Beckham fields more questions about Machado

Orioles shortstop Tim Beckham is making the rounds.

The Orioles' annual holiday party for kids at Dave & Buster's at Arundel Mills Mall. A visit to the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. A phone interview on the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. A Skype interview yesterday morning on "Hot Stove" on MLB Network.

Beckham adjusted his cap yesterday, which he turned backward, lowered his head momentarily and chose his words carefully when asked about Manny Machado's desire to play shortstop and the likelihood that it's going to happen if the Orioles don't trade the three-time All-Star.

You can question Beckham's consistency on defense, but not the way he fields the Machado questions. He's been sure-handed.

"Well, with that being said, that's something that's out of my reach and that's something that I'm sure the front office is going to handle and if they go with that decision, I mean, that's kind of out of my read and out of my control," Beckham said. "I like to control what I can control. We have a great front office and we've got a great managing staff and I know they're going to make the right decision and put the right people on the field in order for us to compete every night.

"As a competitor that's what we want to do. We want to go out and we want to win ballgames every single night and have the potential to make the playoffs and possibly the World Series."

Harold Reynolds, the program's host and a former Orioles second baseman, praised Beckham for his maturity in how he's dealing with an uncomfortable situation. And this is an important compliment directed at a player whose maturity was questioned during his tenure with the Rays, who made him the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.

There's no denying that Beckham wants to be the starting shortstop on opening day and his failure to keep the job will be a tremendous disappointment. The cut will deepen if he's reduced to a utility role.

I've read trade proposals that include Cubs shortstop Addison Russell and Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Beckham's done the same. Give him credit for showing the proper restraint and expressing his confidence that the front office will do what's best for the team - all the while wondering if it's truly sold on him.

The Orioles loved the jolt that Beckham provided in August, when he took over the top spot in the order and batted .394/.417/.646 with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 19 RBIs. He crashed back down to earth in September with a .180/.255/.348 slash line and a strained right hamstring that he aggravated upon his return on the 29th.

Hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh worked with Beckham on driving the ball to all fields, an approach he will try to carry into the 2018 season.

"In order to give yourself the most opportunity to be as consistent as possible, for me it's that right field approach and allowing myself to see the ball deep and forcing myself to trust my hands," Beckham said. "The game's hard enough as it is, so you make adjustments day to day and you make adjustments from pitch to pitch and some days you don't feel as good as you did yesterday.

"Coolbaugh definitely helped me on the day-to-day grind and the day-to-day adjustments in order to have success on the field that second half. Just reminded me to see the ball deeper and trust my hands and force myself to work my hands."

Beckham knows how to work a room, especially with a young and receptive audience.

Beckham's offseason included a stop at Dave and Buster's on Tuesday to serve lunch to kids from John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School and play games with them. He joined teammates Trey Mancini and Mike Wright.

"It was fun," he said on 105.7 The Fan. "It was a great experience. Obviously, I loved the opportunity to interact with some of the inner-city kids from Baltimore and just be able to use my platform to brighten up their holidays.

"It's something I've always done back in my hometown. I like to give back around the holiday season - Thanksgiving and Christmas - and it's something I've done a couple times in Tampa as far as visiting the outpatient hospitals, as well. So it's just something I love to do around the holidays."

Beckham's visit to Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital provided another glimpse at the softer side of his personality.

"Just seeing those kids being as strong as they are," he said. "Some of them are going through some tough times and just the fact that they keep going every day and the fact that I can just use my platform to put a smile on their face. One kid that was a really big Orioles fan, having a good time with him and we ended up following each other on social media. Maybe I have a little friend for life."

Note: In case you missed the tweet last night, former Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim signed a four-year, $10.58 million deal with the LG Twins of the KBO, according to Sports Seoul.

The Orioles signed Kim to a two-year, $7 million contract in December 2015 and he batted .302/.382/.420 in 95 games the following season while working in a platoon role, and after refusing to accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk in spring training that created a major controversy and caused him to be booed on opening day.

Kim appeared in 56 games with the Orioles this summer, losing at-bats to rookie Mancini in left field, before they traded him to the Phillies for pitcher Jeremy Hellickson. He batted a combined .231/.307/.292 in 96 games, never attaining a full-time role in the U.S. due in part to his defensive shortcomings and the perception that he couldn't hit left-handed pitching.

Kim collected only two hits in 33 at-bats against southpaws.

Shamless plug alert: I'm scheduled to appear on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" later this morning. I suspect that Machado's name will come up in the interview.