Before the opening game of the series against the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres owner José E. Feliciano made a quip that said Mark Walter “owns a lot of dinosaurs,” a line that quickly drew attention because some readers first took it as a jab at roster age. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then answered the joke on AM 570 with a response that fit the moment: “I guess from what I heard, we have some dinosaurs,” Roberts said. “But I like our dinosaurs, and our dinosaurs have come through in the biggest spots.”
The exchange added a little extra postseason color to the Dodgers’ build-up, especially because it came before the club had even opened the series against the Atlanta Braves. It also served as a reminder of how quickly a throwaway comment can take on a different meaning once it is filtered through the rivalry lens.
Roberts keeps the focus on the Dodgers
Rather than leaning into the back-and-forth, Roberts kept his answer centered on performance and trust. His point was simple: if the Dodgers are being labeled with veteran-heavy language, he is comfortable with it because those same players have already delivered in key moments. That is where the “dinosaurs” line landed for him — not as an insult, but as a nod to experience.
Roberts also said the club felt good after its work before the game. “We’re in a good spot. We’re excited. I thought we got our work in. It was good intent, and we came out of it healthy. We accomplished everything we wanted,” he said. For a team preparing for October, that kind of answer matters just as much as the joke itself.
Potential October path adds more intrigue
The broader reason the comment drew even more attention is the path ahead. The article notes that the Dodgers could face the Padres later that fall if both teams advanced to the National League Championship Series. That possibility gives even a light exchange between Padres owners and the Dodgers an added edge, because the rivalry could still grow from a sound bite into a postseason meeting.
Roberts did not spend much time on the joke itself, and he did not need to. His response made the Dodgers’ view plain: age is less important than results, and he is happy to ride with the players who have already shown they can handle the biggest spots. In a tense postseason environment, that is often the only answer that really matters.
