Machado: asshole? Dirty player? Both?

[jung]

Manny is a monster talent attached to a short-circuited head. I think the crotch grab garbage is just funny. None of that stuff actually effects play on the field, not the Bregman tweet and not the Judge boom-box thing and not the Machado crotch grab. Its baseball TV talking head fodder but not more than that. All of that stuff is just funny.

 

However, sidelining Pedey for a season if not ending his career is not funny. Banging off the Brewers Aguiler's Achilles at 1st is not funny. Grabbing the Shortstop's leg on the DP is not funny. The way he treats players on the field with utter distain which I think feeds into his willingness to injure them is not funny and all that stuff does impact play on the field. I don't care about the enormous talent when its attached to a short-circuited head. I would not give him the time of day and I sincerely hope his nonsense costs him millions of $ in the free agent market.

 

There will be teams that will just pass especially after the Aguiler play. Too many fans got an eyeful of that. Too many owners got an eyeful of that. Machado can't protect his teammates from retaliation from other teams for the real damage he does on the field and the payroll is the highest valued asset a MLB franchise has. MLB needs to get control of this mess. Ticky tack fines for doing real physical damage on the field ain't getting it done.

[Bellhorn04]

Manny is a monster talent attached to a short-circuited head. I think the crotch grab garbage is just funny. None of that stuff actually effects play on the field, not the Bregman tweet and not the Judge boom-box thing and not the Machado crotch grab. Its baseball TV talking head fodder but not more than that. All of that stuff is just funny.

 

However, sidelining Pedey for a season if not ending his career is not funny. Banging off the Brewers Aguiler's Achilles at 1st is not funny. Grabbing the Shortstop's leg on the DP is not funny. The way he treats players on the field with utter distain which I think feeds into his willingness to injure them is not funny and all that stuff does impact play on the field. I don't care about the enormous talent when its attached to a short-circuited head. I would not give him the time of day and I sincerely hope his nonsense costs him millions of $ in the free agent market.

 

There will be teams that will just pass especially after the Aguiler play. Too many fans got an eyeful of that. Too many owners got an eyeful of that. Machado can't protect his teammates from retaliation from other teams for the real damage he does on the field and the payroll is the highest valued asset a MLB franchise has. MLB needs to get control of this mess. Ticky tack fines for doing real physical damage on the field ain't getting it done.

 

Agree 100%. We're talking about a real pattern of behavior here.

[cp176]

Manny is a monster talent attached to a short-circuited head. I think the crotch grab garbage is just funny. None of that stuff actually effects play on the field, not the Bregman tweet and not the Judge boom-box thing and not the Machado crotch grab. Its baseball TV talking head fodder but not more than that. All of that stuff is just funny.

 

However, sidelining Pedey for a season if not ending his career is not funny. Banging off the Brewers Aguiler's Achilles at 1st is not funny. Grabbing the Shortstop's leg on the DP is not funny. The way he treats players on the field with utter distain which I think feeds into his willingness to injure them is not funny and all that stuff does impact play on the field. I don't care about the enormous talent when its attached to a short-circuited head. I would not give him the time of day and I sincerely hope his nonsense costs him millions of $ in the free agent market.

 

There will be teams that will just pass especially after the Aguiler play. Too many fans got an eyeful of that. Too many owners got an eyeful of that. Machado can't protect his teammates from retaliation from other teams for the real damage he does on the field and the payroll is the highest valued asset a MLB franchise has. MLB needs to get control of this mess. Ticky tack fines for doing real physical damage on the field ain't getting it done.

 

 

Machado's display of crude stupidity might seem like fun and funny to some. I'm betting any coach with any class would hate to have to deal with the idiot regardless of his immense talent.

[Slasher9]

i hope he doesnt win a WS this year.

i hope he doesnt sign with the Red Sox in the offseason.

[notin]

i hope he doesnt win a WS this year.

i hope he doesnt sign with the Red Sox in the offseason.

 

I do worry about the latter because DD has reportedly shown interest before...

[Hitch]

I think there's zero chance he's on the Red Sox next year. A brilliant talent. A wanker of a human being.

[Bellhorn04]

I think there's zero chance he's on the Red Sox next year. A brilliant talent. A wanker of a human being.

 

You're right, he is a bloody wanker.

[notin]

I think there's zero chance he's on the Red Sox next year. A brilliant talent. A wanker of a human being.

 

Zero? No. There was zero chance he was going to be on the Red Sox in 2018 because the Sox had very little to offer in a trade. But as a free agent, it all depends on how interested Dombrowski still is and if he cna make the money work.

 

The chances he isn't in Boston are certainly greater than the chances he is, but if past reports are true, DD was certainly a fan at one point and might still be.

 

I think Machado most likely ends up on one of the Chicago teams, who both have clear needs and more money available...

[Hitch]

He's not coming here. It doesn't make sense financially for a start. We aren't going to the money or length of years he's going to get. It actually made more sense if we could get him for a reasonable price as a rental.

[Kimmi]

i hope he doesnt win a WS this year.

i hope he doesnt sign with the Red Sox in the offseason.

 

I really don't see that happening. Either one of them.

 

IMO, signing Machado makes no sense. We are set at 3B for several years. Rather than signing Machado, lock Bogaerts up for a few more years.

[notin]

Rather than signing Machado, lock Bogaerts up for a few more years.

 

Also possible, although difficult since his agent is Boras.

 

I just bring up this possibility because there has been interest in Machado in the past and DD might still have some.

 

But he also might be less interested in a competitive bidding process. Although he did show us all he will get his man that way if need be (Price, for example)...

[Maxbialystock]

Agree 100%. We're talking about a real pattern of behavior here.

 

Like the kid from Duke who couldn't stop tripping people. The is an element of entitlement in all this. Both are very talented, and I think they assume they don't have to abide by the rules. And guess what? So far both have been absolutely right. There is no real penalty.

[Bellhorn04]

Some interesting stuff about Machado in this piece, including quotes from Matt Barnes and even Pedroia himself, on The Slide:

 

https://nypost.com/2018/10/22/machados-next-free-agent-test-comes-as-world-series-villain/

[Bellhorn04]

"Yeah, that didn't help, I'll tell you that." - Dustin Pedroia on The Slide and its effect on his current health status.

[S5Dewey]

Pedroia's comment about Machado's cheap shot on him doesn't surprise me in the least. That was Pedey's attitude from Day 1. What's unfortunate is that Pedey's comment that "It's not me, it's them" separated him from his team.

 

The Sox may not treat Machado any differently than they'd treat Sean Casey ("The Mayor") at the start of the series but IMO if there's another incident involving Machado during this series it could get really ugly really quickly.

[Slasher9]

Pedroia's comment about Machado's cheap shot on him doesn't surprise me in the least. That was Pedey's attitude from Day 1. What's unfortunate is that Pedey's comment that "It's not me, it's them" separated him from his team.

 

The Sox may not treat Machado any differently than they'd treat Sean Casey ("The Mayor") at the start of the series but IMO if there's another incident involving Machado during this series it could get really ugly really quickly.

 

joe kelly fight club

[jung]

To my memory, the biggest issue with the way both the Red Sox and Pedey handled the Machado/ Pedey incident is that the Sox kept missing Machado in an obvious effort to plunk him and just kept trying to the point of absurdity. If memory serves, Sale missed him once and Kelly missed him either once or Barnes maybe even twice. Either execute the damn plunking or give it up...you failed....THE END! That led to Pedey and his caught on camera "Its not me, its them".

 

I think were Machado might someday find himself really dealing with an ugly payback situation is if they keep him playing Shortstop in his career and he keeps pulling this crap. Even if his pegs were still solid (knees) he is simply too big to play Shortstop. He is gangly and top-heavy and awkward around 2nd base. His true asset at Short is that howitzer of an arm. Everything else he has at Short is sort of Meh and his footwork around 2nd is not even Meh. Somebody is finally going to have had all of Machado they can take and come in spikes high trying to break up the DP right into one of the those knees of his and do to Machado exactly what he did to Pedey and that will be that. The only dif will likely be that Machado will likely be facing the sliding player as opposed to Pedey who could not even see Machado coming. But it won't matter if the player is really going for Machado's knees because Machado no longer even has what you could call solid footwork around the bag. Its not even average and if this were twenty years ago, he would be laughed off the diamond by other Shortstops based on his footwork around 2nd base.

 

It is a good time to point out that Pedey's real complaint all along has been that all of these MLB rules changes protect nobody. The only thing that has arisen out of the new rules according to Pedey is that infielders are encouraged toward poor footwork because it is not as necessary as a means to protect themselves. They had rules that were sufficient to the task and simply refused to enforce them. Look at the plays where automatic DP's have been called because of the slide at 2nd base. You tell me how proper enforcement of the previous rule if enforced would not have had the same effect. I only have one example of merit.

 

The only one of those rule changes that has had or can have a beneficial impact is sliding totally beyond the bag which was not spelled out with enough specificity in the previous rule. Beyond that rule change or rule clarification, players were NEVER supposed to "chase" the infielder off the bag to left or right in an effort to break up the DP effort anyway. But umps simply refused to enforce the previous rule properly.

Edited October 23, 2018 by jung

[cp176]

To my memory, the biggest issue with the way both the Red Sox and Pedey handled the Machado/ Pedey incident is that the Sox kept missing Machado in an obvious effort to plunk him and just kept trying to the point of absurdity. If memory serves, Sale missed him once and Kelly missed him either once or Barnes maybe even twice. Either execute the damn plunking or give it up...you failed....THE END! That led to Pedey and his caught on camera "Its not me, its them".

 

I think were Machado might someday find himself really dealing with an ugly payback situation is if they keep him playing Shortstop in his career and he keeps pulling this crap. Even if his pegs were still solid (knees) he is simply too big to play Shortstop. He is gangly and top-heavy and awkward around 2nd base. His true asset at Short is that howitzer of an arm. Everything else he has at Short is sort of Meh and his footwork around 2nd is not even Meh. Somebody is finally going to have had all of Machado they can take and come in spikes high trying to break up the DP right into one of the those knees of his and do to Machado exactly what he did to Pedey and that will be that. The only dif will likely be that Machado will likely be facing the sliding player as opposed to Pedey who could not even see Machado coming. But it won't matter if the player is really going for Machado's knees because Machado no longer even has what you could call solid footwork around the bag. Its not even average and if this were twenty years ago, he would be laughed off the diamond by other Shortstops based on his footwork around 2nd base.

 

It is a good time to point out that Pedey's real complaint all along has been that all of these MLB rules changes protect nobody. The only thing that has arisen out of the new rules according to Pedey is that infielders are encouraged toward poor footwork because it is not as necessary as a means to protect themselves. They had rules that were sufficient to the task and simply refused to enforce them. Look at the plays where automatic DP's have been called because of the slide at 2nd base. You tell me how proper enforcement of the previous rule if enforced would not have had the same effect. I only have one example of merit.

 

The only one of those rule changes that has had or can have a beneficial impact is sliding totally beyond the bag which was not spelled out with enough specificity in the previous rule. Beyond that rule change or rule clarification, players were NEVER supposed to "chase" the infielder off the bag to left or right in an effort to break up the DP effort anyway. But umps simply refused to enforce the previous rule properly.

 

I don't like Machado much but i don't think that there is any denying the amazing talent. In the field and at the plate.

[jung]

I don't like Machado much but i don't think that there is any denying the amazing talent. In the field and at the plate.

 

I posted this someplace and can't find it now. Machado has a howitzer for an arm which is now his best infield asset. He is just too big and too top heavy now to play Short on what is a pair of shaky knees at this point. That is what hampers his footwork around Short. He has become in that sense what we once feared X would become at least at Short, a guy that is simply too big to play that position thus requiring a move to 3rd base which is where Machado should play out his career.

 

If Machado keeps going like this AND stays at Short, somebody is going to take him out in retaliation much like he took Pedey out. The only dif will be that Machado will see it coming but won't be able to get out of the way. Pedey never got to see Machado coming.

[Bellhorn04]

To my memory, the biggest issue with the way both the Red Sox and Pedey handled the Machado/ Pedey incident is that the Sox kept missing Machado in an obvious effort to plunk him and just kept trying to the point of absurdity. If memory serves, Sale missed him once and Kelly missed him either once or Barnes maybe even twice. Either execute the damn plunking or give it up...you failed....THE END! That led to Pedey and his caught on camera "Its not me, its them".

 

I think it was E-Rod who missed Machado several times. It was Sale who threw at Machado in a later game after the one in which Barnes threw one in the direction of Machado's head.

[cp176]

The Dodgers are a great team for sure but the only one that truly looks to me like he is threat to hit the ball very very hard every time he comes to the plate is Machado. he practically whiffs on a pitch and still comes close to knocking it off the wall. I don't like him much but he has awesome talent.

[cp176]

I posted this someplace and can't find it now. Machado has a howitzer for an arm which is now his best infield asset. He is just too big and too top heavy now to play Short on what is a pair of shaky knees at this point. That is what hampers his footwork around Short. He has become in that sense what we once feared X would become at least at Short, a guy that is simply too big to play that position thus requiring a move to 3rd base which is where Machado should play out his career.

 

If Machado keeps going like this AND stays at Short, somebody is going to take him out in retaliation much like he took Pedey out. The only dif will be that Machado will see it coming but won't be able to get out of the way. Pedey never got to see Machado coming.

 

I read your post and payed close attention to him fielding and throwing the ball last night and boy are you right on. That arm and quick release in general is very special. Note - I'm not going to be joining his fan club anytime soon but boy oh boy...

[notin]

I read your post and payed close attention to him fielding and throwing the ball last night and boy are you right on. That arm and quick release in general is very special. Note - I'm not going to be joining his fan club anytime soon but boy oh boy...

 

Ir's not even just the arm strength but the insane accuracy. He could have been a pitcher...

[cp176]

Ir's not even just the arm strength but the insane accuracy. He could have been a pitcher...

 

He probably still could be!

[notin]

He probably still could be!

 

He could have been Shohei Ohtani before Shohei Ohtani...

[S5Dewey]

 

If Machado keeps going like this AND stays at Short, somebody is going to take him out in retaliation much like he took Pedey out. The only dif will be that Machado will see it coming but won't be able to get out of the way. Pedey never got to see Machado coming.

 

This was exactly my thought when Mookie stole 2nd in the first inning. Machado was kneeling down on the first base side of the bag completely blocking second base from the runner with his lower leg.

If Machado doesn't clean up his act sooner or later somebody is going to go into that leg spikes-first in retaliation to something that's happened before. When that happens I'm going to be saying "What goes around comes around".

[Slasher9]

actually beni had an opportunity to get him good with the spikes. machado had dropped his leg in front of the bag but unfortunately Beni did head first slide. this was the review play at 2b where LA thought his hand came off the bag.

was THE perfect opportunity to get him good.

[Bellhorn04]

Honestly I think it would be better to avoid any incidents with Machado. Don't want to stir anybody up and mess with any mojo. Just keep playing great ball and kicking ass on the scoreboard.

[dgalehouse]

One of the myths about Machado is that he is a great third baseman , but a mediocre shortstop. From what I can see , he is a terrific shortstop.

[jung]

actually beni had an opportunity to get him good with the spikes. machado had dropped his leg in front of the bag but unfortunately Beni did head first slide. this was the review play at 2b where LA thought his hand came off the bag.

was THE perfect opportunity to get him good.

 

If he stays at Shortstop and continues to purposefully aim to injure opposing players somebody will get him. You are right about that play at 2nd and that is exactly the sort of lack of mobility around 2nd that typifies Machado's play there now that he is as big as he is and his pegs are as unstable as they are. Machado would have been a dead duck on that play to any sliding runner that was out to get him.

 

Much safer for Machado to play 3rd and he is simply at this stage of his career a better 3rd baseman than a Shortstop.