Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

After dominant year, Zach Britton is not ranked as MLB's top reliever

After dominant year, Zach Britton is not ranked as MLB's top reliever
This might drive some Orioles fans crazy, but there are some national analysts that do not rank O's closer Zach Britton as the No. 1 reliever in baseball. After a year where Britton's 0.54 ERA ranked as the best in major league history among pitchers with 50 or more innings, Britton was ranked No. 3 by MLB Network on its list of the "Top 10 Relievers Right Now" show. 1. Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians2. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees3. Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles4. Kenley Jansen,...
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Steve Melewski

Manny Machado on the WBC and a look back at the three-homer game

Manny Machado on the WBC and a look back at the three-homer game
In late December, we posed this question: How much better can Manny Machado get? Machado's OPS has increased every year he has been in the majors, going from .739 in 2012 to .861 in 2015 to .876 last year. Here is a look at Machado's last two seasons: 2015: .286 average, .359 OBP, .502 slugging, 30 doubles, 35 homers, 86 RBIs. 2016: .294 average, .343 OBP, .533 slugging, 40 doubles, 37 homers, 96 RBIs. In 2016, he produced career highs in home runs and RBIs. He was named winner of the Louis...
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Steve Melewski

Week in review: New pitching coaches, bullpen usage, PECOTA and more

Week in review: New pitching coaches, bullpen usage, PECOTA and more
On this Sunday, we take a look back about a week at some of the stories that appeared here and the comments you made about them. Feel free to send in a question or comment about any or all of them today. Monday: We heard from the new Orioles pitching coaches and Rule 5 picks Anthony Santander and Aneury Tavarez. New pitching coach Roger McDowell said bullpen coach Alan Mills will be very important for him. They are former O's teammates and Mills has some real knowledge of the O's pitchers...
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Steve Melewski

Zach Britton on chasing a title, a 2017 encore and more

Zach Britton on chasing a title, a 2017 encore and more
So after one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a reliever, what does Orioles closer Zach Britton do for an encore in 2017? It's a question he figures to get a lot in spring training from both local and national reporters. "I try not to live up to it or try to duplicate it," Britton said at FanFest. "I think every year your body is different. The way you go about doing things may be different. You're a little older - maybe your arm slot is a little different. You treat every year...
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Steve Melewski

Prediction season is about to begin

Prediction season is about to begin
Brace yourself, Orioles fans. The PECOTA projections are coming out next week and you know what that means: probably a prediction of last place and a losing season. Before the Debbie Downers around here rush to agree, you should remember that the system seems to often miss the Orioles' win total by a mile. The Orioles have won 444 games the last five years to lead the American League. During that span, PECOTA predicted a total of 371 victories. The system has predicted five straight losing...
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Steve Melewski

Orioles have won 64 percent of Chris Tillman's starts since 2012

Orioles have won 64 percent of Chris Tillman's starts since 2012
Among all the stats we could research, discuss, analyze and over-analyze involving Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman, one that looks darn good on his resume is the Orioles' winning percentage in games that he starts. Tillman went 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA last season. Over 172 innings, he allowed 155 hits with 66 walks, 140 strikeouts and a .244 batting average against. He made 30 starts and the Orioles went 22-8 in those games. It, of course, was not all Tillman's doing. He needs run support and...
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Steve Melewski

Britton: Don't expect to see October bullpen usage come April

Britton: Don't expect to see October bullpen usage come April
There are some baseball analysts that feel the usage of bullpen pitchers could look a little different during the 2017 regular season. They feel we will see more of what we saw in how select bullpen pitchers were used during the postseason last year. While that seems unlikely to me, we certainly saw some of the top closers and others used in more innings and, in some cases, much earlier in games than we are used to seeing them. Andrew Miller of the Cleveland Indians and Kenley Jansen of the Los...
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Steve Melewski

A special FanFest "Mo-ment" and other notes

A special FanFest "Mo-ment" and other notes
Regular listeners to the Orioles' flagship radio station, 105.7 FM The Fan in Baltimore, certainly know the youngster's voice. They surely know his knowledge of and passion for Baltimore sports. And they are certainly familiar with that wonderful laugh. But a few hundred fans got to see and meet 11-year-old Mo in person on stage Saturday at FanFest. Everyone in the room cheered loudly when they saw the Orioles' Adam Jones come out to greet Mo. That is everyone but Mo, who is blind and had to...
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Steve Melewski

Checking in with the pitching coaches and Rule 5 picks at FanFest

Checking in with the pitching coaches and Rule 5 picks at FanFest
For the first time since the 2013 season, the Orioles will have a new pitching coach this year with Roger McDowell replacing Dave Wallace. Before the 2006 season, McDowell replaced Leo Mazzone as Atlanta Braves pitching coach. Over the next 11 seasons, the Braves staff went 905-876 and ranked fourth among major league clubs with a 3.88 ERA, including a 3.58 ERA posted by relievers, which ranked second in the majors. Each season from 2009-14, Atlanta's ERA ranked in the top five among big...
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Steve Melewski

FanFest notes and quotes from Showalter, Trumbo, Hardy and more

FanFest notes and quotes from Showalter, Trumbo, Hardy and more
Every year ,FanFest provides an opportunity for a day-long event where the Orioles' loyal fans get to show the team yet again just how loyal they are and how much they love their team. More than 15,000 did just that Saturday. But that goes both ways, manager Buck Showalter said. For him, FanFest provided a chance to reunite both with the players he leads and the fans he appreciates so much. "This is always special. It's so uplifting," Showalter said. "And our players enjoy it. Once our...
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Steve Melewski

Bundy on possible return of his cutter (plus Mancini on Trumbo)

Bundy on possible return of his cutter (plus Mancini on Trumbo)
The cutter/slider could make a return for right-hander Dylan Bundy in the 2017 season. Bundy said it will, at least during spring training. "I've been throwing it for about two weeks now and so far it feels great," Bundy said this afternoon at FanFest. "I'm not throwing it at full speed or anything right now, but it is feeling good. I'll bring it into spring, but I'll try to limit it in games." Bundy went 10-6 with a 4.02 ERA last year over 36 games and 109 2/3 innings. Bringing this...
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Steve Melewski

Showalter on Bundy's innings, Tillman on his right shoulder

Showalter on Bundy's innings, Tillman on his right shoulder
Buck Showalter didn't sound like a big fan of innings limits today - at least one for young right-hander Dylan Bundy, who pitched 109 2/3 innings for the Orioles last season over 34 games that included 16 starts. Showalter answered, "Yes," when asked if Bundy has enough innings this year to pitch in the starting rotation for the entire season. "Anyone is going to put these exact acute numbers on everything," he said. "This one is going to feel this and at this (point) he'll feel that and...
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Steve Melewski

Manny Machado, Zach Britton on possible contract extension talks

Manny Machado, Zach Britton on possible contract extension talks
Two Orioles All-Stars said again today at FanFest that they'd like to sign long-term contracts with the team. But both third baseman Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton also said it has been quiet on that front so far this winter. Machado, who like Britton can be a free agent at the end of the 2018 season, was asked if he expects some contract-extension talks to begin before opening day. "So far, there hasn't (been any)," Machado said. "Nothing has come up. It's there, it's open. This...
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Steve Melewski

Wright's offseason focused on mental aspects of game

Wright's offseason focused on mental aspects of game
As he gets ready to head to another spring training and tries to make the Orioles' opening day roster, right-hander Mike Wright said today at FanFest he's worked more this winter on the mental aspects of the game than anything that has to do with a fastball or breaking ball. "Every year, you are trying to get better with your mechanics and with your pitches, but mainly I've been focusing on having a good mental approach to the season and I think I've done a pretty good job so far," he...
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Steve Melewski

Mark Trumbo on one stat he'd like to improve

Mark Trumbo on one stat he'd like to improve
Did the ears of some Orioles fans perk up when Mark Trumbo spoke yesterday about improving his plate discipline? The Orioles' plate discipline and stats like team on-base percentage provide an ongoing discussion topic for fans every year it seems. They want more on-base percentage from their team and its lineup. I'm pretty sure Trumbo is not talking about making any dramatic changes. He is here to slug homers and many are expected. But for a player driven to always get better, it is something...
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Steve Melewski

Dan Duquette on Mark Trumbo's return to the Orioles

Dan Duquette on Mark Trumbo's return to the Orioles
After a winter of rumors and speculation, and reports that offers were on and off the table, Mark Trumbo is back where he said he wanted to be all along. The Orioles officially welcomed Trumbo back at a Camden Yards press conference this afternoon. He agreed to a three-year deal for $37.5 million on Jan. 19. Trumbo had a 2016 season where he hit .256/.316/.533 with 47 homers, 108 RBIs and an .850 OPS. He led the majors in homers, ranked tied for sixth in the American League in RBIs and tied for...
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Steve Melewski

The Mancini decision: Has he graduated from the minors?

The Mancini decision: Has he graduated from the minors?
Among many questions the Orioles have to answer once spring training starts is just where first baseman Trey Mancini will be on opening day. Is he going to make the roster or head back to the minors again to start 2017? Until the Orioles re-signed Mark Trumbo, both vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter expressed plenty of confidence in Mancini, and it looked like he could be the everyday designated hitter this season. But Trumbo's return likely changes that equation. So would...
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Steve Melewski

A look at the World Baseball Classic

A look at the World Baseball Classic
It's real baseball before opening day. The games count and they keep the standings. A champion will be crowned. All-Stars will take the field. Several Orioles will as well. Will this be the year that Team USA wins the World Baseball Classic? In three previous tries, the United States team made the semi-finals just once and has never played in the championship game. The fourth edition of the competition begins in March. Japan won the event in 2006 and 2009, and the Dominican Republic took the...
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Steve Melewski

Is Brad Brach too valuable to trade?

Is Brad Brach too valuable to trade?
Even Dan Duquette's constant message board critics would have a hard time finding anything wrong with a deal he made on Nov. 25, 2013. Duquette traded minor league right-hander Devin Jones to San Diego for reliever Brad Brach. While Brach has had three very solid seasons in the Orioles bullpen - and was an All-Star last year - Jones never advanced beyond Double-A. He was the Orioles' ninth-round draft pick in 2011 and is no longer playing. The trade was one-sided. Meanwhile, Brach's ERA has...
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Steve Melewski

In weak pitching market, former Oriole Jason Hammel remains available

In weak pitching market, former Oriole Jason Hammel remains available
After the Orioles' re-signing of free agent Mark Trumbo, their payroll for 20 players now signed for 2017 is in the $154 million range. That would seem to make it unlikely the club would pursue former Oriole Jason Hammel, a right-handed starter still out there among the remaining free agents. That and the fact the Orioles would be back at six starters for five spots if they added Hammel. It seems strange in a year that was not robust in free agent starters that Hammel is still out there. In...
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