Joe Torre Sends Strong Message on Dave Roberts Ahead of Dodgers’ World Series

Former Dodgers and Yankees manager Joe Torre knows what October success looks like, and he sees plenty of it in Dave Roberts. 

As MLB.com noted, the Hall of Famer recently praised the Dodgers skipper for his amazing leadership and relentless drive, saying, “Dave has done a really great job out there,” Torre said. “When you’ve won before, you know what it takes to win. You can’t stop to admire, ‘Look what I did,’ because you’ll lose it quick.”

Since taking over as Dodgers manager in 2016, Roberts has led the Dodgers to the postseason in every full season he’s managed. 

He has quietly climbed into rare air among baseball’s elite managers of all time. 

Roberts has built a resume that includes 65 postseason victories, the fourth-most in MLB history. Only Torre (84), Tony La Russa (71), and Bobby Cox (67) rank higher. 

This October alone, Roberts surpassed legends Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker on the all-time wins list, a testament to the Dodgers’ sustained success under his leadership over the past decade. 

“Absolutely, that’s our mindset,” Roberts said when told of Torre’s comments. “I don’t think what we did last year has any bearing on this year. There are new faces, new challenges. We want to win for the 2025 team.”

Roberts’ Chasing Back-to-Back Titles

The Dodgers are four wins away from repeating as World Series champions, something no team has done since Torre’s Yankees won three straight titles from 1998 to 2000.

“When you get to this stage, you can’t rely on the past,” Torre said. “Every postseason is its own challenge. But you can tell by how the Dodgers play that they’re prepared for every moment.”

Roberts’ leadership and preparation have become defining traits. His teams rarely crumble under pressure, even as expectations continue to mount. 

And most importantly, the players love him. 

This year’s squad swept the Reds in the Wild Card Series before dominating the NL playoffs, winning nine of ten games on their road to winning another pennant.

“The hard part is getting guys to play their best baseball at the right time,” Roberts said. “To keep that edge for 162 games and then find another level in October, that’s what defines championship teams.”

Led by superstars Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers are once again built for October.

 “They have an offense that’s scary,” Torre said. “Honestly, it’s better than our Yankees teams were, without question.”  

Torre’s Dodgers Connection Comes Full Circle

While most of Torre’s 84 postseason wins came in New York, he still feels a strong connection to Los Angeles.  

Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008 to 2010, leading them to consecutive NLCS appearances and laying part of the foundation for the franchise’s current run of success.

“It was exciting when I was a manager because it was never boring,” Torre said. “I’m looking forward to it now as a spectator. I do more pulling for people than for teams these days.”

For Torre, that includes Dave Roberts. He believes Roberts has already cemented his place among baseball’s great managers. 

“He’s earned everything he’s accomplished,” Torre said. “He has the players’ trust, he has the city behind him, and he knows how to win when it matters.”

For Roberts, the mission remains simple: “I want to win this year as much as I wanted to last year,” he said. “That’s what keeps me going  and that’s what keeps our team hungry.”

The Dodgers will open the World Series against the Blue Jays on Friday night in Toronto.

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