Machado intensifies Padres-Dodgers rivalry

The Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans have tried to ignore the San Diego Padres as their current biggest rival in the NL West, but it is time to face the reality. San Diego has been the Dodgers’ most significant threat for the past five years.

Los Angeles has maintained its long history of hatred toward the San Francisco Giants. The rivalry runs deep and remains one of the best in the league. The difference is the Dodgers players make it their responsibility to beat San Francisco, and they are never afraid of the moment.

The Dodgers need to start treating the Padres like the Giants. San Diego views Los Angeles as their biggest enemy, which shows how they play on the field. They don’t view it as some big brother vs. little brother situation. They see the Dodgers as the most prominent threat to steal a World Series from them, and they leave everything out on the field.

San Diego is playing with more emotion and urgency, which the Dodgers must look to match now that they are down 2-1 in the National League Division Series.

It just so happens that Manny Machado, the most disliked Padre in Los Angeles, is winning the mental battle with his former team.

Machado sparked controversy in Game 2 by tossing a ball towards the Dodgers dugout in the sixth inning. Los Angeles was still very much in the game at the time, only being down three runs, but after Machado’s move, which irked some of the Dodgers players, the Padres went on to build a 10-1 lead.

“I didn’t notice it. I did see the video, and 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, and that was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, it’s pretty disrespectful. I don’t know his intent; I don’t want to speak for him, but I did see the video, and the ball was directed at me with something behind it,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Machado’s gesture toward the Dodgers might have been just enough to throw them off not only in Game 2 but also in Game 3. The build-up before the 6-5 Padres victory was all centered around whether or not Machado had maliciously intended to throw a ball in the direction of Roberts.

“I’m not nor will I ever disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I’ve managed in the past, nor will I do it to a collective team. That’s not how I want to operate. I have a lot of respect for their club and the players on their club. As far as Manny goes, it’s unfortunate people can’t move on from things from the past,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt.

The only crime that Machado is guilty of so far in this series is lighting the fire that has ignited the Padres to take the lead. In game 3, he made the most important play of the night by running out of the basepath, causing Freddie Freeman to commit an error by hitting Machado with a throw to second. After his heads-up base running, the Dodgers ultimately collapsed, allowing six runs in the inning primarily due to mental errors.

“That is definitely part of their game. They play off the emotion. The atmosphere here plays off their emotion. We have seen that for the last several years, even in regular season games,” said Max Muncy. “Something as simple as a single, and you see their guy throwing the bat 30 feet in the air, that really gets the crowd going here. That is kind of a part of their game, trying to get under your skin and trying to have the emotion get you to do something that you don’t normally do.”

One of the Dodgers’ biggest swings and misses might have been how they treated Machado on his way out. During his time with the team, he did some things that left a sour taste. Ever since their broken relationship, Machado has continued to hurt Los Angeles every chance he gets.

It is time for the Dodgers to bring the fight to the Padres. If they fail to make the first move, San Diego will seize the moment.

In a do-or-die game, the Dodgers’ bats need to show up. Machado will have his group ready. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts must be prepared to put up big numbers in game 4 because that is what it will take to beat a hungry Padres team. If Los Angeles does not start viewing the Padres as their biggest rival and toughest competition to win a championship, their season will be over.

Top Image Caption: LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 06: San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) throws to first base during game two of the National League Division Series game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 6, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)


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