Dave Roberts questions Manny Machado’s pitching in the Dodgers dugout

SAN DIEGO — The baseball that San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado threw toward the Dodgers’ dugout Sunday night — sparking another tension between him and Los Angeles outfielder Jack Flaherty — landed within striking distance of Dodgers manager Dave. Roberts.

Roberts, speaking before his team’s practice Monday, said he didn’t notice it at first but later reviewed internal video of the throw.

“It was unsettling,” Roberts said. “Obviously I had a relationship with Manny years ago. There was intent behind it. She almost didn’t hit me because of the network. And that was very annoying. If it had been directed at me, I would have — it’s pretty disrespectful, so, I don’t know his intent nor “I want to speak on his behalf, but I saw the video and there was something behind it that led to this.”

Sources told ESPN that Major League Baseball has been in contact with Dodgers security staff and has requested footage of the incident, though any punishment seems unlikely. A video was shown showing what appears to be the incident in question Posted on social media Monday night by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

After Sunday’s Game 2 — a 10-2 Padres win that tied the National League Series at a game apiece — Machado accused Flaherty of intentionally hitting San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the sixth inning, an accusation Flaherty strongly denied. Two strokes later, Flaherty struck Machado and then yelled in his direction, telling him to “sit—down.”

Machado didn’t seem bothered by Flaherty’s reaction, chalking it up to “competition.” But the two exchanged words when Machado returned to the field on defense in the bottom of the sixth inning, appearing to challenge each other to a postgame fight. Flaherty later revealed that he was angry because Machado threw a baseball into the Dodgers dugout.

Machado initially denied the accusation, saying he constantly throws baseballs into the dugouts after previous warmups are over. But people on the Dodgers who saw the throw or watched video of it say it was thrown hard, bouncing off before hitting the netting directly in front of where Roberts sits during games, at the home plate end of the dugout. Machado downplayed the pitching Sunday night, but also seemed to hint at his intentions when asked if it was normal for him to throw unnecessary baseballs into the opposing team’s dugouts.

“Both bunkers,” Machado said. “They’ve got foul balls, throw the ball back there. I mean, when you’re trying to hit our best hitter. Right? Get him out. If you can’t get him out, don’t hit him. Right? They’ve got the best hitter in the game, right?” [Shohei] Otani? We’re not going to go out there and try to hit Ohtani. We’re trying to get him out. Don’t go out there and try to hit my leg.”

“Obviously I had a relationship with Manny from years ago… If that was meant for me, I would be – it’s very disrespectful. So, I don’t know what his intention is. I don’t want to speak on his behalf.” “But I watched the video and the ball was directed at 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 down the stretch of the 2018 season, coming from the Baltimore Orioles to replace the injured Corey Seager at shortstop. The Dodgers did not deal Machado when he became a free agent in the ensuing offseason.

Asked if he had any conversation with Machado before he threw the baseball at him, Roberts said: “The only conversation I had was that he was tweeting at Jack. And I looked at him and shook my head and said, ‘We’re not going to do that.’” “She didn’t intentionally hit him to start the inning after two innings.”

“I think he uses it as fuel,” Roberts added. “As a baseball player, anyone understands that you don’t do that, and you intentionally put the lead man on base with a 3-4-5 back. It doesn’t make sense.”

Flaherty spoke in an apologetic tone on Monday, admitting that “things got out of hand” between him and Machado, adding: “I wish I would have let it go.”

Machado addressed reporters before Roberts’ comments and was not made available afterward. Through a third party, Machado told the San Diego Union-Tribune: “I talked about this last night after the game. I’ve already turned the page, and I’m just looking forward to playing in front of our fans tomorrow and getting ready for tomorrow’s game.” “Another tough battle against a very good team.”