When Manny Machado crumpled to the field and clutched at his knee during Monday afternoon, Orioles fans had to assume the worst. In a Tuesday news conference at Camden Yards, there was plenty of optimism for what at first looked like an injury that would take Machado out for most of a season.
The diagnosis is a torn medial patellofemoral ligament and has an expected 6-8 weeks of recovery, which would have Machado ready in time for spring training next season. That is near the kneecap, but is not the kneecap, which would be the patella.
According to the Orioles, there is no damage to either the MCL or the ACL, which was the initial concern for everyone. Machado will still seek a second opinion just to confirm the diagnosis and re-evaluate in four weeks. Everyone involved with the Orioles seems to be treating it as good news. Compared to a torn ACL, a 6-8 week recovery that will only cause him to miss the final regular season games of 2013 is fantastic news.
one source said it's about 90 percent that Machado WILL NOT need surgery. They'll re-evaluate in several weeks. Prolly just rehab after that
— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) September 24, 2013
90 percent on not needing surgery sounds pretty good, don't you think?