With the second half of the 2024 season under way, the Los Angeles Dodgers once again find themselves in position to upgrade at the trade deadline thanks to their significant lead in the National League West.
The Dodgers are without a few key bats in Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, with the former having a more firm return timeline. Still at the top of the lineup, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández stand pat.
Despite the big names, a huge fall off happens after them, and much of the blame comes from fans in how Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffles the underperforming group of role players. Working with a decimated starting rotation, the team has faced a time when dipping into their Minor League system is a necessary thing to fill innings.
Ohtani was asked about Roberts, mentioning that his manager ensures that there’s constant communication between all of them and a genuine connection. Those qualities in a manager don’t go unnoticed by players, especially with a roster as injured as this, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“As a player, I don’t think it’s really in my place to say much. But I do see Doc is giving a lot of time and effort in making sure he makes the right decisions. So as a player, I just want to make sure I’m fulfilling my duty in being able to perform at the top level.”
Ohtani described Roberts as a manager who approaches each game with a focus, and that he’s a wonderful voice at the top of what the Dodgers are doing.
The two-way star also said that he’s personally benefitted from the conversations he’s had with his skipper, going as far as to say that Roberts ensures that he spends one-on-one time with his players,
Does Dodgers manager Dave Roberts receive unwarranted criticism?
The critique of Roberts and the Dodgers stems from multiple playoff blunders and key moments that have stuck with fans.
Infamous decisions to pull pitchers from games too early, or too late, and even putting in Clayton Kershaw in relief against Juan Soto in the 2019 National League Division Series, are all hot topics. But for all those instances, Roberts being in those positions speaks to where the franchise is at in their sustained success.
Being in the playoffs on a consistent basis opens the door for more moments that allow for error beyond the manager’s control. But a feel for the game has also put Roberts in spots to sometimes make the hindsight wrong call.
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