Much ado about Machado.
Manny Machado is, once again, at the center of a baseball debate in Twitter circles, with a controversial slide en route to second base on Sunday lighting the baseball Twitter powder keg.
On a routine grounder to second, Machado was caught in the base path and took out Cardinals utility man Tommy Edman with a questionable slide.
Not exactly sure what Manny Machado was going for here, but I know if a Dodgers player did this the entire city of San Diego would be on their way to LA with pitchforks pic.twitter.com/mvZUBnUccA
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) May 17, 2021
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Really, as with most things instant replay, when it’s slowed down to micro-frames, it makes the situation look worse than it is. Truthfully, Machado had a split-second decision to make with Edman entering the base path to get the ball; he stutter-stepped and eventually got down to get out of the way. The collision is a byproduct of a rough-and-tumble baseball play.
Machado checked in on Edman after the collision, and both parties seemed to be in agreement that it was just a hard-nosed baseball occurrence. These things happen. Everyone is cool, no one at fault.
Machado, though, a lightning rod for undeserved criticism and vitriol, stirred the pot with his actions, with fans (and players) debating whether the third baseman was in the clear for his decision.
“Manny Machado is a dirty player !” people are the same people mad if he does a half-hearted jog to get tagged out there. Uncle.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) May 17, 2021
If I were a 2nd baseman who did not wish to get wrecked by Manny Machado I would simply remove myself from the basepath Manny Machado has the right and the obligation to stay within https://t.co/AcuDMthciD
— Bmore Train Guy (@FreeMassTransit) May 17, 2021
Alex Rodriguez saying that wasn’t a dirty slide by Manny Machado is so rich.
— Ben Schuff (@BRSchuff) May 17, 2021
What Machado should’ve done is backed up so Edman had to chase him down to tag him and allow the runner to reach first in time. Sliding into him was unnecessary and dangerous.pic.twitter.com/XJg7ZkHhxP
— Quinn (@QuinnSTLCards) May 17, 2021
So can you just slide 20 ft away from the bag now or is Manny Machado still the biggest jerk in the league?
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) May 17, 2021
The Padres would go on to win the game 5-3.
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