Dodgers: 3 most hated Padres ahead of weekend showdown

1. Manny Machado

If you ever have the chance to be the indelible symbol of failure for an entire team’s season, you simply have to do it.

When the Dodgers traded for Manny Machado midway through the 2018 season, it was one of many moves over the years deemed “unfair” by the masses on Twitter. A good 97% of those “unfair” moves do not result in championships, and this certainly ranks as one of those!

Machado’s tenure in LA made him a genuine enemy to the rest of baseball, filled to the brim with “dirty” plays and perceived laziness. In the NLCS, he spiked Jesus Aguilar of the Brewers at first base. He was criticized for not running out a ground ball, then crafted the perfect response to the allega–just kidding. He said he would never be mistaken for “Johnny Hustle” and claimed running hard isn’t his “cup of tea.” Not great.

And when it came time for the Dodgers’ season to die and for the final out to be recorded, it was Machado corkscrewing himself into the ground on a Chris Sale slider, which we’ll never forget. Right up there with the Jordan Jumpman as a recognizable image.

Of course … he didn’t go away. He signed a $300 million contract within the division. He trash-talked a fan and claimed he’d win a World Series before the Dodgers did (how’d that go?). He instantly looked more comfortable in tan and yellow. He’ll always, always, always be one of the most pockmarked half-year Dodgers of all time, and we can’t wait to leave him in the dust over and over again for the next decade.

Dodgers clearly trying to stick it to Padres after already naming weekend rotation

The Los Angeles Dodgers are making sure they have their three best arms going against the San Diego Padres this weekend in a clear statement move.