Dodgers' Dave Roberts Calls Out Manager of the Year Voters for Disrespect

The Dodgers skipper didn't mince words on being constantly snubbed for the award.

Aug 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (4) looks out to the field before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dave Roberts is one of the most well-liked managers in all of baseball.

He's known as a players' manager. A friendly face to the media. A pro's pro.

But Roberts' popularity on and off the field doesn't extend to the voting ballot for Manager of the Year. In 2025, Roberts wasn't named a finalist for the highly-esteemed accolade, despite eventually leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles.

Not only was Roberts not a finalist, he received zero votes on the ballot. It marked the first time in his career that he didn't receive a single vote for Manager of the Year.

Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers, Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds and Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies were the finalists for the award in the National League. The Dodgers beat all three teams in the postseason on their way to becoming the first back-to-back champions in a quarter century.

Roberts was candid about the award snub, and as always, kept his comments classy.

“In all honesty, I felt Pat Murphy should have won the last two years," Roberts told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “He deserved to be the National League Manager of the Year. But the thing that drives me crazy is that I'm not even considered in the top five. I think that's absurd.

“It just speaks to what people feel that it's a turn-key operation."

Roberts is the fastest manager to reach 1,000 career wins in MLB history and holds the highest active winning percentage. But the star-studded Dodgers roster in recent years has in some ways overshadowed the tactics and strategy of Roberts, especially in the playoffs.

The 54-year-old hasn't won Manager of the Year since 2016, but he's taken the Dodgers to new heights. Though, many would argue the organization's success is largely because of top tier talent on the field.

Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and several other of MLB's biggest stars occupy the Dodgers lineup — but it's Roberts who puts the players in the best position to thrive.

The Dodgers are on a quest to win their third consecutive World Series title in 2026 and Roberts' managing of the team down the stretch and into the postseason will be under heavy scrutiny. Though, if the Dodgers do succeed, it's evident the deserved credit for Roberts ends in smoke.

Add us as a preferred source on Google