Baseball fans were not having it with Dave Roberts's latest quote.
On Monday afternoon on the eve of Game 3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers' NLDS matchup with the San Diego Padres, Roberts made an odd statement.
The Dodgers manager was asked about reports of Padres third baseman Manny Machado tossing a ball into the L.A. dugout during a contentious Game 2 on Sunday night. Roberts claimed he saw video that showed Machado throwing a ball at him that was stopped by a net. He said he thought there was "intent behind it."
Video is below.
"I didn't notice it at the time. I did see the video. It was unsettling...there was intent behind it."
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) October 8, 2024
- Dave Roberts on if the ball Manny Machado tossed into the Dodgers dugout almost hit him pic.twitter.com/dZQqJQrfze
For his part, after the game, Machado claimed he was throwing the ball over to the ball boy, something he does often.
Roberts then followed up his claim about Machado by saying, "That team over there, they like the villain-type kind of role."
That's an odd thing to say the night after Dodgers fans threw things at Padres players on multiple occasions during their 10–2 win over L.A. in Game 2. Also, it's rich to hear someone associated with a team that spent roughly $1.2 billion over the offseason discuss another team embracing a "villain-type kind of role."
MLB fans weren't on board with Roberts's statement.
The team getting thrown baseballs at by fans is the villain here? https://t.co/U1fq73nDw7
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 8, 2024
Trying to play the victim. This is hilarious lol https://t.co/svEzxOXk2x
— Jim Russell (@JimRussellSD) October 8, 2024
Imagine having the highest payroll in baseball history including a guy making more than the 3 lowest teams combined and calling another team “villains.” https://t.co/87JRnAvIK6
— NoQuarter89 -Jeff Bagwell Shadow Government- (@noquarter89) October 8, 2024
I’m a yankee fan so I’m unbiased here. Dodgers hit Tatis. Dodgers fans threw crap at padres players. How are they the villain? #MLBPostseason https://t.co/SR5vuuM45K
— TheShowThor (@TheShowThor) October 8, 2024
Yeah, not sure that characterization is going to go over well with people after what happened Sunday night.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Dodgers’ Roberts Suspects ‘Intent’ in Spat With Manny Machado in Game 2.
