Padres manager Mike Shildt defends Manny Machado before Game 3, contradicts Dave Roberts' allegations – San Diego Union-Tribune

Padres manager Mike Shildt addressed the upset caused by his Dodgers counterpart on Tuesday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that he felt Padres third baseman Manny Machado intentionally threw a ball his way before the sixth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

Roberts called the throw “disturbing” and said at another point in a press conference that the Padres were embracing the role of “rogue guy.”

“I might just have a different philosophy in dealing with it,” Shildt said Tuesday before Game 3. “…Listen, I came into this game to help players get the most out of their God-given abilities and on that compete.” field and respect for the opponent. I will never disparage another player from another team, especially someone I have coached in the past, and I will never do that to a collective team. I don't want to proceed like that. I have a lot of respect for their club, the players in his club.”

Roberts managed Machado in 2018 after he was acquired from the Dodgers in a trade with the Orioles. Machado signed with the Padres as a free agent the following offseason.

Roberts was informed of Shildt's comments and declined to comment.

Here is a video of Manny Machado throwing the ball toward the ball #Dodgers Dugout. The ball was just being used by Yu Darvish to warm up. Kyle Higashioka's throw to second bounced in the dirt, giving Darvish a new ball to start the inning. #Padres pic.twitter.com/Wkf1L4Pff5

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) October 8, 2024

Video of the incident in question shows Machado throwing a ball on the ground toward the Dodgers' dugout. The ball had been used by Yu Darvish in warmups, but it hit the ground on catcher Kyle Higashioka's throw to second base after Darvish's final warmup pitch and was replaced with a new ball.

In this case, it is common for a player who receives the ball after it has been thrown around between the infielders to throw the ball out of play. Often this occurs in the stands or toward a batboy in his team's dugout, but sometimes it can also be thrown toward the other team's batboy. MLB is reportedly reviewing video of the incident. However, three men who serve as field personnel for other teams found it ridiculous that this would become a punishment for Machado, even though they agreed that he threw the ball with more force than normal.

“It was disturbing,” Roberts said. “Obviously I’ve had a relationship with Manny for years. There was intention behind it. It didn't almost hit me because there was a net. And that was very annoying. If it was directed at me, I would be very – it's pretty disrespectful. So I don't know his intention. I don't want to speak for him. But I saw the video. And the ball was pointed at me with something behind it.”

Even if Machado's throw in this case could be considered a little harder than one would expect, it would be difficult to conclude that anyone in the Dodgers' dugout was in danger from the throw or even in the path of the throw.

Here's an alternate camera angle of San Diego 3B Manny Machado throwing a ball toward the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout during Game 2 of the NLDS, obtained from ESPN. The incident remains a point of contention heading into Game 3 tonight, da @Alden_Gonzalez reported: https://t.co/grEVYusdPY pic.twitter.com/Qo0CGqqeVz

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 8, 2024

Shildt said he believes there is “zero” chance that Machado, who has one of the better and most accurate arms among MLB third basemen, tries to hit Roberts.

“I don’t think that was the case,” he said. “I mean, listen, this is the answer to that. I don't want to throw stones. It's just not me. The answer to your question is, “No.” I don’t think that was intentional at all. Manny has exceptional arm talent.”

The throw that upset Roberts came after a violent attack early in the sixth inning in which the Padres struggled with Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, who hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch and yelled at Machado, “Set.” you, (expletive)” “after hitting him.

Flaherty yelled at Machado from the dugout after the third baseman threw in that direction, and their screaming match was caught on camera.

Jack Flaherty and Manny Machado are still tweeting at each other 😳 pic.twitter.com/CsCa3wqVe4

– FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024

Both even addressed the incident throughout the series on Sunday night after the Padres' 10-2 win. Machado admitted to throwing the ball toward the dugout and said he does so regularly to get the ball to a batboy.

On Monday, Machado declined to engage in a back-and-forth following Roberts' comments.

“I talked about it last night after the game,” he said. “I’ve already turned the page and I’m just looking forward to playing in front of our fans tomorrow and getting ready for another tough battle against a very good team.”

Sunday's game became even more tense before the end of the seventh inning when the game was delayed for more than 10 minutes due to objects being thrown toward Padres players by fans.

“Very difficult environment the other night,” Sheldt said. “I thought they did exceptionally well. Yes, they had the right to defend themselves, but they also had the right to stay focused and participate. And, oh yeah, we're playing a baseball game, by the way. … Our club doesn’t need to be defended. I love the joy that our club brings. I love the excitement they bring. I love the freedom with which they play. And in turn, I love her heart for our community and our organization. That’s all I’m going to do.”

Shildt was asked if the situation needed to be de-escalated or if this type of attention was good for the game.

“I don’t think it’s good for the game,” he said. “I think this game has its own merits. We have the best game, I'm biased, I've been here for 100 years. But the theater that is postseason baseball, the excitement. …But our game, with all the different really good storylines – look at the number of countries represented in our game today, the number of languages. You look at the passionate fan bases that love the teams. That's what we're here for. That's what this game is about. This game, like the players, needs no defense, nothing to reinforce it, to draw attention to it. It's a beautiful game that is run very well by our management. And the theater of this sport is enough.”

Shildt strongly defended Machado, who also gathered his teammates in the dugout Sunday night before the eighth inning to remind them to stay calm and focused.

Machado, who made his major league debut 34 days after his 20th birthday, experienced several incidents early in his career in which he overstepped the boundaries of sportsmanship. By virtually all accounts, especially this year, Machado has become more of an elder statesman and led by example much more than in the past.

“As far as Manny is concerned, it’s unfortunate that people can’t move on from the things of the past,” Shildt said. “I thought Manny's professionalism and leadership skills were on display the other night in a very difficult environment. Neither he nor I nor anyone else would claim to be perfect, but Manny has made some progress that is very impressive both on and off the field. It was a privilege to witness that.”

The atmosphere at Petco Park was already expected to be so tense that Padres CEO Erik Greupner sent an email to ticket holders urging them to follow the team's fan code of conduct.

Padres just sent out this email regarding fan behavior ahead of what will be a charged atmosphere over the next two nights at Petco. pic.twitter.com/tciVsmYbfK

— Jay Posner (@JayPosnerSD) October 8, 2024

“A healthy increase from what we've seen all season leading up to the first series against Atlanta leading into tonight's game – a very passionate, encouraging, hungry, loud fan base that knows where the limit is” said Shildt about what he expected from the audience on Tuesday. “You hope that there aren't one or two people who don't do something that casts a bad shadow, which I think is probably more or less exactly what happened in Los Angeles. I just want to go out and play clean baseball, compete, score a run at the end of the game and make sure the fans enjoy it and celebrate with us.”

Originally published: October 8, 2024 at 2:38 p.m