The Dodgers and Diamondbacks wrapping up this three game series on the fourth of July.
And I'm with a man that I have now labeled a Dodger killer public
enemy number one here in Los Angeles because he has done amazing things, not
against the Dodgers only, but against major League Baseball. He has twenty home
runs, tied with the best first basemen, among the most hit this year.
And that's the one and only Christian Walker. Christian, thanks a lot
for the time. Appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for having me. I
feel like I was obligated to come over here just so Dodger fans can hear
what you sound like, what your personality is like. So I guess this
is your personal introduction after your bat has done all the talking. No,
it's an honor. There's a ton of history in the stadium, in this
organization, so you know, to be even on anybody's radar of you know,
having success against the team or the organization, it's it's humbling for sure.
After last year the Diamondbacks going to the World Series sweeping the Dodgers in
the first round, is there a different era of confidence among this group of
players. Yeah, it's no secret. You know how how good this Dodgers
team is year in and year out, and especially last year. So I
know, I know personally that that gave us and and me a ton of
confidence and a ton of momentum moving forward. That was that was something that
was circled on our on our postseason to do list, and you know,
to be proud of that that that series win and and you know, it
felt like that was that was a big stepping stone for us and in our
success in the postseason. I know there's an extra wild card berth now at
stake, and it seems like teams like the Dodgers, the Phillies, they
talk about October, but for other teams and for them as well, doesn't
there need to be a sense of urgency and not try to diminish the regular
season? Yeah, yeah, I think, you know, I think it's
it's all part of the preparation. You know, some some teams have the
luxury they they know they're going to be able to put up a certain amount
of wins every year. They have the luxury to you know, set their
sights on the postseason, and you know, it doesn't seem to affect how
they go about their business during the regular season. I think other teams that
are, you know, a little unfamiliar with the postseason and how hard it
is to get in. Uh, you know, their their focus is day
to day and and trying to win every game. I know the pitching has
been hurt for you guys so far the first half of the season. Do
you feel like you're in the same position or a better position to make a
run in the second half this year if you get guys like Eduardo Rodriguez and
Merril Kelly back. Yeah, any anytime you get your you know, your
your your top guys back, that's that's huge. But you know that being
said, it's there's still a lot of baseball left. You know, there's
there's gonna be there's gonna be more injuries, right There's gonna be guys that
come back from the i L. It's just it's part of the season.
It's the nature of it. You know, there's there's a lot of good
talent in this in this clubhouse right now to win games. And yeah,
just a matter of you know, trusting each other and having each other's backs
and and just leaving it on the field. That's the voice of Christian Walker
ahead a first pitch between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. All right, Christian,
we all know how well you've done here at Dodgers Stadium. Is it something
about the way you see the ball here? Is it the heightened atmosphere here
at Dodger Stadium? Can you put your finger on why you've excelled? No,
I mean a little bit of both, you know, all of the
above. It's you know, it's definitely a you know, there's a there's
a play to your competition type type expectation when you come here. We know,
you know that the Dodgers are gonna give us some some good games.
And yeah, it's you know, I wish there was you know, a
rhyme or reason to it. It's just I think it's just one of those
funny baseball stats. When you go inside that batter's box last night, obviously
you're locked in. Is there a feel, like you can use an analogy
sort of like Klay Thompson or Steph Curry when they're making threes from half court?
Is there that same feel in the batter's box for a hitter? I
know, I know, you know. One major difference that comes to mind
is just the size of the park, not that this is like a small
park by any means, but playing at Chase, you know, I hit
a ball last week that was a four hundred and twenty foot double, So
like right, like, sometimes it's it's a little daunting feeling like you have
to hit the ball so hard and so far to get rewarded there at Chase
sometimes, and you know, there's there's other pros that come with it.
There's a lot of doubles, there's a lot of triples to be had in
that big outfield. But you know, I would say maybe maybe it takes
a little bit of effort level out where, you know, maybe on that
like eighty ninety percent effort level and it's maybe a little bit more efficient and
just trusting that you know, if I put a good swing on it and
put the ball in the barrel, I can be rewarded for it. So
you have twenty home runs this year? Are you telling us your short change
playing in what hitters consider a hitters ballpark? No, you're talking about Chase.
Yeah, yeah, that's not a hitters ballpark anymore. I think I
think five or six years ago it definitely was. But I think since you
know, the humidors have been added, and it seems like the league is
trying to regulate how the ball, how the ball flies around the league.
You know, there's still some parks that it's it's still a good place to
hit, right, Like Cincinnati comes to mind, Colorado comes to mind,
stuff like that. But yeah, for whatever reason, you know, I
just I enjoy I enjoy competing at Dodger Stadium, Christian I know, and
Kershaw's on the injured list, but you've competed really well against him. Does
that go back to just certain matchups are more beneficial to hitters than pitchers.
What have been those type of head to head confrontations for a lack of better
term, You know, anytime, anytime it's like righty, lefty or something,
as a hitter, you try to take you try to channel that as
confidence, right, Like, regardless of who's out there, It's like,
obviously the credibility and the career successes is there, you know, so you
have to acknowledge that. But in the same sense, it's like it's just
a body out there. You're trying to play the head game. It's like,
oh, I got the match up on my side, and you know,
however, However, you got to kind of phrase it and think about
it to feel like you have an advantage or have an edge in the box.
You know. I think that's a big part of it. I think,
you know, the mechanics are important and all that, but you know,
the more confident I can be and the more I can just trust myself
in the box, the better hitter I am. I've always felt, no
matter who it is or what team you're playing for, when you go to
a visiting ballpark and you get the booze, I feel like that's a sign
of respect. Do you feel like maybe you could feed off of that because
I hate to tell you, Christian, I feel like you're a household name
now in Los Angeles. Yeah. Yeah, anytime the fans you know,
acknowledge you good or bad, I think there's something positive to be taken from
there for sure. But yeah, like I said, man, it's just
one of those things. It's uh, you know, I wish I wish
I had like a good juicy nugget for you. Why it's here, But
yeah, I think it's just one of those one of those funny baseball stats.
That's awesome. Well, great meeting you and thank you. For the
time. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you. You're okay with
me ending this by calling you dodger killer? Still right? Hey, I'm
not saying it. A lot of games to be played, you know.
There he is, Dodger Killer Christian Walker on the fourth of July