There’ll all the time be excessive expectations for the particular person managing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Followers demand a World Sequence 12 months in and 12 months out whereas something in need of it’s thought of a misplaced season.
The phrases, “Fireplace Dave Roberts,” have been written so many occasions over the previous 9 years that the supervisor has misplaced rely. That hasn’t stopped him from persevering with to succeed, although.
“The one ones who query him, I believe, is you guys,” Dodgers proprietor Mark Walter stated earlier than the crew gained the World Sequence. “He’s gained 4 pennants in eight years. Anybody who thinks they’ll do higher than that – that’s quite a bit.”
Roberts doesn’t get sufficient credit score generally for the job he has accomplished. However, that doesn’t trouble him.
“I’ve realized to have thicker pores and skin and attempt to respect the truth that there’s all the time going to be criticism. Possibly extra jaded at occasions,” Roberts stated.
“However it’s a outcomes enterprise, and I get that. I perceive the job, the market, however I’m simply pleased that our guys actually carried out.”
This season was a masterclass in managing from Roberts and he may have simply given up and seemed forward to 2025. As an alternative, he gathered his crew and so they locked in.
“There’s lots of occasions within the season the place we may have punted and had each excuse to look ahead to ’25,” Roberts stated. “However they didn’t.”
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman gave Roberts all of the credit score for that.
“I believe there have been occasions throughout the 12 months with a number of the accidents we had the place it was a bit of bit deflating,” Friedman stated. “And I believe Doc did an amazing job of getting in entrance of that and pumping some enthusiasm and optimism into the group.”
However the noise can also be a optimistic word as a result of if there wasn’t any, it could as if the fan base didn’t care.
“We have now such an amazing fan base and we love that,” Friedman stated after the Division Sequence victory over the Padres. “The expectations are tremendous excessive. We love that as effectively. And each time we fall in need of that, there’s lots of blame to go round and lots of disenchanted individuals. We might a lot quite that than individuals not caring.
“The theater of October baseball is all outcome-based. When you have an excellent consequence, optimistic issues are stated and written. When you have a foul consequence, actually unhealthy issues are stated and written.”
The 2024 postseason was stuffed with positives for Roberts and the Dodgers. It’s secure to imagine followers gained’t be chanting ‘Fireplace Dave Roberts’ anymore.
Photograph Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to remain updated on all the newest Dodgers information, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and extra!
