Los Angeles Dodger manager Dave Roberts will participate in his fifth World Series, his fourth as the manager of the Dodgers since his first season in 2016.
Mega superstar Shohei Ohtani will play in his first.
The Dodger signed Ohtani to a 10-year $700 million contract during the off season with his eyes on having a chance to return to the World Series every year. He had never even played in a playoff game in his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
“I’ve pictured myself getting this far with the contract that I signed. And again, just being able to play on this kind of stage with the team effort, and all the games were really hard. But I’m just glad we’re at this stage right now,” he told MLB.com.
The signing of Ohtani upped the pressure on Roberts to produce a World Series championship. His one Series championship as a manager came in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
He won a championship as a bench player with the Boston Red Sox in 2004. His stolen base in the clinching game in the American League Championship Series made him a folk hero in Red Sox lore.
Born in Okinawa, Japan, his mother is Japanese and his father African American. He took a team that had to rely on a bullpen game to win the clinching game six of the National League Championship Series. He put a utility player into the pivotal fourth spot in the lineup.
“Tommy Edman is different of a cleanup hitter. You know what, I just trusted the player. I trusted our team. Yeah, we’ve been through a lot of adversity this year, but I tell you guys, this team fought. I think in the post season, it’s about the fight and we have a lot of talent too. It’s going to be a World Series. I think this is what the baseball world wanted.”
The Dodgers go on to face the New York Yankees beginning this Friday. They are two of the biggest franchises in baseball history and have met more times in the World Series than any other two teams.
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