Dave Roberts on Dodgers 5-Run Blown Lead: ‘No Excuse to Lose’
Entering the 9th inning on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers were feeling good about themselves. They held a 9-4 lead and were on the verge of taking two straight games against the Detroit Tigers following a bad series sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.
However, fate had other ideas and a nightmare inning ensued. The Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.
Right-hander Ricky Vanasco took the mound to start the inning but quickly showed that he wasn’t cut out to get the save. He allowed three hits before being taken out and was replaced by closer Evan Phillips.
Phillips, normally a surefire reliever, proceeded to allow a few more hits, eventually surrendering the game-tying home run. Los Angeles would go on to lose the game by a score of 11-9 in extra innings.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with SportsNet LA after the game to unpack what had happened. His comments were direct and to the point, making no excuses for the blown game.
“It’s just not us. It just doesn’t happen and it certainly happened today…we had a five-run lead and there’s just no excuse for losing that game and we just gotta be better.”
The Dodgers pitching staff has been taxed due to injury but entering the 9th inning with a five-run lead should be enough to get the win. The offense finally woke up after a few off days but it wasn’t meant to be for Los Angeles to put together a complete performance.
Los Angeles has now lost seven of their last 10 games overall as they go through a rough stretch. There is one game left before the All-Star break, a rest that is badly needed by this entire team. The Dodgers will look to take the series from the Tigers on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 10:40 a.m. PT.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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Embarrassing. Total Embarrassment!!! 3 pitchers that couldn’t close out a 5 run lead. Some of the blame also to the game strategists and game planners who get beat by the opponents bottom order. It’s been occurring in recent team losses the Dodgers pitchers can’t get them out. Also recent game strategies offensively and defensively have been questionable in the losses. Something has to change or rethink.
What I witnessed in this game has finally pushed me to the breaking point with this organization. And please, do not continue to give these lame excuses about injuries. No championship caliber team blows a 5 run lead in the ninth inning against a good team, much less a crap team like the Tigers. They spend all this money on flashy players, and not a single one of them have a thread of toughness to them whatsoever. Whether you want to admit it or not, the team is a reflection of the manager. I am so sick of hearing, oh they are all such nice guys. To hell with being nice, you need a group of guys who want to destroy the opposition. I am 62 years old now, and I have supported and been a fan of this organization for 55 years, but I simply can not continue to blindly back an organization who clearly are solely interested in making money, and do not give a flip about putting together a complete roster that can win a championship. I thought that was the reason you play the game, but I realize now that’s not the case. Sad.
THE DODGERS NEED A NEW VOICE! THE CHiCAGO BULLS HAD MICHAEL JORDAN EARLY IN HIS CAREER, BUT WERE GOING NOWHERE UNTIL PHIL JACKSON ARRIVED AS THEIR COACH, AND MADE THE BULLS CHAMPIONS. ‘SCOUTMASTER DAVE’ HAS HAD 9 YEARS MANAGING LA, AND WON ONE FLUKE TITLE PLAYING ONLY A 60 GAME COVID SCHEDULE IN 2020. ROBERTS’ INEXPERIENCE LOST THE 2017 WORLD SERIES BY USING KENLEY JANSEN FOR 2 INNINGS AT DODGER STADIUM IN GAME TWO, WHICH BACKFIRED; KENLEY GAVE UP THE TYING RUNS, & LA LOST TO THE ASTROS IN EXTRA INNINGS, TYING THE SERIES AT 1-1, GOING TO HOUSTON. NO GAME IS A GIMME. YOU PLAY 27 OUTS TO WIN OR LOSE, & WE’RE NOT PILING ON TODAY’S LOSS, EVEN THOUGH IT’S OUR OPINION, AS PEOPLE WHO’VE PLAYED PRO BASEBALL ROBERTS SHOULDN;T BE ENTRUSTED WITH HIGH END MLB TALENT. BASEBALL IS UNPREDICTABLE, BUT TODAY IS INEXCUSABLE. VESIA COULDVE PITCHED 2 INNINGS SINCE HE WAS RESTED. THEN IN THE 10TH, DOPEY DAVE BRINGS IN 5 INFIELDERS WITH 2 OUTFIELDERS. WITH A TIGERS RUNNER ON 3RD & 1 OUT. IT’S CLEAR, ANYONE WITH A BASEBALL BRAIN KNOWS YOU WALK THE NEXT HITTER TO SET UP A DOUBLE PLAY, OR YOU WALK THE NEXT 2 HITTERS TO SET UP A FORCE AT HOME, OR GET A DOUBLE PLAY TO EXTEND THE GAME! EXCCEPT NOT DAVE ROBERTS! THIS NICE GUY SWEETHEART, WHO NEVER ARGUES OR GETS THROWN OUT BACKING HIS PLAYERS, HAS MISMANAGED TALENTED DODGERS’ TEAMS SINCE HE WAS HIRED.
RELEVANT NOTE; ON THE DODGER BROADCAST TODAY, OREL HERSHISER TOLD A STORY ABOUT KIRK GIBSON AND HIM ON THE DODGERS PLANE. AT THAT TIME, THE DODGER PLAYERS WERE PLAYING A GAME CALLED “FLINCH,” WHERE YOU MAKE A MOTION TOWARDS ANOTHER PLAYER TO SEE IF THEY FLINCH. OREL DECIDED TO TRY IT ON GIBBY, & KIRK DIDN’T FLINCH. INSTEAD GIBSON GAVE OREL A FOREARM SHOT TO OREL’S STERNUM, WHICH KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF HERSHISER, & KIRK SAID, “I DON”T PLAY FLINCH!” AND THAT’S THE TOUGHNESS THE DODGERS DON’T HAVE WITH ANY OF THEIR PLAYERS, AND THAT’S THE KIND OF TOUGHNESS/MINDSET THEY NEED TO WIN TITLES!!
WE PREDICT NO WORLD SERIES TITLE THIS YEAR AS LONG AS “MR. ROGERS,” SORRY, DAVE ROBERTS, IS THE DODGERS’ MANAGER. A NEW VOICE WILL CHANGE 9 YEARS OF FAN FRUSTRATION OF BEING LED BY A SOFT, “NICE GUY,” “MILQUE TOAST” MANAGER!
I totally agree with you.
“We just gotta do better” is so simplistic. We all know Velasco sucked, this is on him, and Phillips just wasnt ready . Phillips didn’t expect to be needed and if Velasco is that bad why is he on the team?
Funny how it’s only the players at fault twice in that game the skipper should have taken a different route , Vanesco did horrible his first time and shouldn’t of been put in to lose the game, Also our batts have been doing bad for a while now and maybe they should look at their batting coaches,
I’ve had it for the year. Looking forward to 2025. Fire Roberts, the Pitching Coach, and the Trainers. The last 7 games are simply unacceptable!
Roberts can blow all the smoke he wants, but he gets the loss in this game! there is no way you put in Vanesco to finish the game!! You go for the jugalar with your best out of the pen for the last three outs!!! I haven’t been critical of Dave, but this dumb move was definitely on him!!!!
I have been critical of Roberts in the past and will continue to do so. He has no clue on how to manage a ballpen. Every time he goes out to the mound with that arrogant strut of his drives me crazy. I don’t think he asks for suggestions from Pryor and if he does I doubt that he listens.
He made a comment earlier this season, saying that if the Dodgers don’t win it all he will be gone. He should have been gone by now. He destroys as bullpen.
It seems that many Dodger fans want to fire Roberts. His contract is up this year. Has anyone considered the possibility that Dave Roberts may choose not to sign another contract with the Dodgers. This contract thing works both ways. Like him or not, some other team would pay him a lot of money for his services. He may have had enough of the talk and pressure of being the Dodger manager. …………. just another perspective
Well, if he decides to leave, good riddance. Dodgers need a new voice and attitude.
I have noticed that Roberts has fumbled the ability to manage on too many occasions by not following the fundamental rules of the game. I really took notice last years when, on numerous occasions, the dodgers had the bases loaded with one or no outs the team failed to produce a single run. It seemed to me that Roberts was playing a different game and looking for a “Hollywood” ending. No doubt he is aware that the club is loaded with talent and he is always focusing on making use of the talent to make his mark. He is no Lasorda! This year, more of the same. He keeps throwing the dice hoping to make a big splash. Just within the last road trip, his managerial skills have been lacking in the use of good sound fundamentals. I wish the Dodger front office would pay attention to Roberts’ use of the players’ skills.
This team is sorely lacking when it comes to playing good fundamental baseball. They are too invested in hitting home runs and don’t do the little things to create and scratch out runs.
Couldn’t agree more. Swinging from the heels is the order of the day. The only exception is Miguel Rojas, who is a breath of fresh air in the lineup. Roberts has (HOPEFULLY) finally realized what the rest of the world already knew:
PUT MIGUEL ROJAS AT SHORT AND LEAVE HIM THERE.
DUHHHHHH.
True, true, true. It’s the same old same old outcome every time. It’s so predictable and frustrating because he doesn’t think outside the box to score when the pressure is on. He coaches, no ….do nothing and hope something good happens. That’s not managing!
I would give Joe Maddon a three year deal and have him bring along Dave Ross on the bench.
It is so easy to blame the coaches when the team doesn’t score with men on base, particularly in tight situations. It almost seems part of another era to have players have a “two strike approach” – or make productive outs. It looks like Roberts is trying to get the bunt more involved (Outman in a recent game).
My biggest issue is NO RUNNING game! I would send everyone NOT named Muncy. Everyone gets the green light.
It changes the mood and energy on the team. It puts pressure on the pitcher and fielders, and they are bound to score more runs.
May last point – over all these years, we may never know how much Roberts is ‘forced’ to manage the way the front office wants him to – or is he able to make his OWN decisions all the time?
wow10 years of DRRRRRRRRRRRRR, when will the dodgers learn. this guy had a dynasty team and blew it. Cheerleaders have openings in the NFL.
I have never believed Dave Roberts has any experience in how to use a Pitching Staff—look @ the injuries our Pitchers incur. I believe that we should have Mark Prior handling the “Total” decisions on our Pitching Staff, including the changing of Pitchers.
…….Keep Dave Roberts out of the Pitching aspect ! That would still leave him with a plate-full of game responsibilities !
100% Agree!!!
The only thing that is being missed here is Pryor is the pitching coach. The Dodgers year in and year out have injured pitchers, blown arms etc. When are the Dodgers going to realize Pryor needs to go. Pryor blew his arm out as well in his career. This is never talked about, but it is truth so all the hard sliders, cutters, breaking pitches he teaches somehow seem to find the player in surgery. Roberts still has no clue when to get a pitcher, no clue when to scratch runs, basically still has no clue. He has a formula at the beginning of games and sticks with his plan no matter how blatantly obvious something needs adjusted, This org can give him the 27 Yankees and he will blow it. I’ve said this numerous times each year as it’s obvious. He chokes in the Playoffs. If it weren’t for Cory seager he wouldn’t have a jaded ring. Another colossal epic curse not paying Seager. Even if somehow a miracle happens and the dodgers could make a WWS appearance, Roberts has to manage against Bochy and Seager. So all this talk of World Series hype is a Pipe dream.
ABSITIVELY, POSOLUTELY!! Leave the pitching decisions to the hired expert, Mark Prior, Doc has caused too many blown games against .500 and mediocre teams this year!!