Baseball fans reacted strongly to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts‘s recent comments, sparking a heated discussion ahead of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
On Monday afternoon, Roberts addressed reports regarding an incident involving Padres third baseman Manny Machado during Game 2, which took place on Sunday night. It was reported that Machado threw a ball into the Dodgers’ dugout amidst tensions. Roberts claimed he viewed video footage that depicted Machado throwing the ball in his direction and suggested there was “intent behind it.”
“I didn’t notice it at the time. I did see the video. It was unsettling…there was intent behind it,”
– Dave Roberts
In response to the claims, Machado stated that he was merely throwing the ball to the ball boy, a routine action for him.
Following his initial comments, Roberts further added, “That team over there, they like the villain-type kind of role.” This statement drew criticism from fans, especially considering that only the night before, Dodgers fans had thrown items at Padres players during their 10–2 victory in Game 2. The irony of Roberts’s comments did not go unnoticed, as his team recently spent approximately $1.2 billion during the offseason.
Many MLB fans quickly took to social media to express their disagreement with Roberts’s characterization. Here’s a glimpse of the online reactions:
“The team getting thrown baseballs at by fans is the villain here?” Link
“Trying to play the victim. This is hilarious lol” Link
“Imagine having the highest payroll in baseball history and calling another team ‘villains.'” Link
“Dodgers hit Tatis. Dodgers fans threw crap at padres players. How are they the villain?” #MLBPostseason
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how these comments will affect the teams as they prepare for the upcoming games. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation – what are your thoughts on Roberts’s remarks? Share your opinions in the comments below!