PHOENIX — The TV cameras are on him constantly. The microphones and notebooks are in his face. The fans are looking for his reaction. Sorry, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts refuses to let you see him sweat. Oh, he’ll get angry. He’ll seethe inside. But if you want to see him put on a show for the crowd, you’ve got the wrong guy. And if you want to blame someone for Roberts’ stoicism or lack of emotion, yell at Bud Black, Roberts’ close friend who managed the San Diego Padres and initially hired Roberts to be on his coaching staff. “Buddy is the guy that really helped me," Roberts tells USA TODAY Sports. “He's been so instrumental in me managing people. "A lot of times people want me to get pissed at something and I remember watching Buddy at the end of the bench, and he's just so calm. People want a reaction, but I've learned that these guys watch everything I do. If they react the way I do and can kind of stay the course, they follow. “It’s a real thing, especially now when people want me to be Tommy Lasorda, or they want the emotions if we lose. That's not sustainable and that's not even who I am. I’ve got to love my players. They’re going to be knuckleheads at times, but I still got to love them because they're doing the best they can."
He still gets upset when they lose, but after a win win, he treats it as if it were a playoff game, knowing just how hard it is to win in the big leagues. You’ve got to savor the victories. “I remember Buddy telling me the story that they're playing in Kansas City, it’s 125 degrees on the turf, and George Brett is playing third base," Roberts says. “He goes 'I'm going to be the first one on the field, first one off the field, every inning. And I'm not going to have a drink of water all game. But after we get this win, the first sip of that beer is going to taste so good. “So all game long, George does that, throws out two or three hits, they win, and he’s drinking beer and celebrating a major-league win. “That’s why I love shaking hands after the game because of everything that goes to it. It’s hard to win a major-league game. We’re struggling. But just to shake hands after the end of the game, man, that's what it's all about.’’ Don’t get Roberts wrong. He despises losing. But, never, ever, does he take it home with him. “I mean, I get pissed," he says. “I hate losing. But about 45 minutes after the last out, I’m feeling good." Oh, and he is quite proud of one feat. “Never once have I ever slept in the clubhouse after a game," Roberts proudly says. “Not once. Not many old-school managers can say that."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How does Dave Roberts stay so calm in Dodgers cauldron? Let him explain.