San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt is staunchly supporting his star player Manny Machado.
Machado was entangled in controversy following Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Machado launched a ball toward the Dodgers’ dugout in the sixth inning.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later told reporters that he believed Machado’s ball was intended at him and termed the stunt “disrespectful.” You can read Roberts’ complete thoughts on Machado here.
Shildt was asked about the incident on Tuesday, prior of Game 3 of the Dodgers-Padres series. The 2019 National League Manager of the Year refuted the claim that Manny intended to hit Roberts. He also indicated that with Machado’s cannon for an arm, an intended throw at Roberts would have appeared even worse than it did.
“No, I don’t think there was any intent at all with that,” she replied. “Manny possesses outstanding arm talent. I believe he demonstrated that with the triple play.”
Machado stated after Game 2 that he was furious with Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, who had struck Fernando Tatis Jr. with a fastball in the previous half-inning.
Even if the Padres infielder purposefully threw the ball toward the Dodgers’ dugout, it lacked enough juice to cause any harm.
