Alleged Alcides Escobar text to Brett Lawrie on his late slide: 'That's stupid, you did it on purpose.'

After Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost and Athletics players downplayed A's third baseman Brett Lawrie's late slide into Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar Friday night, Escobar appeared to escalate matters in answers to reporters in this afternoon's press gaggle, and with an alleged text sent to Lawrie last night from a number Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said was Escobar's phone number.

Lawrie told A's beat reporters he got Escobar's phone number from the Royals first baseman and sent Escobar an apology. Lawrie showed the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser the exchange:

For those who had asked: Brett Lawrie's text to the number for Alcides Escobar that Eric Hosmer gave him: pic.twitter.com/4svOO6WoUy

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 18, 2015

(Cont) Escobar responded in Spanish: "That's stupid, you did it on purpose."

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 18, 2015

Today, however, in the Royals clubhouse, Escobar denied Lawrie even contacting him.

Escobar on Lawrie play: "for me, that's a dirty slide." #Athletics

— Joe Stiglich (@JoeStiglichCSN) April 18, 2015

#royals Alcides Escobar says slide by #Athletics Brett Lawrie Friday was dirty but doesn't believe Lawrie was trying to hurt him.

— John Hickey (@JHickey3) April 18, 2015

Escobar's thinking: it wasn't a true DP ball in his mind, but a force out. Says Lawrie didn't need to slide that hard to break anything up.

— Joe Stiglich (@JoeStiglichCSN) April 18, 2015

Alcides Escobar says he hasn't heard from Brett Lawrie but had expected to. #Athletics #Royals

— John Hickey (@JHickey3) April 18, 2015

Royals Public Relations director Mike Swanson checked with Escobar, and Escobar showed Swanson the lack of text messages from his phone, according to Susan Slusser. Escobar suspects Hosmer gave Lawrie the wrong phone number:

Escobar thinks Lawrie got an old number, says if he gets a text in English, he responds in English, not Spanish.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 18, 2015

Whether we see any sort of retaliation tonight depends on the weather, but Escobar seems to be raising the stakes for his teammates to do something like plink Lawrie to show Escobar support. Whether that comes true tonight depends on the weather, which shows a high chance of rain at the 4:10 Pacific Time first pitch but tapering off into the evening.

You have permission to enjoy your favorite adult beverage everytime we announce "there is a window" to play tonight's game

— Vince Cotroneo (@vincebaseball) April 18, 2015

Escobar is available for tonight's game, but was held out of the lineup for precautionary reasons.