Ever since the Padres snagged that epic 10-2 win in Game 2, they can’t stop making headlines—and neither can Manny Machado. Derek Jeter couldn’t hold back his praise for the third baseman, and it looks like Machado’s teammates are jumping on the hype train too. With that victory, the Padres set a franchise postseason record with six home runs. And let’s not forget the defense, which kicked things off with a solid performance from Yu Darvish.

Throwing seven innings and allowing just three hits and one run while striking out three and walking two. The overall defense was stellar, but can we give a shoutout to Manny Machado’s amazing plays at third base? Meanwhile, the vibe in the Padres’ dugout was electric, while the Dodgers were having a snooze-fest. Poor Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-4, but coming back to the Padres, Machado not only played, but was instrumental in keeping the team together as well.

The game was delayed for around ten minutes in the seventh innings when Padres’ Jurickson Profar was targeted by the Dodgers fans. Tension erupted in the sixth innings when Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty and Machado were caught in an angry exchange. Machado accused Flaherty of intentionally body-shotting batter Fernando Tatis with his pitch, that is ‘plunking’.

This annoyed the supporters at Dodger Stadium as they threw a baseball at Profar when he caught Mookie Betts’ hit by leaning over the advertising boards and celebrating. As Profar went to notify the umpire, another was thrown at him. It was during this moment that Machado gathered his teammates and asked them to remain calm. “Manny got the boys together and said his thing,” Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts said of him. Center fielder Jackson Merrill walked on the same path as he posted a heartfelt story celebrating the third baseman and the team’s win.

It was a reshare of Machado’s picture in which celebrating the Padres’ win actually tied them to 1-1 with their divisional rivals. The picture was actually posted by the Padres’ official account and was shared by the 21-year-old on his story with a unique caption that read “Again that’s my MF dawg.” That’s what is not just if you surf through his recent posts and stories, it’s all about glorifying the amazing win and Padres in season 2024. While he was there celebrating Machado, Jackson himself absolutely crushed it in the game.

With a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth off Dodgers reliever Ryan Brasier, and just like that, Jackson Merrill broke the game wide open. To top it off, Xander Bogaerts followed suit with a homer of his own, giving San Diego a solid grip on the game. Interestingly, despite Merrill’s praise, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune had reported last year that several veteran players described the Padres as not having a “winning culture” and that there is a “leadership void” in the clubhouse despite a “unanimous consensus” that Manny Machado “controls the clubhouse and sets a tone and personality for the team.” 

Padres Manager Bob Melvin had come out in support of Machado back then. The player himself had said that “a lot of quotes were left out.” In fact, he had a different take on this. “I think everybody is a leader,” Machado said. “I think we have 26 leaders. I don’t think necessarily one person has to take the lead role. I think baseball is a team sport. It takes everyone,” Machado had said back then.

Seems like the team has finally lifted itself to those ranks. That was evident as the Padres made the night belong through and through to them. Derek Jeter was all in celebrating Manny Machado and the entire team’s effort.

Derek Jeter praised Manny Machado

Jeter, alongside legends David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez, was on the Fox Sports podcast, chatting it up and sharing their thoughts on the Game 2 series between two divisional rivals in which the Padres won 10-2, tying the series until now. He praised the defense for sure, but he also mentioned Manny Machado and how the third baseman has grown through the years, starting to tell the others that they played against Manny when he was a rookie!

And now cut to more than a decade in MLB, with 12 seasons done and dusted. The Hall of Famer called the 32-year-old veteran. “He’s in a leadership position with this team; he’s one of the veterans. It’s not just about calling a team meeting; it’s about when you call it. I think he called the meeting because, at that particular moment, emotions could have elevated, and you need to make sure everyone stays calm and thinks about the big picture,” Jeter said, referring to the tension that erupted on the field.

What a journey, right? Even someone like Jeter had to chime in which means it’s huge. Plus, there was one quality that Jeter really praised. And that Manny knows when and why to conduct team meetings, and when to conduct them is important as emotions could be elevated. To humble it down and keep the team’s focus on the bigger picture is essential.

But what is the bigger picture for the Padres, according to the 50-year-old? Well, while the win was big and now the series is tied up, for Derek Jeter, it’s not about winning right now. The bigger picture is to win, move on, and win again back in their home ground in San Diego, Padres. The series has three games left, and anyone can win right now. We have to see if Manny Machado will be able to keep up the good work of Derek Jeter – what do you think will happen? Share in the comments.