SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 17: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park June 17, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Manny Machado’s tirade on Saturday got him a one-game suspension, but he maintains his innocence and is appealing the ban.
Handed punishment from the league over an incident Saturday night in Colorado, Manny Machado isn’t going down without a fight.
The San Diego Padres shortstop is appealing the one-game suspension he was given on Monday after he was ejected from the Padres 14-8 loss against the Rockies two days earlier. In the top of the fifth inning on Saturday, Machado was called out on strikes on a fastball from German Marquez on the outside corner. Questioning the call, Machado turned around to say something to home plate umpire Bill Welke, who immediately tossed him from the game.
Machado responded by angrily throwing down his batting helmet and getting up close to Welke before being separated by manager Andy Green. While the replay isn’t clear on whether Machado made contact, Welke pointed to his arm as if he thought he was touched. On Monday, Major League Baseball announced Machado’s one-game ban “for aggressively arguing and making contact with” Welke.
Machado, though, continues to insist he never touched the umpire and wants to make his case.
“I didn’t think I touched him. The video says it all,” he said on Monday, according to MLB.com. “We’re going to appeal it, and we think we’ve got a good case.”
“We have our case. We’ll just wait to see what the appeal comes back with.”
Machado is in the Padres lineup on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers as he awaits his hearing. He’s currently 2-2 with a home run as the Padres lead 2-0 in the fifth inning. If he wins his appeal the suspension will be lifted, but he will still be fined for the incident.
The 26-year-old Machado is in the first year of a 10-year, $300 million contract he signed with San Diego in February. In 70 games this season entering play on Monday, he’s hitting .261 with 13 home runs.