Dodger Talk is sponsored by La Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to
millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. Welcome to Off Day Dodger Talk.
David Vance back in Los Angeles after the Dodgers have a winning record,
but it should have been more winning in my opinion. Eight six six nine
eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. We have a great off
Days show for you tonight. Eric Ganne game Over, the legendary closer for
the Dodgers, is going to join us, coming up at seven point thirty
in two days. It will be the twentieth anniversary of Eric Ganne securing his
eighty fourth consecutive save, and the Dodgers are bringing Eric back out to Dodgers
Stadium on Wednesday to throw out the first pitch to commemorate the anniversary, the
twentieth anniversary of him saving his eighty fourth consecutive game. As you know,
Eric went on to win the National League CYNG Award in two thousand and three.
And also we'll be back at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday, August tenth for
the Dodgers' Alumni Grand Reunion. So Eric Ganye is going to join us two
days before his twentieth anniversary, and him taking the mound again at Dodgers Stadium,
this time for the ceremonial first pitch. Eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. Our boss, Don Martin was texting
me over the weekend in San Francisco and just basically harassing me that I said
the Dodgers would go five and one on this road trip, sweep the White
Sox, and then take two out of three from the Giants. And he
was blaming me that the Giants took two out of three. He said,
I should not have said that with Petro some money. Well, I felt
like the Dodgers were going to do that. They took care of business in
Chicago the way I envisioned it. Gavin Stone complete games, shutout on Wednesday
night on the South Side. That was a great momentum going into San Francisco.
But I agree with him, it was a disappointing series, and to
lose the way the Dodgers lost yesterday even more disappointing because, let's face it,
the Giants had two bullpen games the last two games of that series,
and the Dodgers won on Saturday, it took eleven innings and for them to
score seven runs in the eleventh inning to come back and win. And then
yesterday, I mean, I had never heard of this starting pitcher that just
shut down the Dodgers and struck out show Heyo Tani twice. In Spencer Bivens.
I mean, I feel like he Bivins ever heard of him, and
he was fired up after he struck out O'tani for the second time in the
fifth inning. This guy Bivins went five innings, shut down the Dodgers,
allowed just one earn run while James Paxton did not give the Dodgers what they
needed. And that was a quality start of going at least five or six
innings considering the Dodgers used all of their relievers the day before because Tyler glassnow
only went three innings, so the Dodgers got a combined seven innings from their
two veteran starters the last two games of the series. As Stu Lance would
say on this Monday free agency day that saw Klay Thompson say no to his
dad and his favorite team growing up, Stu Lance would say, that will
not get it done, and it did not get it done. Yesterday,
James Paxton charged with nine earned runs in four innings. The Dodgers had no
chance to come back for that, even against the Giants, and the way
Bivens was pitching, certainly no chance. So to me, a very disappointing
series in San Francisco. The Dodgers get walked off by another guy I had
never heard of until until Friday night. I mean, I can't even tell
you his name right now, second baseman, Brett Weisley. There it is.
Brett Weisley walks off the Dodgers and Blake Tryning on Friday night. The
Dodgers come back for a three hour, forty five minute game, a great
game by the way, Saturday in San Francisco, and then they get blown
out. You can't just say it's another game and we're thinking big picture.
You lost to the Giants, you lost a series at Oracle Park for the
first time since June of twenty twenty two. You can't just shrug it off.
And I don't know what else you can do, honestly, because Dave
Roberts hands were I mean, I guess he could have taken Paston out after
the third inning, but his bullpen was guessed They have a day off today,
but if Tyler Glassnew gives them at least five innings the day before,
I feel like yesterday would have been a lot different. And here's the concerning
part. To a certain extent, the Dodgers in their last thirty five games
are just nineteen and sixteen. A team with fifty something wins in their last
thirty five games is just nineteen and sixteen. The good news is the Dodgers
fifty two and thirty three. They have a seven and a half game lead
over the Padres, who are heating up. They won eight of their last
ten and they're hanging in there. They're the third and last wildcard team in
the National League right now. But you've got to be a little concerned.
Excuse me. The Padres are a half game ahead of Saint Louis. So
it's the Braves, the Padres, and the Cardinals right now as the three
National League wildcard teams. But the Dodgers basically have been treading water for the
last month plus. They're basically a five hundred team. They have to find
a way to get some momentum going into the All Star break. And I
know the injuries to Max Munsey and Mooki Betts and Yoshi Yamamoto are part of
this record, but those injuries do not go back except for Muncie thirty five
games, eight six, nine, eighty seven, two five seventy is the
phone number. By the way, Cavin Bigio, great guy, great intentions,
but I feel like the Cavin Bigio experiment should be over. I mean,
the Dodgers have given him a new scenery, they have given him an
opportunity, and I haven't seen excellent defense at third base on from Friday night
or excuse me, on Saturday. He made a physical error. He made
a mental error that extended a four run third inning that saw Glass now throw
thirty seven pitches. He's obviously not hitting. He actually missed a safety squeeze
sign on Friday night. So I feel like the Cavin Bigio experiment should be
over, and Dave Roberts hinted that it might be Yesterday. Before the game,
Dave Roberts, unprompted, said he is planning to use Chris Taylor Moore
at third base moving forward. Dave Roberts after the game said that Chris Taylor
is going to start tomorrow at third base in the first game of a six
game Homestand here's what Chris Taylor had to say after the game yesterday about how
he has started to pick things up offensively. Yeah. I mean it's been
a process they for me. You know, it's there about the quality of
that bats and moving them all forward, and you know that's been encouraging.
Not just today, but you know the last few weeks. You've said before
the game he's planning on giving you more time at third base. Has any
of that been communicated to you? And how much do you believe that will
help keep the momentum going. Yeah? I try not to think about it,
you know, I'm really just trying to keep playing well and helping the
team anyway I came, whether it's second base, third base, outfield.
You know, I think the way I started this season it kind of put
things in perspective for me. I just want to contribute and I'm happy to
have a role. You know, I was in a pretty big hole there
early, and you know, I'm just thankful to be out of it and
you know, helping us anyway I can. Where are all the Chris Taylor
haters? Now? For the last three months, I've been getting NonStop phone
calls, whether it's after game during rain delays, the Dodgers should get rid
of this guy. Forget about everything he's done before, forget about his track
record, get rid of Chris Taylor. And look, it was ugly up
until a couple of weeks ago for Chris Taylor. But luckily he has given
in and he has made adjustments to his swing that have helped him. Because
in his last seven games, last fifteen at bats, Chris Taylor is seven
for fifteen, that's a four to sixty seven average, and yesterday he was
two for three with two RBIs, and kudos to key K a Hernandez yesterday
as well, he was three for four. So you had the OG twenty
seventeen Dodgers on the left side of the infield. KEYK. A Hernandez had
shortstop Chris Taylor at third base, and Austin Barnes drove both of them in
in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, So you had three
consecutive OG twenty seventeen Dodger deliver in the ninth inning yesterday. But obviously it
was too little, too late, as the Giants beat the Dodgers yesterday ten
to four, eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone
number. When we continue, we'll get to shortstop and also my numbing trade
talk. Do you have any answers for the Dodgers. The trade deadline is
only twenty nine days away. I have some thoughts and I have heard some
buzz around the league about what the Dodgers are considering, and I'll share that
with you, And at the bottom of the hour, Eric Gannye will join
us, the two thousand and three National League Cy Young Award winner at seven
point thirty right here on a five to seventy LA Sports David Vasse with you
until eight o'clock tonight here on off day Dodger Talk. The Dodgers back home
tomorrow night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They play the Diamondbacks for three and then
three over the weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers. The surprise Milwaukee Brewers and the
two guys that are carrying the load offensively or three, I should say,
Christian Yelich, who has had a resurgence season. Willi adamis the Brewers shortstop
who the Dodgers had interest in the last two off seasons. Willy is having
a great season, and also the rookie Joey Ortiz. So those are the
three guys that have really helped carry the Brewers offense. And somehow, some
way, without a Woodroff, without Corbyn Burns, without Wade Miley, the
Brewers are in first place in the NL Central eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number seven thirty. Eric Ganne is going to
join us. He's thrown out the first pitch before Wednesday Night's game at Dodgers
Stadium. It's the twentieth anniversary of his eighty fourth consecutive save. All right,
we got to third base, right, I feel like we're all in
agreement. The Bigio experiment should be over, and it feels like the Dodgers
agree to, with Chris Taylor starting yesterday at third base and Dave Roberts saying
tomorrow Chris Taylor will get the start at the hot corner as well. Now,
shortstop, I feel like we're all in agreement as well. When Mookie
Bets comes back, he will be the leadoff hitter and he will be the
Dodgers second baseman. It feels like Miguel Rojas is the everyday shortstop now Obviously,
the Dodgers want to keep Rojas as healthy and fresh for October as possible.
Dave Roberts laid out the plan yesterday where it is going to be three
games on one day off. So that's how they're going to manage Rojas,
who has been dealing with, you know, groin, hamstring soreness and spring
training. And that's not coming from Dave Roberts. Rojas told me that when
the Dodgers were at Yankee Stadium. So with that, Dean said, does
Bob Bischett go on the back burner? Is Bob Baschett training for Bob Bischett
as big of a priority as it was before Mookie BET's going down? And
the Dodgers seeing now that not only can Miguel Rojas play elite defense, but
his bat is right there with him. Because Rojas two days ago, in
that eleven inning win, was had three hits and had four RBIs. His
OPS is almost eight hundred, So the bat's been there, but they have
to keep him fresh. He's thirty five going on thirty six, and the
Dodgers are going to sprinkle in key Y Hernandez whenever needed there. Chris Taylor
could play there as well. So maybe if the Blue Jays are asking for
an exorbitant trade package in exchange for Bob Bischett, the Dodgers can say,
you know what, you keep Bob Bischett. We're here, We're okay here.
And I feel like the Braves might have some interest in Bo Baschett.
So if it gets into a bidding war, you know, the Dodgers may
not go all in for Bo Bischett. But I will say this, there's
some people around baseball that I've spoken to that believe Andrew Friedman had an ulterior
motive trading for Cavin Bigio, not only to take Bigio on the Dodgers and
also, you know, take his salary with it, but also to open
up the dialogue with Ross Atkins. The Blue Jays gm for a trade at
the trade deadline, whether it be Bo Bichett, whether it be Kevin Kiermeier,
whether it be Kevin Gossman, who has two more years on his contract.
If the Dodgers do not land Garrett Crochet, they may be looking at
Kevin Gossman from the Blue Jays. And I feel like another relief arm is
right up there behind a starting pitcher, maybe ten Scott from the Marlins,
who you know. I talked to Gavin Lux in San Francisco. He said
he is a very uncomfortable at bat. He is one of the more coveted
relievers as we get closer to the trade deadline. And don't forget, the
new GM of the Marlins worked under Andrew Friedman when he was with the Race
Peter Bendix, So we've seen Andrew Freeman make trades with the Marlins before.
He has a relationship with Peter Bendix and unfortunately Gabe Kapler two who's over there.
So there's a good chance that the Dodgers may you know, look,
the Dodgers and Orioles have the most prospect capital out there. If they want
a player badly enough, they have more prospect capital to give up than any
other team. Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone
number? Are you with me? Maybe Bo Bischett is not as much of
a priority as he will say two months ago. And look, what do
we do with Gavin Lucks? What do the Dodgers do with Gavin Lux?
If he's still on this team after July thirtieth, then he's a bench player.
He's a role player, Mookie Bets is your second baseman. Miguel Rojas
is your shortstops shortstop three to five times a week, and then in October,
Miguel Rojas is your shortstop for every single playoff game. And Mookie Betts
is your second basement for every single playoff game. And the Dodgers desperately need
another starting pitcher with the uncertainty surrounding Walker Bueller and Clayton Kershaw and also now
Yoshi Yamamoto, the Dodgers need another starter that could start a playoff game because
right now, if the postseason started, it would be Tyler Glass now and
Gavin Stone. How comfortable are you with that? That's a little thin,
little thin Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Another reliever the Dodgers would consider is possibly Pete Fairbanks from the race.
The Dodgers and Rays obviously made a big trade during the off season for Tyler
Glass. Now there's a very good chance the Dodgers have what the Rays want
to prior away Fairbanks. Uh, the Nationals have a closer that teams may
want, Kyle Finnegan. You know, we had a caller call in about
a month ago about Lane Thomas, and I'm not sure if he was his
cousin, his uncle, but he really wanted the Dodgers to trade for Lane
Thomas. And look, Lane Thomas is a really good right in, right
handed hitting outfielder. Thomas is hitting three twenty two against lefties this year.
That wouldn't be a bad platoon with Jason Hayward if the Dodgers cannot find an
everyday outfielder. Ken Rosenthal from the Athletic wrote today the Dodgers idea would love
to get an everyday outfielder that could hit seventh in their lineup and then platoon
Andy Pahz and Jason Hayward either probably in right field. And when you talk
about a possible platoon that way, are we talking to Luis Robert and center
are we talking about Kevin Kiermeyer in center field. Kier Meyer's not having a
great offensive season, but it feels like players on the Blue Jays and White
Sox they don't really love the culture and the energy around that team. So
if you get kier Meyer out of there, he'll play elite defense for you
in center field, and maybe the hitting starts to pick up on a winning
team and then you have a platoon in right field with Pah Hez and Jason
Hayward another name that's out there. And I've never really got the sense that
Andrew Friedman is really hot on him, but maybe things have changed. Randy
A Rose Arena, Randy A Rose Arena, you remember him from the twenty
twenty World Series. Uh. He's a very good player when he wants to
play, and he's not having a great year. He's a free agent,
I believe in a couple of seasons. So Randy A Rose Arena would fit
that everyday outfielder role. It's a possibility. Maybe a Randy A. Rose
Arena and Pete Fairbanks trade. A Rose Arena is only hitting one ninety six
this year with eleven home runs. His contract is signed through this year.
Then he's arbitration eligible next year and a free agent in twenty twenty seven,
So you're getting a player that is under team control for a couple of years.
He's twenty nine years old. Maybe with these group of veterans, Randy
A. Rose Arena can mature and be more consistent and may maybe a change
of scenery for him could help him out. Look same thing happened with Cody
Bellinger. With Cody Bellinger a bounced back in his career if he stayed with
the Dodgers, I don't believe. So. I think it was time for
them to go their separate ways. And it may be the same thing going
on in Tampa Bay Saint Petersburg, Florida with Randy a Rose Arena and the
Tampa Bay Rays. So there are a few different options. The Dodgers can
pivot, but it feels like Bob Baschett is not as big of a must
as he was, maybe even a month or two ago. Eight six six
nine, eight seven, two five seventy is the phone number. Let's go
out to West La. Rich, you're on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.
Rich good, Hi, Dave, Hey, Joe, thank you.
The you know to me, the defense is fine. As a matter of
fact, the defense is quite good. It's better than it was last year.
Hitting's great. We can run the bullpen. The bullpen talents there.
We you know, if they're hitting a day where they haven't been overworked.
I got a lot of confidence in the book. Then we are in trouble
on starting pitching. End the story, uh, and we get to October
as you said, a few minutes to go October one, we've got two
guys to go to. UH. It's not going to cut it. And
and who knows if we'll get to October one or get to the uh uh
to the division or playoffs. What will happen if we can't pitch, because
right now we cannot pitch, so and now we can't pitch. The Dodgers
can't pitch, but they just can't pitch consistently. They're bringing back Bobby Miller,
who has was off for a month with right shoulder issues. They tried
Walker Buehler, who had n't pitched in two years. That obviously has not
really gone smoothly. Yamamoto, nobody saw him going down with an injury two
months into his major league career. So yeah, I would say starting pitch
is definitely at the top of the shopping list. Yeah. I think I
was in Toronto. Happened to be in Toronto and went to the saw two
of the three games, watch bulbu Chef play not exciting, uh, and
every the entire focus should be on started pitching. Go find us two guys
we can rely on, because I don't know what's gonna happen to Miller.
We don't know what's going to happen to Bueler. We don't know what's going
to happen to U Yamasan. So what uh uh? What? Where?
What do we have left? We don't know what is going to happen with
Clayton? So what are we right? Yeah, that's why Garrett Crochet is
the hot name, and the Dodgers are not the only team after him.
The San Diego Padres are after him as well, and I'm sure many other
teams that we have not heard of yet. Garrett Crochet is the prize starting
pitcher of the trade Deadline. H sixty six two five seventy is the phone
number we're going to take a time out when we come back. Game over.
Eric Ganne will join us ahead of his twentieth anniversary that will be celebrated
at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, the twentieth anniversary of his eighty fourth consecutive
save. Don't Go Anywhere. Eric Ganye joins us next on Dodger Talk right
here on AM five to seventy LA Sports, taking you all the way to
the top of the hour tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports.
Tomorrow, the Dodgers back at Dodgers Stadium, starting a three game series against
the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bobby Miller will be back on the mound, trying to
get his season on track, going up against Ryan Nelson. Our coverage begins
at six o'clock, with first pitch at seven ten. Oh yeah, you
know what that means. You know what that means. Only one man gets
that introduction song. He did it for the Dodgers and did it better than
any other reliever during his Dodger career eight seasons in Dodger Blue. And on
Wednesday Night game over, Eric Gangne will be back on the mound celebrating the
twentieth anniversary of his eighty fourth consecutive save. The one and only National League
Cy Young Award winner Eric Gangnie joins us on Dodger Talk. Eric, thanks
a lot for taking the time out and can't wait to see you on Wednesday.
I know, I'm really really excited. It's been twenty years already.
It's crazy, but I'm excited a lot of amazing memories. You guys play
that song, I still get goosebumps. So I'm really excited and really honored
to be a better stadium part of it. It's gonna be exciting. Yeah,
I was wondering, even though it's in this setting, when you hear
that Guns N' Roses song come on, whether you're listening to your iTunes or
you know you're you're somewhere where it comes on, do you instinctually feel like
you have to warm up or you're gonna run through the gates somewhere. Yeah,
it's funny. Because I listened to it, I do. I have
to turn my brain off a little bit, so I'm going attacking into enjoying.
So it's a little bit different, but it's it's very cool because it
really brings all the memories and when I do work out, it's great.
But when I do walk around people, it might not be a safe as
it should be, but it's good. I love Eric. What do you
remember the most about that streak? Eighty four consecutive saves? I mean,
there's there's not really one thing that sticks out that. There's like three or
four plays I remember. I remember Sean Green throwing guys out a couple of
times. I remember all the great players behind me, Dave Roberts, you
know, stealing a home run. I think it was in Houston center field,
and there's a couple of plays like that. But it's not really one
moment. It's literally like the last moment when I brew that city, when
I'm understanding relation from fans from the fans after failing, and that was really
really special. But it's not really one moment during the streak. It was
more at the end of it, I started enjoying it a little more.
Even now, I still can't believe it happened and it's real. It is
really Uh, it was really hard to explain because you know, just when
you're in that zone, you're in that you're locked in, you think about,
you know, all you think about to getting one pitch at a time,
getting the guy out, and you don't really get to enjoy it.
But now, since I'm sitting rear, you know, right here on the
dock, right here in Newport Beach, I'm enjoying a little bit more.
Eric, when you look back at your time with the Dodgers and just that
entire phenomenon of game over Eric Gangnie, which began in two thousand and two,
I feel like, obviously LA fans get a bad rap for coming late
and leaving early. But when you emerged as that dominant closer and you had
all the theatrics of coming in from the bullpen with Welcome to the Jungle,
it felt like that was a period of time where fans stayed just so they
could watch the ninth inning and watch you do your thing. Yeah, I
mean that, you know I heard it when I played that, I changed
a game a little bit about the guys leaving earlier, fans leaving early,
though they're still coming in late buttition, being hopefully they don't leave early anymore.
It's a little faster pace than everything else. But I was unbelievable,
was special as magical, and you know that rap. I think it's it's
gone. I think you guys talk about it a little bit more, but
I think the Dodger fans is the best man in the game. And you
know, I've got all my best memories is from being a daughter stadium,
you know, from all the fans standing up and sing for me. So
it's it's special. So I can't say anything bad about them. But it
was really cool that I changed that. You know that culture. Let's just
slip that way. Eric Ganye is going to be back at Dodgers Stadium on
Wednesday night, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. So you do want to
get there early and be able to experience game over on the twentieth anniversary of
his eighty fourth consecutive save. And the Dodgers, as you know, Eric,
you've being part of the organization, a long list of great players have
played for them. What does it mean to you that this Dodger ownership group
and the Dodgers today want to honor you and bring you back into the family
and certainly have you celebrated on a night like Wednesday. It means a world
of me. It's really special just to be part of that team, part
of that you know, amazing history and people talk about the Drysdale, the
Sandy Cofax and you know the stories I got from Maury Wills, and it's
a very very special organization. It's something that I was very fortunate coming from
Montreal. There's a lot of history there with Jackie Robinson's playing in Montreal.
So I felt like being a Dodger it's something I know, something I love,
something I'm really proud of and really honor to be part of. And
you know, once a Dodger, are always a Dodger, Tommy said the
best, you know, I bleed blue. I'm a Dodger from you know,
turn and through. It's just that's what I do, That's what I
am. It's a It's going to be very emotional. I think it's when
the music turns on, when the fans get up, when I'm up there
still feeling the you know, the energy that the fans used to give me.
Feel that before the game. It's going to be unbelievable. So I'm
I'm crazy, you know, It's it's crazy to think that I've had that
type of career coming from Montreal. But to be honor, to be honored
of down the stadium is be part of the great history of the Dodgers.
It's very special. Hey, Eric Ganie is joining us on Canada Day.
Don't think I don't know that Gangie. Today's Canada Day. I know,
I gotta be better on my social media. I didn't post anything about it,
but it is day, and uh I'm I'm in Newport Beach waiting for
four to July. So it's gonna be unbelievable. It's it's gonna be fun.
I'm dual citizenship. So I'm a proud Canadian, French Canadian in America
now, so it's it is a great day today, Hey Eric, speaking
of Canada, Do I have the story right? This whole thing may never
have happened if the Blue Jays did not choose Luke Procopec in a trade instead
of choosing Eric Ganne in a trade the Dodgers and Blue Jays agreed upon before
the two season. Do I do I understand that story correctly? I hope
So, I hope I got it right. That's what I heard about it.
I think it was Luke Brokopeg and Chad Ricketts. I think they put
in yeah, Canadian and was in the trade? Was in the trade for
Caesar's cheurs? Yes exactly, And yes, actually I didn't know it was
exactly the trade for. But I remember talking about like where they refuse to
trade meet and it was me and Luke Brook were roommates and we're you know,
he was an amazing starter. It was actually an outfielder before and he
became a starter and he, you know, me and Himmer roommate. We
used to go back and forth like who get called up or not? So
it was Luke Brokopek and Chad Ricketts. I think so it was. I'm
a Dodger because of that. Yes, you know, when you talk about
a bullpen, it's a team within the team. Do you remember, you
know who you were closest to during those years, because I know there were
a few different guys, Gia Momoto, Paul Quantrell, they were part of
the team. But do you remember who you spent a lot of time with
when you pitch for the Dodgers. Uh, well, you know, Joiner
Sanchez was part of it. He had Paul Shoey Martin. We had a
lot of guys that came in and out. But I think the core,
the guy I've learned the most is probably guys like Jesse your Rosco. I
mean, I'm just just sitting next to him. Was Lindsday, Like that
guy's just, you know, the best reliever in all the time. I
think he's got so many appearance, so much, so many, so many
memories, so many stories to tell us. It's amazing with him to be
part of that. Paul Quantrill was amazing. So we're part of we're the
best bullpen. I think I'm not sure the statistics are right, but We're
probably the best bullpen for two or three years in a row that I don't
think. I think ever, So it was very special guys like Mota Quantrill,
like everybody. It was a unit. Everybody worked really well together,
and I think that's why I made us so successful, no doubt. If
the Dodgers had the lead by the sixth inning, game was literally over and
Eric Gannie was coming in, especially at Dodgers Stadium, Eric Ganne is joining
us. He is going to be throwing out the first pitch at Dodgers Stadium
before Wednesday Night's game, which is the twentieth anniversary of his eighty fourth consecutive
safe And Eric, the Dodgers just got back from Oracle Park. Back when
you pitched there, it was at and TU. You had some good movements
as a Dodger team, some bad moments as a Dodger team. But there
is that famous John Suhou photo that hangs in the hallways of Dodger Stadium,
you facing Barry Bonds and that at bad that that matchup was one of the
epic matchups between Dodgers and Giants during that period of time. What do you
remember the most of pitching there and pitching against Bonds, well, right,
I remember the most is they hated us and we hated them back, So
not in the negative, not in an aggressive way. But you know,
I was always taught that even if you have a losing season, you gotta
be the giants. And I think it's you know, it's very uh they
feel the same way and go there very hostile territory, which I loved.
And I remember one day they played the game over They actually played my game
over song and they try to kind of reverse it and everything else. But
I think the greatest moment I've ever had really was not my career. The
best memory I ever read is probably facing Barry Bonds at I can't remember.
It was a tag bell back in the day, and just just the emotions
and you know, the whole, the whole. That was unbelievable because we
had to talk that we had in Japan that we agreed. I can't remember
exactly the words, but I watched a I think it was Fox Sports at
a Fox Sports. I'd like a special about it. They talked about like
where we had an agreement about not throwing off speed or I thought it was
change up. But I love that I talked to him. But it was
unbelievable, was I think because it was the best guy in the world.
I think best probably want probably the best player that ever played baseball so far
other than the Tani, And for me to face him the peak of my
career was was unbelievable. And you know, I remember coming off and I
used to I came in to dug out and I looked at Casey Diskins,
was a video guy, and I was smiling. He was wondering why I
was smiling because he took me deep twice in that one of bet and I
was just like, man, this is unbelievable. I just faced the best
player I've ever seen in my life. And I'm not supposed to be here.
You know this. I'm just a French Canadian hockey player and just you
know, I was doing that and it was very special. It's always going
to be a special, you know, special time in my life other than
when I got standing ovation at Dawnter State, and those are pretty very special
moments. Hey, Eric, you mentioned Otani and Barry Bonds. Do you
feel like when show Hey Otani steps in the batter's box, he has a
certain mistique that Bonds had when he was at his peak during that period of
time. He definitely has that aura. I would love to face him because
I would not be able to say, yes, he's better, because to
me, Barry Barry Bonds just changed a game from the approach we had with
all the other hitters. So I don't I've never seen anything. I've never
had to face anything like it. I would love to be able to say
yeah so toany does. But the presidence that Barry had in that lineup was
just nothing I've ever seen before. Because two or three or four hitters before,
you sitting the dug out, look at Okay, this is this guy
coming up, this guy coming up. You know, I got a really
cant and all these guys are amazing hitters, but I mean, would very
in the you know, in the game was very different. So you know,
I was just fortunate to face him, and I would love to face
with Tani because I've never seen anything like it. To dominate the way he
does from hitting and pitching, it's pretty special. Okay, eric Ganie,
let's say it's the ninth inning and let's just say O, Tani still on
the Angels. Eric Ganne comes through the gates, at Dodgers Stadium. How
would you sequence show? Hey, Otani, would you go fastball inside to
back them off and then throw in that famous change up? Well? I
love to I actually love to face him an Anaheim, when you have that
rally monkey going and going over on top of it. I would love to
face him there. That would be like my perfect scenario. Those guys in
facing that a little crazy rally monkey go, that would be amazing. But
I would go fast well up in and just to start with, oh man,
that's all, get him off my dish, and then go change up
all day. Oh I love it, love it, love it. Eric
Ganie, Hey, it's gonna be great to see you on Wednesday. Can't
wait for all of us to celebrate your cy young in two thousand and three
and also the twentieth anniversary literally on Wednesday, one of your eighty fourth consecutive
save and can't wait to see you also during the grand reunion with a bunch
of former Dodgers and you being part of it. It's it's really special to
bring back all of you guys, but you definitely deserve your shine on Wednesday.
Thank you so much. It's the privilege and it's just to be a
part of the Dodger family is just a great honor. Maybe we'll go back
to the speakeasy after you throw out that first pitch, and I'm not gonna
say no. Okay, sounds good. They miss you down there, and
yeah, it was awesome seeing you a couple of years ago, and it'll
be great to see you on Wednesday. Eric, enjoy Newport Beach game over
down there, and we'll see you on Wednesday. All right, guys,
thank you. There he goes the great Eric Gangne two thousand and three National
League Say Young Award winner, and it's great that Dodgers are going to recognize
him for still the record eighty four consecutive saves. That is still a Major
League record. Kennley Jansen obviously has the most saves in Dodger history, but
Eric Gangne holds that distinction for the most consecutive saves in Dodger history eighty four.
And on July third, it will be the twenty eighth anniversary. So
looking forward to Wednesday night at Dodgers Stadium. Eight six six nine eighty seven
two five seventy is the phone number Dodgers diamondback start a three game series.
Tomorrow night, first pitch from Dodgers Stadium at seven to ten. We have
time for more phone calls. We have two lines open, six two,
five seventy. Let's go out to Lewis in the Bay Area. Lewis,
how are you. I'm doing overall pretty well, David. That was a
wonderful interview with Eric Gannier, and he was a favorite of mine. I
remember the whole Bonds Ganie thing, so that was really cool, I must
say, And then I'll get to my quick points. It would be wonderful
one day if you could get aside with him. He had all of those
injuries. I think that's why he ended up taking the steroids. But I've
never heard from any player what it actually did for them. And like I
said, it would be wonderful off the record, but that's another time I
will say this. You know, I don't feel like when I have Mark
mcguireron or Eric ganne just now, I feel like I don't need to rehash
the whole steroid thing. I feel like these guys have done enough and talked
about it enough and they don't owe me anything more. And also we all
know what happened. It was the culture of the time. And you know,
when you talk about Ganie versus Bonds, I mean that was a level
playing field, wouldn't you say, Lewis? Yeah, oh no, no,
no, no, totally. As I said, I think I have,
like a lot of people now, I know what it did too.
By the way Lewis guys have told me, it just helps you recover quicker
a long season, you know, being stronger, and also gave you that
confidence of being superman, whether it's in the batter's box or on the mound
right now. That is definitely the thing that people say about it, and
that's where there should be more nuance on it. But here is going to
the other question, and it is an intelligent one about you know, what
do we needed to trade? Deadline? Okay, I'm hoping Yamamoto is going
to be back. I don't know if there's anything new today, but I
you know, we know that there's a question mark. But besides the starting
pitching, which I agree with you on, I do think third days and
I'm a big Chris Taylor fan, but it's not enough and I'm really concerned
that by time months he gets back. You know, I think we're looking
at not you know, July twentieth, but like August first, and you
figure he's going to need at least a month months. He's going to be
back by the time the second half starts. Lewis, he'll be back for
that Red Sox series after the All Star break. Well that's that, you
know, that's me being around him and him telling me once he starts swinging,
it will take two weeks and he's eligible to come off the ILU the
day after the last game before the All Star breaks, so that would set
him up to come back against the Red Sox. So I would say that's
a very fair expectation that he's back for the beginning of the second half.
Okay, Well, that's that's that's encouraging because he does really make a difference
in the lineup and his defense. You know, people you know criticized him
all year, but his defense this year has been really you know, before
he got injured, was really excellent and that and that's going to be needed.
I mean, that extra bat to rely on is just very very important,
and he lengthens the lineup. All right, Lewis, that's my thought.
Got it? Thank you for calling in appreciate it, and uh,
we'll talk to you down the road. Lewis is a very loyal listener,
so appreciate him calling in tonight on an off night. And look, I
feel like we all appreciate Max Munsey and what his impact is on the Dodger
lineup a little bit more since he's been out, going back to May fifteenth.
And look, if you go back to Dodger Talk on the iHeartRadio app,
you'll hear a conversation I had with Monsey about two weeks ago where he
understands where people don't want to see him strike out and believe that he's a
three true outcome player. And for the most part, I would say that's
somewhat true. I would say it's it would lean that way on the spectrum.
But what people don't appreciate is that you have a guy in Otani that
doesn't take a ton of pitches. Freddie will swing at the first pitch,
and Max Munsey is a guy in that lineup that will take an average of
six to seven pitches per at bat and Munsey in a vacuum. You know,
obviously it's not the same, but when you put Max Munsey behind those
first three guys, it allows them to swing at the first pitch, because
you know Munsey is going to do his job for the lineup and see more
pitches than they would And that is part of the Dodgers' identity and game plan
to get a starting pitcher out of the game by the fifth or sixth inning,
make them throw those one hundred pitches and get to the bullpen. Now
these days, bullpens and the bullpen arms are pretty good if you're a good
team. But for the most part, that's his impact. It's not whether
or not he strikes out in the at bat. It's about whether or not
he's giving a quality at bat and making the pitcher work. And that's what
he's trying to do. Now, does anybody want to see him strike out?
Of course not. He doesn't want to strike out, but that's part
of the tax that he pays some at bats when he's making that pitcher work.
That's why he homers, he slugs, and he walks. That's part
of it. Eight six six, nine eighty seven two five seventy is the
phone number. And look, I know the batting average wasn't that great Max
Munsey when he went down, but his OPS is eight hundred and since he
went down the guys that have filled in for him, whatever combination that is
mostly keyk Hernandez and Cavin Bigio. Their combined ops is in the four hundreds.
So the Dodgers are losing a lot without Max Munsey. Defense, Keik
is tremendous at third base, so I'm not saying they're losing anything defensively when
keyk is at third base. But offensively, the Dodgers certainly have lost a
lot in a lot of different ways that you don't really see on the surface
without Max Munsey. Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number that'll do it for us on off day Dodger Talk. Before we
say goodnight, I do want to recognize a local agent, former agent,
I should say, but legendary name in Major League Baseball, and that is
Dennis go Go Gilbert. Yes, Dennis Gilbert was the agent for Bobby Bonia.
And today July first is Bobby Bonia Day. Bobby Bonia will get another
check because Dennis Gilbert deferred about a million a year when he signed with the
Mets, and to this day, Bobby Bonia is still getting checks from the
New York Mets. So congratulations to Bobby, who I know is hanging out
in the valley five or six years ago. So congratulations Bobby Bonia and Dennis
Gilbert. On Bobby Bonilla Day, Bonia gets one point one million dollars going
all the way until twenty thirty five. So congratulations to Bobby Bonia and Dennis
Go go Gilbert. All right. Tomorrow night, the Dodgers will be back
in action at the Ravine Morongo Casino. Dodgers on Deck begins at six o'clock
with Tim Kats. First pitch is at seven ten. Dodgers Diamondbacks. Bobby
Miller back on the mound tomorrow night, looking to get his season on track,
and I have full confidence that he will. Thanks to Ronnie Fossio back
at our Burbank Studios, and thanks to you for listening. In case you
missed any of the show or or interview with game over Eric Gangnie, you
can download it on the iHeartRadio app. That's where you can stream all the
Dodger games and podcast all the Dodger talk shows and interviews. It's your one
stop shop for Dodger baseball. Coming up next on a five to seventy LA
Sports will be Jason Smith and later tonight, Ben Maller will be up all
night with you on a five to seventy LA Sports. We will talk to
you tomorrow night from Dodger Stadium. Have a great rest of your Monday. Sea