Editorials

World Champion Dodgers: A Dave Roberts Redemption Story

Eight straight playoff berths for the Dodgers. The last five featuring Dave Roberts at the helm. 32 years since hoisting the commissioner’s trophy as world champions. The club has been close to the promised land truly once over the last 32 years… a year where the Houston Astros robbed baseball of a fair fight. Where they robbed players of their legacies.

Over these past five seasons, Doc Roberts has worn the brunt of criticisms for the Los Angeles ballclub. From fans. From media. And it’s often been deserved. But he’s also been let down by his team. Often. Guys that have been there or guys that are close failing regularly and spectacularly in October.



In 2020, armed with the best team in the game, that narrative is no more. Dave Roberts has piloted his team to the top. To 13 wins over the traditional 11 thanks to an awkward shortened season necessitated by a pandemic.

After LA’s game 5 win, he was asked if he missed hearing the boo’s from real-life fans in 2020. But after game 6, the boo’s are no more.

David Ray Roberts is a world champion manager. Only the third manager in the long and storied history of the Dodgers to hold such a distinction.

Walter Alston
Tom Lasorda
Dave Roberts

Doc, you joined elite company… and you earned it.

Roberts navigated through tough calls and decisions all postseason long. At times, he reverted back to his old ways. He brought in those guys that have got us there before. He turned to guys that are close. But this time he adjusted to the game and to the moment. Clayton Kershaw didn’t pitch in relief or on short rest. Doc stayed the course when he could have gone to Walker Buehler on short rest in game 6. Kenley Jansen didn’t close every ballgame because he’s just not that guy anymore.

Dave silenced the haters of postseason’s past and brought Los Angeles the ring it wanted the most.

Thank you, Dave. Thank you.

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

14 Comments

  1. Love the Dodgers! Have my entire life! Congrats on the long awaited win!!

    The only thing that will make this better, fire Dave Roberts!

    Play long enough and eventually you’ll win. When every person in the world knew your pitching changes and selections were dumb and it began to seem like you were trying to give away the trophy, it made it hard to not want to see him yanked from his position. There should be at least one more of the commissioners trophies on display since 2017….but noooo. You had to keep trying to boost the morale of those who use to be reliable and sacrifice the win to do that – your job is to motivate, sure – but it is also to win games! Couch potatoes like us shouldn’t be the only ones learning from your bad calls. Sure, the Astros cheated, but we have and had the talent to still win even though that was happening…but throw in horrible team management and a guy who can’t figure out when to pull someone or when to leave them alone because they’re stellar after two blown years, then get rid of him. The talent on the Dodgers has been unrivaled over the past few years, but so has the stupidity of the management of the team. Game 4 sums it all up.

    …even a blind squirrel finds a nut ever now and then.

    #Scoscia4Manager….or anyone else. Just. Not. Roberts.

  2. Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The entire team has worked very hard throughout difficult conditions and circumstances to earn their first World Series Championship since 1988. Great job by everyone and a special congratulations to Corey Seager on his 2 MVP awards.

  3. NO Redemption here .. even a blind squirrel can find a nut…. he still is the worst

    1. Sour Grapes, Kenneth Kamoss. No time for that. One can argue or agree forever BUT I will say,,,,a blind squirrel will not learn from its mistakes like a human being can and Dave is a very human being. Ask his players. Seems they love him, warts and all.
      But hey, maybe you know better!

  4. I have been defending Dave Roberts for years on this web site. Great things, as we should know, don’t come over night, or sometimes, even years. When I cut myself, and my blood bleeds blue, I know, I am a true Dodger Fan, as I have been since starting to go to games in 1965, season tickets since 1967, and my 90 year old Mom still has them. Live in Giants territory now, and Kenneth, I know you would look just fine in Orange and Black. You would make a perfect Giant fan. Rude, Rude, and did I say RUDE?!?

  5. Ok, Quint Roberts, I mean Dave Roberts won it. He is a champ. Those who doubted and criticized him, including me, should tip our hats to Dave Roberts, respect is well deserved. However, I do have to point out one fact: during trophy presentation on Fox TV broadcast worldwide, Roberts shouts out to Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, JT and then Ross Stripling??? Are you kidding me??? No mention of names like Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Cody Bellinger, Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, Joc Pederson, Walker Buehler. Just when you think Dave Roberts had made all the right moves, he did the unthinkable again.

    1. In moments like this, I bet most do not even remember what they say. Mentioning Ross came from a great man. Is Dave suppose to shout out everyone?? I bet none of those not mentioned took anything personal. The heat of the moment. Why doesn’t everyone just enjoy the incredible moment??

  6. Hey, we won. I’ll take it. Looks like Cash pulled a “Roberts” in hooking Snell. Roberts did have the balls to keep Mr Cool Julio in.

  7. Dear Mr. Hughes, I venture to guess he mentioned CK cuz of past, JT cuz he couldn’t be there (pos. covid), KJ cuz of his amazing history and difficult present and Stripling cux team loved him and had to say goodbye. DR is a very “human” being.

    “Feel the Love”

  8. Hey Dave Roberts has had the best winning percentage this season in the last hundred years, he has won more games in a five year period then any Dodger manager, he has been driving a consistent ship and now he has won the BIG ONE the WS ! So what’s up next? I would say how we come out of the free agency this off season and what improvements Andrew makes to the team. Because as a fan I expect Roberts and the Dodgers to win again, like next year! I Think Dave Roberts has earned more time as the the Dodgers Manager! I expect him to win too!

    Go Dodgers!

  9. Roberts is either “manipulated” by Friedman and his use of “data” to drive everything or he had no ability to manage pitchers. Without his blundering, the Dodgers would have bee at least 48 and 12! Best change this year—pitchers must see at least 3 batters!!! Keeps game moving and requires pitchers to be more flexible. Great ones don’t only focus on right or left handed batters.
    Great job, team! Dodger fan since ‘55.

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