LOS ANGELES – Since taking over as Dodgers skipper in 2016, no baseball manager has drawn more criticism than Dave Roberts. And he is not aware of it.

He doesn’t have an X or Instagram, saving himself the headache of social media negativity, including in his case being chastised by former President Donald Trump in a tweet for his pitching decisions. Social media aside, Roberts is well aware that every move he makes is analyzed and criticized by the masses.

And with one of the largest payrolls in the game and a roster expected to appear in the World Series every year, that investigation is going nowhere. But on the eve of his fourth trip to the World Series with LA, Roberts isn’t letting criticism or doubt deter him.

“I’ve learned that I’m not as sensitive as I used to be,” Roberts told Yahoo Sports. “I will say I’m probably a little more jaded than I used to be… not that naive.”

Roberts, who also played 10 seasons in the major leagues, is no stranger to criticism. He gets it, especially considering the team he leads in one of baseball’s biggest markets. But not internalizing the sound is a skill he has had to learn over the years.

“The most important thing is that I didn’t take the criticism or criticism personally,” he said. “I think people then start to have doubts in their decision-making and in their quality of life. … My great sensitivity is for my children. Because some really mean things have been said to them, but it’s something that I chose to do.

Roberts’ nine-season tenure in Los Angeles has been about as successful as you’ll find, even if he hasn’t gotten nearly as much credit as he gets. The Dodgers’ 851 regular-season wins during his tenure are by far the most in baseball. The team also reached the postseason every season with Roberts at the helm.

Especially in MLB postseason history, Roberts has placed himself in a rarefied atmosphere. He ranks sixth all-time in playoff wins by a manager. Of the five skippers before him, three are in the Hall of Fame. The two others, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, will be in Cooperstown soon.

But over the years, the story of always being a bridesmaid but never the bride when it came to championships was a cloud hanging over Roberts and the Dodgers. Even after winning the World Series in 2020, the validity of that title was questioned following a COVID-shortened season.

Other common criticisms of Roberts focused on his use of starting pitchers on short rests and his management of the bullpen, especially in the postseason. Going into October, some even wondered whether, if the Dodgers left early, the World Series-winning manager would be in the right place.

“It’s not an easy job,” Dodgers infielder Chris Taylor acknowledged. “I think he’s obviously so personable and a very genuine person. He did a great job with our team. The history of our success speaks for itself.”

Roberts does his best to block everything out. But sometimes doubt creeps in. Even as successful as he and his teams have been, there are moments that have stuck with him over the years.

“When we lost to the Nationals in 2019, it really hurt,” he said. “I thought we had such a really talented team and for us not to finish that, which I thought we should have done – there was obviously a lot of criticism of some of the decisions I made. That was a tough task. It took me a while to get over it.

“It never feels good to lose. I remember going to London right after we lost to the Padres in the NLDS in 2022. “I just wanted to get out of the country, but something always brings me back with joy, excitement and anticipation… it’s my love for the game and my love for the players.”

That love that Roberts has for his players is neither fake nor exaggerated. The Dodgers are feeling it. If you ask any player, past or present, who Roberts is and what makes him great, you will not only hear it, but see it on his face.

The glow. The smile. The emotion. You can see exactly what Roberts’ presence means.

“When you’re around him, he just has a good vibe,” former Dodgers and current Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo recalled. “He can have a conversation with anyone. I liked him a lot. I also loved his family very much. I didn’t get enough time with him as my manager, right? But it was fun.

“He was clearly a player too. So he gets it. He understands. … I like all my managers, but you know, you see little things here and there that set guys apart a little bit.

Roberts’ personality has made him not only a great manager, but the perfect manager for these Dodgers. With a star-studded roster that includes four MVPs and countless All-Stars, managing all the personalities is a big part of making things work, and Roberts navigates it all with his calm, affable demeanor. Every year there are teams with high payrolls and high expectations that miss the postseason; that didn’t happen under Roberts’ watchful eye.

Even this season, with injuries to an entire rotation, superstar Mookie Betts missing significant time due to a broken hand and all the normal ebbs and flows of a season, the Dodgers finished with the best record in baseball.

“Every year is different, obviously, and I think this year has been great because we’ve had challenges this year that we haven’t had in the past and been able to maintain some fortitude,” Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann said. said. “I think Dave did a great job reading and responding.”

This postseason, Roberts may be having his best performance yet as a manager. He outwitted Mike Shildt in the NLDS and Carlos Mendoza in the NLCS to get his team to the World Series, and what he’s done in navigating the team’s bullpen and managing an injury-plagued rotation can not be underestimated. Not to mention the way Roberts treated Freddie Freeman’s ailing right ankle during the Dodgers’ run to the Fall Classic.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit,” reliever Alex Vesia said. “There are 162 games, and we will call 20 more in the postseason. If there’s a guy who doesn’t come around one night or whatever, people look at that one game and think, “Why didn’t he use so-and-so?”

“He’s trying to protect us, and he wants us to hang in there all season. And there are managers who don’t do that. … He cares about us so much, and I think that needs to be expressed more — that he cares about us so much, you know, and that’s what I respect about him.

With his contract set to expire in 2026, Roberts’ future is uncertain despite the Dodgers’ past and present success under his leadership. That said, beating the Yankees and winning a second World Series championship would not only likely solidify Roberts’ future in LA — it would also put him on a clear path to Cooperstown.

“I love this job,” Roberts said. “I wouldn’t want to have any other job. So I think it also makes it easier if you enjoy doing something. … (But) there aren’t many jobs in life where you have to be one-on-one to be successful. So that makes it unique.”

The criticism, the stories and everything else Roberts has seen in his nine years as Dodgers manager has given him perspective over the years. Whatever happens in the future, he knows he will be able to face it.

“You don’t know what you can handle until you go through it,” he said. “And when I have the President of the United States commenting on social media, I can deal with that kind of criticism publicly, and that’s essentially every day – to know that I can deal with it, that’s something I’m proud of.

“I have not become cynical. And I think the nature of this job and this position makes you cynical. But I didn’t do that, so I think I learned that about myself.”