Los Angeles Dodgers fans let Dave Roberts feel the heat even after club's skipper hits milestone
On July 5, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts earned his 700th career win as a manager after his team bested the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 6-4.
A former player who spent a decade in the MLB, Roberts has been the manager of the Dodgers since 2016. During that time, he has never managed a losing season, and has amassed an impressive 701-418 record in the Dodgers dugout.
In addition to regular-season success, Dave Roberts also managed the 2020 Dodgers to victory at the World Series. You might think that his strong record would have gained him a great deal of support from his fanbase. However, feelings seem to be more mixed than that.
Dave Roberts won his 700th game a few nights ago.
How will Dave Roberts be remembered as a manager?
"Dave Roberts won his 700th game a few nights ago. How will Dave Roberts be remembered as a manager?" - Dodgers Nation
Despite having won the NL West for eight of the past nine seasons, the Dodgers currently stand 1.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in their division. When asked about Roberts' legacy by a popular Dodgers fan page, the fanbase appeared as though they were not used to losing.
@DodgersNation As the one who wasted so much talent with very little to show for it. For poor pitching decisions in clutch times.
@DodgersNation He managed a world series team, BUT he also blew a few championships.
@DodgersNation If he does not win another World Series...
No manager ever did less with so much talent...
Many of the accusations levied against Roberts accuse the 51-year-old of underwhelming, given the talent that exists on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Many fans also believe that his 2020 World Series victory came with an asterisk on account of the shortened season.
@DodgersNation Right now. As a coach who literally had the best talent many years in MLB abd only 1 WS
@DodgersNation Great in the regular season, bad at game time decisions in the playoffs
@DodgersNation A very good, not great manager who couldn’t win the Big One
For Roberts' entire duration as the manager of the Dodgers, the team has boasted the likes of Clayton Kershaw. A future Hall of Famer, many fans believe that Dave Roberts should have leveraged his star pitcher better to win more championships.
@DodgersNation Similar to Kershaw's pitching, Roberts is one of the best regular season managers ever.
@DodgersNation As losing a lot of Playoffs and World Series.
@DodgersNation As an overachieving manager, who benefitted from the talent he was given, any manager with actual talent would have won multiple WS by now with these past rosters of a 100 plus win seasons.. Instead we got a 60 gamer b.s. WS ring
Roberts and his team will wrap up their four-game series against the Pirates on Thursday night. After that, they will remain at home to welcome the Los Angeles Angels, before heading out on the road to New York to take on the Mets.
Dave Roberts' criticism is the result of a spoiled fanbase
While the Los Angeles Dodgers are underwhelming this season, most MLB teams would figuratively kill to have a manager like Roberts. One World Series victory in seven seasons is not a bad average, especially in the modern MLB.
It remains to be seen what Roberts will do with the 2023 Dodgers. However 700 victories is no small feat, and it speaks to the persistence and directional capabilities of the manager, regardless of what some Dodgers fans might say.