The Los Angeles Dodgers set a plethora of records during the 2022 regular season, including winning a franchise-best 111 games that secured them a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Dodgers were ultimately matched up with the San Diego Padres, a team they have historically fared well against. L.A. went 14-5 against their National League West foe during the regular season and swept them in their only other postseason meeting in 2020.
While the Dodgers appeared to be a strong favorite on paper, they were not able to replicate that success in the NL Division Series. After taking Game 1, they dropped the next three contests that sent them into the offseason much earlier than anticipated.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not processed the disappointing ending to his team’s season but acknowledged there is a lot to be proud, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“There’s a lot of work and a lot of good things to take from this year,” Roberts said during a phone interview this weekend. “But how it ended, that’s where my mind is at. It’s been tough.”
The Dodgers’ shocking elimination has prompted calls from outside of the organization to part ways with Roberts as manager. Despite the external pressure, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently confirmed he will return for the same role next season.
“It’s us collectively trying to learn what we can from what has happened and putting ourselves in the best position to avoid it going forward,” Friedman said at a press conference.
“I feel like the vast majority of the time if the best team has always won the World Series and this happened to be an example of not, then I think it’s easier to point fingers and isolate why.
“Some of it comes down to what happens in the crazy tournament that is the playoffs of baseball. It cuts both ways. It’s exhilarating and awesome when it works out, and it’s crushing when it doesn’t. I just don’t see the world in terms of pointing the finger and firing someone for those reasons.
“Now, I think as a group, if we’re not constantly trying to get better, even if we won it all this year, I think the mindset of always trying to improve what we do is shared among everyone we work with. Those are people I very much believe in figuring this out with together.”
Phillies eliminating Padres brings end to Dodgers’ World Series streak
The Philadelphia Phillies eliminating the Padres in the NL Championship Series snapped the Dodgers’ streak at six consecutive years of capturing the title themselves or being eliminated by the eventual champion.
That streak trailed only the New York Yankees, who won the World Series (three times) or were eliminated by the future championship club for seven consecutive seasons from 1998-2004.
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