Manager Dave Roberts has led the Los Angeles Dodgers to two straight National League pennants, and he’s the first manager to lead the Dodgers to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. So the team is bringing him back to see if he can get the storied franchise its first World Series title since 1988.
Roberts signed a four-year contract extension Monday, keeping him in L.A. through 2022.
“When I was hired to lead this team three years ago, I said at the time that managing the Dodgers is truly the opportunity of a lifetime and I feel the exact same way today,” he said in a statement. “We’ve worked hard to develop a team and culture that will put us in position to win the World Series every season, but we still have yet to achieve our ultimate goal and that is what drives me each day.”
The Dodgers lost in five games to the Boston Red Sox this past October, and fell in seven games to the Houston Astros last year.
“Keeping Doc as our leader on the field was a top priority this offseason and now that we’ve accomplished that we are excited to collectively shift all of our focus to doing all we can to bring a world championship to our passionate fans,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said in a statement.
Welcome back, Doc! pic.twitter.com/pGA0tZryuD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 3, 2018
Not only was 1988 a big year for the Dodgers with the World Series title, it was also the year Roberts gave his life to Christ.
“I stopped trying to be good enough and earn my way into Heaven and accepted God’s gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ in 1988,” Roberts told AiMissions in 2016. “It wasn’t until just a few years ago, though, that I really understood how much God loved me in sending Jesus to die in my place and really started living for Him, putting Him first in my life, making Him Lord. My relationship with Christ is the most important thing in my life. Beyond the game of baseball, He gives me lasting joy, contentment and peace.
“That’s the great thing about allowing Jesus to become Lord — He really knows and wants what is best for my life.”
In three seasons with the Dodgers, Roberts is 287-200 overall. He was the 2016 NL manager of the year.
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