Showalter on team "getting back together"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter monitored the rundown drills on every back field this morning, offering instruction and making sure they were done properly before moving to the next location. He also watched batting practice on the Camden Yards replica field, chatting with Chris Davis as the slugger waited his next turn in the cage.

Showalter seemed to be at his happiest after spotting Manny Machado taking ground balls beside Jonathan Schoop on the turf field. He walked over to his third baseman and hugged him. All was right in his baseball world.

"There's only two or three guys I haven't seen," Showalter said. "It's nice. Other players see that. It's also a tribute to the facility. Guys like coming here. They all say it's the best they go to, especially guys coming to our organization. Getting back together.

"I try to leave them alone in the offseason, but it's hard. I really like talking to them and being around. Everybody does. I think it's something we have going for us. Guys really sincerely respect and like each other.

"When you've been through a lot of the battles we've been through together, there's so many things that are unspoken. You know just looking at each other. I don't want to get too cuddly here. You try to give them their space but you enjoy being around them. You enjoy what we're getting ready to undertake here."

The first full-squad workout will be held on Friday, but today had a different feel to it as most of the position players reported to camp.

"It was good to see Manny and them," Showalter said. "I talked to Manny a little bit. Going to play him at shortstop down here, get him ready for (the WBC). He's kind of gotten verified he's going to be playing shortstop, so I want to get him ready for that.

"I told him tomorrow I'd give him a schedule of games and let him pick which ones he wants to play shortstop in. It sounds like he wants to play a lot."

J.J. Hardy wasn't going to play much anyway in the early portion of the exhibition schedule.

"It doesn't take anything away from him," Showalter said.

Schoop will be the first Oriole to leave for the WBC, heading out on Feb. 28 to join Team Netherlands.

"He's looking forward to it," Showalter said. "He looks good."

Schoop will be one of the players who's active in the early games because of his extended absence later in camp.

"We'll see if it's so much that they make road trips," Showalter said, smiling.

Showalter checked on Chris Tillman again today to make sure there were no shoulder issues after yesterday's game of catch.

"I caught him on a back field, Field 2, throwing a ball to home plate," Showalter said. "I said, 'I caught you,' and he goes, 'No, I was way down here.'"

Tillman lowered his arm slot to show that he wasn't technically throwing.

"I said, 'No. Anything that you have to move your arm forward on is a no-no.' "