On one side, there were raised arms, clenched fists and warm hugs. There was jumping and cheering and screaming and laughing, the typical bedlam that follows a World Series championship. On the other side, there was Manny Machado, who had just flailed at a Chris Sale slider toward his shoe tops, his backswing forcing him to a knee while the Boston Red Sox began a euphoric celebration.nike nfl jerseys wholesale cheap
It was, in all likelihood, the final memory of Machado’s turbulent 15-week stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He arrived on the 18th day of July and left, probably for good, on the 28th night of October. He hit a little worse than the Dodgers would have hoped, but played defense better than they could have expected. He loafed on several ground balls, but unleashed an array of scorching line drives. He often angered opponents, but he also ignited teammates.
“I can’t be more thankful,” Machado said Sunday night, moments after a season-ending 5-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 5 of the World Series.
“What a great organization, what a great group of guys. I couldn’t have imagined any better picture, coming over here. Obviously getting traded halfway through the year is always tough. You have to come meet new teammates, new faces, players that you played against but don’t really know on a personal level. The guys here, the front office, welcomed me with open arms. Every single teammate here has been beyond amazing. I’m very, truly grateful to have been a part of this and what went on this year.”
Machado will officially become a free agent on Saturday, headlining the group of available players alongside Bryce Harper. They will both hit the open market at age 26, setting themselves up to sign contracts that will probably be valued in the $300 million range.cheap nike nfl jerseys from china
The narrative reached its peak during the National League Championship Series, with two awkward slides into second base, several crotch grabs toward the Milwaukee Brewers’ fans and one cleat to Jesus Aguilar’s foot, inspiring seven telling words from potential NL MVP Christian Yelich: “A dirty play by a dirty player.”
Machado’s comments during a Fox interview — that hustling is “not my cup of tea” — lingered over him, igniting criticism from fans and players alike. He was booed by his home crowd for coasting into first base on a line drive that bounced off the left-field wall in the sixth inning of Game 3, the last in an assortment of similar incidents.
“There’s nothing to say,” Machado said of the flak that engulfed him this month. “Everyone’s going to have their own opinions on everything. The only thing that matters is these 25 guys in here. We play this game for every single player in there. We play for that, what they [the Red Sox] just celebrated.”