Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Hearing from Henry Urrutia and Tyler Wilson, plus some power rankings

Hearing from Henry Urrutia and Tyler Wilson, plus some power rankings
When we talk about outfielders that could help the Orioles this year, it seems that Henry Urrutia seldom gets much mention. But we should not forget that he hit .347 with a .913 OPS at Double-A and Triple-A in 2013, and .276 with the Orioles in 58 at-bats. He was named the O's minor league Player of the Year that season. But last year was a setback for him. Urrutia underwent sports hernia surgery. He was out from April 28 to July 5 and was limited to 51 games at Norfolk, where he hit .270 with...
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Steve Melewski

A few questions with spring training a few days away

A few questions with spring training a few days away
While Orioles fans freeze in the Baltimore area, the sun and warmth of Sarasota is calling. Spring training begins this week. Almost time to play ball. Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday with their first workout set for Friday. Position players join them for the first full-squad workout on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The first exhibition game is March 3 and the season opener is April 6 in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays. So with the sound of the crack of the...
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Steve Melewski

With scoring down, MLB officials take a close look at the sport

With scoring down, MLB officials take a close look at the sport
Under new commissioner Rob Manfred, it sure looks like Major League Baseball officials are going to take a long and thorough look at the sport with the decline in offense in recent years. The average big league team scored 4.07 runs per game last year, the lowest in a non-strike year since 1976, when it was 3.99. The Orioles averaged 4.35 runs per game last year, by the way. Average MLB runs per game through the years: 4.07 - 2014 4.81 - 2004 4.92 - 1994 4.26 - 1984 4.12 - 1974 Along with that,...
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Steve Melewski

Machado is not one of top 10 third basemen, according to one list

Machado is not one of top 10 third basemen, according to one list
Nothing can stir up an Orioles fan like a perceived slight about their team or their players. So it was this week when some fans reacted to me via Twitter, upset that Manny Machado did not make MLB Network's list of "The top 10 third basemen right now." The shredder, the formula used by the network, is not as big of a fan as last year when Machado was ranked No. 10. But coming off a season where Machado played just 82 games and then had a second knee surgery, this is probably fair. For now...
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Steve Melewski

Hardy on 2014 back issues, O's young talent and more

Hardy on 2014 back issues, O's young talent and more
When you look at the Orioles and their attempt to replace the 40 homers Nelson Cruz hit last year, one source of added pop for 2015 could be at shortstop. At FanFest, J.J. Hardy revealed that he played part of last year with a back injury that may have hampered him in 2014 more than he let on at the time. It could have been a factor that saw Hardy's homer total drop to nine last year after he averaged 25.6 per season for the club from 2011-13. Hardy missed five games early last year and got a...
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Steve Melewski

A key part of two playoff runs, will Orioles bullpen be strong again?

A key part of two playoff runs, will Orioles bullpen be strong again?
When the Orioles made the playoffs in both 2012 and 2014, the bullpen was very good both years, ranking third in the American League in bullpen ERA each time. That 'pen performance also helped the Orioles to lead the AL in one-run winning percentage both seasons. It was a big part of those playoff teams. The O's had a 3.00 bullpen ERA in 2012 and went an amazing 29-9 (.763) in one-run games. Last year, the 'pen ERA was 3.10 and the O's went 32-23 (.582) in one-run contests. Will the O's...
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Steve Melewski

Minor league core four: A look at four O's homegrown pitchers added to the 40-man

Minor league core four: A look at four O's homegrown pitchers added to the 40-man
Over the winter, the Orioles added four pitchers from their farm system to their 40-man roster. That speaks well for the club's player development operation, as none of the four were drafted since 2012 and all four made improvements on the O's watch to get to this point. The four pitchers added were: * Oliver Drake, a 43rd-round pick in 2008 * Eddie Gamboa, a 21st-round pick in 2008 * Tyler Wilson, a 10th-round pick in 2011 * Mike Wright, a third-round pick in 2011 I'm not ruling any of...
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Steve Melewski

Prospect profile: Glynn Davis elevated his game in 2014

Prospect profile: Glynn Davis elevated his game in 2014
While Dariel Alvarez and Mike Yastrzemski had strong 2014 seasons on the Orioles farm and are now among the club's top 10 prospects, another outfielder also took his game to a higher level and did so without getting much attention. Glynn Davis played very well between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He didn't make Baseball America's list of the O's top 30 prospects, but there are those who feel he should have. Davis, who turned 23 on Dec. 7, batted .299 with 27 doubles, four triples,...
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Steve Melewski

Outfield and DH math: Who gets ABs to replace production of Cruz, Markakis?

Outfield and DH math: Who gets ABs to replace production of Cruz, Markakis?
The Orioles will be looking to replace the offensive production of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis this season after both players left the club via free agency. In both cases, it appears that it will not be one individual player that attempts to duplicate their offensive production, but several that get the chance. Last season, Cruz took 37 percent of the at-bats by O's left fielders and 59 percent of the at-bats at designated hitter. Markakis took 91 percent of the at-bats by O's right...
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Steve Melewski

A pre-spring training edition: 10 questions for O's fans

A pre-spring training edition: 10 questions for O's fans
It is time again to survey Birdland on a variety of Orioles topics. It is time for another edition of "10 questions for O's fans." If you've been keeping up, we've done this once every month this offseason, but I somehow let January get by without doing so. My brain must have been impacted by the cold. Or I was distracted by the Dan Duquette rumors. Or I was trying to figure out if you can deflate a baseball. I don't know, it could have been all of the above. Anyway, if you are somewhat...
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Steve Melewski

Taking a look at the top 30 Orioles prospects per Baseball America

Taking a look at the top 30 Orioles prospects per Baseball America
Earlier, we took a look at the top 10 prospects in the Orioles farm system and today we expand that to look at a list of the club's top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. You can find it all in the publication's Prospect Handbook. A review of the top 10: 1. Dylan Bundy 2. Hunter Harvey 3. Christian Walker 4. Chance Sisco 5. Dariel Alvarez 6. Zach Davies 7. Tim Berry 8. Mike Wright 9. Mike Yastrzemski 10. Jomar Reyes Now a look at the rest of the list with notes on each...
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Steve Melewski

De Aza on contract, leadoff chance and more (plus Keys stadium naming rights deal)

De Aza on contract, leadoff chance and more (plus Keys stadium naming rights deal)
So the Orioles have settled 10 of their 11 arbitration cases before they went to any hearings. Shouldn't it be 11-for-11? It probably should. The lone case to resolve is with outfielder Alejandro De Aza. The player is seeking $5.65 million with the club offering $5 million. Can't the sides just meet in the middle? What is the holdup here? Will there really be a hearing over such a small difference? Even Scott Boras can resolve an arbitration case. When asked about this during FanFest, De...
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Steve Melewski

Logan Verrett is out to buck the Rule 5 odds, plus over/under stats

Logan Verrett is out to buck the Rule 5 odds, plus over/under stats
If you are a young player and you get selected in the Rule 5 draft, there are worse teams to be selected by than the Orioles. It didn't take long for 24-year-old right-hander Logan Verrett to realize that after the Orioles selected him with the 13th of 14 picks made in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. "I was ecstatic to find out their history of keeping Rule 5 picks," Verrett said Saturday at FanFest. "After I found that out, I realized I couldn't have been with a better...
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Steve Melewski

Michael Ohlman on being traded by the Orioles

Michael Ohlman on being traded by the Orioles
Sometimes when a minor league player is traded, it doesn't make big news. It might not be mentioned very much on MLB Network or ESPN and to some fans may just be a line or two in the transactions list. But we should never forget those are players whose lives have been changed by those deals. Like the rest of us, they develop close friendships in the workplace and have mixed emotions when change comes their way. Take Michael Ohlman, for instance. He was drafted by the Orioles in the 11th round...
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Steve Melewski

A look at AL East starting rotations

A look at AL East starting rotations
While there has been a lot of focus on what the Orioles have lost since the 2014 season ended, their starting rotation is intact. In fact, they have six starters for five spots heading into spring training. The Orioles rotation was good last season. It should be again and good pitching keeps you in games. The Orioles ranked fifth in the American League and were second among AL East teams with a 3.61 rotation ERA in 2014. How do they fare in the rotation against the rest of the East right...
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Steve Melewski

Kids press conferences produced fun, laughter and more at FanFest

Kids press conferences produced fun, laughter and more at FanFest
There is always something special about seeing the sport of baseball produce a smile on a kid's face. We saw that in abundance on Saturday during the latest edition of Orioles FanFest. I was asked to help moderate two kids press conferences with players. I would call this a hidden gem of FanFest. At least it was hidden to me (my bad for that) until Saturday. Presented by MASN, the press conferences were great fun and very well-attended. The kids got their own press passes and then lined up...
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Kevin Gausman on trying to win a rotation spot and more

Kevin Gausman on trying to win a rotation spot and more
Right-hander Kevin Gausman, who turned 24 on Jan. 6, is about to start his fourth season in pro ball. It will be his third year spending at least part of the season in the big leagues. Will it be the first season that he is no longer on the shuttle from Triple-A Norfolk to Baltimore? In 2013, Gausman had three separate major league stints. In 2014, he had six stints in the big leagues, including three that lasted two days or less. Maybe he will start the season in the majors and stay with the...
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Steve Melewski

Quick Machado update

Quick Machado update
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado provided an update today on his comeback from his second knee surgery. During the club's minicamp in mid-January in Sarasota, Machado said he felt he would be full-go by spring training and he still feels that way. Machado has been taking part in full baseball activities for several weeks now, after surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a partial tear of a ligament in his right knee. He underwent a similar procedure on his left knee in 2013. "Ready to roll,"...
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Steve Melewski

A few quotes from Buck Showalter's press availability at FanFest

A few quotes from Buck Showalter's press availability at FanFest
Here are a few quotes from Orioles manager Buck Showalter's media availability with reporters at FanFest: On the Dan Duquette rumors in general terms and losing three key players: "Our payroll is going to go up this year, but we are going to be able to do some things during the season now. We will be able to do some things if needed, whether it be injury or performance. That is why we were able to add Andrew (Miller) and (Alejandro) De Aza last year. And I'm proud of the players we are...
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Steve Melewski

Dan Duquette meets the press at FanFest

Dan Duquette meets the press at FanFest
After he addressed Orioles fans today at FanFest, Orioles vice president Dan Duquette talked further about the Toronto rumors and situation one more time with reporters behind the main stage. "It was important for the fans to know my singular focus has been on improving the Orioles," Duquette said. "Some of the additions that we've made I feel will give us another strong and competitive team. "These trade rumors, lot of times players will be involved in them. Sometimes managers get traded...
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