On the tv contained in the Orioles’ clubhouse earlier than Monday’s sport at Petco Park, a gaggle of MLB Network broadcasters mentioned whether or not one of the best staff within the American League ought to name up one of the best prospect in baseball, questioning what 19-year-old Jackson Holliday may convey to Baltimore’s lineup. The phase got here earlier than the Orioles confronted a participant who they promoted in that aggressive style greater than 11 years in the past.
Manny Machado has grown loads, as a participant and an individual, since he was a 20-year-old becoming a member of Baltimore straight from Double-A for its 2012 playoff push. He’s now in his fifth season with the San Diego Padres, with many extra to come back after he signed an 11-year, $350 million extension this spring. But his time with them to this point nonetheless leaves him practically a full season’s value of video games in need of the whole he performed with the Orioles after his August 2012 call-up.
His tenure in Baltimore ended simply shy of six years later, when the Orioles began their rebuild by buying and selling Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers amid their dreadful 2018 season, the primary of 4 straight campaigns wherein they completed with one among baseball’s 5 worst data. But 5 years later, they’re the leaders within the AL East, and Machado’s Padres are one among baseball’s largest underperformers.
But he’s happy to see that Baltimore’s course of has paid off, saying that this 12 months’s staff reminds him of the group he was part of that received extra video games than any AL membership from 2012 to 2016, a stretch that options the Orioles’ solely three playoff berths prior to now 25 years.
“It takes me back to when I played there, winning baseball, and obviously, they brought back that culture,” Machado stated Monday. “It’s been an enormous sports activities metropolis for a very long time, so to see them go and clear home and rebuild that in a brief time frame to be the place they’re at at present, it’s fairly spectacular.
“It’s happened fast. I’ve never seen a team rebuild that quickly. … This year, they’ve shown that they could take the East. It’s impressive to see that, in such a short period of time, what they’re doing over there.”
Machado, who turned 31 final month, was a pending free agent when the Orioles dealt him to Los Angeles for 5 prospects, solely one among whom continues to be within the group. Right-hander Dean Kremer is scheduled to begin Wednesday’s collection finale, which may current his first matchup with Machado.
But this week doesn’t signify Machado’s first reunion together with his former staff, with the Orioles internet hosting and visiting the Padres in 2019, Machado’s first season in San Diego after signing there following a run to the World Series with the Dodgers. His objective stays to make it again and win it, however this season, the Orioles are positioned to take action than the Padres, who entered the collection 56-62 and 5 1/2 video games again of a playoff spot. After ending within the prime three of National League Most Valuable Player voting two of the previous three years, Machado is having a comparatively down season however nonetheless thought-about an above-average performer with a .256 common, .778 OPS and 21 dwelling runs by way of Sunday.
There are few members of this Orioles roster who performed alongside Machado in Baltimore. Outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander started their careers with as Machado’s teammates. They at the moment are each a part of a longtime core representing one of many three key parts of the Orioles’ clubhouse: those that weathered the rebuilding years after the Machado commerce, the younger expertise acquired throughout them and the veterans introduced in to enrich these teams.
It’s one other means this staff reminds Machado of these he performed on. He recalled Monday a play he made at third base throughout that 2012 call-up towards the Tampa Bay Rays, charging a gradual curler and faking a throw to first earlier than throwing to 3rd to catch the lead runner going too far across the bag, crediting not solely his “natural ability,” but additionally shortstop JJ Hardy.
“Not many shortstops back up the third baseman, or they’re a little bit late, but he was one guy that was always there no matter what,” Machado stated. “That’s what made me start thinking later that year, like, hey, it’s all about the little details that matter. I learned a lot from that.”
He’s carried these classes to San Diego, now in an identical place as a veteran infielder on a staff with playoff aspirations. He’s grateful he collected them in Baltimore.
“At the end of the day, you never forget where you come from,” Machado stated. “I grew up in Miami, and Baltimore gave me an opportunity to live my dream, and now, I’m here, living in one of the best cities in the world, playing in a great organization, trying to compete for a World Series. It’s crazy how baseball turns out, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com