For days after the largest disappointment in Dodgers historical past, followers have been furiously fanning the blame as if it had been an unsightly yellow towel.

Fireplace Dave Roberts! Fireplace Andrew Friedman! Promote the group! Rent an ornithologist!

The Dodgers’ historic collapse in opposition to the San Diego Padres within the Nationwide League Division Collection final weekend has led to sufficient finger-pointing to occupy all of the gloves they received’t want till February.

All however one notable group, it appears, has been accused of dereliction of Dodgers obligation.

Everybody has been blamed however the Dodgers gamers themselves.

Actually, this one is on them.

Roberts had a awful seventh inning within the deciding Sport 4 and nonetheless wants extra dugout assist. Friedman failed to amass a beginning pitcher throughout a summer season commerce deadline debacle and must rethink his clubhouse tradition.

However, for as soon as, neither of the same old villains was the largest purpose for the embarrassment.

This one is on the $260 million value of gamers who got here up low cost.

That is one is on the detached bats that hit .147 with runners in scoring place, practically 130 factors lower than their league-leading common within the common season.

This one is on the languid gloves that frequently did not make the influence catch or create the game-changing play.

This one is on the businesslike assortment of clubhouse veterans who didn’t present the form of fireplace essential to match the upstart Padres and their crazed followers. The place was their Kirk Gibson once they wanted him? The place was their Bulldog?

This one is on Mookie Betts, whose contract is a team-high $365 million and who wants to start out performing prefer it. He had two hits in 4 video games, batted .143, boooo-kie

This one is on Justin Turner, additionally two hits, batted .154, a group chief who wanted to hold extra of the load.

This one is on Trea Turner, potential free agent whose botched grounder in Sport 2 was the start of the tip, good understanding you.

This one is on Will Smith, three hits, .188 batting common, a stress participant deflated.

This one is on Cody Bellinger. He had one hit in seven at-bats with 4 strikeouts, goodness they should ship him someplace else, now.

“Clearly, everybody desires a clear-cut reply, and I believe in case you had been to boil it all the way down to its easiest kind, within the common season, we led baseball in each statistical class with runners in scoring place …. On this sequence, we weren’t good,” Friedman stated Tuesday. “The query is, is it baseball? Or are there issues we are able to do to enhance upon that? Are there levers we are able to pull, are there issues to place us in a greater place there?”

There are issues to enhance. There are many levers to drag. However peering intently via the smoke of this specific wreckage, one can look previous Roberts and Friedman and see the passionless expressions of a group that merely couldn’t summon the sense of urgency required for a five-game dash in opposition to a determined opponent.

On this group of stars so completed they completed with the fourth-highest regular-season win complete in baseball historical past, any individual wanted to place this clubhouse on their shoulders and carry it via this primary treacherous step. That’s the way it’s carried out. That’s how each championship hopeful group does it.

The Philadelphia Phillies have Bryce Harper. The Padres have Manny Machado. The Houston Astros have Yordan Alvarez.

The Dodgers had Betts speaking earlier than Sport 4 about how the potential elimination sport felt the identical as every other sport.

“We are able to’t begin including further stress, particularly from inside…. It’s nonetheless the identical sport we’ve been enjoying since February,” he stated.

No, it’s not. The postseason is a distinct season and the Dodgers wanted to acknowledge that, and but they calmly solid forward as if it had been June.

Dodgers proper fielder Mookie Betts waits within the dugout earlier than Sport 1 of the NLDS.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)

If you consider it, the one Dodgers group that has received a World Collection championship throughout their present 10-year run of domination was the one which performed in essentially the most non-October postseason surroundings in historical past.

It was 2020, there have been few followers within the stands, and each huge sport was performed at Globe Life Discipline in Arlington, Texas.

“So lots of our guys have loads of postseason expertise, it’s not being intimidated by the second,” protested Friedman.

But, in contrast to the swaggering Dodgers champions of previous seasons — keep in mind, Fred Claire signed Kirk Gibson just because he would trigger a ruckus — these Dodgers have been constructed not for that second, however for the lengthy haul.

Friedman is searching for a lever? How about an offseason acquisition that can produce a clubhouse chief with some recent fireplace? It needs to be an on a regular basis participant. He needs to be Patrick Beverley in a ballcap.

Betts shouldn’t be constructed to do it. Freddie Freeman is simply too nice to do it. Will Smith is simply too quiet to do it.

And it’s not the supervisor’s job to do it, Roberts has different stuff on his plate.

Like, determining easy methods to efficiently navigate stress October innings.

No, Roberts shouldn’t be getting fired, Friedman confirmed that Tuesday, and it was no shock.

Roberts has a better successful share than any six-year supervisor in baseball historical past, a stint that has included six playoffs, three World Collection appearances, and one short-season World Collection championship. In addition to, are you legally allowed to fireside any baseball supervisor after 111 wins?

Nonetheless, the native criticism of this supervisor reached a essential mass this week after a chaotic elimination sport that was as soon as once more plastered with Roberts’ fingerprints.

A beginning pitcher pulled too quickly. A star reliever used too late. A miscommunication that grew to become a game-winning hit. Dodgers followers have seen this earlier than. A vital loss in at the least three different shedding postseason sequence have been painted with the identical brush.

It was a large number once more, and Roberts is aware of the chatter is on the market once more, however he stated he has a solution for it.

“Actually, I actually haven’t paid consideration to it,” Roberts stated in a cellphone interview Tuesday. “What I do know was there was loads of work and preparation and thought that went into giving the gamers one of the best likelihood for achievement.”

Friedman backed him up, saying, “I personally don’t suppose the criticism that Dave has acquired has been truthful.”

A lot of the warmth on each males has stemmed from the notion that Roberts is pressured to observe a script written by Friedman, a notion that Friedman has vehemently denied.

Friedman was irritated when requested if Roberts is allowed to make his personal in-game choices.

“One hundred percent,” he stated. “And we’ve answered this loads of occasions.”

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman speaks throughout a information convention Oct. 18 at Dodger Stadium.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

When advised of Friedman’s assertion, Roberts confirmed it.

“Every part that we do, there’s info, and I welcome all of it…. There’s so many situations I have to be ready for,” he stated. “However, finally, do I make the choices? Completely.”

This being the case, whereas Friedman is searching for a sport changer within the clubhouse, he must additionally give Roberts extra assist in the dugout. The sport quickens. Roberts can get misplaced within the numbers. He must be reminded to handle together with his eyes.

One resolution Roberts stated he doesn’t second-guess was final spring’s public assure that this group would win a World Collection championship.

“I don’t remorse it…. I believe it confirmed how a lot perception I’ve within the gamers and group,” he stated. “I don’t suppose my quote in spring coaching had any bearing on 4 video games in October. Phrases are highly effective, however mine usually are not that highly effective.”

But, will he offer the identical promise subsequent spring? What do you suppose?

“I received’t be guaranteeing it subsequent 12 months, however my perception on this group is simply as robust,” he stated.

Exasperated Dodgers followers might want to see some adjustments earlier than sharing that perception.

Whereas Roberts and Friedman have a lot work to do, this time these adjustments want to start out with the Dodgers gamers themselves.