There have been several very welcome “sights for sore eyes,” in Sarasota this week. First off, the fact that the Orioles are playing baseball at all (and that O’s reporters have been tweeting grainy cell-phone photos of the action) is a pleasure in itself. That the Birds started their three-day minicamp on the Monday after the other Baltimore bird team was eliminated from the postseason seemed like a stroke of pure luck, as those of us who are loyal to both really needed it.
In addition to just pictures of guys like Mark Hendrickson, fat Chris Tillman, and some Rule 5 picks though, there was this:
And yes, more Machado. With head athletic trainer Richie Bancells #orioles pic.twitter.com/SwHuT9Xpar
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) January 14, 2015
Manny!
We haven’t seen Manny Machado holding a baseball bat since August 11, when his season was ended by a knee dislocation for the second consecutive year.
It sure would have been great to have #13 at the hot corner during the playoff run, but why bring up old stuff, right?
[youtube]http://youtu.be/KjKRQ_OqCCw[/youtube]
Eyes forward, Birdland! How is Manny feeling these days?
“I feel great. I haven’t felt like this in – it’s been a while,” said Machado, who had surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a partial tear of a ligament in his knee. “It’s been a while since I felt this healthy and good. My body feels great, my mind is clear. I’m excited to get back out there. I’m itching, actually. I haven’t been itching like this for spring training since my first year of pro ball. Just excited to get the season rolling.”
“Right now I feel like I’m ready to go come spring training. I’m ready to roll. Finally have a spring training. I haven’t had one in a while. That’s the first thing that’s on my mind. Hopefully I’ll be ready if nothing comes up, nothing that we can’t control pops up. Any injuries. That’s part of the game. But other than that, my knees feel good, my body feels great. I’m ready to roll.
“Like I said, my knees feel great, my body feels amazing, so I don’t think there’s something holding me back on that perspective. But knock on wood I don’t get injured on any other stuff that might pop up that happens. But I’ll by ready to roll, I’ll be ready to play baseball come Day One.”
So there you have it. Sights for sore eyes followed by music to our orange ears.
See you (and your two surgically repaired knees) on the diamond soon, Mr. Machado.
