Don Mattingly faced criticisms as manager of the Dodgers that Dave Roberts will not. For example, there was the time at a fan forum in July 2013 when team president Stan Kasten was asked why “a Yankee” is managing the team.
It didn’t matter then that the Dodgers were in the midst of their historic 42-8 run, the zenith of a streak that saw them improve their winning percentage in each of Mattingly’s first four seasons.
To some, five winning seasons and three division titles never mattered.
The Dodgers officially named Roberts their manager Monday, 33 days after Mattingly “parted ways” with the team.