The Los Angeles Dodgers are now 7.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West division, but the Friars appear to be dissatisfied with another area where L.A. leads: All-Star Game voting.
Padres announcer Mark Grant recently went after All-Star Max Muncy while encouraging Friars fans to vote for former Dodgers third baseman Manny Machado in the Midsummer Classic.
“Let’s call it the way it is,” Grant remarked Sunday. “Manny Machado is a better third baseman than Max Muncy, alright.”
Both hot corners are in the second phase of All-Star voting. Machado received 2,495,554 votes, the most among National League third basemen, with Muncy following closely after with 1,665,829.
Machado has had more outstanding numbers throughout his careers, although playing three more seasons. He leads Muncy in career hitting average and slugging percentage, although Muncy has a higher on-base percentage and OPS.
Both have a lifetime OPS+ of 124, which is more than 20% higher than the league average, with Machado earning a pair of Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and six All-Star selections to Muncy’s two.
In 2025, things become a little more intriguing.
Max Muncy has a higher bWAR (2.9) than Machado (2.5), more RBIs (55) than his San Diego opponent (47), and both are tied with 13 home runs this season.
Machado leads Muncy in hits, batting average, slugging percentage, and stolen bases, but Muncy has a higher on-base percentage, OPS, and OPS+ despite playing five fewer games.
Defensively, both are rated as below-average defenders, with Machado in the 11th percentile for Outs Above Average and Muncy in the fifth percentile.
To boldly say that Machado is better when there is a compelling case to be made to the contrary not only demonstrates a lack of professionalism behind the microphone, but also undermines Muncy’s outstanding season, especially after such a difficult start.
Machado leads in total statistics across both careers, but Muncy still has two World Series trophies that neither the Padres third baseman nor his team have.
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