By Alex Woodward
There were a lot of interesting nuggets in Stephanie Apstein's interview including the fact his agency has hired a PR official to help him with interviews.
"Behind him sits a media-relations official employed by the team; in front of him sits a media-relations official employed by his agency. Their presence was a condition of the conversation, and they occasionally nod along as he speaks, although they never cut off his answers."
Even still, he walks away from that interview with somewhat of a controversy around what he said. Here are the comments that has some Oriole fans up in arms:
"The Dodgers last year, they showed me some love,” he says. “The Orioles drafted me. I did a lot for that community, I did a lot for the state, and they didn’t show me a little bit of love. It is what it is. But going over to L.A., L.A. giving up a lot of prospects for me, that kind of shows you what I meant to them, which is amazing.”
I think this more a shot at Orioles management than the city of Baltimore or its fans. I think Manny wouldn't have said this if they offered him an extension at any point of his 6 years with the team. I too would feel disrespected if I was Manny. He gave us 6 years of outstanding defense and offensive consistency. He had 2 Gold Glove seasons which seems low, he was a 4-time All Star and he finished in the Top 5 in AL MVP voting twice.
The time to keep Manny in Baltimore (or atleast try to) was after the 2015 season. Manny was fresh off a career high batting average (.286), he played all 162 games for the first time and he had career highs in HR's (35) and RBI's (86). That was the same offseason as the Chris Davis signing and we know how that has gone. An offer after Manny's third season would have followed the Angels model for keeping Mike Trout. They offered him a 6 year 144 million dollar deal after his third season; locking him in until 2021 which will still allow him to hit free agency still in his prime.
I think with or without Manny the Orioles are probably still in this same situation but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out paying Manny Machado longterm is better than paying Chris Davis.
He said the Dodgers showed him love by sending 5 players to Baltimore in order to acquire him. That deal had nothing to do with love besides the Dodgers loving the idea that he could help them win a World Series and then they could let him walk. His postseason antics didn't help his case in remaining a Dodger but it doesn't seem like they are in the business of handing out any huge long term deals right now anyways.
In no way do I think he was referencing the fan base not showing him love. I remember the countless Machado jersey's all around Camden Yards. The "Manny, Manny, Manny" chants heard at Oriole Park when he charged Yordano Ventura on the mound. We defended him to no end when people would question his intentions on the field. Baltimore loved Manny Machado. He was supposed to be the next Brooks Robinson of this generation. Unfortunately, that's not what happened and now Manny holds animosity towards an organization that has completely revamped their front office from the top-down. It's sad.
Manny deserves nothing but a standing ovation for his first at bat back in Oriole Park on June 25th. After that, boo him if you like but always remember that it takes two to tango. His departure wasn't just his decision.