SAN DIEGO —
Throughout Sport 2 of the Nationwide League Division Sequence on Sunday night time, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout between innings that just about hit supervisor Dave Roberts.
Roberts informed reporters Monday he didn’t discover the throw on the time however later noticed a video of the incident, calling it “unsettling.”
The sequence befell earlier than the underside of the sixth inning, after Dodgers beginning pitcher Jack Flaherty struck out Machado the half-inning earlier than and shouted expletives towards the Padres star on his means again to the dugout.
In line with individuals who witnessed the play, Machado’s throw towards the Dodgers dugout got here because the Padres have been warming up defensively for the underside half of the inning. Machado allegedly threw the ball with some zip, one-hopping it into the wall of netting defending the dugout, close to the place Roberts was sitting.
“I don’t know his intent. I don’t want to speak for him,” Roberts stated. “But I did see the video. And the ball was directed at me with something behind it.”
Though Machado admitted after Sunday’s sport he did throw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout, he framed it as a routine toss meant for a ball boy.
“I throw balls all the time into the dugouts, both dugouts,” Machado stated. “I mean they have foul balls, you know, you throw the ball back in there.”
On Monday, Machado gave this remark concerning the state of affairs, in keeping with the San Diego Union Tribune.
“I spoke about this last night after the game,” he stated. “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.”
Roberts stated if Machado had been deliberately concentrating on him with the throw, “it’s pretty disrespectful.”
Roberts beforehand managed Machado with the Dodgers in 2018, after the workforce acquired him on the commerce deadline. Machado then signed with the Padres the next offseason as a free agent.
“Obviously, I have a relationship with Manny from years past,” Roberts stated.
After Machado’s throw, he was approached by third base umpire Tripp Gibson. The 2 had a short dialog, throughout which Machado threw his arm round Gibson’s shoulder.
After watching the video, did Roberts really feel Machado ought to have been ejected from the sport?
“I don’t think they should have had a little arm-around-each-other conversation,” Roberts answered, alluding to Gibson. “If players can throw balls at opposing managers, you know …”
