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‘Disrespectful.’ Former Red Sox playoff hero feuds with famous villain

One of the most beloved figures from the Boston Red Sox’ 2004 World Series run has a beef with one of the most maligned foes of the 2018 World Series run.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts – a former Red Sox outfielder – publicly criticized San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado for an incident that occurred between innings during Sunday’s NDLS Game 2.

Machado rubbed the Dodgers the wrong way when he threw a baseball at the LA dugout between innings, leading to a heated argument with pitcher Jack Flaherty. But after watching video replays, Roberts said he thinks the ball was aimed at him.

“It was disturbing,” Roberts said, via ESPN. “Obviously I’ve been in a relationship with Manny for years. There was intent behind it. It almost didn’t hit me because there was a net. And that was very annoying. If it was directed at me, I would be very… it’s quite disrespectful,” he said.

“So I don’t know his intent,” Roberts added. ‘I don’t want to speak for him. But I did see the video. And the ball was pointed at me with something behind it. But I don’t know what led to that.”

Here are some angles that try to show what happened to the throw.

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Machado is one of the game’s most divisive players. He especially hates Boston because of an incident in 2017 when he played for the Baltimore Orioles.

Machado was heavily criticized for a high slide to second base that severely injured Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia’s knee. The play derailed the career of Pedroia, who was never the same after Machado’s slide.

Machado renewed his rivalry with the Red Sox in 2018. While playing for Roberts with the Dodgers, he faced Boston in the World Series that year. He taped the series finale and was struck out when he fell to one knee.

Now Machado has drawn the ire of Roberts, who is known for his heroics during the 2004 playoffs — especially his stolen base in Game 4 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees.

Machado is often considered a baseball villain in Boston. Apparently, Roberts thinks Machado’s entire team embraces that identity.

“Obviously the team there loves the villain-type role and they feed off of that,” Roberts said, via The Athletic. “So whatever gets us going, the motivation is individually, collectively, to win a baseball game, to win a series.”

The Dodgers won Game 2 of the NLDS on Saturday, while the Padres won Game 2 on Sunday to even the series. The series now moves to San Diego, with Game 3 on Tuesday night at 9:08 PM EST