Dave Roberts Felt Like He Was Managing to Save His Job With Dodgers This Postseason
It’s been four years since the Los Angeles Dodgers won that World Series in Arlington, Texas, celebrating in front of a half-empty stadium. There was no parade, no big celebration — just a shortened season during a global pandemic, leaving the championship feeling somewhat incomplete.
For manager Dave Roberts, this season felt like a make-or-break moment for his career. According to The Athletic, “Roberts acknowledged this month, there was a sense he was managing for his job this postseason. Such is the nature of the occupation.”
Now, he’s joined an elite group of managers with at least four pennants, standing alongside legends like Earl Weaver, Sparky Anderson, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Tommy Lasorda.
But that 2020 win came in a bubble, and Roberts is hungry for more.
“I know that we’ve got a championship under our belt,” Roberts said. “There’s still somewhat of a void. I want that parade. I just feel that we’ve had teams in the past, I’ve grown, and this team is unique. I think it’s battle-tested. For this ballclub, and for this city, I just really want to finish it this year.”
Despite plenty of moments when it seemed like things might fall apart, Roberts kept this team on track. Even in tough times, he assured them it would all come together.
“It was one time that we felt like we were down as a team,” Teoscar Hernández said this week. “And one meeting changed everything.”
Andrew Friedman echoed that sentiment: “I think there were times during the year with some of the injuries we had where it was a little bit deflating. And I think Doc did a great job of getting in front of that and pumping some enthusiasm and optimism into the group. It was quick. They flushed it quickly. And came out the next day focused.”
“(He) doesn’t get down when times get tough — and we had a lot of tough times,” team president Stan Kasten said.
This Dodgers team has leaned on unlikely heroes, too. Tommy Edman got hot in the NLCS and ended up hitting cleanup while Will Smith was batting in the eight-spot.
Now, they’re just one win away from that long-awaited parade.
“Honestly, it’s trying to treat every guy the same, and honesty, and building trust,” Roberts said. “I think you can ask any guy on this team that, they trust me, they trust our staff. When you have that, you can ask anything of them. That’s what it is. This has been the most trying year, but it’s been the most satisfying.”
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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