Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts guided his team to a franchise-record 111 wins during regular season only to watch his World Series prediction go up in smoke in the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers held up their initial end of the bargain for six months, but were eliminated by the San Diego Padres in four games. Roberts has been on the unfortunate end of multiple postseason letdowns and his guarantee has now become fodder.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman enjoyed Roberts’ confidence and several players embraced expectations that came with it.
Following the loss to the Padres, Roberts said the World Series guarantee wasn’t on his list of regrets, via Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times:
“I don’t regret it. … I think it showed how much belief I have in the players and organization,” he said. “I don’t think my quote in spring training had any bearing on four games in October. Words are powerful, but mine are not that powerful.”
Roberts did include one caveat in his prediction, that it would take the starting pitching remaining healthy to have it come to fruition. The rotation ultimately absorbed several injuries throughout the year, but that didn’t alter his stance.
And even with the rash of injuries in the rotation, it was the Dodgers lineup that collectively struggled in the NLDS and arguably was the reason for the team’s postseason run falling well short.
Dave Roberts to remain Dodgers manager
When Friedman spoke at an end-of-season press conference, he was bombarded with questions of roster construction, in-game decisions, and if would Roberts be fired.
Friedman defended his manager and said Roberts would indeed be returning to the Dodgers for his eighth season at the helm. Despite all of his publicly criticized blunders, it’s hard to argue the record and accolades that Roberts has amassed in his time in Los Angeles.
Roberts’ record of 653-380 (.632) as Dodgers manager is good for the highest winning percentage of any skipper in MLB history (minimum 315 games). It’s bested only by Negro League managers Bullet Rogan, Vic Harris, and Rube Foster.
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
