Duquette says Machado "shouldn't have to fear for his livelihood"

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he thought about removing third baseman Manny Machado from last night's game against the Red Sox after the first inning due to concerns about the All-Star's safety in the growing feud between the teams.

Showalter considered the idea after a Chris Sale pitch zipped behind Machado's knees. Machado talked him out of it and homered in the seventh inning.

"I took Manny down the runway there after the first inning because I was leaning toward taking him out of the game," Showalter said. "It was obvious that it didn't seem like he was going to be protected by the umpires in that situation, and I didn't trust them not to do it again. I had a good long talk with him. If he gets thrown out of that game or does something to get suspended, then they win. I just didn't want that to happen.

"Those are the types of things that I police and try to talk about about, I try to do. Those are important things. If I had known some things that had gone on with Adam (Jones) the other night, we probably would have come off the field. But I didn't. I knew about this. It was pretty obvious.

"On the field, I didn't like that look. I hadn't seen that since ... and I didn't trust what was going on on the field by the other people that I can't see or read their heart. Manny, I felt better than I did before I had the conversation with him that he wouldn't let him win that as long as he wasn't provoked again."

The bad blood between the teams led to today's conference call with commissioner Rob Manfred, chief baseball officer Joe Torre, Showalter, executive vice president Dan Duquette, Red Sox manager John Farrell and general manager Dave Dombrowski. Showalter and Duquette didn't provide much in the way of specifics, but it's clear that punishments were threatened if pitchers continued to throw at hitters.

"Major League Baseball would like to see the focus on the game on the field and the rivalry that's developed between the Orioles and the Red Sox," Duquette said. "It's been very spirited and some of the on-field behaviors, Major League Baseball is discouraging so that we can keep the focus on the best players and keep the best players on the field."

It started with Machado's slide into Dustin Pedroia back in Baltimore and continued with reliever Matt Barnes' pitch behind Machado's head that led to a four-game suspension and Sale's 98 mph fastball behind Machado's legs. The Red Sox were irritated that Dylan Bundy hit Mookie Betts on the hip during Monday night's game.

"Our concern is that our players have an even playing field on which to compete and that our guys compete within the rules," Duquette said. "I'm really proud of the way that our players have represented the Orioles and played under very stressful conditions. Our guys have performed. They've kept their poise and they've performed admirably.

"We play the game hard every night and we play the game hard and to win. But I'm going to say this: Two years ago, when their third baseman (Pablo Sandoval) ran into (Jonathan) Schoop at second base and we lost Schoop for an extended period of time, our guys didn't go headhunting the best Red Sox hitters. We don't play that way. The organization doesn't encourage that and Buck doesn't allow that, and that's the right way to play baseball. And that's how we feel the Orioles play baseball, winning baseball."

Asked about the threat of disciplinary measures from the commissioner's office, Duquette replied, "Obviously, they'd like it to stop. They've contemplated certain disciplines, but I think the call was organized to get the behaviors on the field to stop and get focused on the best players in the game."

Showalter only confirmed that he was on the call.

"Oh, that's private," he said. "That's why they call it a conference call. You all weren't on it, were you? So that's why they call it a conference call. Trying to get ready to figure out a way to beat (Drew) Pomeranz. That's where everybody's focus is."

The pitch from Barnes figured to end the feud, at least on the Red Sox's end, but it's only gained in intensity.

"I'm not going to get into that he said, she said, we said," Showalter said. "We're trying to win a baseball game and play it. We know how this goes. When you stop and think about how the whole thing got moved, it's unfortunate because there's a lot of byproducts from it. We've got a reporter from a (Boston) paper asking our guys questions during the game last night. I don't know how he got that seat. It was a pretty good seat. It's just strange.

Duquette and Showalter supported the strong comments made by Machado following the game, which included how he's lost all respect for the Red Sox organization.

"Manny's out there doing his job, OK?" Duquette said. "Manny played a terrific game Monday night. He played a good game last night and he's out there giving his best day-in and day-out for the club, which we appreciate. OK? He shouldn't have to fear for his livelihood every time he comes up to the plate to do his job."

Machado went on a profanity-laced tirade last night that's made the rounds on the Internet and various networks.

"I heard that. I saw it," Showalter said. "He's very frustrated. I know at the time, Kristen (Hudak in Orioles public relations) and I talked about that Manny was going to talk to you guys and ladies. What are you going to do? I'd rather him get that out as opposed to have it pent in. And it was there.

"You better walk a mile in his shoes before you start saying something, because it's a tough pair of shoes to walk in. As is everybody's. This is hard to do, to stand in the batter's box and try to do what these guys do or stand on the mound and do what these guys do. Or walk in a coach's shoes. It's hard. But he had something he had to get off his chest and I think he did."

The Orioles don't know whether the conference call will have a positive impact as the series continues through Thursday night. They're not letting the situation distract them.

"We're going out and play the game to win," Duquette said, "as we always do."