Dodger Talk is sponsored by LA Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to
millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. Welcome the Dodger Talk on this
all Star Tuesday. David Vasse with you until eight o'clock tonight here on AM
five to seventy LA Sports, and we have a great show for you.
Not only are we going to recap Teoscar Hernandez becoming the first Dodger ever to
win the home run Derby, but coming up in our next segment, we'll
hear from one of the best pitchers of his generation, a Dodger tormentor in
many ways, but a great competitor and an even better guy, and that
is Jake Peevey, the former Padre and San Francisco giant who is now on
the set for MLB Network. Also coming up at the bottom of the hour,
Since earlier this year, only a couple of weeks ago, did we
celebrate Clayton Kershaw's ten year anniversary of his one and only no hitter. A
j Ellis will join us as well. We'll share a conversation with you that
I had with Aj that really took us into a deep dive on Kershaw's no
hitter. Aj was the catcher that night, and certainly a great time to
reflect on a great moment in Dodger history, the great Kershaw's only career no
hitter, and many believe that was a perfect game, even though it did
not show up that way in the box score. Many believe that was the
single greatest game pitched in the regular season in baseball history, or at least
in the modern era. So we'll have aj on to share the insights of
Kershaw's one and only career no hitter that took place on June eighteenth, twenty
fourteen, and Jake Peevey will join us in the next segment as well.
But many of you are excited for Teoscar Hernandez to win the home run Derby
last night? He was Can you believe this? He was one of the
bigger underdogs going into the home run Derby last night. Vegas had the odds
for Hernandez to win the home run derby fourteen to one. So if you
were one of these Dodger fans that just bet on the Dodgers to win the
World Series every year, I hope you bet on Taoscar Hernandez to win the
home run Derby, because you would have made yourself some nice summer vacation cash
if you would have taken Taoscar Hernandez, who was a fourteen to one underdog,
to win the home run derby, and it was great to see him
go toe to toe with Bobby Wood Junior. What I thought was interesting was
in the final round, Taoscar Hernandez did not look like he was going to
have enough juice left to outlast Bobby Wood Junior. And I also was concerned
about Dino Ebel, who may have been getting a little tired throwing BP all
that time. But those two, dino Ebel and Taoscar Hernandez regrouped after Oscar
took the time out that he was allowed it in that final round. Vladimir
Guerrero Junior brought Taioscar Hernandez's Blue Jays jersey with him and was wearing it in
the final round and also gave Taoscar some piece of advice. Here's what Taoscar
Hernandez said after the home run derby on what Vladdie Junior told him that was
one of the biggest surprises today. Well, he did, he said yesterday
when we get to we'll get here to the hotel. Zach, I got
a surprise for you, compilding, so I'm gonna show it tomorrow. So
he brings my jersey from Toronto, and when he goes to home play,
he was trying to calm down myself. He had passed through the two times
and it works well, he said, it works. It helped me going
into the last around on the fun That was awesome. Taoscar Hernandez and Vladdie
Junior, his former teammate in Toronto, staying all the way to the end
to support his former teammate and countrymen, both great Proud Dominican Republic baseball players,
and it was awesome to see Taoscar Hernandez win the home run Derby by
one home run. Bobbywood Junior, by the way, he almost tied the
home run Derby if you remember his final swing. His final out scraped the
left center field wall. He was that close to winning the home run Derby,
or at least sending it to overtime. And that was an exciting finish
because Bobbywood Junior is from the Dallas Fort Worth area, so he had the
hometown crowd behind him to try to help him gain that energy and momentum to
try to at least force another round of the home run derby. But all
of us are super excited for Taoscar Hernandez. He is one of the most
fun loving guys. He's got a great smile, He's a great team guy.
I was hoping somebody would have the sunflower seeds for Taascar Hernandez after he
won the home run derby, to throw in his face like he does for
his teammates. The only teammate I saw stick around for the finals was Tyler
Glass. Now where was shoe hey Otani? Where was Freddie Freeman? Where
was Will Smith? Where were the rest of the Dodgers to support their teammate?
And you know, I was thinking about it today. I was thinking
about am I going to come on and crush those guys for not staying there?
Because we saw the entire Phillies All Star contingent stay there for Alec Bohm
who was eliminated in the semis. We saw the Royals teammates Sal Perez and
Cole Reagan's be there for Bobby Wood Junior, even Vladimir Guerrero juniors stayed there
for Taoscar Hernandez and I was thinking, man, where were these guys?
And I feel like that's a legitimate question, and I feel like we all
are a little disappointed all the Dodgers did not stay there. But man,
that was a long show. And I've talked to some guys that have participated
in the home run Derby that we're watching last night, and they said,
man, that was a long show. I don't blame them for late leaving,
but I will say this, even with it being a long show,
and Baseball has got to do a better job to keep this pace moving,
because if you were at Dodger Stadium for the home run Derby, it is
a made for TV show. And that's fine. You're kind of part of
a studio audience if you're at one of these home run derbies. But you've
got to pick up the pace and it can't be drawn out as long as
it has. I mean, there have been critics of the dunk contest and
the way they do things, and I feel like Major League Baseball, with
all these tweaks, you've got to kill some of the dead time in between
these hitters swinging, and I know it's exhausting for them, but come on,
you got to speed this up, and the tempo's got to be better.
So I'm on the fence now about whether or not to really slam the
rest of the Dodgers for not staying there for Taoscar Hernandez. But I'm sure
they had their reasons, but come on, you got to be there for
the guy, right, I mean, we wanted to see Otani throw the
sunflower seeds at Taoscar Hernandez at the end. We wanted to see Freddie and
Charlie there. We wanted to see Will Smith there to embrace their teammate who
became the first Dodger ever to win the home run derby. But on the
flip side, I understand that it was a long show, but come on,
you could have stayed right, I mean, we wanted to see you
guys be there. But kudos to Tyler Glass Now for staying there until the
finish and being there for his teammate Taoscar Hernandez. And kudos to Dino Ebel,
who has thrown to a few different hitters in this home run derby format.
And Dino even got a press conference after last night's victory. Yeah,
you know, I don't call it really pressure do this every day this,
that's my job. I always joke around with the players. My job is
to get lit up and batting practices. I just got to know, you
know where they like it and you know they're, yeah, I'm not perfect.
I'm gonna throw some balls and do some balls down in the way.
But you know he's a trooper. That this guy. He believed in himself.
I believed in him. He uh, he just showed it to the
world to night, that Wayne talent, and he showed up. They're so
proudly and so happy for the Dodger organization, the first one to He's been
some heavy hitters and in this organization, but special moments. I'm still the
static just watching the family. For me, was you know, the best
part with Tail raising that trophy if it was good? All right? There
is Dino Ebol, Dodgers third base coach and maybe the best batting practice thrower.
If you were watching some of these other guys and their BP throwers,
it was night and day compared to Dino Ebel. I feel like that may
have been the difference for Taoscar Hernandez to beat Bobby Wood Junior. Obviously,
ta Oscar has got to be the guy to hit the home runs, but
man Dina was putting those pitches right in his sweet spot, right in his
swing, and they certainly had a game plan to be able to pull the
ball to left field. If you try to go center field or right field
if you're a right handed hitter, it wasn't going anywhere. So that was
a great strategy for Taioskar Hernandez to be able to pull that ball. And
nobody knows globelie Field better as a BP pitcher than Dino Eble. It feels
like that's the Dodgers' second home since twenty twenty, since they went on that
twenty twenty World Series ride in the bubble. There that home clubhouse that the
Rangers used that was basically the Dodgers clubhouse, and they may be co renters
and not surprising Corey Seeger has done what he's done with the Rangers. I
mean, I feel like that is the house that Seger made famous when the
Dodgers won the World Series in twenty twenty. So congratulations to Taoscar Hernandez and
Dino Ebol. And Dino threw BP twice because he threw it to his son
the day before for a high school Baseball Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field.
So Dino knew what he was doing out there, and it couldn't happen
to two better guys, Dino Ebol and Taoscar Hernandez. The winning team the
first player ever as a Dodger to win the home run Derby. Remember Jock
Peterson back in twenty fifteen. Twenty sixteen came up short to Todd Frazier in
Cincinnati. That was the closest a Dodger has ever come to winning the Home
Run Derby. So kudos to Taoscar Hernandez. We're gonna take a time out
here on Dodger Talk. When we continue, will be joined by MLB Network
Zone Jake Pevia, two time World Series champion. Don't go anywhere more Dodger
Talk until eight o'clock right here on a five to seventy LA Sports on this
All Star Tuesday. Right now, we are joined by a man that was
one of the best pitchers of his generation and certainly a man that was known
for his competitive spirit during his career that saw him win two World Series titles,
one with the Giants, the other with the Boston Red Sox. He
pitched eleven years in the NL West with the Padres and San Francisco Giants.
He's a cy Young Award winner. He's a triple Crown winner. He's a
three time All Star and now part of MLB Network's coverage during the All Star
break. He is a champion of the people, the one and only Jake
Peevie. Jake, thanks a lot for the time. Appreciate it. What
an introduction. It's an honored to be here. I know Dodger fans may
have mixed feelings. We have Dave Roberts in common. Dave Roberts tied and
put this bad blood together. And that's the beautiful thing about post career.
You don't have to hate or be enemies with anybody. You can appreciate it
at all. You're such a nice guy. I don't think anybody could hate
you like they hated Madison Bumgardner. Well, I'll tell you what. Madison
gave the Dodger nation a lot to hate. He was one hell of a
teammate, I'll tell you that. And I don't get to carry around one
of those titles of champion if it's not for number forty. Him and Yasielpwi
come to mind. When you talk about Dodgers giants in general, no doubt
about it. And I guess before we move on Jake and get into all
that you mentioned Dave Roberts. You were teammates with him with the Padres.
Did you ever envision him being not only a manager, but this successful of
a manager doesn't surprise me one bit because a manager, he's just got to
know the game of baseball, but he's got to be able to communicate and
put it all together. And that's what the best that I played for were
able to do. They were incredible communicators. They could rally the truth.
The truth would rally around that person. That's who Dave is. And we've
seen that come to fruition. You know, Look, we can get deep
into it. And I think the guy should have another world title too,
if another team's not cheating, and you know, so, look, I
think if he does have that other world title, he's viewed even differently than
he is. Dave Roberts is a great manager and to no surprise of anybody
who's been a friend, teammateer around him. It's interesting you brought that up
twenty seventeen. If the Dodgers win that World Series, championship, Jake,
the narrative surrounding two men, Dave Roberts and Clayton Kershaw are completely different.
Well, that's why I brought that up, David, is because it needs
to be in the peripheral when you're having that discussion, because there's a huge
asteris by that, and it's the first thing that comes to my mind when
Dodger fans want to talk about who Dave Roberts is as a leader as a
manager, who the front office is. Look this front office since I kind
of when the changeover, when Andrew Freeman kind of came in, there's been
nobody front office wise, down through the on field product to the off field
marketing of the players that do it better than the Dodgers. And that's just
the truth in my opinions. Jake Peve is our guest, former Major League
pitcher now a great analyst on MLB Network. This will be Jake Peevey's first
All Star Game covering it for MLB Network during this All Star break, and
you'll see him on MLB Tonight and their coverage not only during the All Star
break but also in the second half of the season. Are you seeing the
game a little bit differently, Jake being in the studio than you did maybe
in the dugout on the days you didn't pitch well so much as went into
it because of how much the game's changed, and you can't be stubborn.
I think it's kind of labeled on me that I'm a non analytic guy,
or I'm the opposite in the studio of Brian Kenney, but that's not true.
I've continued to try to stay evolved, evolving with the game and to
stay current and now having so many friends still within systems. Mike Napoli is
a first Bay coach and been with David Ross, but he's still there now.
He's under Craig Counsel learning wanting to be a manager. Craig Breslow Chris
Young two former teammates that are now successful general managers. Craig Breslo in his
first year doing Wonders in Boston, Ce Why and Boach and those guys having
the belt. So these guys were very close friends. Andrew Bailey, you
know, who's now went over to join Breslow. You know, the guys
who I still have out there in the game are helping me stay relevant and
understand, you know, the new lingo. But the game is the game.
Winning baseball is winning baseball. You don't have to have anybody or analytics
tell you that. The when you watch the Dodgers play, you understand if
we're doing things the right way or the wrong way. And the leaders that
we're talking about in Dave Roberts, you know, still pushing the right buttons
awfully, you know. Good. Did you ever encounter the analytics towards the
end of your career, Jake? Of course, yeah. No, by
twenty sixteen, they were, you know, coming on full board and we
were getting ready to take off with them in San Francisco. You know,
it was kind of you know, and I think one of the things where
analytics went wrong is they pushed a lot of the experience and the older guys
and even the coaching staff managers Bochie out of San Francisco, I'm saying,
And that was there was many more that was I think where the analytics went
wrong. It just didn't it valued a young and upcoming star with somebody who
had years of experience and maybe didn't metric out as well, but but but
had those invaluable and intangibles that that add so much to a ball club,
and I you know, it was a tough mix because those guys wanted to
hold on and listen to the guys who had taught them the game, and
then guys were you know, in suits telling them, no, this is
how you got to look at it, and there wasn't really a marriage to
that. It was kind of a style takeover. Yeah, that's one way
to put it, for sure. Jake Peevee is our guest, and look,
I side with you, Jakes. I feel like analytics certainly has a
place in the game, but a three year sample size is not going to
help any manager win tonight. And maybe the macro of a one sixty two
marathon doesn't really reflect how you deviate or how you manage a game in the
postseason. I think play a big part in a data I think you're you're
all over and what you just said, and the Dodgers get this, Rise
just said, I don't want bee in front of all of sudden better are
heavily analytically driven, and I think over the macro that stuff can really play
out in place of your advantage. When we talk about winning championships, that's
a whole different story. Now, winning baseball and you can throw some of
the analytics out the window, and they need to take a little bit of
a back seat to game management and field and I'm talking and maybe like decisions.
And I hate to bring this up because I'm not throwing shade at anybody,
but I'm just going back and playing Monday morning. Quarterback Tyler Anderson coming
out of that game in San Diego was an analytical decision. It's seemingly Hilary
Loretta was sitting next to me, not watching the game at all, and
just said to me, I'm so glad they took that left hander out of
the game. We had no chance for him. They didn't care that Graderral
was you know what I'm saying, just a normal casual fan who was watching
the game had the feel of it of gosh, we have a better chance
versus anybody but that guy. And so I think when you get to the
playoffs, you have to match that feel because you're riding a hot hand.
Ruth Bochi's, you know, playing his hot hand that given night might go
against what the matchup says, but in the playoffs, I believe that stuff
wins championships. Two time World Series champion Jake Peevey knows all about it.
He is our guest. He's on MLB tonight's coverage of the All Star Game
and certainly their coverage during the entire baseball season. And Jake, that brings
me to the question twenty twenty four, how do you view this Dodger team
and their chances to get through the National League? Well, look, I
still view him as the class of the league. We have some big issues.
I'll start with the two teams behind you. I think Arizona's in real
trouble, potentially missing the dance. San Diego certainly has issues, but they're
coming. The Giants certainly have issues, but they're coming if they get some
healthy pieces back. And that leads us to the Dodgers. You have a
seven and a half game lead. We've got some When Mooki and Max Munzi
are back in this lineup, it gives it the length and look, especially
with ta Oscar providing the way he is. When you put those two bodies
back in this Dodger lineup, it becomes a lineup like kind of the Phillies
are on the opposition tonight. They're a complete lineup. You saw last night
seven through nine of that Philly team beat you seven for nine. They were
in the game last night. That's incredible when you're getting that kind of production
and you're winning games like they did last night. That Bryce Harper in the
middle other than Trey Turner goes over. So the Dodgers to me, when
you get Mookie and Max back, you're fine. I will tell you this,
when I just mentioned Trey Turner, I wish we were have signed Trey
Turner and that short stopposition would have been his because since he he's been himself
in August and had got used to Philly, he's been the best player in
the National League. And I think that contract is gonna be the best one
out of that winner signed over the length of it. The way he plays
the game and gets older, smarter and looks as good as ever. But
the Dodgers also on the same side. We're just beat up in a pitching
way of my gosh, if you look at since Yamamoto went on now Glass
now and on and on with the names, we've just you got a seven
and a half game lead that you're gonna be able to hold that lead throughout
the second half. We've just got to get healthy and poised and really respond
to being punched in the mouth the last few years in the postseason. Just
get there with an edge, and I believe your leadership not only with Dave
Roberts, but on the team. Freddie Freeman wants another title. He's a
world champion, Nuki Betts wants another one. Will Smith stud all Star Taoskar's
riding that way show Hey's the best player on the planet. But it can
happen. You just got to get in the playoffs healthy with those guys motivated.
I can't talk to Jake Peevee without asking him about future Hall of Famer
Clayton Kershaw. You've competed against him, you obviously respect him. Do you
believe that he'll be able to come back and look like himself after a major
shoulder surgery? Jake, It scares me. A major shoulder surgery is not
anything guaranteed, and anybody who knows about it will tell you that, and
that's just the facts of it. What I will tell you is Clayton Kershaw's
as good as anybody to maybe ever do it. He's in the question of
as good as anybody to ever do it. And greatness comes with longevity and
Clayton has just been the model of all of that greatness and longevity is all
encompassing Clayton Kershaw. The Dodger fans should be lucky to have him, and
none of the negativity should be allowed to see ben. It does when we
get older in our career and don't produce and we're not healthy. But I'm
just very glad that we have a chance for him to come back. I
think Clayton is as mentally strong as anybody I've ever met. You can't do
what he's done without it. The mind's a powerful thing in the body.
You know, Clayton's gonna work and do all of his rehab, and I
know he's doing that. I'll have a lot more feel maybe talking to some
guys today. As I told you, I'm on the way of the ballpark.
But Clayton Kershaw, this is all you need to know. He's as
good as maybe anybody has ever do it? Are you kidding? Meet?
The Dodgers have Sandy Kofax and Clayton Kershaw, the two best left handers of
all time to hang their hat on. Possibly, I hope to see him
one more time doing what we've seen him do for so long man, Jake
Peeve me fired up, throw away that suit. You got to take the
mound for the Dodgers. They need to forget about training for somebody. How
about just signing Jake Peevey. I tell you what what you've got coming off
the IL and what you've got in that minor league system. The arms,
You've got plenty coming. Mark Pryor is another friend, former teammate. You
guys are going to be just by. Well. You brought up Mark Pryor.
You and Mark Pryor had the best bent caps in baseball history. When
you used to bend your bill like prior. Yoh, you knew game was
on pv me and Prior matched up in the minor leagues in Double A and
then got to do it all through the big leagues. And gosh, what
a shame that he couldn't stay healthy because he would have been in that conversation
of the best to ever do it, the stuff out of this world.
IQ betch ability all there, man. I love Jake Peevy. That's why
it was. I knew it was going to be a tough day when you
saw him on the mound at Dodgers Stadium. Two time World Series champ and
Triple Crown winner. I mean, people don't give you the love because you're
so humble. You had one of the great careers in recent memory, Jake,
and it's an honor to have you on the show. And I hope
to meet you one day in beautiful Sandiago. I look forward to the same,
my friend. Thanks for having me all. What a great guy,
Jake Peevey. You knew when he was taking the mound you were going to
be in for a fight, and you could hear it in his voice.
Still he's got that fight in him and I love watching him on MLB Network.
He does a great job. Coming up next here on Dodger Talk,
we will catch up with former Dodger catcher aj Ellis, who took us inside
Clayton Kershaw's one and only career no hitter. It took place ten years ago
at Dodger Stadium. Don't go anywhere more Dodger Talk until the top of the
hour. Right here on a five to seventy LA Sports. You heard Peev
talk about Clayton Kershaw and you could hear the reverend he had for Kershaw in
the career and the competitor that he is. We just celebrated the ten year
anniversary of Kershaw's one and only career no hitter, and I had a chance
to catch up with this catcher that night. A j Ellis for a very
extensive, in depth interview about that special night on June eighteenth at Dodger Stadium.
Yeah, and that is amazing to hear Dave that I've passed over the
rubicon from professional friend to personal friend. I am, I am, I'm
shaking right now. I'm so excited to hear that we've crossed over in that
relationship. And I don't know, do we get like matching T shirts now,
or do we get like hats or like, what's the next step for
us? I think we should. We should get a T shirt pointing at
you and one pointing at me. Bes friends, let's let's do it.
I feel like I know that's how I feel. I'm not sure if that's
how you feel. No, I mean, I do. I really do
miss our time. I miss being out in l A. I miss I
missed coming to Dodger Stadium. Like I said, I said the day I
was created, it's it is the greatest home office in the world. And
uh, you know I did. I did enjoying my time there and mentally,
and uh, it was not just people on the field or people in
the in the stands or teammates that I had. It was people, you
know, doing a variety of jobs. And uh that doesn't include the media
at all, who had just an important role in uh providing a great lens
for our fans into the game, and yourself included. And UH, now
as we joke about it, but you know, you have been an amazing
advocate and amazing voice, uh for the Dodgers, and you're not afraid to
tell it as it is, and you give the Dodger fans a great perspective
of what it's like on a daily basis for the team. So congratulations to
you. Congradulations to this podcast another great avenue for you to connect with fans,
and uh fans are out in LA and Dodger fans around the world are
fortunate to be able to have access to a little bit even more of a
behind the scenes look to club. Well, thank you so much for that.
And I know everybody kept asking me after the Dodgers won the World Series
whether or not I got a ring or not, And honestly, the ring
meant nothing to me after I got two texts from guys that I really respect
and have accomplished so much in their careers. One was from you and the
other was from David Freese. That really sent a nice note and honestly to
me, that meant more than any material thing that they could have given me.
So your thoughtfulness really meant a lot to me. And full disclosure.
AJ. Last week on the podcast, I did share one of my favorite
memories being in Pittsburgh. I may have been overserved one night before a game
and I walk into the clubhouse and you out of nowhere throw a caterade bottle
at me and say, hey, drink this, that'll help. So that's
one of my PNC Park memories. Yeah, I do remember that. I
do remember that you were Hey, it's it's lessons we learned on the road.
It's a hydrate and uh, you know, if we got to make
sure that you're you're you're able to perform at at your peak level. So
it's my job there at two o'clock in the afternoon to uh, you know,
maybe put a little life back into the body, take a little color
back into the slush space that you had, and give you the ability to
uh to work a good game that night. Unfortunately, unfortunately that's maybe from
too much experience on my own end of understanding how to do bounce back uh
after especially in Pittsburgh when there's some good places to go and uh, some
places to hang out with the boys after a game. Hey, speaking about
the boys, how are my favorite people that you know, not your family
but your Kentucky friends. Oh? Nice, Yeah, they're doing it awesome.
Yeah, it was fun. We actually all turned forty this year and
all of us have gotten together. Well, we got together once we went
down to Kentucky and support and surprised a couple of the guys and got to
hang out with them. Just an awesome weekend. And then later in this
in this fall, the four of us are going to get together and experienced
the Rider Cup up here in Wisconsin, Wisconsin out but in Milwaukee suburb there
and the Ryder Cup is coming to Whistling Straits and we decided for a fortieth
birthday celebration for us to kind of commemorate our relationship, our friendship and turning
forty, we're going to spend some time at the Ryder Cup. So looking
forward to that for sure. That is awesome. Maybe you'll spend a night
at the Iron Horse, you know, with the friends. Now I'll open
up the ill ove up the mansion. Oh not the manson, I shouldn't
say. I'll leave ot to Andre. Andre is the one of the multiple
mansions all over the place. He actually claims that he owns my ore and
Milwaukee told me before. But yeah, that's a funny story. At Me
and Dre were on the bench one day and I was watching and one of
our hitters stepped up, who was notorious for swinging at the very first pitch
of the bat wildly, didn't matter where the pitch was, And I said,
I will bet my house. But he swings at the first pitch right
here, and of course, as you would have it, he doesn't swing
at the pitch, and Dre goes you, I own your house. Now
that's my house. Ever since, ever since that point, he's always referred
to me as being the caretaker for his Wisconsin home. Since I bet and
lost my home that day on the bench in Dowger Stadium. That is awesome.
You've had some very interesting conversations. Zach Granky said he would trade you,
and now Andre Ethier told you that he owns your house. Oh my
gosh, yeah, it's you know, I've been on the receiving end of
some some fun relationships and some some serious some serious characters in our sport,
and it just made it, maybe the years even that much more enjoyable when
you're around some fun people and guys who can keep you on your toes at
all time. June eighteenth is the anniversary of Clayton Kershaw's one and only career
no hitter. It's the seven year anniversary of you catching that no hitter.
And I went back to watch that entire game last night. I wanted to
point out a couple of different at bats, but before we do, I
know, Clayton's all on that five day schedule, good or bad. The
next day he's on to the next start. But do you remember what it
was like the day after the no hitter when he walked into the clubhouse.
Did you guys drive to the ballpark together that day? What was it like
if you remember now? Yeah, No, I think it was. I
think it was a little bit of business as usual for him, But also
I think he was out, was really still in that reflection mode of just
how special the previous night was it wasn't just a no hitter. I mean
it was it was it was him, you know, on the national stage,
you know, really putting a stamp on you know, who he was,
was the dominant pitcher. I think every run at that point knew,
you know, he had kind of you know, transcended into being the best
picture on the planet for that stretch of time that he was that he was
out there competing. But for him to do it in the way that he
did it, it wasn't just a no hitter. It was complete utter dominance
and it was the talk of baseball for the week to follow it. And
I think that was in the midst of him not mistaken like a thirty eight
or thirty nine Indian scorelesstreak he had going as well. So he was he
was at at as as our friend John Pratt Pratt like to say, he
was at the peak of his powers, and he was. He was.
He was absolutely dominant over that over the course of over the course of that
month. And yeah, so I think coming in the next day, you
know, obviously there's the next name media rush that comes as the national media
now wants to be a part of it, and there's interviews, and you
know people will from ail Me network want to connecting radio interviews, and so
there was definitely a flurry of people who really wanted to get a little bit
farther behind the curtain of what that game was all about. June eighteenth,
twenty fourteen, the one and only no hitter that Kershaws pitched so far,
and in that game, which was basically a perfect game despite it not being
that in the box score, there was only one three ball count a j
and that was in the second inning. To Josh Rutledge, does that ring
a bell? I mean it's the have a good slider. I think he
threw to get a ground out if I'm not mistaken, But yeah, it
was a day where it was It was one of those days where Clayton would
get strike one in a simple pattern or his his his standard pattern, and
that how we pitched at the time of it was just an aggressive fastball inside.
I think they were loaded up with all writing hitters on that day,
aggressive line up. Just Dickerson led off with the left. But but then
he it was one of those those handful of times I can remember where he
had his A plus slider and his A plus curveball working on the exact same
day, so really behind the plate, it was honestly just pretty simple for
myself of just putting down a pitch, getting strike one, and then kind
of just mixing and matching between the two breaking balls that we needed to use.
And he was he was efficiently putting guys away, and you know,
to strike down fourteen guys I believe it was that fifteen so few, Yeah,
that's right, fifteen guys and so and so few pitches. This speaks
to how just you know, dominant and efficient he was in that game.
Hey, the seventh inning was very eventful. Miguel Rojas made a great play
on Tulowitzki and Adrian had a nice scoop. But also in that seventh inning
was Hanley's throw that Adrian may or may not should have been able to get
and Brandon Barnes was the next batter after the Hanley error in the seventh inning.
Were you a little concerned that that may frustrate Clayton and things could unravel
there in that inning? No, actually I wasn't. I think my only
concern at that point was that you know, he had pitched, you know,
six clean innings in a row. So this is his first time being
in the stretch the entire day. So you know, this guy, he
just pitched them from the lineup for six trade innings, maybe trying to find
his rhythm, find his time into the stretch, but it's pretty evident that
he was. He was in a good spot right there. But really tough
play for Hanley and I came and got that on the run. And I
love watching back the highlights and watching you know, Hanley's hat go flying off,
and if you go back and watch it, you see Clayton bend over
and pick up his pick up Hanley's hat handed to him and say, hey,
nice try. Uh the handling just like no frustration, no no rotation,
and Clayton probably you know, probably never even looked at the school board.
It's als onto the next hitter, and it was onto the next guy,
and uh, you have to get to strike out of barns and then
you know two of whisky. Just a you know, always a tough battle
in the n last years that we had and he and Clayton had had many
epic showdowns over the years and ground ball down the line, the go Rojas
who uh, you know, it's really made a name for himself, you
know. And I think back then he was kind of an up and down
utility infielder, can kind of plug and you know, more for his glove
than his bat. And you know, as an aside, really proud of
Miguel in the career he's been able to carve out, carve out and the
leader he's become for that marveling team. But they had just a fantastic play
down the line and just to get rid of the ball and and and a
grace by a goal glover over at first base. So just a good all
around play and then to go and strike out. You have to remind up
believe his willing. Rosario was next if that's a mistake. If I'm not,
he was through it, through it, through a nasty curveball there to
freeze him. And at that moment, chatting off, trotting off the field,
it's almost like, way, that's that's the bullet we dodged, you
know, let's push through the finish line right here. Yeah, And in
that eighth inning, it was very easy for you guys to get through that
inning. And I noticed when both of you were coming off the field,
but especially Clayton, he had a sense. You could tell he had that
smirk on his face coming back to the dugout. He had a sense he
was going to get to the finish line. Did you feel that way too
after coming off the field in the eighth inning, Yeah, it felt good
about it for sure, And you're exactly right. It was. It was
very, very evident that the Rockies had figured out, do not let this
guy get too strikes because he's got a nasty strikeout stuff. And I toel
like they're desire to swing at first pitches and be a bat and just try
to get the first pitch they saw in play was definitely what their game plan
became from that point. But there's a great moment there after the eighth inning.
Uh, you know it was, Uh, We're sitting over the bench
and Rick Honeycutt and myself are over there, and obviously it's a no hitter
and it really want a matter for to know it or not. Clayton's gonna
sit by himself and no one's gonna talk to him, remembers, gonna let
him say his his tunnel vision, and uh, you know, Rick and
I are trying to figure out who they're gonna pinch. It. I can't
remember who all they had I do the pitch. It end up being Charlie
Colberson, who became a Dodger hero with a big home run in his career,
but Charlie was with the Rockies as a bench player. Both Rick and
I are trying to figure out who they're gonna who they're gonna pinch it,
and when you what our game plan is going to be against him and him
and are kind of Rick and Ire kind of standing there talking and looking.
Also we feel this presence come behind us and it's Clayton right there, and
he was looking like this. He says, hey, who do you think
they're gonna pinch hit? Well, you don't want to Jinx and no hitter
and no one wants to talk to the pitchers. So Rick and I were
just staring at each other like uh uh, like I'm not gonna go first,
and uh and Rick and then the Clayton just says that I think it's
gonna be Cleverson. I'm just gonna pitch my strengths. And I'm like that's
kind of now in my head, like yeah, pitch his strengths. And
he went back and sat back. But Rick Rick Rick he I always chuckle
and we tell that story just thinking about nobody wanted to be the one to
talk to Clayton, and Clayton came over and I wanted to talk about who
the pinter was going to be. And yeah, I mean there wasn't gonna
be some detailed game plan. Hey, Charlie Colberson, we got to go
curb ball first pitch and you were you were so locking He was so locked
in on that day that pitched the strengths, you know, And for ninety
nine percent of Clayton's career, especially in that era that he was pitched the
strengths. Was usually a pretty easy game plan for him to go out and
and be be who he was. Yeah, and Colberson swung at the first
pitch for the second out, it is he had. He had a nice
pop up the yachtiel out there in right field, which is probably the only
time that yachtiel caught a ball two hands out there right field, which was
interesting you go back and watch the highlight, but uh yeah, he secured
the catch and then set up the final bat with Colberson, I'm sorry with
Dickerson, which is also has a great fun moment where Clayton Corey flips the
foul ball into the left field or we had to dug out bleachers, and
I go running in full steam and I end up in Magic Johnson's lap over
there in the owner's box. I'm trying to catch a foul ball. It
was probably about twenty five rowers d but at definitely I'm trying to catch everything
I can. You had to know I was going to bring that up,
so you jumped me. No, I didn't know. It's it usually comes
up. It's one of it's one of those funny I ran full steam into
that thing like an idiot. You know, it's it's it's it's just trying
to make its play, trying to get there, and the adrenaline took over.
But uh yeah, I go running in. Clayton's like laughing at me.
If I remember Riley, It's like, I like smile at me,
like what are you doing? You're you're You're an idiot. Yeah, and
so yeah, but he went back and uh yeah, uh he threw a
slider and got the punch up. Yeah, and then uh yeah, next
pitch a slider that they got got got to the glove and I don't know
if you're gonna you're gonna bring this one up or not either. But uh,
it's funny if you watch the highlights back and watch the game, uh
three weeks earlier, uh, roughly in Philadelphia. I wasn't going to bring
this up. I was not going to bring this up. Josh Beckett threw
a no hitter and Drew but Terra. I love Drew. Drew is a
great friend, a great another great uh great character in our game. Drew
is a starting catcher, and Drew enough to celebrate, as he said,
and he's out there in the dog pile, bounce around his mask. Catcher's
mask goes flying into the pile. Well, here comes the athletic Midwest thirty
thirty five year old, you know, lumbering catcher into the dog pile.
Jumps up into the pile to celebrate with my teammates, and I land with
my right foot right on top of the Drew's catcher's mask, and it's pretty
severely sprained my ankle and they put me on the DL for eighteen days.
And I always give Drew a hard time about it, and like said,
hey, if I ever catch you no later, I'm not taking my mask
with me. I'm not going to put my teammates in harm way. I'm
a better teammate than you, like I care about people and just give him
a hard time. But I did. He got the strikeout, and if
you watch back, I leave my mask at home plate and I run out
there because, like I told Drew, I care about my teammates more than
he does. Yeah, yeah, I remember. I remember the day.
The next day after we got back from Philadelphia, I walked into the clubhouse
and your ankle is all taped up, and you're a like so bummed out
that happened. Oh, And I was like, and I was like,
I think I was talking to you. I think I was talking to Alana
Rizzo at the time. I'm like, please, like get video footage of
the story. Like the last thing I want is like for people like to
not believe me. I think that I like was you know, like you
like as you said earlier, over served in Philadelphia on Saturday, like sumbled
stumbled over a curb or or trip somewhere, but like, please let the
people know this was actually like an idiotic, idiotic, non athletic athletic move,
but actually did happen on the baseball field. Hey, speaking of the
celebration, there's that iconic photo of you and Kershaw embracing on the mound.
How big of that photo is hanging in your living room right now? Is
it sixteen twenty or larger? Uh? It is? You know what I
think? Uh? Well, which one? We got one? We got
one on each floor of the house. You know, you know there,
I'll be first one to be uh, you know, self deprecated. And
there are people out there who will say that I am sitting right now in
the house that Kershaw built. I'm not. I'm not like I. There's
part of it that can't deny that our relationship was special. And I will
be the first admit that Mike, who was probably extended and probably a little
bit overinflated because of our relationship and my ability to work with him. But
no, I do have a nice I haven't I you know, honestly,
Dave, I haven't planning up. I do haven't a been full of no
hitter, the memorability from that game, the scorecard and baseball from that game,
and a couple of other items. It definitely those photos, and we've
talked about doing something and putting putting up, putting up maybe a plaque.
But at at the same time, like it's similar to what you said earlier.
It's like not about like the items, like you mentioned the ring,
It's about the relationships, and it's about the memories. And like I I
love the memories I have from that day and even just talking right now,
I'm smiling right now just thinking back just so much that happened on that day
and and just this just this the moment of that day and you talking about
celebrating, and you know, there's a great moment there on the field and
you know, Ellen, she comes down and and they get to share it
together. But we go in the clubhouse and you know, obviously, uh,
I don't know if you know as fans know this or not, but
there's a Major League rule, and it's a very wise rule that there's not
there's not on the alcohol served in the home clubhouse because people have to drive
home back to the game. But we we had other items of uh,
you know, different types of milk and soap and you know, anything you
get any shaving cream, and Clayton got to go. Clayton got to go
get in the shower, and we all got to kind of do our best
to got to dirty him up a little bit, but not after his showers,
did his media. He was sitting there by the locker. And you
know, one of the traditions I had when I was in LA and in
my career was if the Dodgers of the team I played with one, my
son Luke got to come and spend time in the clubhouse afterwards, because the
clubhouse was it was fun and boisterous and you know, it's a good,
good place for kids, and you know, he got to come in and
have a chocolate milk and just have a good time. But he, uh,
there's a I have a great picture of him and Clayton and they both
kind of holding up a zero sign with their fingers and Luke has no idea
what he's doing. He's you know, he's five years old at the time
and I'm sorry, four years old at time, and he doesn't even know
what he's doing, but he's name with Clayton. They're both holding up a
zero. And it's like memories like that or or what a really much more
special than uh, you know, any any framed photo or uh you know,
nostalgic plaque or anything like that. It's the memories it's the people.
It's conversations like this just and we get to share. Yeah. I like
to call it the a j Ellis no hitter. Now there you go,
There you go. Please, let's let's let's let's get that going. Yes,
do the kids do the Ellis kids call Clayton uncle Clayton or do you
just keep it at mister Kershaw or Clayton? What what's the appropriate addressing for
your kids? Well, you know what's funny is uh, you know,
I got to spend some time with him when they played the Brewers, and
we gotta hang out together. And my kids aren't the only one. I've
been around other people and for some reason, like it always rolls together.
It's like Clayton Kershall. My kids will be addressing them and like like Luke
would be like, hey, Clayton Kershall, Like what's your favorite stadium?
You're Clayton. I'm like, I'm like Luke, Luke, just call him
Clayton, or call him curse or call him home like that. But you
know, but no, it's uh, yeah, it's it's funny how and
then again, like my kid's not the only one. You'll be out and
people be like, hey, Clayton Kershaw. It's just one of those names
that just it rolls, It rolls hand in hand. You know, I
don't hear too many a j eliss. I'm sure you don't hear too many.
Dave best age. We probably can't repeat the words that we're heard when
we see by. It's definitely Clayton Kershaw. You hear that one a lot.
I look forward to seeing you when Andre Ethier and I come visit in
his summer home in Milwaukee one day. So I appreciate that. Right,
we'll see you out there. I'm I'm the caretaker. I'll be the guy
out you know, moaning the grass and pulling the weeds. And I'm just
glad to Andre allows me. It's a little me and the family, a
little a little nook in the basis of Prus to stay in. All right,
man, this is great. We'll do this again soon. I hope
to see you in person very soon. Awesome, Dave, good to connect
with you. Enjoy enjoyed the time out there, and uh, you know,
tell the boys. I said, hey, when you get in the
club offs next there. He was aj Ellis, the Dodgers catcher during Kershaw's
prime. In his career, and certainly happy that aj Ellis was there for
Kershaw on his no hit or night against the Rockies June eighteenth, twenty fourteen,
one of the best pitch games in Major League Baseball history. That'll do
it for us tonight here on Dodger Talk. In case you missed any of
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