Third Baseman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Orioles third baseman Manny Machado suffered from a bout of meningitis this offseason, but the organization's top young position player has recovered and is expected to be ready for spring training. Machado was hospitalized for a day and a half about a month ago, but he has since recovered. He resumed full workouts two weeks ago, and the Orioles consider the illness a non-issue. Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters about Machado's illness Tuesday afternoon during his media session at the winter meetings.

Typical Brooks. Everybody who was anybody in Orioles history showed up to honor him when the Orioles unveiled his statue on the center field plaza Saturday at Camden Yards, and all he wanted to do was thank everybody else and turn his ceremony into a celebration of this year's amazing, surprising, contending team. “How 'bout them O's?" he said, to a huge ovation from the thousands of fans who crowded around the plaza and lined every terrace and exposed walkway with a view of the last bronze in the Legends Celebration Series.

The Orioles first tested Manny Machado back in spring training, when they brought the then 19-year-old to big league camp to play in several Grapefruit League games. The 2010 No. 3 overall pick dressed in the auxiliary clubhouse away from the major league camp invitees. He wore a jersey with the No. 85 on it that, initially, didn't have his last name on the back. It was then the Orioles wanted to begin gauging whether Machado could help the big league team in 2012. Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't so much as paying attention to the stats Machado put up, but the intangibles.

Torsten Boss can get used to these wooden bats. In just his second game after leaving college, the Aberdeen IronBirds' third baseman slugged two home runs to lead the Orioles' short-season Single-A affiliate to a 8-3 victory over Hudson Valley on Tuesday night. It was a somewhat unusual display of power for Boss, the Orioles eighth-round pick in this month's amateur draft. Boss has the ability to go deep but never exceeded the seven-homer mark in three seasons at Michigan State.

The Orioles just finished their tough nine-game homestand by going 4-5. There were some obvious cracks that formed this past week-plus. The starters put up a 6.75 ERA before Wei-Yin Chen twirled an impressive two-run, seven-inning performance against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. The Orioles' defense has been shoddy - the most errors committed in the AL. And injuries are mounting. Left fielders Nolan Reimold and Endy Chavez are on the disabled list. So is third baseman Mark Reynolds and reliever Matt Lindstrom.

Brooks Robinson   owned third base. Still does. At his sendoff in 1977 - a "Thanks, Brooks" Day at a packed Memorial Stadium - Robinson's successor, Doug DeCinces, removed third base from its moorings and presented it to the Orioles  veteran. "This is always yours," DeCinces said. Baltimore agreed. In 23 years on that spot, fans said, how many runs had Robinson's glovework saved? How many rallies had he killed with his backhand stabs, airborne stops and off-balance pegs to first base?

The Orioles continue to make roster moves at a dizzying pace, the latest occurring Saturday afternoon when third baseman Mark Reynolds was placed on the disabled list with a strained oblique. To replace Reynolds on the 25-man roster, the Orioles purchased the contract of veteran infielder-outfielder Bill Hall and immediately inserted him into left field and in the seventh spot of the starting lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hall, who was signed last month after failing to make the New York Yankees out of spring training, was not on the 40-man roster, so the Orioles had to make a corresponding move.

Mark Reynolds is making his first start at first base this season this afternoon, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the move is simply another measure in taking advantage of the team's positional flexibility. Reynolds, who has made three errors in 10 games at third base this season after making 26 errors there in 114 games last season, met with Showalter two weeks ago and told him he'd be willing to play anywhere in order to help the team. Since then, Reynolds has had some days off and has DH'ed to help him get out of an 0-for-17 slump.

In the offseason, Orioles manager Buck Showalter had already anointed Mark Reynolds the team's starting third baseman heading into the season. Despite Reynolds' 26 errors in 114 games at third last year, Showalter lauded his dedication to becoming a better third baseman in 2012. But after making two errors in five games there to start the season, Reynolds was the designated hitter for Friday's series opener in Toronto - Wilson Betemit started at third - and Showalter said Reynolds will begin taking ground balls at first base.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter touched on a number of subjects during his sit-down with the national media on Monday, including the status of second baseman Brian Roberts and the likely composition of the infield next season. Showalter said the reports he is getting in his periodic conversations with Roberts are encouraging, but he can't predict whether his veteran second baseman will be ready to play full-time next spring. “We don't have any reason to think one way or the other," Showalter said.