The wife of Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott is speaking out after receiving a flood of vile and threatening messages following her husband's tough outing on Saturday night.
Maddie Scott took to social media to expose some of the most disturbing comments, which included wishes of death and violence against her family. One fan wrote, "Hope that kid doesn't see age 5," while another threatened, "I hope you get home to your family lying in puddles of their blood tonight."
The threats came after Scott allowed three runs in a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander gave up a pair of singles and a two-run homer to Edmundo Sosa, turning a late lead into a heartbreaking defeat.
Scott, who has been outstanding this season with a 2.19 ERA and 0.69 WHIP, took full responsibility for his performance. "Well, I gave up three tonight," he said. "I left a pitch. I was trying to go up, and I left it more on the plate. It wasn't out of the strike zone on two strikes, and it got me."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also defended his closer, noting that Scott had count leverage on every batter but couldn't finish them off. "Tanner's been great," Roberts said. "It happened quick."
But the online abuse directed at Maddie Scott crossed a dangerous line. In a rare public statement, she asked a simple question: "When did it stop being a game? I don't speak out often. Ever, actually. I promise you, you don't know what it's like unless you're living it."
This incident echoes the ugly side of sports fandom that has targeted players' families in the past, raising concerns about how athletes and their loved ones are treated online. The Dodgers and MLB are expected to investigate the threats, though no official statement has been released yet.
Scott remains a key piece of the Dodgers' bullpen with five saves this season. But for his wife, the emotional toll of being in the spotlight has never been more real. "Do better, people," she wrote.
