It was an eventful first week as for Los Angeles Dodgers rookie manager Dave Roberts. He opened the season with a win in his managerial debut, and rode that to a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers outscored the Padres, 25-0, over that stretch, and including a portion of the series opener against the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles set a franchise record with 31 scoreless innings to begin a season.
Along with snapping the Dodgers’ scoreless streak, the Giants handed their rival their first loss of the season. It also marked the start of some interesting hurdles and decisions Roberts faced into the weekend.
From allowing Alex Wood to start the bottom of the sixth to removing Ross Stripling in the midst of a no-hitter during his Major League debut, Roberts said he’s learning from the experiences and not second-guessing himself, according to Doug Padilla of ESPN:
“I think that when things work out, or they don’t, I like to poke holes in decisions I have made or didn’t make; I think that is good for growth,” he said. “But I definitely don’t try to second-guess myself. In the moment, there are reasons why I do what I do. Whether they work out or not, I think the process is followed through, we have to live with it. I know I have to live with it.”
In leaving Wood in to start the bottom of the sixth, Roberts said he was content with the velocity the southpaw was still pitching with. San Francisco went on to score four runs in the inning en route to a victory.
As for removing Stripling, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, Roberts explained the right-hander was on a predetermined pitch count. Stripling, his father, and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman all supported Roberts’ decision.
Even with the Dodgers club blowing leads throughout their series against the Giants, Roberts is content with the club’s current state as they opened a homestand.
