LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado needs to watch his step. Literally.
The All-Star slugger was fined $10,000 by MLB on Wednesday, an industry source confirmed, for his footwork in Game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium that resulted in the Brewers and Dodgers emptying their benches for a brief confrontation.
Machado, running to his first base, extended his left foot and kicked first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the ankle, a maneuver that left Aguilar unhappy and jawing with Machado as he was leaving the field. Order was quickly restored after the benches emptied, but the biggest haymakers were delivered afterward in the Brewers clubhouse.
Christian Yelich was the most agitated, blurting out “f–k that motherf–ker” after answering questions at his locker about Machado, who has a history of aggressive play on the bases. Yelich called Machado a “dirty” player.
Machado’s tactics didn’t awaken the Brewers, who lost 2-1 in the 13th inning on Cody Bellinger’s RBI single. Machado slid across the plate with the winning run.
And before the teams played Game 5 on Wednesday — with the series tied 2-2 — both managers tried to defuse any controversy. But Brewers manager Craig Counsell did hint his team will keep Machado’s tactics in mind — when the stakes are lower.
“You say to yourself: Two games from the World Series,” Counsell said. “That’s all you’ve got to say. The other stuff just washes away, man. That’s meaningless to me.
“There’s easy terms to put this day in and these next four days in that would center on accomplishing your dreams, that make the other stuff really pretty meaningless and able to worry about it at a different time.”
Machado’s base-running was an issue in Game 3, when a replay review indicated he violated the Utley rule in sliding through second base in an attempt to break up a double play. With Machado in violation of the rule, Bellinger was called out at first base.
Travis Shaw was among the players who joined Yelich in calling Machado “dirty” in his play. Machado shrugged off the criticism in the aftermath, and on Wednesday manager Dave Roberts took the same approach.
“I don’t think we’re too concerned about any other team’s comments about our players,” Roberts said. “I know, speaking for Manny, he’s preparing to help us win. I feel the same thing about the rest of our players and coaches, so it’s not really at the forefront of our mind.”
Roberts was asked if he had received a closer look at the play and spoken to Machado about it.
“All I know is Manny and Jesus [Aguilar] have talked,” Roberts said. “They’ve worked it out, so I know that we’re focusing on today.”
That discussion between the two played occurred in the 13th inning on Tuesday, after Machado reached on a broken-bat single and reached second on a wild pitch before scoring the winning run.
“Both teams are two games away from the World Series,” Counsell said. “There’s no motivation needed. We’re highly motivated.”
Credit: NY Post</>
via USAHint.com
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