Zach Wilt: Machado's talent is something to cherish

With every Orioles game that's played this season, I'm personally doing my best to appreciate what I'm able to witness every night. I hope you're doing the same. Watching Manny Machado, in every aspect of the game, is an absolute thrill. I don't want to take it for granted. This could be the year that we point to as the beginning of a superstar career. When we reflect on his playing days in years down the road, I want to be able to recall moments from this season. It's truly special what this guy is doing day in and day out in an Orioles uniform.

You've probably read or listened to or watched comparisons between Machado and the other two young superstars of baseball, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. I'm not going to waste digital ink rewriting what many, many others already have. Why should I? We all know that Machado is playing every bit as good as those MVPs.

Instead, I'm more focused on how he's doing this. What has made Machado this good in 2016? How has he already provided more value (according to fWAR) in 32 games 2016 than he did in his injury-shortened 82 game season in 2014? Why is he on pace to hit 76 doubles, 51 homers and 116 RBI?

Orioles Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations Dan Duquette, who has years of experience in scouting, provided some interesting insight on this topic on Buster Olney's Baseball Tonight Podcast on Wednesday. "He's just gotten more selective at the plate and he knows what he can hit and he's spending more time getting pitches that he can hit," Duquette told Olney. That couldn't be more true. So far this season, Machado is pulling the ball 36.9 percent of the the time, hitting to center 35.1 percent of the time and hitting opposite field 27.9 percent. He's basically able to place hits wherever he wishes.

Machado's spray chart is a work of art for the baseball nerd. He's hitting extra base hits down the lines and picking up singles all across the diamond. When he gets a pitch he drive, he pulls it far to left and left-center field. It's remarkable the way he's been able to use the entire diamond.

"He gets his bat on a plane that allows him to hit a lot of pitches in a lot of different areas," Duquette added. "He's got such great hand eye coordination that he can wait a little bit longer on the pitch that's away from him and he's quick enough to get his hands out in front on a pitch that's close to him inside."

Duquette credited Machado's daily preparation in batting practice for his ability to place the ball wherever he wishes. He told Olney that Machado simulates game situations when warming up which helps to prepare him each time he steps into the box. "Eddie Murray used to say 'I have my batting practice swing and my game swing and the batting practice swing is to get ready to play in the game'," the O's GM said. "Manny does the same thing."

Defensively, Machado has continued his dominance on the field. Except now, he's gotten a chance to flash some leather at shortstop with J.J. Hardy on the disabled list. He's got a pair of Gold Gloves for his handy work at third base in 2013 and 2015 and was worth 14 defensive runs saved last season. His Inside Edge Fielding statistics from FanGraphs have shown an ability to consistently make routine plays, but to also get to balls that most fielders have a remote or unlikely chance of reaching. We've seen him at shortstop in just 86 innings this season, but he's already showing signs of above average range there according to RngR (range runs above average). This comes as no surprise to O's fans that have watched his work at third over the past four seasons.

Every inning of baseball that we get see Machado play this season is truly special. I'm making it a point to enjoy it on a nightly basis. These types of seasons don't happen often. Make sure you're taking time to truly appreciate the year that an Oriole becomes one of the game real superstars.

Zach Wilt blogs about the Orioles at Baltimore Sports Report. Follow him on Twitter: @zach_wilt. His views appear here as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our pages. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.