Buyer Beware

Soon-to-be free agent Manny Machado isn’t exactly helping his cause during this NLCS.  For starters, there was his lack of hustle in game two against the Brewers.  The 26-year old didn’t run out a hard grounder that turned into a double-play.  Afterwards, the Dodgers’ shortstop sounded both contrite, and not, telling Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal “there’s no excuse” for not running while at the same time noting he’s not a “Johnny Hustle” kind of player who risks injury by doing everything he can to beat the throw at first, including a head-first slide.  You see, that’s not Machado’s “cup of tea.”  Do tell.

Wait, there’s more.  In game three, Machado twice slid into second base trying to break up a double play.  He went one for two in that regard, and by that I mean the umpires invoked the “Utley Rule” for unnecessary—and potentially dangerous contact—by the runner sliding into second base; the umpires could have called it both times but gave Machado a break because in one instance Milwaukee shortstop Orlando Arcia made no effort to throw to first. That’s what you might call Dodger dodging.

And, yes, there’s still more.  In the tenth inning of game four, Machado kicked the back leg of first baseman Jesus Aguilar with his left foot as he ran—nay, hustled—down the line.  Words were exchanged and both benches cleared in what may have been Machado channeling his inner A-Rod.  I don’t know if that’s a good idea for someone looking for a free-agent deal in the neighborhood of $300 million.

Personally, I take great care in charging a ballplayer with lack of hustle.  As a White Sox fan, I watched A.J. Pierzynski trot to first on many a groundball during his eight-year tenure with the Sox.  But there’s a difference between a good player dogging it and a great player—which is how Machado wants to be paid—going slow.  You want the face of the franchise to be like Caesar’s wife, beyond all reproach.

Marquee players are the ones known for giving their all, even on a sure-out groundball to short.  It’s the immature player who doesn’t always hustle, wonders why he’s like that and then shows little regard for the safety of opposing players.  Only a team looking for trouble signs a player like that to a big contract.