Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made headlines during Spring Training last year when he guaranteed his team would win the 2022 World Series.
The Dodgers went on to set a franchise record with 111 wins during the regular season and looked poised to fulfill Roberts’ prophecy, but suffered a heartbreaking loss to the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers have since lost several key contributors in free agency but the goal to win a championship remains the same. “I’m not going to guarantee it this year,” Roberts said with a chuckle during his media session at Dodgers FanFest.
“I’m not going to do that. But again, I still expect to win the World Series. I do. And I don’t think there’s anybody that’s part of our organization or fanbase that doesn’t feel that same way.”
When discussing expectations for the 2023 season, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman admitted the team likely won’t match its win total from a year ago but has enough talent to go far in the postseason.
“Every year our goal is to go out there and win the West, however many games that takes,” Roberts said.” It’s going to be a different ballclub this year.
“I would probably say I put more pressure and expectations on myself and our ballclub than anyone else. When you wear the Dodgers uniform, that’s the bar. We’re still expecting to win the division and go beyond.”
ZiPS projections have Dodgers winning NL West in 2023
The initial ZiPS projections for the 2023 season have the Dodgers finishing atop the NL West with a 91-71 record, which is the second-best mark behind the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball.
However, the projections came out in late November and do not take into account many of the Dodgers’ roster additions this offseason, including J.D. Martinez, Noah Syndergaard, Miguel Rojas and Shelby Miller.
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