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 --> 00:00:10.439 millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. Welcome to Dodger Talk. David 3 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:15.720 Vase with you until eight o'clock tonight here on Dodger Talk, our first show 4 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:20.239 during the All Star Break. We'll be with you all four days leading you 5 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:26.480 up to Friday night's resumption of Dodger Baseball and the Dodgers open up the schedule 6 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:31.079 against Boston. The Red Sox will be in town for a three game weekend 7 00:00:31.239 --> 00:00:36.880 series as part of a seven game homestand to start the post All Star breaks 8 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:41.759 schedule, and then from there, the San Francisco Giants will be in town 9 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:47.799 for a four game series before the Dodgers head out on the road. Eight 10 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:52.679 six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. We'll try 11 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:56.079 to get to your phone calls during the show tonight. But we have a 12 00:00:56.119 --> 00:01:02.240 big show including Hall of Famer John Small. He will join us coming up 13 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:06.920 at the bottom of the hour. We will get into my numbing trade talk 14 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:11.480 not only tonight but all through the All Star Break. One of the one 15 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:15.799 of the biggest memories I have as far as the trade deadline goes. Was 16 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:22.040 in twenty eighteen, during the All Star Game, it started to become pretty 17 00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:26.000 certain that Many Machado was going to be traded from the Orioles to the Dodgers. 18 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:32.959 And I remember Many being at second base after a double, or Matt 19 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:38.239 kemp Bean at second base after a double or somehow getting there, and Many 20 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.840 Machado's playing shortstop, and Camp and Machado stopped to take a selfie. So 21 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:49.280 that was one of the more recent All Star memories I have in relation to 22 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:53.120 the trade deadline. But before we get to all that, let's talk about 23 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:57.640 the Dodgers and who they have already for the first half of the season. 24 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:02.719 I thought Jason Hayward put it to me perfectly that the Dodgers have been more 25 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:08.240 battle tested this first half than they were all of last season. Remember, 26 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:14.879 last year, the Dodgers really never had any major injuries. Obviously the pitching 27 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:17.800 staff was a little thin. They had injuries to the staff, but position 28 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:23.680 player wise, they never had any sort of extended injuries like they're dealing with 29 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:30.080 right now to Mookie Betts and also Max Munsey and Hayward himself has been out 30 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:34.680 a couple of different times, first with the back injury for a month, 31 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:38.439 and then now his left knee has kept him on the shelf. Hopefully he's 32 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:43.680 back in the second half of the season. But Jason Hayward told me that 33 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:47.599 basically, whatever the plan has been and whenever it doesn't go to plan, 34 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:52.759 whether it's just a week or two game plan or a month or two of 35 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:57.599 game planning, or whether it's just the game itself, if it doesn't go 36 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:01.400 as planned, the Dodgers have been very good most of the time, being 37 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:07.240 able in his words to quote freestyle, and I think that's accurate. And 38 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:12.599 who knows better than Jason Hayward. That's kind of the vibe that the Dodgers 39 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.800 have had all first half for the most part. I mean, look not 40 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:22.280 only injuries to Hayward and Mookie Bets and Max Munsey, but look at their 41 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:27.719 bullpen. And it shouldn't come as a surprise considering they have older veterans in 42 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:32.319 their bullpen, but Ryan Brazier and Joe Kelly have barely pitched the first half 43 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:37.400 of the season. They were missing Evan Phillips for three or four weeks, 44 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:43.280 Blake Trinan and Daniel Hudson at least Trynon started the year on the IL, 45 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.719 but those two guys. Without them, I'm not sure where the Dodgers would 46 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:53.800 be. And that's just been the Dodgers twenty four first half, and it 47 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:58.319 just shows you how much depth and talent they have on this team to be 48 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:02.520 able to not only with stand it, but also have such a big lead 49 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:08.319 for the majority of the first half over the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Giants. 50 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:15.520 So I feel like that's part of this story. Also, the expectations 51 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:20.720 on the Dodgers. There were questions upon questions about the attention the Dodgers are 52 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:26.759 going to get this year with show Heyotani being on the team, the expectations 53 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.839 of spending over a billion dollars in combined contracts during the off season, and 54 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:39.399 the Dodgers have not allowed that to interfere with them worrying about the here and 55 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:45.079 now and show Heotani especially, I mean, I feel like we don't appreciate 56 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.759 how much this guy has had to deal with since spring training started. Number 57 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:56.160 One, the expectations of the big contract number two coming to the Dodgers. 58 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:00.839 Number three getting married. I mean that came out where he got married and 59 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:05.519 announced it, had a press conference in spring training about getting married, and 60 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:11.639 then the Dodgers go to Korea. They start the season in South Korea, 61 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:17.519 and in South Korea, Otani's interpreter, Epei is all of a sudden out 62 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:23.959 of the picture because of a gambling scandal, so his world has been turned 63 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:29.959 upside down, and he has been able to just stay very focused and compartmentalize 64 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:33.759 things better than most players do, so for me, that's been part of 65 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:40.120 the story of the first half. Not to mention Mookie Betts being moved to 66 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:45.720 shortstop just a week before they leave for Korea, and unfortunately for Moki getting 67 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.040 hit on the left hand on Father's Day. Hopefully he's back in a few 68 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.680 weeks. But that's all been part of this story for the Dodgers in the 69 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:59.639 first half, and they've been able to maintain and do better than that by 70 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:04.560 leading the NLS by a large margin all first half long. And now they 71 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:09.800 have injuries to Yoshi Yamamoto, not sure if he's coming back in August or 72 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:15.399 September. Tyler Glass now ends the first half on the IL with back tightness, 73 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.199 so the Dodgers again have had to lean on the kids. Bobby Miller, 74 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:25.759 he's been out, he's back now, Gavin Stone, justin Robleski landon 75 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:30.240 Nack. This seems reminiscent of a year ago where Emmisihan, Bobby Miller, 76 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:35.399 and Gavin Stone all made their major league debuts, and that's part of the 77 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:43.399 reason why the Dodgers are in need of more veterans starting pitching at the trade 78 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:46.920 deadline. It feels like they're in the same spot they were a year ago. 79 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:53.560 The biggest difference is the Dodgers are all in this year. They showed 80 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:57.399 that with what they did during the off season. They're not going to stop 81 00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.639 now. So they're all in. They'll do what it takes to get a 82 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:06.000 frontline starter at the trade deadline. Eight six six nine eight seven two five 83 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:11.560 seventy is the phone number. We'll get to more mind numbing trade talk coming 84 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:15.160 up in the next segment, and also John Smoltz will join us at the 85 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.319 bottom of the hour on Dodger Talk. But I wanted to get to my 86 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:27.839 David Vassay's top ten plays moments of the first half. You may have yours, 87 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:31.480 but these are mine, and I'm leading off with Mookie Bets making a 88 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:38.360 great play on April twelfth against the Padres at Dodger Stadium, top of the 89 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:43.920 seventh inning, Ryan Brasier on the mound against Louis Campasano, and Mookie, 90 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:48.199 playing his new position at shortstop, makes a great play all of Derek Jeter 91 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:54.160 and head by three games in the standings. Soft fly ball pulled left side, 92 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:58.759 Mookie Betts calls off Monzie getting towards the net. Mookie Betts did he 93 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:05.319 make the play? He did, crashing into the net, secured the ball 94 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:13.680 for the first out of the seventh in spectacular fashion, and Bets came out 95 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:18.839 of the netting with a big smile, no doubt. That was like his 96 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:24.319 hero Derek Jeter going into the stands if there was no netting there, Mookie 97 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.160 Bets goes in and maybe takes some nachos away from some fans. So I 98 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:33.159 feel like there was so much of a microscope on Mookie Betts, and when 99 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.919 he did not play well at shortstop, we all said, what's going on? 100 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:39.679 What are the Dodgers doing with Mookie Bets there? Mookie's not a shortstop. 101 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.320 That's the reason why I wanted to shine a light on a play that 102 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:50.440 he made. Because he played adequate shortstop. I would say he was better 103 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:54.320 than half of the shortstops in Major League Baseball. Now, is he going 104 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.799 to play there when he comes back? I don't think so. Miguel Rojas 105 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:03.720 is reminded every everybody that not only is he one of the best defensive shortstops 106 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:07.360 in baseball, but he can do it, and the Dodgers can manage it. 107 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.600 And I believe Mooki will slide over to second base when he returns. 108 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:16.120 That was number ten. Here is number nine. Sho Hey O'tani against his 109 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:22.120 former team, the Angels on June twenty second at Dodgers Stadium, helped the 110 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:26.279 Dodgers beat his former team seven to two. The stretch by plea sack this, 111 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:33.000 you'll leads it first. Now the two zero swung on it hammered way 112 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:43.919 back in God he is how one man showed three nothing Dodgers his second home 113 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:50.159 run in as many days in his National League leading twenty third bomb. Oh 114 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:58.200 what a shot. Four one hundred fifty nine feet and one hundred and fifteen 115 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:01.600 and a half miles per hour off the bat. Tim Neverett on the call 116 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:07.360 with Rick Monday that night at Dodgers Stadium. That home run went four hundred 117 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:13.399 and fifty nine feet at Dodger Stadium, so Otani putting it on his former 118 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:16.480 team. And if you remember, in that short two game series, Otani 119 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:22.080 homered the night before in a Dodger loss, and then they beat the Angels 120 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:26.320 the next night seven to two. Who remembers the Dodgers seven run ninth inning 121 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:31.879 at Coursfield in June June eighteenth, the Dodgers came from behind. They were 122 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:37.799 down nine to four going into the ninth inning, and they stormed back with 123 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:43.840 seven runs at Coursfield. And it started with Jason Hayward's Grand Slam by this 124 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:52.279 much. Twenty six pitches Hi Kenley in this inning in the right handers to 125 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:58.399 two offer to Jason Hayward swinging in hammer to right field. This bonus back, 126 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:03.840 this bonus, the off, the foul ball, a grand slam for 127 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:09.919 Jay Hey, the fourth career grand Slam for Hayward, and the Dodgers are 128 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:15.000 within a run. It's nine to eight. Oh, can you believe it? 129 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:22.879 Jason Hayward with a ninth inn in grand slam and the Dodgers just one 130 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.360 run behind and o'tane coming up, no doubt, a big night at chorus 131 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:33.320 Field. As you can hear the excitement in Tim Nevers's voice, Jason Hayward 132 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:39.120 with a grand slam to pull the Dodgers within one run. O'tani would walk, 133 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:43.320 and then, of course, Taoscar Hernandez, who has come up big 134 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.360 for the Dodgers so many times in the first half of the season, delivered 135 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:50.480 a goal ahead, two run home run, and the Dodgers scored seven runs 136 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:56.000 to beat the Rockies that night, eleven to nine at Chorus Field, certainly 137 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:01.600 a Dodgers Corps Field classic. All right, here's another one of the top 138 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:09.159 ten David Vase first half plays of the game. Ta Oscar Hernandez. He's 139 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.279 in the All Star Game for a reason, and I'm sure everybody on the 140 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:18.200 East Coast took notice when te Oscar owned the Yankees in the Bronx in June. 141 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:24.879 June eighth, game two of that three game series against the Yankees, 142 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:31.679 Taoscar Hernandez came up with two home runs on that Saturday nationally televised game, 143 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:37.519 including this one, a grand slam off a former Dodger, Tommy Kinley. 144 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:45.679 Bases loaded only one out the two to two Hernandez with a fly ball left 145 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:50.879 center field tour the bullpen. Don you Tioscar Hernandez has done it again. 146 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:58.080 Hey, Grand Slam breaks an open here for the Dodgers in the Bronx. 147 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:03.679 Oh yeah, the Dodgers put the Yankees on notice that they may not be 148 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:09.440 as good as everybody thinks. Ta Oscar Hernandez with a big weekend in the 149 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.639 Bronx, and certainly Rick Monday and Steven Nelson were pumped up. Speaking of 150 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:18.840 New York, one of the bigger turns in momentum for the Dodgers' first half 151 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:24.519 was when they were losers of five in a row. But things changed at 152 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:28.519 City Field in Queens, New York, when the Dodgers, who were rained 153 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:33.840 out the first night there, played a doubleheader against the Mets and came back 154 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:37.879 late to win an extra inning game. In the first game of that doubleheader, 155 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:43.000 which they turned out to sweep, Mookie Betts came up with a go 156 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.399 ahead base it in the tenth inning, and then for good measure, Freddie 157 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:52.159 Freeman poured it on. I was stretching the pitch on the way Freddie swings. 158 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.559 HiT's a drive the right field and date this ball's back. This ball's 159 00:13:54.600 --> 00:14:01.000 gone a home run. Freddie Freeman a two run shot. The Dodgers extend 160 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:05.200 the lead to five. The two home run number six for Freddie Freeman. 161 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:11.120 He had a frozen rope over the right field wall and the Dodgers extend their 162 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:15.480 lead an extra enning. And it's amazing how many Dodger fans immediately go to 163 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:20.120 their feet and why not Rick Monday and Tim Neverett on the call at City 164 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.480 Field on that day May twenty eighth where the Dodgers kind of got back to 165 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:30.679 being the Dodgers. Remember that was the Daniel Hudson game where he got himself 166 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:35.840 into a jam and got himself out of a jam to preserve the tied game. 167 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.759 Remember Jeff McNeil slamming his bad down as he popped up at second base 168 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:45.679 to end the bottom of the ninth inning. So I'm hoping that me or 169 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.480 somebody else can make up a shirt of that photo of Hudson coming off the 170 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:54.480 field with two fingers over his lips to shut the crowd up. And after 171 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:58.879 the game, Hudson told reporters the reason why he did that was for his 172 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:03.799 teammates in the dugout to remember they are the Dodgers. As we move on 173 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:09.440 through the top ten first half plays, here, it is Mookie Bets his 174 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:16.440 fiftieth career leadoff home run on May thirteenth against the Giants. Look you ready 175 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:22.039 for the one two pitch and Hicks deels. This ball has hit well to 176 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:26.200 left field. It is heading back. This ball is gone. It's the 177 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:35.120 fiftieth leadoff home run for number fifty, and the Dodgers, with some instant 178 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:39.399 offense off the bat of Mookie Bets, lead it one to nothing. Fiftieth 179 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:45.759 career leadoff home run for Mookie Bets. That's what he does, Mookie Bets 180 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:50.159 lead off home run. And I can assure you Mookie Bets will be the 181 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:56.039 leadoff hitter when October rolls around. We are rolling along on David Vasse's top 182 00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:02.159 ten. Now remember these are my moments and hope bringing back great memories of 183 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:07.799 the Dodgers a dominating first half. Here is another one who loves a walkoff. 184 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:11.320 We love a walk off, and so did Andy Piez against the Braves. 185 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:17.240 Going back to May third at Dodgers Stadium, three and two. The 186 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:21.720 payoff, Andy swings and he looks it in the shadow center that ball is 187 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:26.919 gonna drop for a hit. Will Smith scars Dodgers win first career walk off 188 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:37.399 hit for Andy Pies four three Dodgers winning an eleven. They're mobbing Andy Piez 189 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:44.879 on the infield grass. Andy pie haz with the game winner in the eleventh 190 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:49.000 inning on May third. Everybody loves a walkoff, and Andy pie has certainly 191 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.799 came to the rescue for the Dodgers. After a rocky start for James Autman 192 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:59.440 to start the year, Pie has given the opportunity to play every day in 193 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.359 center feet and he certainly has done a great job for the Dodgers. That 194 00:17:03.640 --> 00:17:10.279 was a four hit game for Andy Pajz. All right, here's another walk 195 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:14.480 off. On July second, bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers down 196 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:18.880 to their last out against Paul Seawald, Freddie Freeman was able to tie the 197 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:25.680 game with a double to score Will Smith and Taoscar Hernandez was able to drive 198 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:30.519 in Freddie Freeman with the Dodgers down to their final out that night at Dodgers 199 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:34.920 Stadium Raymond, on second Seawalld out of the stretch, Hernandez crowns the ball 200 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.960 basement on the field. Freddy's gonna be waking around. The throw in from 201 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:45.200 Gurriel hits off the play tail the hero again. The Dodgers walk off the 202 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:52.279 b Backs. He's being mop between second and third, six five the fuddle. 203 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:56.119 Oh yeah, we all remember that. That wasn't too long ago, 204 00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:00.920 only a couple of weeks ago, where the Dodgers were able to come back 205 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:06.039 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the only game they won in that series. All 206 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:10.440 right, we're getting closer to our final two plays of the first half for 207 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:15.119 the Dodgers. He remembers. This kind of falls into the game because Will 208 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:21.599 Smith had a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, a three home run game a 209 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:26.759 couple of weeks ago at Dodgers Stadium. Will Smith two home runs tonight, 210 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:33.480 two for two of the walk five to four Dodgers trailer. Will swings pits 211 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:38.480 a drive down the left field line. It has done. It's gone on 212 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:45.079 three home run night from Will Smith. He ties the game. Oh yeah, 213 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:49.319 Will Smith with a three homer game. Remember four home runs and four 214 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:55.359 on bats spanning Friday into Saturday for Will Smith. All right, here we 215 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:59.839 go. Here is the final call, or the final top play of the 216 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:03.920 first half. You love Otani, We love Otani. Here is Otani with 217 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:10.079 his first Dodger walk off basit. It was against the Cincinnati Reds on May 218 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:15.200 nineteenth. Hey we're looking to get a good jump on contact one two pitch 219 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:21.200 Otani Swang's base hit right field. Here comes Heyward around third pill score and 220 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:26.000 the Dodgers win it three to two, the second career walk off hit for 221 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:33.880 show hell O'tani and the show rolls on at Dodger Stadium. There was show 222 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:38.960 Hey Otani with his first walk off basit in nearly four years his first as 223 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.559 a Dodger against the Reds. I believe that brought back some good memories for 224 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:48.240 you. Whether or not you agreed those were the top plays or games of 225 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:52.359 the first half, those were mine. If you have a problem with it, 226 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:56.480 you can x me at the Real Underscore DV. When we continue here 227 00:19:56.599 --> 00:20:00.559 on Dodger Talk, we will get to some mind numbing trade talk, trade 228 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:04.759 rumors surrounding the Dodgers, and coming up at the bottom of the hour you 229 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:10.839 will hear from Hall of Famer John Smoltz as we roll on until eight o'clock 230 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:17.160 right here on a five to seventy LA Sports five seventy LA Sports. If 231 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:19.160 you want to chime in on the show, I'm not sure we'll have time 232 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:23.279 for phone calls tonight. But you can always reach me on x at the 233 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:29.680 Real Underscore DV and you can also follow me on Instagram at officially Vassa. 234 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.559 And as always, you can always listen to all the interviews shows that you 235 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:38.759 missed during the first half on the iHeartRadio app. Just search Dodger Talk and 236 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.799 that's where you'll find all your Dodgers Radio content that you may have missed during 237 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:49.119 the first half of the season. I hope you enjoyed my top moments of 238 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:52.880 the first half of the season. Coming up in about ten minutes, you'll 239 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:57.839 hear from Hall of Famer John Smoltz, love tapping into his knowledge, and 240 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:03.720 I believe you'll enjoy the conversation just where the Dodgers are at, where the 241 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:07.440 postseason is headed in the National League. So John Smoltz joining us in about 242 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:12.599 ten minutes from now. But as promised, we have my numbing trade talk 243 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:17.680 for you. And look, the Dodgers, there's no secret where they need 244 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:22.519 help. Number One, it feels like shortstop is not as big of a 245 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:27.680 priority as it was, say two months ago. With Mookie Bets handling the 246 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:33.200 position pretty well, the Dodgers have been satisfied with his defense there. But 247 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:38.960 when you see Miguel Rojas play that position, you remember what it's like to 248 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:45.960 have a lifelong shortstop and you need that. You can't mess around with defense 249 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:51.359 up the middle. Mookie Bets belongs at second base, Miguel Rojas belongs at 250 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:56.359 shortstop in October, and I believe that's what you're going to see. The 251 00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:02.079 Dodgers may revisit Bobishitt during the offseason, but I just don't see that trade 252 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:07.000 happening right now because of a couple of different reasons. Like I mentioned, 253 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:11.440 first and foremost, the Dodgers field, between Rojas and Mookie Betts and Keik 254 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.599 Hernandez, they can hold down that position. Number Two, they need some 255 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:21.480 help in the outfield. Jason Hayward has another injury with his left knee. 256 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:25.799 Who knows how that's going to affect him when he comes back. He already 257 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.640 has had a back injury, and on top of it, he hasn't performed 258 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:33.599 the way he performed last year at the plate. Yes, he's played great 259 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:38.240 right field, but offensively he's not been what he was a year ago. 260 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:44.319 Taoscar Hernandez has been the guy out there every day. If it wasn't for 261 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:48.559 him missing some days, with the passing of his grandfather, he and Freddie 262 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:52.799 Freeman would be the only two Dodgers that have played every game in the first 263 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:57.480 half of the season. So you got Taoscar Hernandez, who could play left 264 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:04.559 field or right field. The Dodgers are looking for another everyday outfielder. I 265 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:10.079 believe they're looking at Randy a Rose Arena. Things may have changed. The 266 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:14.119 Rays are kind of in the Wildcard. They got one foot in, one 267 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:17.920 foot out. They're one of those bubble teams. But the Rays have showed 268 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:22.640 that they are planning for next year because of the injuries to their pitching staff, 269 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:26.319 namely their number one starter. That's the reason why they traded Glass Now, 270 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:30.119 who they were not going to be able to keep because of free agency. 271 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:37.079 A Rose Arena has had a disappointing first half, and the Rays may 272 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:41.839 be willing to listen on offers for him. Another player that I wouldn't rule 273 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:47.480 out, especially if it's attached to a Garrett Crochet trade. Even without Crochet, 274 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:52.240 Luis Robert, who a lot of the people I've spoken to believe if 275 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.240 you get him out of Chicago, he will play with more passion and the 276 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:00.960 Dodgers can manage him so he doesn't need to play every day. They can 277 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:06.880 keep him on the field more often than he has been with the White Sox 278 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:11.640 in his career the last four or five years, He's only played one hundred 279 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:17.599 games once. The Dodgers more than likely can get him to stay on the 280 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:22.880 field if he wants to be on the field. It's not just about the 281 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:26.960 training staff. They need cooperation from the player to put in the effort, 282 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:30.559 to put in the preventative work to be able to stay out on the field 283 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:36.680 and play. They don't have a magic wand if the player is not motivated 284 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:40.480 to put in the work to be able to be on the field each and 285 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:45.839 every day. So Luis, Robert Randio, Rosearena, and I also wouldn't 286 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:51.720 rule out Tommy fam Those are the three outfielders I believe the Dodgers are looking 287 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:59.720 at as we get closer to July thirtieth. Now starting pitching bullpen help seem 288 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:03.920 throwing out a lot of things here. The Dodgers have some holes to plug. 289 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.200 It's not a perfect roster, and I'm not sure how many teams do 290 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:12.839 have a perfect roster, but if you look at the Dodger bullpen in October 291 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:18.960 They're going to have to move some relievers into that bullpen, which makes relief 292 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:26.319 help maybe not the number one priority or number two priority. They need starting 293 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:30.359 pitching help. They need a starter that can start Game two or three for 294 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:37.440 them, especially now with Glassnew's back popping up, flaring up, Yamamoto's uncertainty, 295 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:42.880 the uncertainty with Clayton Kershaw's come back, even though it feels like he 296 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.359 is on his way back. That would be asking a lot to say Kershaw 297 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:52.960 carry us through the postseason. That's why the Dodgers are looking at Crochet. 298 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:59.559 That's why I believe the Dodgers should be looking at Nathan Valdi. Those are 299 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:04.079 the guy and if they have something or if they need to pivot, Tanner 300 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:10.640 Scott of the Marlins would also be on my shopping list. But that's I 301 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:14.599 mean, we're not talking about just signing a guy. We're talking about giving 302 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:18.960 up minor league prospects. And I know it's about winning the World Series, 303 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:23.000 but you can't deplete your system. We have seen how much the Dodgers have 304 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:30.119 relied upon that with injuries and underperformance by certain players. You just can't empty 305 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:36.440 the entire farm system because there are no guarantees you're going to win the World 306 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:40.799 Series. So that's where I'm at, and the next few nights we will 307 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:45.359 continue to talk about the emerging trade rumors that are connecting the Dodgers with certain 308 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:51.160 teams. Eight six nine, eight seven, two five seventy is the phone 309 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.599 number. We're gonna take a time out, and when we return, we'll 310 00:26:53.640 --> 00:27:00.680 be joined by Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Joe Davis is national TV partner 311 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:04.640 on Fox. Don't Go Anywhere More. Dodger Talk is next right here on 312 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:10.079 a F five to seventy LA Sports on this Dodger Talk, leading you up 313 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:14.880 to eight o'clock tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports. The Dodgers 314 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:19.759 will be back in action on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium against the Boston Red 315 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:26.240 Sox. It is a big homestand to start the post All Star Break schedule 316 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:30.039 for the Dodgers. Three against the Red Sox and then four more against the 317 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:36.119 San Francisco Giants. So we'll see whether or not the Dodgers are up for 318 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:41.400 the test. I would imagine that we have to all start rethinking how we 319 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:47.400 view these series. It's not about the Dodgers measuring themselves to these other teams. 320 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:52.960 It's about these other teams measuring themselves against the Dodgers. The Dodgers are 321 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:57.799 the bar setters, and that's been the norm for the last what seven eight 322 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:03.039 years. Red Sox are a surprise team. In the first half of the 323 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:07.279 year, nobody thought they would even be thinking about the wildcard race, but 324 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:12.440 here they are. Alex kra has them thinking about the Wildcard and even thinking 325 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:18.000 about the Red Sox being buyers and not sellers, because going back just a 326 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:22.079 few weeks, many thought the Red Sox were going to be sellers. But 327 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:29.119 here they are making a late push and maybe forcing the hand of Craig Breslo 328 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:34.920 their GM to be buyers, which means they might be on the fence to 329 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:40.519 trade. Kennley Jansen. Kennley Jansen was a name that we had heard since 330 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:45.240 spring training that the Red Sox may trade, trying to get more talent for 331 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:49.720 next year and the year after. But the Red Sox have gotten surprising good 332 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:56.720 starting pitching from their young pitchers. They have gotten some good offense. They 333 00:28:56.759 --> 00:29:00.640 need more offense. Not sure if that's going to last in the second half, 334 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:04.680 but it's going to be great to see Kenley Jansen back at Dodgers Stadium. 335 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.480 Whether or not he becomes a Dodger this year still remains to be seen, 336 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:15.319 because, let's face it, even if he gets traded, are the 337 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:18.960 Red Sox trading him to the Dodgers And going back to spring training, I 338 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:25.039 had heard the Red Sox were asking quite a bit in return for the Dodgers' 339 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:30.599 all time saves leaders, So Kennley Jansen maybe a Red Sox, he might 340 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:33.799 be a Dodger. I think there's a good chancey if he gets traded, 341 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:38.200 it could be to the Phillies. So it's all contingent on how the Red 342 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:42.559 Sox play here in the next week or so, because the trade deadline is 343 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:47.680 just a couple of weeks away. The Dodgers will be in San Diego on 344 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:52.519 July thirtieth, the trade deadline day. They'll be on the road with three 345 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:57.680 in Houston after this upcoming homestand and then two in San Diego and their final 346 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:03.680 trip to Oakland also on this three city road trip coming up after this seven 347 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:08.519 game homestand so it's gonna be fun at Dodgers Stadium. We hope to see 348 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:14.000 you out there Friday, Night is a set. Friday Night is a seven 349 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:18.440 to ten game, and then on Sunday it is a Sunday Night Baseball game, 350 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:23.440 so it will be a four to ten start on Sunday and also another 351 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:30.759 nationally televised game Dodgers Red Sox on Fox at four point fifteen, So a 352 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.960 fun three game series. Dodgers Red Sox, Alex Korra back at Dodgers Stadium, 353 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:41.680 Kenlee Jansen back at Dodgers Stadium, and John Smoltz and Joe Davis will 354 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:45.359 be on the call on Saturday's game against the Red Sox. And I had 355 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:49.640 a chance to catch up with John Smoltz just a few days ago. Well, 356 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:52.480 it's a pleasure right now to be joined by a Hall of Famer when 357 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:56.039 men were men on the man, a man that won two hundred and thirteen 358 00:30:56.079 --> 00:31:00.359 games in his career, struck out over three thousand, and also did it 359 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:03.559 as a reliever, one of the best closers when he was in the bullpen 360 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:07.640 for a short time. That is the great world champion John Smoltz. John, 361 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:11.839 thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it. My pleasures always great 362 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:15.559 to be here in La beautiful day, beautiful weather and great game. Do 363 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:18.400 you ever have a chance to hit any of the golf courses in La LA's 364 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:22.920 got some of the finest. Yeah. When I was playing here, this 365 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:26.640 was guaranteed golf, you know. I think in twenty one years I saw 366 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:30.440 it rain twice. So whenever we came to the West coast, it was 367 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:36.799 filled with tea times. At LA Country Club bel Air Sherwood Boris. We 368 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.200 played a lot of golf courround here and it was a lot of fun. 369 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:41.240 Sherwood's my neck of the woods, so I know it well. Was there 370 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:45.720 one golf course that was the most challenging for you? Sherwood was the first 371 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:48.599 golf course I'd ever seen with the golf carts the way that they were. 372 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.279 They were ahead of their time. They had like the trunk in the front 373 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:56.880 of the hood that you could put things that were selling jewelry and the pro 374 00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:02.880 shop. It was a lot of fun to go to Sherwood. I think 375 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:08.240 my favorite is LA Country Club, Okay in La North So of course they 376 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:12.759 just played the Open not too long ago, so, but that's one of 377 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:15.000 my favorites. Do you have a favorite golfer? We always talk about favorite 378 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:20.160 baseball players, but is there such a thing to love a golfer that's not 379 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.839 named Tiger Woods. Well, you know what, during the playing days, 380 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:29.160 Tom Glavin was my most loyal golfer on the road. But I like playing 381 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.319 with anybody who likes to play fast. You know, I would just say, 382 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:35.839 doesn't matter what your handicap is. If you're going to play like a 383 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:37.680 US Open Tour player, then we're not going to have a lot of fun. 384 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:40.880 But if you're going to be able to just get over your ball, 385 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:44.039 get ready to hit it, and hit it, and we could play as 386 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.680 much golf in the day, that's as possible. I know, you could 387 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:50.200 talk golf all day. One more question about it. You mentioned Surewood. 388 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:54.359 The guy that I know that made Surewood famous was Wayne Gretzky. Did you 389 00:32:54.400 --> 00:33:00.440 ever play against Gretzky or with Gretzky? I have and something a celebri events 390 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.960 back in the past, and also in a member guest out of Shadow Creek. 391 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.880 But Wayne's golf game, I think he's, you know, obviously one 392 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:14.799 of the greatest all time athletes ever. He likes to talk trash on the 393 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:19.559 golf course. John Smoltz is our guest John when we're at Dodgers Stadium, 394 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:23.000 and John Smoltz is here. I remember nineteen ninety one when the Braves came 395 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:28.440 back from a nine game deficit at the All Star Break to win the division 396 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:32.599 by a game over the Dodgers. I've been preaching not to be complacent around 397 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:37.279 the streets of Los Angeles. Some of the players have gotten upset with me 398 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:40.519 for saying that. But as good as the Dodgers are and as big of 399 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:45.200 a lead they have, do you feel like complacency can set in? Well, 400 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.640 it can, but Dave Roberts will ever let that. I think a 401 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:52.000 manager knows when his team is maybe kind of gliding. Look, the roster 402 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:55.279 is definitely the best roster in the NL West, But injuries are also a 403 00:33:55.319 --> 00:34:00.480 part of our game that you never can foresee, and already they've been They've 404 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:05.759 had some injuries that have kind of stabled maybe the wind total. Getting north 405 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:09.000 of one hundred plus wins was what everybody expects. So I think there are 406 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:13.639 lessons in the game that teach you to not look too far ahead and not 407 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:16.840 get too far complacent. Because you're mentioning the one that was one of the 408 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:22.400 greatest for us. It started an incredible streak of fourteen straight years. No 409 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:25.880 one saw us coming the Dodgers. The Reds had no fear of the Atlanta 410 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:30.679 Braves in nineteen ninety one, and we ran a historic second half and really 411 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:32.920 went on our last road trip. We went seven to zero, and to 412 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:37.400 catch the Dodgers on the final day was pretty well. We actually caught them 413 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:40.400 on Saturday, I believe Saturday night. I was able to pitch that game 414 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:45.639 against Houston that clinched our first playoff spot for a long time for the Braves. 415 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:50.760 I remember being here when the Braves came to town in September of that 416 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:53.320 season, and that was maybe the biggest series in a long time. It 417 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:58.840 was loud. I pitched in that series. If I'm not mistaken, I 418 00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:04.239 think this realized kind of what we were doing, you know, and that 419 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:09.159 we were chugging along, and we picked up I think seven games in the 420 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:13.599 first ten games of the second half in the standing something like that, six 421 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:16.119 or seven games, and then it was it was game on. You know, 422 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:22.519 we were the underdog by no stretch. We understood that, and all 423 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.800 the pressure was kind of on the Dodgers, and that road trip we were 424 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:29.039 on, they were at home, so they got to see all those miracle 425 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:31.280 comeback wins. You know, I don't know how true the story is, 426 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:37.159 but Tommy Lasorda, we were down two runs in the ninth inning against Cincinnati, 427 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.559 nobody out in the ninth We came back and won that game in extra 428 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:45.159 innings, and I hadn't understand he was eating a play depasta and he threw 429 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:47.880 it off his desk when we were able to come back and win that game. 430 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:52.760 Yeah, that sounds like Tommy Lelorda for sure. John Smoltz is our 431 00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:58.039 guest. Obviously the Braves World Series champions, but went there came a little 432 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:01.079 bit short. The Dodgers. Now the last ten years have been compared to 433 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:07.519 your Braves teams. Can you relate to the feeling around here when you have 434 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:09.920 all the pressure on you? There's something to be said about that. Now, 435 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:12.719 when you have all the pressure on you, it means you're a pretty 436 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:15.599 good team and you've got a good chance of doing something each year that you 437 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:17.840 set off to do. Out leave me string training. We had a little 438 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:23.079 different scenario. We were winning despite having been predicted, you know, to 439 00:36:23.159 --> 00:36:27.400 win. We did that the first five years, but after that our roster 440 00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:30.559 changed quite a bit. It's frustrating as a player to come up short like 441 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:35.320 we did. We lost our first eight World Series games by one run. 442 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:37.840 We were in every World Series. It comes down to execution, a little 443 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:40.280 bit of luck, but you've got to be able to deliver. And I 444 00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:44.880 think for the Dodgers it's been a little bit of a mixed bag. Right 445 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:50.079 last year, beat up rotation, a couple of years ago beat up Then 446 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:52.320 they had to go toe to toe with the Giants and exhaust every option they 447 00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:57.000 had to win that series and really had nothing left for the Braves. They 448 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.960 went on to win the World Series that year. I think it's every year. 449 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:05.079 If it's a healthier team has a chance to win, then they have 450 00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:09.639 the upper hand. Experience is phenomenally great when you use it. But I 451 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:14.559 think if your roster is a little banged up and people know that you got 452 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:17.960 to be healthy despite the payroll and despite the roster, you've got to be 453 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:21.480 healthy at the right time of the year. John, I get tired of 454 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:24.880 hearing about the postseason being random. I'm not a big believer in that. 455 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:29.880 I feel like you make your own luck and your fortune. There is another 456 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:32.800 layer to the postseason rounds now, But how do you feel about that when 457 00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:37.920 you hear randomness and luck well, the one thing that I've noticed over the 458 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:40.800 last five to seven years is the strategies and the philosophies that work in one 459 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:45.719 sixty two. The teams that don't dB eight from that, they're not winning. 460 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:47.400 Yeah, And I just think I know a lot of pushback have been 461 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:52.559 given by me by making those claims, but analytics is only good as much 462 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:54.559 as you're able to use a one sixty two model. It doesn't work in 463 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:58.880 the best of seven. And if you're not able to use your eyes at 464 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:05.079 that time of the year and use the players having spectacular performances and not utilizing 465 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:07.880 them like it's a one sixty two, I think that's part of it. 466 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:10.320 And I know people don't like that, but that's just part of having experience 467 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:15.239 in the postseason. We got to let players have their moments and we can't 468 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:19.840 just keep conducing it down to a one sixty two model. I'll grant you 469 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:23.000 one sixty two analytics has been very successful, yeah, but I don't think 470 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:27.639 it's proven to be successful in the playoffs. That's where the randomness may be 471 00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:30.760 coming from, because they can't explain that, and that's the difficult part about 472 00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:35.480 understanding it's a totally different set of circumstances that you have to go by. 473 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:38.559 You got to let your horses be horses, and you got to be able 474 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:43.079 to, like I said, be healthy enough to utilize the best pitching usually 475 00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:47.360 wins. And if you use those guys and use your eyes. I'm not 476 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:51.400 crazy about taking a guy out in the fourth or fifth inning when he's been 477 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:53.880 dominating just because the numbers say in a one sixty two, that's what you 478 00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:58.519 do. So I'm a little different there. I'm not anti analytic, I'm 479 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:01.639 just anti all one bucket. And if you only use one bucket of information 480 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:07.000 and that's your source for making every decision, I think you run yourself as 481 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:09.280 a disadvantage at that time of the year. So like, if Tyler Glass 482 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:14.239 now is going great, why pull them out of the game in a postseason 483 00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:15.960 game. That's exactly right. And I've done a lot of postseason games where 484 00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:20.239 I've seen pitchers come out with no reason to come out other than they just 485 00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:24.760 do because that's the plan that's decided before him. Look the World Series that 486 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:31.360 the Dodgers won, if people remember the pitcher on the mound was dominating them 487 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:35.639 in a one to nothing lead for the Rays, and they took them out 488 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:38.000 because of their analytic model, and they lost the World Series. Now they 489 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.400 were down in the series, but you can't tell me if they don't win 490 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:44.480 that game, they don't have just as much a chance to win that World 491 00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:49.719 Series. And so there's many examples. Even as last year, teams are 492 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:52.480 kind of with their mouth open when they see the other pitcher come out. 493 00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:57.320 The opposing teams like thank you, thank you very much, because in today's 494 00:39:57.320 --> 00:40:00.239 game, it takes seven pitchers per game. In a postseason game, five 495 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:05.000 to seven is what typically you're seeing. Do you know every one of those 496 00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:07.920 guys have to be right on bo It takes one guy to be bad to 497 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:12.599 tilt the game the wrong way. So I still ascribe to that that philosophy, 498 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.519 and I've seen teams that win, and the teams that have won are 499 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:21.239 are really the wins taking advantage of that philosophy. Hey, John Smoltz, 500 00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:24.199 I feel like Bobby Cox believed in you, and I'm sure there were times 501 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:30.400 in those playoff games that the numbers or even yourself you didn't believe you could 502 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:34.880 reach that type of level of competition. I got a chance to do something 503 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:37.400 in my era that was so it was like a dream. You know, 504 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:43.039 finish what you start. You let your pitching determine whether the manager came out 505 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:45.039 and took you out, nothing else. And I got a chance to pits 506 00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:47.920 three seven games, and two of them, you know, I was able 507 00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:51.360 to go nine innings, and the third one I thought I was going to 508 00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:53.239 go to the nine innings, but I had to come out in the eighth 509 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:57.559 in a tie game zero zero without giving up a run. It's a little 510 00:40:57.559 --> 00:41:00.239 different story coming back on three days rest, last game of the year of 511 00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:02.159 game seven. But the game that we mentioned, Oar I talk to you 512 00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:05.760 about when we were able to beat the Dodgers in ninety one, I gave 513 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:08.559 up five runs a bitch nine innings. That'll never happen again, no chance. 514 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:14.239 So he believed in us. In we were setting the tone. Why 515 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:17.039 change the narrative, Why give somebody else a different look? When you're doing 516 00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:22.719 what you have to do at the mound and silencing the kind of the balls 517 00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:25.119 are getting rocketed all over the place. Absolutely, you shouldn't stay in the 518 00:41:25.159 --> 00:41:29.920 game even if they're catching them. So I think we've entered a different era 519 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:32.840 where velocity and spin rate and all that stuff as matters, and the reward 520 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:37.400 system has changed the way the game is played, and that's just a matter 521 00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:39.920 of fact. All right, John, We'll see back here in October. 522 00:41:40.119 --> 00:41:44.760 We'll see what happens, whether or not the macro or the micro wins out. 523 00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:46.599 Yeah. I'm looking forward this year especially we have the National League, 524 00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:50.920 Joe and I do, and the National League is going to be very compelling 525 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:54.599 between the current teams if they hold out, obviously Philly Atlanta and the Dodgers 526 00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:58.800 and Brewers, who are surprising the world right now. It feels like it's 527 00:41:58.840 --> 00:42:01.880 a collision course for the Phillies and Dodgers. But I know obviously there can 528 00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:06.960 be upsets. Do you feel like the Phillies are on a mission to redeem 529 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:09.559 themselves? I am a big believer. I know a lot of people downplay 530 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:15.119 this. When they asked the feeling that the Phillies had last year to end 531 00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:16.519 the season, I think as a chip on their shoulder. I think every 532 00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:20.840 player went in the offseason, or majority of them did, said that ain't 533 00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:22.880 happening again. Out on my watch, they did whatever they needed to do, 534 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:28.039 and they've got a complete roster with veteran guys, and I think that 535 00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:30.360 has been their mission. You have it beat up a little bit with some 536 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:32.840 injuries, but they have a huge lead and I do believe they're the team 537 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:37.000 to beat along with the Dodgers, because the rosters speak to there's not many 538 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:40.719 holes and they've been there, done that, and I think last year could 539 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:45.559 serve them well. If they are to go on and compete for the World 540 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:49.599 Series, that would be electric La and Philly. Wow. John Smoltz, 541 00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:53.199 thanks a lot for the time. I truly appreciate your analysis. We learn 542 00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:57.440 so much from you every time you're on the air with Joe, and I 543 00:42:57.480 --> 00:43:00.440 really appreciate the time that you take for us. Thanks for having me all 544 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:07.519 right there. He was John Smolts Hall of Famer, a man that evolved 545 00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:12.119 in his career, not just as a starter obviously that's what he's known for, 546 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:15.760 three thousand plus strikeouts, two one hundred and thirteen wins, but also 547 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:21.960 after Tommy John surgery, he went to the bullpen and saved almost two hundred 548 00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:27.519 games for the Braves. So when he talks, we listen and look. 549 00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:30.760 I know there's a lot of people out there that say, oh, he's 550 00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:35.519 the type of guy that says get off my lawn. He's not. He 551 00:43:35.719 --> 00:43:40.239 just knows and believes in players and competition, and look, he has the 552 00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:45.280 facts. The facts are when you stick to a script in a postseason game 553 00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:52.039 and you're not letting your eyes dictate what's happening, and you're not checking in 554 00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:55.960 with your pitcher during a game, and you're not taking inventory of your bullpen 555 00:43:57.159 --> 00:44:00.719 during the game, things are going to go sideways. And he brought up 556 00:44:00.760 --> 00:44:06.719 a great point. Yes, the Dodgers have been hurt by their process sticking 557 00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:12.360 to the data and the analytics, but they also benefited by that in twenty 558 00:44:12.440 --> 00:44:16.480 twenty when Kevin Cash took Blake Snell out of the game for no reason because 559 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:22.679 Blake Snell struck out the next three hitters the top of the Dodgers' order nine 560 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:27.119 times in that game, and Mookie Betts is on the record as saying, 561 00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:31.519 after Austin Barnes got that base hit, thank you very much, Kevin Cash, 562 00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:37.079 because we had no answers for Blake Snell in Game six of that twenty 563 00:44:37.159 --> 00:44:42.360 twenty World Series. And to a certain extent, the Dodgers bucked the trend 564 00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:47.079 and let Julio Orias be that guy be their horse. And even when there 565 00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:52.159 were times where I'm sure Dave Roberts and years past would have taken him out 566 00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:54.880 of the game and relief, he let him ride. He did not try 567 00:44:54.880 --> 00:45:00.519 to mess with that final six outs, final nine outs at time during that 568 00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:06.679 postseason. So I'm on board with the way the Dodgers process has worked during 569 00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:10.960 one hundred and sixty two games. They have mastered the regular season and it 570 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:17.480 has been very entertaining. But it just makes sense that what works over one 571 00:45:17.559 --> 00:45:23.920 hundred and sixty two games with depth does not necessarily work in short series best 572 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:30.159 of seven, best of five, especially that plan does not work. And 573 00:45:30.239 --> 00:45:34.639 when you have a guy like Tyler Glass now, you let Tyler Glass Now 574 00:45:34.760 --> 00:45:38.559 go until the gas tank is empty. And I believe the biggest question is 575 00:45:38.599 --> 00:45:44.679 for the Dodgers going into the postseason, is Tyler Glass now up for the 576 00:45:44.800 --> 00:45:50.119 challenge not only for the challenge of the postseason, but also for the challenge 577 00:45:50.199 --> 00:45:54.480 to be that guy, to be Nathan Valdi, to be Chris Slee, 578 00:45:55.039 --> 00:46:02.000 to be Steven Strasburg. Is Tyler Glass now up for that challenge? That 579 00:46:02.159 --> 00:46:07.760 still is something that remains to be seen because really he's never been counted on 580 00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:13.280 by the Rays to be that guy. This will be the first time in 581 00:46:13.320 --> 00:46:19.360 his career that he will be counted on to be the role of the horse 582 00:46:19.800 --> 00:46:23.719 that leads the Dodgers all the way through the postseason. And yes, that 583 00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:29.760 means even pitching on short rest. Is he up for that challenge? Because 584 00:46:30.239 --> 00:46:34.559 the Dodgers have treated him and a lot of their starters with kid gloves. 585 00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:38.440 Glass now has only pitched once in the first half on four days rest, 586 00:46:38.880 --> 00:46:44.440 and even with that, he comes up with lower back tightness. That's something 587 00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:47.079 to keep an eye on in the second half of the season. The good 588 00:46:47.119 --> 00:46:52.320 news is it's not his arm, it's not his elbow, it's his back. 589 00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:55.360 And when you're six' eight and you're doing what he's doing, that's 590 00:46:55.400 --> 00:47:00.280 going to pop up from time to time. But to me that that's the 591 00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:05.480 biggest challenge for Tyler glass Now. Will he rise to the occasion to be 592 00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:10.599 that horse for the Dodgers? And that's another layer two why the Dodgers went 593 00:47:10.639 --> 00:47:15.639 out and traded for glass Now. They handed over a lot of money to 594 00:47:15.760 --> 00:47:19.840 Yoshi Yamamoto. Is he going to come back in the second half of the 595 00:47:19.880 --> 00:47:25.760 season and be a playoff performer. That's a bigger question. Is Yamamoto going 596 00:47:25.800 --> 00:47:30.039 to come back and be healthy. The Dodgers can say whatever they want, 597 00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:35.800 but until he's on that mound and pitches all the way through the rest of 598 00:47:35.840 --> 00:47:39.159 the regular season, that's still a big question mark. And that's a big 599 00:47:39.239 --> 00:47:45.400 reason why as we get closer to July thirtieth, the Dodgers have just as 600 00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:52.800 many questions about their starting rotation as they did a year ago. It's just 601 00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:57.039 I hate to use what Mooki Betts likes to say, it is what it 602 00:47:57.159 --> 00:48:01.199 is, but that's what it is. The Dodgers big questions in their rotation. 603 00:48:01.639 --> 00:48:07.679 I'm a big believer in Gavin Stone, but he is going into uncharted 604 00:48:07.800 --> 00:48:13.039 territory. He has never pitched these many innings and certainly has been a great 605 00:48:13.159 --> 00:48:16.840 surprise to many in the first half of the season. But in the postseason 606 00:48:17.119 --> 00:48:22.119 you need swing and miss stuff. Pitching to contact does not always work in 607 00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:27.119 the playoffs, and that's the reason why the Dodgers are looking at a guy 608 00:48:27.239 --> 00:48:30.199 like Garrett Crochet. And as I mentioned just a couple of weeks ago, 609 00:48:30.880 --> 00:48:35.599 and as we move through this All Star break, I'll continue to say it. 610 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:39.920 If the Rangers are selling and Nathan Evaldi is available, and I'm the 611 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:45.920 Dodgers. I'm going for Nathan Evaldi because I've talked to many of his teammates. 612 00:48:45.960 --> 00:48:50.920 I've talked to many of the players that have faced Avaldi and have been 613 00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:54.000 on the other side. Many of them say, if I need to win 614 00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:59.840 Game seven, Nathan Evaldi is at the top of my list, and he's 615 00:49:00.960 --> 00:49:07.400 you want proven winners, you want proven playoff pitchers. Nathan Evaldi is that 616 00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:10.519 guy. He did it for the Red Sox in twenty eighteen, he did 617 00:49:10.519 --> 00:49:15.000 it with the Rangers last year. And if the Dodgers are looking for a 618 00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:20.480 starting pitcher and they're not looking to give up as much as the White Sox 619 00:49:20.639 --> 00:49:25.320 may want for Garrett Crochet, Nathan Evaldi is that guy. Garrett Crochet is 620 00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:30.440 great, but he hasn't proven it in the playoffs like Nathan Evaldi has. 621 00:49:30.639 --> 00:49:37.159 And look, he may do that, but he's still an unproven commodity in 622 00:49:37.239 --> 00:49:42.119 October, especially at this stage of his career. All Right, that'll do 623 00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:45.360 it for us on Dodger Talk. We'll be back with you tomorrow night as 624 00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:51.239 well for another edition of Dodger Talk. Tomorrow night, we will share our 625 00:49:51.320 --> 00:49:57.159 conversation with aj Ellis on the ten year anniversary of Clayton Kershawn's one and only 626 00:49:57.239 --> 00:50:00.800 no hitter. Also, Jake Peevey from the The MLB Network will join us 627 00:50:00.880 --> 00:50:06.039 as well. So we got Dodger Talk all the way through this All Star 628 00:50:06.199 --> 00:50:12.119 break and leading you up to Friday's resumption of Major League Baseball with the Dodgers 629 00:50:12.119 --> 00:50:16.199 and Red Sox kicking things off on Friday Night from Dodgers Stadium at seven to 630 00:50:16.320 --> 00:50:21.039 ten. Thanks to Ronnie Foscio for all his help. Thanks to you for 631 00:50:21.119 --> 00:50:23.920 listening. In case you want to follow me on social media, you can 632 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:31.199 do it on Instagram at officially Vassa and on x at the Real Underscore DV 633 00:50:31.719 --> 00:50:37.599 and you can consume all our first half interviews all our first half Dodger Talk 634 00:50:37.719 --> 00:50:45.440 shows on the iHeartRadio app search like Dodger Talk coming up next Fox Sports Radio. 635 00:50:45.800 --> 00:50:47.599 Have a great rest of your Monday. See you