The Los Angeles Dodgers finished their road trip on Sunday without manager Dave Roberts, who missed the series finale against the Chicago White Sox to attend his daughter’s graduation ceremony.
Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann filled the interim manager role, just like when Roberts missed a game in 2023 to be present for his son graduating from Loyola Marymount University. Lehmann is 1-1 in that role following a loss to the White Sox on Sunday.
Dave Roberts sees evolution for managers
The Dodgers organization as a whole has cultivated a supportive environment when it comes to taking time for personal and family reasons.
“I think that’s one of the good things the way the world has evolved,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA over the weekend. “Where you do some things for mental health, or your family, and it’s not frowned upon or that you care less about your job. That should be applicable for everyone.
“It’s good to feel like I can go and I don’t feel like I’m getting judged because I’m going to spend time to celebrate with my daughter. This is my fourth and last one; I’ve had two high school graduations and two college graduations. I encourage my staff to do it.
“You see all around baseball, people doing things for their families, paternity leave and things like that. That’s healthy.”
Earlier this season the Dodgers saw Freddie Freeman going on the paternity list when he and his wife Chelsea welcomed the couple’s fourth child. MLB roster rules allow for a player to miss one to three days while on paternity leave.
And as Roberts noted, Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel missed one game in each of the last two seasons to be present for monumental moments in his sons’ lives, including when Brady was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Now Roberts is due to rejoin the Dodgers on Monday for their homestand that starts with a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Following an off day Thursday, they then will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to Dodger Stadium for a weekend set.
That’s going to be followed by a nine-game road trip, though two of the series will keep the Dodgers in California as they face the San Diego Padres and Athletics.
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