Dodgers’ Dave Roberts raises eyebrows with his blunt take on Padres’ new manager

We don’t have an idea of what the Padres are going to look like yet, as it is a retooled roster that is still waiting to take the field. Luckily, for the fans seeking that answer, spring training games kick off this upcoming Friday.

San Diego opens their slate against the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals on the road, leading up to a tilt against one of their archrivals…the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yes, the Padres face off against the Dodgers at their spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona, incredibly early on for a rivalry game. Will it have the same flair as it did during the 2025 season? Probably not, considering it's an exhibition, but expect the unexpected.

Padres’ new manager has a new bar to clear after Roberts’ blunt take

Craig Stammen will be managing his first game against the I-5 rivals, and he should have a chip on his shoulder, considering what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about him in an interview with the Foul Territory show.

“I was surprised in the sense of, you know, he hasn’t coached before.” - Dave Roberts

While Roberts did complement Stammen later on in the interview, it goes without saying that a 41-year-old first-time manager has a bit of fire in his gut ahead of their matchup against each other. The game may not mean anything other than seeing what you have in your organization, but there are definitely smaller victories in this one, especially for Stammen.

It is safe to say that Sunday’s matchup will be a prelude for what’s to come later on in the season, as the Padres and Dodgers face each other in four different series. Tempers got the best of both teams a few times last season, and a few fights broke out. It will be interesting to see if that remains the same in 2026.

Roberts comments may have added some fuel to the fire, and the rivalry is 100% back in full swing.