Dave Roberts Expects a Hostile Philly Crowd at the All-Star Game. He Gets It.

Dave Roberts knows exactly what kind of reception he and his Dodgers are walking into this week. And he’s not expecting any Southern hospitality.

The Los Angeles manager will be running the National League squad at Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. That’s the same city where the Dodgers ended the Phillies’ season last October, taking two straight games at Citizens Bank Park to kick off a playoff run that eventually delivered Los Angeles its second consecutive World Series title.

“I don’t think me and the Dodgers will be too well received,” Roberts told reporters, including Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

He’s probably right. Philly fans hold grudges. They show up loud. And they haven’t forgotten how the Dodgers walked into their building and took Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS before closing out the series at home in four games. That loss stung then. It still stings now.

But Roberts isn’t losing sleep over it. He’s been around long enough to understand the drill. The All-Star Game is supposed to be a celebration of the sport’s best talent, but in Philadelphia, it’s also going to be a reminder of what could have been for the home team. The boos will come. The chants will follow. And Roberts will probably just tip his cap and get on with it.

The Dodgers Are Riding High, Even With Some Bumps

Los Angeles stumbled into the break with a rough home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the season as a whole has been pretty smooth. The Dodgers own the best record in the National League, which is why Roberts is managing the All-Star team in the first place. That’s the rule: the manager from the previous year’s pennant winner runs the show.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. For the second straight year, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been banged up. Injuries have tested their depth, though the lineup has mostly carried the load. Shohei Ohtani, the biggest star on the roster, is sitting out the All-Star festivities this year with a knee issue. That’s a blow for the event, but the Dodgers are more concerned about getting him right for the second half.

The break should give Los Angeles a chance to reset. Get healthy. Breathe a little. They’ve earned it.

Philly Crowds Don’t Forget

Philadelphia fans have a long memory and a short fuse. They cheered when the Eagles won the Super Bowl. They booed Santa Claus. They will absolutely let Roberts and his Dodgers contingent hear it on Tuesday night.

And honestly? Roberts seems fine with that. He’s been booed before. He’ll be booed again. The All-Star Game is just one night. The real test comes later, when the games start to matter again and the Dodgers try to make another run at the title. If they end up back in Philadelphia for the playoffs, the reception will be even louder.

For now, Roberts is just focused on the game. The All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. He’ll manage his guys, try to win for the NL, and probably smile every time the crowd lets him have it.