December 30th, 2018 at 9:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka Ask any Dodger fan where they would prefer to see former Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado end up after his brief but contemptuous time with their beloved team and the overwhelming answer would most likely be: “Who cares, as long as it isn’t L.A.”
It’s not that the 26-year-old Hialeah, Florida native and 2010 first-round draft pick out of Brito Miami Private School isn’t or wasn’t good at his craft; quite the contrary, in fact … when he wanted to be, that is. It’s what he told reporters when asked about his blatant lack of hustle when running to first base on routine ground balls that caused Machado’s fall from grace with Dodger fans when he tried to justify his perceived laziness:
“Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base and … you know, whatever can happen. That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea, that’s not who I am.”
But it wasn’t only Machado’s lack of hustle that Dodger fans struggled with.
During the 2018 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he intentionally kicked the foot of Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar while he attempted to run out grounder (hustle notwithstanding), for which MLB fined him $10,000 and leading Brewers All-Star outfielder and 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich to call Machado “…a dirty player.”
In the simplest of terms, good riddance, Manny. And to whichever MLB team that eventually ends up signing Machado to what many believe will be the largest contract in MLB history, good luck with that.
As for the Dodgers, it’s no secret that they – and their fans – are hoping beyond hope that not only will 24-year-old 2016 NL Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Corey Seager return as the Dodgers everyday shortstop, but will do so in a manner that will have Dodger fans saying “Manny who?”
As every Dodger fan knows, the extremely popular Charlotte, North Carolina native and younger brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager underwent Tommy John surgery to his right elbow on May 4, 2018, and then had arthroscopic surgery on his left hip on August 7, 2018. However, during a conference call with the media at the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told reporters that his young shortstop has resumed baseball activities and is expected to be ready on Opening Day 2019.
There is zero doubt that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be abundantly cautious with Seager in the early goings of the 2019 season and will undoubtedly platoon the position with Seager, Kiké Hernandez, and Chris Taylor – at least initially. Beyond that, the Dodgers also have Gavin Lux Down on the Farm.
For those unfamiliar with the 21-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin native, he was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (20th overall pick) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha.
After splitting time with the Arizona Rookie League Dodgers and Pioneer Rookie League Ogden Raptors in 2016, Lux spent the entire 2017 season with the Dodgers Low Single-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons. He began the 2018 season with the franchise’s Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes but finished up the year with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.
Although Lux has spent most of his time in the minors at shortstop (208 games), with Seager pretty much a lock to be the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop for (hopefully) a very long time, Lux is being groomed to one day become the Dodgers everyday second baseman, having played 60 minor league games there. In fact, don’t be surprised to see the Dodgers former first-round draft pick and a so-called “untouchable” prospect receive an invitation to major league camp this spring, just as he did last spring. And though it is unlikely that Lux will break camp on the Dodgers 25-man roster, it would also be no surprise to see him as a September 1 call-up in 2019.
You heard it here first.
Play Ball!
Posted in 
More like post Machado Brief Stint. We’re certainly not looking forward to post-Puig-era 😭
I am definitely looking forward to the post-Puig-era!
Yasiel could be exciting as hell to watch…but also hugely frustrating. I doubt the typical fan truly knows he was about an average offensive player and though an occasional sensational defensive player he made many poor decisions to offset those spectacular displays of his arm. If he EVER learns his lesson it will likely be after his physical gifts have diminished. Too bad.
Exactly! Dodgers have spent thousands of hours working with Puig to improve his offense to roughy MLB average and other than 2017 his defense has been below average. I am so glad he is gone. That being said, I can almost see the comments this season when he is hitting many home runs in the Reds bandbox park — how the Dodgers made a huge mistake in trading him. No matter how well he does with the Reds the Dodgers are better off with the “Wild Horse” in someone else’s stable.
Lux may not be as “untouchable” as he was prior to the trade that brought Jeter Downs to the Dodgers and the development of Omar Estevez last season. For the right deal (Realmuto? Kluber? Haniger?) the Dodgers may now be willing to consider the inclusion of Lux.
Certainly a distinct possibility. Gotta say, though, I was VERY impressed with Gavin during his time at Rancho Cucamonga. GREAT kid!
https://t.co/N2gC9w3lyd
Machado’s was a great rental but this is Seager’s team. Let’s see Seager do great things once again this coming season!
For the Dodgers Manny is still Mota.
Looking for the “LIKE” button — No button, but a BIG LIKE for you!
Of all the Manny’s we’ve had to endure over the years, ol’ number 11 is still the best one. His kid is a great guy too.
Good call.
About the only thing Manny (Machado not Mota) could do better than Corey is throw the ball. Corey frequently short-hopped his first baseman. I hope rehab not only, um, rehabs the elbow, but strengthens his arm overall.
Oddly I’m in the minority as I was hoping Manny would remain as a Dodger as I explained earlier this off-season. As it looks obvious the team had no intention to keep him.
Let’s hope Seager recovers nicely from his injuries and returns as an all-star shortstop as he was when he left for surgery.
Go Dodgers!!!
The one thing that you didn’t see (and honestly, how could you?) is that Machado was not a good clubhouse guy; not with his teammates and most certainly not with the media. And while this may be considered an “intangible” with regards to what happens on the field, it is (was) huge when it comes to what happens off the field.
I can assure you that you are definitely in the minority among Dodger fans.
Who cares what the media thinks of a player? I care what he does to help a team a win. If he’s a little cold to the media I could care less. I think you’re dead wrong on what his teammates think about him. There’s a really good article on the athletic where teammates praise him. He’s so talented that his actions on the field make it look like he doesn’t care but he’s one of the biggest competitors there is.
You probably meant “I could NOT care less…” — the bottom line for me, Machado can take his lazy approach and bush league plays to another team. At the time, I was all for Dodgers acquiring him and signing him to an extension. But after watching him play in real ball parks rather than the O’s ridiculously hitter friendly park I believe he is overrated as a player.
You’re right on all accounts. I misworded something and manny was not all that impressive away from Camden Yards. However my main point still stands. You don’t make player evaluations based on how friendly they are with the media or what the public perception of their effort level is.
Porch, I agree with you. But (ref: your last sentence) they do make evaluations based on their own perception of the effort. It appears also has a poor perception.
IMHO, and I know it’s shared by others, I don’t like cheap shot artists and would rather not have them on the team I’m cheering for.
As you know OldBrooklynFan, I agree with you regarding Manny.
It isn’t a choice between Seager or Machado as some have suggested. There is more than enough room for both if the price is right and the players are agreeable to playing multiple positions.
I wouldn’t write-off Machado just yet. Friedman is the best GM in baseball and as stated “if the price is right and Machado is open to playing multiple positions” he could still end up a Dodger, notwithstanding the dislike for him on this board. Friedman recognizes that All-Stars both in the field and bat are VERY valuable assets if you want to win World Championships.
Lets not forget that old MLB saying, “nice guys finish last”.
Happy New Year Boxout7. In case it was not mentioned… Machado IS A RHB and Dodgers are lacking now from the right side of the dish. You watch what happens if Dodgers do not correct this problem, meaning any LHP that can breathe will face the Dodgers. We need an impact RH bat to be in middle of order. So that is where I stand. If it ended up being Machado, fine, but if not then some other impact RH hitter is a must. Recall how Dodgers regressed in 2018 against LHP, especially against Boston in the WS.
Happy New Year to you also PaulDodgerFan1965.
You are correct, the Dodgers were completely exposed by lefty pitching in 2018. Very painful to watch and correcting it should be their top priority this off-season. Machado would be a big help in this regard. What’s the price?
You like me must have the horrors of the 1966 season permanently etched into your head including lefty Larry Jaster shutting out the Dodgers 5 times. Sadly, who can also forget the complete and total WHIPPING that Dodgers team took against the Orioles in the World Series. As a fourteen year old that year, it was devastating to me.
Orioles management had the foresight prior to the 1966 season to trade for righty batting Frank Robinson. Even though Robinson had several great years for the Reds, management considered Robinson a “troublemaker” and traded him. Frank ended up being a big part of the Dodgers take down in the Series. He also won the Triple Crown that year.
While Orioles management probably didn’t know how well that trade would work out when they made it, I’m sure they were thinking, “you can’t have too much hitting”. Something we Dodgers fans should NEVER forget.
A good article on the trade:
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2015/12/07/remembering-the-frank-robinson-trade-to-baltimore-50-years-ago-this-week/76941206/
Hey there Boxout7 and thank you much for the reply and New Years wishes. I was 12 years old in 1966 and recall that WS well. Dodgers scored a grand total of 2 runs in those 4 games. And check this out, I saw one of those Larry Jaster shutouts in person. If I recall Dodgers won that NL pennant despite leading the NL in being shutout I believe 17 times that year. Interestingly enough, was that Dodgers actually led the NL in HR’s against LHP in 2017. In all of MLB for 2017, only the Indians hit more HR’s against LHP with 71 as Dodgers had 65, and batted a respectable .253 against them. Bellinger led all of MLB as a LHB hitting 12 of his 39 HR’s against LHP as well.
Happy New Year OldBrooklynFan! I concur about Machado as well, but hardly think Dodgers concur themselves. If for no other reason Machado bats RH, and as I said to Boxout7 that is a real big need for this team now… an impact RH bat in the middle of lineup, or else Dodgers will become all dizzy seeing a plethora of LHP at every chance an opponent has to throw one against them.
Would LOVE to see D.J. Peters in the Dodgers line-up against LHP. Dude is a BEAST!
Spot on Ron! Peters only needs to cut his K rate from the current 35% to <25% to arguably become the Dodgers top positional prospect
We all have HIGH hope for Peters, however, just turned 23 yr old Peters is probably two years away from the majors. I don’t see him helping in 2019.