Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Speaks for First Time Since NLDS Loss

The Dodgers 2023 season ended earlier this week, and since then, people have been trying to figure out what went wrong. LA was swept out of the postseason by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they put up one of the worst showings in recent memory.

Manager Dave Roberts spoke about the NLDS loss for the first time since it happened during an appearance on the MLB Network Radio.

"Ideally, I would love to have one clear answer so you can remedy it. I think the facts are we didn't get good starting pitching out of the gate. We didn't catch a lead in the entire series. And the bats, we just didn't hit."

Per Dave Roberts via MLB Network Radio

Roberts understands that it wasn't just one thing that saw the Dodgers flop out of the postseason, but it's easier for people to digest when there is. The entire team didn't show up, and it cost them a prime opportunity to potentially win another World Series.

These comments from Roberts likely won't ease the minds of Dodgers fans everywhere, but it's also nice to get some accountability from things. Roberts also mentioned the five-day layoff as another aspect in the mix of things that went against this team.

"Then you kind of take the second layer with the layoff... certainly not ideal. I think that anyone that picked up a baseball bat understands that baseball is a rhythm sport, but when you're mired in it, you're in it. You can't let that bleed into your thoughts process and you've got to make the best with whatever circumstance and we clearly didn't."

Per Dave Roberts via MLB Network Radio

The layoff has been a talking point since LA was eliminated, but either way, it doesn't excuse the performance that they put together. However, it is a fair narrative to point out, considering that three of the four teams that got the bye are now out of the postseason.

It's not an excuse, but rather a conversation about the structure of the baseball playoffs. However, the playoff format won't be changing anytime soon, so the Dodgers will just need to figure out how to maneuver any layoff that they get in future seasons.