The availability of Mike Scioscia, Joe Maddon, and others could force the Dodgers to move on from Dave Roberts.
Marv Levy led the Buffalo Bills to four straight Super Bowls only to see his Bills lose all four of those games. Dave Roberts has not led the Dodgers to four consecutive playoff berths (including two World Series appearances) only to lose. Roberts has fallen short of capturing the Dodgers their first World Championship in over 30 years during his past four seasons as their manager. He signed a four-year extension last offseason, but the availability of strong managerial candidates this may force the Dodgers to consider looking beyond Roberts.
The availability of championship-winning managers Joe Maddon, John Farrell, and former Dodgers lifer Mike Scioscia should and probably will be explored by Dodgers brass in the coming days. Roberts has led the Dodgers deep into three postseasons prior to this week’s NLDS series loss. The Dodgers’ front office expected these teams to win and they will not stop until they get their championship.
Only 10 other MLB teams have gone longer without winning a World Series championship than the Dodgers. They currently have the second-longest drought (behind the Mets) in the three major media markets in the U.S. The Miami Marlins were still five years away from existing the last time the Dodgers won, and they have won two championships. I think you get the point and see the pressure the Dodgers’ executive team feels to win the World Series.
Dave Roberts’s decision-making was criticized in last year’s World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox and many will say he was out-managed by Washington’s Dave Martinez numerous times during the NLDS this year. The Dodgers will have high expectations going into 2020 and they will need to determine if change is needed in the manager position very soon.
Maddon has interviewed with the favorite Angels this week and would presumably consider looking into jobs in San Diego and Philadelphia as well. John Farrell was a finalist for the Phillies job last year and should be considered a candidate again now. Joe Girardi has been linked to the Cubs and Mets, among other clubs. Former Dodgers All-Star outfielder Dusty Baker is a veteran manager who has been mentioned with other clubs’ openings in recent weeks. Mike Scioscia has remained quiet in his first season in almost 20 years not managing the Angels, but his ties to the Dodgers cannot be ignored.
Scioscia has always seemed to be the proverbial “one that got away” from the Dodgers when he was hired by the Angels in 1999. He went on to bring them their first World Series title in 2002 and became an iconic Angels manager for two decades. Now. he’s had one year to step back from the everyday grind of managing and it would be interesting to see how he would respond to an offer from the Dodgers. He’s remained close with his old skipper, Tommy Lasorda, through the years, and I would have to think he’d be interested in passing on that Dodgers tradition to the current roster.
One thing is for certain: Dave Roberts will continue to feel the pressure to win a World Series championship with the Dodgers as long as he’s their manager. It doesn’t make it easier on him as nine other clubs are making changes they hope will spark renewed performance from their clubs next year.
