Steve Melewski
Steve Melewski

Did his late-season struggles sour fans on Pedro Strop?

Did his late-season struggles sour fans on Pedro Strop?
One of the most surprising performances of the Orioles' postseason run may have come in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. Needing a win to force a Game 5 with the Yankees, the Orioles got it, and their victory in 13 innings included two shutout innings from reliever Pedro Strop. Many fans had to be nervous when Strop took the mound in the last of the 11th with the season riding on the outcome. Strop struggled badly late in the year but, on that night, when nothing less than...
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Steve Melewski

Dan Duquette: With year one in the books, what will the future hold?

Dan Duquette: With year one in the books, what will the future hold?
The press conference to introduce Dan Duquette as the Orioles' new executive vice president was held last Nov. 8. As the one-year anniversary of that date approaches, Duquette likely has much more support among O's fans now than he had then. There were some reasons to be skeptical last November, chief among them his time away from the game at the highest level. Others felt that the Orioles settled for a man that was not their first choice. Now, almost 12 months later, I'm sure most...
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Steve Melewski

Monday morning musings

Monday morning musings
Here are some thoughts to get this Monday morning started. Feel free to leave your own comments on one or all three of the topics. Is now the time to sign Matt Wieters to a long-term deal?: I don't think it is. Matt Wieters ended the 2012 season with 3.129 years of service time and can't be a free agent until after the 2015 season. He is just now arbitration eligible for the first time. When the Orioles signed Adam Jones to a six-year deal in late May, at that point he had less than two...
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Steve Melewski

What was your favorite memory of the 2012 season?

What was your favorite memory of the 2012 season?
Does it feel to you like the Orioles haven't played in a month? Yet it was only a week ago last night that the Orioles were playing Game 5 against the Yankees. Since the 2012 season is still so fresh in our minds, I'll pose a question today that is an obvious one to ask. As Buck Showalter would say, I'll be Captain Obvious here. What was your favorite memory or game from this Orioles' season? Just off the top of my head, a few come to mind. The Orioles; 9-6 win in 17 innings on May 6 at...
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Steve Melewski

Will Rick Peterson return to the Orioles in 2013?

Will Rick Peterson return to the Orioles in 2013?
After a successful first season as the Orioles director of pitching development, will there be a second for Rick Peterson? After spending just about every season since 1998 as a major league pitching coach for the Oakland A's, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers, Peterson was in a different role this season after being hired in January by the Orioles. It sure seemed like his first season produced solid results as he oversaw the development of top prospect Dylan Bundy. Several pitchers came...
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Steve Melewski

The great transformation: the Orioles' starting rotation

The great transformation: the Orioles' starting rotation
No doubt a real key to the Orioles playing excellent baseball after the All-Star break and particularly down the stretch was the very solid starting pitching we saw, pitching that got better deeper into the season. The Orioles' starting pitchers posted an ERA of 4.42 for the entire season to rank ninth in the American League. But that works out to an ERA of 4.77 in the first half, when the O's went 45-40, and a starters' ERA of 4.01 after the All-Star break, when the Orioles went...
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Steve Melewski

A look at the leadoff position in Orioles' batting order

A look at the leadoff position in Orioles' batting order
In case you don't remember, the Orioles used eight players to bat in the leadoff spot this year. They had varying degrees of success in the role and Nick Markakis and Nate McLouth were the only two players to start more than 20 games in that spot in the order. A lot of you would probably get this question wrong. Among players with more than three starts batting leadoff, which player produced the best winning percentage in his starts there? If you guessed Endy Chavez, you get a gold star,...
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Steve Melewski

It's time for MLB umpires to get more calls right, even if they need help

It's time for MLB umpires to get more calls right, even if they need help
You may have heard the joke going around baseball. Now that some postseason calls have gone against the Yankees, Major League Baseball will finally get around to expanding its replay system. Some joked it could be changed before the end of the current American League Championship Series. Can't have the Bronx Bombers getting hosed. After Sunday night's game, umpire Jeff Nelson admitted he incorrectly called Detroit's Omar Infante safe on a tag play at second base where the replays clearly...
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Steve Melewski

Some stats that will be hard to duplicate for the 2013 Birds (updated)

Some stats that will be hard to duplicate for the 2013 Birds (updated)
Get ready for this because it is surely coming. A theme for columns and stories about the 2013 Orioles is going to be how they can't possibly duplicate the 2012 squad in wins in close games. So how will the 2013 Birds overcome that? The Orioles went 29-9 in one-run games in the regular season. Their .763 win percentage is the highest in major league history. In the AL this year, Cleveland was second at .667 (24-12). Every other AL East team played under .500 ball in one-run games: .468 -...
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Steve Melewski

What will left field look like for the 2013 Orioles?

What will left field look like for the 2013 Orioles?
Nolan Reimold began the 2012 season as the Orioles' left fielder and had a big month of April. Nate McLouth ended the 2012 season as the Orioles' left fielder and had a big month of September - and then went 7-for-22 in the American League Division Series. He had five RBIs in six postseason games. Reimold seemed to carry the Orioles at times early in the season. He played in just 16 games batting .313 with five homers, 10 RBIs and with an OPS of .960. It looked like he might be on his way to...
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Steve Melewski

Saying goodbye to the 2012 season

Saying goodbye to the 2012 season
In the end, even very late in a series where the Orioles hit so little, they still had a chance. In that eighth inning, with the season hanging in the balance and the outlook not looking so good, they were still just one hit away. So close. Still, losing yesterday - even to the Yankees - beats what the past 14 Octobers felt like. The Orioles took us on an amazing ride this season and provided memories to last a lifetime. I loved this quote from this column by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. "I...
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Steve Melewski

The 2012 season ends as Orioles come up short in Game 5

The 2012 season ends as Orioles come up short in Game 5
A special season, one that featured a 24-win improvement and a move from worst to almost first along with a return to the playoffs, came to an end tonight in New York. CC Sabathia pitched a complete-game, four-hitter with nine strikeouts as the Yankees beat the Orioles 3-1 in the decisive fifth game of the American League Division Series. This season of Orioles Magic is finally over after a lot of wins and thrills and a return to winning baseball in Baltimore. In the end, the Orioles just...
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Steve Melewski

Game 5 live blog: One game to decide who goes to the ALCS

Game 5 live blog: One game to decide who goes to the ALCS
Tonight's live blog: Welcome to the final live blog of this series. Yes, it's Game 5 and the winner will go to the American League Championship Series. The Orioles have been there nine times, but not since 1997. As always, check back here throughout the game for the latest news, notes and reader comments. Keep them coming all game long. It's Hammel against CC: Jason Hammel is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA in four starts this year against New York. But his ERA was 4.91 the first two times he faced...
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Steve Melewski

A look at run differentials and pitching stats in this series

A look at run differentials and pitching stats in this series
Wouldn't it be fitting that during a season where the Orioles were scrutinized (some would say overly so) for their run differential, that they win this series with fewer runs scored than the Yankees. That is quite possible as the series score right now is New York 13, Baltimore 9. Yes, the O's are in the negative again. Ask them if they care. Here is the stat that some don't know or care to look at. The Orioles played their best baseball late in the year. They went 38-20 from Aug. 1 to...
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Steve Melewski

Super pitching and even temperament carry Orioles to within a game of ALCS

Super pitching and even temperament carry Orioles to within a game of ALCS
It has been interesting to see the national media somewhat surprised at how low-key the Orioles are. They are getting a lot of questions about being subdued as a team and not getting too high or too low. They simply have been that way all year. If fans could have joined Baltimore reporters in that clubhouse after games at times this year, you truly wouldn't know whether they'd won or lost. I think it has become a team trait and a team strength. It helps them shake off tough losses like the...
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Orioles go 13 innings to beat Yankees, force a Game 5

Orioles go 13 innings to beat Yankees, force a Game 5
Needing a win to keep their season going and a run to end several games of offensive frustration, the Orioles got both tonight. J.J. Hardy's RBI double in the top of the 13th inning lifted the Orioles to a 2-1 win over the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. The series is now tied 2-2 and the teams play the decisive Game 5 on Friday at 5:07 p.m. with the winner advancing to the American League Championship Series. As they came to bat in the 13th, the Orioles hadn't...
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Steve Melewski

Game 4 live blog: Will pitching continue to dominate in series?

Game 4 live blog: Will pitching continue to dominate in series?
Tonight's live blog: We're under way as we close in on the first pitch of Game 4. Check in here often when you can and please leave a comment and/or question. I'll add some content throughout the night and respond to your questions. Where's the offense?: It seems there is a school of thought going around that one, or more likely, both teams may break out on offense tonight and that Game 4 of the American League Division Series could be high scoring. In the series so far, the Yankees have...
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Steve Melewski

Joe Saunders gets the call for the Orioles in a must-win situation

Joe Saunders gets the call for the Orioles in a must-win situation
It was an interesting decision that Buck Showalter made to start Joe Saunders over Chris Tillman tonight in Game 4 at New York. I will guess that the combination of Saunders pitching so well down the stretch, his strong outing on Friday at Texas and the Yankees' performance this year vs. left-handed pitching all factored into the decision. Tillman, you have to figure, will be ready to come into the game on short notice in this must-win situation for the Orioles. This year, the Yankees...
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Can the Orioles bounce back one more time and save their season?

Can the Orioles bounce back one more time and save their season?
For the second time in seven days, the Orioles will play a postseason game where their season will end with a loss. They won the first time Friday in Texas and must win tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five American League Division Series. The team has been resilient and showed an amazing ability to bounce back all year and tonight is likely the toughest test of all. They have to beat the Yankees in Yankee Stadium to force a Game 5. The Yankees are not eliminated with a loss. Joe Saunders was...
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Steve Melewski

Ibanez homers in the ninth and 12th to stun the O's in Game 3

Ibanez homers in the ninth and 12th to stun the O's in Game 3
That was a stunning, stunning loss for the Orioles. Miguel Gonzalez pitched his heart out. Two rookies homered. They were two outs away from a win and they lost 3-2 in 12 innings as the Yankees take a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series. The Yankees pinch-hit Raul Ibanez for Alex Rodriguez, a $29 million dollar player this year, and Ibanez homered in the ninth to tie the game and in the 12th to win it. Two swings, two homers, one devastating loss for Baltimore. Ibanez stepped in...
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