Manny Machado’s struggles at the plate have become a major talking point, culminating in a tense exchange with a journalist after a recent defeat.
Following a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, reporters pressed Machado for answers regarding his .182 batting average. Machado responded sharply when questioned about his struggles and his plans to address them.
Machado’s Frustration Boils Over
“My offensive struggles?… Yeah, struggles, man. It’s been tough,” Machado admitted.
When asked for information on the reasons behind his poor performance, Machado snapped, stating, “I’m a baseball player. I’m not a theorist, so… you got something for me?”
Machado says that he has been working to get better at the plate. However, it looks like whatever Machado is working on is not working right now.
Padres’ Offensive Woes
The Padres’ offense has become a major concern, despite the team winning games this season. The team’s struggles aren’t limited to Machado alone.
The San Diego Padres have scored an average of 4.17 runs per game and have the worst average in the league at .222. They also have the lowest hits in the league with just 349.
- Machado is batting with an average of .182 with just seven homers.
- His OPS is .616.
- His hard-hit percentage has dropped from 51.5% to 43.7%.
- He even has a -3 Statcast run value.
Coaching Under Scrutiny
The team’s overall slump has led to questions about the coaching staff. The fans are questioning the players and the coaching staff.
Hitting coach Steven Souza Jr. has accepted responsibility for the team’s poor performance at the plate. However, the players have defended Souza.
Manny Machado came out and defended the coach, saying, “It’s the players. The players on the field hit or don’t.”
Multiple San Diego Padres batters entered this month with disappointing numbers in their names.
Machado has historically started seasons slowly, struggling through the first halves of both 2023 and 2024. But this ongoing slump is much worse.