The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have developed a recent history of controversy between the two teams, and the latest came in their four-game series finale last Thursday.
After Jack Little hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch on the right wrist, Padres manager Mike Shildt stared and shouted toward the Dodgers’ dugout. That made manager Dave Roberts charge toward him, and both benches ended up clearing.
After the game, Roberts took offense at Shildt for making it “personal” after the Padres’ skipper was yelling at him and staring him down.
Shildt pushed back on it being personal, instead saying it was about defending his team and not related to any of their problems in the past, via Marty Caswell of the Sporting Tribune:
“Another good question. I’m competing for our team, you know there’s some history that’s very public with what happened last year with Manny that I took exception to. So I handled that very privately. This got to be more public. And it’s ultimately about the defense of our team, and anybody that is going to take the steps that I feel are inappropriate against our team, then I will take action. But I’m not a personal guy. I’m not a grudge guy, but I am a foxhole guy.”
Although Shildt said he handled the last situation private, that was not necessarily the case. That issue arose when Manny Machado threw a ball in the direction of Roberts, who claimed there was “intent behind it,” during the National League Division Series.
After Roberts was critical of Machado’s actions, Shildt immediately responded and publicly called out Roberts.
Although no punishment came after that, both managers were suspended one game this time around. They were also both fined an undisclosed amount.
“I support it,” Roberts said. “I think that, obviously, I never want to make the game about the managers. It shouldn’t be. It should be about the players and winning.”
When do Dodgers and Padres play again?
The Dodgers and Padres have two series remaining, with the first beginning Aug. 15 at Dodger Stadium. They then will play another three-game matchup that starts one week later at Petco Park.
That will be the final time the two clubs meet in the regular season. It would also be unsurprising to see some more fireworks between the two clubs.
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