The bond between player and manager cannot be overstated enough.
In many cases, it’s the difference between a team potentially surpassing expectations, and one that falls into the doldrums of poor team chemistry and an ultimate lack of winning.
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No one is more emblematic of that premise than manager Dave Roberts. An ex-ballplayer, he prides himself on connecting with his players and treating them as peers rather than as some sort of authoritarian.
Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider penned a piece on the impact Roberts has on his ballclub.