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Should Phillies, fans be concerned about Manny Machado’s hustle?

By George Stockburger

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Phillies fans love hustle, so should Manny Machado’s comments matter?

There are few things Philadelphia, especially Phillies, fans despise more than a lack of hustle. For a blue collar city seeing a young millionaire not play the game to their fullest potential irks us in a special way.

That’s one of the reasons Chase Utley is adored and Odubel Herrera is admonished by the Phillies fan base. Representatives of our city are expected to put everything they have into every play of every game, and nothing less.

Because of this, comments made by pending free agent Manny Machado, someone the Phillies likely have their eye on, might be concerning to some.

In an interview with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) Machado made some very honest comments regarding how he plays the game after not hustling to first in the NLDS on a ground ball to the hole that he was thrown out on.

"“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.“Should I have run on that pitch? Yeah … but I didn’t and I gotta pay the consequences for it. It does look bad. It looks terrible. I look back at the video and I’m like, ‘Woah, what was I doing?’ You know, just the emotions of the game … I’m the type of player that has stayed in the zone, I’m playing and I’m just in the zone."

Much of the reaction to this answer has been solely based on the the first paragraph. It’s a solid blip that can be repeated endlessly by talking heads and by those across the web. Hearing an athlete who is likely on the verge of signing a nine-figure contract in a couple of months say that hustle is not his “cup of tea” is not great.

This is bad PR for Machado and his representatives going into the offseason.

The second paragraph does help Machado, as he acknowledges his mistake and realizes the optics and impact of his decision.

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So what does this mean for the Phillies in their quest to sign Machado to a franchise-altering deal this offseason? Does it change their approach  or offer in any way, shape, or form?

No, it will not. Few baseball executives know Machado as well as the people who run the Phillies personnel department. Many of them, including general manager Matt Klentak, played a role in drafting Machado in Baltimore.

However, if the Phillies do sign Machado, I can almost guarantee the first question at his press conference will be regarding hustle. If it’s not the first, then Howard Eskin will awkwardly bring it up at some point.

How will the Philadelphia fans react if the team signed Machado? Probably the same way they would before the play and comments. There will be some who grumble about millennials and how Richie Ashburn never took a play off, but overall the fanbase will take in Machado with open arms?

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How would you feel about the Phillies signing Machado after his comments? Comment below or on our Twitter page @FS_TBOH.

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