Machado on Judge's comments, playing with Schoop and more

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - For the first time since it happened on Wednesday in Sarasota, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado today discussed the comments made to him that day by the Yankees' Aaron Judge. Judge told New York reporters that he told Machado he'd "look good in pinstripes."

Major League Baseball issued a statement saying Judge's comments "were not appropriate and not authorized by the club."

"I think he's a great guy," Machado said outside the Orioles clubhouse. "He's a great kid, and he always means well. Everyone always jokes around about a lot of things, and things that we say on the field usually stay on the field.

"I've told a lot of people they'd look good in black and orange, as well, trying to get guys over here. It's just part of the game. You want to put the best team out there on your field and if I'm a part of this team, I want to bring the best guys over here as much as I can. I want to get a ring, as well.

"I think it was just blown out of proportion. I'm always going to back him up. He's a great kid and has a bright future ahead of him."

In other topics, Machado discussed the comfort level he's found at shortstop once again, making up a double play combination with second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Just like they did in the minors.

"Oh, yeah, it's fun. Me and Jon go way back," Machado said. "We're just excited to be right back up the middle and playing together. This could be possibly the last year that we are, and it just takes us back to the first day that we met. I'm just looking forward to this year. We're going to do a lot of special things up the middle there and a lot of special things with this team."

I asked Machado if a player can get a feel in spring training for how a team might play in the regular season. Does he have a feel about this O's team yet?

"We haven't played all together on one field, everyone on the squad," he said. "I think later on in spring, maybe the last couple of days, is when you kind of just start getting the feel for who's going to go off, who's going to do things right. You get the feel of how we're going to do this year. So far, it's been great. I think we've been playing great D. We're running the bases the right way. We've been doing everything offensively as well, like we always have. Now it's a matter of just putting it all together as a team."

During the earlier answer about playing with Schoop, Machado referenced that this could be his last year in Baltimore. How is he dealing with those questions and that speculation?

"I mean, it is what it is," Machado said. "I'm going out there and I'm going to give it all. I'm going to give it my all like I always have. This is the organization that drafted me, this is the organization I've played for. I've become who I am today because of this organization. Whatever happens after this season, it's part of the business. It's part of everything. But you know what? I'm always going to have the Orioles and Baltimore in my heart."