Along with Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox serving as the Cactus League opener for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was also Dave Roberts’ debut as manager.
The rookie skipper was hired to take the reins of a team that’s expected to win a fourth consecutive National League West division title — at minimum. Los Angeles enjoyed plenty of regular-season success under former manager Don Mattingly, but never advanced beyond the NL Championship Series during their trips to the playoffs.
In steps Roberts with much of last season’s roster intact, sans a significant piece in Zack Greinke. That loss now looms much larger than it previously did, as Brett Anderson is expected to miss three to five months after undergoing arthroscopic back surgery.
But, for just under three hours on Thursday, Roberts was able to escape the thought and pressure of rounding out a rotation that’s to be without Anderson, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu come Opening Day.
The Dodgers made it relatively easy for their manager, riding two scoreless innings from Clayton Kershaw and timely hitting to a win over the White Sox. Although the game was the first as manager for Roberts, he didn’t pause to relish the moment, via ESPN’s Doug Padilla:
“I probably should have taken it in a little more, but I realize I have a job to do,” Roberts said, almost apologetically. “I’m just really hyper-focused on doing my job. But I probably should have taken a little time to enjoy the moment.”
While there are several opportunities in the coming weeks for Roberts to take a minute to soak in his surroundings, that may not come until April 4. The Dodgers open the 2016 season against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, where Roberts called home since 2010.
He first joined the Padres front office, then moved down to the field as the club’s first base coach. Roberts then spent 2014 and 2015 as Bud Black’s bench coach. Roberts will manage at Dodger Stadium on March 31 and April 1 in the first two games of the exhibition Freeway Series.
However, his first regular-season game at Chavez Ravine won’t come until April 12, after the Dodgers have already played seven contest on the road.
