The Los Angeles Dodgers are arguably the best organization in baseball from top to bottom. From the premier front office to the talent of the roster, no other ball club does it better than the Dodgers.
And yet, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was snubbed for the 2024 NL Manager of the Year award. In fact, he wasn’t even close to winning.
In an explosive moment on the sidelines, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts voiced his frustration after being overlooked for the 2024 Manager of the Year Award. Following a tense conversation with NL executives, Roberts didn’t hold back, accusing the league’s decision-makers of bias and unfair treatment.
“I feel cheated,” Roberts told reporters. “Our team has fought tooth and nail all season long, and yet somehow, we’re overlooked for something as significant as Manager of the Year. The officials didn’t take into account the obstacles we overcame—injuries, roster changes, and managing the pressure of being a top contender. That’s what real management is about.”
The heated exchange unfolded after Roberts’ comments sparked a clash with MLB brass, who defended their voting process. However, Roberts remained adamant, arguing that the Dodgers’ remarkable season—marked by resilience and tactical brilliance—deserved recognition.
Despite leading the Dodgers to another strong finish, Roberts’ omission from the award shortlist ignited a fiery debate. Many believe his leadership should have earned him the honor, and now, his open criticism of the league only adds fuel to the fire. The fallout from this exchange is sure to be one of the most talked-about moments of the offseason.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy won the accolade after leading the team to a 93-69 record and the NL Central division title. Roberts finished seventh, securing just three third-place votes.
Though Murphy’s accomplishments in Milwaukee should not be overlooked, Roberts dealt with a slew of injuries throughout the 2024 campaign and still managed to deploy all the right pieces during the regular season and the Dodgers’ World Series run.
Not to mention, Roberts is the winningest manager in the majors with a .667 clip. There is quite literally no better skipper in the big leagues.
Nonetheless, Roberts’ influence and impact on the Dodgers can get lost in the midst of Shohei Ohtani’s 50 homers and 50 stolen bases or Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam.
The Dodgers certainly have an influx of talent, but Roberts is tasked with facilitating said stars. On The Mayor’s Office with Sean Casey, Roberts spoke about the Dodgers being overlooked for Manager of the Year last season.
“I do think that it was the best job of managing I did — and you’ve known me for a long time and it’s not about the individual awards,” Roberts said. “I do think that the Manager of the Year is an organization award — certainly a coaching staff award — and we got overlooked. I guess it’s part of the blessing and a curse when you put this Dodgers uniform on.
“I do think that it was a lazy look at kind of the voting part of it, but it’s not personal to me. I’m still proud of what we did all year to have the best record in all of baseball given what we went through and ultimately hoist that trophy and win that last game of the year — pretty remarkable and something I’ll remember forever.”
The disrespect Roberts has received as the Dodgers’ manager can at times be baffling. However, Roberts’ success is not measured by awards, and he will continue cementing his legacy as the one of best managers in the history of baseball.
Leave a Reply