Orioles make two cuts, Machado talks about WBC experience

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reduced their camp roster to 42 players, including nine non-roster invitees, by optioning left-hander Richard Bleier to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning right-hander Zach Stewart to minor league camp.

Bleier, acquired from the Yankees last month, allowed three runs and 10 hits in seven innings. Stewart allowed six runs and 10 hits in 10 2/3 innings. He also tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Dominican Republic.

Stewart's runs came in his last two outings over 3 1/3 innings. The defense let him down in his final appearance against the Tigers.

Batting practice is done and Manny Machado has retreated to the Orioles clubhouse, his next Grapefruit League game set for Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium.

Machado spoke to the media outside of the baseball operations center and conveyed his excitement over playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and being back with the Orioles.

On whether he's happy to be here: "Great. Get some sun, some beach, hit some more baseballs, good times. It's fun to be back and be back with the guys and get ready for the season. It was an exciting time at the World Baseball Classic and something I'll never forget. It was a great experience, great memories taken from that. But now I'm excited to get back and try to create some new ones this year with the team that we've got here and everybody that we have.

"I know Buck (Showalter) and the coaches have been telling me that everything's been going pretty well, that the team looks pretty good and it's going to be a fun one, so I'm excited to be back and excited to be with the team. Looking forward to this year."

On his favorite parts of the WBC: "Just everything overall, the overall experience of being a part of the team, trying to represent your country and be around the guys that I was around. Just overall. I don't have one particular moment. I think just the whole overall experience was great."

On Adam Jones' catch that robbed him of a home run: "He's a great player. He's representing his country, trying to do everything, laying it out on the field every day like he does when he's here. He made a hell of a catch. I mean, it was unbelievable. It was one of the best catches I've ever seen him make or ever seen being made. It was unbelievable. Unfortunately, he robbed me, but better him than somebody else. But I'm going to be watching him tonight, rooting for him doing what he needs to do.

"I know he's enjoyed definitely the whole experience and enjoyed everything about it. At the end of the day we're all trying to represent ourselves and represent our country the right way and I think that's what we did out there."

On whether playing every inning in WBC prepares him for April: "Yeah, it does, just because I got into a little more game speed and trying to get used to the runners and trying to get that timing down, the pitching timing down. Being on your feet for nine innings. I got that out of the way. Nothing can really prepare you for April. April is an exciting day, exciting for baseball. We work so hard to get to that situation, to get there. I think you can never prepare for April, but I think I'm a little ahead of the game."

On only playing shortstop versus Puerto Rico: "At the end of the day it's about playing for your country. I was trying to do anything to win the games, do anything possible - get on base, get the guys over, whatever it takes. You take all ego out. Everyone was playing different positions. (Jose) Bautista was playing a different position, (Starling) Marté, (Gregory) Polanco. You've got to just go out there and play the game, play for the country, and at the end of the day that's all that counts."

On being ready defensively: "Before I left, I practiced a lot with Bobby (Dickerson), got myself prepared. That's what we do. We play defense in Baltimore. I was just ready to play."

On hearing fans in Miami chanting "MVP, MVP": "It was pretty impressive. It was just the overall experience. I mean, the crowd in Miami was just unbelievable. The loudest crowd I've been a part of was at Camden Yards and I think that was up there with that. So just overall hearing the crowd, playing nonstop, talking the whole time. The whole time was just an unbelievable moment."

On getting to know teammate Welington Castillo: "He's a great player. He's going to help us out. He can do both sides of the (game). He can obviously play defense and he can have some key at-bats for us like he did with the Dominican team. Finally seeing him play throughout a couple of games - I think we played seven, eight games - he's going to be a very impactful player for our organization and for the team that we have here. Looking forward to seeing what he's going to do with our pitching staff and with this team."

On whether he'd play in the WBC again: "One hundred percent. Sign me up already. Right now. It was just unbelievable, the whole experience. The fans that were out there, San Diego, Miami, they came to watch baseball. This is how baseball is supposed to be played. People are supposed to come out here and enjoy us and see us play and be in the game like how we were on every single pitch.

"I've never seen fans be so much into the game, even in San Diego. It was a sold-out crowd out there. They were into the game, every pitch, every moment, supporting us, and I think we thrive off of that. If it was up to me, I would do it every year and go and try and represent our country the best way we can. Sign me up for the next one."

On how the Orioles were represented in the WBC: "I think we did a great job. I think we went out there and held our own. I think just overall, the overall game, we did it all. We hit, we played baseball the right way. At the end of the day, we're trying to represent the organization that we play for and show them the right way, how we do things around here.

"I think we came back and everybody was excited that we did pretty well. We represented everyone in this organization, the Angelos family, Buck and Dan (Duquette). We did a pretty good job. We're trying to do everything possible to bring this organization up and do it the right way."