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Dodgers’ Machado fine with World Series villain’s role
BOSTON, Oct 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Manny Machado accepts that he will be the villain of the World Series when his Los Angeles Dodgers take the field in Boston for Tuesday’s opener against the Red Sox.
But the 26-year-old shortstop plans to keep his focus on the field and his quest for a first career title as well as the Dodgers’ first crown since 1998 in the best-of-seven final.
“Just go out there and play,” Machado said. “We’re here to compete, play for a (championship) ring. You put your focus out there on the field.”
A sellout crowd at Fenway Park will make Machado the subject of their loudest boos based upon his history with the Red Sox, notably last year when the Dominican-American star played for the Baltimore Orioles.
In April 2017, Machado aroused the wrath of Red Sox fans with a hard slide into second base that injured Boston’s Dustin Pedroia.
Two days later, Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes was suspended four games after throwing at Machado’s head, thought to be a response to Machado’s dirty slide.
After Machado was forced to evade a Chris Sale pitch a week later, he unleashed a profanity-filled post-game tirade, daring pitchers to hit him and warning while they threw at 100mph he held a bat and “I could go up there and crush somebody if I wanted to.”
Machado was traded from the Orioles to the Dodgers in July and added more controversial chapters to his legacy with several plays last week against Milwaukee, notably kicking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the National League finals, inspring loud jeers from Brewers fans that figure to be echoed at Fenway Park.
“We’re going to get booed no matter what,” Machado said. “We’re going to go out and try to compete as well as we can and leave it on the field and come out with a victory.”
There was no sign of trying to make peace with the Red Sox loyalists or soften long-held hard feelings.
“You play hard for your ballclub. You’re trying to win games. You’re trying to get to the World Series,” Machado said. “I got here. I’m trying to win the World Series. Whatever happened on the field, happened on the field. There’s really nothing more to say.”
– No bad impact –
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t see any impact from controversy or boos in Machado’s performance.
“He prepares every game. He’s doing whatever he feels necessary to help us win,” Roberts said. “I don’t think the attention that he’s receiving is affecting him. I think he just has a good way to channel that for the positive.
“I’ve heard a little bit about the history with the Red Sox, but when you’re in the World Series I think each team’s goal is to win four baseball games. So I don’t think that the history really has any effect on these next games.”
Sale, Boston’s game one starting pitcher, said there’s no lingering animosity from last year’s incidents.
“We have bigger things to worry about now on both sides, on their side and on our side,” Sale said. “We’re not worried about any individual player. We’ve got one thing in mind and that’s winning the World Series.”
BSS/AFP/AU/11:50 hrs