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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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.
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.
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 apologize for my earlier comment, Mark. I was still pissed off this morning.
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!
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
Swing for the fences first pitch, every pitch!
Another game, and our power hitting 3rd baseman is on the bench bc he can't hit lefties. Total nonsense.
How are we supposed to win when Mary Hart is a no show!
How did i know we would be put out with a double play! Sit Ohtani! Play DePaula! This is the definition of insanity! Changing batting position does nothing! O still strikes out he is compromised!!! This sucks!
How did i know we would be put out with a double play! Sit Ohtani! Play DePaula! This is the definition of insanity! Changing batting position does nothing! O still strikes out he is compromised!!! This is tough to watch
Sometimes its great to be wrong. Lets Geaux Dodgers!
Darn selfish Ohtani!!!!
And what was Robert’s thinking batting Ohtani leadoff. Another bonehead move!!!!! Care to revise your post New aorleans!
Nice knock by our leadoff hitter. Go with what got you here. Just glad he didn’t pinch hit for Pages again. Glasnow and his Led Zeppelin are rolling.
Gosh, Glasnow and Snell really are a blast to watch when in form.
4 - 0 4 - 2 Here we go again!!!
I’m glad Steiner’s health has improved but I prefer Nelson. Steiner is boring and just bad. He called the first ground rule double a HR.
A walk is a double to the guys at the bottom of this lineup. Throw strikes!
Is it me or does Contreras win every challenge and Smith lose every challenge?
I never thought that the Brewers could do this against our starting pitching. Baserunners put tremendous pressure on our staff and they lost focus. And how many two strike pitches did the Brewers foul off. Impressive
I wonder if Pepiot could have done as well as Glasnow tonight.
Can someone tell me what the score is? And here I was, just about to say that for the first time, a Dodgers pitcher managed to hold onto the lead for an entire inning... but the game isn't over yet—there’s still time... for Milwaukee to score more runs!!
Such a bad AB by Teo in the 7th. First pitch swinging at a ball. Followed by whatever that was by Muncy. What a waste of a nice double.
Total choke!