GLENDALE, AZ – On the heels of his eye-popping World Series prediction on a recent radio appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was given a three-year contract extension to stay in Los Angeles through the 2025 season.
“We’re winning the World Series in 2022,” Roberts said confidently. “We’re winning the World Series this year, put it on record.”
It was a bold prediction even catching Patrick by surprise. It was reminiscent of what former Lakers head coach Pat Riley declared during the team’s championship parade in 1987.
“I’m guaranteeing everybody here, next year we’re gonna win it again,” Riley predicted much to the shock and surprise of the players.
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However, the Lakers lived up to Riley’s promise of another championship to the city of Los Angeles as they took home another title in 1988. The question is can the Dodgers make Roberts look like a prophet like the Lakers did for Riley 34 years ago.
The Dodgers are going to be heavy favorites yet again to win the World Series after the free agent signing of former NL MVP Freddie Freeman to give them a loaded star-studded lineup, especially with the universal DH now in effect.
Even with some the losses to their starting rotation (Max Scherzer) and key flamethrowers (Corey Knebel, Joe Kelly, Kenley Jansen) in their bullpen, the Dodgers still have depth and quality when it comes to their relievers.
The issue with Roberts making such a bold prediction is the volatility of baseball. The Dodgers won 106 games last year, but amidst injuries and fatigue they were unable to reach the World Series and lost to Freeman and his former team the Atlanta Braves who only won 88 games during the regular season.
Pitchers wear down, hitters can get cold, and top players can get injured which is what happened to the Dodgers throughout the season and then again during the playoffs.
So while Doc is excited about this upcoming season (and his new contract), he also understands the 162-game season is a grind. There will be highs and lows, the offense will occasionally get cold even with Freeman in the lineup, and there could be question marks on the back end of the rotation and closing out games.
Not to mention the playoff format will now feature 12 teams with six coming from both the NL and AL making the road to get back to the World Series a little longer and tougher.
However, if the Dodgers are healthy and playing to their potential when it matters most, they should be one of the last teams standing.
Roberts is clearly confident in this year’s squad and believes they can win it all with their stacked team which is why he made that bold claim. It’s up to the Dodgers players to embrace that pressure and spotlight and deliver on Roberts’ promise to bring another championship to L.A., the city of champions.
