Tonight's MVP, the "Hot Stove Show" and AFL notes

The Baseball Writers' Association of America has reached the end of its awards season tonight with ballots revealed for Most Valuable Player in both leagues.

The Orioles don't have a dog in the fight, but we'll find out where third baseman Manny Machado placed in the voting.

The final three is comprised of the Astros' Jose Altuve, the Red Sox's Mookie Betts and the Angels' Mike Trout.

Machado wasn't cracking this group.

Will closer Zach Britton get some love? He finished fourth in Cy Young voting, but if certain members of the BBWAA don't think he belongs in that discussion, they're not going to consider him for MVP.

Trout has a chance to finish in the top two for the fifth straight season. If he wins tonight after the Angels finished 14 games below .500, we'll again have to revisit the V in MVP.

I didn't have a vote, but Betts was a beast against the Orioles and that stuck in my mind. I saw way too much of the guy to consider anyone else for the award - fair or otherwise.

Machado finished ninth in 2013 and fourth last year. He batted .294/.343/.533 this season, with 40 doubles, a triple, 37 home runs and 96 RBIs in 157 games.

The average, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs, RBIs and 105 runs were career highs. His 188 hits fell one short and his 6.7 WAR tied for second.

Machado would have received stronger consideration for MVP if his second half had more closely mimicked his first. He batted .318/.375/.569 before the All-Star break and .266/.306/.492 after it.

The month of July was especially difficult for Machado, who batted .204/.288/.337 with one double, four home runs and eight RBIs in 25 games. He hit .243/.288/.409 with two doubles, five home runs and 13 RBIs in 29 games in September/October.

Britton received five first-place votes last night in the Cy Young balloting. Six writers excluded him - Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com - both of the Cleveland chapter of the BBWAA - Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com in Kansas City, La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star.

* The "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan returns on Thursdays beginning tonight from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette is confirmed as the first guest. Stop by and say hello.

The "Hot Stove Show" will air every Thursday through March 30, excluding breaks for Thanksgiving on Nov. 24 and Christmas on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. Every show in March will be broadcast at the Orioles' spring training complex in Sarasota.

I'll be available for the majority of them, again joining MASN and Orioles Radio Network broadcaster Jim Hunter.

Wouldn't it be nice if Duquette's appearance coincided with breaking news? I'm not holding my breath, but the timing would be sweet.

Duquette won't show up tonight with Mark Trumbo's new contract in hand. He won't be introducing a new right fielder or catcher unless something unforeseen happens earlier in the day. The Orioles are getting closer to naming a new pitching coach, but there are no guarantees that it happens this week.

* Parker Bridwell allowed one hit in three scoreless innings yesterday for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. Bridwell walked none, struck out one and lowered his ERA to 2.57 in four appearances.

Three of those outings have been scoreless.

Bridwell replaced Jesus Liranzo on the Peoria roster. Liranzo came down with a strained back.

Outfielder DJ Stewart went 2-for-4 yesterday with a double and RBI. He's batting .244 with six doubles, one triple, one home run and nine RBIs.