Inside The Padres

Padres Star's Disappointing 2023 Attitude Continues in 1st Game Back From Injury

Not the results he wanted to see!

Noel Sanchez

Padres Star's Disappointing 2023 Attitude Continues in 1st Game Back From Injury
Padres Star's Disappointing 2023 Attitude Continues in 1st Game Back From Injury /
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The entire city of San Diego was about to throw a parade when word was received that Manny Machado would finally be rejoining the team just in time for a big series against the Chicago Cubs. Even he is not performing his best, the clubhouse just is not the same without their leader and everybody was praying for a speedy recovery.

Unfortunately, Machado did not receive the welcome-back that he would have hoped for. Both teams could not produce any offense for quite some time as they each produced just four runs. The 30-year-old slugger went 0/3 with one walk and two strikeouts in his first match back as San Diego fell 2-1.

But the expectations clearly were not on him to return to the lineup and start raking like crazy. The hope was more so for Machado to slowly make his way back to top form while his teammates did the heavy hitting in the meantime, which they were not able to on Friday.

Team manager Bob Melvin would've liked some better production at the plate, just like he voices after almost every loss, but he made it clear that he knows that Machado's recovery is still on-going even with him back on the field.

“He hits one ball hard, he had some pretty good swings,” Melvin said. “But look, it was our entire lineup. We had some key guys up there at key times. We just didn’t get it through. I mean, it’s gonna take a little time for him to feel great at the plate. But I thought some of his swings were really good. And they were aggressive.”

(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)

Unfortunately, the Padres have not been super successful without their captain as they have gone 8-8 when Machado doesn't play so it's not like he has a lot of time to ears back into the process.

The 2022 NL MVP runner-up kept things short and sweet in his postgame interview but made sure his words showcased just how frustrated he was.

“Another game,” Machado said afterward when asked how his fractured left hand felt. “Another (expletive) loss.”

(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)

But it will be a whole new ball game today at 7:10 pm PT... let's hope that one is better.

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Noel Sanchez
NOEL SANCHEZ

Noel is currently in his third year at California Polytechnic University of Pomona and is pursuing a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Multi-Media Journalism. He has always had a deep passion for sports and writing.

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