Perfection was required of Manny Machado.

Perfection is what he delivered.

The age group triple play that Machado initiated and facilitated Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium will be featured at his induction ceremony in Cooperstown when the third baseman will one day receive a bronze medal.

Did I say Manny Machado?

I wanted to say Manny Machado Mahomes.

Everything about Machado’s throw to second base was great.

The throw to first base was the safer play after Machado gloved Miguel Rojas’ soft groundball on the infield grass and turned back to third base to bag the first out.

Machado chose second base… because he’s Manny Machado.

The man is a master of high-speed calculations.

A TRIPLE GAME! TO SECURE A PLACE IN THE LOST SEASON! UNREAL! pic.twitter.com/NfbCRgt0Y6

– San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 25, 2024

As he turned backwards about 10 feet toward third base – quickly but unhurriedly, right foot forward, then left foot, then right foot on the bag to make sure he got the ball could turn and throw without wasting – he must have decided there was still time to grab the baserunner approaching second base.

Yes, sure. It was time.

All it would have to do is nail down every detail.

Machado’s flow told the story.

From the grass to the dirt to the bag to the throw and pass, he created a continuous movement.

By the time he entered third base, he had already begun throwing to Jake Cronenworth at second base.

Machado is also a wizard at improvising whatever throw is necessary to meet the moment.

He brought the ball out quickly but also hot.

Traveling at 85.5 mph, his 90-foot wing shot had almost no tail, although Machado released the sidearms, a gift of spin control he possesses.

It beat Hernandez by inches.

For Cronenworth to have a chance of catching Rojas at first base, Machado’s stake had to hit a target smaller than a bed pillow.

Cronenworth didn’t have to move his glove. He stood in the back corner of the base and caught the ball at chest height. His transfer and throw were perfect.

With a height of 1.75 meters, first baseman Donovan Solano could only make the man-high throw with minimal extension.

It beat Rojas by a foot.

All Shohei Ohtani could do was return to the dugout.

“That play was only made because of Manny Machado… I don’t think (any other third baseman) does that.”

Harold dives into the @Padres The star’s footwork during last night’s epic game-winning triple play. #MLBTonight pic.twitter.com/yZnM1RdnX2

– MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 26, 2024

Had Machado made a single error in his attempt to get the leadoff, both men would have been safe and the fearsome Dodgers slugger would have batted with one out, which would have been the go-ahead run.

But is it really a gamble when you’re that good?

Like almost no third baseman in the history of the game, Machado was predisposed to making these types of plays. He took all the chips off the table, boosted the confidence of closer Robert Suarez and secured a place in the playoffs with the 4-2 win.

Baseball’s rule changes to protect pivot players also paid off, creating an extraordinary moment for the 2024 Padres and the sport itself.

For most of Major League Baseball history, a barrel roll into second base would have put Cronenworth to an extreme, perhaps impossible test.

Every Padres team that advanced to the World Series had a barrel roll demolition expert.

In 1984, it was Kevin McReynolds who thundered into second base and ruined several attempts. Tim Flannery also kept the infielders on their toes.

Fourteen years later, center fielders across the National League feared a close play at second base when Ken Caminiti charged toward the bag.

Caminiti rolled into second place like a runaway truck.

Rules have made the sport safer. Paired with Machado’s rare flair for high-speed, high-stakes baseball, the no-roll zone resulted in a champagne party for the wild-card winning Padres.

Originally published: September 29, 2024 at 12:00 p.m