The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame all kinds of depth issues and injuries, particularly on the pitching side of things, to post another 100-win season in 2023.
However, it wasn’t enough to get their manager Dave Roberts a top-three finish in the NL Manager of the Year award.
The winner of the prestigious recognition hasn’t been revealed, but Roberts is not one of the three finalists.
“Dave Roberts isn’t a finalist despite leading the Dodgers to another 100-win campaign,” Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya tweeted.
Dave Roberts isn’t a finalist despite leading the Dodgers to another 100-win campaign. https://t.co/2jQatuhTcB
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) November 6, 2023
Former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell (announced this week as the new Chicago Cubs skipper) is one of the nominees after leading the Brew Crew to another NL Central title.
The Atlanta Braves’ Brian Snitker also made the cut after a 104-win campaign, and Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker completes the group of three.
Voters obviously put a lot of weight in teams achieving a lot with limited resources, rewarding Counsell and Schumaker with nominations.
Roberts, however, had to make magic happen this year, perhaps more than ever before.
Even after losing Dustin May, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, and many other stars to injury, his team won 100 games and took the NL West with a comfy cushion.
The Arizona Diamondbacks might have made it to the Fall Classic, but the Dodgers remain the team to beat in the West and Roberts is part of that equation.
In any case, Snitker should be viewed as the favorite to take the award home given his historic season in front of the Braves.
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