A subplot to the Los Angeles Dodgers being in the same position as they were in the 2022 National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres is emotions boiling over in Game 2, with Manny Machado, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jack Flaherty at the center of it.
Tempers flared when Flaherty hit Tatis with a pitch to begin the sixth inning. Machado took exception to that, and he later was on the receiving end of expletives from Flaherty after striking out.
The two continued shouting at one another as the bottom of the sixth was about to begin, which Flaherty revealed after the Dodgers’ loss in Game 2 was partly due to Machado throwing a baseball toward their dugout.
When speaking with media at Petco Park on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he reviewed video of the incident and realized the ball was hurled in his direction.
A clip of the incident has now been shared by Padres reporter Annie Heilbrunn:
Here is video of Manny Machado throwing the ball toward the #Dodgers dugout. The ball had just been used by Yu Darvish to warm up. Kyle Higashioka’s throw to second bounced in the dirt, so Darvish received a new ball to begin the inning. #Padres pic.twitter.com/Wkf1L4Pff5
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) October 8, 2024
In the video, Roberts is seen looking down at his lineup card and unaware of what initially transpired. Teoscar Hernández appeared to take immediate exception with Machado, as did Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann.
“If players can throw balls at opposing managers…” Roberts said on Tuesday.
Dave Roberts: Manny Machado ‘pretty disrespectful’
While suggesting the Padres embrace being perceived as a villain, Roberts also expressed his disappointment with Machado’s actions.
“It was unsettling,” he said of watching the video. “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. That was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, 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. I didn’t see it in real time but I did see the video.”
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