Mookie Betts Says Dave Roberts is The ‘Real Reason’ Dodgers Won World Series
When the Los Angeles Dodgers surprisingly exited the playoffs during the National League Division Series in 2022 and 2023, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shouldered much of the blame. Roberts appeared to be on track to receive the bulk of the blame once again three games into the 2024 NLDS against the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers trailed 2-1, and the Padres trounced them in record-breaking fashion during Game 2 of the NLDS.
Roberts and the Dodgers rebounded, winning Games 4 and 5 to win the series and advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2021. They defeated the New York Mets in the NLCS, and then went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
From Game 4 of the NLDS on, Roberts and the Dodgers took control of their path. While dealing with numerous injuries to the starting rotation as well as injuries to Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas, Roberts consistently made decisions that led the Dodgers to their eighth championship.
Following the World Series victory, several Dodgers players gave credit to Roberts for leading them to the title.
“To be honest, Dave is the real reason why we’re here,” Mookie Betts said after the World Series, via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “I know there’s a lot of talk about Doc, but Doc is the best, man. Doc loves each and every person in here, Doc has confidence in each and every person in here, Doc never lost confidence in anybody in here. And no matter what we went through, he was always positive.”
First baseman and World Series MVP Freddie Freeman said Game 5 of the World Series was “one of the best games I’ve ever seen managed.”
In Game 5, the Dodgers fell 5-0 early as Jack Flaherty struggled in his start. Roberts had to make the decision to pull Flaherty early, and use his relievers earlier than anticipated. One of the most significant choices came when he used starter Walker Buehler as the closer. Buehler recorded the final three outs, sealing the championship for the Dodgers.
Roberts has received plenty of scrutiny leading up to this postseason, but his managing during the playoffs this time around has gotten a lot of that criticism off his back.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and more!
Mookie I love you to death, you’re wrong, you guys are the ones who won the World Series. The players and pitchers won the
World Series. Thank you to the team.
CAN YOU CONVINCE THEM TO KEEP
TEOSCAR HERNANDEZ AND KIKE
HERNANDEZ. Don’t hire Soto
I think that the Players won in spite of Roberts not because of him.
Granted he had unbelievable injuries to deal with and that’s the only reason he gets a partial pass. But, I do believe he makes some very bad decisions. Then again ,I wonder if the Front Office, which I feel is very poor, is making these decisions.
I believe Mooki and Freddie. Not who is Valdrz?
I’ve had concerns with Roberts decision making, especially in the playoffs. Can easily point to 2017 WS game 7, 2018 WS game 4, 2019 NLDS game 5 (2 horrific decisions in 1 game), 2023 NLDS games 1, 2, and 3. And that’s without really trying to think about it. That said, he seemed to pull ALL of the right strings this post season. Credit where and when due. If I’m going to have concerns, then I’m going to have to acknowledge the good. And Valdrz, please stop the with that the front office is making in game decisions. Never been any proof of that, so it’s just over the top conspiracy nonsense.
Every manger, at times, makes wrong decisions. Even horrible decisions — if it is possible to make horrible decisions in sports. Walter Alston chose to use stan Williams in 1962 instead of Don Drysdale. It cost the dodgers a pennant. Alston is in the Hall of Fame. Tommy Lasorda chose to pitch to Jack Clark with first base open (if i remember correctly). Lasorda also is in the Hall of Fame. My point is this: all managers occasionally make really bad choices. That’s the way it is. We can only hope that the good decisions out weigh the bad ones.
Hey Glen – I agree. But you cite one each, with each having served over 20 years in that role. I cited 7 without even thinking hard that Roberts has made in less than half that time. So, that’s a false equivalence. And did those managers have the roster that Roberts has had? For the most part, the answer is no. Occasional disastrous decisions are one thing, a pattern of them is another. Hopefully this is an improvement gained from tough experiences and bad results, and not a one off.
Again, all credit to him for his decision making this year as he seemed to make nearly all the right ones, even if they seemed strange at the time. But winning the World Series makes everything a lot more tolerable.