Winning two World Series titles in a row usually buys a manager a lifetime of job security. In most cities, you’d be getting a statue. But this is Los Angeles, and the "what have you done for me lately" energy is hitting a fever pitch. Honestly, it’s wild to see, but Dave Roberts under fire from fans after Dodgers latest sweep is the dominant conversation in SoCal right now, even in the middle of January.
You’d think the glow of that dramatic Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays back in November would still be keeping everyone warm. It isn't. Instead, a vocal segment of the fanbase is already losing sleep over how the 2026 season might unfold. The frustration boiled over recently following a series of quiet front-office moves and a perceived lack of urgency that some fans are pinning directly on Roberts’ shoulders.
Why the "No Big Splash" Comment Backfired
Baseball is a year-round obsession in LA. When Dave Roberts sat down at the Winter Meetings and told the media that there was "really no big splash" needed for the roster, he probably thought he was projecting confidence. He’s got Shohei Ohtani. He’s got Mookie Betts. He’s got Yoshinobu Yamamoto and now the fireballing Edwin Díaz in the bullpen.
But fans didn't hear "confidence." They heard "complacency."
📖 Related: Why the 2015 NBA Finals Still Matters: Small Ball, Luck, and the Birth of a Dynasty
The "latest sweep" people are grumbling about isn't actually on the field—it's the sweep of the free-agent market by other NL powerhouses while the Dodgers largely stood pat. While teams like the Phillies and Braves are aggressively retooling to prevent a Dodgers three-peat, Roberts’ insistence that the current group is "focused enough" felt like a letdown to a crowd used to billion-dollar headlines.
It’s a bizarre spot for a manager to be in. He’s coming off back-to-back rings. His winning percentage is historically high. Yet, the "Fire Dave" hashtags started trending again the moment he suggested the team didn't need to hunt for another superstar like Tarik Skubal.
The Postseason Scars That Haven't Healed
Even with the 2024 and 2025 trophies in the case, the way those series played out left some fans with a twitch. Remember Game 4 of the last World Series? Roberts was absolutely slammed for his pitching changes when the Blue Jays were mounting a comeback.
- The Bullpen Management: Fans still point to the heavy reliance on starters like Yamamoto and even Roki Sasaki to close out games because the middle relief felt shaky.
- Lineup Tinkering: Moving Mookie Betts to the three-hole and shuffling Will Smith around during a slump was viewed by some as "over-managing."
- The Tanner Scott Factor: Roberts’ public defense of Tanner Scott’s rough 2025 season as an "outlier" didn't sit well with fans who watched lead after lead evaporate in the summer.
Basically, there is a segment of the Dodger Blue faithful that believes the team wins despite Roberts, not because of him. It’s a harsh take. Maybe even an unfair one. But when you have a "superteam," the margin for error in the eyes of the public is zero.
2026: The Pressure of the Three-Peat
We are currently in a weird "lull" where every quote is scrutinized. With DodgerFest right around the corner on January 31, Roberts is going to have to face these fans in person. It’s one thing to give a canned answer to a beat reporter in a press room; it’s another to stand on a stage at Chavez Ravine in front of 40,000 people who spent their holiday bonus on tickets.
The reality is that the Dodgers did make moves. They signed Edwin Díaz to a record-breaking $69 million deal. They brought back Miguel Rojas. They’re integrating young talent like Dalton Rushing. But in the land of Hollywood, if it isn't a blockbuster, it feels like a flop.
Roberts is basically the victim of his own success. He has maintained a clubhouse culture that Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman thrive in. That matters. Players love him. Yet, the fans see a roster this talented and assume any loss—or any quiet week in January—is a managerial failure.
Managing the Unmanageable Expectation
If you look at the numbers, Roberts is statistically one of the best to ever do it. He’s 53 years old, he’s healthy, and he’s got a contract that runs through the end of the decade. He isn't going anywhere.
But the heat is real. The "sweep" of negativity following the Winter Meetings shows that the "World Series or Bust" mentality has evolved into "Dynasty or Disaster."
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Bullpen Usage early: If Roberts continues to lean on high-leverage arms in low-leverage April games, expect the "Fire Dave" drums to beat louder.
- Monitor the Sasaki/Ohtani workloads: With the WBC discussions and injury recoveries, how Roberts balances rest vs. rhythm will be the biggest storyline of Spring Training.
- Ignore the January noise: Historically, the Dodgers' front office under Andrew Friedman does their best work when everyone thinks they’re asleep. A "big splash" could still happen via trade before Opening Day.
The bottom line? Dave Roberts has the highest floor of any manager in baseball. He’s going to win 95+ games. He’s going to be in the postseason. But until he proves he can navigate the 2026 season without the "defensive lapses" and "offensive slumps" that plagued parts of last year’s run, he’ll remain the favorite scapegoat for a fanbase that demands nothing less than perfection.
To get ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the early Spring Training lineups. If Roberts sticks to his "internal options" for the vacant corner outfield spots and they struggle in February, the pressure will only ramp up before the first pitch that actually matters is even thrown.