the minor league clubs of the Houston Astros system played in 2018, then fans of O's affiliates might be quite pleased. And the Orioles may be developing some talented young pitchers. Houston's Triple-A Fresno team finished in first place in 2018, going 82-57. The team ERA ranked sixth in the Pacific Coast League at 4.27 and Fresno pitchers led that league in strikeouts. Double-A Corpus...
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Steve Melewski

Will the Houston model work in Baltimore? MLB Network's Brian Kenny weighs in

Will the Houston model work in Baltimore? MLB Network's Brian Kenny weighs in
LAS VEGAS - MLB Network host Brian Kenny was a fan of the Houston Astros front office at a time when they were losing 106 games in 2011, 107 in 2012 and 111 in 2013. He saw the data-driven approach they were taking with general manager Jeff Luhnow - and also with Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal. Luhnow was hired after that 2011 season and a teardown that led to a successful rebuild was beginning. The Astros' success culminated with a World Series title in 2017. Kenny joined me today for an interview...
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