masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgCan Orioles fans survive good news overload?

Steve Johnson gets his first big league win, the Orioles tie for the wild card, Dylan Bundy moves to Double-A Bowie and Manny Machado gets promoted to Baltimore.

Yikes, it has been quite a night.

First, a few thoughts on Machado. Even though he has made 22 errors at short at Bowie this year, the fans will come to see and learn that the kid has big-time defensive skills. I think he can handle third base even though he has played just two games…Can Orioles fans survive good news overload?

Steve Johnson gets his first big league win, the Orioles tie for the wild card, Dylan Bundy moves to Double-A Bowie and Manny Machado gets promoted to Baltimore.

Yikes, it has been quite a night.

First, a few thoughts on Machado. Even though he has made 22 errors at short at Bowie this year, the fans will come to see and learn that the kid has big-time defensive skills. I think he can handle third base even though he has played just two games there as a pro. He has a huge arm and fans will now get to see that gun on display in Baltimore.

He is coming up at a time when his bat is not just red-hot, but sizzling hot. He leaves Bowie with a nine-game batting streak, during which he is 16-for-33 with three doubles, two triples, three homers and seven RBIs.

Machado is a very mature player for 20 years old. If he struggles early on against major league pitchers, it won’t faze him a bit. He’ll just work harder. Machado to Baltimore? This is incredibly exciting.

Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson told me tonight on my radio show on 105.7 the Fan in Baltimore that the O’s brass made the decision to move Bundy from Frederick to Bowie in a conference call on Tuesday and how he pitched last night for Frederick would not impact that decision.

Bundy will continue pitching every sixth day at Double-A and work each start with a pitch limit of around 100, Peterson said. His Double-A debut will be next Tuesday at home in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Finally, congrats to Johnson on his first major league win. He showed poise, smarts and some solid pitches. It was thrilling to see him have such a strong first inning and touching to see he and his dad embrace after the the game in the O’s clubhouse.

So, O’s fans, anything going on lately to get excited about?