April 28, 2023
I originally started this piece on October 18, 2022 — not long after the Dodger play-off collapse of 2022 — and like Dave Roberts in the post-season — I didn\’t have what it took to finish it; what with USC\’s disastrous finish and the Lakers weak start. (I\’m not much of a hockey or local soccer fan.)
…but in today\’s Sports Letters section of my beloved Times — David Waldwoski of Laguna Hills had a letter published RE: Dodger manager, Dave Roberts, that encapsulated everything that I have been feeling about Dave R since the beginning of his tenure. With permission from Dave W and The Times — I quote:
Here\’s a scary thought for Dave Roberts. He might have to manage his team during the regular season this year. His previous teams were so stacked with talent that the regular season was essentially autopilot. In the past, he didn\’t start managing until the playoffs, when he often appeared as a deer in the headlights.
Now I know Dave Roberts\’ apologists will say that we only have 6 fewer wins this year than last (with 26 games in the bank and 136 left to play) — and that Dodger wives keep giving birth to Dodger babies and Will Smith has been out with a concussion and Austin Barnes is not an everyday catcher: but circumstances like these are when management toughness must meet the road!
And Dave R\’s less-than-favorable-decision-making in 7 seasons as manager of the Dodgers has led to only one World Series title — and that was in the pandemic, no audience-shortened year which I equate to a half-of-a World Series championship.
I actually give Dave R one-and-a-half World Series wins because even the infamous Alex Cora has gone on record saying the Dodgers won that series — if not for the Astro garbage cans. May future baseball pundits (and a commissioner with balls [pun intended]) remove this tainted Astro place holder!
It is true that the Dodgers have been in every post-season during Dave R\’s tenure — with a seven year record of 653-381 (a .632 winning percentage) — but as David W noted — Dave R had a store bought team: which somehow becomes inept in the post-season because they are asked to deviate from routines established during the season.
The old saying goes that we get good at what we practice. Yet somehow Dave R wants to do things differently with his starting and relief pitchers in the post-season. The destructive choices he\’s made (or was it really the front office?) have ended in disaster:
Pulling Julio in the 7th inning of a gem was mind boggling!? Other sore spots were denying Ross Stripling and Rich Hill the opportunity for no-hitters.
The refusal to play small ball when warranted is also messed up. The speedy Diamondbacks and Pirates are already reminding us of the virtues of small ball.
OK Dave Roberts! This season is your chance to shut the critics (like me and my buddy Carlos) up! Let\’s see you gel this line-up of Dodger wannabees into another post-season contender!