After he had about 25 people over to watch the draft, where he was selected with the third overall pick by the Orioles, shortstop Manny Machado took part in a telephone conference call interview with Orioles reporters tonight. Here are the questions he got and his answers: Q: What was today like for you and did you think you would be drafted by the O's? Machado: "I was just here, hanging out with my family, sitting around, waiting for my name to be pronounced over the TV. It was a great...

Joe Jordan, the Orioles' director of scouting, referred to first-round pick Manny Machado as a "target guy" for the organization all spring who automatically has become "one of our premiere prospects." "We're very excited with tonight's selection," Jordan said during a conference call with reporters. "We feel very fortunate. I had my interaction with Manny Machado this spring and it's been very enjoyable to watch how he plays the game, the energy. Nothing is made up here. He loves...

Grow the bats? The Orioles drifted away from their pitching-first philosophy in the amateur draft tonight by taking Florida prep shortstop Manny Machado, 17, with the third overall pick. Their intention became one of the worst-kept secrets in baseball once reports surfaced earlier today that the Pirates would select Texas prep pitcher Jameson Taillon with the second pick. The Orioles would have snatched Taillon with gusto if he remained on the board when their turn came up. Not that they're...

Okay, I'll admit I was hoping the Orioles would get high school pitcher Jameson Taillon with the third pick in the draft. To me the numbers 99 (his top velocity) and 18 (his age) don't often go together. Now, I and all O's fans have to get over it. They didn't make a mistake here, unless winning two more games than the Pirates last year was a mistake. They got shortstop Manny Machado and Joe Jordan seemed very happy when I saw him earlier today and said, if they did wind up with...

Second baseman Brian Roberts sat out another extended spring training game today in Sarasota and could visit a back specialist in the next day or two while continuing to deal with soreness that he says is unrelated to the herniated disk. I'm trying to get confirmation from a team official, but the upcoming draft is keeping everyone busy. I'm told the Roberts might see a specialist in the St. Petersburg area. He's been receiving treatment and counseling from Dr. Lee Riley at Johns...

As the Nationals usher in a new era of baseball history in Washington this week, one has to wonder -- is it time for Teddy to finally win the President's Race? Could his first win come on Tuesday in front of a sell-out crowd and a national audience? Tuesday would be a perfect time for our favorite Racing President to shed his lovable loser label. The Nats aren't lovable losers any longer. On Tuesday, they take a giant step forward by closing the door on the problems of 2008 and 2009 and...

Special thanks to Adam Jones of the Orioles, who joined me earlier on Monday for a live video chat here at MASNSports.com. We spent time on a wide variety of subjects, including new O's interim manager Juan Samuel, what draft day was like for Adam in 2003, his base stealing, his mentor Mark McLemore and, of course, his Mom. Look for more live video chats upcoming on MASNSports.com. Adam Jones sits with Steve Melewski for his first MASNsports.com video chat

MASN will host a special one-hour edition of the Nats Xtra pregame show on Tuesday, June 8th, the network announced today. The extended coverage will cover the Washington Nationals first overall selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and the Major League debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. Nats Xtra begins at 6 p.m. on MASN 2 and MASN 2 HD. The special edition of Nats Xtra on Tuesday will feature reaction from around baseball about the Nationals' selection in the draft. ...

Promo Note: Listen in this afternoon from 3:30-5:00 p.m. as Steve Melewski hosts a radio show right here on MASNsports.com covering all things O's. Call in with your questions about the draft or the team in general. The number to call in is (914) 338-0105. Left-hander Troy Patton shut out Buffalo over seven innings today, allowing only three hits, walking one and striking out three. He threw 89 pitches, 58 for strikes. This is the second time in three starts that Patton has shut out an...

Josh Bell is serving as Triple-A Norfolk's designated hitter for today's game against Buffalo. Bell missed the last two games because of spasms in his neck. He's being eased back into the lineup as the DH, with Paco Figueroa starting at third base. Bell has hit .333 (16-for-48) with eight doubles and eight runs scored in his last 13 games. Left-hander Troy Patton is on the mound for the Tides. Jake Arrieta is still scheduled to start Thursday after throwing two innings in relief on...