Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Trumbo's work last offseason will help him cash in during this one

Trumbo's work last offseason will help him cash in during this one
Mark Trumbo set out to hit a lot of home runs in the 2016 season, then he went out and did it. Much easier said than done, but it's nice when a plan comes together. And make no mistake, Trumbo went into the 2015 offseason with a specific plan to improve his ability to drive the baseball, and he went out and got that done. Trumbo's 47 homers led the majors by four over the next closest on the list, Seattle's Nelson Cruz with 43. Last night, Trumbo was rewarded with a Silver Slugger Award, the...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
mark trumbo orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

A look at reliever salaries and Rule 5-eligible Orioles

A look at reliever salaries and Rule 5-eligible Orioles
In baseball, the price of talent seems to always be going upward. But for those pitchers we know as closers, the pay rate is about to really escalate. This steep incline may have started when free agent right-hander Jonathan Papelbon left the Red Sox to sign a four-year deal with the Phillies worth $50 million in November 2011. That broke the record for total contract by a reliever that was set by one-time Orioles lefty B.J. Ryan. He had signed a four-year deal worth $47 million with Toronto in...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Rule 5 draft orioles steve melewski branden kline featured_sidebar jesus liranzo jimmy yacabonis joe gunkel stefan crichton zach britton frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

A look at the qualifying offer system

A look at the qualifying offer system
There has been some discussion about baseball's qualifying offer system. It is a system that can be a drag on player salaries and the players union is obviously not a fan of that. We could see changes in the system when the new collective bargaining agreement is announced. But for now, the current system is in place, and 10 players, including the Orioles' Mark Trumbo, got qualifying offers Monday. A player getting the qualifying offer can accept it and play this upcoming year for his current...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski zach britton featured_sidebar mark trumbo matt wieters frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Talking qualifying offers, free agents and awards snubs

Talking qualifying offers, free agents and awards snubs
So Mark Trumbo got a qualifying offer and Matt Wieters did not. Buck Showater was an award finalist but Zach Britton was not. A rather newsworthy day involving the Orioles. I thought the Orioles should have extended Wieters the qualifying offer, maybe moreso this year than last. After a season where he proved that his right elbow is sound, throwing out 35 percent of attempted base stealers, Wieters should get a decent multi-year offer in a down year for free agent catchers. That would have led...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
mark trumbo matt wieters orioles steve melewski zach britton featured_sidebar steve pearce frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Surprising news: Zach Britton is not a finalist for Cy Young Award

Surprising news: Zach Britton is not a finalist for Cy Young Award
So much for Zach Britton becoming the fifth Orioles pitcher to win the American League Cy Young Award. He would have joined Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Mike Flanagan and Steve Stone. But the finalists for the award were announced tonight and Britton did not even make the final three. First, let's look at his resume. Britton recorded 47 consecutive saves this season, going 47-for-47. According to STATS, LLC, Britton has the longest save streak in as many chances to start a season by a left-handed...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski zach britton cy young award featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

PECOTA misses big again on O's, plus early 2017 predictions

PECOTA misses big again on O's, plus early 2017 predictions
When it comes to Baseball Prospectus and its PECOTA projections, it is time to admit that projection system just cannot make accurate projections on the Orioles. The system missed by a mile on the Orioles yet again in the 2016 season. The projection was for last place in the American League East at 72 wins. The end result was a tie for second place, with 89 wins and a wild card berth. Yep, not even close. Again. PECOTA, which stands for Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar jonah keri pecota frontstory_orioles2
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Conversion projects: O's move two draft picks from the field to mound

Conversion projects: O's move two draft picks from the field to mound
Last year, when they played in college, right-handers Ruben Garcia and Matt De La Rosa were position players that pitched for just a few innings. But after being drafted by and signed by the Orioles, they are now full-time pitchers. They are basically conversion projects similar to right-hander Mychal Givens, now a fixture in the Orioles bullpen. Givens was a second-round pick in the 2009 draft (No. 54 overall) and played shortstop from 2010-2012 on the O's farm. In three seasons, he never...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski matt de la rosa orioles farm report ruben garcia frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Should the Orioles revisit pursuit of Dexter Fowler?

Should the Orioles revisit pursuit of Dexter Fowler?
When it comes to outfielder Dexter Fowler and the Orioles, has that bridge been burned? Could the soon-to-be free agent and the Orioles talk contract again after what happened in February? First a quick review. It was reported on Feb. 23 that Fowler had agreed to a three-year deal with the Orioles worth $33 million. The O's had obtained a right fielder and leadoff hitter - or so they thought. Two days later, Fowler was still a Chicago Cub, where he went on to have a solid season, ending it...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
dexter fowler orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

An O's minor league outfielder who elevated his game this year

An O's minor league outfielder who elevated his game this year
It can be exciting to see a minor league player who has had more downs than ups for a certain period of his career, but then has a big year and turns a bit of a corner. This is one of those stories. The Orioles selected outfielder Randolph Gassaway out of a prep program in Georgia in the 16th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft with the 489th overall selection. Gassaway produced three seasons of modest stats, but that changed last summer for the 21-year-old left fielder. From 2013-15, he...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1 jeff manto orioles farm report randolph gassaway world series
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

One curse ends and one offseason begins after an epic Game 7

One curse ends and one offseason begins after an epic Game 7
There was a time when you could hardly score a run off the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff in this postseason. There was a time when Cleveland manager Terry Francona almost never lost a World Series game. But that all changed the last few days as the Chicago Cubs' 108-year curse ended last night. Or more accurately early this morning. The Cubs beat the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings to win Game 7 of the World Series. They became the sixth team that was behind 3-1 in the series to win the last...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski cubs indians world series frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

World Series game blog: Indians host Cubs in Game 7

World Series game blog: Indians host Cubs in Game 7
The last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series, it was 1948 and they beat the Boston Braves, four games to two. The last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, it was 1908 and they beat the Detroit Tigers, four games to one. Tonight, one of those teams will end a long World Series victory drought with a win in Game 7 as the Indians host the Cubs. Chicago scored just 10 runs in the first five games of the World Series before last night's 9-3 win to force tonight's decisive game....
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski world series
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

In first year of new deal, Chris Davis dealt with big expectations

In first year of new deal, Chris Davis dealt with big expectations
It is hard to call a season where a player hit 38 homers disappointing, but 2016 probably was exactly that for Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. Even in a year when only seven American League players homered more. Expectations have been very high for Davis since he hit 53 homers, drove in 138 runs, had an OPS of 1.004 and finished third for the MVP in 2013. Those expectations probably soared even higher when he signed a seven-year deal worth $161 million in January. It is easily the richest...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
chris davis orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

A take on Matt Wieters, a look the World Series TV ratings

A take on Matt Wieters, a look the World Series TV ratings
Will the Orioles make catcher Matt Wieters a qualifying offer for the second year in a row? Should they? Wieters hit .243/.302/.409 last year with 17 homers, 66 RBIs and an OPS of .711. His batting average and OBP were his lowest since 2013 and his slugging percentage was his lowest since 2010. On the other hand, the Orioles went 64-47 when Wieters was the catcher. Their .577 winning percentage in those games was better than their .549 win percentage for the season. The catcher ERA when Wieters...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
matt wieters orioles steve melewski world series frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Overlooked no more: Donnie Hart came up big in O's bullpen

Overlooked no more: Donnie Hart came up big in O's bullpen
Can a player drafted in the 27th round - one who was never considered a top prospect and has never advanced to Triple-A - help the Orioles? He can if that player is pitcher Donnie Hart. The lefty reliever is used to being overlooked. He saw 818 players taken ahead of him in the 2013 draft until the Texas State product heard the Orioles call his name. Desperate for a dependable matchup left-handed reliever, the Orioles turned to Hart mid-season. He made his big league debut July 17 at Tampa Bay,...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
donnie hart orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Baseball America's John Manuel on Chance Sisco's defense

Baseball America's John Manuel on Chance Sisco's defense
He may not be hitting with big power right now, but no one is questioning O's catching prospect Chance Sisco's ability to hit for a high batting average on the farm. It is a big reason he was named by Baseball America on Monday as the Orioles' No. 1 prospect. Baseball America's John Manuel called him "a true No. 1 prospect. You have a guy that, for more organizations than not, would be a No. 1 prospect." At just 21, Sisco rises to the top of the list of Orioles prospects after being...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
chance sisco john manuel orioles steve melewski orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

The allure of the baseball prospect

The allure of the baseball prospect
There is something intriguing about a baseball prospect. He provides hope of what he might become and how he can help the team. The highly-ranked prospect gets fans excited. They dare to dream that these players may become All-Stars or even something more like an elite talent that can lift up an entire franchise. There is always hope of a brighter future and that the young kid getting some hype now might later be the next big thing. Two days ago, I wrote this story and it got a lot of reaction....
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski aderlin rodriguez audry perez erick salcedo franderlin romero manny machado orioles farm report zach britton frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

O's coach Bobby Dickerson has his winter ball team in first place

O's coach Bobby Dickerson has his winter ball team in first place
During the stretch on the calender where he could be enjoying some well-deserved time away from baseball after a long season, Orioles third base coach Bobby Dickerson is still going to a ballpark every day. After turning down several chances over the years to manage winter ball, except for one season in Mexico, Dickerson decided to accept an offer this year. One week into the season in the Dominican Republic, he has led Gigantes del Cibao to a 6-1 mark, the best record in the six-team league....
Continue reading
0
Tags:
bobby dickerson orioles steve melewski aderlin rodriguez garabez rosa orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Trading All-Star Orioles right now is not the best move

Trading All-Star Orioles right now is not the best move
They are two of the better players on the Orioles. Maybe they are the two best. But would it make any sense to part with either in a trade - under certain circumstances? I speak of closer Zach Britton and third baseman Manny Machado. Both are under team control through 2018 and will be free agents after that season. So they have at least two more years in the orange and black. But why even consider dealing Britton and/or Machado? With Britton, some feel the price in deals for elite relievers...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
manny machado orioles steve melewski zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

O's closer Zach Britton named to Sporting News AL All-Star team

O's closer Zach Britton named to Sporting News AL All-Star team
Orioles closer Zach Britton, who was a perfect 47-for-47 in save chances this year, has been named to the Sporting News American League All-Star team, his first selection to the team. Britton went 2-1 with an ERA of 0.54 in 69 games. Over 67 innings, he allowed 38 hits (just one homer) with 18 walks, 74 strikeouts and a .162 batting average against. Britton gave up just seven runs (four earned) all year. From May 1 to the end of the regular season, he allowed one earned run over 58 games and 57...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3
LinkedIn Pinterest
Steve Melewski

Are the Orioles looking at an active winter?

Are the Orioles looking at an active winter?
In a preview of the Orioles offseason, MLBTradeRumors.com yesterday started a write-up on the club this way: "With some key position players hitting free agency and a still-unsettled rotation, the Orioles are looking at another busy offseason." Is that really true? With six starters under contract for 2017 and a solid bullpen already on hand, this could be a quiet winter on the pitching front. Plus, the club is set with at least five of the eight spots on the diamond. They could retain Mark...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles steve melewski brian graham featured_sidebar jesus liranzo mark trumbo matt wieters mike yastrzemski parker bridwell world series
LinkedIn Pinterest



LATEST ORIOLES NEWS

LATEST NATIONALS NEWS

       
282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291