Hearing from Showalter after 3-1 win over Yankees

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have agreed to terms with 16 players on one-year contracts. All players currently on the 40-man roster are now signed for 2015.

The list includes pitchers Brad Brach, Jason Garcia, Kevin Gausman, Logan Verrett, Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Tim Berry and T.J. McFarland, catchers Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph, infielders Manny Machado, Jimmy Paredes, Jonathan Schoop and Christian Walker, and outfielders David Lough and Henry Urrutia.

Machado has his contract renewed last spring, which caused some friction. Not this year.

Manager Buck Showalter considered making another cut today, but decided to wait until Wednesday to further reduce the size of his spring training roster.

machado-swing-gray-sidebar.jpgHere are some of Showalter's observations from today's 3-1 victory over the Yankees:

* On Machado: "He's been good since Day One. He's been squaring up a lot of balls. Manny's locked in. He's good. He's been moving and running. I'm not going to give any secrets, but everybody here's on their own (to steal). We have a must-go sign. That tells you how good he's feeling. He went from first to third. You can tell how good he feels."

* On Schoop: "Jonathan's had good at-bats since he got here."

* On Steve Johnson: "He threw the ball well today. First time he's gotten up into the 90-91 range. That's good to see."

* On Garcia: "It's good to see Garcia get a little hitch in the giddyup and get through it. Coming into the game, I turned to Alan (Mills) and I said, 'Alan, this is going to be a pretty good look here because it's the first time you've got a bunch of bells and whistles and the crowd and he's facing a better part of the lineup and we're playing a team that some people think is noteworthy. I thought he might get a little... He presented himself well. He was a little upset afterward. I actually think he's going through, not a dead arm but a little not quite the life he had earlier, so it was good to see him get through it."

* On Jomar Reyes: "We had Jomar Reyes over here today running. Have you stood next to him? That's a lot of man there - 6-4 1/2, 250, 18. He looks the part."

* On Ramon Martinez: "Dave (Wallace) was instrumental in getting Ramon here. He thinks the world of him. Class act and also one of the most respected guys in the Dominican Republic. He can help us in countless ways over there with just the respect people have for him in the Dominican and him wearing our uniform and the knowledge he has and the contacts he has in the Dominican and the respect. He walks through the clubhouse and I've had three or four people ask me already, 'How did you guys get him?' When I left to come off the field, he was still down there. He's got a great way about him. A good presentation to players. A lot of people forget, his brother (Pedro) was pretty good. I got it. But he was, too."

* On Matt Wieters: "Matt was talking about whether he's going to take tomorrow off and then go to Dunedin (Friday). We're going to decide tomorrow. He's had a lot of swings. He's now leading our club in plate appearances this spring, which was what we wanted to do."

Showalter went on a hilarious rant about the Orioles giving away a Buck Showalter garden gnome on June 27.

"That's still up in the air," he said. "No, we're not going to do that. Did you see (Norfolk manager) Ron Johnson's last year? R.J. told me, 'Whatever you do, don't let it happen.' He said it was the worst night of his life. He said whatever respect he had among the players was gone."

Showalter made sure to have the Ron Johnson gnomes delivered to his office at Camden Yards.

"Oh yeah, I did. I've got a bunch of them," Showalter said. "First time he came to us in September, it was sitting behind my desk. He said, 'Really? You too?'

"No, we're not going to do that. I mean, I can be bought, but... No. What is the purpose? Do Manny Machado.

"People get up in the morning and they go, 'Honey, are we going to the game today? Hmmm, I don't know. They've got that gnome tonight. Pack up the kids, we're going.' Really?"




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