Dave Roberts is basically the only person in baseball history who could win 100 games a year and still have half a city calling for his job by Tuesday. It’s a wild reality. For the longest time, the conversation around Dave Roberts and the World Series felt like a broken record of "what ifs" and "why did he pull the starter?" But look at the resume now. As we roll into 2026, the guy isn't just a manager with a high winning percentage; he's a four-time champion with a legitimate claim to being the most successful leader of his era.
People forget how it started.
Before he was the guy in the Dodgers dugout with the expensive hoodie, he was just a pinch runner in Boston. Honestly, that one moment in 2004 probably changed the course of MLB history more than any single home run ever could.
The Steal That Started the Dave Roberts World Series Legacy
If you weren't watching in 2004, it’s hard to explain the hopelessness. The Red Sox were down 3-0 to the Yankees. It was the bottom of the ninth in Game 4. Mariano Rivera—the greatest closer to ever breathe—was on the mound. Kevin Millar walked.
Enter Dave Roberts.
Everyone in the stadium knew he was going to steal. Rivera threw over to first three times. Roberts didn't care. He took off anyway and slid under Derek Jeter's tag by a fraction of a second. Bill Mueller singled him home, the Sox won in extras, and they didn't lose another game that year. That was Roberts’ first ring. He didn't even get an at-bat in that World Series against the Cardinals, but without "The Steal," that trophy doesn't exist.
Fast forward a decade.
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He takes the Dodgers job in 2016. Suddenly, the pressure shifted. It wasn't about being the hero on the basepaths anymore; it was about managing a $300 million payroll and a fan base that views anything less than a parade as a total failure.
Managing Through the "Dodger Blues"
The years between 2017 and 2019 were brutal for Roberts. You've got the 2017 loss to Houston—which we now know involved some pretty questionable "banging" from the other side—and then the 2018 defeat to a juggernaut Red Sox team.
Critics were loud.
They hated his reliance on analytics. They hated how early he pulled Rich Hill in 2018. They blamed him for the bullpen implosions. It’s sort of the curse of being the Dodgers manager; when the team wins, the front office gets the credit for building a super-team. When they lose? It’s Dave’s fault. Every single time.
But 2020 changed things.
The "Bubble" World Series against Tampa Bay was the first time Roberts really got the monkey off his back. Pulling Blake Snell was the narrative for the Rays, but for the Dodgers, it was Roberts finally pushing the right buttons with Julio Urías to close it out. That was title number two.
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Breaking the Back-to-Back Barrier
The real shocker for the rest of the league happened recently. Winning the 2024 World Series against the Yankees was a massive statement, especially with the Shohei Ohtani era in full swing. But then, Roberts did the unthinkable: he went back-to-back.
The 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays was a masterclass. Honestly, that Game 7 was one of the wildest things I've seen. Roberts described himself as "saying his prayers" in the dugout during the late innings. The Dodgers won 4-3, making Roberts one of only 11 managers to ever win three titles.
Think about that list.
- Joe McCarthy
- Casey Stengel
- Connie Mack
- Joe Torre
- Dave Roberts
He's in the room now. He isn't just a "front office puppet" or a "player's manager" who gets lucky. He’s a tactician who has navigated more injuries and more scrutiny than almost anyone in the modern game.
What People Get Wrong About the Dave Roberts Strategy
The biggest misconception is that Dave Roberts is just a "yes man" for Andrew Friedman. While the Dodgers are definitely an analytics-heavy organization, the 2024 and 2025 runs showed a lot more "feel" than people give him credit for.
He’s become much more fluid.
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In the 2025 NLCS against the Brewers, he was pulling guys and shifting the lineup based on gut feelings that didn't always align with the pre-game spreadsheet. He’s managed a clubhouse filled with massive egos—Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani—and kept the vibes immaculate. That counts for more than a spreadsheet ever will.
The stats through the end of 2025 are actually staggering:
- A .621 career winning percentage (the highest in AL/NL history).
- 10 straight postseason appearances to start a career (a record).
- Three World Series titles as a manager (2020, 2024, 2025).
- One World Series title as a player (2004).
The Hall of Fame Case is Basically Closed
If you win three World Series as a manager, you're almost guaranteed a spot in Cooperstown. Out of the other ten guys with three rings, nine are already in the Hall of Fame. Bruce Bochy is the only one who isn't, and he's a lock the second he’s eligible.
Roberts is now at 944 wins. At his current pace, he'll hit 1,000 wins early in the 2026 season. That’s a milestone that usually cements the legacy. Plus, he just signed a massive four-year extension worth over $30 million. The Dodgers aren't looking for a replacement; they're looking to build a statue.
Critics will still talk about the payroll. They’ll say he "bought" his championships. Roberts’ response is usually pretty simple: ownership puts the money into the players, and it’s his job to make sure those players actually perform when the lights are brightest. Plenty of teams spend money and finish in third place. Dave Roberts doesn't.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the Dodgers this year, keep an eye on these specific Roberts-isms:
- The Bullpen Bridge: Watch how he uses high-leverage arms in the 6th and 7th innings rather than saving them for the 9th.
- Aggressive Baserunning: He still coaches with the mindset of the guy who stole that base in '04. He’ll take risks on the dirt that other managers won't.
- The "Opener" Evolution: Roberts is the king of the bullpen game. With the 2026 rotation already dealing with some early-season soreness, expect him to lean on his "pitching by committee" approach that worked so well in the last two World Series.
At this point, betting against Dave Roberts in October is just bad business. He’s seen it all, he’s won it all, and he’s finally getting the respect that a four-time champion deserves.
To see how the 2026 Dodgers roster is shaping up under Roberts, check the latest Spring Training depth charts for updates on the pitching rotation.