In the summer of 2012, Bobby Dickerson helped ferry a 20-year-old prospect to the majors.



It was Dickerson, a minor-league infield coordinator, who went to Double-A Bowie and introduced Manny Machado to the fundamentals of playing third base. It was Dickerson’s coaching Machado drew on that August, when he parachuted into a pennant race and showed signs of greatness at a position he was still learning. It was Dickerson’s penchant for having an effect that led to a promotion: The following April, the Baltimore Orioles’ new third-base coach and Machado experienced their first Opening Day together.



And, when the Padres hired Dickerson this offseason, his connection to their starting third baseman and highest-paid player certainly factored into the choice. It would be a stretch to say this was the only reason why Dickerson left his job as the Philadelphia Phillies’ infield coach for an assignment on the opposite coast. It might not be a stretch to...