Green fined, addresses club after scuffle

SAN DIEGO -- In the aftermath of his dustup with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Padres skipper Andy Green addressed his team in the clubhouse following Friday's game.
His message, delivered in about five minutes, resembled the one he would deliver to the media a few moments later:
"We're not going to yield," Green said. "We're not going to just stop because they want to intimidate us on the mound screaming at our baserunner. ... Somebody'd be lying if they said we're going to overcome a 20-game deficit and overtake the National League West this year. No, we're trying to win a series right now. We're trying to teach guys how to play the game the right way every single day. And then we're coming. We're coming with the kind of team that's going to start winning seasons and not just series."
A day later, Green was fined an undisclosed amount for his role in the kerfuffle. Roberts was fined and suspended one game for making contact with Green, and Dodgers starter Alex Wood was fined as well.
The incident arose when Wood threatened "to drill" Jose Pirela, according to umpires, because he believed Pirela to be relaying pitch locations to the batter. Upon learning Wood's apparent intentions, Green grew animated in a meeting with umpires, arguing that the threat merited ejection. His parting comment prompted Roberts' response, and Green wouldn't divulge what was said. He did note, however, "It really was not that malicious." Still, Green took a small measure of responsibility for his role in the incident.
"If I keep my mouth shut and take everything lying down, then nothing happens," Green said. "But I felt based on what was being said on the mound by their pitcher, it wasn't right for us to take the moment lying down."

His players certainly seemed to appreciate the response.
"That can't happen in this game," Padres first baseman Wil Myers said. "You can't threaten players with a hit by pitch for an idea of something that was going on that wasn't even close to happening. So we were happy with what Andy did, sticking up for the player, because that's what a manager does. You don't let another team or another player threaten one of your guys. That's something you can't stand for."
Added Clayton Richard: "He's a leader, and he's got all of our backs at all times. Everyone in this clubhouse knows that."
Two weeks ago in Chicago, the Padres refused to retaliate against Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who had bowled into catcher Austin Hedges. At the time, some fans clamored for a greater response, bashing Green for his unwillingness to back up his catcher. Green, Hedges and several others have since forcefully dismissed that narrative.
In any case, Green's postgame message Friday had little to do with the incident or anything in the past, for that matter. He spoke instead about growing as a club and not backing down from the challenges they'll face on the field going forward.
He used the Dodgers -- currently in first place and eyeing a fifth straight NL West title -- as a logical foil. But his message was broader -- and message received.
"I know San Diego is big on the 'Beat L.A.' chant," Myers said. "But for me, it's not just about beating L.A. In two, three years from now, we want to be beating everyone. ... Since I've been here in San Diego, the Dodgers have beaten us pretty good. But I don't want to single out a specific team and say we're coming for them. We want to be coming for everybody. And that includes the Dodgers."