Dodgers: Does Manny Machado’s Lack of ‘Hustle’ Bother You?
In the fourth-inning of game two of the NLCS, Manny Machado hit a ground ball to shortstop. The fielder came up with it cleanly, and then fired to first to retire a softly-trotting Machado.
Joe Buck quickly remarked “Machado’s not running… Machado didn’t hustle,” in an almost surprising tone. In a scoreless game – and in one of the biggest games of the Dodgers’ season – it seemed like such an attribute would be table stakes. In a sporting event, especially the game of baseball; there is much that cannot be controlled. However, effort and ‘hustle’ are always the thing that can be controlled by an individual.
For example, take a guy like Cody Bellinger. All season long in the same instance, Bellinger has ran hard on ground balls on the infield. In a dozen instances, he’s beaten the throw for an infield single. Another dozen times, he’s made it within a blink for a bang-bang play. Dodgers fans have taken notice of Bellinger’s hard-playing style.
Still, the lack of effort from Machado is something that made me curious. This is not a new issue – and despite the big swings he’s had – I wondered if other Dodgers fans cared like I do.
#Dodgers fans: are you okay with Manny Machado’s lack of hustle as long as he performs reasonably well and the team wins?
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 14, 2018
In general, fans are not okay with Machado’s lack of hustle. In a poll that garnered over 4,500 votes at the time of this post, 63 percent of those polled said they are not okay with Machado’s lackadaisical style.
Furthermore, let’s look at how the rest of the baseball world perceived this with the Dodgers on the national stage.
Media Reacts
Manny Machado should really try sprinting when he hits the ball in the ss hole. teams are watching.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 13, 2018
Once again Manny doesn’t run hard. Down 0-1 in series , 0-0 game in 4th. Too tired to run hard for 90 feet. But wants the big $$ #pathetic @masnOrioles
— Jim Palmer (@Jim22Palmer) October 13, 2018
If Machado is not hurt, his lack of hustle on that groundout is inexplicable during the regular season and inexcusable during the ALCS.
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) October 13, 2018
Don’t worry about hustling, Machado. It’s not like you’re playing for the NL pennant. #dodgers
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 13, 2018
Manny Machado hit the brakes harder than he hit the baseball.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/DiamondHoggers/status/1051216977312841729
Dodgers Nation Reacts
I love Manny Machado. I love his defense. I love his offense when he's hitting. But no one is above the rest of the team and the rest of the team wants everybody to hustle. So not hustling to first is not okay ever. Watch Cody Bellinger run out every single ball and beat em out
— ChrisDavisAZRealtor (@48thStateRE) October 14, 2018
He almost single handily beat the Brewers in game one. Give him a break. He’s going to be a big part in our World Series win!
— Jeremiah Bailey (@JBailey77) October 14, 2018
I think he is nursing a leg injury. I'd rather he save the hustle for around the bases than a sure out at 1st.
— Misael Herrera ???? (@cudaman11) October 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/adrian_pizano30/status/1051508219481182208
https://twitter.com/chory229/status/1051508158475120641
If Roberts ignores Machado’s lack of hustle, he will have a problem in the club house. You can’t sit Bellinger for not hustling and then ignore Machado jogging down to first with ball hit in the hole.
— Captain EO ???? (@chriscejnar) October 14, 2018
Final Word
If you didn’t see the play live, you can see it here at the top of the story. Now, one must wonder if this will cost Machado in his off-season free agency. Speculation exists that other teams are taking notice, and they do care. As someone who attempts to look at this reasonably, I just don’t want the lack of hustle to cost the Dodgers in a big spot. On sacred ground like the NLCS, there is no important time to leave it all on the field. This is the time of year that defines legacies and careers. Moreover, if Machado runs out that ball at 100 percent, he probably beats the throw. At the same time – I don’t expect a guy to run his hardest on an infield pop-up. There is a careful line to be walked in terms of playing hard, and I feel most professionals in baseball know when to go hard and when to let off the gas. As I have noted, I think more can be asked of Machado; especially for the last ten or so games. Still, he may never play for a ring again in his career as he learned during his time in Baltimore. It’s time to dial it up. What do you think?
Comparing The Dodgers & Brewers’ Pitching Staffs
It wasn’t the first time. On long flies I’ve seen him watching from the batters box, at least twice the balls were in play, then he started running. Inexcusable.
Hustle is a requirement of the job. The defense makes mistakes. Hustle allows you to take advantage when they do.
I cannot believe the non-sense being voiced about Machado because of an in-field guaranteed ground-out. Machado is a professional baseball player. Yes, we all know he is well compensated just as any other Dodger team member, but he does know better than us when the opposing team has his number for that play. Of course there are possibilities of opposing team errors and so-on but you have to let him make the on-field call about his own hit. If anyone is to judge Machado, it’s the Dodgers manager (Roberts) and he alone. Simple as that. If you Dodger folks want to express your concerns, maybe authoring a communique to FOX about Joe Buck who started this fiasco and kept on repeating the issue during the FOX airing. Joe Buck is obviously non-objective and enjoys censoring the Dodgers more that than Brewers. (listen to him for heavens-sake).
Roberts reportedly spoke with Machado about lack of hustle. IMO a player busting it on the base paths puts extra pressure on defense knowing that any hesitation can result in an extra base runner and extra pressure will increase probability of errors. If Chase Utley at age 39 can give 100% on the base paths there is zero excuse for 26 year old Machado to dog-it.
No player can predict if the throw might pull the first baseman off the bag, if the first baseman might drop it, etc. To be in position to win the play, the player needs to hustle. Manny didn’t do that—not once but twice. There’s no excuse. I hope Roberts had a nice chat with to get his ass in gear.
He’s a great player! This isn’t nonsense, u run to put pressure on the opponent to make the play. It disrespectful to the team and the game when your teammate takes the second baseman out and he’s jogging down the line. This isn’t new, he’s been doing it since they got him!
Guaranteed out?!? No such thing in baseball, bro
Manny loves Manny period.
A real professional puts in the work, all the time.
I keep getting that rental feeling.
Play with conviction, or don’t play at all. Manny’s flub at SS in the NLDS, causing the bases to be loaded, Hill to be removed from the mound, and a reliever to be called in to save the day, could have easily happened to an opposing superstar SS, and thus the need to Hustle, regardless! The runner had no idea that Manny was going to have a blunder, and thus he bolted it safely to First. Anything can go wrong…even at SS. To assume anything else would be foolish.
Machado is typical of players of his ilk – like Harper, for example – gifted physically but lazy. He knows someone will overpay him in the offseason no matter what he does with the Dodgers, so he doesn’t give 100% effort.
P.S. I can’t stand listening to Joe Buck.
Halloween came early. I just a bunch of guys dressed as a baseball team at Dodger Stadium.
Look, guys like Machado make as much each at bat, as some take home in a year. Yes, it’s bothersome.
“You place like you practice.”
Look at Spring Trainibg, and see who practiced and see who rested.
I know it’s a minority opinion, but I don’t think Manny’s lack of effort to first-base should be considered a big. Manny has probably played more games the last five years than any other play in baseball. He’s just protecting himself against a hamstring injury, which usually happens when players are running to first base. Who wants to lose a Manny Machado for weeks, because he ran hard on a ground ball to SS? Remember, it was his base-running that helped him score the winning run last night.
Joe Buck keeps telling us how great Craig Counsell is–hardly mentions Roberts–but what a stupid decision it was to pitch to Bellinger with Grandal (who is in a terrible funk) on deck and first base open. Nary a word of criticism from Buck.