The collapse of the Dodgers in the playoffs after a 111-win season and renewed calls for Dave Roberts to go got me thinking of Casey Stengel. Here's a crazy idea: Maybe he gets too little credit for managing the Yanks to five straight WS victories, despite his incredible line-up. The Dodgers have had top-tier line-ups in recent years, but have only claimed 1 WS.
Roberts' Dodgers
LAD 2016 91 71 .562 Lost NLCS
LAD 2017 104 58 .642 Lost WS
LAD 2018 92 71 .564 Lost WS
LAD 2019 106 56 .654 Lost NLDS
LAD 2020 43 17 .717 WS*
LAD 2021 106 56 .654 Lost NLCS
LAD 2022 111 51 .685 Lost NLDS
Stengel's Yankees over 5 year-stretch
NYY 1949 97 57 .630 WS
NYY 1950 98 56 .636 WS
NYY 1951 98 56 .636 WS
NYY 1952 95 59 .617 WS
NYY 1953 99 52 .656 WS
From
Wikipedia: "Stengel remains the only manager to lead his club to victory in five consecutive World Series. How much credit he is due for that accomplishment is controversial, due to the talent on the Yankee teams he managed—Total Baseball deemed that the Yankees won only six games more than expected during the Stengel years, given the number of runs scored and allowed. According to Bak, "the argument—even among some Yankees—was that the team was so good anybody could manage it to a title". Rizzuto stated, "You or I could have managed and gone away for the summer and still won those pennants""
But maybe it isn't too easy to just let the great ones play and win the WS. There are so many moments where managers make a difference by taking a pitcher out or pinch-hitting at a key moment.
Is Roberts worse than he is given credit for? Is Stengel better?
Would love your thoughts.