Padres' Tingler: Criticism of Machado is a 'tired narrative'

San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler thinks his All-Star third baseman Manny Machado takes too much heat from his detractors.

The latest round of criticism stemming from Machado's actions came after he slid into St. Louis Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman to break up a double play during Sunday night's victory.

Tingler defended Machado on Monday.

"I am surprised that that was even a thing," Tingler said. "Because my natural reaction was 'that's a hell of a baseball play.' And so the first thing when he came in you're going to get nothing but knuckles and high fives from myself and staff and members in that dugout.

"... With it being Manny it's just such a, honestly, it's like a tired narrative. It's so tired to be labeled."

The slide occurred in the fourth inning when the Padres were trailing 2-0. Jake Cronenworth was safe at first when Edman couldn't complete the play.

San Diego scored four times in the inning and eventually won 5-3. Tingler says Machado's slide was the difference-making play.

"I thought it was a play, honestly, that won the game," Tingler said.