@jonmorosi

Manny Machado expected to start at third base for the #Orioles on Thursday. @MLBONFOX

Machado joining the Orioles

Baltimore’s Manny era has begun.

The Orioles announced plans Wednesday night to select the contract of top position prospect Manny Machado from Double-A Bowie prior to Thursday’s game, a move that bolsters Baltimore’s infield and supports the organization’s stance that it is committed to winning in 2012.

“The guy’s got a lot of talent and we feel like he can help,” executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said of Machado, a top young shortstop considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball, period.

“Manny should be a plus-defender, wherever we play him. He’s a five-tool player and he can help our team. I think he improves our team and it’s important here [for this club] to be strong.”

Machado has played mostly shortstop at the Double-A level but is expected to be used at third base with the O’s given shortstop J.J. Hardy’s stellar play. The 20-year-old has played two career games at third base, but the Orioles’ brass feel he’s capable of handling another position and helping a Baltimore club –which enters Thursday in a three-way tie for the American League Wild Card – make a playoff push.

“When you have the player with this kind of talent, he’s a natural,” Duquette said of Machado, who was named the Eastern League Player of the Week going 10-for-21, including hitting for the cycle on Saturday. “The guys’ got a lot of talent and we feel like he can help.”

A smooth defender, Machado has drawn comparisons to Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez –who he works out with in the offseason — and has hit .266/.343.428 in three Minor League seasons. Machado, the third overall pick in the 2010 Draft, has played 203 games at shortstop, three at designated hitter and two at third base, posting a career .955 fielding percentage over that span.

Following the Orioles’ 9-2 win Wednesday night, Orioles manager Buck Showalter made it clear the club will do whatever possible to stay in the postseason race, a sentiment confirmed shortly after with news of Machado’s pending arrival.

“If we can do something that makes us two inches better to have a chance to win the last 49 games, we’re going to do it,” Showalter said.

What a ****ing brilliant idea. Solve the 3rd base problem both offensively and defensively (as I've had enough of Betemit over there).

I have tickets tonight and was really excited to get the Chen shirt, and now I am even more excited about Manny! This could be a game changer!!!

Oh, and if anyone plans to catch any of the game, I'll be the nut dressed in orange behind home plate with the giant "Who Knew" sign.

Only thing that could top this news is if on Saturday they tell us they are bringing Bundy up for his next start. Hell Bundy's next scheduled start in AA is Tuesday and I'll be at the O's/Red SUX game that night,.....**** it, promote him to the majors and let him pitch against the SUX!

Updated Aug 9, 2012 2:13 AM ET



Are the Baltimore Orioles rushing Manny Machado?

MLB STANDINGS
How is your team doing? Check the status of every division.

Sure they are. But I like the move, for a team that still — yes, still — is involved in the American League East and wild-card races.

If the Orioles were going to promote their top position player prospect at some point this season, they chose the perfect moment: Machado is expected to debut at third base Thursday night, at home, against the last-place Kansas City Royals.

Above all, the circumstances are ideal because of how the Orioles have played lately: They just swept the Seattle Mariners and have won five straight overall. Machado, who turned 20 last month, isn’t expected to arrive at Camden Yards and save the season. He’s supposed to play a decent third base, hit low in the order, and bring energy during the August dog days.

He can do that much. So, this could work for the Orioles as long as they keep the expectations right there.

THIRD CLASS
These agile stars were sizzling while manning the Hot Corner. Who are the all-time best third basemen?

Defense might be the biggest near-term concern. Machado, selected just two spots behind Bryce Harper in the 2010 draft, has spent virtually his entire pro career at shortstop. Over 109 games at Class AA Bowie this year, Machado has played third base only twice.

Despite Machado’s considerable athleticism and aptitude, he’s about to learn that the major-league game is much faster than anything he saw in the Eastern League. And it’s especially quick at third base, a reflex position that can take years to master.

That said, it’s not as if Machado is succeeding Brooks Robinson. Wilson Betemit and Robert Andino have played the position recently, and neither has done so with distinction. Machado, meanwhile, had been hitting .462 in the minors this month.

Yes, that is a small sample size — two levels below the AL East. But this is a small-sample-size time of year. If Machado was going to be a September call-up, anyway, then why not let him debut when his confidence is at a high point?

PURPLE HAZE
MLB veterans come up with humiliating stunts to initiate rookies.

Besides, let’s not lose sight of the big picture here: The Orioles are second in the AL East, 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees. They are in a three-way tie for the AL wild card. No one expected them to be this good — certainly not their fans, who are (maybe) starting to think about postseason baseball for the first time since 1997.

To many of them, Machado’s debut will be further evidence that the Orioles have built a team worth watching. And when Orioles fans decide to follow their new favorite player on Twitter (@MannyMachado3), they will notice that Machado’s avatar shows him sitting beside a onetime Orioles shortstop prospect who also debuted at age 20 and played some third base early in his career.

Cal Ripken Jr.

Pretty smart to bring him up against Royals pitching, honestly.

I have heard speculation on platooning Betemit and Reynolds at 1st with Machado taking the starts at 3rd to keep Betemit's bat in lineup against righties. Wouldn't bother me.

I'd be slightly annoyed if they took Reynolds bat out of the lineup. At least he knows how to take a walk, and as of late, his bat has been heating up. Last night's HR, was the first ball i've seen in a LONG time that he drove to center/right. Good sign in my opinion.

Seriously every time I see you post I yell "Yay Mike!" in my head.

is it bad that every time I post, I also yell Yay Mike!

Brittany Ghiroli ‏@Britt_Ghiroli

Machado batting 9th.

Not trolling, but he wasn't exactly tearing up AA. Can anybody comment on that? It just seems rushed from the outside looking in.

Steve Melewski ‏@masnSteve

Machado leaves Bowie with a 9-gm batting streak during which he went 16-for-33 with 3 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 3 HRs and 7 RBIs.

Okay, thanks. That's a fairly small sample size, but we'll see how that works out for them.

Bringing Machado up now caught everyone by surprise, so in that sense I guess you could say they rushed him. But this is a seriously flawed team that's unexpectedly in the hunt, so I think there's nothing to lose by doing it now. He was gonna be here in September anyway, so he's only three weeks premature.

The only risk is rushing a guy and hurting his confidence. You don't want to rush a top prospect, ruin his confidence, and hinder his development. That said, the three weeks premature point brings it into perspective a little better. That makes a little more sense.