Conor P. Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com
Manny Machado is struggling – and he’s got a theory about why.
The San Diego Padres third baseman went on a lengthy postgame rant after Friday night’s 5-0 loss to the New York Mets, pointing the finger squarely at baseball analytics for his inability to produce at the plate. It’s a bold claim from a player in the middle of an 11-year, $350 million contract who’s currently batting just .175 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs on the season.
Machado Calls Out Analytics Culture
The Padres have been in a freefall lately – just 1-9 over their last 10 games – and the offense hasn’t helped. San Diego’s lineup has produced an MLB-worst 235 runs this season, a number that speaks for itself.
Machado kept circling back to analytics during his postgame comments, even as he touched on other factors behind the team’s slump.
“The game’s evolving, man. It’s definitely getting harder to play. It’s definitely getting more strategic. I just wish we can get the analytics out of the way. I think there’s too many stats out there. Too many stats, way too many numbers. I don’t even know half of the stuff that goes up there. I look at the board sometimes, and I even ask some of the guys, like, ‘What is WCCVBB, whatever it is? What are these names that are being created? I mean, it’s just crazy to even keep up with…It goes back to old-school stuff, man. Just see the ball and hit the ball.’”
He’s not entirely wrong – the volume of modern baseball metrics can genuinely be overwhelming, even for players inside the game.
But there’s an obvious problem with the argument.
If Machado were actually seeing the ball and hitting the ball, his average wouldn’t sit at .175. The analytics would reflect that too – and they’d look a lot better. Falling eight games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West doesn’t make the case any easier.
A Familiar Refrain With Some Irony Attached
There’s also a bit of irony here. That same “old-school, just hit the ball” approach the Padres apparently value didn’t do much for Nick Castellanos, who the team recently cut after he posted a .191 average following his release from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Whether Machado’s frustrations are justified or not, San Diego needs results – not explanations.
