Dodgers Bring Back Dave Roberts To Manage
- Updated: November 25, 2015
After an extensive search for a replacement of former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, the team will give Dave Roberts the helm, in order to guide this teams ship into better waters. Let’s take an in-depth look at Roberts, as to what he brings to the Dodgers.
YOUTH AND COMPATIBILITY:
Dave Roberts is only 43 years old, and his resume as a big-leaguer isn’t to bad. He was a member of the World Series Champions Boston Red Sox in 2004, as Boston needed his experience to get past the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 series. Roberts played 19 games for the Dodgers, before joining the Red Sox.
His ability to get on base and create havoc for opposing pitchers is something that he could give this Dodgers team, especially since the team ranked 26th of the 30 in the majors, in stolen bases. This is one key element to the Dodgers season that has to improve.
From several sources, Roberts is a player’s manager, and he has a great rapport with players, as he was a go-between to manager Bud Black, when he served in the San Diego Padres organization, as their first base coach.
EXPERIENCE:
When the Padres fired manager Bud Black in June, Roberts took over for only one game, in which the Padres lost to the Oakland Athletics 9-1. He will be a good fit for this team, because players want to relate to managers that isn’t too overbearing and out of touch with them.
RELATIONSHIP WITH UPPER MANAGEMENT:
This is Andrew Friedman’s guy, there were several candidates for this managerial position but Roberts now has his chance to prove that he can succeed at this level. Of all the others, Ron Roenicke and Gabe Kapler were strongly considered for the position. Friedman was quoted in the Los Angeles Times article, from November 24th, “We’re going with the best fit and make our manager well-rounded as possible.”
Roberts will have a brand new coaching staff to work with, some of the familiar faces are no longer with the team, Mark McGwire is talking to the Padres about a position as the team’s bench coach, Tim Wallach is going to follow Mattingly to Miami, first base coach Davey Lopes has reportedly signed with the Washington Nationals and third base coach Ron Roenicke has returned to the Angels.
There is plenty of optimism for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, the defending National League Western Champs should still be considered one of the best teams in the National League. With some patience for the new manager and with the up coming roster moves, the team should be able to move further in the direction to play for more that a division title. The move of naming Dave Roberts was a very solid and clever one. Many general managers in the game has mentioned the hire as a great one.
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