Manny Machado: "I live in the moment, I don't look ahead"

The question has come Manny Machado's direction several times this spring already. The only thing that was new today was it came at him in his home clubhouse on the eve of opening day.

Does Machado feel differently as this season is about to start? It will be his seventh, but possibly his last, in an Orioles uniform.

"You know, I live in the moment, I don't look ahead," Machado said, surrounded by reporters. "Try to look forward to tomorrow walking down that orange carpet. And playing again at Oriole Park. This is one of the best moments - opening day. And being part of a team and great organization. After that, can't control anything that will happen in the future.

"Yeah, there are always emotions running through. You have to separate a little bit and try to control it. But definitely I have a lot of memories in this clubhouse and this park. Those will always be with me at all times and those moments will never be forgotten."

Machado's double play partner, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, was asked about his own emotions knowing this could be his last season playing with his friend.

"I'm not ... I won't even think about it right now," Schoop said. "I don't want to think about it. I wish we could stay together for a long time. But one thing we can do: control what we do. Go out there and play. The business side, we can't control it. I wish we could stay forever together, but we cannot control it."

Machado had a strong spring, both at bat and in the field. The move back to shortstop has been rather seamless so far.

"It's been fun and exciting," he said. "It's what I've been working on all offseason and in spring training with Bobby (Dickerson, O's coach). Like I've said before, it is kind of like riding a bike, going back over there. It is like I haven't missed a beat. It's a matter of finally playing under the lights. That's a different story."

Machado agrees that the recent additions of pitchers Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb not only serve as a big boost to the rotation, but now create greater expectations for this 2018 season.

"It gives us confidence that the front office is on the same page that we are," he said. "We always come into spring and want to contend, we want to make the playoffs and try to win a ring. The front office made the moves that we needed to make, bringing in the guys that we needed.

"Our pitching staff is looking pretty good. I wouldn't say it's one of the best, but I think we're confident that they will go out there and get the job done. At the end of the day, it is about playing as a team. If we can play as a team and do everything we can together, we can surprise a lot people like we have in the past. It's about believing in the 25 guys we have in here."

A three-time All-Star, Machado hit .259/.310/.471 last year with 33 homers and 95 RBIs. His .782 OPS was his lowest since 2014. But after a winter of uncertainty in terms of trade talk, he was back at his familiar locker, hoping to begin another playoff push on Thursday afternoon.

"Another season I've got to put up numbers," he said. "Try to help this team win. Nothing more to it than that. Gotta go out and play the best (defense) I can. Play the best baseball I can. Hopefully, we can take this team to the playoffs and do everything possible to get Baltimore another ring."

Now opening day awaits for fans and players alike.

"Running down the carpet is always fun when the crowd is out there and the kids are beside you," Machado said. "You get to see the whole stadium packed. It is fun to see that view. The orange carpet is always by far the best."