The Dodgers had a very full off-season. They added some bats, some relief arms and bolstered the starting rotation. Clayton McCullough left to be the manager of the Marlins. Chris Woodward replaced him in the first base coaching box. The one issue they did not address was the expiring contract of manager Dave Roberts. Over his 9 seasons as the Dodger manager, his teams have won 851 games and lost 506. A winning percentage of .627. The best in baseball and by far the best in Dodger history. He has taken the team to 9 consecutive appearances in the playoffs. He has two World Series titles, the same number as Lasorda, four World Series appearances, the same as Lasorda. His post season record is 56-44.
He was named manager of the year in 2016. But to tell the truth, he probably did his absolute best managing job last season. With all of the injuries the Dodgers had to navigate in the 24 season, Roberts was more than up for the task. He did not make many bad decisions once it came down to the crucial part of the season. His bullpen bailed him out more than once. So, why hasn’t a new contract been offered to the skipper? We can only guess. AF has said that signing Roberts to an extension is a priority. So far, it doesn’t seem like there is any rush at all to reach an agreement.
It seems that the delay in getting a deal done has not affected Roberts in anyway, at least publicly. We do not know what he is really thinking. But some have suggested that the Dodger brass will offer him the largest contract for a manager ever. Is that possible? I would have to believe so. He has done whatever the brass has asked of him. And despite what we fans might think, Roberts, like any manager, can only put players in a position to succeed. Doing so on the field is on the player.
Personally, I have seen Dave make some questionable moves in the post season. I think we all have. But in 2020 and last season, he made the right ones. I don’t think 2017 is on him either. Nor can you blame the injuries in 21-22 and 23 that weakened the team going into the playoffs. Muncy in 21. Kersh in 22, along with Buehler and some others. The entire starting staff in 24. But for my money, he deserves to be extended. Just how long is up to the front office brass.
Spring Training Notes
Blake Snell started today’s game against the Mariners. He went one scoreless inning allowing 1 hit, striking out 1. He made 30 pitches. The Dodgers managed to score a run in the first on a couple of misplays by the Mariners. But in the top of the second, a throwing error by pitcher Carson Hobbs, opened the door for the Mariners to score 4 runs. None of the runs were earned. Casparius finished the inning, then gave up the fifth run in the third on a homer by Mitch Garver. The Dodgers continued their futility at the plate striking out 13 more strikeouts. That is 71 Ks in 6 games. Conforto, Kim and Ward all struck out twice. Kim is now hitting .111 in spring. LA fell to 1-5 in spring training with the 11-5 loss. Kody Hoese hit a 2-run double in the bottom of the 9th.
On the upside, Barnes and Rojas both had hits, raising their averages to .571 this spring. Outman was 1-3. Justin Wrobleski pitched two scoreless inning. Joe Jacques, Jose Rodriguez, and Robinson Ortiz also pitched scoreless frames. Julian Fernandez, 5 earned on one hit, and 3 walks, continued his bid to be released with his ERA ballooning to 45.25. Kopp allowed 1 run on no hits and 2 walks in the same frame as Fernandez. LA faces the Brewers next in Maryville at 12.10 PST. Yamamoto makes his second start of the spring. Dodger Nation reported today that a third Dodger pitcher will not be ready for the start of the season, Michael Grove is about a month behind in his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered last year. Dodgers have 13 games left before they play their season opener in Japan.
Yes.
Small note Michael, no apostrophe needed in your article’s headline. Unless you add the word “contract” after Robert’s.
I’d expect Dave Roberts to sign the largest managerial contract in baseball history in March (either before Tokyo, or by the home opener).
Now I am confused; is his name Dave Robert or Dave Roberts? Punctuation is our friend
Sasaki got taken deep by Kyle Teel, the White Sox top position prospect, on his second pitch of the simulated game. Teel came to the Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade with Boston. He is the #32 prospect in MLB. Sasaki settled down some after that, then left in his third inning after walking two batters. Per Newsweek.
I know I make my share of grammar/spelling/unclear sentences…I actually appreciate it if anyone notices it and calls me out. Often times I will come back after it is published and say to myself…”Did I actually write it that way?” But I fix it; say thank you; move on. I do not have an editor, and I am not Bear’s editor. In fact, I have told him I will never make any edit changes to his posts. Sentence structure, spelling, and grammar errors on Dodger Nation and True Blue LA are abundant, and I would never say anything. It is the context of the post that I would comment on.
I remember one day I spelled Andrew Friedman’s name Andrew Freidman. Simple transposition of the e and i. I was called on it by…make a guess. I fixed it. But it did not take away from the message that was being relayed by the post. The same with Bear’s. Everybody knew who Bear was writing about. For me, I would not care that Bluto pointed out the grammar error, but at the same time, I have to ask; “That was your take away from his post”? Why not at least make a concerted effort to comment on the subject matter as well.
Regardless, the responses were very good.
I’m guessing it’s the years and not the $$ that is the holdup.
Scherzer went off about the challenge system yesterday after two of his pitches were ruled balls instead of strikes. Seems Scherzer would rather keep the human element in the game.
Postcard day yesterday at Camelback ranch. Outman had a solid line drive base hit. But not much offense to speak of. The front line pitchers looked fine. Hernandez and kopp not so much. I really don’t know how 2 pitchers issue 5 walks in1 inning ? With a reduced time in AZ, I find it amazing that we waste innings with these pitchers and Rosario Good article on CT3. He’s dead weight
I think all of the early conversation about Scott assuming the “closer” role is interesting.
I thought the closer role was vanishing for the Dodgers and some other teams. The Dodgers had great success the 2nd half last year and especially the playoffs by employing a match-up strategy. Through excellent scouting, Doc looked brilliant bringing in the right reliever to matchup with that portion of the opponent’s lineup. The inning didn’t matter.
I loved that strategy and see it being successful during the season with some modifications and concessions to injuries. This strategy, along with a 6 man rotation and perhaps some piggy-back starters, is an exciting change that I like.
No more 7th inning guy, 8th inning guy and closer.
With all the data and advanced scouting this seems to me to be the best way to use the bullpen.
I really like David Bote. I get a strong David Freese vibe with him. They have to make a spot for him, right?
Nestor Cortes take on the WS
We had done enough to win that game,” Cortes said. “They can talk whatever they want to talk, but we win Game 1 — which we should have — we lost 2 and 3, we win Game 4 and we should have won Game 5. Then we go back to LA up 3 to 2.
“So people can say it slipped away from us, people can say we made a lot of mistakes, which we did. But at the end of the day, we were the better team. I see it that way, and I’m sure everybody in that clubhouse sees it that way. The reality (could have been) going back to LA leading 3-2. It didn’t happen that way and they deserve all the credit in the world, they won the World Series. At the moment, they showed they were the better team.”