No, Dave Roberts Will Not Be Fired if the Dodgers Lose to the Diamondbacks in the NLDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the brink of disappointment yet again.
After losing the first two games of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers must win three straight — two of them in Arizona — if they want to advance to the NLCS.
The Dodgers — winners of 100-plus games in the last four full seasons — are at risk of another early postseason exit, this one to an 84-win team.
A disappointment as drastic as this one will definitely warrant change, and those changes will likely come at the top involving people in the front office and on the coaching staff.
Tuesday, on what could potentially be the team’s final off day of the season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts missed the team’s optional workout to have meetings with the front office. That only furthered any speculation regarding his job security.
But as we enter what could be the Dodgers’ final game of the 2023 season, I want to make one thing abundantly clear:
Dave Roberts will be the manager of the Dodgers for the 2024 season.
Dave Roberts became the manager of the Dodgers heading into the 2016 season. He took over a team that had just won the NL West in three straight seasons, but lost in the NLCS, NLDS and NLDS, respectively.
The Dodgers wanted a new voice in the clubhouse, so out went Don Mattingly, and in came one-time Dodgers outfielder Dave Roberts. Here’s how his tenure has gone:
2016: Dodgers win the NL West and make it to the NLCS, where they lose in six games to the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
2017: Dodgers win the NL West and make it to the World Series, where they lose in seven games to the trashcan-banging Houston Astros.
2018: Dodgers win the NL West and make it to the World Series, where they lose in five games to the Boston Red Sox.
2019: Dodgers win the NL West and suffer their first big disappointment, losing in the NLDS to the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals.
2020: Dodgers win the NL West and finally win their first World Series since 1988 in the COVID-shortened regular season and longer postseason.
2021: Dodgers win the NL West and make it to the NLCS, where they lose in six games to the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves.
2022: Dodgers win the NL West and suffer their second big disappointment, losing in the NLDS to the San Diego Padres. This is the first time under Dave Roberts’ tenure that the Dodgers weren’t eliminated by the eventual World Series champion.
And now here we are in 2023. The Dodgers won the NL West in dominant fashion, and despite all the roster turnover and infusion of aging veterans and up-and-coming prospects, found a way to win 100 games.
That wasn’t supposed to be the case.
The Padres, fresh off winning the offseason, were supposed to win the NL West this year.
The Dodgers, in a year of transition, were supposed to claw their way into postseason contention. Instead, they coasted for the last few months of the year as division champs.
Despite losing Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner in the offseason, the offense still managed to set a Los Angeles franchise record with 906 runs scored. Despite losing three key starting pitchers in Julio Urias, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, and having Walker Buehler’s return shut down, the Dodgers still managed to win 100 games.
The Dodgers have enjoyed unprecedented success over the last eight seasons, and Roberts’ role cannot be understated.
Yes, Roberts’ decision-making, especially come the postseason, has not always been perfect (although it’s easy to wonder if those decisions are coming from up top, anyway).
But in a year where everyone expected the Dodgers to take a backseat, it was Dave Roberts’ managing that led this team to yet another division title.
Dave Roberts has a record of 753-442 in his eight years with the Dodgers. That .630 winning percentage is third all-time, with only two Negro League managers ahead of him at .633.
Dave Roberts is the first National League manager ever to lead his team to the postseason in his first eight seasons.
Dave Roberts has recorded 100-win seasons in five of his eight seasons, becoming the fifth manager in MLB history with five such seasons. Just two manager shave six such seasons.
The Dodgers under Dave Roberts have become the class of the MLB. Yes, they only have one World Series to show for it, but the MLB postseason is a crapshoot. And whether you like his decision-making or not, at the end of the day, it’s the Dodgers’ bats that have failed them over their last two postseasons.
Dave Roberts made all the right decisions in Game 2 against the Diamondbacks. He pulled all the right levers, and was the reason the Dodgers had any chance of winning that game. But at the end of the day, he’s not the one going out there and swinging the bat.
If the Dodgers want to come back and win this NLDS, it’s up to the offense. Outside of one bad Clayton Kershaw inning, Dave Roberts and the pitching staff have done their job.
If you look at the Dodgers’ 0-2 deficit in the NLDS and blame Dave Roberts, you’re blinded by the real issues on this team.
Whether you like him or not, Dave Roberts is the right man for this Dodgers job. And whether they come back to beat Arizona in the NLDS or not, he’ll be with the team come spring training of 2024.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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What is the definition of insanity?
In baseball, it’s keeping Friedman and Roberts even though you know they’re never going to change.
This article lists out the exact reasons why Roberts has to go. Dave Roberts does not get his players prepared for the big game.Unless you think the biggest game in recent Dodgers history is beating Tampa freaking Bay during Covid lockdown shortened season in an empty stadium with cardboard cutouts for a crowd. In Texas, not Dodger Stadium, or Fenway Park, or Wrigley Field. Or Petco park even.
Take a look at where some of the great players we’ve had over the last few years are right now. Turner, Seager, Jansen, Joc a few years ago even weirdo Kimbrel. Where are those guys? Deep in the playoffs, not slumping, not coming up short when it matters. What do they have in common? They aren’t being managed by Dave Roberts.
Its hard for met to accept a comment like this when it wasn’t Roberts fault that so many of the pitchers were injured and he had to rely on others and rookies to play out the season. And is it Roberts fault that Betts and Freeman has less than subpar playoff games? That goes squarely in the shoulders of the players who play and swing (or not swing in this case) the bats.
The fact is this Dodger team was supposed to do nothing, And except for the top half of the lineup, basically did nothing. Peralta,, Heyward, Outman and Rojas did about “what we thought they would” at the bottom of the order. That is Friedman’s fault if it is anyone. Roberts can only manage who he has, not who he doesn’t have, It was Friedman who sat on his hands when things could have been done at the trade deadline. And then there was the Julio Urias dumb-ass attack…. What a waste and in a contract year too! too!
If anything,, this team outperformed expectations considering the state of the pitching staff and the Western Division competition. If San Diego didn’t implode, they should have won the division, pitching and hitting wise and the Dodgers would have been lucky to make the playoffs. So get off Roberts back and blamed the players who failed again to show up again.
This article is one of the first things that pops up if you google “fire Roberts”, written preemptively as an apologist statement from “Dodgers Nation” whatever that is.
So let’s take a look at this line of reasoning that is supposed to put us ignorant Roberts haters straight and silence the calls for a change.
There is the implication that somehow Roberts deserves credit for winning NL west nearly every year for the last 7-8 years.
Ok then you are saying then that Roberts managerial skill contributed to the Dodgers winning games that they might have otherwise lost if it wasn’t for him, in so doing earned them a superior record to the other teams in their division, which in turn resulted in a playoff berth, often being the highest seeded team throughout their conference. Ok then let’s accept that it was Roberts skill and acumen and command of analytics that powered his teams(with substantially higher payroll than the other teams in division)to a superior record and a favorable playoff seeding.
Ok then, let’s apply the exact same logic to the Dodgers playoff performances over the last almost decade. Does Roberts not then deserve any blame for poor performances in the playoffs? He managed those games just as he managed the regular season games.
Unless my math is off our playoff record is close to or below .500.
Can we entertain the idea that Roberts lacks the ability , will and understanding , that players need to be pushed,let’s even say “coached” , they need to elevate their game to meet the challenge of the higher intensity shown by other teams?Have you actually watched a Phillies playoff game recently? Have we seen any Dodger display the drive and intensity of Bryce Harper? When is the last time we have seen an intensely competitive performance by a dodger in the playoffs? A performance that inspires and lifts the team? Puig?Gibson? Tommy? Seriously when in the Roberts era?
Our current Dodgers celebrate out of relief when they win , but there is a obvious lack of spirit win or lose. doesn’t bringing some of that spirit and pride to the table qualify as the managers job?
Let’s also take a look at the Dodger’s accolades listed so proudly in this article , many with the caveat “lost to eventual WS winner”
All of the teams that do not win the WS series in one way or another lose to the “eventual WS wining team”. That is the issue we are talking about, that is not a moral victory to hang our Dodger caps on.
I hate to break it to you Noah, but Mookie, Kike, Buehler, JH, Jordan, Brady , Pete Rose, any champion in any sport anywhere is going to say that 2nd place is the 1st loser.
None of those guys goes to bed at night smiling to themselves saying “thank God we lost to the eventual WS winners, otherwise that would have been embarrassing “
This whole idea that somehow Roberts is untouchable and blameless just points to the fact that this Dodger organization is no better than the A’s. Ridiculous? Both have been counting on the result of their regular season record to define their identity and fuel the economics and business of their organization with no thought of playoff success, and absolutely no feeling of obligation to their fan bases.
I so agree with this
They will bring Roberts back, and they will lose again in the first round again in 2024. This clown has no fire in him, and the team is a direct reflection of that.
Is this guy crazy? He acts like Dave Robert’s is so great? This team is so stacked I could drive this bus and manage this team to 100 wins and a trip to playoffs and get swept.
What this guy lacks is motivation. He can’t get this guy’s fired up enough to win. We need a Prime Time type manager, to cut ties with see old people on team, stop being there friends and be there manager for team not the players. This guy a joke. I Guarantee if you. gave him the Giants gig Dave Robert’s as Giant’s manager would be as bad as the Oakland As. Fire him tonight and get someone in there that can light a fire of these. Players asses.
This isnt entirely on roberts but he isnt without blame. How is ryan pepiot, who was the best pitcher of the last 2 months and a fresh arm, the only player not to see the field?? How does kolten wong get multiple ABs in this series, let alone one game?? I could write an old school series of encyclopedias to document all of roberts in game “managerial genius” in his dodger career, but let me ask all of the roberts apologists out there, when is the last time the dodgers over-achieved under Roberts? Ill wait… They always say, ” well the players all love him…” Thats great, but it might not be a substitute for getting in someone’s face every now and then, or the big motivational speech/move. Sure this team had pitching problems at end of season, but how is that different from texas who has bad pitching and almost pissed away an insurmountable division lead?? Yet they got it done twice and are in the ALCS. Whats the difference??
Could be a better manager?? 10 years of playoffs and 1 title. We are the 90s braves. That isnt good enough. Move on from him or we will have this discussion again next year
I think he was manager in 2020 when they won the World Series. I didn’t hear anyone bitching then!
They won the World Series in 2020, three years ago. I didn’t har any babies crying then…
Dodgers nation is over Roberts. How many times do we have to go through this? At this point we don’t care if we keep winning the division if we keep getting eliminated the way it just happened, even worse than before. We are better off going in as the wild card and taking it all. Roberts is not a post season coach and he has proved that over and over again. It is time for a change. This is embarrassing. Getting swept by a team that was 16 games behind. Explain that.
My heart crushed again…
When am I gonna learn, this is Post season baseball for the Dodgers.
First of all, not able to sign a premier starter at the trade deadline was poor management (Friedman), knowing the crucial impact it would have for the post season with all the injured starters in Mays, Gonsolin, and Buehler, not to mention the stupidity by Urias.
Dave Roberts poor game managing, again, leaves us fighting for air like a fish out of water.
Leaving Lynn in the game after giving up his second of four homeruns in the inning, knowing this was a do or die game, cost them down the stretch. Arizona’s confidence and momentum was too difficult to overcome and so was the chance to tie it up or go into extra innings for a possible comeback win.
I hope you take a page out of Lovelle’s book of managing pal. Taking his pitchers out and not letting them get out of control is how you do it.
This is embarrassing Roberts and Friedman.
I’m sure you’re getting some sort of back pay to write this stupid article. Roberts has to go along with all you yes men.
I read this morning that based on regular season record disparity, the Dodgers have 3 of the top 6 all time choke jobs in MLB playoff history. # 2, #4, #6. The common thread.. All 3 occurred in the last 3 years and all three were managed by Dave Roberts. He has consistently done less with more than any manager in baseball.
The reality is the Dodgers are soft because Dave Roberts is soft. His softness has permeated the entire organization. The Dodgers are the Boys of August….. You do make a good point, Dave Roberts is probably the best regular season manager of this generation.
So there is that.
Correction, the Dodgers did not win the NL West in 2021. They finished 1 game short of the Giant’s, who they ended up beating in the NLDS 3-2 after beating the Cardinals in the 1 game wild card round.
Dave Roberts would be an excellent base coach. The Dodgers need to find an ex catcher to manage the team. Catchers understand pitching. Dave Roberts is clueless when it comes to when to use and when to pull a pitcher.
Austin Barnes is the bat off the bench for a crucial, late-inning, RBI opportunity? That alone is cause for concern. Lynn should not have pitched more than two innings facing elimination. Should have used an opener for each game and stretched it from there. Time for a new voice with some fire. Happy, sweet Uncle Dave doesn’t cut it anymore.
And this is the sad part.. Roberts will still be manger and it is the fans that lose….. it is so sad!!
I totally agree with everything above. We are F….. with Roberts !
Yea, this article didn’t age well. Old, tired, lame excuses became realities in game 3. How does Roberts leave Lynn in after 2 HRs? Not enough? Boom! 3 HRs in the inning. Still not enough? Let’s basically end the season right there by leaving him in for not 1, 2 or 3 HRs, but an unbelievable 4 HRs in one inning! AZ pulls Pfaadt after giving up a double, his second allowed hit in 4+ innings. How did the stop the bleeding? By not letting it start. Barnes shouldn’t pinch hit for anyone. Love the guy, but not a better hitter than anyone on the team. They have now lost 6 playoff games in a row, 2 – 8 in their last 10. Lose the 2021 NLCS to a team with 18 fewer wins. Lose 2022 to a team with 22 fewer wins. Get swept and lose the 2023 NLDS to a team with 16 fewer wins. Roberts was already the Marty Schottenheimer of MLB before this latest collapse. They fired Mattingly after a NLCS loss followed by 2 NLDS losses. How is this different. Performance is a reflection of leadership. Roberts isn’t leading anything. Great regular seasons might as well be participation trophies. Sickening.
Just like I refuse to eat those God Awful Dodger dogs,I will refuse to go to any Dodger games if Roberts returns! Dodger fans don’t have to put up with this.Stop going to D’s games until there is a new manager!
This is not the first, second or third Roberts left in the first postseasons with Washington, San Diego and Arizona (3 strikes OUT!
Bye Dave, Friedman and Kasten! You’re OUT!!
Noah- no matter how many stats you throw out, the only one that matters is the final stat: World Series trophy. ANY, and I mean ANY MLB manager could’ve had the winning percentage Roberts had with the talent the Dodgers have each and every year. The Dodgers have this winning percentage in spite of Roberts, not the other way around. Which, of course, means Roberts needs the Dodgers way more than the Dodgers need Roberts. BTW, the only reason the Dodgers won it in 2020 is because the Tampa coach pulled Snell while the Dodgers hitters had absolutely no answer. Roberts MUST go….
A manager should be able to turn things around and motivate the team during a game not just before or after. To figure out why a player is not making hits or why a pitcher is not striking. Set up your team for success. Change momentum or turn the table. A manager that doesn’t even notice it was a foul ball not a homer is not paying attention. Being a baseball fan isn’t first being a Dodgers Manager comes first.
Friedman built “regular season “teams in Tampa Bay and now LA! The Dodgers like their manager havent any fire in the belly!
Robert’s needs to go! I’m tired of looking in the Dodger dugout and seeing the manager with that all to familiar “Deer in the headlights look…” Yep just like Don!!!
Get Scioscia and see what happens!!!!