In general, patience is not a virtue of most Dodgers fans. Actually, we are an impatient group of fanatics — possibly spoiled over the last decade by exceptional teams, All Star quality players, and a payroll in the upper echelon of MLB. We have grown accustomed to teams and players performing at the pinnacle of the sport, leading to high expectations and intolerance when those expectations are not met.

Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that the MLB regular season is a marathon – triathlon may be a better metaphor – not a sprint. As the baseball motivator and philosopher Tommy Lasorda pointed out:

 “No matter how good you are, you’re going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you’re going to win one-third of your games. It’s the other third that makes the difference.”

Under the on-field leadership of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts over the last eight seasons, we have watched the team go through periods when they play uninspired, undisciplined, losing baseball. Roberts seems at a loss to explain those funks, or how to return to team to playing quality baseball. But, he has displayed the confidence and patience to rely on time and veteran players to return the team to winning baseball.

Roberts is known as a players manager, patiently supporting players through the inevitable highs and lows of a season that begins in mid-February and hopefully doesn’t end until mid-November. Whether it is Max Muncy who was struggling with the bat and his third base defense, Chris Taylor‘s record pace of striking out, or the bullpen uncharacteristically imploding, Roberts patiently believes in and supports the players.

The 2023 Dodgers are currently a solid team with legit stars like: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Will Smith, and Julio Urías, with young prospects James Outman and Miguel Vargas on the cusp of stardom. This team has the potential, over the next several months to evolve and mature into a dominant, World Series contender. But, it will require patience.

Frustration is a normal emotion for fans when the performance of their favorite team and/or player(s) are less than expectations, but the Dodgers players deserve our collective patience.

Let’s go Dodgers!

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