Dave Roberts called out the Dodgers and they responded

If the playoffs started today, the Dodgers would be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.No first-round bye.By Dave Roberts’ estimation, the Dodgers were past the point of being able to tell themselves everything would work out for them.“That’s not good enough,” Roberts said.The widespread perception of Roberts is that he is a manager of personalities whose primary responsibility is to make sure the high-profile players on his team don’t murder each other.That view sells Roberts short as a game manager. When games really count, Roberts is particularly adept at identifying inflection points and acting decisively.

He doesn’t allow concerns about what might happen in the later innings stand in the way of him doing what he has to do now, which probably explains why each of the three World Series he’s won were closed out by starters pitching in relief.Before the Dodgers’ 6–5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, Roberts recognized a potential inflection point.Not a game’s.A season’s.As usual, Roberts reacted with purpose.The Dodgers had lost eight of their preceding nine games, and something had to be done to break the cycle.Roberts decided he would do his part by telling the truth.About how he wanted his players to take the field with greater urgency.

About how he said they couldn’t afford to look ahead to the postseason.About how opposing pitchers were “bullying” his players by throwing fastballs by them.“I hope our guys take that personally,” Roberts said.

“We shouldn’t get bullied.”This was classic Roberts, unflinching and to the point.Roberts knew the experienced players on his team didn’t want to be lectured, so he said he would lead by example.How?“Managing more urgently,” he said.Did he ever.Down by a run to the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning that night, the Dodgers had runners on second and third base with one out.With underperforming Teoscar Hernández due up, Royals manager Matt Quatraro cal...