WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:05.160 Dodger Talk is sponsored by LA Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to 2 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:10.720 millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. Welcome to Dodger Talk. David 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:15.919 Vasse with you until eight o'clock tonight here on a five to seventy LA Sports 4 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:22.000 We have a great show for you tonight. Buster Only from Sunday Night Baseball 5 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:26.079 is going to join us. The Dodgers and Red Sox hook up to start 6 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.039 the second half of the year with a three game series at Dodgers Stadium beginning 7 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:36.039 Friday night. The Dodgers Red Sox first pitch on Friday Night will be at 8 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:40.679 seven to ten. Our coverage begins at six o'clock, and then on Saturday, 9 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:44.960 Fox will carry the game, a nationally televised game that'll be a four 10 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.600 to fifteen start, and on Sunday it will be Sunday Night Baseball. Another 11 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:56.200 four o'clock is start at Dodgers Stadium. So Buster only will join us in 12 00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.479 anticipation of a very exciting first three games out of the All Star Break. 13 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:06.319 For the Dodgers, It's part of a seven game homestand to start the second 14 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.400 half, it will be three against the Red Sox. And then four with 15 00:01:10.519 --> 00:01:15.599 the San Francisco Giants, and Blake Snell is expected to start one of those 16 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:21.560 four games. Speaking of starting the Dodgers starting pitching, it's a little thin 17 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:25.959 right now, and as we get closer to that trade deadline, we have 18 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:30.280 talked about it almost every single night. The Dodgers need starting pitching help. 19 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:37.359 Tyler Glassnell will begin the post All Star break on the il Bobby Miller's in 20 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:42.000 Oklahoma City to start the second half of the year. So right now it 21 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:46.519 is a little thin for the Dodgers. They're relying on Gavin Stone, James 22 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:51.239 Paxton, Land and Knack to name a few, until Glass now can come 23 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:56.200 back, until the Dodgers can see what they have in Clayton Kershaw, who 24 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.719 is getting closer to return. It feels like Kershaw might be back by the 25 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:05.359 end of July, maybe the first week of August. But as I have 26 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:12.280 said, it is really hard to put all the expectations on Clayton Kershaw to 27 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:17.319 be the Dodgers savior coming off major shoulder surgery. Let's see where this takes 28 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:22.800 him. If it takes him back to a point where he can make a 29 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:28.400 start every five or six days, And as we get closer to July thirtieth, 30 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:32.000 the Dodgers need to be looking for starting pitching help. And like I 31 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:38.759 said, right now, they got three guys not starting the second half that 32 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:42.439 they were counting on at the beginning of the year, Tyler Glass now, 33 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:47.680 Yoshi Yamamoto, and also Bobby Miller, Glass now and Yamamoto on the il 34 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:53.400 Bobby Miller needed to reset his season. He should be back in the next 35 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.560 few weeks, but right now he's at Oklahoma City. So the three fifths 36 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:02.120 of what the Dodgers and vision to be their starting rotation is not here to 37 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:07.680 start the second half of the season. Also, speaking of pitching, coming 38 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:12.840 up at the bottom of the hour, America's pitcher Rich Hill will join us. 39 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.280 And you know, I'm not sure if you remember this. At the 40 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:21.199 beginning of this season, rich Hill went into it thinking he wanted to spend 41 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:27.280 the first half of the baseball season coaching his son's baseball team, spending more 42 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:31.560 time with his family, and also picking a team of his choice that he 43 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:37.439 believed had a good chance to make a run in the postseason, and was 44 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:43.000 looking for pitching after the July thirtieth trade deadline. And as we look at 45 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.599 the landscape of baseball right now. There are a lot of teams that are 46 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:53.199 buyers and not a lot of sellers because of the extra playoff round. So 47 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:59.560 rich Hill's master plan may be coming to fruition the way he envisioned it, 48 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:03.680 to be able to go to teams that missed out on pitching at the trade 49 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:09.599 deadline and say, hey, I'm available. I've been throwing bullpen sessions. 50 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:13.400 I'm willing to come out of your bullpen. I'm willing to be an opener. 51 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.360 I'm willing to be maybe a starting pitcher if you really need it. 52 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.759 Rich Hill is available, and I'm sure he would love to come back to 53 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:26.480 the Dodgers. Whether or not that's something that happens, we'll find out when 54 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:30.519 we talk to rich Coming up at the bottom of the hour, I am 55 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.279 a little nostalgic. The All Star break gives us opportunities to talk to people 56 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:38.959 that we normally don't have a chance to. When it's a night to night 57 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:43.839 basis worried about the here and now, worried about the trade deadline, or 58 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:48.560 focusing I shouldn't say worry, because I'm not really worried focusing on that night's 59 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:55.160 game. Focusing on that series. So yesterday we had a chance to catch 60 00:04:55.240 --> 00:05:00.000 up with Jake Peevey and Eduardo Perez tonight Buster Only and Rich, But I 61 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:05.959 also wanted to reflect on one of my favorite pregame conversations in the first half 62 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:13.680 of the season, and that was with two time two time World Series Champion 63 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:20.199 and two time World Series MVP former Dodger Corey Seger, who came back for 64 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:26.519 the first time during the regular season since signing with the Texas Rangers. So 65 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.759 in case you missed that conversation, it was one of my favorites with one 66 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:34.839 of my favorite Dodgers in the last thirteen years, Corey Seger. Yeah, 67 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:38.519 thank you. It's glad to be back on here. Hey, after that 68 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.920 pregame press conference yesterday and we walked back to the clubhouse, I felt like 69 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.920 I didn't want to leave, like I was gonna grab onto your ankles or 70 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:47.839 something. I know, you walked me on way back to the clubhouse, 71 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.920 so nice, nice little show fur back over there. Hey, I know 72 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.920 you want to play, but there is a silver lining that last night you 73 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:00.839 were able to not only take in the appreciation of the organization but the fans 74 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.360 the way they received you. Last night. Yeah, you know, it 75 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:05.720 was really awesome. You know, I'm not the one to really like the 76 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:10.600 spotlight, but just that special interaction to the fans, you know, just 77 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:13.839 the way they supported me throughout the years, the ups and downs, everything, 78 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:15.240 the way they support this team. You know, they always have a 79 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:18.120 special place in my heart. And last night was pretty cool. It feels 80 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:23.240 like you would have taken it in better the way things were last night than 81 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.279 being on deck as the second hitter of the game. Yeah, you know, 82 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.319 that would have been a lot more fun. But just the just the 83 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:30.680 total embrace. Man. Like just what I said before, you know, 84 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.199 it was really special. It's something that I'll I'll never forget. And like 85 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:39.560 I said again, you know this fan this this this organization, this fan 86 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.720 base. You know, they they have a special place in my heart. 87 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:45.959 Did you realize how much you meant to them? Not really, you know, 88 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.480 you never really get caught up in it. I think, you know, 89 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:49.480 you just you're going out there and you're trying to do your job, 90 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.519 trying to win. You know, you're always trying to perform well for them. 91 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.839 But to see the appreciation, the gratitude that they showed me, it 92 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.120 was it was it was really humbling. Almost. The one thing that I 93 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:03.839 love so much about the teams you played on was the bond that you had 94 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:08.759 with your teammates And to this day, how close are you guys still? 95 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:15.439 Because it seems like whenever players from that part of Dodger history come together, 96 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:17.879 it's like a brotherhood. Yeah, you know, extremely. I think a 97 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.560 brotherhood's a good word. You know, we went through a lot of a 98 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:24.519 lot of fun times, really close knit group. You know, people still 99 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:28.759 vacation together and stay in contact. You know, It's it's something that'll be 100 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.720 hard to replicate in the future, but it's something you'll always enjoy the memories 101 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:36.680 of. Do you remember who was your favorite roommate who? Definitely I gotta 102 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:42.040 go with Ross Stripling. Yeah, me and me and him live for a 103 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:46.480 couple of years together. Barnes and Trace Thompson are close seconds, but I 104 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.480 think Ross takes the cake on that one. He seems to be a very 105 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:53.040 responsible type of guy. That's exactly the right word. You know. He's 106 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:56.959 actually helpful, knows how to still like have fun and just sit there and 107 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:00.160 watch some shows and hang out, and actually takes out the trash. That's 108 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.000 one thing Barnes will never do is probably still doesn't do it. Hey, 109 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:07.720 I loved yesterday how Austin Barnes did not believe you would answer my FaceTime call. 110 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:11.240 You shamed him in his own clubhouse, right, I'm answer in yours 111 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.839 for answer and his just because I know how much it'll affect him, how 112 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:18.040 many answers with the freaking sunglasses on at the clubhouse, Like, what's he 113 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.040 doing? You know a better or not? You should be taking Ketterbart care 114 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.560 of him. I'm trying to lead him down the right path, but he 115 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:26.120 seems like, you know, he's lost his way in a lot of ways 116 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.680 without you guys to keep him in check. I know nobody in there. 117 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:33.799 He's one of the long term guys over there now, so he's probably running 118 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:35.480 the show a little bit over there. Hey, can you believe Austin Barnes 119 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:39.919 right now as we speak, is the longest ten yeared active Dodger. I 120 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.279 know it's crazy, right, who would have thought that? Not me? 121 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:48.440 Good for him though he means a lot of this organization. He's done a 122 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:52.919 lot for him. He's a he's a good piece of keep Corey Seeger is 123 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:56.039 our guest two time World Series champion and a champion for the Dodgers. And 124 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:00.159 I remember the first time I met you. It was in the hallways the 125 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.919 press box. You're with Julio Ourrias after he won Minor League Pitcher of the 126 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.879 Year and you won Minor League Player of the Year. And it feels like 127 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:13.879 you haven't changed one bit. Oh man, try not to. But I 128 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.159 had some I had some good molding over there. You know. I had 129 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.440 a lot of a lot of good role models, a lot of good people 130 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:22.000 in that clubhouse, a lot of good staff, a lot of good media 131 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.919 that took care of me over there. They really shaped me into who I 132 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:30.080 am. You were always very close to Chase Suttley. Your lockers were right 133 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:35.960 next to each other. Do you know why you gravitated towards him? Just 134 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.559 always respected the way he played, how he went about his business. And 135 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:43.240 he really let me understand that it's okay to be who I am. I 136 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.159 know I do things a little different as he did, you know, but 137 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:50.240 everybody has their own way. He was the epitome of getting the best out 138 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:52.519 of people and letting them be who they are to perform at seven o'clock. 139 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:56.320 You know, that's what's about it's about performing at seven. So he was 140 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:58.399 a really good role model for me for sure. And it feels like you 141 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:03.320 have state true to who you are and what you believe will allow you to 142 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:07.039 perform. Yeah. Absolutely, you know you have to. It's your DNA, 143 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.279 It's what makes you tick. It's what everybody does. You know. 144 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:11.840 Everybody has their edge, everybody has their way of doing it, and you're 145 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:15.440 just trying to maximize that. When you go back to last year and the 146 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:20.559 run to the World Series Championship in the ALCS, you guys beat the Astros 147 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.320 in seven games, was there any part of you that felt some sort of 148 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:30.559 vindication or redemption for what took place in seventeen or is that not even part 149 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.799 of it? For sure, I'd be lying to if I didn't say that. 150 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:39.240 It was definitely. The initial was the happiness for the Rangers and moving 151 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:41.799 on in the World Series and stuff like that. But once you got home 152 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:45.840 and kind of processed it, it felt like you did something good for your 153 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:48.679 old team, for sure. How many texts did you get from your former 154 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:52.159 teammates? Quite a few. We'll keep those names under wraps, but yeah, 155 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.240 there was definitely quite a few. I was going to ask you, 156 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.600 this was twenty seventeen the best team that you played on with the Dodgers, 157 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:03.360 or obviously twenty winning the World Series. Probably seventeen, to be honest with 158 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:07.720 you. Hard to compare, you know, obviously, but that was a 159 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:11.759 really good team we had. It felt like, I don't know, it 160 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.279 just felt like that was as close as you can get to winning the World 161 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:20.240 Series without doing it. But also, like I said, the bond, 162 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:24.000 the brotherhood you all had together. Yep, you know, I think that's 163 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.679 something that kind of will forever hold us together. Right. It's it's those 164 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:33.240 moments, those games that define you and make you closer and help you basically 165 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:37.000 rebuild from there, right Like you got to start over and recoup together and 166 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.519 get things rolling. So it's games like that that bring you closer. He 167 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.600 gave us so much enjoyment, and the way you did it and still do 168 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:48.799 it is first class, and that obviously comes from your mom and dad. 169 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:54.720 How's Big Jeff Seeger doing. He's great, He's he's happy. You know, 170 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.960 he's got light work now though he's only got one guy playing now, 171 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:03.240 so they're on reduced baseball games. But now they're they're watching Kyle's oldest son, 172 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:07.679 go play. Okay, he's he's really enjoying being a grandfather. Is 173 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:11.080 he throwing to him against the barn in North Carolina? Still? Absolutely. 174 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.799 I don't think that I'll ever go anywhere. It's just, uh, it's 175 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:18.559 just that Kyle's barn now. So it's something that he really enjoys and you'll 176 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.200 never be able to get that out of him. That's awesome. Still listening 177 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:24.919 to Brett Young. Absolutely. I was actually texting him yesterday. He saw 178 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.519 that we were in town and asked me if I was gonna go get my 179 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:31.799 old boys and was biting at the bed, but just wasn't in the cards. 180 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.360 We'll see what happens tonight and the rest of this series. Either way. 181 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.679 It's great to have you back in Los Angeles and you will forever mean 182 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:43.480 so much to this organization. And it's not just what you did on the 183 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:46.360 field, but just who you are as a person. I think that's what 184 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:48.960 resonates with all of us. Thank you. I really appreciate that. I'm 185 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.840 appreciateive for everything that they've done for me. Love catching up with Corey Seger. 186 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:58.559 It was a special weekend at Dodger Stadium with you showing Seeger the love 187 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:03.799 and respect that you had for him, and him reciprocating that was a special 188 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:09.279 weekend in a long regular season. And uh, certainly we miss Corey Seeger. 189 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.200 He's a great player. He's on his way to the Hall of Fame. 190 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:16.600 And I'm not going to get into the what ifs again about him being 191 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.799 with the Rangers and not the Dodgers. The Dodgers have moved on. Seeger 192 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:24.240 has moved on, and we wish him the best. When we continue here 193 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:30.159 on Dodger Talk, we will catch up with ESPN's own Buster, only the 194 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:35.440 best in the business when it comes to perspective and context when it comes to 195 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:39.159 Major League Baseball. Buster is next right here on a five to seventy LA 196 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:45.159 Sports. Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number 197 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:50.000 outside shot. We may have some time to take some phone calls. If 198 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:54.840 we don't, I promise you tomorrow it will be a lot of you. 199 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:58.720 Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number. The 200 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:05.440 open up the second half of the season on Friday Night against Alex Cora and 201 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:11.559 the Boston Red Sox. Alex Cora has the Red Sox exceeding expectations. Ken 202 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.679 Lee Jansen will be back in the house for the first time in a couple 203 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:20.720 of years, this time wearing a Red Sox uniform. Our coverage begins at 204 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:26.360 six o'clock with first pitch from Dodgers Stadium at seven to ten between the Dodgers 205 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:30.679 and Red Sox. A man that will be at Dodgers Stadium this weekend for 206 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:35.000 Sunday Night Baseball is a man that I really enjoy listening to as far as 207 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:41.559 his podcast goes, and that is the Baseball Tonight podcast hosted by the one 208 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:45.679 and only Buster Only. When I'm forced to take our dog out for a 209 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:50.360 walk or I'm just driving to the ballpark, I'll turn on Baseball Tonight's podcast 210 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:56.320 with Buster because he does such a great job of catching you up with all 211 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:01.519 of Major League Baseball. And that's actually how I get prepared when to know 212 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:07.960 what's going on outside of LA and outside of this Dodger world. Buster Only 213 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:11.559 does a great job of keeping us up to date on everything in Major League 214 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:16.840 Baseball from Vermont to Miami to New York. Buster Only does a great job. 215 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:20.039 Buster, Thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it. You can 216 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:26.240 field, the Vermont disrespect coming at some point. You have long you have 217 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:31.120 long made jokes at the expense of my home state, and I've always been, 218 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:35.120 you know, shocked by the level of your vitriol. But we'll move 219 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.600 past that. Hey, I promised you when I asked you to do this, 220 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:43.039 I would not make any jokes or cheap shots against the state of Vermont. 221 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.320 Uh huh, go ahead to take your shot, and then we'll move 222 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:48.600 on to the baseball. Well, it says a lot you were in Vermont 223 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:52.399 and you decided to go to Hartford, Connecticut. Oh, I know, 224 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:58.039 Okay, we got that out of the way. Buster. When you look 225 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.919 at the All Star teams and who is who's out, there's always some debate. 226 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:07.120 But I was a little surprised that Craig Kimberle and Kenley Jansen did not 227 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:12.039 make the American League team, but Clay Holmes made the team. And you 228 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:15.960 do wonder when some of those things come into, you know, come to 229 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:19.519 pass. You do wonder about the timing of when some of those discussions take 230 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:25.159 place. And I think that that may have had something to do with it. 231 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.360 I think that if you know, for example, that you know that 232 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.960 that took place a week later, two weeks later, I think Kenley would 233 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.519 be in and Holmes would be out. You know, because we've seen Holmes 234 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:37.279 the struggled of late. We know the Yankees are going to be looking for 235 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.120 bullpen upgrades before the trade deadline out. On the other hand, Kenley Jansen's 236 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:47.360 making it really hard for the Red Sox consider trading him because they're playing so 237 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:49.639 well. He's an important part of that. I was as I was driving 238 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.919 from Vermont to hard For last night, I was listening and that the Red 239 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:57.240 Sox nearly blew an eleven to two lead, and Alex score just made sure 240 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:03.159 he had Kenley Jansen warming up in the with a score twelve to eight, 241 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:07.759 because Kenley's mister reliable buster. I know I'm a little biased because ken Lee 242 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:11.920 spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers All time saves leader, But 243 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:17.680 are we taking for granted one of the great careers of a closer because it 244 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:25.000 feels like he's not really mentioned among the best currently and his career is remarkable 245 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:29.000 that it's still going at this level. I think it reflects the conversation within 246 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:34.960 the sport. A lot of the new front offices basically don't really value closers, 247 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.400 you know, I think in the way that they might have thirty years 248 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:44.440 ago, because they feel like that generally speaking, relievers are replaceable. We 249 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:48.119 see at every fall when you know, relievers are cut free, non tendered. 250 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:52.359 Very few of them actually paid a lot of money, you know. 251 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:56.359 I think that. You know, the days when you know, guys like 252 00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:00.640 Roley Fingers Mariano Rivera are considered to be the more dominant play in the sport, 253 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.000 those are gone. And I think ken Lee, you know, Craig 254 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:07.519 Kimberl are two guys who are feeling that disrespect. I just know from my 255 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:12.000 time covering the Yankees, and I covered some great teams, they had set 256 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:17.160 up men like you know, Jeff Nelson who were telling me, yeah, 257 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.559 I don't want the closer job. You wouldn't know. And I know, 258 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:23.400 no matter what the numbers say, no matter what front offices say about anyone 259 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:27.200 can be a closer. That's not how the players feel. And I think 260 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:33.359 that's how ken Lee has distinguished himself in his career, doing this job better 261 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.400 than just about anybody in his time. Yeah, and I know talking to 262 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:40.000 ken Lee a lot buster the Hall of Fame is on his mind. Five 263 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:44.519 hundred saves is on his mind. And I'm not sure if he's going to 264 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.599 get to the Hall of Fame, but certainly he's making a case for it. 265 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.359 Heck yeah, I mean, if he gets five hundred saves, I 266 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.640 don't know how you don't put him in because at that point, if I, 267 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:56.599 if I have the numbers correct, the only two guys in history who 268 00:18:56.599 --> 00:19:00.799 would have more saves than him would be Marianna Rivera and Trevorfman. And so 269 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.480 to me, he would be an automatic in terms of getting of the Hall 270 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:08.359 of Fame. Buster only from espnist joining us on Dodger Talk. Buster, 271 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:14.160 Let's turn our attention to the Dodgers. I said this over the last forty 272 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:18.119 games, and some of the players have gotten upset with me that they are 273 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:22.359 leaving Los Angeles wanting for more. As good as they are, as big 274 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.839 of a lead as they have, they are leaving us wanting more. How 275 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:30.000 do you feel from your perspective? And it was interesting because during the winter 276 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:33.799 time, you know, the conversations, will they have the greatest lineup ever? 277 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:37.279 Will they you know, can anybody beat the Dodgers? You know, 278 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:41.440 will they approach one hundred and twenty wins. They're not close to being that 279 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:45.640 team so far. We look at the you know, potential if everyone is 280 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:49.119 healthy, if you you know, get Mookie back and he's okay with his 281 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.400 hand the rest of the year, and you know, Tani and Fred are 282 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.799 in the lineup, if guys rebound in that lineup, because the bottom half 283 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.200 of the order has really you know, not for form generally, and if 284 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:04.119 they get their starting pitchers back healthy, then yeah, they could make a 285 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.279 big den in October. But to this point, we haven't seen, you 286 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:12.200 know, that dominant team that we all forecast during the winter time. It's 287 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:15.839 not nearly that it has not demonstrated the kind of depth that we expected. 288 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:22.279 And that's why a lot of people are speculating they're looking for an everyday outfielder 289 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:26.319 to lengthen that lineup. Do you believe that's right at the top, one, 290 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:30.960 A, one B of them looking for a starting pitcher, you know. 291 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:36.359 And it's interesting because when you look at the Dodgers and the resources and 292 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:41.319 the players they have on their forty man roster, it's not easy to see 293 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:45.079 what should be a priority. I have not spoken with Are Freeman recently, 294 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.359 but just from talking with other teams, I think the Dodgers are a little 295 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:52.880 bit like the Atlanta Braves right now, where they want to get a little 296 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:56.680 bit closer to the deadline before they figure out exactly what the biggest priority is. 297 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.039 You know, if some of the guys in the bottom half of the 298 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:06.319 lineup begin to hit, then the concern about that is mitigated and maybe they 299 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:11.319 go in another direction. You know better than anybody. You know the Dodgers 300 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:15.839 through the years tend to slow play their players with injuries, their starting pitchers 301 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:21.200 in particular, and you know they might actually feel good about their starting pitching 302 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.680 down the stretch. Maybe you know, this is just a case where they're 303 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:29.720 giving Tyler klass Now a chance to rest up and get ready for the postseason, 304 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:33.240 because we pretty much know the Dodgers are going to be in the Dance 305 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:37.759 in October, and they tend to focus on trying to get guys ready for 306 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:40.960 them. So I think we'll know more about what the priorities once we get 307 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:45.680 close to the deadline. Without a doubt buster, this was a great coincidence, 308 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:48.759 opportunity, whatever you want to call it. To say, you know 309 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:51.799 what, Tyler, You're going to just miss one more start. We're going 310 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.279 to give you an extra period of time to cool down this back and get 311 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.319 you ready for the second half. But there is still a lot of uncertainty 312 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:04.799 surrounding the return of Yoshi Yamamoto, Walker, Bueller, and Kershaw is determined 313 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:10.400 to come back, but you know how how fickle those shoulder surgeries are. 314 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:14.240 There's no guarantees that he's going to be that guy. So I feel like 315 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:19.799 the talk about Garrett Crochet is legitimate, but also buster. If the Dodgers 316 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:26.599 have an opportunity to trade for Nathan Valdi, it feels like that is even 317 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.880 more tempting than going after Crochet. Yeah, Nathan Evaldi would be perfect for 318 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:33.680 them. He also would be perfect for the Red Sox. And I can 319 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:37.960 tell you this. You know, a couple of weeks ago, when there's 320 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:41.759 you know, talking the media the Rangers going to be sellers. Chris Young, 321 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:45.599 who's their general manager, the message going from him was, we're going 322 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:49.160 for it. We are not going to sell. And maybe the mask changes 323 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:52.359 for them. But i'f you noticed so last week or so, they're starting 324 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:56.480 to play better, their offense is better. They got guys coming back. 325 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:00.759 I would not count on that we know Crochet is going to be moved. 326 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:06.960 The obvious question is, you know, how comfortable is the acquiring team with 327 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:10.240 the number of innings that he's throng already? He had never gone more than 328 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:14.000 I think fifty four going into this year. He's going to go well past 329 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:18.000 that. You worry that he's tired. I think one of the contenders, 330 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:21.359 maybe it's the Baltimore Oriols, maybe it's the Red Sox, maybe it's the 331 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:23.839 Dodgers says, you know what, We're not gonna worry about the ending so 332 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:29.200 much. We're gonna bet on the talent because he is big and left handed 333 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:33.759 and physical, and you'd have him under control for another year, so he 334 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:37.400 to me, would make sense. I would say that in a bidding situation. 335 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:40.880 The last couple of years, it feels like so often the Dodgers have 336 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:45.000 had advantages over other teams because of their farm system. If the Baltimore Orioles 337 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:49.920 ever got serious about acquiring a big you know, a big name pitcher is 338 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:53.519 available, they might have an advantage over all of the teams because their farm 339 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:59.119 system currently is so deep without a doubt buster, and that's the danger for 340 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:03.240 the Dodgers. If the Orioles want the same picture they do. They're the 341 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:07.640 one team that can trump them with prospects. Yeah, one hundred percent, 342 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:11.079 because they can and they have a wide range, you know. They It's 343 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:15.920 interesting, you know, when I was in Baltimore for Sunday Night Baseball recently, 344 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:18.599 I had someone there ask me, you know, have you seen anything 345 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:22.720 like this in terms of player development and the depth of the farm system, 346 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.440 Like, yeah, the Dodgers, you know, the Dodgers. The Dodgers 347 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:30.119 are very much like where the Orioles are now, where not only are they, 348 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:33.839 you know, picking the right players, but they're doing a great job 349 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:37.759 of developing the players. And that's why the Orioles are in the situation where 350 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:44.480 it's possible if they get serious about bidding for an available starting pitcher, they 351 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:48.200 you know, I think absolutely could have an advantage over the rest of the 352 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:52.400 industry. Buster only is our guest. As we are getting ready for the 353 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:56.160 second half of the Major League Baseball season, I feel like watching the Dodgers 354 00:24:56.200 --> 00:25:00.759 and Phillies go at it in Philadelphia. They're going to do it again at 355 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:03.440 Dodgers Stadium in a couple of weeks. Buster, I'm not sure. Andrew 356 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:07.680 Friedman looks at it this way, but certainly you would have to imagine when 357 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:14.160 the Dodgers cee Nola Wheeler Christopher Sanchez, they've got to think that we've got 358 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:18.039 to find a way to match that in a playoff series if we see these 359 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:21.240 guys. I thought when you started that sentence of what you're gonna say, 360 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:25.079 was you know they could you first see a matchup in October, not just 361 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:27.720 in a couple of weeks, because I ain't on paper right now. Phillies 362 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:30.960 are the best team in baseball. They're the most complete team. You know. 363 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:34.000 So many of the other contenders we look at and we say, well, 364 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:38.960 you know, the Yankees have a major hole with their bullpen. You 365 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.000 know, the Braves clearly could use some outfield help. The Phillies are the 366 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:47.720 one team where I think they don't necessarily have this gaping hole. They got 367 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:51.000 an excellent rotation. You know, you ran through three names. How about 368 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:55.000 Ranger Suarez. They have an excellent bullpen, They have an experienced lineup. 369 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:59.960 Those guys are incredibly hungry after having a shocking exit from the playoffs last year. 370 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:03.200 I do think the Phillies are the standard. And if you're Andrew Freeman, 371 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:08.000 you know it's you're probably gleaning some information being able to watch them in 372 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:12.079 person leading up to the trade that long. It would be incredibly electric. 373 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:18.519 Buster Dodgers Phillies in the NLCS. That's what as a baseball fan, I'm 374 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:22.599 hoping for. Back to those those matchups in nineteen seventy seven, nineteen seventy 375 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:26.799 eight. Yeah, you know that sort of thing where I mean they would 376 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:32.039 really be two powerhouse teams going at it. Yeah, that would be special. 377 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:36.599 I feel like Matt Camp and Andre Ethier are still traumatized by Matt stares 378 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:42.680 in those eight to nine nlcs's exactly. Thanks Buster for the time. Always 379 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:45.960 great to catch up with you and look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles 380 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:52.119 Sunday Night baseball Dodgers Red Sox right out of the break. That sounds great, 381 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:55.000 David. I appreciate you asking. There. He goes one of the 382 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:00.319 best. Buster Only he'll be at Dodgers Stadium on Sunday night for Sunday Night 383 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:03.960 baseball between the Dodgers and Red Sox. Friday Night, like I mentioned, 384 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:08.839 seven to ten game between the Dodgers and Socks, and then Saturday and Sunday 385 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:17.440 nationally televised ballgames with the Dodgers and the surprise Red Sox. When we continue 386 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:22.599 here on Dodger Talks, speaking up Boston, Milton, Massachusetts own Milton, 387 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:29.880 Mass's own Rich Hill, America's pitcher, will join us next right here on 388 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:37.279 seventy LA Sports. The Dodgers are back in action this Friday night against that's 389 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:41.000 right, the Boston Red Sox, who are a surprise team in the American 390 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:47.680 League. Kenley Jansen back at Dodgers Stadium, and since the Red Sox are 391 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:52.119 coming to Los Angeles Friday night, I thought it would be fitting to bring 392 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:59.119 on Boston's favorite son, but a man that had his best years of his 393 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:03.480 life in Los Angeles pitching for the Dodgers, that is the one and only 394 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:10.119 America's pitcher, Rich Hill. Rich, thanks a lot for coming on the 395 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:15.359 show. Thanks for having me, Dave Well what introduction? Jeez you well, 396 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:22.519 thank you, you deserve it. I appreciate it. Hi's everything going, 397 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:26.920 It's going great. I mentioned to the fans and I reminded them about 398 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:30.680 your genius plan to spend time with your family the first half of the season 399 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:37.759 and then be able to decide which team you wanted to pitch for that is 400 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:42.880 not able to land pitching at the trade deadline. Have you seen your vision 401 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:48.039 start to come to fruition. Yeah, you know, everything that I can 402 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.440 controls as a player and getting ready for that moment when it comes around. 403 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:59.359 And certainly I've been taken care of with working out and throwing and you know, 404 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:03.359 getting out written bullpens. So you know, the next step is really 405 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:07.559 facing some hitters here in the next actually next week, and then having that 406 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:14.359 advance into the next three weeks. So that would be really almost like the 407 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:18.519 three weeks of spring training, you know, as as probably a little bit 408 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:22.640 more expedited just facing hitters and getting ready. But everything's been, you know, 409 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:29.400 basically on on track, and I've felt really good about where I'm at 410 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:33.759 right now. So you have been throwing bullpen sessions. How extensive are these 411 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:40.319 bullpen sessions? This week through a sixty five pitch bullpen. Yeah, it's 412 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:42.359 been you know, and then tomorrow another one. I'm going to go back 413 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:48.920 to back just to continue to keep building up and really some obviously fashion of 414 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:53.920 what spring training would consist of as well. But yeah, these are these 415 00:29:53.920 --> 00:30:00.640 are bullpens that are you know, pretty intense, you know, full effort 416 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:04.160 bullpens. It's not uh, you know, just a white bullpen or just 417 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.920 trying to get my feet under me. So you know, the work that's 418 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:14.319 being done has been pretty aggressive. Rich Hill is joining us here on Dodger 419 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:17.200 Talk. All right, Richie, you said you're going to start facing hitters. 420 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.480 Where will you go to find those hitters? Will you go to the 421 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:25.119 Cape League? Will you go to M I. T. Hovod? Where 422 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:34.759 will you go to find those hitters? Well, well, well we'll see 423 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:38.599 you know next week. There's been been a couple couple opportunities. We're you 424 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:45.240 know, talking to some some some former teammates that are actually coaching right now, 425 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:49.599 a few teams here and there in the Northeast. So uh well, 426 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:52.319 like I said, you know, I think it's going to be a few 427 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:57.400 days beforehand when this this kind of decision is made where I'm going to go 428 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:02.359 and throw these these bullpen the space hitters or you know, live vps. 429 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.880 I guess if you want to call it now. As far as the extent 430 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:11.880 of you know, going in and pitching somewhere, I think that the idea 431 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:18.400 would probably kind of be, you know, to get some more uh numbers 432 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:23.599 and analytics and kind of break down of pitches for teams to be able to 433 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:29.759 see and you know, I guess figure out what their what their needs are 434 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:33.640 and and and if what I'm bringing to the table is something that fits there, 435 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:40.240 uh, fits their their wants as well. So are you going to 436 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:44.359 have one of these showcase Are you gonna have one of these showcase uh uh 437 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:48.279 outings where we hear about pitchers throwing in front of like five or six teams. 438 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:52.519 Yeah, it could be something like that. I mean also, you 439 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:55.799 know it's gonna be a it's gonna be a good fit for uh, you 440 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:59.880 know myself as well. This isn't just you know, something that's kind of 441 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:02.359 you know, whatever comes across the desk, you know, you take it's 442 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:07.519 it's really something that's kind of you know, a team that's that's focused and 443 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:13.920 concentrated and looking forward to winning a championship and and you know, having that 444 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:16.640 focus every single day when they come in the clubhouse. Uh, bringing that 445 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:21.880 mentality and that and that mindset no matter you know, where they are in 446 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:23.839 the in the standings. Obviously, I'm assuming it would be a team that 447 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:29.559 is in the hunt, which many teams are in the National League. As 448 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:31.240 we look at the wild card at this point in the year. Uh, 449 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:35.240 you know, within four games going into the second half of the year, 450 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:39.079 that's a that's you know, it's a very tight race, so a lot 451 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:43.799 of buyers out there, and uh, you know, I think that's that's 452 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:47.160 puts myself in a good position. But again, you know, really uh, 453 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:54.799 having that having that team that is committed uh through the roster every single 454 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:59.400 day, showing up and putting in the work no matter what the outcome was 455 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.839 the day before or uh is going to be important as well. Sounds like 456 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:06.119 you're describing the Dodgers reach. Yeah, I mean that would be that would 457 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:09.759 be incredible. It'd be a great reunion. You know, I obviously uh 458 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:15.680 love the city, love wearing Dodger blue. You know, in my opinion, 459 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:19.000 uh, if not the best, one of the best places to pitch 460 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:22.480 in baseball. So that would be you know, that would be incredible. 461 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:30.240 Knowing many of the guys in the locker room and understanding that, you know, 462 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:34.079 that mindset and that effort that they bring every single day is consistent upon 463 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:37.079 you know, with everything that we were just describing. Is that that winning 464 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:42.000 mentality, uh, you know, and staying in that pitch and that swing 465 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:46.480 in that moment and that play and understanding that whatever happened you know before, 466 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:51.400 that is gone and we have to focus in on on the here and now 467 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.480 and the task at him. So yeah, that would be that would be 468 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:59.160 great. You know. I think, uh, we'll see when that time 469 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.359 comes and and see what the uh and and the other side of it too. 470 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:05.880 With you know, the way the season has gone, and you've seen 471 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:13.679 it throughout baseball and with LA Dodgers in particular, that it's it's very fluid. 472 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:17.880 Uh. You know, injuries are happening, unfortunately at a higher rate, 473 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.559 and uh, you know needs of teams are changing daily. So that's 474 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:27.920 something that you know, again, I don't want to say we'll play a 475 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:31.519 factor, but I think it like within the last couple of days of being 476 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:36.360 able to uh make the decision, you know, things can change quickly. 477 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:42.039 Rich Hill is our guest, America's pitcher. You can always come home again, 478 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:45.800 and Rich Hill can always come home to Los Angeles. Uh, you've 479 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.599 had enough family time, Rich, I'll just be honest with you. You've 480 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:52.960 had enough family time out there. It's time to come back to sunny California. 481 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:59.599 We we miss California. Man we you know, but uh, we've 482 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:01.960 had a great eight little league season. We're still on a really good run 483 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:06.639 right now, going to uh this Williamsport team, which has been a heck 484 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:10.079 of a lot of fun. You know, seeing these kids play and you 485 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:15.880 know, keeping keeping them motivated and focused and seeing their joy and the love 486 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:19.280 for the game that they have is uh, I don't know, it's just 487 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:22.000 it's been a it's been a it's been a lot of fun to watch. 488 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:25.880 So, you know, seeing getting to watch more of our son play too, 489 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:30.400 is has been something that uh trying to really soak in. So it's 490 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:35.239 been it's been, uh been a joy to watch him. Have you been 491 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:39.639 throwing any gatorade? Uh tubs around if things don't go Bryce his way? 492 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:44.000 I mean, what is Rich Hill the coach, the dad like at those 493 00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:49.239 little league games? I actually the kids will come in every now and then, 494 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:52.760 you know, kind of like a US. Sometimes there's an nil deal 495 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:58.519 with Kleenex. I've been going around that way, but uh, you know 496 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.519 that's part of it. And you know, a few bats tossed here and 497 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:07.840 there, but immediately, uh coach Hill is there to uh implement the uh 498 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:09.360 you know, go and pick up your bats. Thank you, come over 499 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:12.960 here, let's talk about it, and uh, you know, we move 500 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:15.960 on. That's that's part of uh, part of baseball. That's part of 501 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:20.280 growing up, right and uh you know I haven't done that yet, but 502 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:30.400 eventually I will. Uh in the house, Yeah exactly, But yeah, 503 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:32.559 that's part of it, I you know, with the with them and going 504 00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:37.280 through the ups and downs and seeing it and understanding. Uh, hey, 505 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:40.360 baseball is a frustrating game. It's not about being perfect, but it is 506 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:44.800 about being perfect with your effort. So you know, as long as their 507 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:47.119 effort is perfect, that's that's that's to me. That's that's all that matters. 508 00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:52.000 And the intent and you know, emotions come out as they will and 509 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:54.880 you know, as they should, but you know, we're going to move 510 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:58.920 on to the next play. That's the biggest thing. I can't carry on 511 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.880 that at bat out into the field. You can't carry that at that into 512 00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:05.920 the mound or you know whatever that pitch into the next pitch. So that's 513 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:08.000 where the teaching moments are and that's what that's what's been a lot of fun. 514 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:12.400 That sounds great, rich, but you haven't lost your edge, have 515 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:15.039 you. I Mean, it's time it's time yet. No, no, 516 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:20.960 no, it's the mountain time now. Yeah. If I should have videoed 517 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:25.400 the entirety of the bullten today, yeah, we could have put that out 518 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:30.239 there, let people know that you have not gone completely suburban. You're ready 519 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:34.880 to get back in the trenches. Yeah, yeah, ready to get back 520 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:37.000 after it. I missed the competition. There's nothing like it. There's nothing 521 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:40.599 like, you know, facing the best in the world. So that's something 522 00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:45.800 that you know, I always have enjoyed and I'm looking forward to it again. 523 00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:51.559 Rich Hill is our guest here on Dodger Talk. Rich, when you 524 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:53.360 look at the season and how it's gone for a lot of teams, and 525 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:58.559 you mentioned the pitching injuries this year, do you feel like the injuries have 526 00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:04.320 occurred because not the pitch clock, but there's a theory that these newer, 527 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:10.039 younger pitchers are trying to throw maximum effort in their bullpen sessions and checking these 528 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:15.119 iPads. Do you feel like that's part of this equation of why there's so 529 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:19.480 many pitcher injuries. Yeah, I think there's there's a yes, I do. 530 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.760 I think that is part of it. I also think, you know, 531 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:25.039 the volume side of everything, because now we're going from bullpens and you 532 00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:30.079 know, you're you're doing a heavy workload in the bullpens and and trying to 533 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:36.360 chase numbers and chase velocity and max effort you know, everything that's coming out, 534 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:39.599 which I think is unbelievable, right when we look at some of these 535 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:44.360 numbers that are coming out and guys are throwing harder and you know, spinning 536 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:51.679 the ball faster. And but again to what, uh is the the risk 537 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:54.079 reward? Whereas where is the risk and where's the reward on it? Obviously 538 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:59.280 there's a high upside, but there's also a tremendous downside to it, and 539 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:02.199 I think that that's something that is is one of the factors in it. 540 00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:07.920 Guys are obviously for for a good reason, are bigger, faster, stronger 541 00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:13.320 than they have ever been. But also think just not losing the fact of 542 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:17.159 the art of pitching and understanding how to change speeds and you know, as 543 00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:22.199 fast as we can pitch it, you know you can also you know, 544 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:25.320 there's there's something to be said for being able to be creative out there on 545 00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:31.400 the mound and change speeds. So you know, it comes in obviously different 546 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:37.320 packages pitching does, but it's still pitching. It's not throwing. And you 547 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:42.960 know the thing about velocity. The good thing about velocity is that it affords 548 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:49.199 you the ability to make more mistakes. But if you know you can't command 549 00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:53.039 those mistakes, or you can't command the ball over the plate, you know 550 00:39:53.039 --> 00:40:00.159 it's going to go the other way as well. So as I enjoy know 551 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:06.519 this increase in ability and skill, you know to what you were saying is 552 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:08.639 that, yeah, there is there is a detrimental downside which is unfortunate, 553 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:15.000 the bane of the athlete, which is the injury. Rich Hill is our 554 00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:16.599 guest before I let you go, Rich, I know you got a lot 555 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:20.039 of honeydew lists. Still, I mean, there's still a lot to do 556 00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:25.000 out there in Milton, Massachusetts. I wanted to I wanted to ask you 557 00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:31.480 how many of you are the bushes? Yesterda you are wondering the plants? 558 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:35.239 When I called you the other day, I did the rosemary, had to 559 00:40:35.239 --> 00:40:37.280 take care of the rosemary. Still haven't used it. See this is one 560 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:42.760 of you. I need Frank the tank. I need Frank the tank back. 561 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:49.440 Let's sit and pal. Once we get between those lines, nothing changes, 562 00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:52.079 all right, all right? I want I want to see that. 563 00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:54.679 I want to see the uh, the intensity. I want to see the 564 00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:59.239 eye of the tiger again, Richie, don't forget there is no tomorrow. 565 00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:02.840 There isn't. That's right, there isn't. Do you tell you today? 566 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:06.519 Do you tell your kid that when he goes out for Little League? Do 567 00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.079 you tell me? So? We got it, We got it. We 568 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:10.239 got a we got a big district game coming up tonight. We got district 569 00:41:10.239 --> 00:41:15.119 finals going into States. Okay, it'll be a little new Rockney out there, 570 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:19.840 all right, maybe a little little Nick Saban are you are you giving 571 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:23.239 a speech tonight. We'll see how it goes. We'll see how the energy 572 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:25.679 and what the flow is and everything like that. We had a big win 573 00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:30.719 last night. We had a big win last night. We beat Hangam seven 574 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:32.960 to one. They had a nice team, very good team, very good 575 00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:38.239 team. Was Peter Gammons out there watching, yep, had Peter, Joe 576 00:41:38.440 --> 00:41:44.480 was out there, dig Bradford, all the guys. Everybody was there. 577 00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:52.280 Movie. Oh yeah, your your special Boston family out there. Nobody beat 578 00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:54.440 you, David. Yeah, don't forget it, Richie, l A's your 579 00:41:54.440 --> 00:42:00.360 home Boston. Yeah yeah, but yeah, I've been doing a lot of 580 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:06.960 a lot of uh, A lot of yacht work. See, this is 581 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:09.480 not something I want to put out there. I want the GM's a baseball 582 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:13.440 to know that you still have the edge. You're not just you know the 583 00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:16.679 guy that waters the lawn or just barbecues or you know, picks up the 584 00:42:16.679 --> 00:42:21.800 whiffle balls. We need we need, rich Hill. Yeah. Well, 585 00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:23.880 like I said, don't worry about that. That part is, uh. 586 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:28.719 That part is the batteries are charging ready to go. Do you need me 587 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:31.079 to uh? Do you need me to stand in when you face those hob 588 00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:36.880 and hit us? Yeah, you want to fly over here, you'll pick 589 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:42.880 one in your ear. I bet I bet you would love to do that. 590 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:50.239 Ah No, I wouldn't do that. Maybe all right, all right, 591 00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:52.559 we'll leave it right there, Richie. I feel like, uh, 592 00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:55.760 I don't want to push your buttons too much and send you over the edge. 593 00:42:55.800 --> 00:43:00.199 I know you got to keep your your composure for this game to night. 594 00:43:00.239 --> 00:43:02.280 Yeah, it's a big one. I don't want to get tossed myself. 595 00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:06.199 I got to make sure that, you know, keep the keep the 596 00:43:06.199 --> 00:43:09.119 lips sealed and let the umpires do their job. All right. Yeah? 597 00:43:09.199 --> 00:43:12.880 Have you, by the way, have you gone after the umpires in these 598 00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:15.639 little league games so far. Oh, of course not. They're doing their 599 00:43:15.639 --> 00:43:22.239 best, all right, all right, there was an interference call they did 600 00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:28.400 miss. It's not exactly happy about that, all right, they missed that 601 00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:30.960 the other night. Well take your word for it. Rich It's great to 602 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:35.480 share you with Dodger fans again. I know they're loving hearing your voice. 603 00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:39.239 And like I said, Rich Hill at forty four years young, ready for 604 00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:45.199 his twentieth season in Major League Baseball when the dust settles after July thirtieth, 605 00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:50.199 and certainly there's a lot of teams out there that need rich Hill in some 606 00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:53.679 capacity. So hopefully you know, I'm biased. I want you back here, 607 00:43:53.719 --> 00:43:57.639 but we'll see where it goes. No, I hear you, and 608 00:43:58.320 --> 00:44:01.000 I miss we miss La. I miss l La. Was obviously good to 609 00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:05.840 myself and uh, you know, good to my family, which is most 610 00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:10.679 important. So you know, we'll see where where everything falls and and uh 611 00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:15.519 you know, ready for ready for the next the next challenge. Love it. 612 00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:19.239 Thanks Richie for the time, and awesome again to share you with everybody. 613 00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:22.000 No, thank you for having me on, David. There he goes 614 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:29.280 Rich Hill, America's pitcher. That is the first interview he has done since 615 00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:35.639 the start of the season. He is officially available a free agent any team 616 00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:39.519 can sign, and that was his plan, his vision when he decided I 617 00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:43.840 wanted to spend more time with my son, I want to be there to 618 00:44:43.880 --> 00:44:46.719 coach his little league games, and I want to compete for a World Series 619 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:52.079 title. I'll pick my team after the trade deadline to see who I believe 620 00:44:52.599 --> 00:44:57.639 is the best fit for me, instead of sugnning with the team in spring 621 00:44:57.719 --> 00:45:01.559 training and then all of a sudden he's to two or three teams in the 622 00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:06.159 middle of the year and they have no chance to win a World Series. 623 00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:13.440 This way, he's able to survey the landscape of teams that obviously need pitching, 624 00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:16.519 including the Dodgers, and decide, you know what, I want to 625 00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:21.679 go here. This is the team I want to be with. This is 626 00:45:21.719 --> 00:45:25.679 the team I believe in. And I'm not thinking Rich Hill's coming back to 627 00:45:25.719 --> 00:45:30.440 be the Rich Hill of twenty seventeen. He's told me, and you heard 628 00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:34.800 it right there. He's a guy that's ready to come out of the bullpen, 629 00:45:35.320 --> 00:45:39.079 be an opener, do whatever a team needs, a pitching staff needs, 630 00:45:39.559 --> 00:45:45.159 and he is ramping up to be ready for the beginning of August after 631 00:45:45.239 --> 00:45:49.920 the July thirtieth trade deadline. And we've talked about this a few times. 632 00:45:50.360 --> 00:45:55.320 The Dodgers are in need of pitching a pitching staff innings, somehow, some 633 00:45:55.519 --> 00:46:00.719 way, and rich Hill definitely there. There is room for rich Hill on 634 00:46:00.840 --> 00:46:05.800 the Dodgers, whether it's coming out of the bullpen, being an opener, 635 00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:10.480 being a starter for three to four innings, there is room for rich Hill 636 00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:15.679 on this Dodger pitching staff the second half of the season. I would love 637 00:46:15.760 --> 00:46:19.440 to see it. Is it going to happen? Well? I would believe 638 00:46:19.639 --> 00:46:23.400 that would be his first choice. Dodgers Boston would be his two choices. 639 00:46:24.199 --> 00:46:28.840 But look, Baltimore is in need of pitching as well. They have a 640 00:46:28.880 --> 00:46:32.599 lot of young players. Adding a veteran like rich Hill would obviously help them 641 00:46:32.639 --> 00:46:37.800 as well. And that's the beauty of this. Teams are going to be 642 00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:42.039 calling on rich Hill. If you're a left handed hitter, you're not getting 643 00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:45.239 the call at forty four, But you're a pitcher that throws with your left 644 00:46:45.239 --> 00:46:50.760 hand, you are going to get that call. And rich Hill certainly has 645 00:46:50.840 --> 00:46:55.119 proven that he's a great teammate and a great competitor and teams were aware of 646 00:46:55.159 --> 00:47:00.639 his plan going back to spring training and he's not going to shortchange anybody. 647 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:06.559 So loved having Rich Hill on. It was great to basically remind everybody that 648 00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:09.880 he's available and he's ready to contribute, and like I said, I would 649 00:47:09.880 --> 00:47:14.079 love it to be with the Dodgers. That'll do it for us. On 650 00:47:14.239 --> 00:47:17.559 Dodger Talk tonight. In case you missed any of our conversation with Buster Only 651 00:47:17.840 --> 00:47:23.159 or America's pitcher Rich Hill, you can find it on the iHeartRadio app, 652 00:47:23.320 --> 00:47:28.559 and I promise tomorrow more of your phone calls at eight six six nine, 653 00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:34.199 eight seven two five seventy. Dodgers starting the post All Star Break schedule on 654 00:47:34.280 --> 00:47:37.800 Friday night against the Red Sox. Thanks to Ronnie Foscio for all his help. 655 00:47:38.039 --> 00:47:42.400 Thanks to you for listening, and we'll talk to you tomorrow night at 656 00:47:42.440 --> 00:47:45.159 seven o'clock. Have a great rest here Wednesday, Sea