MLB WINTER MEETINGS

December 6, 2022

Dave Roberts

Los Angeles Dodgers

Press Conference

Q. Now that you've had some time to reflect on the season, what are you making of the way things ended there and the season as a whole?

DAVE ROBERTS: Well, season as a whole, I think we had a great season. I think on the micro, the most highlighted end of the season, postseason, certainly a failure.

Very disappointing. I think for me, for the organization, it took us a while to get over that one. You look back and you're trying to figure out what you could have done potentially to affect the outcome.

I've stopped playing that game and really sort of trying to be present and look towards '23.

But you're always trying to get better. And that's kind of where we're at right now.

Q. Do you just look at that outcome as just kind of a result of kind of the variance of the postseason, or do you think you have an October problem?

DAVE ROBERTS: So I don't think we have an October problem. I think that last year, in particular, to take four, five days off, I think I'm proud of the fact that we didn't harp on it going into it.

But it certainly is not ideal. It's different rhythm than we're used to. And that's with any ballclub that would have to go through it. But could I say that if it was less of a lay-off would the result be any different, I don't know the answer.

I know that I felt we were prepared going into it. And we lost a short series. And so I don't think there's a postseason problem. I think I still stand by it's about teams are playing their best baseball at the right point in time.

I guess if you look at not winning a championship in six of the seven years, I guess you kind of look at it that way, then we've only done that one out of six.

But I still think that we've had success in the postseason. But with that said, we're still trying to figure it out.

Q. I think one thing that served you guys well, you have a lot of guys that are even-keeled. I know Mookie on the elimination day was like it's another type of game type thing. But in October, do you kind of need to have that NFL Sunday type of mindset would something like that help?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think there's some truth to that. As a manager, you never want to say that somebody wants it more than you because I think that speaks to the preparation part of it, the mental part of it.

But I will say that you look at that dugout versus our dugout, there was more intensity there. And so not asking guys to be outside of who they are. But that sense of the ultimate sense of urgency each pitch, I think that we're going to make sure that that's noted, because I do think the retrospect, the postmortem, kind of looking at it, I sensed it. I sensed it. So that part of it, I think that I've got to certainly take ownership of for sure.

Q. Was that a need this winter to maybe go out find that type of guy?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that's more -- not necessarily, I think the personnel was there. I think it's more of bringing that message to light and that's my job.

Q. Do you think that part of it was that you guys (indiscernible) so early, there was so much time?

DAVE ROBERTS: No. I felt we played good baseball throughout September. We won Game 1. I thought Game 2, if I feel we were really good. It just didn't work out. I thought we swung the bats well that day, that night.

I thought we played well enough to win. And then it just kind of went south the last two. So I don't think that that had anything -- I just don't think so.

Q. Are there things that pop up either in this series or other Octobers that you guys didn't win that you reflect, look at, pinpoint, say this is something when we look ahead we can change do better or prep or messaging?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's just the core overarching urgency. I really do. Not literally. But the mindset of do or die.

I think that that's something if I could kind of look back -- there's plays that could have flipped the game or series, certainly.

And I don't want to kind of speak specific to the pitching or the defense or the at-bat situationally, but if you look back, if we had that sort of mindset, I think that results might have been a little bit different.

Q. So far the way the offseason has unfolded, probably the most roster turnaround you've had in your tenure, is that going to be strange for you not seeing some faces like Cody and stuff like that in the locker room and how will you adjust?

DAVE ROBERTS: We're going to adjust. I just learned of this Cody situation. And I'm excited for Cody. He was very good for me. He was a very good Dodger. He grew a lot.

And I wish him well. And I'm very grateful to be able to manage him for six years. We've got a lot of talent coming on the position player side, on the pitching side. And I think a little bit -- things are going to look a little different. But a lot of it still is going to be the same.

Also, I just believe and Andrew and I and the organization believe there's some young players that need a little room, some runway, some opportunities. And they're going to have that. At some point in time this season on both position player and the pitching side. So I think that's a good thing for us.

But the idea that our goal is to put together a championship ballclub, that doesn't change.

Q. You talked about just the talent that you have the young talent you have Trayce Thompson, what have you thought about his season what are you looking forward to him improving upon as he gets ready for the 2023 season?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that's an easy one. Trayce is a high character guy, tremendous athlete. Earned his way back on the radar as a big league ball player.

Expect more big things out of him. I think the easy one is he was considerably better versus right this year. I think that's something that I don't think anyone saw happening. But I think that's something that's going to be front of mind for him this winter.

Just saw him recently. Looks great. He's focused. He's ready, which is no surprise. And expect him to kind of play all three next year.

Q. Are you hoping he can be back to where he was once was, Cody?

DAVE ROBERTS: Very confident. I don't think the skill set's changed. Certainly he's motivated. Maybe a change of scenery will be beneficial. I know David Ross. I know Jedd. So the environment's going to be good for him. And again, I wish nothing but the best for Cody.

Q. Do you feel like you guys need to add an outfielder now?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, we're going to add an outfielder.

Q. Recognizing that things might change between now and Opening Day, will you be comfortable if Gavin Lux is your Opening Day shortstop?

DAVE ROBERTS: Absolutely. I'm not going to say -- we're not at a point where I need to say he's our shortstop, but as far as if it plays out as such, absolutely. Gavin's gotten better every year that's his natural position.

But just having the flexibility to have him at third -- or at second, if we need, I think helps the ballclub and Gavin's open to that. But certainly if Gavin takes down everyday shortstop innings then I've got no problem with that.

Q. How likely do you think that is right now that that's how it shakes out?

DAVE ROBERTS: Gosh, there's a lot of good players left on the board. So I don't know what direction we're going to go as far as allocating dollars or players to the pitching, to the outfield, to the infield. So it wouldn't be an honest or accurate answer now.

Q. He's had throwing issues even from second base but (indiscernible) short across the diamond. Are the throwing issues rectified in your mind?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so. I think the thing is about with anyone throwing, in my opinion, it's footwork. And that's something that Gavin has worked really hard on. And has really done a great job cleaning that up.

And I would argue that throws from the other side of the diamond are easier for him versus playing on the right side of the diamond. So I think it's a nonissue. And I think Freddie, specifically, on the preparation each day, the glove work -- Dino, our infield coach, specifically Gavin took to both those guys and got considerably better. So I trust the player. And I trust the guy.

Q. You mentioned young players, Miguel Vargas came up the end of last year do you envision him being the everyday third baseman, what do you see from him next year?

DAVE ROBERTS: I expect Miguel Vargas to have an impact on our club. At what position, I really can't speak to right now. In the same vein of where Gavin's going to play next year.

There's a lot of things to still do. But he's at the ballpark this week trying to get better. So Miguel Vargas is going to be very exciting for all of us. I'm excited about Miguel.

Q. With the outfield, do you think it needs to be center fielder you're going to add an outfielder?

DAVE ROBERTS: I would say somebody that can manage center field is probably a top priority, yeah.

Q. When you talk about the kind of like the lack of urgency there, do you think that came from the break? Was it a function of you guys kicking their butts so badly in the regular season?

DAVE ROBERTS: No. No. Because I think that each time we face those guys I just felt that it was going to be a good fight.

And it turned out to be. So I don't think there was complacency as far as what happened in the regular season. I don't believe that. I think that in each isolated game I just felt that we could have done more. There were some plays that could have been made or some at-bats that could have been better that could have flipped it. But it didn't happen. It's something that I have to learn from. We all have to learn from.

Q. You were kind of one of those guys, a seize-the-moment type of player, and you talk about how you think that it's here in this group, but don't change who you are. How do you coax that out of a guy where it's not, again, these guys aren't Dave Roberts guys out there?

DAVE ROBERTS: They're a lot better baseball players.

Q. But different mindset, right? How do you coax it out of these types of guys, do you think?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that it's a fair topic. I think we do a very good job in the regular season of preparing each game, washing away good, washing away bad, trying to win a ball game.

But certainly the postseason has to be -- the intensity is certainly -- it's higher stakes. And one school you want to continue to do what you've always done because you've had success. But appreciating the stakes are different. I think that's a fair question.

And that's something that I don't know if there's an exact answer, but I do think that heightening the intensity is something that we need to do a better job at. And that starts with me. I can do better.

Q. Freddie Freeman did hit. Are there a guy or two in that clubhouse you feel can be the catalyst of that thing. If so, who might it be?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think the reason Freddie hit because it's kind of what -- see, that's what he's done his entire career. And in the regular season. He doesn't take a pitch off. And so that translates to any situation. And so for him to have success was no surprise to me.

How do we get that to filter throughout the clubhouse? That's the question. That's something we're going to talk about quite a bit.

Q. (Indiscernible) rebuilding a club can throw in four, five, six young kids because they're rebuilding. How many kids can you guys reasonably expect to play prominent roles and still contend for the World Series?

DAVE ROBERTS: So I think that, I would argue and say that each year we've had four or five or six, quote/unquote, kids that have impacted our ballclub.

And I'm not saying at the beginning of the year. But at each year that I've been here at certain times guys have come in and impacted our ballclub. So I don't think it's too much of a reach to say that five or six young kids, young ball players, are going to impact our ballclub.

Is it safe to say Miguel Vargas is going to be there sooner than the other guys? Sure. But there's a good group that I really feel that are going to impact our club this year.

Q. Talked about that in the context of position players and now with Buehler out, Anderson leaving, what role do you envision Pepiot, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, that trio of arms will play?

DAVE ROBERTS: Ryan did a lot of growth this year. I think that he did a nice job. I think Michael Grove, in the short samples, did a really nice job. He's going to be in play.

I think Bobby Miller, as far as stuff, we've all heard about it. Love the compete. Love the body, the head. We're going to see him this year. We're going to see Bobby this year. How much? That's up to him.

A guy that's really interesting that we're going to be talking a lot about going forward is Gavin Stone. Got a chance to see him a little bit before the postseason and talked to him, and he's a special young talent, makeup.

And then you're talking about Andre Jackson who finished strong for us. So we've got some guys in the hopper that I know are going to be able to back fill on the pitching side.

Q. Do you expect to add more rotation depth this winter too?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yes. And there's some certain guys that are off the board, obviously. But we're still looking and have a long way to go.

Q. Can you do it similar to how you did it past year where you find guys like Anderson or Heaney, some flyers and see if they develop, or do you need someone who is more established?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think what we did with Tyler sort of makes sense for this offseason, yes.

Q. You mentioned the players still out there, a guy named Carlos Correa, and we know there's a lot of scars from the fan base from 2017. How do you think he -- how would he affect the clubhouse? Do you think that's something you would have to address?

DAVE ROBERTS: You want to ask, does that go to Dylan or to me? (Laughter).

Q. Dylan's got enough for his column. (Laughter)?

DAVE ROBERTS: Carlos is a heck of a ball player. I don't know that answer. What I do know is that we're about winning baseball games. Our fan base is about winning baseball games. But I don't know how this season -- but he's a heck of a ball player.

Q. Have you address it?

DAVE ROBERTS: That's all I'm going to say about that one.

Q. Have you guys addressed, like talked about that internally, if that's how you might --

DAVE ROBERTS: We have not talked about the potential narrative. No, we have not.