PREDICTABLY, THE MORONS BLAME ROBERTS
Some Dodger fans don't want a manager. They want a magician who wins 162 games, sweeps every postseason series, and never makes a decision they can criticize in hindsight. And even then, they'd complain that he didn't win by enough!
Let me see if I have this straight.
In 2017, Dave Roberts managed the Dodgers to the World Series, where the Astros needed an elaborate cheating operation to beat them.
In 2020, Roberts won the World Series.
In 2024, Roberts won another World Series.
In 2025, Roberts won ANOTHER World Series.
That's three World Championships, four World Series appearances, and a franchise that has become the envy of baseball.
But if the Dodgers lose in 2026, will Dave Roberts suddenly be an incompetent idiot who couldn't manage a Little League team?
Apparently, when the Dodgers win, it's because of the players, the payroll, and Andrew Friedman. But when they lose, it's because Doc didn't pinch-hit, pulled a pitcher too soon, left another pitcher in too long, or failed to consult the managerial geniuses sitting on their couches with a beer in one hand and a remote in the other.
Of course, these same geniuses have a perfect record managing Major League Baseball games. Zero wins, zero losses, and absolutely zero accountability.
Dave Roberts isn't perfect. No manager is. But three rings in six seasons ought to buy a guy something more than a one-game expiration date on his intelligence.
Some Dodger fans don't want a manager. They want a magician who wins 162 games, sweeps every postseason series, and never makes a decision they can criticize in hindsight.
And even then, they'd complain that he didn't win by enough!
And here's the funniest part: Every time Roberts makes a decision that works, it is obvious. Any idiot could have made that move. But when it doesn't work, suddenly it's proof that he's the dumbest manager in baseball.
If he leaves a starter in and the guy gives up a home run, Doc waited too long. If he takes him out and the reliever gives up a home run, Doc pulled him too soon. If he uses the closer, he should have gone with the setup man. If he uses the setup man, why didn't he use the closer?
It's a fascinating system. Dave Roberts can be wrong no matter what he does, and the fans can be right no matter what happens.
And apparently, Roberts is supposed to personally guarantee that a $300 million roster never strikes out with runners in scoring position, never commits an error, never walks a batter, and never goes into a slump.
Maybe Doc should grab a bat and hit with runners in scoring position. Perhaps he should warm up in the bullpen, throw 100 mph, and then sprint to center field to make a diving catch.
And when Shohei Ohtani strikes out, Freddie Freeman pops up, or Mookie Betts hits into a double play, clearly Roberts should have called the dugout and instructed them to get a hit. What kind of manager forgets to tell his players that?
Here's another inconvenient little detail: The managers sitting in opposing dugouts are paid millions of dollars to win, too. And their players are also professional baseball players. Sometimes they actually outperform the Dodgers. I know, it's a shocking concept.
The Dodgers have reached a point where anything short of a World Championship is considered a catastrophic failure. That's not evidence of bad management. That's evidence of how ridiculously successful this organization has become under Roberts.
Now, I'm not suggesting Doc is beyond criticism. I've criticized him myself, and I'll do it again. But there's a difference between questioning a decision and pretending a manager with three World Series championships somehow forgot how to manage baseball overnight.
The truly remarkable thing about some Dodger fans is that they demand perfection from Dave Roberts while demonstrating absolutely none in their own analysis.
They have the luxury of making every decision after they've seen the outcome. That makes managing pretty easy, doesn't it?
Here's my suggestion: Fire Roberts. Hire one of the brilliant keyboard managers who can predict every pitching change, every pinch-hit opportunity, every stolen base, and every bullpen meltdown with 100% accuracy, provided they're allowed to make those predictions AFTER the game.
I'm sure Andrew Friedman would jump at the opportunity.
And if the Dodgers win the World Series again, don't worry. These same fans will still find three games Dave Roberts almost lost.
Because in Dodgerland, winning three World Series is apparently a coincidence.
But losing one playoff game? THAT'S ALL ON DOC!
BTW, THIS TEAM IS NOT OLD AND PATHETIC. DAVE ROBERTS IS JUST AN IDIOT. There... are you happy?
Milwaukee is better this year. Deal with it. I'm out!
Discussion (156)
Disagree, not disagreeable
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Another game, and our power hitting 3rd baseman is on the bench bc he can't hit lefties. Total nonsense.
Swing for the fences first pitch, every pitch!
8:00 PM ET FOX SPORTS
Brewers (103-59) (3-0) Dodgers (100-62) (0-3)
SP Shane Drohan L (bullpen game) 7-5 4.19 ERA SP Tyler Glasnow R 5-2 3.53 ERA
Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L SS Mookie Betts R 1B F. Freeman L C Will Smith R RF Kyle Tucker L LF T. Hernandez R 2B Miguel Rojas R CF Andy Pages R 3B E. Hernandez R
88° Wind 8 mph In LINE LAD -157
Doc ain’t stupid Doc ain’t a genius. Doc has been terrific 98% of the time. Doc makes mistakes, he’s human. Doc hasn’t had an at bat in years. Doc never pitched in the majors. Doc isn’t to blame for this terrible offense Doc is ok in my book. Bottom line. We have 75% of the lineup that can’t hit water if they fell off the boat. It ain’t over yet, they’re feeding the somewhat hefty lady lots of cake! She might be fat after tonight. Let’s hope not!
I apologize for my earlier comment, Mark. I was still pissed off this morning.
Before the Phillies signed Mattingly for two more years, they reached out to two Dodger employees to see if they might take the job. Chase Utley turned it down pretty fast; Raul Ibanez took a couple of days before he declined.
I want to give respect to all the optimists out there who are still holding out hope until the last out. This series is over, and whether it ends in 4 games or 5 games doesnt matter. I knew the series was over after the Dodgers lost game 2. I don't know how this turned into another Dave Roberts thing here, but it is not Roberts' fault the Dodgers lost. Dave Roberts is a great manager. One of the best the Dodgers have ever had. He's not the greatest tactician in the game but he's great at managing personalities. He's stern, hard nosed at the same time positive. He gives all of his players a chance yet never runs them into the ground. Any issues that pop up, he handles them behind closed doors and never in front of the media. Without Roberts, the Dodgers do not win 5 NL Pennants and 3 World Championships. That being said, it doesn't mean he never makes mistakes. Game 3 was managed very poorly.
I don't like wasting hitters. So letting JDP get annnounced and then pulling him back wasted him. I would have liked to see him get an AB later in the game, and isn't that what he's on the roster for? Late inning pinch-hitting? Snell should have been hooked immediately after the Bauers home run. But not for Phillips or Sasaki. Sorry to say, and I know he is young, but he's been a total bust as a Dodger. He's pitched well maybe for one month total. I would have him start 2027 in OKC while he works on his command and mechanics. Why was Bubic on the roster as well? In that situation with the team's season slipping away, you have to bring in the top relievers. That's Scott, Diaz, or Vesia. Bringing in the worst relievers (Sasaki and Bubic) was like waiving the white flag to me.
Milwaukee obviously studies the Dodgers starters. Last year Snell pitched 8 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and Yamamoto tossed a complete game. Total opposite from this year. The Brewers were just the better club in all aspects of the game. Their two-strike approaches are insanely good. The Dodgers tend to get too passive during at-bats, and take too many pitches. Sometimes you have to be aggressive. Years ago, I was invited to the SNLA studio to watch a Dodgers game with Orel Hershiser, Nomar Garciappara and John Hartung along with severl other bloggers/writers. One of the topics that came up was analytics and swinging early in counts. Nomar (who was a notorious first ptich swinger during his career) told me that often, the best pitch you will get is the first pitch of the at-bat. How many times have we seen Dodger hitters take first pitch strikes right down the middle that look very hittable. Fundamentals sometimes are just as good as heatmaps and analytics. Make contact, protect the plate with two-strikes and make the pitcher work. Milwaukee is very good at that. It's just super hard to win 3 in a row. Milwaukee won 103 games for a reason. simply put, they were the best team in MLB and look like it in this series.
Some interesting takes here. No, not "takes" just to get people to click and react, but I thought these were decent points.
I don't know if it's luck, or maybe the scouting, defensive positioning and execution by the Brewers is so perfect that this is the result, but I thought these numbers were eye opening.
And Doc is not at risk of losing his job, and I think the consensus is that he's gotten better at in game managing, but I tend to agree these were some pretty big blunders. Yes, players have to execute, but winning in the playoffs is a confluence of all things working nearly perfectly. Roberts was far from perfect last night.
The box scores will tell the story of the ass whipping the Dodgers have taken the 3 losses to the Brewers. * Team batting average - Brewers .281 vs Dodgers .165 * RISP - Brewers .333 vs Dodgers .125 * Homers - Brewers 5 vs Dodgers 0 * Stolen bases - Brewers 3 vs Dodgers 0 * Runs - Brewers 15 vs Dodgers 7 When a team built around pitching and slug give up 5 runs per game and hit zero homers, they don’t win. And that's not on Doc.
You all (most) are nuts.
He (we Doc) got the matchup he wanted. Kiktober vs a Lefty. A hit there and we win the game....
Dont Let us win tonight!!!
DO NOT LET US WIN TONIGHT......
Being down 0-3 facing elimimation Dodgers now have nothing left to lose. Just go out and have fun playing baseball.
Nothing left to lose. Alan Parsons Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LMJyK0lj1U
I turned it off after the Bauers home run. I don't know what was going on with the pitch sequencing on that at bat. For one, Snell was just throwing a steady diet of his secondaries with few of the four seamers that had been dominating earlier. I knew he was starting to run out of gas when he threw that non competitive curve for ball four in the previous at bat. As soon as he threw it, I was yelling, "get the bullpen up! He needs to be pulled." So, maybe it was fatigue that got him away from the diet of fastballs; maybe they were mixing up the sequencing for the third time through the order. I don't know, but it wasn't the same formula that was dominating earlier.
With Bauers he was trying to nibble with curves and changeups. I figured he was setting him up for a four seamer high, and yeah, Bauers was late on that 98 MPH four seamer that would have been ball four he fouled off. The Brewers were having a hard time laying off that pitch all night, and Snell was just dominating.
After that scary foul ball that Bauers turned on, I was yelling at the TV, "Four seamer high! Four seamer high!" He had already gotten Bauers to bite on the high four seamer three pitches before. It would've been a risk, because if he lays off and it winds up being ball four, you now have guys on 1rst and 2nd, but I would've taken the chance there.
I don't even know what Snell threw there, but it wasn't a 98 MPH four seamer, didn't move much, and was right in the pull zone. And that was that. Season's likely over. I will give Bauers credit for a great at bat.
I don't know the status of the bullpen at that moment, whether Roberts had a guy ready, but Snell didn't look right and I think he should've been pulled earlier. Ideally, there should've been a guy warming up between innings. For those of you who wonder why a manager pulls a starting pitcher who is dealing, this is the reason. It's likely why Snell was pulled in the 5th inning by the Rays manager in 2020, or Rich Hill was pulled in that game.
But the loss is not on Roberts.
I can't explain why the Dodgers offense has disappeared or why they can't string hits together, or get an extra base hit, let alone a home run. I tried doing a deep dive on stats, How did they compare in WPA or Clutch, which are even more granular stats than RISP? There's not much to really glean, and especially now that this a playoff series and small sample size.
The only explanation that I can come up with is that Brewers, as an organization, do the foundational things really well, and now probably better than the Dodgers. Gasser was a throw in on the Hader trade a few years ago, and he was mediocre during the first half of the season, but turned it around and became one of the best pitchers in baseball in the second half.
Their player development is great. Their farm system is great. They get the most out of what they have. These are things the Dodgers were, and to a large extent still are, great at. The Brewers, though, operate in a condition of scarcity. They have to do these things well. They are not afraid to trade a Hader or a Corbin Burnes to develop young, hungry players.
The Dodgers don't have a lot of young, hungry players. They have great players, expensive players, and older players.
And I think this series really comes down to scouting, and I don't know to the extent that new powerful tools like AI have given teams an insight into how to pitch to the Dodgers, and how to position their defense, but I think it's a factor, and when I think a really good, young, well managed, and hungry team plays the Dodgers, this preparation is the difference.
I can't explain otherwise why the Dodgers offense has disappeared. It disappeared after the ASB, too, almost like the league had had a large enough sample size to figure something out about the Dodgers. They came back a little in September, almost like they made some adjustments, but the Dodgers are hapless right now.
All the Analysts laud the Brewers great pitching. But somehow can't connect that to the Dodgers inability to hit it. Hmmm. Anyway it's great to see fun baseball. Even if it's not the Dodgers playing it. As for Saint Doc Roberts, it's blasphemy to some people here to impune his decisions ever, period. Genuflect, Kiss his four rings and go to bed, children, lol. I also find it humorous that so many people never thought that this Dodger team could get older and their performance would decline. It was a great run. I believe the current mgt will always find a way to be competitive.
This team just stopped playing good baseball in July. Ohtani got hurt, team stopped hitting, and fielding regressed. After 2 and a half years they just ran out of gas, lost their mojo and became a below average team outside of some outstanding starting pitching. I personally am grateful to the Dodger organization for this incredible 13 year run, especially the last 3 years. What a run! Every October we get to yell and scream and have a chance at a WS title! With the prospects of losing half a season next year, I don’t see the Dodgers making major changes next year.?Half a year plays right into the hands of an older team. We don’t want a lot of our younger players on our major league roster and locked out. Let them continue to develop in the minors and 28 will bring major player changes including perhaps a new owner
How is this on Roberts? They haven't hit as a team since May. They have looked old and uninspired. They need fresh blood. Branch Rickey used to say it was better to trade a player too early than a year too late.
Guys that need to go next year include Kike, Rojas, Teo, Call from the position player group. Freddie is gone after 2027 (whether they play the season or not his contract is up). Maybe Kim, who is gifted defensively and fast but can't hit?
Pitchers who are gone include Treinen and Graterol, but the bullpen has been a problem 2 years in a row so they need to make other changes. Maybe one of my favorites, Phillips, who is a free agent? Or Alex Vesia who is the same? Maybe Tyler Glasnow? How many pitchers do they need who only start 10 games a year?
Once you reach the pinnacle you enjoy the view and climb back down. What goes up must come down. Simple physics. Any blind realist can see that. I don't bash the Dodgers, I root for them like a loyal puppy. The old, pathetic, sleepwalking bunch of losers, have surprise surprise, had a wonderful and successful season. All the nitpickers and critics love the Dodgers as much as I do. It's just human nature to do what they do, and I'm good with it. I'm thinking 4 in a row until that crushing final out. So much for being a realist. In the immortal words of Vin Scully....'It's time for Dodger Baseball! ' Book em
I love it. Sooo predictable. Dave Roberts makes some obviously dubious moves that backfire--and Mark insists that it's not Doc's fault that he... ...had Max Muncy pinch hit for ANDY PAGES, and not Miguel Rojas... ... then announce JDP as a pinch hitter, prompting the Brewers to insert a lefty... --then replace the JDP with Kike, thus burning JDP (without seeing a single pitch)... And this all happened in the 6th inning, with plenty of baseball to play. No Pages and no JDP in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th inning. Tell us, Mark and Jeff. The Brewers have outplayed the Dodgers, right? Has Doc been out-managed as well? Or is your argument just that managers really don't matter, because they aren't swinging the bats, throwing the pitches, making the plays in the field. Yeah, that must be it. Managers don't matter and strategy doesn't matter. Only players matter.
So i read we have to get younger. Well where will these younger guys play?. The core of hitters will ALL be back next year. Maybe in left field or 2nd base. THATs it!
I'll give you a hint at what I think will happen: 1. Doc will absolutely be back 2. Bates and Von Socyoc will be back, but will alter their approach because MLB has evolved in its approach to the Dodgers. 3. Rojas, Kike, Treinen, Graterol, and Call will be gone. They will shop Edman and Teoscar... and find takers. 4. Several other players will be shopped, like Sheehan, Miller, et al. 5. Some prospects will be traded. 6. Shohei will be a one-way player next year. 7. This team will look vastly different next year. The evolution has begun. 8. Root for them today, but be prepared for the end. It is near!
The Dodgers have serious problems… fortunately, they have solutions.
In the 2018 World Series, the Dodgers were totally overmatched by the Red Sox. The Sox hit just .228 for the series, but LA's bats were held to a .180 BA. LA slugged 6 homers and the Sox 8. 3 of those came off of the bat of Steve Pearce who also drove in 8 runs to become the series MVP. The only win for LA came in an epic 18 inning game 3, much like last year's game 3 at Dodger Stadium. That game was won on a Muncy homer. LA had won a hard fought 7 game LCS against the Brewers and the MVP of that series, Cody Bellinger, won the award even though he hit just .200 and was nowhere near the best hitter for LA. The Dodgers have been outplayed in every facet of the game pure and simple. Milwaukee has a great gameplan and has executed it. This is not on Doc; this is on a team that has not played up to the backs of their baseball cards. It is also an aging team being outplayed by a very hungry young bunch of Brewers. Anything can happen, Doc's Red Sox team that came back from down 3-0 to the Yankees is evidence of that. But they have to play flawless baseball, something I do not think this group is capable of.
Hopefully the Dodgers get a break, lose tonight, and don't have to travel to Milwaukee. After a grueling 170 game season, let them get back with their families. They gave us a great ride and we should appreciate all the hard work. As fans we have to concentrate on the prospects, spring training, the draft, signing Skubal, getting younger, eating a small portion of crow over Tucker and saying goodbye to Miggy. As Crash Davis said, "We are dealing with a lot of shit here". Let's enjoy the off-season.
Loss is not on Roberts. Yes, I was in favor of not bringing back Snell in the 7th, he had a long wait cause the bottom of the 6th was a long inning. Would have taken him out after the leadoff walk at the latest. But I understand it was a viable option to bring Snell back the way he was dealing. Pitch count was okay too.
Overall the Dodgers are not playing up to their capabilities. From starting pitching to the bullpen to the offense to defense. All four aspects of the game are underpferforming and the Brewers are playing their game plus some slug at an incredible high level.
Just have to accept this is not our year. So be it. I hope the Dodgers will get a bit younger next season. IMHO it is time for Rojas, Kike to ride into their much deserved baseball sunset. Maybe trade Teo. Would try to trade Glasnow and or Snell . Would try to resign Skubal to form a 1-2 punch with Yamamoto.
Don't let us win tonight!
Game 5 with we got Skubs Game 6 Yama comes back Game 7 ANYTHING CAN happen.
DONT LET US WIN TONIGHT
BURN THE SHIPS!
It’s not all Docs fault but this has been his worst managed playoff series in quite some time. If you can’t admit that you are in denial. Now does it matter? Probably not the brewers are better but doc has not been good at his job….and you know what that’s ok he gets a pass from me no one is perfect.
Since 2024 we have won 8 straight playoff series. The ball doesn't always bounce your way. Brewers are the better team in this series. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the better team. They have outplayed us by a wide margin.
Will do it all over again, hopefully next year but with the looming labor negotiations who knows what's in store for 2027. I can see the Dodgers trying to get younger so I am sure there will be a lot of changes.