October 30th, 2019 at 8:30 am 
by 0799291000348 During Tuesday night’s Game-6 of the 2019 World Series, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez was ejected from the game after the top half of the seventh inning for vehemently arguing a controversial umpire judgment call. The pros and cons of the umpire’s decision would make a good debate, but that isn’t the point here.
Some might criticize Martinez for being overly aggressive on a call that was confirmed by replay officials in New York after a rather tense four minutes. In fact, it will not be surprising for Major League Baseball to issue a substantial fine on Martinez and perhaps even a suspension for the first few games of the 2020 season.
For me, however, Martinez deserves kudos for his leadership by supporting his player and team at an extremely critical juncture of a must-win game. There is no doubt that his actions fired up his team, an intensity that may well carry over to Wednesday night’s winner-take-all Game-7.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was watching Tuesday’s game on television and he should take notice of the effect Martinez had on his team and the game. All too often during Roberts’ tenure with the Dodgers, he has remained stoic in the face of controversy, eschewing passioned arguments even when umpires were clearly wrong.
There are definitely times when calmness and restraint is the best course of action, but there are also important benefits from aggressively arguing on behalf of your players; they will appreciate and respond to the unequivocal support. Showing grit at the right time is an important leadership quality that Roberts needs to improve upon. All too often the Dodgers are viewed as a laid-back group of players and coaches who take on the demeanor of their on-field leader.
(Photo credit – Harry How)
Hopefully, Dave Roberts was watching Tuesday night and saw the effect of not just good leadership, but outstanding leadership.
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Absolutely agree! Martinez is a super classy manager and seems like a genuinely great person (like Ro… https://t.co/KPuP2MPvEq
I agree with you it is sometimes necessary to show a little passion to fire up your players however I think Dave Roberts does that, not too often, not too seldom.
I don’t recall ever seeing Roberts get in an umpire’s face like Martinez did on Tuesday night.
Barking from the dugout might get you ejected, but it does little to show true passion or fire up your team.
Ron, and that is one of the reasons why Martinez’s team is now in Game 7 of this year’s WS
We can agree to disagree that Roberts does so “not too seldom.” I have observed numerous times during the last several seasons when a Dodgers player has come out on the wrong end of a poor umpire call with Roberts stoically looking on. I do not believe he needs to become Billy Martin, or Lou Pinella, or more recently Bobby Cox, but there are benefits to sticking up for your players even if it results in your ejection.
Agree here and especially when Dodger hitters get hit by pitches constantly, sometimes leading to stints on the IL.
Giants have interviewed Bob geren
Hope he gets the job; addition by subtraction for Dodgers (IMHO). He was so bad as the A’s manager he was fired by Billy Bean even though they were close, personal friends (I think Geren was Bean’s best man at his wedding)
Have to disagree, Jesse. I’ve come to know Bob fairly well over the past couple of years and I like his style. He is very highly thought of by the players and has an excellent baseball I.Q. The problem is that with Roberts ahead of him in the food chain, he can’t really spread his wings as I’m sure he would like to.
I tend to believe with your last sentence here. Geren was the A’s manager but again he can only play with the hands he was dealt at that time.
You know him, and I do not, so will go with your assessment.
Tommy Lasorda likely agrees.
Let’s solve the running lane problem. My idea is to extend the first place bag by creating a rectangular flat extension of the bag to the rear line of the running lane and every batter, when running to first must not make contact with the bag, but run through the extension. The extension, being flat like home plate, would also be safer for runners, as some have twisted their ankles when coming into contact with the bag awkwardly. The first baseman still makes contact with the first base bag as usual. The extension in my opinion, solves the problem.
Those were my thoughts exactly!
I’d be happy if Dave could learn how to employ his pitching staff more effectively in the post-season so we don’t have to wait another 30 years for the next World Series win
Roberts has the respect of all the Dodgers players he doesn’t need to be up in a umps face to gain it, this is stupid, players make clutch hits pitchers make clutch pitches and Roberts moves make him a genius and we’re not even talking this subject. No need for Roberts to do something he’s not accustomed to doing thats the way you loose your respect
It isn’t that Roberts does not get upset and let umps know about it, I have seen it several times. I just think he could do it more frequently when called for. By everything I have read and heard, Roberts does have the respect of his players. But, in my non-professional opinion the Dodgers players at times need an emotional lift that I believe a leader can provide by aggressively backing them when there is an obvious bad call by umpires.
Paul u talk 2 much crap
It seems like many of the above commentators want Roberts to win 106 games—by supporting his players through a steady, quiet and warm management style that instilled deep, daily confidence—and then turn around and be bold and reckless during the post-season. For those of us who have been Dodger fans for more than 60 years, we should count our lucky stars that Dave Roberts is more like Walter Alston—who was so good for the Dodgers for so long—than Tommy Lasorda who was good in his own right but who also managed in his own style.
A more intelligent review of the post-season would finally admit that highly decorated Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was too cautious and tracked in making recommendations to his skipper during the postseason. We will be much better in the post-season next year now that Honeycutt has moved on to another role. You will want to wait 12 months from now and then re-look at your words of today.
I did not read anyone advocating Roberts being “bold and reckless” at any time, regular season, or post season; certainly not me. I do see some similarities in Roberts and Alston quietness, but I was old enough to observe Alston for almost his entire managerial career, and If you don’t believe he would vehemently argue with umpires on behalf of his team and players you are very much mistaken. Before he turned 60, Alston was ejected on average 2 times each season, with a high of 5 times in 1963 when Dodgers won the World Series. By no means was Alston a Billy Martin type, but he was most certainly a competitor who could dress down an umpire. Fiery? How about challenging the entire team to fight. How do you know what Honeycutt did, or did not recommend in the dugout? Only time will tell whether Dodgers will be better next off season without Honeycutt.
Jesse, when all is said and done, Alston has 4 WS rings.
Yes indeed. My all time favorite Dodgers manager. Not enough superlatives to describe my admiration for “Smokey.”
I liked The “Quiet Man”, more Dodger Championships than any other manager.
It has been a lot of years, so I could be wrong, but I kinda remember Walt practically being run out of town. Fans thought he was unable to relate to the young Dodger players at that time who had risen through the minors with Lasorda.
On another topic, lots of negativity on Pollock. I didn’t like the signing, loss of draft pick and too many years, but I’ll be cheering for him next year if he is back. I gotta believe this front office sees something we fans aren’t. We fans couldn’t get rid of Howie Kendrick fast enough a couple years ago. All he has done since leaving is hit. Hopefully, pollock can turn it around.
Agree 100% about Pollock. As long as he is wearing Dodger blue he gets all of my support. As I recall, Kendrick wanted out of LA as he was very unhappy with the Dodgers qualifying offer that significantly reduced his value to other teams, leaving him practically no choice but to sign a reduced deal with LA. I think he was also very unhappy with his “utility” role with the Dodgers.