masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgToday Manny Machado was named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday (June 8-14). Machado batted .458 (11-for-24) with a double, two home runs and five RBIs to earn the honor.
“Feels good,” he said this afternoon. “It was a good week for the team and this is mostly a team thing. We’re playing well and if it wasn’t for my teammates and guys being on base, I wouldn’t have been here. It was overall a good week.”
Machado is batting .454 (15-for-33) during an…

Today Manny Machado was named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday (June 8-14). Machado batted .458 (11-for-24) with a double, two home runs and five RBIs to earn the honor.

“Feels good,” he said this afternoon. “It was a good week for the team and this is mostly a team thing. We’re playing well and if it wasn’t for my teammates and guys being on base, I wouldn’t have been here. It was overall a good week.”

machado-pointing-up-black-sidebar.jpgMachado is batting .454 (15-for-33) during an eight-game hitting streak where he has six multi-hit games. He has eight hits his last 16 at-bats and right now is thriving atop the Orioles batting order.

“It is a win-win,” he said of batting leadoff. “You get more at-bats, you get to see more pitches and I think it has helped me out. Becoming a hitter, learning how to hit, learning situations and learning the game. It’s been fun hitting leadoff.”

On the year, Machado has played 62 games and has hit .286 with 11 homers, 30 RBIs and an .825 OPS. He is batting .340 in June.

He has played every day on healthy knees and that has been big for him.

“Just playing is a blessing. Being here, being healthy and playing the game we love every day. It is something we can’t take for granted. Represent the uniform you have across your chest, represent your city and teammates,” Machado said.

Over the next 24 hours we will find out if Chris Parmelee will join Machado on the Orioles roster. He is on the taxi squad right now and the Orioles have 24 hours to decide whether they add him or not.

He was in the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon.

“Yeah. I’m excited,” Parmelee said of arriving in Baltimore. “Got the news yesterday and drove up this morning. Really excited and it’s been a good day.”

The 27-year-old Parmelee has played 273 games over the last four years with the Minnesota Twins. At Triple-A Norfolk he had played in 61 games this year batting .312 with 13 doubles, six homers, 32 RBIs and an .826 OPS. He is batting .329 with an OPS of .884 versus right-handed pitching.

He had an opt-out clause in his contract that kicked in today. Did he or does he think that could lead to him leaving the Orioles organization? He is here now, but there still could be a possibility he does not get activated.

“You know, I was unsure about that,” he said. “It crossed my mind. But I’m here and I’m excited to get called up. I’m not activated yet and we’ll see what happens tomorrow. You’ll have to ask them about that.”

Parmelee has had a strong season for the Tides and soon we’ll see if he gets a chance with the Orioles.

“Just been trying to stay as consistent as possible. Have a routine in the cage, running every day. Having a routine, staying with it and staying positive,” he said have been the keys to his solid season to date.