SAN DIEGO — The baseball that San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado threw toward the Dodgers dugout Sunday night — sparking another heated back-and-forth between him and the Los Angeles pitcher Jack Flaherty – landed near Dodgers manager Dave. Roberts.
Roberts, speaking before his team’s practice Monday, said he didn’t notice it initially but then watched internal video of the throw.
“It was disturbing,” Roberts said. “Obviously, I’ve had a relationship with Manny for years. There was an intention behind it. It didn’t almost hit me because there was a thread. And it was very awkward. If it did to me was intended, I would be very — it’s quite disrespectful So I don’t know his intention I don’t want to speak for him but I saw the video and the ball was headed towards me with something behind it. led to this.”
Major League Baseball has been in contact with Dodgers security personnel and requested footage of the incident, sources told ESPN, although punishment appears unlikely. A video showing what appears to be the incident in question was posted to social media Monday evening by the San Diego Union Tribune.
After Sunday’s second game — a 10-2 Padres victory that evened the National League Division Series at one game apiece — Machado accused Flaherty of hitting San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. on purpose to start the sixth inning, an accusation Flaherty made vehemently. denied. Two batters later, Flaherty struck out Machado and then yelled in his direction, telling him to “sit down.”
Machado didn’t seem bothered by Flaherty’s reaction, instead attributing it to “competition.” But the two exchanged words when Machado returned to the court to defend himself in the bottom of the sixth, seemingly challenging each other to a postgame fight. Flaherty later revealed that he was angry that Machado threw a baseball into the Dodgers dugout.
Machado initially dismissed the accusation, saying he was constantly throwing baseballs into dugouts after pre-inning warmups ended. But Dodgers people who saw the throw or watched video of it say it was thrown firmly, bouncing before hitting the net that sits directly in front of where Roberts sits during games, from marble side of the shelter. Machado downplayed the throwing Sunday night, but also seemed to hint at his intentions when asked if it was normal for him to throw unnecessary baseballs into an opposing team’s dugout.
“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 don’t hit him, right? They We have the best player in the game, don’t we? (Shohei) Ohtani? not to bring him out and try to hit my guy.
“Obviously, I’ve had a relationship with Manny for years. … If this was directed at me, I would be very — it’s pretty disrespectful. So, I don’t know his intentions. I don’t want to speak for him. But I saw the video and the ball was headed towards me with something behind it. But I don’t know what led to that.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
Before signing the first of two long-term contracts with the Padres, Machado played for the Dodgers during the latter part of the 2018 season, coming from the Baltimore Orioles to replace an injured Corey Seager at shortstop. The Dodgers did not commit to Machado when he became a free agent during the ensuing offseason.
When asked if he had any dialogue with Machado before throwing a baseball in his direction, Roberts replied: “The only dialogue I had was him chirping at Jack. And I I looked and shook my head, emphasizing that we would “I didn’t hit him on purpose to start an inning down by two runs.
“I think he uses it as fuel,” Roberts added. “As a baseball player, everyone understands that you don’t do that, intentionally put the first guy on base with 3-4-5 behind. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Flaherty struck an apologetic tone Monday, acknowledging that “things got out of hand” between him and Machado, adding, “I wish I’d let it go.”
Machado spoke to reporters before Roberts’ comments and was not made available afterward. Through a third party, Machado told the San Diego Union Tribune: “I talked about it last night after the game. I’ve already moved on and I’m just looking forward to playing in front of our fans tomorrow and to prepare myself for another tough battle against a very good team.”