Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held court with pitchers and catchers ahead of Saturday’s workout, which was the club’s first of Spring Training. Since getting hired last December, the rookie skipper has placed an emphasis on communication and playing the game with an appropriate level of respect.
The message Roberts delivered Saturday reinforced those ideals. “It was just sincere as far as our goal to get better every day and what it takes,” Roberts said.
“Obviously, everyone has the goal to win a championship, but there is a lot of work from now and then that we have to account for.”
The Dodgers won plenty under former manager Don Mattingly — finishing atop the National League West standings three straight years for the first time franchise history.
Over that same stretch, the Dodgers won a minimum of 90 games for the first time since 1976-78. However, they advanced beyond the NL Division Series just once under Mattingly.
While the offseason brought a managerial change, expectations remain the same, which Roberts welcomes. “It’s fun in a certain sense when you get a young team you can cultivate and really mold,” he said.
“But, to have very good players, you’re only as good as your players are. And we have very good players in the clubhouse. For me to be a first-time manager and have very good coaches and players around me, we’re in a pretty good spot.”
Along with hearing from a new voice at the top of the chain of command, only pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was retained from Mattingly’s staff. Roberts, who sought advice from Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, among others, previously mentioned he intends to lean on those around him.
“When you have people who you trust around you, you have to let them do their jobs,” Roberts said. “I think in any leadership position, you feel like you need to do it your way and you want to have hands on everything. Me, by nature, I don’t like to micromanage and I like to empower people.”
Saturday’s meeting was the first of two scheduled for the Dodgers. Roberts will again address the team once position players arrive and ahead of the first full-squad workout next week to “lay out some thoughts, the vision and expectations.”
“After that, it’s more upon the players to take hold of the clubhouse themselves,” Roberts said. Individual meetings with players began Saturday, and exit interviews will be held when camp breaks.
