Last week, Dave Roberts admitted, “I think that this rivalry part is certainly real.” The narrative of the fiery Dodgers-Padres rivalry was charged back in June when multiple hitters were hit, benches were cleared, and managers were ejected. Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, who was one of the standouts of that series, has never lost his cool. Not even when he was hit twice intentionally during the June series. Not even when the Padres skipper, Mike Shildt, shouted towards the Dodgers’ dugout after one of the hit-by-pitches. It’s always been Ohtani’s “polite” ways that can be marked as a breath of fresh air.

In the Japanese culture, bowing or greeting is viewed as the ultimate form of humility or respect. The major league umpires say that what truly sets Ohtani apart, besides his exceptional play, is that he remains the only batter in the league who always greets them before every plate appearance. And this is not just limited to umpires, but to opposing managers, catchers, and coaches in the dugout as well. Yet, now and then, it’s natural to reach a boiling point.

During the Dodgers’ sweep of the Padres in their recent series, Ohtani quietly broke from his usual habits. He skipped his pre-at-bat greeting with Padres manager Mike Shildt. It’s a seemingly small gesture on the surface. However, it was one that was completely uncharacteristic of him.

For the Japanese star, these gestures are far from trivial. In contrast with his gesture towards Shildt, he tipped his cap to the Giants’ skipper Bob Melvin despite the longtime rivalry in April 2024. Even some months prior to that, he took his cap off and bowed respectfully to his childhood hero—Ichiro Suzuki.

After a tight 5-4 loss this past Sunday afternoon, the Padres were swept in a three-game series against their fierce rivals. They now trail the Dodgers by two games, with Los Angeles holding 71 wins. Padres’ Dominican star and Dodgers’ rival, Fernando Tatis Jr., remains confident that the NL race is far from over.

We’re still aiming to win the division. We’re going to face them next week. A lot of baseball left. And with this team, we can do anything,” he said. Catcher Freddy Fermin echoed this sentiment, reflecting the prevailing optimism in San Diego: “This isn’t over yet. We have several games left and games left against the Dodgers.”

But, was Ohtani’s reaction just owing to the division rivalry…or?

What has Mike Shildt possibly done to upset Shohei Ohtani?

During the June series, Dave Roberts revealed in an interview that Shohei Ohtani getting hit by pitches was intentional. When Mike Shildt heard it, he frustratingly said, “I don’t really care what they say. I really don’t.” Tensions were all around Dodger Stadium throughout the series.

During a game, when a 93-mph fastball from Dodgers rookie Jack Little drilled Fernando Tatis Jr., sending him to the dirt, Mike Shildt stormed out. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pushed back, too. Eventually, both benches emptied in chaos. The rivalry had brewed long enough, and that was just the inevitable eruption.

In the same game, first, Ohtani was plunked with a 99.8 mph fastball by Robert Suarez. Planting the Padres’ flag in the fight, Shildt shouted, “enough is enough.” Then, when Ohtani was hit again by a 100 mph heater, it could have been the spark for the chaos. But instead of fury, Ohtani gave fans a masterclass in control—and teammates a reason to stay put.

He was hit twice in that series and, despite all the signs that it was intentional, he stayed quiet. The Dodgers’ star even walked over to the Padres’ dugout, not to fight but to talk. In a rivalry built on heat, Ohtani brought the ice.

He chose his poise over payback, and similarly, he might be forgiving, but he didn’t forget all the chaos. He unfollowed the catcher behind the plate on his socials, and he seemingly kept his calm. This time, he preferred not to greet Shildt, which is unusual for him but maybe understandable too.

Now, the division rivals will face off again by the end of this week at Petco Park. It will mark the last time they will see each other in the regular season.