Manny Machado has come to accept his role as baseball's "villain."
During last year's postseason run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Machado received heavy criticism for stepping on Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce's heel while running through first base. He was also ripped for a similar collision with the Brewers' Jesus Aguilar, one that led the benches to clear during the NLCS.
In October, Machado said he was "not the type of player that's going to be 'Johnny Hustle,'" a comment that also drew heat.
"I always will be the villain, no matter what," Machado told the New York Post in a story published Friday.