Recreation 2 of the Nationwide League Division Sequence launched a sideshow right into a tense, see-saw battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres — one which roped in Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts and Padres third baseman Manny Machado.
It started when Machado chucked a baseball within the route of the Dodgers’ dugout, bouncing off a protecting display in entrance of Roberts. Context is vital to understanding why the Padres thought nothing of it: the ball had been scuffed up beforehand and Machado was tossing the ball within the route of a ball boy, one thing he normally does in that state of affairs.
However the throw was maybe a bit zippier than normal. A pair Dodgers — notably pitcher Jack Flaherty — took offense.
Roberts mentioned nothing of the incident in his postgame press convention after the Dodgers’ 10-2 loss. However the next day, he had some unusually harsh phrases for Machado, calling the incident “unsettling,” “very bothersome,” and “fairly disrespectful.” He mentioned “there was intent behind” Machado’s throw.
Friday, after the Dodgers beat the Padres 2-0 in Recreation 5 to clinch the collection, Roberts basically recanted his accusations in an interview with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He mentioned his response was designed to take the stress off his personal gamers.
Extra information: Dodgers Submit Video of Manny Machado’s Throw Toward Their Dugout to MLB
“As a supervisor, you by no means wish to make it about you,” Roberts said. “However I simply felt in that state of affairs, if we may take (the stress) off our guys a bit of bit…Manny and I’ve a very good relationship. I might take him any day. However I do not assume that diversion was a nasty factor for our guys. And so they responded by having my again.”
Machado performed for the Dodgers, and Roberts, in 2018. He signed an 11-year, $350 million free-agent contract with San Diego after the season.
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Machado’s heel flip, signing a profitable contract with a division rival, made him a logical lightning rod for the Dodgers and their followers.
Machado, 32, has embraced the position. He used it as a rallying level to focus his teammates when he referred to as an impromptu assembly within the dugout later in Recreation 2 — which paused for 12 minutes after followers at Dodger Stadium threw objects within the route of the Padres’ outfielders.
The Dodgers submitted a video of Machado’s throw within the route of Roberts to Main League Baseball. The league ostensibly felt the incident didn’t warrant any supplemental self-discipline.
Extra information: Longtime AL General Manager Could Leave for Same Role in NL West
Roberts in the end determined to let bygones be bygones. Maybe that was simpler to do after his staff emerged victorious from a tense collection, however kudos to the supervisor for setting the report straight — and for successfully utilizing a innocent motion by an opponent as a motivational instrument for his gamers.
For extra MLB postseason information, go to Newsweek Sports.
