Hold Your Breath: Manny Machado Runs

Just try to watch this video of Manny Machado running at full speed to second base, without holding  your breath.

No seriously, I’ll wait.

Machado was all smiles during his appearance at Orioles Minicamp, but I have to admit to being a little uncomfortable. Even though he said he came back from his honeymoon feeling “like freaking God” (TMI there, Manny?), and even though he said it’s been a while since he’s felt this healthy… the last two years have placed doubt in my mind.

The young star wasn’t expected to come down with his first horrific knee injury, and he wasn’t expected to have his 2014 campaign cut short by a second knee injury. DON’T TELL ME “HE SHOULD BE FINE!”

Whereas my doubt has no leg to stand on (not only am I not a doctor, but I also failed to stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night), I can’t help but feel uncomfortable with Machado – I don’t know how long it will take for me to lose that feeling of waiting for the other foot (or knee?) to drop.

Compounding my worry is the fact that the Orioles will need Manny Machado to compete in 2015. With the talent that left via free agency, and the Orioles standing pat in the offseason, many fans remain hopeful that the return of a healthy Machado and Matt Wieters (combined with the return of a productive Chris Davis) will amount to the equivalent of three free agent signings, when comparing the 2014 and 2015 squad.

You’ll forgive me if I find this to be a pie-in-the-sky assessment. But even if you buy into it, you can’t deny that the stakes of Manny Machado’s knees are rather high. For his season. For his career. For this season. For the future competitiveness of the club.

That’s what makes me hold my breath when I watch Machado run in this video.