Showalter on Machado's award and shortstop debate (O's lead 7-3)

Batting practice was halted before 5 p.m. today and the tarp again was unrolled and stretched over the infield with the pending arrival of the latest storm, which has hit twice to varying degrees.

Manny Machado's selection as American League Player of the Week didn't exactly send shockwaves through the home clubhouse at Camden Yards.

Machado batted .385 (10-for-26) with a double, four home runs - including two grand slams - and 12 RBIs over six games. Among his AL counterparts, Manny finished first in RBIs, tied for first in home runs, second in total bases (23), tied for second in extra-base hits (five) and ninth in slugging percentage (.885).

"It's impressive," said manager Buck Showalter. "First of all, you look at the competition. You're talking about 14 clubs. I think any of those things - Player of the Day, Player of the Week, Player of the Month - it's something you can be real proud of. But it's a 'what have you done for me lately?' world, too.

"I don't know how you can do more than Manny's done here recently."

Machado batted .230/.296/.445 in 83 games in the first half. He's hitting .345/.373/.595 in 36 games since the break.

"Somebody's going to pay," Showalter said. "It's frustrating and somebody's going to pay when you have that type of ability. We're still holding out some hope that it happens between now and the end of the year with a couple other guys. And not just position players."

J.J. Hardy begins his injury rehab assignment tonight at Triple-A Norfolk and Showalter is peppered daily with questions about the shortstop position that's currently occupied by Tim Beckham.

How will Showalter make it work after Hardy comes off the disabled list?

Beckham has hit safely in 17 of 19 games with the Orioles and is batting .438/.458/.775 with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs and 12 RBIs.

"So many things can change," Showalter said. "It could be five days away, it could be two weeks away. Who knows? I know you have to (ask) and people want to know and it's part of the fun for fans to say, 'What would you do? This is what I'd do. You've got to do this, you've got to do that.' I've got it. If you held a gun to my head right now, I know what I'd do, but I don't have to do that yet and let's take everything into play before we get there."

Is there anything about Hardy that Showalter would like to see rub off on Beckham?

"If I said that, then it would be something I don't think Tim's good at," Showalter said. "I don't think we know that. We've certainly seen the really good part of it. No reason why he can't continue to (move) toward the promise that everybody thought he had."

Another attempt was made to pry more out of Showalter. Is there any aspect of Hardy's game that would benefit Beckham?

"Sure there is, sure there is. Of course there is," Showalter said.

"There are a few things about Tim I'd like to have rub off on J.J."

Hardy hasn't found his name in a lineup since June 18 after fracturing a bone in his right wrist. He's been taking batting practice outdoors in recent days.

"J.J.'s looking forward to being down there and getting to play again," Showalter said. "He misses playing. He feels great physically, by the way. He's putting on a show in BP. He plans on playing nine innings tonight.

"He's planning on being prepared to go on the road with them if he doesn't feel like he's ready after the three or four games there."

Minor league infield coordinator Dave Anderson will monitor Hardy's rehab assignment.

Asked what Beckham needs to show in order to be considered for the shortstop job next season, Showalter replied, "He has, he has."

"He's done some good things since he's been here. We'll see what the next month and a half brings with all the things, but that's down the road. We're trying to play and win tonight's game and we think he can really contribute. He's done that for us. He certainly showed things that he's capable of.

"A lot of that stuff, there's no perfect player or coach or manager or writer or whoever. We're always spending so much time on what someone can't do instead of what they can do. It's so easy to sit in the ivory tower and talk about everything somebody can't do.

"Tim's done well here, obviously."

Reliever Miguel Castro is expected back in Baltimore on Tuesday, but he can't come off the bereavement list until the following day.

The Orioles granted infielder Paul Janish his release from Triple-A Norfolk. Janish is retiring and joining Rice University's coaching staff.

Arrangements have been made for young Athletics outfielder Boog Powell to meet former Orioles slugger Boog Powell before Tuesday's game.

"He asked me what kind of meat I liked," the A's Powell told reporters, "so I think he's going to make something good."

For the Athletics
Rajai Davis LF
Marcus Semien SS
Jed Lowrie 2B
Khris Davis DH
Ryon Healy 1B
Chad Pinder RF
Matt Chapman 3B
Dustin Garneau C
Boog Powell CF

Chris Smith RHP

Update: Matt Chapman's double in the second inning scored Ryon Healy and gave Oakland a 1-0 lead. Chad Pinder was out at the plate.

Update II: The Orioles settled for a game-tying run in the second after loading the bases with no outs. Mark Trumbo flied to the left field fence to score Adam Jones, who led off with a single.

Update III: Jones homered off Chris Smith leading off the fourth to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

Update IV: Jonathan Schoop hit a three-run homer off Smith in the fifth and Jones greeted reliever Ryan Dull with another solo shot to give the Orioles a 6-1 lead. They've gone back-to-back 10 times this season.

Jed Lowrie homered off Wade Miley in the sixth to reduce the lead to 6-2.

Update V: Boog Powell homered off Brad Brach in the top of the eighth - the first of his career - and Welington Castillo homered off Michael Brady in the bottom half. Orioles 7, Athletics 3