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Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Columns:  So near and yet so far: Camden Yards warehouse an inviting target, just not within striking distance The Sun 7/11  Orioles' doubles for Frederick in his first rehab outing The Sun 7/10  Schoop at ASG: Tonight at 7:30 ET on FOX MLB.com 7/11  set up nicely for Orioles MASNsports.com 7/11  Quick update on Chris Davis MASNsports.com 7/10  moved up to -A and didn’t miss a beat MASNsports.com 7/11  Jonathan Schoop has his bobblehead in Miami and it’s adorable CSN Mid-Atlantic 7/10  Orioles' First-Half Recap: Five Things That Went Wrong PressBoxOnline.com 7/10  The six biggest storylines of the Orioles’ first half — and what happens with each one now BaltimoreBaseball.com 7/11  O What A Star BaseballEBM.com 7/11  's Drive, Miami's '305 Boys' Turned Hungry Child into $400M Man Bleacher Report 7/10

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-camden-yards-warehouse-0711- story.html

So near and yet so far: Camden Yards warehouse an inviting target, just not within striking distance

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Sun July 11, 2017

Of all the unique nuances that still make Oriole Park at Camden Yards the standard-bearer of the retro ballparks that followed, it is the old B&O railroad warehouse beyond the right-field wall that is the most iconic feature of Baltimore’s crown jewel.

To any left-handed hitter, whether it’s an Orioles player or an opponent, the eight-story brick structure that spans 1,116 feet along Eutaw Street — making it the longest brick building east of the Mississippi River — beckons.

From the field, the girth of the building makes it seem like a reasonable target, and when the ballpark opened in 1992, the windows on the first three floors were installed with shatterproof glass because of a concern from the Maryland Stadium Authority that home runs would off the warehouse regularly.

But as Camden Yards celebrates its 25th anniversary this season, only one ball has ever hit on the fly, when Ken Griffey, Jr. reached the building during the All-Star Game Home Derby with a blast estimated at 465 feet 24 years ago Tuesday.

That is the only batted ball to touch the warehouse, and through more than 2,000 games at Camden Yards, no hitter has ever reached the building in a game, creating a kind of mythical nature to the ballpark's most recognizable feature. Griffey's blast is marked by a plaque.

Many have come close in games. Ninety-one balls have landed on Eutaw Street, the 60-foot-wide in-park concourse beyond the right-field flag court, and some of those balls have hit the warehouse on a bounce. And while the warehouse can be reached down the right-field line at just 439 feet — a length that is often hit by today's standards — it has yet to take a ball on the fly in a game.

Going into this season, Montreal Expos outfielder Henry Rodriguez owns the farthest Eutaw Street blast, hitting a ball 443 feet in 1997, but the blast didn’t come close to hitting the warehouse because it was hit to right-center field.

The perfect shot toward the warehouse would be down the line, and Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons came close in 2003 with a ball that hugged the foul pole against the with an estimated 420-foot blast. The ’ Lance Berkman and ’ Alex Gordon also came close, hitting home runs of 430 and 425 feet, respectively, within two weeks of each other in 2008, and if their balls were just slightly more toward the line, they might have had the best chances of hitting the warehouse.

Janet Marie Smith, the Orioles’ architect responsible for making the team’s vision for Camden Yards come to life, said that while the warehouse played a key role in laying out the asymmetrical dimensions that team president Larry Lucchino wanted for the ballpark while also meeting then- ’s desire for the park to play fair, the warehouse more served as the vehicle for the novelty of the Eutaw Street concourse as a landing spot for home runs rather than be any intended target itself.

“One of the questions was how big should the bleacher section and the flag court over the right- field wall be because we wanted there to be enough home runs to be hit onto Eutaw Street, where it would be a novelty and exciting, but not so many that it was an everyday occurrence. So to tell you the truth, it was more about how the ball landed on the street that we were fixated on and less so whether the warehouse was a target. But in setting the dimensions as we did, with the 50- foot-wide Eutaw Street and the flag court being another possibly 50-feet wide, there was a

concern that the Maryland Stadium Authority had that the warehouse could be hit and if it could be hit that those offices on the lowers floors could be vulnerable.”

Still, over the years, it hasn’t stopped hitters from taking aim — with all but Griffey falling short.

“You think about that warehouse staring at you,” said former major leaguer and current MLB Network studio analyst Cliff Floyd, who played in the American League East with the in 2002 and the in 2008. “And trust me, many times in batting practice, even though I didn’t play a lot in the American League, we all tried to hit that damn thing and never did. It wasn’t like you weren’t trying, but it was one of those things where you’re like, ‘Eh, I’m probably not going to hit it unless I one-hop it. From home plate, a lot of guys probably think they have a chance, but when you go back there and walk through the street, you see the distance between the right-field wall and the building.”

Orioles Chris Davis’ 10 homers onto Eutaw Street are the most for any player, and Davis has long been intrigued by the warehouse, so much so that he’s visited Eutaw Street several times to look at the markers designating the homers hit there and their distances.

“My first couple of [full] seasons here, I hit quite a few homers onto Eutaw Street,” Davis said. “And I didn’t pay that much attention to it until I’d say about halfway through the year in 2013 because I had hit some balls up to that point that I thought, ‘Man, that’s got to be all over it.’ … I started getting more and more curious about where these balls were landing, whether they were even close. So I decided one afternoon to go up there as close to game time as I could. We’re talking around 4 o’clock, and I just got up there and just walked around and looked at some of the markers.”

Davis noticed a steady breeze along Eutaw Street the first time he went to look at the markers. He didn’t know whether it was just that day, but on other occasions there still always seemed to be a steady breeze blowing off the warehouse.

When the dimensions of Camden Yards were being laid out, studies were done to gauge the warehouse’s impact on the wind to ensure it wouldn’t significantly affect play, Smith said.

“In the whole course of trying to set the field dimensions, there was a lot of speculation about whether we should make it a little further than you think it ought to be to account for what the wind might do or is it going to hit the warehouse and bounce back, so should it be a little closer?” Smith said. “At the end of the day, you do the best you can and I think it feels like it’s a pretty comfortable set of dimensions.”

A glance at the two oriole bird weather vanes placed on opposite sides of the top of the center- field scoreboard give a clue that there is a wind blowing in along the warehouse, Smith said.

“You know there’s an impact,” Smith said. “The one closest to the warehouse is always kicking in a little … And that would indicate it’s true that there is wind coming through Eutaw Street hitting the warehouse and bouncing back in a different way than the way it swirls around the rest of the park.”

Though Davis’ power is more naturally toward the middle of the field, he said he’s seen balls he’s hit toward the flag court drift toward right-center field.

“There have been a few balls that I’ve hit to straightaway right field that you can kind of see as they’re falling,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t say they’re being blown with that force, but just being guided that way. The tough thing about it for me is that most of the balls I’ve hit really far are right-center, center field, left-center, so I’ve always been a guy who’s had more power to the middle of the field than down the lines. There have been a couple balls I’ve hit on the road, where I’ve thought, ‘That would be fun to hit at home and see where it would have gone.”

Orioles manager said he’s been told for years that the construction of the Hilton Baltimore beyond the left-field gates — the hotel opened in 2008 — had created a stream into left-center field.

“It’s changed since that hotel was allowed to go up,” Showalter said. “That changed the ballpark, they tell me. It changed to way the ball carries, especially right around the bullpen.”

There’s definitely been more power to left field at Camden Yards, as shown by the fact that two homers have been hit into the left-field second-deck club level this year — by Manny Machado and the ’ Edwin Encarnación — after just two balls landing there in the ballpark’s first 25 years.

Floyd believes that if anyone will be able to hit the warehouse, it’s Davis.

“Chris Davis is probably the only one who sticks out in my mind,” he said. “You think if anyone’s going to hit it, it’s going to be Chris Davis, right? With the lofty homers that he has. But when I think back at my time of knowing a lot of players that come through Baltimore, I really don’t remember too many really prolific bona-fide -looking lefties that they have had. … When you think of the guys who have come through, [“Big] Papi” [], [Jim] Thome, and none of them came close.

“That poke is a legit pull homer. It almost has to be an off-speed pitch, maybe a cut fastball, that you absolutely destroy and turn on that ball. As left-handed hitters, right-center is usually where we hit most of our homers. We’ve seen some absolutely destroyed that go 20 rows deep in right-center next to the wall where the fans sit. I’ve seen Chris hit some balls like that.”

Showalter points to the lack of prodigious left-handed power bats nowadays.

“There’s a dearth of left-handed [power] hitters,” Showalter said. “Look at the lineups — I’ve never seen it. … One thing about the warehouse, take a look at the left-handed power guys. [Rays first baseman Logan] Morrison this year, but I don’t know why. I look around at the league leaders in the minors, and they’re all right-handed.”

Morrison, who has a career-high 24 homers at the break, was the hitter to most recently park a home run on Eutaw Street, on July 1. Three Eutaw Street homers have been hit this season, with Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. and Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis doing so before Morrison. And last season, six homers landed on the concourse, with Davis and fellow Oriole Pedro Álvarez each hitting two. But it was Morrison’s blast — a towering shot down the line — that Davis thought might be it.

“I mean, as soon as he hit that ball, I jumped up and thought, that ball’s got a chance to hit the warehouse and it was the same thing as most,” Davis said of Morrison's 424-foot blast. “I don’t know if it’s reachable anymore. I don’t know if we’ll ever see it. There’s a guy in , Joey Gallo, I’ve heard several guys talk about how prodigious his power is and how he put several balls on top of the roof in right field in Arlington, which is unheard of.

“So I’m sure there are guys who will have the chance to do it. I would love to be the first guy to do it, especially with having all the Eutaw markers that I have out there, but I don’t know. I thought Pedro Álvarez had a great chance last year. And we would have early BP sessions when I thought, he’s going to hit it. And it was the same deal. I think our best bolt was on one hop. So hopefully the stars will align one way before I’m forgotten about and I can put one out there.”

Smith believes another hitter will hit the warehouse eventually.

“I do, if for no other reason than Ken Griffey Jr. did it, so somebody else will,” Smith said. “Was he aiming for it? I don’t know. It’s nice that these things aren’t everyday occurrences because it would take the magic out of it. … When Frank Robinson hit [a home run] out of Memorial Stadium, that happened just once. Ken Griffey Jr.’s warehouse story will become similar that he’s the only one to have hit it. But I think that’s pretty interesting that that was in 1993.

“And I think at the time, if you asked me, I would have thought, well, if it’s happened once within the park’s first two years, then we should expect it every two years, and here we are waiting after 25 years for the second one.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-chris-davis-rehab-frederick- 0711-story.html

Orioles' Chris Davis doubles for Frederick in his first rehab outing

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun July 10, 2017

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis doubled and scored a run in four at-bats Monday for High-A Frederick in his first rehab appearance from an oblique strain.

Davis, who suffered the strain June 12 in Chicago, has a second appearance scheduled Wednesday for Low-A Delmarva before he is activated when the second half of the season begins Friday night against the Chicago Cubs.

He walked and struck out twice in his other three plate appearances.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/241615220/jonathan-schoop-set-for-all-star- game/?topicId=27118142

Schoop at ASG: Tonight at 7:30 ET on FOX

By Mandy Bell / MLB.com July 11, 2017

MIAMI -- Not only is first-time All Star Jonathan Schoop excited to be representing the in the 88th All-Star Game presented by Mastercard (tonight at 7:30 ET on FOX), but he is also thrilled to be representing his home country, Curacao.

Schoop, who was signed as a free agent in 2008, took pride in playing for Curacao in an earlier stage of his life at the 2004 Little League World Series, when his Caribbean team took home the world championship with Schoop recording the save on the mound. Now, Schoop finds himself having those same overwhelming feelings he had 13 years ago.

"Yeah, with Little League in Curacao it was a group, this is like more by myself," Schoop said. "It's exciting. It's making me feel like a kid again. I mean I'm getting butterflies in my stomach."

Schoop is not the only Curacao native participating in the All-Star Game. Dodgers' reliever Kenley Jansen was also born in Willemstad, Curacao, and Schoop believes it is their mission to prove that players from their home country can be All-Star-level talent.

"It would be fun if I faced him," Schoop said. "It would be really fun. I hope I face him, but it will be a tough at-bat. I watched him play with my brothers. I would go to the field and watch them play. I am really proud of him for what he's doing. Curacao people are proud of me and him to make the All-Star Game. That's all we want to do, make Curacao bigger so more scouts will go down there and find more kids."

When Schoop originally found out that he made the All-Star team, he joked that he would be staying with friend and teammate Manny Machado, who is a Miami native. The second baseman said that after the 2017 T-Mobile on Monday night, he would spend his evening at Machado's house as he prepares for Tuesday's All-Star Game.

"Yeah, it's special [to be in Machado's hometown]," Schoop said. "Especially for me to make the All -Star Game. I know he's really happy for me, especially to make it here and I know for sure he's going to watch me play."

The Orioles' second baseman has been the most consistent hitter on their team in the first half of the season, slashing .295/.347/.536 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs and is excited to be

recognized for his efforts. Schoop has demonstrated more patience at the plate this season, drawing 19 walks after having just 21 throughout his entire 2016 campaign.

"[The difference this year is I] trust myself more and know I can do it," Schoop said. "Work every day and trust what the scouting report tells you. Sometimes the , you know what they are trying to do with you. You just have to achieve and make sure you get the right pitch to hit. That's where my game has grown up a little bit more, so I'm more patient and more selective."

Tonight at 7:30 ET, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/07/bullpen-set-up-nicely-for-orioles.html

Bullpen set up nicely for Orioles

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com July 11, 2017

While the majority of the pitching focus rightly falls upon the Orioles rotation and an ERA that’s approaching 6.00, the bullpen is rounding into shape.

Manager Buck Showalter finally may have the unit in place that he’s desired, beginning with closer Zach Britton, twice removed from the active roster with a strained left forearm. Britton’s third appearance Sunday since his return easily was his most dominant with ground balls to first baseman and Manny Machado and a of Twins Robbie Grossman.

Britton is right when batters are beating the ball into the ground or missing by wide margins. No one could square him up.

Brad Brach recorded 15 saves in Britton’s absence and while he still seems to be a magnet for criticism among fans based largely on four blown saves, he’s allowed only two runs in his last 18 appearances.

Brach retired all six batters he faced with five on the road trip and his ERA is down to 2.58 in 38 1/3 innings.

Darren O’Day seems to be healthy again and passed a stringent test on the trip with appearances in three consecutive games totaling 29 pitches. Showalter needed to know that O’Day could do it if needed. Even going back-to-back was important, let alone the third outing when he hit a batter to load the bases and struck out Eduardo Escobar.

Mychal Givens deserved consideration for the All-Star Game and he had supporters inside and outside of the organization. He’s 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.023 WHIP in 44 innings and is averaging a strikeout per inning.

Givens has allowed two runs in his last 16 appearances. He’s gone 2 1/3, 1 2/3 and two innings within his last eight games, stretching out to 42 pitches on June 17 against the Cardinals, and is valued for his ability to fill numerous roles. Showalter can insert him in the middle innings or use him to set up, and he eventually could evolve into the closer depending on moves made down the road.

Is anyone flying further under the radar than Richard Bleier? His stomach should be scraped.

Bleier quietly has posted a 1.48 ERA in 25 appearances, giving him a 1.69 ERA in 48 career games including last year’s stint with the Yankees. He’s allowed one earned run in his last 20 games, and his 2 2/3 innings on Sunday were the most since he worked four innings in his first appearance on May 3 in Boston, when he held the Red Sox to one earned run.

Right-handers are hitting .256 against him and left-handers are hitting .263. Showalter is quite comfortable with the splits.

In all honesty, how many people were excited to hear that the Orioles traded for Bleier on Feb. 21? It happened in the middle of an exhibition game and executive vice president Dan Duquette came into the press box to discuss it. For the beat crew, it felt more like extra work - a player to be named later or cash transaction for a guy who was interesting to us only because he had an invitation to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

Bleier didn’t break camp with the team, but he’s now one of the most valuable members of the bullpen.

Left-hander Donnie Hart hasn’t been nearly as effective against left-handers, leading to two trips on the Norfolk shuttle, but opponents haven’t scored in his last seven outings and his ERA has dropped from 4.41 to 2.96.

Those are six spots filled to Showalter’s satisfaction as long as he can use Hart again in a specialist role.

Miguel Castro currently fills the seventh spot, but it should come with a revolving door. The Orioles like his arm, viewing him as a potential strikeout guy on a staff that largely pitches to contact. But he’s only 22 years old and was rushed to the majors before the Orioles acquired him from the Rockies on April 7 for, of course, a player to be named later or cash.

Were you expecting an international signing bonus slot?

Castro can be subbed out if needed. The Orioles also have used Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson, Logan Verrett, Stefan Crichton, Gabriel Ynoa, Vidal Nuño, Alec Asher, Jimmy Yacabonis and Edwin Jackson. They broke camp with Oliver Drake before trading him to the Brewers.

Nuño remains on the temporarily inactive list still since the Orioles optioned him on June 20. He received a second MRI on his oblique that came back negative. Maybe the third time’s the charm.

Going back to Britton, I talked to him in Minnesota after he allowed two runs and three hits in the eighth inning in a 9-6 loss to the Twins. His arm was fine, but he didn’t feel right.

“Results-wise, not so good,” he said. “Still trying to get comfortable off the mound. I think it’s been a challenge. The last three years you get a groove from spring and through the season and you just feel comfortable. I almost feel like that stage where I didn’t have spring or anything, so you’re trying to make adjustments and get back to my previous form without all those innings.

“It’s going to be a grind, but I think the biggest thing for me is the command of it right now. If I can get that there, I think everything will fall into place. But physically I’m feeling good. That’s the thing. I just need to get off the mound, string together a couple of good outings. I think that’s going to be the key for me. Stuff-wise, it’s still there. It’s just the commanding of it right now has been pretty poor.

“Caleb (Joseph) was telling me, ‘Hey, for the most part you looked pretty good.’ But these guys have a lot of at-bats under their belts. You make a mistake, these guys (Twins) are playing well, the Brewers are playing well. Hitting the ball on the ground obviously is big. I actually think the best sinker I threw the other day was probably the double I gave up to (Eddie) Rosario. But overall, the command just has to get better.

“When you get ahead of guys, it’s easier to kind of do what I want to do. When you’re falling behind all the time, you’ve got to throw some better pitches. For me, it’s the command getting back off the mound and building those innings and getting confidence back a little bit.” His outing on Sunday was a huge gain for Britton and the Orioles.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/07/quite-update-on-chris-davis.html

Quick update on Chris Davis

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com July 10, 2017

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis completed his first injury rehab game today after eight innings at Single-A Frederick.

Davis batted second and had five plate appearances against Myrtle Beach. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored.

Keys manager Keith Bodie removed Davis for a pinch-runner after a double in the eighth inning. Davis walked in the first inning against Pelicans starter Scott Effross and scored on ’s two-run double. He struck out looking in the second and struck out swinging in the fourth against left-hander Tommy Thorpe. He grounded out, 3-1, against James Norwood in the sixth and doubled to right field against Pedro Araujo in the eighth.

Steve Laurino replaced Davis, who’s been on the disabled list retroactive to June 13 with a strained right oblique.

Five plate appearances, four and one left-hander.

The current scheduled calls for Davis to move his rehab assignment to Single-A Delmarva Wednesday night, work out with the Orioles on Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards and come off the disabled list the following day when the season resumes with a weekend series against the Cubs.

The club will need to remove a player from the 25-man roster to open up a spot for Davis, who’s batting .226/.320/.461 with seven doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 26 RBIs in 61 games. He’s drawn 30 walks and struck out 95 times in 250 plate appearances.

Davis had two hits, including a home run, in his last 19 at-bats before going on the disabled list. He flied out in a June 12 games in Chicago and was removed due to the injury.

Mountcastle is 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs and is batting .312.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/07/outfielder-austin-hays-moved-up-to- double-a-and-didnt-miss-a-beat.html

Outfielder Austin Hays moved up to Double-A and didn’t miss a beat

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com July 11, 2017

Orioles minor league outfielder Austin Hays has been hitting well pretty much since his first day in the organization. He hasn’t been slowed down much since they selected him in the third round of the 2016 draft. His rapid rise through the farm system and recent promotion to Double-A Bowie has some wondering how soon he can get to Baltimore.

Taken with the No. 91 selection out of Jacksonville University, Hays, who just turned 22 last Wednesday, hit .336 last season with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Skipping past Single-A Delmarva and sent to Single-A Frederick to start this year, he hit .328/.364/.592 in 64 games for the Keys with 15 doubles, three triples, 16 homers, 41 RBIs and an OPS of .956.

Hays was recently named the organization’s Player of the Month for June, batting .373 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 26 games. The month began with him at Frederick, and on June 22 he was moved up to Double-A.

In 18 games with Bowie, the right-handed hitting Hays is batting .329/.351/.507 with four doubles, three homers, 14 RBIs and an OPS of .857.

“Just have had a lot of confidence going out there,” Hays said about his strong play in 2017. “Had a lot of fun playing every day and the results are taking care of themselves. I’m just staying with the process.

“I like it (at Double-A) so far. It’s more competitive. I feel like there are a lot more strikes being thrown. I like how the pace of the game is faster. I like that there is a (pitch) clock. Whether it’s just good or bad, ball or strike, it’s on to the next pitch. Just the flow of the game is a lot faster and I’m a fan of that. Right now, I don’t feel a need to change anything. It’s what got me here. It’s been working, so no need to change it until it fails I guess.”

Yeah, don’t change a thing when it’s going this well. Hays is a high-intensity, high-energy player. Bowie manager Gary Kendall said he brings that energy to the rest of his team.

“I don’t know if it effects the way other guys play,” Hays said. “But that is my personality and how I have fun playing the game. I feel like that is what I bring to the table. If it helps the guys around me, that is another plus.”

Hays seems to have a calm demeanor away from the field and seems to be taking a lot of the attention he is now getting in stride. But he’s got a fast motor on the field, seen in a recent game by his all-out dive on the warning track in center for a drive out near the wall. He came up short in getting to the ball, getting only a face full of warning track for his troubles.

“He runs everything out,” Kendall said. “Everyone should do it, but this guy hits a popup to the infield and he’s almost on second when it gets caught. That is great to see. He leaves it on the field. He provides a lot of energy to our lineup.”

So far, Hays is showing the ability to hit for both average and power.

“I feel like I have a good combination of size and speed,” he said. “So I have quick hands and I can generate power with that quickness, but also I have good bat control and that kind of plays for the average side, too.”

At Bowie, Hays has often played in an that includes two other outfield prospects in DJ Stewart and , although Mullins recently went back on the disabled list with a hamstring issue.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Hays said. “I got to play with those guys in spring training and see the high level of skill that they have. It has been awesome to be playing with them every day. We’re all in this together and we’re all grinding. Hopefully we help each other and better the team.”

Now that he is one large step closer to the majors in the Eastern League, Hays could be knocking on the door to Baltimore possibly as soon as next year.

“I mean it’s been my goal since I was a kid to make it to the big leagues,” he said. “It is still my dream now. I am one step closer, but I’m just taking it day-by-day and at-bat-by-at-bat. Just staying with the process and trusting it. It is what I’ve always wanted.”

Johnny Baseball is an All-Star: As Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop gets set to play in his first All-Star Game tonight, here is another look at a feature on him published a few days ago in this space. O’s hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh talked about Schoop’s improved bat.

https://www.camdenchat.com/2017/7/10/15949616/mlb-all-star-game-orioles-jonathan-schoop- bobblehead

Jonathan Schoop has his bobblehead in Miami and it’s adorable

By Mark Brown / CSN Mid-Atlantic July 10, 2017

If you want to get your hands on the Orioles Jonathan Schoop bobblehead giveaway, you’ll have to wait until August 5, when they will be given away to the first 25,000 fans 15 and over to come through the gates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for that night’s game against the Tigers.

That’s if you’re an ordinary person. If you’re the guy whose bobblehead is being given away, and if you’re an All-Star, then you might just be able to get your hands on one a month early so that you can carry it around with you at the assorted All-Star Game festivities.

Schoop proudly holding up his bobblehead as he gets his picture taken in his All-Star jersey on the field in Miami is almost certainly the most adorable thing you will see today.

Aw, just look how happy he is! Schoop may have been the only Orioles All-Star this season, but if this picture is any indication, then he’s determined to have enough of a good time for everybody.

Schoop wasn’t just carrying the bobblehead around on the field, either. He had it with him for his media day interviews as well.

Here’s a different angle, and yep, it’s still adorable.

Here’s hoping Schoop gets to do it all again next year, and with more of his Orioles teammates around to enjoy it with him.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/07/10/orioles-first-half-recap-five-things-that-went- wrong

Orioles' First-Half Recap: Five Things That Went Wrong

By Rich Dubroff / PressBoxOnline.com July 10, 2017

At 42-46, the Orioles are mathematically still in the wild-card hunt. However, so is most of the American League. Eight of the 15 AL teams are within four games of the wild card.

With all that's gone wrong with the Orioles during the season's first half, it's amazing they are as close as they are. Now that the All-Star break is upon us, let's look at five things that went wrong for the team during the season's first half.

1. The Starting Pitching Was Abysmal

The Orioles' 5.07 ERA is the worst in the American League, and the starters had an especially rough time. In 88 first-half games, Orioles starters delivered 32 quality starts (allowing three or fewer earned runs in six or more innings).

Only right-hander Dylan Bundy, who had 12 quality starts, was dependable, but while 10 of his first 11 starts were solid statistically, only two of his past seven have been solid.

Veteran right-hander Chris Tillman, who missed the first month with shoulder soreness, had the lowest percentage of quality starts with two in 11 outings.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman (five quality starts out of 19), left-hander Wade Miley (five of 18) and right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (three of 13) certainly didn't help.

Interestingly, the three spot starters -- right-handers Alec Asher and Tyler Wilson and left-hander Jayson Aquino -- combined for five quality starts in nine tries.

Orioles starters allowed five or more earned runs 28 times. Gausman, Jimenez, Tillman and Miley combined for 21 of them.

2. The Orioles Missed Zach Britton And Darren O'Day

Left-hander closer Zach Britton, who had two stints on the disabled list with a sore left forearm, played in 11 games (that's fewer than journeyman left-hander Vidal Nuno), but he ended the first half healthy.

O'Day was on the DL last month with shoulder soreness and was shut down in May for a week when his shoulder flared up. But the right-handed sidearmer is back now, too, and the bullpen is stronger. Without Britton and O'Day, the Orioles suffered.

With the two mainstays out, manager Buck Showalter had to use several relievers who wouldn't have been on the team otherwise.

While left-hander Richard Bleier has been consistently effective and right-hander Miguel Castro has shown some promise, Nuno (10.43 ERA), right-handers Stefan Crichton (8.03), Edwin Jackson (7.20) and Jimmy Yacabonis (6.75) failed to help.

The Orioles allowed 10 or more runs 11 times in the first half. Six of them came when Britton and O'Day were on the disabled list concurrently.

3. The Big Names Didn't Hit

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop, the Orioles' only All-Star, and first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini had excellent first halves, but most of the boldface names have been disappointing.

Third baseman Manny Machado (.230), designated hitter (.254) and first baseman Chris Davis (.226) have all under produced, though Machado and Trumbo have shown signs of perking up of late. Center fielder , who hadn't homered since June 24, ended the first half with two homers and five RBIs.

Davis, who has missed nearly a month with a right oblique strain, is scheduled for the first of two rehab starts July 10 in Frederick.

Catcher Welington Castillo, who earlier seemed to have a shot to make his first All-Star team, has slumped badly since returning from a testicular injury June 10.

Castillo is hitting .162 (12-for-74) in the month since his return, and since he homered June 24, he's 2-for-29.

4. The Orioles Missed Davis And J.J. Hardy

When Davis went on the disabled list, he was on a pace to shatter the single-season record of 223 strikeouts, but the slugging first baseman was still missed.

So was Hardy, whose steady play at is often underappreciated by fans who looked at his .211 batting average.

With Davis out, Mancini took over first base and a combination of Hyun Soo Kim and Joey Rickard often played left field.

Since Davis left the June 12 game, Kim hasn't had an extra-base hit and has four RBIs. Rickard also has only RBIs since then.

Hardy's replacements at shortstop -- Paul Janish and Ruben Tejada -- have struggled offensively (though Tejada had three hits July 9), but the only time an Orioles shortstop has homered since Hardy broke his right wrist June 18 was when Schoop started there July 8.

5. The Team Played Poorly On The Road

Before the Orioles won their final two games before the All-Star break at Minnesota, they had won only one-third of their road games this season. Their 17-30 record has to improve for them to be a playoff contender.

The Orioles lost 11 consecutive road games from May 17-June 13 and went more than two months between road series wins. This season, they've won four road series.

Only six teams in the majors have fewer road wins. The Orioles' home record (25-16) is impressive, but they've lost five of their past seven games in Baltimore.

They begin the season's second half July 14 with a 10-game homestand, the longest of the season.

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2017/07/11/six-biggest-storylines-orioles-first-half-happens- one-now/

The six biggest storylines of the Orioles’ first half — and what happens with each one now

By Dan Connolly / BaltimoreBaseball.com July 11, 2017

The Orioles started out 22-10 and looked to be one of the best stories of the early season.

Then they dropped 36 of the next 56, and have left a fan base muttering about whether the club should be blown up and its best pieces sold for upper-end prospects.

It’s been a really confounding first half of the season. The Orioles weren’t as good as they first appeared and shouldn’t be as bad as they’ve looked for much of the last few weeks.

There have been some fairly consistent Orioles’ storylines, however, throughout these first three- plus months. I’ve ranked six, dissected them and predicted how these issues may end up.

Here they are:

6. The disappearing playing time of Hyun Soo Kim

For the first two months of the season, I probably received more fan interaction about outfielder Hyun Soo Kim’s lack of playing time than almost any other issue (besides Kevin Gausman’s performance). Kim became a fan favorite in 2016 for his high batting average (.302), smart at- bats and knack for getting on-base (.382). The only question was whether the left-handed Kim could hit lefties. That was left unanswered this year – he’s had nine plate appearances versus southpaws in the first half and was 1-for-8 with a walk. Now, the question is, will he get much of a chance to hit against anyone? Kim’s opportunity for steady playing time was damaged by the emergence of rookie Trey Mancini in left field. And when Mancini moved to first to cover for the injured Chris Davis, Kim got an expanded look in left. But he didn’t hit in the brief window, and has again become mainly a bench guy. He’s hitting just .229 with a .301 on-base percentage in 134 plate appearances. Davis is expected back Friday, so Kim’s playing time should plummet again. It’s possible the Orioles could look to move him, but the market for a platoon hitter with limited outfield range that’s owed a couple million bucks won’t be hopping.

5. The Britton effect

I’ve been told for years, and have been given data that supports it, that the ninth inning is like any other inning. And that any effective reliever can serve in the closer’s role. I’m sure there is some truth to that, though I think the pressure that comes with the ninth – facing a team in a close game with the opposing players fighting for their last chance at victory – is more pronounced than in any other frame. I’m also a believer that human beings thrive when they know how they’ll be used and what is expected of them, assuming they have the tools to complete the job. To me it’s more about knowing your role than when that role actually occurs. So, when an effective closer leaves his role, it creates a domino effect, and each reliever below him must step into another spot. Some will struggle with that change mentally, and others may not have the physical tools to succeed in the new position. That’s what I think happened with the Orioles’ bullpen when closer Zach Britton missed a large chunk of time with a forearm injury. Brad Brach did a fine job filling in, but everyone had to move up a slot, and that affected the overall performance of the usually stout bullpen. Britton’s back now, and assuming he is healthy, things should return to normal. In fact, the bullpen could be better now that guys such as Mychal Givens, Richard Bleier and Miguel Castro have had success in “elevated” situations.

4. Who’s gonna pitch for us?

I’ve been around this organization for a long time and perhaps my favorite quote I’ve ever received occurred in December 2005, when the Orioles ignored an immense need to improve the rotation and bought catcher Ramon Hernandez as a free agent. In response to that, and to Miguel

Tejada asking for a trade, then-Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora said in a phone conversation that he understood Tejada’s frustration, and then quipped, “Who’s gonna pitch for us?” Mora’s line set off a mini-firestorm within the organization at the time, but the sentiment still rings somewhat true now. In fact, with the way the Orioles have juggled pitchers from the minors to the majors in 2017 – they used 23 different hurlers in the first half, including 19 in relief – Mora’s question may be more apropos than ever. The Orioles have obviously had some injuries, but what was initially a Norfolk Shuttle by design – to take advantage of a larger bench and optionable relief pieces — has morphed into a turnstile of relievers who can’t maintain consistency in the bigs. That, and an overmatched rotation, has given the Orioles the second highest ERA in baseball in the first half. The revolving door should slow some in the second half. Zach Britton’s return means one fewer spot available on the staff. It should also mean more quality innings from the bullpen overall. It won’t matter, though, if the rotation fails to pitch deeper into games in the second half.

3. The Great Mancini

For all the negatives this season, the emergence of Trey Mancini has to be the biggest positive in Baltimore. The 25-year-old wasn’t supposed to make the team. But he learned to play the outfield in spring training, and justified his presence in the field by crushing the ball routinely at the plate. He hit a bit of snag after a hot start, but he made adjustments, and continued to put together good at-bats instead of trying to homer at every opportunity. The results followed. Through his first full half in the majors, Mancini is leading the Orioles in batting average (.312), on-base percentage (.354) and slugging (.538). He has 15 doubles and 14 homers and held his own defensively in left field and at first base, his natural position. When the Orioles re-signed Mark Trumbo it appeared that Mancini was the odd man out. Instead, he’s worked his way into an everyday role. And when Davis returns from the disabled list, likely Friday, Mancini will continue to get regular starts, primarily in left field. He’s earned that.

2. The juxtaposition of Manny and Schoop

The Orioles have a mid-20s infielder and middle-of-the-order hitter with 30-homer pop, a near- .300-average bat and the ability to play shortstop in an emergency. His name? Jonathan Schoop. OK, up until the last week or so, the easy identifier to those hints was third baseman Manny Machado. Schoop’s emergence, both as a middle of the lineup force and a shortstop in a pinch, has been one of the club’s biggest revelations in 2017. It’s been important, too, because Machado has hit just .230 – roughly 50 points below his career average – with an on-base percentage of .296. Yet, for all hand-wringing about Machado’s offense, he’s tied with Schoop for the team lead in homers with 18. And Machado has turned it up lately, hitting .333 (13-for-39) in nine July games. Really, it was a matter of time for the uber-talented Machado to re-establish himself offensively. He’s the best player on this team, but his best buddy Schoop is trying to make it a contest. They are like two brothers, pushing each other, trying to one-up each other and yet supportive at the same time. I guess the question here – with the thoughts that the Orioles could be sellers – is how long will they be teammates? Well, I don’t see management punting on this season and dealing either during the season. 1. What’s wrong with Gausman?

Technically, the burning question at No. 1 could be, what’s wrong with the rotation, which is 29th of 30 teams in starters’ ERA? However, the only member of that group whose 2017 has been a true surprise is Kevin Gausman’s, and not in a good way. Certainly, Chris Tillman is better than a near-8.00 ERA, but his shoulder injury and late start explains the poor numbers, at least partially. Dylan Bundy got off to a tremendous beginning and he leads the team in wins (8), strikeouts (84) and innings pitched (108), among other categories. But his ERA currently sits at 4.33, which is probably about right for most mortals is their first full year starting in MLB (and the AL East). Wade Miley’s 4.97 ERA, Ubaldo Jimenez’s 6.67 ERA and the duo’s penchant for head-shaking inconsistency is frowned upon, but not shocking. So that leaves Gausman, who was supposed to be the anchor of this staff, especially with Tillman’s health woes. Instead, Gausman is 5-7 with a 5.85 ERA. It’s rather befuddling as to why. The guy throws 97 mph routinely. He has solid breaking stuff that should keep hitters honest. He hadn’t posted an ERA above 4.25 in his last three big league seasons. But his fastball command has been shaky, and it’s made his other offerings, as well as his blazing fastball, hittable if in the strike zone. Given the talent, expectations and first-half results, Gausman’s performance (and the rotation’s overall inability to pitch deep) has to be the No. 1 storyline. Will he turn it around in the second half?

You’d think so, but you also never thought he’d be at this point 19 starts into his season, either. This is hard to predict, but it just doesn’t seem like Gausman will be this bad for a full season.

https://www.baseballebm.com/single-post/2017/07/11/O-What-A-Star

O What A Star

By Kai Dambach / European Baseball & Softball Magazine July 11, 2017

Today Jonathan Schoop becomes an MLB All Star. Playing in just his third full season in the bigs Schoop’s was named as a reserve to the American League roster.

Born and raised in Curacao Jonathan is the go-to second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. He played on the Dutch national team during the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics and is the sole representative from Baltimore in this year's All Star Game. Baseball EBSM caught up with Schoop on the road for a chat following a home game in June.

You started out in Willemstad, a pretty big baseball hotspot. When did you catch the baseball fever?

When I was three years old. Since I was a boy I would either play baseball or soccer. So I played baseball since I was 3 or 4. And, since then, I kept playing until I'm here.

When did you choose baseball over soccer?

When I was 13 or 14.

What helped you make that final decision?

Everybody, my coach, everybody told me that baseball is for you instead of soccer. You can go farther with baseball where you can make a life of it.

What was your soccer position?

I played striker.

You were in the Little League World Series in 2003 and 2004. Tell us about going to Williamsport.

It was awesome. It was one of the greatest moments of my life, going in 2003 and winning in 2004. It's amazing you know [we’re] like this small country and everybody is going to see us on the map and win it all. It's amazing.

What was the celebration like when you got home?

It was crazy. The parade right away, oh yeah, everybody I knew was there. It's like we don't even know what we did. You know what it mean? Like you do something big. Fine. It was really good. It was special for us.

You and Manny Machado are both infielders that came up with the Orioles at short. You were competing for the same spot but you also became really good friends. How did that happen? In spring training we ran into each other. He was playing 60 minutes shortstop. I was playing 60 minutes DH then we switched and it was amazing. He's competitive but we help each other out. It never was like, ‘He's going to take my job.’ ‘I'm going to take his job.’ We work hard and learn from each other and try to be better. That's how we play, that's how we finished up with him playing third and then I moved to second. Then we became really good friends.

You were on the 2013 and 2017 Dutch national teams for the World Baseball Classic taking 4th place each time. A lot of the players came out of Curacao. What has been the reaction with the team doing so well?

Good. Good baseball players in Curacao. We've been close, you know, and we got pretty good. The reaction I guess is fun. You grow up with those guys and now I'm back with them. You know it's a really fun tournament. So here we are back with the guys and having fun and representing our country.

One of those guys was your big brother. He’s in the minors. What about your relationship with him? How often do you see each other?

We live together. He's in double A [], which is like 20 minutes from here. So it's right we live in the same house together. It's good.

He’s older but you’re in the majors. Who gives the advice?

You know its like he gave me advice, I give him advice. Just because he's in the minors and I'm in the big leagues doesn't mean he can't say something. Even you could say something right now that could help me out. But just because you told me doesn't mean I'm going to listen. I might take your opinion and see if it's good or not. I'm open-minded. Everybody can talk with me. And I will see if it helps. If it doesn't I flush it out. We bulk up with each other and try to help each other out.

You have a really positive attitude. No matter the score you seem to be having a good time on the field, smiling and interacting with the fans between innings. Where does that come from? You've got to have a short memory. I want to because you can't let one ruin your whole day. You get paid three times, four times to come up. If you hit a big home run, you're the hero. In baseball, it's fun. I learned to have fun with this game and it will treat you right in return. Just because I'm 0-2 with a strikeout doesn't mean I have to be mad at somebody. It's a different chance all the time. And I got to go play defense. I can't let my batting ruin my defense. I have to separate my bat from my defense. I have to remember all those things. And I can't treat the fans badly because I'm doing bad.

What do you think can be done to increase baseball’s influence in places like Curacao and the Netherlands?

I think it's a lot of players coming out now. A lot of scouts go down there and watch the play. I think more benefits, like better stadiums. You know more. Maybe more games become standard, play some exhibition games down there. It would help a lot.

You're doing pretty well this year. Nearly all of your numbers are up. You're getting more walks as well. What’s the reason?

I want to get better. I think every day, every day you get better every year. I want to be able to play better than last year. I've got more experience now, and more game plans. You know I know what they're trying to do with me. I knew before but now I really know myself better. I want to be better. I know they pitch around because I'm an aggressive hitter. Sometimes I try to be patient you know and sometimes I'm still aggressive. But I want to be better than I was last year.

Do you miss anything from Curacao?

I miss everybody from Curacao. I miss my mom, my dad, my brothers, friends. I miss the beach. I miss everybody down there. You know. Everything. But it's all good.

You or The Yard [Camden], what looks best at 25?

I do. (He said with a laugh)

Anything for the kids back in Curacao?

You know have fun. Have fun. Have fun with the game no matter if you lose or win. Leave everything out there. Play hard, have fun, there's always a chance. Just because you play bad today doesn't mean you won't play tomorrow. Every day is a chance. Have fun, play hard and you will be a success.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2719128-manny-machados-drive-miamis-305-boys-turned- hungry-child-into-400m-man

Manny Machado's Drive, Miami's '305 Boys' Turned Hungry Child into $400M Man

By Scott Miller July 10, 2017

MIAMI — The rope hung from the tree branch in Albert Almora Jr.'s backyard, extending maybe 30 feet down to the ground. Engineered by Almora's father and designed to be incorporated into his son's workouts, that rope had seen Albert Jr. and his friend Manny Machado shimmy up and down it so many times.

"Oh man, that's a legendary rope," Machado, the Baltimore Orioles star, says, smiling. "We had a lot of fun with that rope."

Machado was 10 or 11. Almora was 8 or 9. The purpose of the rope was to help build forearm strength. The two buddies lived maybe a mile apart in the heart of Hialeah, a municipality here in greater Miami, and when they weren't playing baseball, they were talking about baseball, thinking about baseball or working out to make themselves better baseball players.

"I had to kind of use my feet to get up the rope, but Albert would go straight upper body and go all the way to the top," Machado says. "I was like, 'Hey, man, that's crazy. You're crazy. But it made him who he is today. His work ethic has been unbelievable since he was a kid because his father pushed him. Other than Yonder, I think the other guy who works as hard is Albert."

Summer in Miami: Sweat, workout ropes and blooming friendships.

And now, an All-Star Game and memories.

Machado soon would leave behind that rope for offseason workouts at the University of Miami, where he would meet Yonder Alonso, the Oakland A's slugger, and Jon Jay, the Chicago Cubs outfielder. And while Machado downplays it, his work ethic became every bit as impressive as the others. The three would become fast friends as their professional careers launched. Brothers, essentially. Machado even would marry Alonso's sister, Yainee, in 2014. Almora Jr. served as a groomsman.

Though each of their baseball paths took different directions, all roads still lead them back to their beloved hometown in the offseason. The 305 Boys, as so many know them: Machado. Alonso. Jay. Plus, for good measure, throw in Almora, Gio Gonzalez ( starting pitcher), ( first baseman) and Sean Rodriguez ( infielder).

As the All-Star Game docks in Miami for the first time ever Tuesday night, Alonso will be a part of it for the first time, playing for the American League team, while Machado and Jay will be here with their families and friends soaking in every moment.

"We're lucky to have each other," Jay says.

"Oh, man," Alonso says of his impending All-Star debut. "It will mean a lot for family and friends, and for the city of Miami and for people I know, like my first teachers to high school teachers, to baseball coaches, to all of the kids I know, to people who helped me and my family survive in the city of Miami. I will be numb. I will have tears."

And just maybe, following a first-half slump that leaves him out of the game for the first time since 2014, Machado will have time to drive through his old neighborhood and past the tree that once was the center of his life. Maybe he'll even hear the echoes of Almora's father chewing them out for what they did with the rope during their downtime.

"We'd get into all sorts of trouble," Almora Jr., who scored the winning run for the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series last November, says, grinning.

"Oh yeah, all the time," Machado says, chuckling. "We got on the roof and started sliding. We were kids. What are kids going to do? We had a rope, and it was, like, that looks like fun. ... Those are just things you do as kids, and they were fun. I want my kids to do the same thing when I'm not watching. Because when I'm watching, they're not going to be doing that."

The roof to the Almoras home was angled, and there was a batting cage on the side of the house. Manny and Albert would take turns swinging from the rope until they swung it high enough to land on the roof. Then they would slide down that angled roof and...

"The batting cage would be our stop," Machado says. "It wasn't too crazy. It was the edge of the roof, and we'd just kind of fly a little bit. We were Superman at the time. That's what they called Albert when we were kids. Superman."

Rope, angled roof, slide off, fly through the air, stick a landing in the batting cage.

Kids. Supermen.

"We had some fun times, man," Machado continues. "We played one-on-one football. How do you do that? We figured it out. We go back, man. That's why every time we play the game, we play it differently. We play it [with style]. That's what we like to do. That's how we were raised. That's just how we are."

FROM ALMORA'S YARD to Alonso's guidance, always and fortunately, there was more slack for Machado to tug on the lifelines of his youth. Along with Almora, now 23, Machado, who turned 25 on July 6, was the kid. Jay now is 32 and Alonso 30.

"Yonder showed me the ropes about life, showed me the ropes about baseball life, he showed me a lot that I couldn't have learned by myself," Machado says. "It's awesome. He showed me true love. He showed me what it is to frickin' care for people, what it is to play baseball. What baseball's all about, it's about life and struggles, a lot of good things he's taught me that I can never take for granted. There's nothing I could do or say to repay what he did."

It started with a phone call. Alonso's agent wanted him to take advantage of the Miami connection, to ring the local high school star who was projected to be a top-five draft pick in 2010 and help the agent recruit him. Dutifully, Alonso called. But he does not traffic in salesmanship. He is too genuine for that. The only pitches he enjoys are the cookies he can crush.

Instead, Alonso simply talked with Machado, and though Alonso's agent did not get a new client, the seeds for a lifelong friendship were planted between Alonso and Machado.

"That's why I liked him," says Machado, the Orioles' first-round (third overall) pick that summer. "He spoke from his heart, told me what he had to say, and that's why we're best friends now."

Machado's growing legend had been ricocheting throughout the Miami baseball community for years by then, from Hialeah's Goodlet Park all the way to the city limits.

"I heard about Manny long before he was in high school," Gio Gonzalez says. "I knew his brother-in-law was proud of him. They used to get their hair cut at my friend Jeff's house, and he would tell me, 'My little brother is coming in, and you've gotta see this kid.'

"Lo and behold, I see him, and they're comparing him to A-Rod—his style, his performance. I was blown away. That's high praise, especially in Hialeah."

Machado had one request during that first phone call with Alonso, who had been a first-round pick (seventh overall) out of the University of Miami in 2008 and debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010: Could they work out together so Manny could see what it takes?

"He was a high school player still, so the rules prevented it, and I told him to call me back after he graduated," Alonso says. "Sure enough, at 8 a.m. six months later, he called back and told me he's ready to do it and when do we start?"

It didn't take long for Alonso to see how badly Machado wanted to succeed.

"This guy had nothing," Alonso says, speaking of Machado's childhood. "One meal a day. People have no idea how much he struggled in his young life."

Machado was raised by his mother, Rosa, and an uncle, Geovany Brito. He told Alonso stories of taking the Metrorail to baseball fields alone, every day, at 12, 13, 14 years old because he had no ride.

"That's not cool," Alonso says. "That's not a good thing, when you're 13, 14, taking an hour ride on the Metrorail through bad neighborhoods. That's not safe for anybody.

"He grew up real fast. He doesn't really talk about it. That's just his way."

Around the same time he started working out with Alonso, Machado met Jay through the workouts at the University of Miami. Jay was injured that first offseason and wasn't around every day, but later in the winter, he started to show more frequently.

"I just remember him pushing me, trying to make me better," Machado says. "Trash-talking me while we were sprinting: Hey, how can this old man be beating you?!"

One day about a year later, Alonso invited Machado to come hang out and meet the rest of his family. Machado showed up wearing a Udonis Haslem Miami Heat jersey and sandals.

"As if it was totally fine to come to a family barbecue showing up as if he's hanging out at home on his couch," Alonso says, still laughing.

"This is going to need changing up a little," Alonso instructed Machado that day.

"Who is this kid?" Alonso's sister, Yainee, exclaimed before turning her sights on Machado and zinging him. "Boy, you've got to change it up. Who do you think you are?"

You never know when sparks will fly, do you? Not long afterward, Manny and Yainee started dating. But not before Machado changed it up a little—and obtained Yonder's blessing to move forward.

"It was totally cool," Alonso says. "I said, 'As long as you respect my family, the woman she is and the name she has. And here we are, six years later.

Says Jay: "It was just natural. It definitely was to us. It was cool to see, and it's awesome now. We've known each other a long time, and it's all like one big family now."

EARLIER THIS SEASON, as the Boston Red Sox were taking extended target practice on him, Machado finally reached the end of his rope. The important thing? How long it took him to get there.

Granted, he had slid into second base late in a game April 21 and knocked Sox star Dustin Pedroia onto the bench for the next several days with a bruised knee. He sent a text message to Pedroia apologizing. But on that Sunday, Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez fired three inside pitches near Machado, and then Matt Barnes whizzed a pitch behind Machado's head.

The next week in Boston, Sox ace Chris Sale fired a 98 mph fastball again behind Machado, who finally blew his stack postgame in a profanity-filled rant in which, among other things, he righteously wondered how much longer this would go on and called out the Boston organization for "coward stuff."

Notably, Machado displayed a maturity throughout the Boston affair that he hadn't before. During his precocious early days in the majors—he debuted at 19, in 2012—he earned a

reputation not only for greatness but for his temper as well. That was stoked by his lost weekend in 2014 against Oakland, when he was angered after he thought tagged him too hard and responded two days later by helicoptering his bat toward third base and causing a bench-clearing incident.

Then, last June, Machado charged the mound after Yordano Ventura, the late Kansas City Royals pitcher, drilled him with a 99 mph fastball, causing another brawl.

The Oakland incident earned him a five-game suspension, and the Royals fight earned him a four-game suspension.

That he kept it together against the Red Sox this summer was a clear window into a player who is a little older, wiser and now in possession of essential self-control.

"I think that's a big sign of maturity with him, understanding there's a long history from the other incident and understanding that I'm going to get suspended for five games and then I can't play and can't help my team out," Jay says.

Says Alonso: "We had our talks [after the '14 Donaldson incident]. ... I told him how I felt, my opinion. A lot of that stays between me and him, but we've all got to learn.

"He's a smart guy. He knows what he's good at and what he's bad at. He knows the pros and cons. Every day he learns about his flaws. He's not a hardheaded guy. That's why you look at him and say, 'Oh shoot, this is legit.' Because most guys overlook their flaws."

Alonso remembers watching the way Machado spoke with reporters early in his career, sometimes devolving into outright rudeness. They talked then too.

"Now you see a totally different cat," Alonso says.

The greats generally possess a sharp sense of self-awareness. Defensively, Machado has been compared favorably with Hall of Famer . With the bat, he's led the American League with 51 doubles (2013), he's cracked 35 homers (2015) and he's belted 37 homers while driving in 96 runs (2016). He rapped 211 extra-base hits in his first 500 big league games, passing Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (208) for the club record, according to Stats LLC.

"His baseball instincts are off the chart," Jay says. "You can see it in his baserunning. When you look at Manny, you see he's a complete player. He doesn't just play defense. He hits, he runs the bases, he can score from first on a double.

"The thing that's impressed me the most, when I first met him, he was just a skinny, 17-year-old kid, but you could see in his work ethic that his body was going to continue to mature."

This season, though, it's taken Machado a long time to get going. On May 31, he was buried with a .205 batting average and .286 on-base percentage. One talent evaluator at the time told B/R, you watch, he'll still end up at .295 with 35 or 40 homers and 100 RBI.

June was somewhat kinder, though at .242/.297/.462 for the month, Machado still doesn't look like the Machado to whom we're accustomed. But in place of a scowl, more often than not, is a smile as he's learned to cope through the difficult times that baseball inevitably produces.

"I'm not going to lie, it's tough," Machado says. "There were a couple of games where you're down and you're in a really dark place, and you don't know if you're ever going to come out of it. You realize, hey, I'm having a bad day, but you realize there are people out there having worse days."

Many within the industry place Machado on the pedestal right next to and Bryce Harper as the game's three best players and already are anticipating the end of the 2018 season, when Harper and Machado will hit the free-agent market at the same time. Amid speculation that Harper could land a record-setting deal somewhere in the $400 million range, there are those who predict Machado won't be far behind.

"They're going to set the standard going forward," Jay says. "There are going to be a couple of other guys up there eventually—Kris Bryant [of the Cubs] and Nolan Arenado [of the Rockies] as well—but these guys are going to push the game to the next level as far as contracts go."

Alonso believes his friend will be worth it not only for his performance but his leadership as well. Already, Orioles reliever Brad Brach marvels over how the organization's minor leaguers flock to Machado and hang on his every move each spring.

"You've gotta stay true to yourself, stay who you are," Machado says. "I think that's the biggest key. "The biggest thing is, I can never forget where I come from. That's why I wear Miami on my sleeve. I never forget where I grew up."

GROUP TEXTS BUZZ back and forth daily from Baltimore to Chicago to Oakland to wherever the schedule takes them. When the Orioles are in Oakland, Machado will skip the team hotel and stay at Alonso's place. When the Cubs open in Baltimore after the All-Star break, Jay will pass on the team's hotel and stay with Machado.

The 305 Boys, wherever they are, regularly are pulling on the rope in the same direction.

"You have so many ballplayers from Miami, and we wear it proudly," Alonso says. "We understand the mentality. It's us against the world.

"It's a survivalist instinct. Miami guys, we stick together. That's how it is, and I think it's always going to be that way."

Last winter, feeling he was "stuck," Alonso overhauled his entire swing from the ground up. Feet, balance, hands, bat placement. It's complicated, but bottom line, he felt like his body wasn't in sync. He felt weak during his swings, "like I was 150 pounds, and I'm 230." He consulted with some of the game's greatest hitters and, of course, Machado, and another Miami friend, Danny Valencia.

Where Alonso always has been the big-brother figure, now it was Machado's time.

"Manny was the base of it all," Alonso says. They agreed to start hitting early, in October, because "he knew I was making humongous changes in my game, and he knew he wanted to be ready early to play in the World Baseball Classic.

"And on days he didn't want to hit, he came to watch and work with me. He was 100 percent there every day."

The results for Alonso have been spectacular. He already has a career-high 20 home runs, and what a year (and location) to splash into his first career All-Star Game.

"The way my family was raised in Miami, we were like glue," says Gonzalez, 31, who is older but grew up within a two-mile radius of Machado and Almora and considers Jay more brother than friend. "We always wanted to be around each other, and we took care of each other. That's something I cherish the most about these young guys. They've never changed. They recognize where they're from and the guys they grew up with."

Over the years, Alonso, Jay and Machado have made sure to rent offseason homes close to each other in Miami so that when they finished their workouts, they could hang out together. One winter, they all lived within two blocks of each other at the beach and spent their time paddleboarding, playing soccer on the sand, riding skateboards down the boardwalk and going out to dinner.

"It's cool," Jay says. "Our wives get together and talk, and if we play in each other's cities, we'll coordinate whether the wives can get to go or not."

The coordinating is just a touch more complicated now. Alonso and his wife, Amber, have a young son, Troy. And Jay and his wife, Nikki, had twin girls during the offseason. But they continue to make sure the logistics work: The Alonsos, Jays and Machados all purchased houses in the same neighborhood not far from the University of Miami and will be moved in by this

winter. Which means the guys can get their workouts in in the morning, and the families can hang out at the pool and barbecue together come dinnertime.

"Oh, we all argue," Alonso says. "We fight. We tell each other to beat it and that we don't like each other. But you know what? The next day you go and give that guy a hug and kiss."

"It's going to be a good offseason," Machado says. "Literally, we'll be five minutes apart from each other, and we're going to be hanging out a lot more. It's not like we weren't hanging out before, but we're probably going to get tired of each other for a while."

Maybe at that point, they can find a tree, a rope and invite Almora over for an afternoon.

"I hope they all have the longest careers, ride it until the wheels fall off," Gonzalez says.

"And then, hopefully one day, we will all get to sit down and laugh about how we did it."