It’s Time to Stop the Dave Roberts Hate: He Deserves Praise for This Dodgers Postseason Run

Give Dave Roberts his flowers.

As the Dodgers manager and his team are headed to the World Series, again, let’s reflect on the challenges of the 2024 season.

The year was abundant with injuries and position changes, but Roberts persevered and set up his players for a deep postseason run. The Dodgers are just four wins away from winning the Fall Classic.

After the Dodgers won the National League Championship Series on Sunday night, Roberts moved into sixth on the list of manager with the most postseason wins in MLB history. Roberts trails just Joe Torre (84), Tony La Russa (71), Bobby Cox (67), Dusty Baker (57), and Bruce Bochy (57).

Roberts also joined Bochy as the only active managers to win four pennants. He also tied Tommy Lasorda with four National League pennants.

On top of his success on the field, the players love him off the field. Mookie Betts revealed why Roberts is a beloved figure in the Dodgers clubhouse.

“Doc has done an amazing job putting everybody in the right spot to be successful,” Betts said. “What people don’t see is the love and the compassion and the energy that he gives us every day that’s behind the lines. The way he prepares us and he gives us just all the confidence in the world to come here and play the game.”

Betts explained that Roberts makes the effort with the little things such as watching batting practice and encouraging his players in those behind-the-scene moments.

“He just instills confidence in us,” Betts insisted.

Roberts is the first to receive criticism, but last to receive praise. It’s not an easy task, but it’s the territory of the job.

Fans were calling for his head after the Padres had a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers in the NLDS, yet he pulled all the right levers in Game 4’s bullpen game and trusted Yoshinobu Yamamoto to hold off a dangerous San Diego lineup in Game 5.

His phenomenal management was quickly forgotten by Game 5 of the NLCS after Roberts chose to leave a struggling Jack Flaherty on the mound to preserve the bullpen. Once again, fans lost their faith in Roberts, quickly forgetting he has the best winning percentage in managerial history.

By Sunday night, the Dodgers advanced to the World Series, which marked the fourth time the Dodgers have reached the Fall Classic in Roberts’ nine-year tenure in Los Angeles.

When the inevitable criticism resumes, Roberts will continue playing his game of chess, not checkers, to reach the final stop.

The critics are many, but the supporters are few. Roberts may finally silence the critics if the Dodgers win their first World Series title in front of fans since 1988. The magic number is four.

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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