World Series 2024: Four wins away from his second ring with LA, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has learned to ignore the criticism

LOS ANGELES — Since he took the helm as skipper of the Dodgers in 2016, there has been no manager in baseball who has faced greater scrutiny than Dave Roberts. And he is not aware of it.

He doesn't have X or Instagram, saving him the headache of social media negativity, which in his case included being reprimanded in a tweet by former President Donald Trump for his pitching decisions. Beyond social media, Roberts is aware that his every move will be analyzed and criticized by the masses.

And with one of the highest salaries in the game and a roster that's expected to go to the World Series every year, that scrutiny isn't going anywhere. But on the eve of his fourth trip to the World Series with LA, Roberts is not letting any criticism or doubt get to him.

“I learned that I’m not as sensitive as I used to be,” Roberts told Yahoo Sports. “I have to say, I'm probably a little more jaded than I used to be…not as naive anymore.”

Roberts, who also played in the major leagues for 10 seasons, is no stranger to criticism. He gets it, especially given the team he leads in one of baseball's biggest markets. But not internalizing the noise is a skill he has had to learn over the years.

“The main thing is I didn’t take the criticism and scrutiny personally,” he said. “I think that’s when people start to falter in their decision-making and quality of life. … My great sensitivity is towards my children. Because they’ve had some really mean things said to them, but that’s something I chose to do.”

Roberts' nine-year tenure in Los Angeles was about as successful as you can imagine, even if he didn't receive nearly as much credit as blame. The Dodgers' 851 regular-season wins during his tenure are by far the most in baseball. With Roberts at the helm, the team has reached the postseason every season.

Notably, in MLB postseason history, Roberts has taken to the air. He ranks sixth all-time in playoff wins by a manager. Of the five skippers ahead of him, three are in the Hall of Fame. The other two, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, will be in Cooperstown soon.

But over the years, the narrative of always being a bridesmaid but never the bride in championships has hung over Roberts and the Dodgers. Even after they won the World Series in 2020, the validity of that title was questioned after a COVID-shortened season.

Other common criticisms of Roberts focused on his use of pitchers on short breaks and his management of the bullpen, particularly in the postseason. Earlier this October, some even wondered whether the World Series-winning manager would be in the hot seat in the event of an early exit from the Dodgers.

“It’s not an easy task,” Dodgers infielder Chris Taylor admitted. “I think he’s obviously very personable and a very genuine person. He did a great job with our team. The story of our success speaks for itself.”

Roberts does his best to block it all out. But sometimes doubts creep in. Even though he and his teams were so successful, there are moments that have stayed with him over the years.

“When we lost to the Nationals in 2019, that really hurt,” he said. “I thought we had a really talented team and that we couldn't finish what I thought we should – obviously some of my decisions came under a lot of scrutiny. That was a difficult question. It took me a while to get over it.

“It never feels good to lose. I remember traveling to London right after our loss to the Padres in the 2022 NLDS. I just wanted to get out of the country, but something always brings me back with joy, excitement and anticipation… it's my love for the game and my love for the players.”

The love Roberts has for his players is neither fake nor exaggerated. The Dodgers feel it. If you ask any former or current player who Roberts is and what makes him great, you will not only hear it, but see it on their faces.

The glow. The smile. The emotion. You can see exactly what Robert's presence means.

“Whenever you're around him, he just radiates good vibes,” recalled Alex Verdugo, former Dodgers outfielder and current Yankees outfielder. “He can have a conversation with anyone. I really liked him. I also really liked his family. I didn't have enough time with him as my manager, did I? But it was fun.

“He was obviously a player too. So he gets it. He understands. … I like all of my managers, but you know, you see little things here and there that set people apart a little bit.”

Roberts' personality made him not only a great manager, but also the perfect manager for these Dodgers. With a star-studded roster that includes four MVPs and numerous All-Stars, managing everyone's personalities is an important factor in making things work, and Roberts handles it all with his calm, affable demeanor. Every year there are teams with high salaries and high expectations that miss the postseason; That didn't happen under Roberts' watch.

Even this season, with an entire rotation injured, superstar Mookie Betts missing significant time with a broken hand, and all the normal ups and downs of a season, the Dodgers finished with the best record in baseball.

“Every year is obviously different, and I think this year was great because we had challenges this year that we haven't had in the past and we were able to maintain some fortitude,” Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann said said. “I think Dave did a great job of reading and reacting.”

This offseason, Roberts had arguably his best run yet as a manager. He outmaneuvered Mike Shildt in the NLDS and Carlos Mendoza in the NLCS to get his team to the World Series, and what he's done navigating the team's bullpen and managing an injury-riddled rotation can't be beat be estimated enough. Not to mention how Roberts handled Freddie Freeman's ailing right ankle during the Dodgers' run to the Fall Classic.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit,” substitute Alex Vesia said. “It’s 162 games and there will be 20 more in the postseason. If there's a guy who doesn't come out one night or whatever, people look at that one game and think, “Why didn't he play so-and-so?”

“He tries to protect us and wants us to compete all season long. And there are some managers who don't do that. … He cares about us so much, and I think that needs to be expressed more — that he cares about us so much, you know, and that's what I respect about him.”

With his contract expiring in 2026, Roberts' future is uncertain, despite the Dodgers' past and current successes under his leadership. However, a victory over the Yankees and winning a second World Series championship would likely not only solidify Roberts' future in LA, but also put him on a clear path to Cooperstown.

“I love this job,” Roberts said. “I don’t want to have another job. So I think it's easier when you enjoy doing something. … (But) there aren't many jobs in life where you have to be an individual to be successful. That’s what makes it unique.”

Through the criticism, the stories and everything else Roberts has seen in his nine years as Dodgers manager, he has gained perspective over the years. No matter what happens in the future, he knows he can face it head on.

“You don’t know what you can handle until you go through it,” he said. “And when the president of the United States makes comments on social media, being able to handle criticism like that publicly, basically every day — knowing that I can handle it is something that I'm proud of .”

“I didn’t become cynical. And I think the nature of this job and this position makes you cynical. But I didn’t do it, so I think that’s something I learned about myself.”