The easiest path in Los Angeles this year has been to pin every roster quirk and cold stretch on Dave Roberts. The Dodgers still won, still headlined, still packed Chavez Ravine, but the anxiety never really left, and it crystallized around a lightning-rod choice: Mookie Betts at shortstop.
That decision became the catch-all for many things the fans didn’t like, from an offense that went quiet in pockets to an outfield that misfired more than it should have. So when Betts stepped to a mic and chose empathy over outrage, sticking up for his manager instead of joining the pile-on, it landed like a record scratch.