San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado believes the team squandered an opportunity to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West. After being tied atop the division, the Padres lost three straight series, putting them three games behind with only nine games remaining.
"We had a chance to take it over a long time ago, and we didn’t," Machado said, expressing his frustration. "So at this point, it’s just worry about us and go out there and just play our best game."
Infielder Jake Cronenworth echoed Machado's sentiment, acknowledging missed opportunities. "Have we squandered some opportunities to make up some ground? Yeah. We haven’t played good baseball consistently the past couple weeks."
The Padres are now facing a crucial series against the Chicago White Sox, while the Dodgers will battle the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers' magic number to clinch the division is six, increasing the pressure on the Padres.
Machado Under Postseason Spotlight
With the Padres' chances of winning the NL West slim, securing a National League Wild Card spot is paramount. All-MLB infielder Manny Machado is facing intense pressure to perform in the postseason.
Despite being an NL MVP candidate and the Padres' all-time home run leader, Machado's playoff performance hasn't matched his regular-season success. His career postseason average is .215 with a .638 OPS. Criticism of his hustle, particularly during the 2018 World Series, adds to the scrutiny.
Machado's past comments about not being a "Johnny Hustle" player have resurfaced. While he had a strong postseason in 2022, hitting four home runs, the Padres faithful expect more consistency and effort if they hope to contend for a championship.
An upgrade in hustle and consistent performance from Machado will be essential if the Padres want to make a deep playoff run and bring a Commissioner's Trophy to San Diego.