In the top of the seventh inning on Sunday, the coolers in the San Diego Padres dugout were rendered useless after Manny Machado, the team’s third baseman, took out his frustrations on them with his bat.
Machado had an opportunity to turn the game around for the struggling Padres, who have not lived up to their high expectations this season, against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. The Brewers had just scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving them a 9-4 lead.
The Padres managed to score two runs off Brewers reliever Abner Uribe, closing the gap to 9-6. However, with runners on second and third and nobody out, Uribe was substituted for Hoby Milner.
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Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres waits for a pitch during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 27, 2023, in Milwaukee. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Juan Soto hit a pop-up to shortstop Willy Adames, setting the stage for Machado. Unfortunately, Machado met the same fate as his teammate, popping out in a crucial moment. Carlos Santana made the out at first base, leaving Machado visibly frustrated as he returned to the dugout.
Machado, still wearing his helmet, walked down the dugout benches and tapped the coolers with his bat. Eventually, his frustration boiled over.
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Machado unleashed his anger on the coolers, swinging his bat with full force, while his teammates and coaches did not intervene. He even threw his helmet for good measure.
This was a significant moment for Machado, who had hoped to make a difference for his team. However, it only resulted in the opposite of what he had intended when stepping into the batter’s box.
But that’s the unpredictable nature of baseball. For the Padres, it’s a representation of their struggles throughout the season.
Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres hits a double against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at American Family Field on August 27, 2023, in Milwaukee. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Before the start of the season, the presence of players like Machado and Soto on the roster led many to believe that the San Diego Padres would pose a serious challenge to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title. After all, the Padres had defeated the Dodgers in the NLDS last season.
Unfortunately, the Padres are nowhere close to making the playoffs, as evidenced by their record of 61-70 after their loss to the Brewers, 10-6.
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Individually, Machado, who is 30 years old, has had a decent season, with a slash line of .250/.318/.462, 25 home runs, and 77 RBI.
However, as a team, the Padres have fallen short of expectations and joined high-payroll teams like the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the danger of missing the postseason.
Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres is shown at batting practice before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (John Fisher/Getty Images)
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Therefore, incidents like Machado’s outburst on Sunday carry more significance than just a momentary lack of performance for the team.
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