Machado

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - To lose weight after the 2002 season, catcher Javy Lopez put himself on a strict diet. No carbs, no fat, no fun. How much smoked turkey can one man eat, anyway? But it wasn't just the calories that had turned Lopez into a shell - and a rather soft one - of the player who made two All-Star teams with the Atlanta Braves and became one of the more identifiable faces in the organization. A stressful divorce and the impact on his relationship with his two sons left him depressed and distracted.

As third baseman Manny Machado continues to hit doubles at a record pace, right fielder Nick Markakis has had one of the best views for the 20-year-old's performances: the on-deck circle. Machado has hit second in all 70 of the Orioles' games, and Markakis has been in the No. 3 spot for 51 of them. And while he was in front of Machado on Sunday, in the leadoff spot for the 17th time this year, Markakis still got to see Machado do what he does best when he pulled the ball down the left-field line for his 32nd double of the year against left-hander Jon Lester in the first inning.

Milwaukee Brewers reliever and Venezuelan murder suspect Julio Machado, may be freed from prison to play during the 1992 season, according to Venezuelan officials.A Venezuelan superior court judge Tuesday reduced the charges against Machado from intentional murder to unintentional murder, after a request by his lawyers.The reduction of charges opens the door for Machado's attorneys to request that the pitcher be given "provisional freedom." That would enable him to leave the country without bail to play for the Brewers.

The thing the Orioles have done most consistently this season, even more so than their repeated outbursts at the plate, has been playing exceptional defense, whether it has been Manny Machado scooping up slow rollers at third base, Matt Wieters throwing out runners or Adam Jones gliding to make catches in center. Through 54 games -- the first third of the season -- the Orioles have committed a league-low 19 errors and are second in baseball with a .990 fielding percentage. They are on pace to set club records in both categories . When it comes to more advanced statistics, the Orioles are fifth in the major leagues with 15 defensive runs saved and are ranked third in ultimate zone rating behind the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Needing room on their 40-man roster, the Orioles have removed backup infielders Jose Leon and Luis Lopez, and reserve catcher Robert Machado. All three players passed through waivers, refused outright assignments to Triple-A Ottawa and became free agents. Leon didn't play after Sept. 26 because of a strained left calf muscle that he's rehabbing in Puerto Rico. He batted .322 with 17 homers at Ottawa, but only .182 with two homers in 31 games with the Orioles. Lopez spent the entire season with the Orioles after beating out Clay Bellinger for the utility job in spring training.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Julio Machado will not now be allowed to leave Venezuela, as had been expected earlier this week, a Caracas judge in charge of his murder case said yesterday.Judge Raquel Rimer de Orellana said the conditional freedom the player was granted last week states that Machado should remain in the country because in the United States there is no Venezuelan justice official for Machado to periodically report to.She said the pitcher should present himself to a judge in Maracaibo, where Machado decided he would live while the conditional freedom is in force.

Paula McCreary honored as county's Employee of the Year Paula McCreary was honored as the county's top employee at a dinner ceremony Wednesday in the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville. She was named Howard County government's Employee of the Year for her work with the Intergraph Public Safety System, which includes the 911 call-taking function, computer-aided dispatch, police and fire records, jail management, Sheriff's Office system and mobile computers carried by Police and Fire Department personnel.

DETROIT -- A California federal court jury has just sent a mass message to the 67 million people in the country who use e-mail: Think before you click.If that e-mail you're about to send could be taken as a threat, you could go to jail.And that is exactly what the government hoped to accomplish by prosecuting Richard Machado for his menacing e-mail, Michael Gennaco, assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said yesterday."We thought that it was important to send out a statement to future perpetrators of crimes on the Internet that the federal government is going to take it seriously," he said.

NEW YORK -- After the Yankees turned one of the weirdest triple plays you'd ever see in the eighth inning of the Orioles' 5-2 loss Friday night, the Yankees' celebration was fitting for the act. Left-hander CC Sabathia pumped his fist in the air as he ran off the field. Third baseman Kevin Youkilis jumped into the dugout for a round of high fives. Second baseman Robinson Cano, who started and ended the play at second base, skipped off the field. By now, the Yankees know that this Orioles team is never out of a game.

Beware of AIBP. Another one airs tonight on network television, providing yet one more reason for getting cable or a satellite dish hooked up to your home.What is AIBP? Another Idiotic Beauty Pageant. In light of recent developments, we should all ask ourselves why we continue to support such nonsense.The most hilarious development -- or at least it would be, if it weren't so degrading -- is the flap over, of all things, the weight of Venezuela's Alicia Machado. Machado is the reigning Miss Universe.

TORONTO - It's become a popular question this year, whether Orioles third baseman Manny Machado belongs in the same class as the Angels' Mike Trout and the Nationals' Bryce Harper. That question was presented on MLB Network before Friday's game in Toronto, and at the time, a few Orioles players -- Machado among them -- were watching in the visiting clubhouse of the Rogers Centre. “Forget that,” reliever Tommy Hunter said jokingly as he turned to Machado. “I'm taking either one of the other two guys.” If there is a gap, Machado continues to close it -- and he's doing it with fine all-around performances on the road, the latest one coming in Friday's 10-6 win over the Blue Jays . Machado became the second player ever under the age of 21 to compile five straight road games with three or more hits and the first since 1907.

The question came at Buck Showalter a few minutes after the Orioles' shaky 8-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, when it seemed the only bright spot at Camden Yards all afternoon was the white-hot bat of Manny Machado. "Is the way Manny's hitting even starting to amaze you guys?" a reporter asked. Showalter grimaced like a man who'd just dropped a brick on his foot. Then the Orioles manager put a finger to his lips in the classic "Shush" sign and looked around the room and said: "What else?"

I'm a little afraid to toss this question around in the bar today. I'm afraid some of you may be throwing haymakers if the discussion gets heated. It could turn into a donnybrook or brouhaha if things get ugly. (Yes, I know it is a fake bar, there will be no physical altercations. But it allowed me to get the words donnybrook and brouhaha into a blog. I'm forever grateful for my imagination). Anyway, for Tuesday's paper I wrote a story about Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and his rapid ascension from prospect to one of the best young players in the big leagues.

Ever since the Orioles drafted Manny Machado with the third pick overall out of a Miami high school in 2010, there were comparisons with another former Miami phenom. Machado may never shake the Alex Rodriguez comparisons - which was the ultimate compliment a few years ago. But with Rodriguez's injury and off-field issues, no one wants to be called the next ARod anymore. Regardless, Rodriguez was an amazing player almost from the start of his big league career. And Machado has been excellent in his short time with the Orioles.

When he charges onto the infield grass, makes that barehanded pickup and throws a rocket to first, Manny Machado reminds Orioles fans of a superstar third baseman of yesteryear. When he breaks out of the batter's box on a liner into the gap and hits first base in full stride on his way to another double, Machado shows old-school hustle. And when he quietly strolls through clubhouse, proudly wearing his "Hakuna Machado" T-shirt while nodding to teammates, and, occasionally, breaking out an infectious smile, he flashes a necessary balance of confidence and respect.

Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth entered Thursday's game with 11 stolen bases, second most in the American League. McLouth credits Manny Machado's patience at the plate hitting behind him with allowing him to be aggressive on the basepaths. "Eventually, he'll probably hit farther down the lineup, but he's a really good two-hole hitter for that reason," McLouth said. "He's willing to take pitches if he sees me go. If it happens to be early in the count, he's not afraid to get behind in the count and that's definitely important.

Matt Wieters is getting the night off behind the plate. It's Teagarden Time. Endy Chavez gets a start - as does Robert Andino, who was on the bench for most of the first game as Ryan Flaherty started at second base (and homered). Here are the lineups for Game 2 of the doublehearer: Orioles: McLouth 7, Hardy 6, Jones 8, Davis DH, Reynolds 3, Machado 5, Chavez 9, Andino 4, Teagarden 2. Chen 1. Blue Jays: Lawrie 5, Davis 7, Encarnacion DH, Escobar 6, Gomes 3, Sierra 9, Vizquel 4, Arencibia 2, Gose 8. Romero 1.

Seeking to strengthen their bullpen, the New York Yankees held a tryout yesterday for Bill Landrum, a veteran reliever who led the Pittsburgh Pirates in saves the last three seasons but was released by Pittsburgh eight days ago.After throwing for 15 minutes for an audience that included general manager Gene Michael, manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Mark Connor, Landrum, 33, underwent a medical examination and testing of his right knee. Landrum has had surgery on both knees.The results of those tests weren't known to the Yankees last night.

Can we go a little over the top here? OK, here goes: maybe we'll remember this just-concluded 7-4 Orioles road trip to the West Coast as the time where the legend of Manny Machado really took off. Sure, he got lots of attention last season when the Orioles brought him up from the minors to  play third base and the kid immediately solidified a shaky infield defense as the O's surged to 93 wins and their first playoff appearance since the Clinton...

  Orioles manager Buck Showalter usually has an answer for most questions thrown his way, but he didn't have a quick response for one interesting inquiry this weekend in Anaheim. Before Saturday's game, Showalter was asked why he believed Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, the team's phenom 20-year-old third baseman, isn't mentioned in the same breath as fellow young phenoms like the Angels' Mike Trout and the Nationals' Bryce Harper. Showalter was stumped. He said he'd really have to think about it. The easy answer is that Machado didn't arrive in the big leagues until last August, and by that time, Trout and Harper had already established themselves as fixtures on contending teams.