As the Dodgers prepared for the 2025 season, La Opinion asked Dave Roberts what his and his team's commitment was to the fans. The manager responded in a playful and slightly boastful tone: “Get ready for back-to-back championships.” The ever-optimistic Roberts knew he had a very capable team to once again achieve the goal of the so-called world championship. But perhaps he didn't imagine that to achieve it and fulfill his playful promise from March, he, his staff, and his players would have to overcome so much adversity, push themselves to the limit, and endure hardship. The Dodgers didn't let their manager down. They lifted the World Series trophy on Saturday in Toronto after a great victory and celebrated with their loyal fans this Monday in Los Angeles, first in a parade through downtown that many of the players described as “epic,” and an hour later in a stadium packed with fans and excitement. Of course, there have been many powerful teams that, despite being favorites, have won consecutive baseball titles. And it's understandable that many fans outside of Southern California might downplay the Dodgers' new conquest, assuming they were "the best team" in terms of talent. But judging the Dodgers' title based on that simplistic idea that they were the most talented team, or worse, that they "bought this championship," would be quite shortsighted. The Dodgers had to battle against adversity and overcome it with character. They deserve credit. The high expectations surrounding these "super Dodgers" collided with a harsh reality during the regular season: they weren't quite "super." Super-million dollar contracts don't win games. To be in contention, they were going to need many players who weren't even initially considered. More adversity than expected. Injuries devastated Roberts' team, which on many days during the summer had none of its starting pitchers available except for Yoshinobu Yamamoto.Three of their four major signings didn't pan out. In fact, Tanner Scott, Kirky Yates, and Michael Conforto weren't in the playoffs. The bullpen, by the way, was a disaster for months. As for hitting, Shohei Ohtani's daily feats somewhat masked the Dodgers' inconsistency. Home runs didn't come easily, and this team was never known for producing runs. When the playoffs arrived, the Dodgers continued to struggle to score runs, but with their aces finally healthy and a makeshift reliever (Roki Sasaki) who solved a major weakness, they eliminated teams that were in better form and had home-field advantage (Philadelphia and Milwaukee). Then came the World Series, where they were truly tested. Toronto hit better (75 hits to 53) and had a better ERA (3.21 to 3.95). The Blue Jays seized the momentum by winning two of three games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won the title because they never gave up and because, when it mattered most, their players—stars and non-stars alike—did the job as a team and with a lot of heart. They won because they already knew what it takes to be the last team standing. And they won because their leader, Dave Roberts, applied all his experience and instincts acquired through years of successes and failures. Dave Roberts' Masterpiece: A constant target of criticism when things aren't going well, Roberts now has three championships as Dodgers manager and has confirmed that he is one of the best skippers. The 53-year-old has one foot in Cooperstown. Last year, he managed his team with relievers—many of them—to beat the Yankees in the World Series, lacking a strong rotation. Now he did it with his starting pitchers—four of whom pitched in Game 7—because that's what he had.

Furthermore, he himself explained on Saturday in Toronto that he managed this series more based on people, on "feeling," and not on statistics. That's why Miguel Rojas appeared for the decisive Games 6 and 7, and that's why Yamamoto appeared with zero days of rest, without any prior experience with him in a similar situation.

The Dodgers didn't win because they were the most expensive or complete team in the World Series.

It's fair to say Toronto was the better team and could have won Games 3, 6, and obviously 7. In each of those games, the Dodgers had to find unconventional and unexpected ways to pull through. "Yes, we have a super team and all, but it was a real struggle," a weary Freddie Freeman summarized on Monday at Dodger Stadium. And when a team faces adversity, when it seems all is lost but they manage to keep going,It's always enjoyed more. You can be sure that whatever happens with the Dodgers, there will be no sweeter victory for them than the one in 2025.

First baseman Freeman kept the championship ball after completing a double play in the 11th inning of Game 7 in Toronto. A while later, he went to his manager's office at Rogers Centre, waited for 10 minutes, and handed him the historic ball.

“You deserve this more than anyone,” Freeman told Roberts, the man who never stopped believing and who ultimately kept his word.

“Back to back, baby.”