Orioles can't let defense rest at third base, Britton on his baby boy

NEW YORK - As soon as Manny Machado underwent surgery on his right knee last month, the Orioles figured to miss his defense at third base more than his production at the plate. Platinum gloves are hard to replace. Chris Davis was an adequate substitute for Machado, but he's down in Sarasota while serving his 25-game suspension. The Orioles need to stabilize the position as they approach the Division Series. Orioles third basemen have committed five errors in the last seven games - two each by Ryan Flaherty and Jimmy Paredes, and one by Kelly Johnson. Paredes made two poor throws last night, but one play was scored a hit. Paredes seems to be the most challenged, and he's always replaced in the late innings. However, he began last night's game batting .333 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in 15 games with the Orioles. Will manager Buck Showalter be comfortable starting Paredes in the playoffs, even if he's on the field for only six or seven innings? Will Paredes be on the Division Series roster? That's the expectation, but the Orioles could go in a few directions. "We're looking at some personnel this time of the year, try to help us make good decisions as we try to put our roster together, so we'll see," Showalter said. Sounds like some guys need to be careful or they may play their way off the roster. If Johnson is on it, he could continue to start at second base with Jonathan Schoop in a 4-for-47 slump. Showalter has more options at third base If Schoop is starting, especially against left-handed pitching. Whatever the arrangement, the Orioles need to cut down on the errors at the hot corner. So says Captain Obvious here. Johnson had an error at second base last night, though it actually took place in shallow right field as part of the shift. J.J. Hardy had the other one on a poor throw to second on an attempted force, but he's the least of the Orioles' worries. Speaking of slumps, catcher Caleb Joseph is hitless in his last 28 at-bats. He doesn't have a hit since going 3-for-5 on Sept. 10. Joseph went 0-for-3 last night, had a passed ball and tripped while trying to make a throw to first base after fielding a bunt. Then, he had to wear a costume for rookie hazing. Not the best timing, especially when passing through customs on a trip to Toronto. The Orioles are now 26-1 when they hit three or more home runs. We weren't speaking of babies, but Zach Britton's wife Courtney is due with the couple's first one next month. I know what you're thinking. What about the playoffs? "We're hoping to be able to induce Oct. 9. That's an off day. That's kind of the goal right now," Britton said. "Obviously, the baby could come sooner, but that's what we have planned so far, on the 9th to hopefully be able to induce. I can fly out there and then come right back before the games start. That way, I don't miss any time with the team or anything like that." Britton's wife will have the baby, a boy, in Burbank, Calif. It will be convenient if the Orioles are playing the Angels in the Championship Series. "I'll just fly out there and come back," Britton said. "I guess if we're out there, it would be perfect. Or if we're in Kansas City, too, or wherever we are. But it's probably going to be after the Division Series. "The baby could come sooner. We're just hoping he has good timing." Britton said the doctors seem "pretty confident" that Zander Lee Britton will wait until Oct. 9, "but there's no control." "After a certain point," he said, "it's kind of up to when the baby is ready." Zach and Courtney did the math as soon as they received word about her pregnancy. Nine months takes them into ... "We were hoping November. It didn't work out that way," he said. "Yeah, we started putting the numbers together. We didn't know the playoff schedule, but we were like, 'Hey, if we get that far, it's probably going to be interesting.' Buck knew all the way. He knew in spring training when she got pregnant, but we didn't know the due date yet. Once we kind of found out, he kept laughing. 'Hey, you're going to be in trouble.' But I guess it's a good situation to be in, playing this late in the year. Just hoping everything works out and the baby's healthy. But I don't want to miss any time with the team. "This is an exciting time for everybody, so we'll do our best to compromise both ways." Britton is closing for the first time. Talk about pressure. Now, factor in the stress of becoming a father next month. Maybe it's not as intense as it seems. "I think it's actually made the season a little easier," he said. "In the past, you get so wrapped up in baseball, it's kind of the only thing. I have a wife, too, and you spend time with her, but it seems like your total focus is on baseball. Now, it's easier to take a step back and realize there's a family, little boy who's going to rely on you, too. "I think it just makes it a little easier to go out and play and be able to leave baseball here and enjoy family a little more than I've done in the past, unfortunately. I think it's made me realize you can leave baseball at the field and go home and not let that dictate how you act around your family, so it's been a good thing."