Prior to Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado issued an apology for his actions over the weekend against the Oakland Athletics.
Machado completed an interview with MASN but was not made available to any other media outlets for questions besides the team-owned network. The 21-year-old did not specifically mention the bat-throwing incident that occurred after Oakland pitcher Fernando Abad twice threw inside toward his knees, actions that prompted both players to be ejected from Sunday’s game.
He said in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game that the bat slipped out of his hands but provided a more regrettable tone with his words a day later.
“I definitely had a nice rest at home and seeing the replay over and over again,” Machado said. “I definitely want to apologize. I want to apologize to all my teammates, my coaching staff, the Orioles organization, and Oakland and to our fans for the way I acted and overreacted on that.”
Machado met with teammates in a players-only meeting on Monday afternoon, and manager Buck Showalter told reporters that the young infielder was showing remorse for his behavior that started with his reaction to a tag on the bases from Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson on Friday night.
Major League Baseball had yet to rule on any discipline, but Machado was all but guaranteed to receive a suspension for his actions on Sunday, which prompted plenty of negative reaction nationally and locally. The 2013 All-Star selection was unsure when asked if he expected to be suspended for his behavior but acknowledged the possibility.
“Just looking over the replay, it was a frustrating weekend,” Machado said. “We were playing against one of the best teams in all of Major League Baseball. We’re in the heat of it. We’re trying to make the playoffs. We’re trying to win a World Series, and it was a frustrating weekend. I just let my emotions get the best of me.”
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Oakland players were harsh in their reactions following Sunday’s game, taking issue with Machado failing to acknowledge or apologize for two different back swings that hit catcher Derek Norris. Norris left the game following the second one to strike him in the back of the head.
Showalter even acknowledged on Monday that he noticed Machado didn’t apologize to Norris for what was perceived to be accidental contact both times.
“I want to apologize to Derek,” Machado said. “That wasn’t intentional. I didn’t realize how hard I had hit him with the bat. I have a tough follow-through, a really long follow-through. At that point, with how the weekend was going, I didn’t really think he would have cared about whether I had showed emotion for him. I do want to apologize for him being taken out of the game.”
