The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off their second World Series title in five years — and leading them to the top both times was manager Dave Roberts.
Roberts was one of the few constants in the dugout throughout the 2024 season as the team dealt with so many injuries that there were only three starting pitchers in the postseason rotation.
That is just one reason why Dodgers fans don’t understand how MLB Network’s Brian Kenny ranked him the ninth-best manager in Major League Baseball.
Players gave Roberts his flowers after hoisting the trophy saying this one of the best managing jobs they had ever seen. Infielder Miguel Rojas said Roberts is a great manager and perfect for the Dodgers in a conversation with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain.
“That’s why I feel like he was the perfect guy for this group to have, because he knew the group,” Rojas said. “He knows there’s gonna be a difference from like one player or one pitcher or whoever it is, or coaching staff, whatever. He got the whole thing figured out, because it’s him knowing the group and what everybody’s things are. The motivation for everybody was different, so he knew the group and he knew everybody.”
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Looking at the list, it is understandable why Kenny has these 10 names — but the order is confusing.
Dave Martinez of the Washington Nationals is listed at No. 8. His squad finished last season with 71 wins and A.J. Hinch led the Detroit Tigers to the postseason but not the World Series.
The Tigers bounced back with a 31-12 record after Aug. 11, securing their first postseason appearance since 2014. They won their Wild Card series against the Houston Astros but were eliminated by the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
With playoff odds as low as 4 percent on Sept. 6, their remarkable turnaround was driven not just by talent, but by Hinch’s leadership and that does deserve some respect.
But Roberts being at No. 9 — behind many non-postseason managers from a year ago — is just downright disrespectful.
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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