Dave Roberts has solidified himself as one of the greatest managers in Los Angeles Dodgers franchise history since taking the position nearly a decade ago.
Roberts has led the team to the playoffs in all 10 of his seasons at the helm, winning nine National League West titles, five pennants and three World Series championships.
Roberts regularly the enviable task of guiding one of the most talented rosters in recent memory, but with that comes the added responsibility of making sure players never lose sight of the common goal.
Freddie Freeman recently praised Roberts for truly caring about his players and keeping them on top of their game, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“Managing is, you’ve got to have really good players,” Freddie Freeman said last fall. “When the wrinkles do come, you nail it. Then you manage the egos. Everyone has a little ego. We’re all human, that’s just how it is. You manage it, keep everybody’s egos in the bumpers and that’s what makes everyone go out there between 7 and 10 o’clock and give you everything you have.
“(Dave) cares and truly cares about the Dodgers. It’s not him himself. He cares about this. He does a great job just handling it.”
Roberts is widely regarded as one of the most-liked managers in baseball, and Freeman’s comments further illustrate that.
Roberts’ impact on the Dodgers cannot be understated and he was recently rewarded with a record-breaking contract extension that will keep him as manager through at least the 2029 season.
Roberts’ current contract makes him the highest-paid manager in MLB history by average annual value. Craig Counsell of the Chicago Cubs remains the highest-paid manager overall with his contract.
Dave Roberts happy to be ‘liked’ by Dodgers fans
Despite his accomplishments, Roberts has been subject to plenty of criticism over the years. His bullpen management, among other in-game decisions, have been questioned throughout his tenure as skipper.
However, the Dodgers’ recent success has turned those doubters into believers.
“It’s always nice to be liked, isn’t it?” Roberts quipped. “I just think obviously when you have results, which we’ve had, I think people start to understand the method to my madness, the organization’s madness, and things start to make sense.
“When you’re in it and until you start to see success, then you can look back and go, ‘Oh, I get it now.’ I think that’s kind of where I’d like to think everyone is at. Some people will never get there, and that’s OK. But it’s good to be liked.”
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