Baltimore Orioles Spring Training: Six Bold Predictions

Aug 7, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles third baseman

(13) throws to first base for an out during the third inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Manny Machado has a great spring and big season …

The knee issues of Manny Machado have been repeatedly chronicled on this site as well as all other Orioles outlets. Hopefully they are a thing of the past.

There is no doubt that Machado’s talent is simply extraordinary. The eye-hand skills are at a rare level of execution. It has to come out. I believe it will, both in the spring and throughout the entire year, which will be his best so far.

I do not see anything slowing Machado’s full recovery at this point, let alone a month from now. He did not have a spring season in 2014. I was at his first game back – a doubleheader on May 1^st against the Pirates. He was clearly not up to the speed of the game.

However, once Machado got back into the flow, he was excellent. After hitting just .220 in May, over the rest of his games before the injury he slashed .307/.350/.505/.855 … which is the sort of full season production I believe he will be capable of in 2015.  This would translate to about 40 doubles and 25 homes runs.

All he needs are knees that don’t betray him. I personally have no hope for him, having been betrayed by my own (though at a much older age)!

Next: What to expect from Crush Davis ...