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    • World Series managers Aaron Boone, Dave Roberts ignore the hate
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    World Series managers Aaron Boone, Dave Roberts ignore the hate

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    LOS ANGELES — At the moment when New York YankeesThe plane landed on Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone flashed him a Yankee emoji Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

    Roberts saw this, laughed, and quickly tried to think of a clever response instead.

    “You know what, there was another emoji I thought I’d send,” Roberts said. “With a finger.

    “But I didn’t.

    “I just gave him a laughing emoji back.”

    Who would blame Roberts — and Boone — for sending a one-fingered message to all the keyboard warriors and talk show hosts ahead of Friday’s opening game of the 120th The World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers.

    These two guys have been crushing all season on talk shows and social media.

    They weren’t even supposed to be hired until now, driven out of town by their over-the-top fans looking for the next manager to lead them to their rightful place as World Series champions.

    Well, a funny thing happened on their way to the unemployment line.

    Dave Roberts, 52, led the Los Angeles Dodgers to the World Series for the fourth time in eight years.

    Aaron Boone, 51, after missing the postseason last year, led the New York Yankees to their first World Series since 2009.

    These two former players, who each had heroic moments in the postseason and were once collegiate rivals, not only survived the season and dismissed speculation that they could be fired with early postseason exits, but are now in line for contract extensions profitable.

    Roberts, who makes $3.5 million and $4 million in 2025, is expected to get a contract extension north of Alex Cora’s three-year, $21.75 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, but less than Craig Counsell’s five-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.

    Boone, who makes about $4 million with a club option in 2025, should certainly make more in his next contract extension this winter.

    There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be two of the highest-paid managers in baseball for simply fighting salary, succeeding in America’s two biggest markets, where anything less than a World Series championship is considered a disaster.

    This World Series features surreal star power with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge expected to win unanimous MVP honors in November – along with four other MVPs and future Hall of Famers. But without Roberts and Boone, their players will tell you they wouldn’t be here.

    It’s their calming influence, their communication skills – they not only know the players’ families, but also their dog’s name – and their willingness to take all the heat.

    “The last 10, 11 years,” Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman said, “I got to play with Dave Roberts and Brian Snitker (in Atlanta), two guys who care about the person almost more than the player . That’s what’s so special about Doc. He is intentional in his time with you. I don’t know how many times he talks to me (wife) and (kids). that’s what makes it special.

    “He’s the person who makes you want to play even harder for someone who cares about you. I was very, very lucky to have him as my manager.”

    Mookie Betts, who was supposed to be the Dodgers’ shortstop and shortstop this season, only to be moved to second base and back to right field, fell to second in the batting order instead of first, no he can stop talking about Roberts. .

    “It was amazing,” Betts said. “It’s more than I could ask for. I’ve loved Doc since the day I got here. My love for him became anything but stronger and deeper. I think he loves every player that puts on a Dodger uniform, no matter how long I’ve been here, I can’t say enough good things about him.

    “Anyone who thinks they can do better than that…”

    It’s still mind-boggling that nine years ago the Dodgers were poised to hire Gabe Kapler as manager to replace Don Mattingly — until veteran players voiced their concerns to the front office and ownership.

    And it’s even more amazing that the San Diego Padres didn’t even interview him for their managerial opening when he was already on their coaching staff.

    Roberts has the highest winning percentage (.627, 851-507) of any manager in MLB history, with the six most postseason wins in history, and only Hall of Famers Bobby Cox and Joe McCarthy have compiled more seasons of 100 wins.

    “The only ones questioning it, I think, are you guys,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said at the pennant celebration. “He’s won four pennants in eight years. Anyone who thinks they can do better than that…”

    However, when you have a massive salary cap, a star-studded team and the greatest player in the game in Ohtani, no one in Los Angeles wants to hear about their 12 pitchers on the injured list. Or that the team played without Betts for two months and Muncy for three months and only has three healthy starters in the World Series. Roberts called this season the most challenging of his managerial career.

    “I’ve learned to have a thicker skin,” said Roberts, who produced the most famous stolen base in Red Sox history in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. “I try to appreciate that there will always be critics. Maybe more tired at times, but it’s a results business and I understand.

    If the Dodgers don’t win the World Series, he will be impeached. If a reliever he calls up from the bullpen doesn’t make it, he’ll be blamed.

    “Everyone always wants to criticize, but I can’t say enough good things about him,” Muncy said. “I don’t think he gets enough credit. There are a lot of things he does great, but one of the things he does best is take all the heat from the fans, even if he doesn’t deserve it.

    “There are many times he makes decisions because something is happening behind the scenes. Maybe he didn’t bring this pitcher. Or didn’t hit this guy. Or maybe not at first on this guy. He’ll never put it out there and protect us, but because of that, he gets to carry the heat and he has no problem with it.

    “What makes him so special is that he’s so in tune with everyone at the club.”

    Want to know why the Dodgers have a fresh bullpen that has dominated the postseason, look no further than Roberts’ decisions throughout the season to keep them fresh.

    “I appreciate how well he’s taken care of the bullpen all year,” reliever Evan Phillips said. “He always has our health first and our future first. He had this moment in mind when he took care of us. all year, making sure we’re ready for the World Series.”

    “He takes the brunt”

    The Yankees, aware that Boone could have been fired if they didn’t make the playoffs, share the same respect. Boone is a player’s manager. You won’t hear him publicly criticizing a player. It doesn’t ridicule the decisions made by the front office.

    He was a player himself, playing 12 years as an All-Star third baseman and hitting one of the most famous home runs in Yankee history with the walkoff walk in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox.

    Yankees players swear you’ll never see him break a sweat. Instead, he’ll be in the clubhouse cracking jokes, having fun and speaking for his alma mater, USC.

    When Boone was reminded of their collegiate rivalry — that he and Roberts had when he played for the Trojans and Roberts played for the UCLA Bruins — he said at the press conference:

    “You’re a Trojan for life, you’re a Bruin for four years. This is probably the case with Doc. It’s probably indifferent. I get mad when the Trojans lose. I’m like, uh, whatever.”

    So if you think Boone is stressing about managing in his first World Series, sorry, you’ve got the wrong guy.

    “He’s always been great,” Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt said, “but he also seems a lot calmer in these stressful times. Obviously, these postseason games bring a lot of stress and might force you to make a decision sooner than usual. May. But he seems to be very calm and obviously making the right decisions this year.

    “It’s fun to have a calm manager. Everything is reflected from top to bottom. If you have a guy at the helm who’s calm and cool and someone you can trust to be calm in those big situations, it carries over in the locker room.”

    Boone refuses to stifle anyone’s personality or force them to conform to Yankee standards. Okay, you still can’t have a beard or wear shoulder-length hair, but if you want to flaunt it, if you want to rock it, feel free.

    “It was great playing for Boone, man,” said outfielder Jazz Chisholm, who was traded to the Yankees in July from the Miami Marlins. “He’s a great manager. It’s here for the players. Everyone trusts him. The number 1 thing to do is trust your manager and that’s how it all starts.

    “He loves everything I do.”

    Rookie Prince Austin Wells says, “He’s definitely had to stick his neck out for me a few times this year. I appreciate what he does. He allowed personalities what they needed to be to be successful. I know it is very helpful to my success.”

    Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton was never criticized by Boone during his injury-riddled seasons. He was never called for slacking. He never brought up his contract.

    Boone stuck with it and Stanton became the ALCS MVP, hitting four homers with seven RBIs.

    “It’s unreal,” Stanton said. “He’s the perfect player manager. He’s very communicative. You know what’s on his mind. He doesn’t mind having that conversation. And that’s what you want.

    “You’re not always going to agree on things here and there, but to be able to have a conversation and understand where both sides are coming from, I think everybody appreciates that.”

    Stanton certainly heard his share of boos at Yankee Stadium. Even Aaron Judge did it. Indeed, no Yankee player was immune.

    However, one man has fans asking for his job every time the Yankees lose.

    “He takes it a lot,” Stanton said, “especially when it’s based on our performance. That’s what makes us all family and we love it.”

    This next week or so, Boone and Roberts will once again hear the slight criticism every time they lose a game. They will have fans asking for their jobs. And whoever loses the World Series will have fans screaming at them all winter.

    It’s the beauty of managing two of baseball’s most iconic franchises, and of course, the curse of it.

    “He’s just someone I have a lot of respect for,” Boone said of Roberts, “and definitely someone you relate to what you go through in this job. In many ways, our jobs and markets are similar.”

    Boone won’t win the World Series by himself. Neither will Roberts.

    These star-studded lists will determine the final outcome.

    “The game is bigger than all of us,” Roberts said, “and I don’t hesitate to tell the players that.”

    Win the World Series and Boone or Roberts will be absolutely adored.

    Lose the World Series, get called an idiot.

    “It’s the life I chose,” Roberts said.

    Watch Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

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