BOSTON (AFP) – Manny Machado accepts that he will be the villain of the World Series when his Los Angeles Dodgers take the field in Boston for Tuesday’s opener against the Red Sox.
But the 26-year-old shortstop plans to keep his focus on the field and his quest for a first career title as well as the Dodgers’ first crown since 1998 in the best-of-seven final.
‘‘Just go out there and play,’’ Machado said. ‘‘We’re here to compete, play for a (championship) ring. You put your focus out there on the field.’’
A sellout crowd at Fenway Park will make Machado the subject of their loudest boos based upon his history with the Red Sox, notably last year when the Dominican-American star played for the Baltimore Orioles.
In April 2017, Machado aroused the wrath of Red Sox fans with a hard slide into second base that injured Boston’s Dustin Pedroia.
Two days later, Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes was suspended four games after throwing at Machado’s head, thought to be a response to Machado’s dirty slide.
After Machado was forced to evade a Chris Sale pitch a week later, he unleashed a profanity-filled post-game tirade, daring pitchers to hit him and warning while they threw at 100mph he held a bat and ‘‘I could go up there and crush somebody if I wanted to.’’
Machado was traded from the Orioles to the Dodgers in July and added more controversial chapters to his legacy with several plays last week against Milwaukee, notably kicking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the National League finals, inspiring loud jeers from Brewers fans that figure to be echoed at Fenway Park.
‘‘We’re going to get booed no matter what,’’ Machado said. ‘‘We’re going to go out and try to compete as well as we can and leave it on the field and come out with a victory.’’
