Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, New York Mets skipper Buck Showalter and Atlanta Braves’ Brian Snitker were named finalists for the 2022 National League Manager of the Year Award.
Each of the three finalists guided their respective team to 100-win seasons, only to fall well short of expectations in the postseason. Manager of the Year voting and that for all other Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards was conducted prior to the playoffs beginning.
Despite a rash of long-term injuries to key contributors this past season, Roberts oversaw a Dodgers team that set a franchise record with 111 wins. That came one year after tying what was then a record with 106 wins in 2021.
Among all managers in MLB history, Roberts’ four seasons of at least 100 wins is tied for third-most. All other managers on the list have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, where Roberts presumably will be enshrined at some point as well.
In seven seasons as Dodgers manager, Roberts is 653-380 (.632) and has led the team to the playoffs every year, six National League West titles, three pennants and one World Series championship. Roberts’ winning percentage is the highest of any manager in MLB history (minimum 315 games).
It’s bested only by Negro League managers Bullet Rogan, Vic Harris and Rube Foster.
Roberts won Manager of the Year in 2016 and finished in second place the following year. Roberts fell to sixth place in 2018, followed by finishing fourth in 2019, and fifth place each of the past two years.
Showalter, who enjoyed a successful regular season with the Mets in his return to managing, is a three-time winner of the award (1994, 2004, 2014) in the American League. Snitker was voted 2018 NL Manager of the year.
Andrew Friedman defends Dave Roberts
Although the Dodgers fell well short of their World Series goal, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman strongly defended Roberts and declared criticism of his decisions in the NL Division Series as being “unfair.”
The Dodgers remain committed to Roberts, who signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2025 season.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
