Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is taking issue with San Diego Padres’ third baseman Manny Machado who threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout during Sunday Night’s Game 2 matchup in what has been a heated NLDS series.
The throw led to more heated back-and-forth exchanges between Machado and Dodgers’ pitcher Jake Flaherty, and drew the ire of Johnson during the presser ahead of Game 3. Major League Baseball has been in touch with the Dodgers’ security staff and asked for footage of the incident but any sort of punishment is considered to be unlikely.
“It was unsettling,” Roberts said, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “Obviously I have a relationship with Manny from years past. There was intent behind it. It didn’t almost hit me because there was a net. And that was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, I would be very — it’s pretty disrespectful. So, I don’t know his intent. I don’t want to speak for him. But I did see the video. And the ball was directed at me with something behind it. But I don’t know what led to that.”
Machado initially dismissed the accusation, despite some disputes from those on the Dodgers, but as he downplayed the throw he did seem to hint at his intentions.
“Both dugouts,” Machado said. “They have foul balls, you throw the ball back in there. I mean, when you try to hit our best hitter. Right? Get him out. If you can’t get him out, don’t hit him. Right? They have the best player in the game, right? [Shohei] Ohtani? We don’t go out there and try to hit Ohtani. We try to get him out. Don’t go out there and try to hit my guy.”
Roberts talked about any chatter he had with Machado during the game.
“The only dialogue I had was he was chirping at Jack” he responded when questioned. “And I looked at him and shook my head, making a point that we wouldn’t hit him on purpose to lead off an inning being down two runs.”
“I think he’s using it as fuel,” Roberts added. “As a baseball person, anyone understands that you don’t do that, intentionally put the leadoff man on base with 3-4-5 coming up behind. It just makes no sense.”
Machado seems to have moved on: “I spoke about this last night after the game. I’ve already turned the page, and I’m just looking forward to playing in front of our fans tomorrow and preparing for another tough battle against a very good team.”
