Manny Machado Is Also Amazing
On Monday, we talked a bit about Bryce Harper, and the fact that he is making a legitimate run at Mike Trout for the title of best player in baseball. Harper is somehow building off of last year’s dominant season, and at 23, he’s taking his remarkable performance up another level. But Harper isn’t the only 23 year old superstar playing near the beltway, and remarkably, he hasn’t even been the best player in the area this year. That title belongs to Manny Machado.
Through the first couple weeks of the season, Machado ranks second in the majors in batting average (.407), fourth in on-base percentage (.467), and second in slugging percentage (.796). This across-the-board dominance means that his .530 wOBA edges out Harper’s .526 wOBA for the top spot on the leaderboard, and Machado is the primary reason the Orioles are in first place in the AL East. While he has been overshadowed by the remarkable early-career success of Trout and Harper, and to some extent by Carlos Correa’s arrival last summer, it’s important to realize just how great Machado has become.
During his first few years, Machado was a slightly above average hitter who produced most of his value on the defensive side of the ball, flashing an incredible glove at third base and hitting well enough to be a star because of his overall value. He was a fantastic player, but one in the mold of guys like Adrian Beltre or Scott Rolen, superstars who haven’t always gotten their due. Last year, though, Machado found his power stroke, launching 35 home runs on his way to becoming a legitimate all-around franchise player. His 134 wRC+ put him in the top 25 of hitters in baseball, putting him in the same range as guys like David Ortiz and Ryan Braun. Add in the defense, and well, that’s a pretty great player.
But like Harper, Machado is apparently also not done improving. As with Harper, Machado has also tapped into the value of elevating the baseball.
Only 27% of Machado’s balls in play so far have been hit on the ground, well below the mid-40% range he’s posted in prior years. And Machado is crushing the balls he hits in the air.
| Player | Batted Balls | Avg FB/LD EV (mph) |
| Domingo Santana | 35 | 101.6 |
| David Ortiz | 32 | 100.3 |
| Ryan Braun | 36 | 99.2 |
| Jake Lamb | 31 | 99.1 |
| Hunter Pence | 41 | 99.0 |
| David Peralta | 41 | 98.8 |
| Eric Hosmer | 35 | 98.5 |
| Christian Yelich | 30 | 98.5 |
| Manny Machado | 38 | 98.4 |
| Trevor Story | 36 | 98.4 |
If this list was a top 12 instead of a top 10, you’d find Bryce Harper three spots below Machado. This is no longer a guy who is providing most of his value in the field; Machado is morphing into a legitimate slugger, just one who also happens to be a spectacular defensive player.
And this isn’t just a strong April; Machado’s been playing at one of the highest levels a player can reach for over a year now. Using the last calendar year function on our leaderboard, we can see how his performance over the last 365 days stacks up against his peers. First, sorted by wRC+, just to look at his offensive performance.
| # | Name | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | wRC+ | WAR |
| 1 | Bryce Harper | 0.335 | 0.460 | 0.674 | 0.470 | 203 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Mike Trout | 0.291 | 0.397 | 0.570 | 0.406 | 167 | 8.8 |
| 3 | Josh Donaldson | 0.293 | 0.369 | 0.578 | 0.401 | 158 | 8.9 |
| 4 | Paul Goldschmidt | 0.312 | 0.429 | 0.549 | 0.408 | 157 | 6.8 |
| 5 | Jose Bautista | 0.263 | 0.386 | 0.552 | 0.398 | 156 | 5.5 |
| 6 | Edwin Encarnacion | 0.288 | 0.379 | 0.565 | 0.398 | 155 | 5.0 |
| 7 | Joey Votto | 0.295 | 0.439 | 0.493 | 0.401 | 155 | 5.8 |
| 8 | Miguel Cabrera | 0.320 | 0.426 | 0.503 | 0.396 | 154 | 3.8 |
| 9 | Manny Machado | 0.305 | 0.377 | 0.545 | 0.395 | 153 | 8.4 |
| 10 | Chris Davis | 0.260 | 0.366 | 0.568 | 0.394 | 152 | 5.9 |
And now sorted by WAR, to give him some credit for what he does in the field too.
| # | Name | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | wRC+ | WAR |
| 1 | Bryce Harper | 0.335 | 0.460 | 0.674 | 0.470 | 203 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Josh Donaldson | 0.293 | 0.369 | 0.578 | 0.401 | 158 | 8.9 |
| 3 | Mike Trout | 0.291 | 0.397 | 0.570 | 0.406 | 167 | 8.8 |
| 4 | Manny Machado | 0.305 | 0.377 | 0.545 | 0.395 | 153 | 8.4 |
| 5 | Paul Goldschmidt | 0.312 | 0.429 | 0.549 | 0.408 | 157 | 6.8 |
| 6 | Yoenis Cespedes | 0.290 | 0.333 | 0.546 | 0.372 | 138 | 6.7 |
| 7 | Kris Bryant | 0.268 | 0.357 | 0.476 | 0.361 | 129 | 6.5 |
| 8 | Jason Heyward | 0.288 | 0.361 | 0.423 | 0.341 | 117 | 6.1 |
| 9 | A.J. Pollock | 0.312 | 0.362 | 0.498 | 0.368 | 130 | 6.0 |
| 10 | Chris Davis | 0.260 | 0.366 | 0.568 | 0.394 | 152 | 5.9 |
That list shows there’s a clear top tier, with four players on another level from everyone else. Harper and Trout get plenty of attention, given what they’ve done in their careers. Donaldson is the reigning AL MVP. But right there with them is Manny Machado, hanging out with the best the game has to offer, and more than holding his own. This guy is in that class, which is what happens when you hit like Miguel Cabrera and field like a gold glover.
Machado’s probably not going to hit .400 all year, and he’s not going to keep slugging .800, but it should be pretty clear at this point that Machado is no longer a defense-first player who hits alright too. Machado is now one of the best hitters alive, and because he’s also a tremendous fielder, that makes him one of the game’s truly elite players. Bryce Harper certainly deserves all the accolades he’s getting, but let’s not ignore what Machado is doing just a few miles north. The Baltimore-DC area currently has not two of the best 23 year olds we’ve ever seen, as Machado belongs in the conversation of the game’s best as well.
Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.
Soooo Domingo Santana should not be sitting on the waiver wire anywhere, right?
Prince is dead and all you knuckledragging mouthbreathers can do is talk about baseball. Don’t you realize that none of this really matters? I am bleeding purple rain…
Grief is not a competition.
But isn’t that part of the Cubs shtick?
Yeah, but the Red Sox forfeited more than a decade ago. Maybe nobody told the Cubs fanbase, but the pity party championship is over and they won.
No offense, but the world doesn’t stop. For people of a certain generation, this is a day they will always remember, but to others, its just another day. And of course, for some, baseball is their escape from the horrors of their life. How many people might be here because baseball takes their mind off their job, the sick or dying spouse, parent, child, etc. Don’t begrudge someone that escape even if you don’t want to escape your grief at the moment.
I constantly gaze through an abyss of FanGraphs articles; learning, analyzing, debating, enjoying.
We see pieces such as:
Who’s the best hitter?
Who’s exit velocity is the highest?
And everytime, one name keeps popping up. Not always first, but certainly not last. He is someone we love dearly, but often take for granted. Like a single, extra onion ring in an order of fries.
His name? Paul Goldschmidt.
Give this man some love, FG. He is out onion ring.
Sleeping looking into the abyss Kills Fangraphs; Research, analysis, debate, enjoy.
As we can see these sections:
Best shot?
That the rate is the highest output?
And each time, one name kept popping up. It is not always the first, but certainly not the last. He is the person I loved so deeply, but often take for granted. As a unique anniversary, a full port and part of fries.
What was his name? Pol Goldschmidt.
Love, FG. It has a ring.
And then Swahili to Klingon and back:
The blind man Sleeps By fangraphs pit; Research, analysis, discussion, and enjoyment.
I can shoot him, above all, in the Great:?
high level?
the name first, and I keep popping as you go. not yet, not yet, but I definitely always the first and the last first. love so deeply, but often ignore. in an instant the whole celebration of the many unique and man fries and when he was come out of the mental existence of the deaf.
What is His name? keep Goldschmidt.
, fg. Come on.
And then Queretaro Otomi to Hmong Daw and back:
And then Swahili Klingon and back:
Eyes did not see the man laying on the fangraphs; Research, analyze, discuss and enjoy.
Why are you killing, the great:?
improve the Forum?
name and I also can occur when you plant crops. No, not yet, but you are definitely in the same manner the first and before the end. loves to sleep, but most ignore. While there is no more he and adulthood when the forest permanently deaf.
what is your name? To Goldschmidt.
, fg. I’m going to do it.
BROTH-1 play + 1
Wrong answer
Click here to answer.
Machado has more WAR over the last 365 days than Evan Longoria and Todd Frazier. Combined.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2016&month=10&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
I’d say there’s a clear top tier, with one player on another level from everyone else.
Then there’s a clear second tier, with three players on another level from the remaining players.
True – it really gives you a feel for how historically great Harper has been. Those three on the second tier are generational talents, yet you’re right, he’s been in a tier of his own.
Arenado might be worth looking at as well when considering players coming close to the top.
Shouldn’t this be:
“The Baltimore-DC area currently has not one, but two of the best 23 year olds we’ve ever seen, as Machado belongs in the conversation of the game’s best as well.”
I believe that that line meant that they are not just great 23 year olds, but also some of the game’s best. took me a couple reads to get it too.
Yeah, final line needs an edit. Nice piece.
yep, Machado is the best SS in baseball.
But does he send gift baskets?
I see what you did there, Mr Jay. 😉
(not that you’re necessarily wrong….)
He’s still a d*ck for trying to murder Donaldson with his bat a couple of years ago. Kid should be in jail.
I concur. This is also the first thing I think about with this guy. Think about the gigantic arbitrary suspensions that professional sports hand out for off-field incidents. You throw a bat at a player on the field in the middle of a televised game and get a slap on the wrist? Didn’t he also deliberately smack Derek Norris in the head with a back swing as well right around that time? I am inclined to think that the universe will work things out eventually.
I believe so, and remember this all started with a perceived push from Donaldson that was just him tagging the guy in a rundown. MLB is ever the hypocrite with stars getting special treatment. He could have been suspended for 3 or 5 years and noone could have said that was too harsh. I mean, he literally threw a bat as hard as he could at someone on national TV. Really?
That’s one approach.
To me, a 3 year suspension would be ridiculous — may as well lifetime ban someone at that point.
He was also like 21 years old. Kid made a mistake or two, a big one, but it does not seem to be recurring.
Personally, I try to look for opportunities to allow people to redeem themselves, not crush them for mistakes.
It is reasonable to remember this, and not overlook it.
It may be reasonable to still hold it against him.
But it is entirely unreasonable to claim he should “still be in jail” for an action that would, in most circumstances, not landed him in jail in the first place.
Go A’s and all that (I’m assuming.) But your proposed reaction is downright Goodell-ian.
Not an A’s fan and that should not be assumed. Try the same thing with your neighbor, tape it, and see what happens.
He threw the bat at the pitcher not at Donaldson, and in his defense (this doesn’t excuse it, obviously) the pitcher was pretty clearly throwing at him, too. I’m pretty sure throwing a baseball at 90+ mph at someone, outside of a baseball game, would land you in about as much legal trouble as a bat, so that argument is pretty spurious.
How about an article about Shelby Miller? I mean there are a few guys off to great starts and a few guys off to miserable starts, but is there anything crazier than Shelby Miller happening right now? You would even get to criticize the Diamondback which would fit right into the weekly quota… which you seem to be running behind on!
Not to change the subject (Okay, technically I am…), but:
The second highest wOBA on the list is .408 (Goldschmidt), the lowest on the list is .394 (Chris Davis), a difference between 2nd and 10th of .016. The first on this list is .470, .062 higher than the second highest. .062 higher than league average would about a .378 wOBA, on most teams that would be its best hitter. There is a guy who has basically been better than the second best hitter in baseball by the amount that the best hitter on most teams is better than average…
There’s the same WAR gap between #1 and #2 as between #5 and #13.
I wish we’d stop talking about defensive metrics as though they mean anything across a single season.
You think defensive metrics have literally zero use in a 1 season sample size?