Dave Roberts is no stranger to feisty MLB rivalries, especially in October. He lived that in 2004 when his Boston Red Sox made a historic comeback against the New York Yankees. Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager finds himself in the middle of another battle with the San Diego Padres with a third playoff meeting in five seasons.
The Dodgers eliminated the Padres in 2020 while San Diego earned an upset series win in four games in 2022. This time around in the NLDS, the teams split the opening two games at Dodger Stadium. San Diego earned its win in statement fashion with six home runs in a 10-2 victory on Sunday.
That game brought plenty of playoff drama to the rivalry as well. Fans in left field had multiple interactions with Jurickson Profar, who took away a home run from Mookie Betts in the first inning. Manny Machado and Jack Flaherty traded words in the direction of the Dodgers dugout and Machado apparently tossed a ball back in that direction toward Roberts, adding another level of heat.
“I didn’t notice it at the time,” Roberts told reporters on Monday, per 97.3 The Fan San Diego. “I really didn’t. I didn’t notice it. I did see the video. 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. That was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, I’d be very, it’s pretty disrespectful.”
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Roberts continued: “I don’t know his intent. I don’t want to speak for him. I did see the video and the ball was directed at me with something behind it. I don’t know what led to that. I didn’t see it in real time but I did see the video.”
The Dodgers and Padres are clearly embracing the rivalry as the series continues, which should keep the storylines intriguing with the next two games in front of the San Diego crowd at Petco Park.
“That team over there, they like the villain-type kind of role,” Roberts added, per The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin.
The Dodgers and Padres square off in Game 3 on Monday night with first pitch set for 9:08 p.m. ET.
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Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images
