Dodgers’ Dave Roberts: Team Bonding in Seoul Can Carry Over to U.S.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers embarked on an approximate week-long journey to South Korea to kick off the Seoul series. With many new faces joining the team this offseason, the club is using this trip as an opportunity to build some camaraderie.
Manager Dave Roberts was asked by Dodgers Nation’s own Doug McKain what the Dodgers could establish during the Seoul Series that would lead to a World Series-winning team.
“The teams that seem to be in it, there is a bond that is created that withstands ups and downs. Us being able to take this trip together allows for Teoscar (Hernández) to get more assimilated. Tyler (Glasnow) to get more assimilated. Obviously Shohei (Ohtani) and (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto. I think this is going to be good for our guys. Yeah, you can’t win the World Series in March, but guys creating a bond and also a way to play baseball — we’ve got to pitch well and really keep our defense tight.”
“On the offensive side there’s obviously a lot of talent. Our guys have to realize their ability to play to their talent.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
The Dodgers place a heavy emphasis on clubhouse culture. They frequently attribute parts of their decade-long success to the relationships among the players. When de facto team captain Justin Turner left for Boston in 2021, speculation arose about how that would affect the clubhouse.
Roberts, for all the criticism he receives about his in-game decisions, excels at managing egos. So, when the front office brought in several players, many wondered how they would acclimate to their new surroundings.
This trip will be the first unofficial road trip of the season. It started with a roughly 13-hour plane flight to Seoul, South Korea.
A long, grueling flight alone can help strengthen bonds among its passengers. Already, reports are coming out about how players spent their time on the flight, They will have a chance to experience an entirely new country – for most – for the first time together.
As the Dodgers manager pointed out, this trip can help the team through the course of a long season. They can reflect on this time together during the dog days of summer when everyone is a little tired.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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