In short, O’s star finally home
Machado elated over move from 3rd base to beloved position
The Astros’ J.D. Davis hit a hard chopping grounder toward the left of second base on Monday. He launched the ball at 99 mph, and up the middle enough for it to reach the outfield grass. The problem for Davis was the Baltimore Orioles’ superstar shortstop, Manny Machado.
After playing third base for six seasons, Machado, a three-time American League All-Star, moved to field his natural position this year. He and the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado most reliably had filled highlight reels from the hot corner for years.
On balls hit up the line that he had to field in foul territory, Machado routinely overcame his momentum to unleash long-distance throws that resembled a tightrope between skyscrapers and zipped to first in time for unquestioned putouts.
“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said. “He was great at third, he’s going to be fine at short, too. He has God-given talent. It doesn’t matter where you put him.”
It was Davis’ 28th game in the majors, but he understood the threat Machado poses.
“I was busting my (butt) down the line,” said Davis, who also plays third on occasion. “Anything is possible for him to get to.”
Arm on a different level
Machado raced to his left, reached down and rifled a spinning throw off-balance to complete the inevitable. The out ended the sixth inning and stranded two runners.
“I've always played with guys that have good arms, but his is on another level because of the accuracy that he has,” said Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. “Some of the plays that he would make, I'm like, ‘How does he throw the ball that far without looking, offbalance, and throw it that accurately?’ As a first baseman, you love those guys.”
Machado began his baseball life at shortstop. He played there from tee-ball through all but two games in the minors. The Orioles called him up in 2012 and moved him to third because veteran J.J. Hardy, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, started at shortstop.
“The interesting thing is me playing the position that I’ve always loved, that I should’ve been playing from the get-go,” Machado said. “Take whatever opportunity you get to get to the big leagues, but when you’re heart’s in one spot, it’ll always be there. This organization thought it was best. I get an opportunity to go back. Now, it’s a matter of going out there and producing, and just enjoying myself like I always have.”
Starting before his call-up in 2016, Alex Bregman comfortably transitioned from shortstop to third for the Astros. He went through the same reshuffling as Machado because of Correa.
Correa has admired Machado, who now augments a class of young, all-around-elite American League shortstops comprising Correa, Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, Texas’ Elvis Andrus and Didi Gregorious of the New York Yankees. This season, a healthy Xander Bogaerts is re-emerging with the Boston Red Sox.
“That’s what we want,” Correa said. We want to have a friendly competition.
“When you saw him at third base and all the highlight reels he has, and he’s got 30-plus homers almost every year, it’s impressive. I'm a big fan of him.”
Quick twitch serves him well
It is typical for aging shortstops to switch to third. Rising prospects do not traditionally become the best fielders at a secondary position. Machado, second baseman Javier Baez and left fielder Alex Gordon have been exceptions.
Machado’s defensive ratings, according to Fangraphs, ranked in the top-six among third basemen each season since 2015.
He appears to have moved back to short as effortlessly as expected. He shrugged at the task of mastering the new age of fielding shifts.
“It’s the same game: Gotta catch the ball,” Machado said, with a grin. “You can’t make it complicated.”
Chris Davis played third base for the Orioles in parts of four seasons, but is glad to be at first. He respects the challenges on the left side of the infield.
“To me, it’s two completely different angles when you talk about third and shortstop,” he said. “Third base is almost purely reaction, which is amazing when you consider everything (Machado) has accomplished over there.”
J.D. Davis, one of the best athletes on the Astros’ roster, has played infield and outfield. He suggested the extra time on balls hit toward short will make fielding easier for Machado.
“He had that quick twitch at third, so it’s maybe a little slower for him at short,” Davis said.
Davis and the rest of baseball are seeing the results already.