It feels like so long ago, but in July, we wrote on this blog about how the Milwaukee Brewers were the front-runners to add Manny Machado to the team. It drew great excitement from Brewers fans considering the talent and skill Machado had at the plate and as an infielder. The Los Angeles Dodgers came in hot and acquired him offering a massive package that Milwaukee could not compete with in July. With what we know about the antics of Machado, maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t make it on this Brewers roster. While he would fit the fun-loving nature of the clubhouse, it would be hard to defend his actions night in and night out.

I’m okay with a ‘Jack Parkman-like’ player on the team. Where you’re telling your buddy after the game, ‘Nice homer but I still think he’s a dick.’ Having those type of players can pay off for you. That said, there is a specific difference of being a shit-stirrer like Nyjer Morgan was for the 2011 Brewers and being a dirty player like Machado is currently. To me from my Brewers bias perspective, Machado acts like everything should be handed him. He acts like his shit does not shit, and that everyone should be bowing down to the king of baseball. THat’s how I feel Machado plays his game. It’s not like he’s trying to instigate conflict, he’s doing things that the Dodgers shortstop believes he can get away with.

Is this going to affect his market value? I’m unsure. A part of me thinks that might be the case with one or two teams, but I doubt they let this prickish behavior bother them. Most likely, they’ll have a coach that they believe can corral him and make him stop doing dumb shit. The teams who figure to involved with the Machado sweepstakes are the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs along with a few others. Yankees are considered the favorite since Machado has said time and again how he wants to be in New York.

Machado stays in the National League would be great for baseball though. It seems like the Brewers had enough of his shit, and if this rivalry can carry over to next year, it makes things more fun. We’ll see where he lands and I’m sure glad he’s not on the Brewers roster.

Charlie.