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Vasse with you until eight o'clock tonight here on a five to seventy LA Sports
We have a great show for you tonight. Buster Only from Sunday Night Baseball
is going to join us. The Dodgers and Red Sox hook up to start
the second half of the year with a three game series at Dodgers Stadium beginning
Friday night. The Dodgers Red Sox first pitch on Friday Night will be at
seven to ten. Our coverage begins at six o'clock, and then on Saturday,
Fox will carry the game, a nationally televised game that'll be a four
to fifteen start, and on Sunday it will be Sunday Night Baseball. Another
four o'clock is start at Dodgers Stadium. So Buster only will join us in
anticipation of a very exciting first three games out of the All Star Break.
For the Dodgers, It's part of a seven game homestand to start the second
half, it will be three against the Red Sox. And then four with
the San Francisco Giants, and Blake Snell is expected to start one of those
four games. Speaking of starting the Dodgers starting pitching, it's a little thin
right now, and as we get closer to that trade deadline, we have
talked about it almost every single night. The Dodgers need starting pitching help.
Tyler Glassnell will begin the post All Star break on the il Bobby Miller's in
Oklahoma City to start the second half of the year. So right now it
is a little thin for the Dodgers. They're relying on Gavin Stone, James
Paxton, Land and Knack to name a few, until Glass now can come
back, until the Dodgers can see what they have in Clayton Kershaw, who
is getting closer to return. It feels like Kershaw might be back by the
end of July, maybe the first week of August. But as I have
said, it is really hard to put all the expectations on Clayton Kershaw to
be the Dodgers savior coming off major shoulder surgery. Let's see where this takes
him. If it takes him back to a point where he can make a
start every five or six days, And as we get closer to July thirtieth,
the Dodgers need to be looking for starting pitching help. And like I
said, right now, they got three guys not starting the second half that
they were counting on at the beginning of the year, Tyler Glass now,
Yoshi Yamamoto, and also Bobby Miller, Glass now and Yamamoto on the il
Bobby Miller needed to reset his season. He should be back in the next
few weeks, but right now he's at Oklahoma City. So the three fifths
of what the Dodgers and vision to be their starting rotation is not here to
start the second half of the season. Also, speaking of pitching, coming
up at the bottom of the hour, America's pitcher Rich Hill will join us.
And you know, I'm not sure if you remember this. At the
beginning of this season, rich Hill went into it thinking he wanted to spend
the first half of the baseball season coaching his son's baseball team, spending more
time with his family, and also picking a team of his choice that he
believed had a good chance to make a run in the postseason, and was
looking for pitching after the July thirtieth trade deadline. And as we look at
the landscape of baseball right now. There are a lot of teams that are
buyers and not a lot of sellers because of the extra playoff round. So
rich Hill's master plan may be coming to fruition the way he envisioned it,
to be able to go to teams that missed out on pitching at the trade
deadline and say, hey, I'm available. I've been throwing bullpen sessions.
I'm willing to come out of your bullpen. I'm willing to be an opener.
I'm willing to be maybe a starting pitcher if you really need it.
Rich Hill is available, and I'm sure he would love to come back to
the Dodgers. Whether or not that's something that happens, we'll find out when
we talk to rich Coming up at the bottom of the hour, I am
a little nostalgic. The All Star break gives us opportunities to talk to people
that we normally don't have a chance to. When it's a night to night
basis worried about the here and now, worried about the trade deadline, or
focusing I shouldn't say worry, because I'm not really worried focusing on that night's
game. Focusing on that series. So yesterday we had a chance to catch
up with Jake Peevey and Eduardo Perez tonight Buster Only and Rich, But I
also wanted to reflect on one of my favorite pregame conversations in the first half
of the season, and that was with two time two time World Series Champion
and two time World Series MVP former Dodger Corey Seger, who came back for
the first time during the regular season since signing with the Texas Rangers. So
in case you missed that conversation, it was one of my favorites with one
of my favorite Dodgers in the last thirteen years, Corey Seger. Yeah,
thank you. It's glad to be back on here. Hey, after that
pregame press conference yesterday and we walked back to the clubhouse, I felt like
I didn't want to leave, like I was gonna grab onto your ankles or
something. I know, you walked me on way back to the clubhouse,
so nice, nice little show fur back over there. Hey, I know
you want to play, but there is a silver lining that last night you
were able to not only take in the appreciation of the organization but the fans
the way they received you. Last night. Yeah, you know, it
was really awesome. You know, I'm not the one to really like the
spotlight, but just that special interaction to the fans, you know, just
the way they supported me throughout the years, the ups and downs, everything,
the way they support this team. You know, they always have a
special place in my heart. And last night was pretty cool. It feels
like you would have taken it in better the way things were last night than
being on deck as the second hitter of the game. Yeah, you know,
that would have been a lot more fun. But just the just the
total embrace. Man. Like just what I said before, you know,
it was really special. It's something that I'll I'll never forget. And like
I said again, you know this fan this this this organization, this fan
base. You know, they they have a special place in my heart.
Did you realize how much you meant to them? Not really, you know,
you never really get caught up in it. I think, you know,
you just you're going out there and you're trying to do your job,
trying to win. You know, you're always trying to perform well for them.
But to see the appreciation, the gratitude that they showed me, it
was it was it was really humbling. Almost. The one thing that I
love so much about the teams you played on was the bond that you had
with your teammates And to this day, how close are you guys still?
Because it seems like whenever players from that part of Dodger history come together,
it's like a brotherhood. Yeah, you know, extremely. I think a
brotherhood's a good word. You know, we went through a lot of a
lot of fun times, really close knit group. You know, people still
vacation together and stay in contact. You know, It's it's something that'll be
hard to replicate in the future, but it's something you'll always enjoy the memories
of. Do you remember who was your favorite roommate who? Definitely I gotta
go with Ross Stripling. Yeah, me and me and him live for a
couple of years together. Barnes and Trace Thompson are close seconds, but I
think Ross takes the cake on that one. He seems to be a very
responsible type of guy. That's exactly the right word. You know. He's
actually helpful, knows how to still like have fun and just sit there and
watch some shows and hang out, and actually takes out the trash. That's
one thing Barnes will never do is probably still doesn't do it. Hey,
I loved yesterday how Austin Barnes did not believe you would answer my FaceTime call.
You shamed him in his own clubhouse, right, I'm answer in yours
for answer and his just because I know how much it'll affect him, how
many answers with the freaking sunglasses on at the clubhouse, Like, what's he
doing? You know a better or not? You should be taking Ketterbart care
of him. I'm trying to lead him down the right path, but he
seems like, you know, he's lost his way in a lot of ways
without you guys to keep him in check. I know nobody in there.
He's one of the long term guys over there now, so he's probably running
the show a little bit over there. Hey, can you believe Austin Barnes
right now as we speak, is the longest ten yeared active Dodger. I
know it's crazy, right, who would have thought that? Not me?
Good for him though he means a lot of this organization. He's done a
lot for him. He's a he's a good piece of keep Corey Seeger is
our guest two time World Series champion and a champion for the Dodgers. And
I remember the first time I met you. It was in the hallways the
press box. You're with Julio Ourrias after he won Minor League Pitcher of the
Year and you won Minor League Player of the Year. And it feels like
you haven't changed one bit. Oh man, try not to. But I
had some I had some good molding over there. You know. I had
a lot of a lot of good role models, a lot of good people
in that clubhouse, a lot of good staff, a lot of good media
that took care of me over there. They really shaped me into who I
am. You were always very close to Chase Suttley. Your lockers were right
next to each other. Do you know why you gravitated towards him? Just
always respected the way he played, how he went about his business. And
he really let me understand that it's okay to be who I am. I
know I do things a little different as he did, you know, but
everybody has their own way. He was the epitome of getting the best out
of people and letting them be who they are to perform at seven o'clock.
You know, that's what's about it's about performing at seven. So he was
a really good role model for me for sure. And it feels like you
have state true to who you are and what you believe will allow you to
perform. Yeah. Absolutely, you know you have to. It's your DNA,
It's what makes you tick. It's what everybody does. You know.
Everybody has their edge, everybody has their way of doing it, and you're
just trying to maximize that. When you go back to last year and the
run to the World Series Championship in the ALCS, you guys beat the Astros
in seven games, was there any part of you that felt some sort of
vindication or redemption for what took place in seventeen or is that not even part
of it? For sure, I'd be lying to if I didn't say that.
It was definitely. The initial was the happiness for the Rangers and moving
on in the World Series and stuff like that. But once you got home
and kind of processed it, it felt like you did something good for your
old team, for sure. How many texts did you get from your former
teammates? Quite a few. We'll keep those names under wraps, but yeah,
there was definitely quite a few. I was going to ask you,
this was twenty seventeen the best team that you played on with the Dodgers,
or obviously twenty winning the World Series. Probably seventeen, to be honest with
you. Hard to compare, you know, obviously, but that was a
really good team we had. It felt like, I don't know, it
just felt like that was as close as you can get to winning the World
Series without doing it. But also, like I said, the bond,
the brotherhood you all had together. Yep, you know, I think that's
something that kind of will forever hold us together. Right. It's it's those
moments, those games that define you and make you closer and help you basically
rebuild from there, right Like you got to start over and recoup together and
get things rolling. So it's games like that that bring you closer. He
gave us so much enjoyment, and the way you did it and still do
it is first class, and that obviously comes from your mom and dad.
How's Big Jeff Seeger doing. He's great, He's he's happy. You know,
he's got light work now though he's only got one guy playing now,
so they're on reduced baseball games. But now they're they're watching Kyle's oldest son,
go play. Okay, he's he's really enjoying being a grandfather. Is
he throwing to him against the barn in North Carolina? Still? Absolutely.
I don't think that I'll ever go anywhere. It's just, uh, it's
just that Kyle's barn now. So it's something that he really enjoys and you'll
never be able to get that out of him. That's awesome. Still listening
to Brett Young. Absolutely. I was actually texting him yesterday. He saw
that we were in town and asked me if I was gonna go get my
old boys and was biting at the bed, but just wasn't in the cards.
We'll see what happens tonight and the rest of this series. Either way.
It's great to have you back in Los Angeles and you will forever mean
so much to this organization. And it's not just what you did on the
field, but just who you are as a person. I think that's what
resonates with all of us. Thank you. I really appreciate that. I'm
appreciateive for everything that they've done for me. Love catching up with Corey Seger.
It was a special weekend at Dodger Stadium with you showing Seeger the love
and respect that you had for him, and him reciprocating that was a special
weekend in a long regular season. And uh, certainly we miss Corey Seeger.
He's a great player. He's on his way to the Hall of Fame.
And I'm not going to get into the what ifs again about him being
with the Rangers and not the Dodgers. The Dodgers have moved on. Seeger
has moved on, and we wish him the best. When we continue here
on Dodger Talk, we will catch up with ESPN's own Buster, only the
best in the business when it comes to perspective and context when it comes to
Major League Baseball. Buster is next right here on a five to seventy LA
Sports. Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number
outside shot. We may have some time to take some phone calls. If
we don't, I promise you tomorrow it will be a lot of you.
Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number. The
open up the second half of the season on Friday Night against Alex Cora and
the Boston Red Sox. Alex Cora has the Red Sox exceeding expectations. Ken
Lee Jansen will be back in the house for the first time in a couple
of years, this time wearing a Red Sox uniform. Our coverage begins at
six o'clock with first pitch from Dodgers Stadium at seven to ten between the Dodgers
and Red Sox. A man that will be at Dodgers Stadium this weekend for
Sunday Night Baseball is a man that I really enjoy listening to as far as
his podcast goes, and that is the Baseball Tonight podcast hosted by the one
and only Buster Only. When I'm forced to take our dog out for a
walk or I'm just driving to the ballpark, I'll turn on Baseball Tonight's podcast
with Buster because he does such a great job of catching you up with all
of Major League Baseball. And that's actually how I get prepared when to know
what's going on outside of LA and outside of this Dodger world. Buster Only
does a great job of keeping us up to date on everything in Major League
Baseball from Vermont to Miami to New York. Buster Only does a great job.
Buster, Thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it. You can
field, the Vermont disrespect coming at some point. You have long you have
long made jokes at the expense of my home state, and I've always been,
you know, shocked by the level of your vitriol. But we'll move
past that. Hey, I promised you when I asked you to do this,
I would not make any jokes or cheap shots against the state of Vermont.
Uh huh, go ahead to take your shot, and then we'll move
on to the baseball. Well, it says a lot you were in Vermont
and you decided to go to Hartford, Connecticut. Oh, I know,
Okay, we got that out of the way. Buster. When you look
at the All Star teams and who is who's out, there's always some debate.
But I was a little surprised that Craig Kimberle and Kenley Jansen did not
make the American League team, but Clay Holmes made the team. And you
do wonder when some of those things come into, you know, come to
pass. You do wonder about the timing of when some of those discussions take
place. And I think that that may have had something to do with it.
I think that if you know, for example, that you know that
that took place a week later, two weeks later, I think Kenley would
be in and Holmes would be out. You know, because we've seen Holmes
the struggled of late. We know the Yankees are going to be looking for
bullpen upgrades before the trade deadline out. On the other hand, Kenley Jansen's
making it really hard for the Red Sox consider trading him because they're playing so
well. He's an important part of that. I was as I was driving
from Vermont to hard For last night, I was listening and that the Red
Sox nearly blew an eleven to two lead, and Alex score just made sure
he had Kenley Jansen warming up in the with a score twelve to eight,
because Kenley's mister reliable buster. I know I'm a little biased because ken Lee
spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers All time saves leader, But
are we taking for granted one of the great careers of a closer because it
feels like he's not really mentioned among the best currently and his career is remarkable
that it's still going at this level. I think it reflects the conversation within
the sport. A lot of the new front offices basically don't really value closers,
you know, I think in the way that they might have thirty years
ago, because they feel like that generally speaking, relievers are replaceable. We
see at every fall when you know, relievers are cut free, non tendered.
Very few of them actually paid a lot of money, you know.
I think that. You know, the days when you know, guys like
Roley Fingers Mariano Rivera are considered to be the more dominant play in the sport,
those are gone. And I think ken Lee, you know, Craig
Kimberl are two guys who are feeling that disrespect. I just know from my
time covering the Yankees, and I covered some great teams, they had set
up men like you know, Jeff Nelson who were telling me, yeah,
I don't want the closer job. You wouldn't know. And I know,
no matter what the numbers say, no matter what front offices say about anyone
can be a closer. That's not how the players feel. And I think
that's how ken Lee has distinguished himself in his career, doing this job better
than just about anybody in his time. Yeah, and I know talking to
ken Lee a lot buster the Hall of Fame is on his mind. Five
hundred saves is on his mind. And I'm not sure if he's going to
get to the Hall of Fame, but certainly he's making a case for it.
Heck yeah, I mean, if he gets five hundred saves, I
don't know how you don't put him in because at that point, if I,
if I have the numbers correct, the only two guys in history who
would have more saves than him would be Marianna Rivera and Trevorfman. And so
to me, he would be an automatic in terms of getting of the Hall
of Fame. Buster only from espnist joining us on Dodger Talk. Buster,
Let's turn our attention to the Dodgers. I said this over the last forty
games, and some of the players have gotten upset with me that they are
leaving Los Angeles wanting for more. As good as they are, as big
of a lead as they have, they are leaving us wanting more. How
do you feel from your perspective? And it was interesting because during the winter
time, you know, the conversations, will they have the greatest lineup ever?
Will they you know, can anybody beat the Dodgers? You know,
will they approach one hundred and twenty wins. They're not close to being that
team so far. We look at the you know, potential if everyone is
healthy, if you you know, get Mookie back and he's okay with his
hand the rest of the year, and you know, Tani and Fred are
in the lineup, if guys rebound in that lineup, because the bottom half
of the order has really you know, not for form generally, and if
they get their starting pitchers back healthy, then yeah, they could make a
big den in October. But to this point, we haven't seen, you
know, that dominant team that we all forecast during the winter time. It's
not nearly that it has not demonstrated the kind of depth that we expected.
And that's why a lot of people are speculating they're looking for an everyday outfielder
to lengthen that lineup. Do you believe that's right at the top, one,
A, one B of them looking for a starting pitcher, you know.
And it's interesting because when you look at the Dodgers and the resources and
the players they have on their forty man roster, it's not easy to see
what should be a priority. I have not spoken with Are Freeman recently,
but just from talking with other teams, I think the Dodgers are a little
bit like the Atlanta Braves right now, where they want to get a little
bit closer to the deadline before they figure out exactly what the biggest priority is.
You know, if some of the guys in the bottom half of the
lineup begin to hit, then the concern about that is mitigated and maybe they
go in another direction. You know better than anybody. You know the Dodgers
through the years tend to slow play their players with injuries, their starting pitchers
in particular, and you know they might actually feel good about their starting pitching
down the stretch. Maybe you know, this is just a case where they're
giving Tyler klass Now a chance to rest up and get ready for the postseason,
because we pretty much know the Dodgers are going to be in the Dance
in October, and they tend to focus on trying to get guys ready for
them. So I think we'll know more about what the priorities once we get
close to the deadline. Without a doubt buster, this was a great coincidence,
opportunity, whatever you want to call it. To say, you know
what, Tyler, You're going to just miss one more start. We're going
to give you an extra period of time to cool down this back and get
you ready for the second half. But there is still a lot of uncertainty
surrounding the return of Yoshi Yamamoto, Walker, Bueller, and Kershaw is determined
to come back, but you know how how fickle those shoulder surgeries are.
There's no guarantees that he's going to be that guy. So I feel like
the talk about Garrett Crochet is legitimate, but also buster. If the Dodgers
have an opportunity to trade for Nathan Valdi, it feels like that is even
more tempting than going after Crochet. Yeah, Nathan Evaldi would be perfect for
them. He also would be perfect for the Red Sox. And I can
tell you this. You know, a couple of weeks ago, when there's
you know, talking the media the Rangers going to be sellers. Chris Young,
who's their general manager, the message going from him was, we're going
for it. We are not going to sell. And maybe the mask changes
for them. But i'f you noticed so last week or so, they're starting
to play better, their offense is better. They got guys coming back.
I would not count on that we know Crochet is going to be moved.
The obvious question is, you know, how comfortable is the acquiring team with
the number of innings that he's throng already? He had never gone more than
I think fifty four going into this year. He's going to go well past
that. You worry that he's tired. I think one of the contenders,
maybe it's the Baltimore Oriols, maybe it's the Red Sox, maybe it's the
Dodgers says, you know what, We're not gonna worry about the ending so
much. We're gonna bet on the talent because he is big and left handed
and physical, and you'd have him under control for another year, so he
to me, would make sense. I would say that in a bidding situation.
The last couple of years, it feels like so often the Dodgers have
had advantages over other teams because of their farm system. If the Baltimore Orioles
ever got serious about acquiring a big you know, a big name pitcher is
available, they might have an advantage over all of the teams because their farm
system currently is so deep without a doubt buster, and that's the danger for
the Dodgers. If the Orioles want the same picture they do. They're the
one team that can trump them with prospects. Yeah, one hundred percent,
because they can and they have a wide range, you know. They It's
interesting, you know, when I was in Baltimore for Sunday Night Baseball recently,
I had someone there ask me, you know, have you seen anything
like this in terms of player development and the depth of the farm system,
Like, yeah, the Dodgers, you know, the Dodgers. The Dodgers
are very much like where the Orioles are now, where not only are they,
you know, picking the right players, but they're doing a great job
of developing the players. And that's why the Orioles are in the situation where
it's possible if they get serious about bidding for an available starting pitcher, they
you know, I think absolutely could have an advantage over the rest of the
industry. Buster only is our guest. As we are getting ready for the
second half of the Major League Baseball season, I feel like watching the Dodgers
and Phillies go at it in Philadelphia. They're going to do it again at
Dodgers Stadium in a couple of weeks. Buster, I'm not sure. Andrew
Friedman looks at it this way, but certainly you would have to imagine when
the Dodgers cee Nola Wheeler Christopher Sanchez, they've got to think that we've got
to find a way to match that in a playoff series if we see these
guys. I thought when you started that sentence of what you're gonna say,
was you know they could you first see a matchup in October, not just
in a couple of weeks, because I ain't on paper right now. Phillies
are the best team in baseball. They're the most complete team. You know.
So many of the other contenders we look at and we say, well,
you know, the Yankees have a major hole with their bullpen. You
know, the Braves clearly could use some outfield help. The Phillies are the
one team where I think they don't necessarily have this gaping hole. They got
an excellent rotation. You know, you ran through three names. How about
Ranger Suarez. They have an excellent bullpen, They have an experienced lineup.
Those guys are incredibly hungry after having a shocking exit from the playoffs last year.
I do think the Phillies are the standard. And if you're Andrew Freeman,
you know it's you're probably gleaning some information being able to watch them in
person leading up to the trade that long. It would be incredibly electric.
Buster Dodgers Phillies in the NLCS. That's what as a baseball fan, I'm
hoping for. Back to those those matchups in nineteen seventy seven, nineteen seventy
eight. Yeah, you know that sort of thing where I mean they would
really be two powerhouse teams going at it. Yeah, that would be special.
I feel like Matt Camp and Andre Ethier are still traumatized by Matt stares
in those eight to nine nlcs's exactly. Thanks Buster for the time. Always
great to catch up with you and look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles
Sunday Night baseball Dodgers Red Sox right out of the break. That sounds great,
David. I appreciate you asking. There. He goes one of the
best. Buster Only he'll be at Dodgers Stadium on Sunday night for Sunday Night
baseball between the Dodgers and Red Sox. Friday Night, like I mentioned,
seven to ten game between the Dodgers and Socks, and then Saturday and Sunday
nationally televised ballgames with the Dodgers and the surprise Red Sox. When we continue
here on Dodger Talks, speaking up Boston, Milton, Massachusetts own Milton,
Mass's own Rich Hill, America's pitcher, will join us next right here on
seventy LA Sports. The Dodgers are back in action this Friday night against that's
right, the Boston Red Sox, who are a surprise team in the American
League. Kenley Jansen back at Dodgers Stadium, and since the Red Sox are
coming to Los Angeles Friday night, I thought it would be fitting to bring
on Boston's favorite son, but a man that had his best years of his
life in Los Angeles pitching for the Dodgers, that is the one and only
America's pitcher, Rich Hill. Rich, thanks a lot for coming on the
show. Thanks for having me, Dave Well what introduction? Jeez you well,
thank you, you deserve it. I appreciate it. Hi's everything going,
It's going great. I mentioned to the fans and I reminded them about
your genius plan to spend time with your family the first half of the season
and then be able to decide which team you wanted to pitch for that is
not able to land pitching at the trade deadline. Have you seen your vision
start to come to fruition. Yeah, you know, everything that I can
controls as a player and getting ready for that moment when it comes around.
And certainly I've been taken care of with working out and throwing and you know,
getting out written bullpens. So you know, the next step is really
facing some hitters here in the next actually next week, and then having that
advance into the next three weeks. So that would be really almost like the
three weeks of spring training, you know, as as probably a little bit
more expedited just facing hitters and getting ready. But everything's been, you know,
basically on on track, and I've felt really good about where I'm at
right now. So you have been throwing bullpen sessions. How extensive are these
bullpen sessions? This week through a sixty five pitch bullpen. Yeah, it's
been you know, and then tomorrow another one. I'm going to go back
to back just to continue to keep building up and really some obviously fashion of
what spring training would consist of as well. But yeah, these are these
are bullpens that are you know, pretty intense, you know, full effort
bullpens. It's not uh, you know, just a white bullpen or just
trying to get my feet under me. So you know, the work that's
being done has been pretty aggressive. Rich Hill is joining us here on Dodger
Talk. All right, Richie, you said you're going to start facing hitters.
Where will you go to find those hitters? Will you go to the
Cape League? Will you go to M I. T. Hovod? Where
will you go to find those hitters? Well, well, well we'll see
you know next week. There's been been a couple couple opportunities. We're you
know, talking to some some some former teammates that are actually coaching right now,
a few teams here and there in the Northeast. So uh well,
like I said, you know, I think it's going to be a few
days beforehand when this this kind of decision is made where I'm going to go
and throw these these bullpen the space hitters or you know, live vps.
I guess if you want to call it now. As far as the extent
of you know, going in and pitching somewhere, I think that the idea
would probably kind of be, you know, to get some more uh numbers
and analytics and kind of break down of pitches for teams to be able to
see and you know, I guess figure out what their what their needs are
and and and if what I'm bringing to the table is something that fits there,
uh, fits their their wants as well. So are you going to
have one of these showcase Are you gonna have one of these showcase uh uh
outings where we hear about pitchers throwing in front of like five or six teams.
Yeah, it could be something like that. I mean also, you
know it's gonna be a it's gonna be a good fit for uh, you
know myself as well. This isn't just you know, something that's kind of
you know, whatever comes across the desk, you know, you take it's
it's really something that's kind of you know, a team that's that's focused and
concentrated and looking forward to winning a championship and and you know, having that
focus every single day when they come in the clubhouse. Uh, bringing that
mentality and that and that mindset no matter you know, where they are in
the in the standings. Obviously, I'm assuming it would be a team that
is in the hunt, which many teams are in the National League. As
we look at the wild card at this point in the year. Uh,
you know, within four games going into the second half of the year,
that's a that's you know, it's a very tight race, so a lot
of buyers out there, and uh, you know, I think that's that's
puts myself in a good position. But again, you know, really uh,
having that having that team that is committed uh through the roster every single
day, showing up and putting in the work no matter what the outcome was
the day before or uh is going to be important as well. Sounds like
you're describing the Dodgers reach. Yeah, I mean that would be that would
be incredible. It'd be a great reunion. You know, I obviously uh
love the city, love wearing Dodger blue. You know, in my opinion,
uh, if not the best, one of the best places to pitch
in baseball. So that would be you know, that would be incredible.
Knowing many of the guys in the locker room and understanding that, you know,
that mindset and that effort that they bring every single day is consistent upon
you know, with everything that we were just describing. Is that that winning
mentality, uh, you know, and staying in that pitch and that swing
in that moment and that play and understanding that whatever happened you know before,
that is gone and we have to focus in on on the here and now
and the task at him. So yeah, that would be that would be
great. You know. I think, uh, we'll see when that time
comes and and see what the uh and and the other side of it too.
With you know, the way the season has gone, and you've seen
it throughout baseball and with LA Dodgers in particular, that it's it's very fluid.
Uh. You know, injuries are happening, unfortunately at a higher rate,
and uh, you know needs of teams are changing daily. So that's
something that you know, again, I don't want to say we'll play a
factor, but I think it like within the last couple of days of being
able to uh make the decision, you know, things can change quickly.
Rich Hill is our guest, America's pitcher. You can always come home again,
and Rich Hill can always come home to Los Angeles. Uh, you've
had enough family time, Rich, I'll just be honest with you. You've
had enough family time out there. It's time to come back to sunny California.
We we miss California. Man we you know, but uh, we've
had a great eight little league season. We're still on a really good run
right now, going to uh this Williamsport team, which has been a heck
of a lot of fun. You know, seeing these kids play and you
know, keeping keeping them motivated and focused and seeing their joy and the love
for the game that they have is uh, I don't know, it's just
it's been a it's been a it's been a lot of fun to watch.
So, you know, seeing getting to watch more of our son play too,
is has been something that uh trying to really soak in. So it's
been it's been, uh been a joy to watch him. Have you been
throwing any gatorade? Uh tubs around if things don't go Bryce his way?
I mean, what is Rich Hill the coach, the dad like at those
little league games? I actually the kids will come in every now and then,
you know, kind of like a US. Sometimes there's an nil deal
with Kleenex. I've been going around that way, but uh, you know
that's part of it. And you know, a few bats tossed here and
there, but immediately, uh coach Hill is there to uh implement the uh
you know, go and pick up your bats. Thank you, come over
here, let's talk about it, and uh, you know, we move
on. That's that's part of uh, part of baseball. That's part of
growing up, right and uh you know I haven't done that yet, but
eventually I will. Uh in the house, Yeah exactly, But yeah,
that's part of it, I you know, with the with them and going
through the ups and downs and seeing it and understanding. Uh, hey,
baseball is a frustrating game. It's not about being perfect, but it is
about being perfect with your effort. So you know, as long as their
effort is perfect, that's that's that's to me. That's that's all that matters.
And the intent and you know, emotions come out as they will and
you know, as they should, but you know, we're going to move
on to the next play. That's the biggest thing. I can't carry on
that at bat out into the field. You can't carry that at that into
the mound or you know whatever that pitch into the next pitch. So that's
where the teaching moments are and that's what that's what's been a lot of fun.
That sounds great, rich, but you haven't lost your edge, have
you. I Mean, it's time it's time yet. No, no,
no, it's the mountain time now. Yeah. If I should have videoed
the entirety of the bullten today, yeah, we could have put that out
there, let people know that you have not gone completely suburban. You're ready
to get back in the trenches. Yeah, yeah, ready to get back
after it. I missed the competition. There's nothing like it. There's nothing
like, you know, facing the best in the world. So that's something
that you know, I always have enjoyed and I'm looking forward to it again.
Rich Hill is our guest here on Dodger Talk. Rich, when you
look at the season and how it's gone for a lot of teams, and
you mentioned the pitching injuries this year, do you feel like the injuries have
occurred because not the pitch clock, but there's a theory that these newer,
younger pitchers are trying to throw maximum effort in their bullpen sessions and checking these
iPads. Do you feel like that's part of this equation of why there's so
many pitcher injuries. Yeah, I think there's there's a yes, I do.
I think that is part of it. I also think, you know,
the volume side of everything, because now we're going from bullpens and you
know, you're you're doing a heavy workload in the bullpens and and trying to
chase numbers and chase velocity and max effort you know, everything that's coming out,
which I think is unbelievable, right when we look at some of these
numbers that are coming out and guys are throwing harder and you know, spinning
the ball faster. And but again to what, uh is the the risk
reward? Whereas where is the risk and where's the reward on it? Obviously
there's a high upside, but there's also a tremendous downside to it, and
I think that that's something that is is one of the factors in it.
Guys are obviously for for a good reason, are bigger, faster, stronger
than they have ever been. But also think just not losing the fact of
the art of pitching and understanding how to change speeds and you know, as
fast as we can pitch it, you know you can also you know,
there's there's something to be said for being able to be creative out there on
the mound and change speeds. So you know, it comes in obviously different
packages pitching does, but it's still pitching. It's not throwing. And you
know the thing about velocity. The good thing about velocity is that it affords
you the ability to make more mistakes. But if you know you can't command
those mistakes, or you can't command the ball over the plate, you know
it's going to go the other way as well. So as I enjoy know
this increase in ability and skill, you know to what you were saying is
that, yeah, there is there is a detrimental downside which is unfortunate,
the bane of the athlete, which is the injury. Rich Hill is our
guest before I let you go, Rich, I know you got a lot
of honeydew lists. Still, I mean, there's still a lot to do
out there in Milton, Massachusetts. I wanted to I wanted to ask you
how many of you are the bushes? Yesterda you are wondering the plants?
When I called you the other day, I did the rosemary, had to
take care of the rosemary. Still haven't used it. See this is one
of you. I need Frank the tank. I need Frank the tank back.
Let's sit and pal. Once we get between those lines, nothing changes,
all right, all right? I want I want to see that.
I want to see the uh, the intensity. I want to see the
eye of the tiger again, Richie, don't forget there is no tomorrow.
There isn't. That's right, there isn't. Do you tell you today?
Do you tell your kid that when he goes out for Little League? Do
you tell me? So? We got it, We got it. We
got a we got a big district game coming up tonight. We got district
finals going into States. Okay, it'll be a little new Rockney out there,
all right, maybe a little little Nick Saban are you are you giving
a speech tonight. We'll see how it goes. We'll see how the energy
and what the flow is and everything like that. We had a big win
last night. We had a big win last night. We beat Hangam seven
to one. They had a nice team, very good team, very good
team. Was Peter Gammons out there watching, yep, had Peter, Joe
was out there, dig Bradford, all the guys. Everybody was there.
Movie. Oh yeah, your your special Boston family out there. Nobody beat
you, David. Yeah, don't forget it, Richie, l A's your
home Boston. Yeah yeah, but yeah, I've been doing a lot of
a lot of uh, A lot of yacht work. See, this is
not something I want to put out there. I want the GM's a baseball
to know that you still have the edge. You're not just you know the
guy that waters the lawn or just barbecues or you know, picks up the
whiffle balls. We need we need, rich Hill. Yeah. Well,
like I said, don't worry about that. That part is, uh.
That part is the batteries are charging ready to go. Do you need me
to uh? Do you need me to stand in when you face those hob
and hit us? Yeah, you want to fly over here, you'll pick
one in your ear. I bet I bet you would love to do that.
Ah No, I wouldn't do that. Maybe all right, all right,
we'll leave it right there, Richie. I feel like, uh,
I don't want to push your buttons too much and send you over the edge.
I know you got to keep your your composure for this game to night.
Yeah, it's a big one. I don't want to get tossed myself.
I got to make sure that, you know, keep the keep the
lips sealed and let the umpires do their job. All right. Yeah?
Have you, by the way, have you gone after the umpires in these
little league games so far. Oh, of course not. They're doing their
best, all right, all right, there was an interference call they did
miss. It's not exactly happy about that, all right, they missed that
the other night. Well take your word for it. Rich It's great to
share you with Dodger fans again. I know they're loving hearing your voice.
And like I said, Rich Hill at forty four years young, ready for
his twentieth season in Major League Baseball when the dust settles after July thirtieth,
and certainly there's a lot of teams out there that need rich Hill in some
capacity. So hopefully you know, I'm biased. I want you back here,
but we'll see where it goes. No, I hear you, and
I miss we miss La. I miss l La. Was obviously good to
myself and uh, you know, good to my family, which is most
important. So you know, we'll see where where everything falls and and uh
you know, ready for ready for the next the next challenge. Love it.
Thanks Richie for the time, and awesome again to share you with everybody.
No, thank you for having me on, David. There he goes
Rich Hill, America's pitcher. That is the first interview he has done since
the start of the season. He is officially available a free agent any team
can sign, and that was his plan, his vision when he decided I
wanted to spend more time with my son, I want to be there to
coach his little league games, and I want to compete for a World Series
title. I'll pick my team after the trade deadline to see who I believe
is the best fit for me, instead of sugnning with the team in spring
training and then all of a sudden he's to two or three teams in the
middle of the year and they have no chance to win a World Series.
This way, he's able to survey the landscape of teams that obviously need pitching,
including the Dodgers, and decide, you know what, I want to
go here. This is the team I want to be with. This is
the team I believe in. And I'm not thinking Rich Hill's coming back to
be the Rich Hill of twenty seventeen. He's told me, and you heard
it right there. He's a guy that's ready to come out of the bullpen,
be an opener, do whatever a team needs, a pitching staff needs,
and he is ramping up to be ready for the beginning of August after
the July thirtieth trade deadline. And we've talked about this a few times.
The Dodgers are in need of pitching a pitching staff innings, somehow, some
way, and rich Hill definitely there. There is room for rich Hill on
the Dodgers, whether it's coming out of the bullpen, being an opener,
being a starter for three to four innings, there is room for rich Hill
on this Dodger pitching staff the second half of the season. I would love
to see it. Is it going to happen? Well? I would believe
that would be his first choice. Dodgers Boston would be his two choices.
But look, Baltimore is in need of pitching as well. They have a
lot of young players. Adding a veteran like rich Hill would obviously help them
as well. And that's the beauty of this. Teams are going to be
calling on rich Hill. If you're a left handed hitter, you're not getting
the call at forty four, But you're a pitcher that throws with your left
hand, you are going to get that call. And rich Hill certainly has
proven that he's a great teammate and a great competitor and teams were aware of
his plan going back to spring training and he's not going to shortchange anybody.
So loved having Rich Hill on. It was great to basically remind everybody that
he's available and he's ready to contribute, and like I said, I would
love it to be with the Dodgers. That'll do it for us. On
Dodger Talk tonight. In case you missed any of our conversation with Buster Only
or America's pitcher Rich Hill, you can find it on the iHeartRadio app,
and I promise tomorrow more of your phone calls at eight six six nine,
eight seven two five seventy. Dodgers starting the post All Star Break schedule on
Friday night against the Red Sox. Thanks to Ronnie Foscio for all his help.
Thanks to you for listening, and we'll talk to you tomorrow night at
seven o'clock. Have a great rest here Wednesday, Sea