If you haven’t been paying attention the San Diego Padres for nearly all of their existence, I don’t blame you. It has been a deep, dark place to venture into, and unless you live here, why the hell would you?

But since signing Manny Machado in 2019, this team has been not only winning, they’ve been relevant. I know that name often sparks a lot of emotions for people around the country, probably mostly vitriol if you just pay attention to national media coverage or happen to be a racist Red Sox fan. He’s dirty, a cheater, lazy and doesn’t hustle was the mantra pounded into our heads by NESN and Starbucks Aficionados who don’t know how to stay in their lane.

Whoever that player was that talking heads shrieked about back then, I have never once seen him in a Padres jersey. Manny Machado has earned his spot as being my favorite player on our roster, through his continued leadership, both on and off the field, his defense, high baseball IQ and his undeniable swagger. Manny will be the first one to admit that he played angry in his youth, but his continued growth and dedication to helping this team succeed is second to none. He’s not Anthony Rendon or Eric Hosmer showing up every day just to collect a paycheck; he’s here to make an impact and wants to win. I’ve been paying attention.

You know who hasn’t been paying attention? Human-spreadsheet Manager Dave Roberts.

I hate to give them credit, but JomBoy actually does a very good job of breaking down everything that happened during game two of the NLDS. In case you missed it, here it is:

Really, I think the most important take away of this game is that the Jack Flaherty intentionally tried to hit Fernando Tatis Jr., and when the team responded, Dodgers fans threw baseballs, trash and drinks at Padres outfielders and the bullpen, which then began a mass exodus as the Padres scored 6 more runs and won the game 10-2. Jack Flaherty admitted afterwards that he threw inside on Tatis on purpose, and that he just didn’t get out of the way. It’s truly a shameful display by an organization with over a billion dollar payroll who prides themselves as being a premiere and world-class club with a fanbase that is the only one I’ve ever seen that gets into fights with each other on the road. They showed the world their asses in the worst way.

Despite all of this, somehow, someway, Dave Roberts, grasping at straws as he watches his tenure as a Manager slip away, decides to call up Fox Sideline Reporter, National Baseball Writer and human-toad Ken Rosenthal and asks him to spin a narrative about how the Dodgers are the victims and about how Manny Machado threw a ball at him in the dugout with intent to hit him. What comes out is some of the worst made up drivel I’ve ever seen someone come up with. Here’s all you need to know:

Machado indeed showed leadership in the dugout, draping his arm around catcher Kyle Higashioka and imploring his teammates to maintain their focus. But his punkish response to Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty hitting Fernando Tatis Jr. with a 91.7 mph sinker, well, that was Manny being Manny. Again.

Flaherty almost certainly did not hit Tatis intentionally leading off the sixth inning, not with the Dodgers trailing, 3-1. Yet, Machado all but volunteered after the game that his act was retaliatory. When informed that the Dodgers thought he threw the ball hard, he told The Athletic, “Did Flaherty throw the ball hard at our guy?”

Perhaps only Machado could explain how the two acts equate. Yet, livid as the Dodgers were — and are — not even they believe Machado was actually trying to hit Roberts. While Roberts called the third baseman’s act “unsettling and disrespectful,” several Dodgers people said they thought Machado was trying to send their team a message, not cause injury.

Still, Machado’s stunt was inappropriate, and not particularly smart.

…Machado is far from the Padres’ only irritant. Fernando Tatis Jr. is a smiling, dancing peacock. Jurickson Profar is the kid who pulls the fire alarm at school and then asks, “Who, me?”

Rosenthal has also not been paying attention. Instead, he is making up some insane shit trying to feed into old narratives around a player he doesn’t like, and worse, is dragging two other players in what feels race-baity as hell. There’s a reason he was banned from the Padres clubhouse during yesterday’s game at Petco, and I hope he never gets to come back.

Today’s games:

• Tigers @ Guardians: OVER – Tigers win 3-0 (2-1 series lead)
• Phillies @ Mets: FS1 (2-1 Mets)
• Royals @ Yanks: TBS (1-1)
• Dodgers @ Padres: FS1 (2-1 Padres)

Best of luck to the Phillies to make a game 5 out of the series, but straight up go Royals and Padres!