Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has officially led the Dodgers to the World Series for the fourth time since he took over as manager in 2016. The Dodgers won the World Series in 2020, but have not seen the same postseason success since. In 2021, the Dodgers returned to the National League Championship Series, but lost to the Atlanta Braves. The following two years, the Dodgers lost in the NL Division Series to two of their division rivals in the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Roberts received criticism for the Dodgers; postseason disappointments in 2022 and 2023, and came into the 2024 postseason knowing the outcome could determine his future with the team. His status looked dicey when the Dodgers trailed the Padres after three games of the NLDS, but Roberts helped the Dodgers turn the series around and earn the win.
Roberts has now received praise for his handling of the series, and bringing the team back to the World Series. Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy was among those to say that Roberts has not received the credit he deserves.
“Doc — the job that he does definitely does not get enough credit,” Muncy said, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “He manages this club based on the guys in this room. He doesn’t do it off a spreadsheet. He doesn’t do it off what someone tells him. He walks around and he has conversations with everybody. He knows how pitchers are feeling. He knows how the position players are feeling. … Doc manages that and he never puts that out there. He does an amazing job.”
Mookie Betts also heaped praise on the Dodgers manager.
“Every team gets to spend this much time together, but not everyone is intentional about the time,” Betts added. “I think Doc does a really good job in making us be intentional about the time we spend with each other. … Genuine, good quality time is different than just being in the cage. We’re in the cage talking about each other’s families or talking about hitting, whatever it is. It’s really good time we get to spend with each other.”
It certainly hasn’t been an easy postseason to manage. With a bulk of pitching injuries and inconsistencies, Roberts has had to make crucial decisions to keep the team afloat and put them in reach of a championship again. Yet, the manager who leads all active managers in win percentage continues to help the Dodgers win and shoot for titles.
Roberts is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and has the Dodgers four wins away from a second World Series in five years.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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