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SAN DIEGO — Padres manager Mike Shildt came to the defense of third baseman Manny Machado on Tuesday, one day after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he felt Machado had intentionally thrown a baseball in his direction between innings.
Speaking before Game 3 of a hotly contested National League Division Series between the two Southern California rivals, Shildt mostly expressed a desire to “just go play baseball.” But he vehemently backed Machado in the process.
“Listen, I got into this game to help players get the most out of their God-given ability and to compete on the field and respect the opponent,” Shildt said. “I’m not, nor will I ever disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I’ve managed in the past. Nor will I do it to a collective team. That’s not how I want to operate. I have a lot of respect for their club, the players on their club.
“As far as Manny goes, it’s unfortunate people can’t move on from things from the past. I thought Manny’s exhibition of professionalism and leadership was on display the other night in a very tough environment.”
The incident in question occurred prior to the bottom of the sixth inning in Sunday’s Game 2, after the Padres had completed their warm-ups. In the top half of the frame, Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty plunked Fernando Tatis Jr. with a fastball. Flaherty later struck out Machado, and he had some choice words for the Padres’ slugger afterward.
The following half inning, Machado flung a baseball toward the Los Angeles dugout. Videos showed the ball hitting the net in front of Roberts. Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández took immediate exception, standing next to Roberts, who didn’t appear to notice anything at first. It sparked a shouting match between Machado, at third base, and Flaherty, on the top step of the dugout.
During the NLDS workout day on Monday, Roberts was asked about the incident.
“I didn’t see it at the time,” Roberts said. “I did see the video. And it was unsettling. 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. And 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.”
The throw didn’t become a talking point until after Sunday’s game had ended, when Flaherty made the accusation. At the time, Machado responded by saying, “I throw balls all the time into the dugouts. Both dugouts. They have bat boys, you throw the ball back in there.”
The Dodgers contended that this was no normal between-innings lob. Machado, speaking on Sunday, seemed to imply that it was at least somewhat retaliatory, pivoting to Flaherty’s plunking of Tatis.
Roberts and Flaherty were vehement in saying that the hit by pitch was unintentional, and Tatis even acknowledged as much.
“Anyone understands that you don’t do that — intentionally put the leadoff man on base with 3-4-5 coming up,” Roberts said. “It just makes no sense.”
Machado made it clear after the game that he disagreed. But as for the idea that Machado threw a baseball at Roberts with any purpose, Shildt thought that to be an unfair assumption.
“I don’t think there was any intent at all with that,” Shildt. “Manny has exceptional arm talent. I think he proved that on the triple play.”
Los Angeles third baseman Max Muncy indicated that, if nothing else, he felt the Padres were doing their best to get under the Dodgers’ skin.
“You can’t let that affect you,” Muncy said. “The Padres, as a team, as a stadium, as an atmosphere, thrive on that kind of emotion. If we play into that, we’re playing right into their hands. We’ve got to focus on ourselves. … It happened. We move on and we’re ready to go out there and play our game tonight.”
First pitch in Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 6:08 p.m. PT.