Thursday, December 5, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Since after the 2015 season, Dave Roberts has been the Los Angeles Dodger manager. In baseball history, Roberts is the winningest manager who has gotten so much criticism.
Roberts is not on social media because he wants to ignore so-called fans who think they know better than him. No Dodger fan or Dodger journalist can know everything that Roberts knows during a game. For example, the situation calls for Alex Vesia, but Vesia was throwing up an hour ago. Of course, Roberts won’t call on Vesia. The lesser-quality reliever than Vesia pitches and gives up a three-run homer and the Dodgers lose. Fans are saying, “Fire Dave Roberts!”
These fans didn’t know about Vesia’s sickness. Roberts did.
In 2024, Roberts did an excellent job navigating a multitude of injuries and found a way to win 98 games. Sometimes, Roberts used a pitcher who Mookie Betts didn’t know the name of the pitcher on the mound. Roberts encouraged his team to keep going and be the best. If the Dodgers hadn’t had lofty expectations, Roberts would have won his second National League Manager of the Year.
During the postseason, Roberts pushed every correct button. Sometimes, Roberts had to choose to lose a game to win the series since he didn’t have four starters. This philosophy worked. Roberts doesn’t want to repeat this.
The Dodgers should sign Roberts to a long contract extension. After he retires, Roberts will go to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
