MILWAUKEE - While eating their hamburgers for free at one of the George Webb restaurants in the Milwaukee area on Thursday afternoon, Brewers fans had two things in mind: extending the National League Championship Series to a decisive Game 7 and make sure that Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado receives the well-deserved reception, as Brewers Most Valuable Player candidate Christian Yelich called him a "dirty player."
"His practice in Los Angeles will lead to a lot of boos," said Gerald Mortensen, a fan of the Brewers of Wausau, Wisconsin. "A lot of booing, basically he tried to hurt one of our players."
George Webb's restaurants were a center of activity on Thursday afternoon, as this was the day the chain promised to serve hamburgers for free as a result of the Brewers winning at least 12 games in a row. That streak ended last week, and now Milwaukee faces a life-threatening situation en route to Game 6 on Friday, down 3-2. And in addition to attracting the Brewers, fans can unite around a common enemy.
Machado will take to the field at Miller Park for the first time since his controversial slides at second base and his clash with Brewers' first baseman, Jesus Aguilar, while passing the cushion during the three games played in Los Angeles. Brewers fans say they will be ready for him.
"Of course they're going to boo him," said Francisco Hernandez of Milwaukee. "The slide was out of place, and he did it twice, not once, but twice, without a doubt, he did it on purpose with Aguilar, there's no doubt about that."
You could feel the anger, which was only partially off when the fans enjoyed their burgers. His hunger was being satisfied, but his distaste for the new villain of the postseason was just as strong.
Even for those who know him better, Machado is an enigma, a good boy who simply can not help himself.
"Manny is not malicious, but then you see some of those things and you say, 'Come on, man, really?'" Said Machado's former manager, Buck Showalter, when he was contacted by phone. "As a teammate, manager or coach, you try to give him support, but he has to give me something to work with, it's hard to defend that."
As expected, Showalter feels a kinship with Machado, who went through the Orioles' system while Showalter was the manager of Baltimore. But there have been too many incidents to ignore. As Yelich pointed out, this is not a first offense for the future free agent.
In addition to hitting the foot of Jesus Aguilar in first, Manny Machado generated the anger of fans of Milwaukee by two violent landslides in second.
"I can not defend it," Showalter said of the play at first base. "I've thought about it." In his mind, I'm sure if he could do it again, it would not happen, but it happened.
We have not even come up with the idea that Machado, incredibly, admitted in an interview with Fox that he does not make an effort in all the plays, which he showed at the beginning of the series. Showalter did not want to comment on that, but the Brewers fans were more than happy to weigh it.
"I think Aguilar kept his foot in the base because he did not expect Machado to be there for another half hour," Mortensen said with a smile. "It's the opposite of everything that Wisconsin and Brewers sports represent."
Mortensen rightly acknowledged the suspension of outfielder Ryan Braun of Milwaukee for a violation of baseball's drug program a few years ago, so these things are not exclusive to one player or team, but Machado is the villain of the moment. However, if fans expect the reaction in Miller Park to get Machado out of his game, Showalter says to forget it.
"It will not bother you," he said. "If you look back at all the things before, it's something that stimulated you."
It will not stop Milwaukee fans from showing their displeasure, if the crowd at George Webb is any indication.
"Machado?" David Schulst said. "He will have his boos, but we need a victory."
Oh, yes, there is one small thing about winning, or else it will mean the end of a very successful year for the Brewers and their fans.
"We all want something to talk about, and so do you," said Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell after Game 4, when Machado met Aguilar. "And that's great, but, man, you know, there are easy terms to put on this day and these next four days will focus on fulfilling your dreams, which make those other things really meaningless and able to worry about that in another moment".
Of course, that did not stop Counsell from giving his own opinion about Machado, saying he did not think Machado was playing "so hard"
Of course, that did not stop Counsell from giving his own opinion about Machado, saying he did not think Machado was playing "so hard." So, apparently, everyone is interested in taking the pound of meat off the star, often controversial. But he has also shown his skills in the series, as he scored the winning race in the epic Game 4 to 13 innings and has produced an OPS of .935.
"I do not think it affects him in a negative way, no," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the reception he expects for Machado in Milwaukee.
The reality is that the result of the game will be the real story, but with the potential of 40,000 or more fans focusing their anger in one direction, Machado's narrative will also be interesting.
"It's going to be very bitter for him here," said Mortensen. "He's the guy who plays when he wants to play, we're going to boo when we want to boo."