Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was named 2016 Coach of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council. He will be honored during the organization’s 12th annual L.A. Sports Awards on Monday, Feb. 27 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Roberts was previously named the National League Manager of the Year, selected head of Chicago Cubs skipper Joe Maddon and Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker. Roberts was also selected NL Manager of the Year by Sporting News.
Despite at one point falling to eight games back of the San Francisco Giants in the division, the Dodgers played their way to an unprecedented fourth consecutive NL West title.
Los Angeles became the first team in NL West history to win the division four straight seasons. What’s more, Roberts guided the Dodgers to a 91-71 record, which was the fourth consecutive year the team won at least 90 games — a franchise first.
On top of the challenges that come with being a rookie manager, Roberts was saddled by a rash number of injuries — the Dodgers placed a Major-League record 28 different players on the disabled list.
Thus, Los Angeles used 55 different players and 31 different pitchers (including 15 starters) last season. Total players and pitchers used tied franchise records.
Roberts credited Dodgers baseball of operations Andrew Friedman and the front office for allowing him to remain focused on day-to-day duties that came with managing the club.
The Dodgers advanced to the NL Championship Series a second time in the past four seasons, and finished just two wins shy of reaching their first World Series since 1988.
