San Diego Padres: Is Manny Machado becoming likeable?

Manny Machado signed one of the largest free-agent contracts with the San Diego Padres this offseason, and he said he wants to change the perception around him. So are we supposed to believe it?

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado has developed a poor reputation for a majority of the baseball population. The common expression used is that ‘he is a dirty player’.

What does that mean? It means he maybe goes a little out of his way to do baseball moves but more so in an act of revenge. It really started a few years ago in Baltimore against the Oakland A’s.

This was just the first game of the series. It, unfortunately, escalated the very next day.

These may not be in the memory of Manny Machado haters because he was in Baltimore at the time and there was not a ton of media attention around them.

After he was traded to Los Angeles last season, he was put in a much bigger spotlight. This was because of the bigger market and because LA was one of the last two teams playing last season. Unfortunately, things only got worse for Machado’s perception when this occurred.

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These incidents all coupled with the infamous Ken Rosenthal interview where he claims he is no ‘Johnny Hustle’ in regards to running to first base have painted a poor perception of Machado.

Then Machado signed the big money deal he set out to get this past offseason. When he was introduced by the San Diego Padres during Spring Training, you could tell there was some remorse in his voice for the actions he made during his previous seasons. Part of it has to do with his new responsibilities.

He has two young infielders he can immediately take under his wing in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias and he wants to set the example. He wants people to know he can still be a good person but just let his emotions get the best of him.

Looking at the Padres’ series with the Braves, here is a series of videos which explain just how much Machado may be improving.

Here is a simple sample; high-fiving the young fans even though he didn’t make the play:

Then there is the relationship with the Braves’ mascot Blooper. Machado struck first, pulling a classic prank on the lovable mascot:

But Blooper oh so plotted his revenge on the $300 million dollar man. In fact, he bankrupted him:

Machado and Blooper then had fun with it prior to Thursday’s getaway game, and it looked like Blooper had already made the most of his newfound spoils:

But what does all this really mean?

Are we supposed to buy into this ‘Machado is a good guy’ now? Or is this just one series where Machado is taking advantage of the east-coast market to project the person he wants everyone to assume he is.

Form your own opinions on the matter given that he is going to be getting paid for the next 10 years, I’m sure he is more than okay with having all the fun in the world; even if he just gave his money away to a mascot.