Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

When it comes to Adam Jones, opinions are often plentiful

When it comes to Adam Jones, opinions are often plentiful
Nelson Cruz is gone and Nick Markakis may be the next to go. But one outfielder that we know will be a part of the 2015 Orioles is center fielder Adam Jones. He remains among the best Orioles and one of the top center fielders in the game. While Jones is a lightning rod for criticism and drives some fans crazy when he chases pitches, he filled up the stat sheet again in 2014. Jones batted .281 with 30 doubles, 29 homers, 96 RBIs and 88 runs. He was voted a starter in the All-Star Game for the...
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Steve Melewski

A tale of two men leaving the Orioles organization

A tale of two men leaving the Orioles organization
You talk about something good happening to a guy who flew under the radar - well, it happened yesterday. Longtime Orioles minor league coach Butch Davis was hired by the Minnesota Twins as their first base coach. Seeing reaction on Twitter, it is clear that Davis had a lot of fans among O's minor league staff and players. They are thrilled he is returning to the show - his eight-year major league career, which included parts of the 1988 and 1989 seasons with the Orioles, ended in 1994 - after...
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Steve Melewski

Appreciating Nelson Cruz as he heads to Seattle (Butch Davis note)

Appreciating Nelson Cruz as he heads to Seattle (Butch Davis note)
One and done. That is it for Nelson Cruz and the Orioles. Cruz repeatedly said he was very interested in re-signing and the team showed interest in retaining him. But in the end, the Orioles were apparently unwilling to offer the 34-year-old Cruz a fourth year and he agreed today to a new deal with Seattle. Cruz had a heckuva one season as an Oriole. He led the majors with 40 homers, posted his highest OPS (.859) since 2010 and could not have handled himself much better on and off the...
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Steve Melewski

One week to the Winter Meetings, the rumor mill is heating up

One week to the Winter Meetings, the rumor mill is heating up
Here is a good question: What is taking the Orioles so long to re-sign Nick Markakis? And is there truly a chance now that they may not re-sign him? Is the holdup on the O's or Markakis' side right now? Fans are getting restless on this one. With neither side commenting on it, we are left to mostly guess and speculate here, but it sure seemed like this would be done by now. You don't hear many rumors connecting Markakis to other teams, but he hasn't gotten a new deal with the Orioles. It's...
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Steve Melewski

Talking velocity with Mike Wright and a quick take on the Josh Donaldson deal

Talking velocity with Mike Wright and a quick take on the Josh Donaldson deal
When the Orioles drafted right-handed pitcher Mike Wright in the third round out of East Carolina in 2011, they envisioned a big strong innings eater that has good velocity. He is 6-foot-6 and throws a fastball that can touch the mid 90s, sometimes more. You can't just teach that, and his size and velocity doesn't grow on trees. A recent addition to the Orioles' 40-man roster, Wright pitches with a wide range of velocity with his fastball, one that he said can vary about eight miles per hour...
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Steve Melewski

After his 2014 struggles, can Ubaldo Jimenez turn it around next season?

After his 2014 struggles, can Ubaldo Jimenez turn it around next season?
When the Orioles signed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to a four-year deal worth $50 million in February, the fan response was overwhelmingly positive. Now, less than a year later, most fans are down on the 30-year-old right-hander who went 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 25 games. Jimenez had a few good moments as an Oriole, but not enough to keep him from losing his rotation spot late in the year or fans from losing confidence in him. He was signed coming off an excellent 2013 with Cleveland, where he went...
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Steve Melewski

Is Kyle Seager's new contract a glimpse at a possible future deal for Manny Machado?

Is Kyle Seager's new contract a glimpse at a possible future deal for Manny Machado?
The news came out this week, but didn't get the same publicity and coverage as the Red Sox's signings of free agents Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. The Seattle Mariners agreed to a long-term deal with young third baseman Kyle Seager, a deal that could potentially provide a framework for a future contract for Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. Seager, who turned 27 on Nov. 3, agreed to a seven-year deal worth $100 million with an eighth-year option at $20 million. The Mariners bought out...
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Steve Melewski

Turkey Day wishes and a few notes

Turkey Day wishes and a few notes
Happy Thanksgiving to all the loyal readers here today and to everyone throughout Birdland! I am thankful for so many things, including a great family, wonderful friends and getting to cover and write about my hometown team. But also that so many come here every day to read what I have to say, take the time to leave comments and engage in daily baseball conversations. This is a great community of Orioles fans and I'm appreciative that you are here today and every day. Here a few quick notes...
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Steve Melewski

For Tyler Wilson, a memorable few weeks ends with his addition to 40-man roster

For Tyler Wilson, a memorable few weeks ends with his addition to 40-man roster
This has been a November to remember for Orioles pitching prospect Tyler Wilson. The right-hander turned 25 in September and got married on Nov. 15. Two days later, he and his wife Chelsea left for their honeymoon in Jamaica and three days later, he got an important phone call. It was the one where he found out he was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. "Yeah, it was a big week and it was my wife's birthday that Tuesday. A lot going on that week," Wilson said. Big week indeed, and now...
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Steve Melewski

Will new hitting coach lead to any changes in O's approach on offense?

Will new hitting coach lead to any changes in O's approach on offense?
So the Orioles will have a new hitting coach for the 2015 season with the news yesterday that Jim Presley is being reassigned. While this comes at Presley's request, I can see some fans jumping to the conclusion that manager Buck Showalter wants a new hitting coach. That does not appear to be the case, and several times late during the 2014 season, Showalter remarked that he was excited that his entire coaching staff would return for the coming year. Here is a look at Presley's four seasons...
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Steve Melewski

The AL East: Never a shortage of money or moves

The AL East: Never a shortage of money or moves
Heading into the 2013 season, the Toronto Blue Jays were a trendy pick to win the American League East. They made some bold moves and spent some money the previous winter. They acquired players like R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Melky Cabrera and Jose Reyes. But it didn't work out and Toronto finished in last place at 77-84. It got a little better last season, when the Blue Jays finished 83-79, and they've been spending again this winter, already signing catcher Russell Martin to a...
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Steve Melewski

Prospect Profile: Brian Gonzalez had strong debut season in O's system

Prospect Profile: Brian Gonzalez had strong debut season in O's system
When the Orioles finally made a draft pick last June, they selected a high school player with their top pick for the fifth time in six years. But unlike in some recent years, they didn't have one of the top picks in the draft. In fact, this time the Orioles' first selection came on Day Two and in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft. With the 90th overall selection, the Orioles tabbed left-handed pitcher Brian Gonzalez from Archbishop McCarthy High School in Florida. Gonzalez...
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Steve Melewski

Second offseason edition: 10 questions for O's fans

Second offseason edition: 10 questions for O's fans
This is like a game show, just without any prizes, pretty models or a TV network. It is the latest edition of 10 question for O's fans, and it comes exactly one month after the first one. It is again time to survey Birdland. Answer one question, two, three or all 10. Provide a one or two-word answer or one that is longer. It is completely your choice. Please put the question number before your answer as it is easier to keep it all straight that way. No need to repeat the question in your...
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Steve Melewski

One step closer to the bigs: Mike Wright gets added to the O's 40-man roster

One step closer to the bigs: Mike Wright gets added to the O's 40-man roster
Mike Wright's chances to help the Orioles in 2015 increased yesterday as the 24-year-old right-hander was added to the 40-man roster. Wright joined right-hander Tyler Wilson as 40-man additions Thursday and now neither pitcher can be taken by another team in the Rule 5 draft in December. "It is really awesome that the Orioles like me enough to protect me and I get to go to big league camp again," Wright said. "It makes me a lot more confident that the Orioles added me to the roster. It's...
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Steve Melewski

A look at the O's strong braintrust, plus Adam Jones finds a pie he actually wants to eat

A look at the O's strong braintrust, plus Adam Jones finds a pie he actually wants to eat
The Orioles are the only team in baseball that can claim this distinction: The current executive and manager of the year reside in Baltimore. Dan will do it. In Buck we trust. What Buck Showalter started when he changed the culture with the Orioles franchise, Dan Duquette enhanced it and took a step further as he picked up the ball left behind by Andy MacPhail. Those three men changed a few things around here. Once the doormat of the division and a franchise that endured 14 straight losing...
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Steve Melewski

Comparing Miller and Robertson, and passing along props to Oliver Drake

Comparing Miller and Robertson, and passing along props to Oliver Drake
During the 2014 season, Andrew Miller pitched better than David Robertson. Miller has the stats to prove it. He had a better ERA, more strikeouts per nine innings, fewer walks per nine innings, a better WHIP and beat Robertson in other statistical categories as well. So will Robertson get a better contract via free agency than Miller? Should he? Ken Rosenthal discussed that question on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" morning show Tuesday. "The answer might not be as obvious as you would think,"...
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Steve Melewski

A look at the Rule 5 draft and which players O's might add to 40-man roster

A look at the Rule 5 draft and which players O's might add to 40-man roster
The Rule 5 draft is the last event of the Winter Meetings and will take place on Dec. 11. Any player selected in this draft must remain on the selecting team's 25-man roster for the entire 2015 season or be offered back to his original club. This is the draft where the Orioles got Ryan Flaherty three years ago and pitcher T.J. McFarland two years ago. The Orioles selected Michael Almanzar from Boston last year, sent him back and reacquired him, but he is now a minor league free agent. Players...
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Steve Melewski

Is a dominant bullpen back end essential or the new "flavor of the month"?

Is a dominant bullpen back end essential or the new "flavor of the month"?
In sports, we see copycats all the time. A strategy that leads one team to a big season or championship is then copied by others in an attempt to repeat the success. The Kansas City Royals are a team that others may look to copy in 2015. If a team can build a bullpen as good, they can shorten the game to six innings. The trick is adding three relievers as good as Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland to pitch innings seven through nine. The Orioles have a good back end of the bullpen,...
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Steve Melewski

Mike Griffin on Mychal Givens and Parker Bridwell, plus final AFL stats

Mike Griffin on Mychal Givens and Parker Bridwell, plus final AFL stats
Last year, eight players from the Orioles organization played for the Surprise Saguaros, who won the Arizona Fall League championship. Pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez, Tim Berry, Branden Kline and Jason Gurka, and position players Henry Urrutia, Dariel Alvarez, Jonathan Schoop and Michael Ohlman were on that team. Today, Peoria plays Salt River for the AFL championship, but the season is over for the seven O's that played on the Glendale Desert Dogs, who finished 14-15-2. Right-hander Zach...
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Steve Melewski

A look at the price of pitching

A look at the price of pitching
The price of pitching in Major League Baseball is high. Three pitchers in the current free agent class could head into next season with new contracts of at least $100 million. Former big league general manager Jim Bowden published his projections on ESPN.com for some free agent deals this winter. He projected that Max Scherzer could get a seven-year deal worth $189 million, Jon Lester a six-year deal worth $138 million and James Shields a five-year deal worth $100 million. Those are big...
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