WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.280 Dodger Talk is sponsored by La Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.640 millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. And now your voice for Dodger 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:18.879 Talk. Like back, David Vasse. We are live at Great American Ballpark 4 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:23.320 in Cincinnati, where the rain has started the fall and the Dodgers and Reds 5 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:30.079 are in a rain delay, a severe storm watch here in downtown Cincinnati. 6 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:35.119 As the top of the sixth inning was just about to start. The umpires 7 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:41.119 obviously saw the radar. They had spoken to the head grounds crew chief here 8 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:45.799 at Great American Ballpark, so they were well aware of what was coming. 9 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:51.240 We all were aware that the storm would be passing through around this time here 10 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:56.679 in downtown Cincinnati. And our understanding is this one is supposed to move through 11 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.880 and it's not the most severe. Here's the catch. The Dodgers have to 12 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:06.560 board a plane and fly to New York City to take on the Mets on 13 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:14.640 Memorial Day. And if this gets extended too late with the severe storm heading 14 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:21.200 into the Cincinnati Kentucky area, the Dodgers plane may be grounded for an extended 15 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:25.519 period of time or a bumpy ride. As Rick Monday said at Charlie Huff 16 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:32.439 knuckleball from Cincinnati to New York, so that those are the logistics right now 17 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:37.040 facing the Dodgers. The Reds play at home tomorrow, so they're not going 18 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:41.319 anywhere. And right now, the Reds at twenty two and thirty, I'm 19 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:46.599 sure they would love to escape this game after playing only five innings because they 20 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:51.840 will need more wins down the road than the Dodgers do, and obviously the 21 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:56.680 Dodgers need some wins. I'm not going to just brush aside the fact that 22 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:00.519 the Dodgers are on the verge of losing their fifth in a row. That 23 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:07.959 hasn't happened since twenty nineteen. The Dodger offense has been a no show since 24 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.800 Friday night, and quite honestly been a no show in the last ten to 25 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:17.800 fifteen games where the Dodgers are a game under five hundred and today, first 26 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:23.400 inning, Mookie Betts leadoffs single, they cannot get him home. They've had 27 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:27.879 multiple opportunities with runners on base, and they have not been able to drive 28 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:31.319 in those runners. Going back to the last game of the home stand against 29 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:38.039 the Arizona Diamondbacks. Phone lines are open. We're with you until eleven thirty 30 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:44.919 on the Pacific coast before we reassess where all this is going. So eight 31 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.840 six six nine eight seven two five seventy. We hope you're enjoying a safe 32 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:54.000 and wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and hopefully we have more Dodger baseball and a 33 00:02:54.039 --> 00:03:00.120 Dodger comeback for you as the morning and afternoon go along in Los Angeles. 34 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:07.159 Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number Yoshi Yamamoto. 35 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:12.319 It seemed like he was cruising up until two outs in the third inning. 36 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.800 That's when the Reds scored all four of their runs. It was reminiscent 37 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:21.439 of the fifth inning on Friday Night where the Red scored six runs with two 38 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:28.599 outs against James Paxton and Johann Ramirez and Alex Vessia. Today it was just 39 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:34.120 Yamamoto and the curveball just wasn't working at that point in time, and a 40 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:39.240 couple of Reds making contact. How about that? Making contact? Good things 41 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:46.000 happen. Even if it's not a hard hit, high velocity pitch that you're 42 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:51.800 hitting or exit velocity that you're hitting, it still counts and the Red scored 43 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:55.439 four runs doing it that way. India with a ground ball through the right 44 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:01.280 side of the Dodger infield, and also the Reds getting a flare with two 45 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:09.080 outs from Martini Nick Martini there. So that's how they scored their four runs 46 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:14.080 with the bases loaded in two outs. Yoshiyamamoto could not get out of it. 47 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:18.079 And that's where we stand right now. Four nothing Cincinnati, and basically 48 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:24.839 it's been Cincinnasty for the Dodgers here in this three game series. The Dodgers 49 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:29.759 thirty three and twenty one coming into the game tonight, and no longer were 50 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.399 the San Diego Padres in second place. All of a sudden, there is 51 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:40.680 a pulse in San Francisco. The Giants are a game above five hundred and 52 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.560 they have won four in a row, with the Dodgers losing four in a 53 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.240 row and possibly five. If this game goes the way it's going right now, 54 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:53.680 the Giants all of a sudden, would be making big ground on the 55 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:57.000 Dodgers, who are in danger of drop in there fifth in a row. 56 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:02.399 If this game is called today and look right now for nothing to this Dodger 57 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:06.839 offense feels like ten nothing. There's no way to sugarcoat it. And the 58 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:13.279 dugout being right next to it these games here in Cincinnati. Not a lot 59 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:16.720 of life in that dugout, not a lot to cheer about in that dugout. 60 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:21.439 But I was near that dugout in twenty nineteen, and I do remember 61 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:27.959 even when there wasn't scoring, guys were battling in there at bats. Guys 62 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:31.920 in that Dodger dugout would be on the top step and screaming keep going, 63 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:38.600 keep going. It was led by Justin Turner, Keith g hernandez Jack Peterson. 64 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:43.519 They would all be screaming keep going to encourage the hitter. Frankly, 65 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:47.319 I'm not hearing that in this series. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two 66 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:51.680 five seventy is the phone number. The Dodgers and Reds are in a rain 67 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:57.319 delay right now in the top of the sixth inning. This game is official, 68 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:00.920 and we will have to wait the a lot time that Major League Baseball 69 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:06.360 has set in place forty five minutes before any decision can be made on the 70 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:13.600 fact that there's a rain delay and the game is being stopped because of rain. 71 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:16.319 And like I said, the Reds are eight games under five hundred. 72 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:21.319 If they can escape sweeping the Dodgers by only playing five innings today, they 73 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.839 will take it. That's part of this factor as well. And look, 74 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:30.839 the Dodgers don't want to concede games, but the fact is they have to 75 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:34.000 be somewhere tomorrow. They have to continue this six game road trip in New 76 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:39.000 York, so they don't want to be sticking around here for three or four 77 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:43.920 hours to play the rest of this game. I would imagine they obviously don't 78 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.279 want to drop their fifth in a row. But all things considered, it 79 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:50.920 is one hundred and sixty two games. The Dodgers are thirty three and twenty 80 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:58.160 one and very confident that their talented roster will break out of this offensive slump 81 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:01.279 that we have seen in the last ten eleven games where the Dodgers are only 82 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:06.319 averaging three runs per game. Let's go out to the phones. Frank in 83 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:13.399 Sacramento. You're on Dodger Talk live from Cincinnati. Hi Frank, Hey Dave, 84 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.560 thank you, and happy Sunday and happy Memorrow, Today day, Oh 85 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:20.920 my Dodger brothers and sisters. And hey, look I'm not too worried right 86 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:26.040 now. We all go through hiccups. This is a long season. We're 87 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:30.079 early in the season. Let's get everything out now. So we can proceed 88 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.560 further, all right, Frank, I'll pass the message along when I get 89 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:38.279 down there. The last time, by the way, the Reds swept the 90 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:43.480 Dodgers in Cincinnati. It was all the way back in September of twenty thirteen, 91 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:46.439 so it's been a while since the Reds can say they swept the LA 92 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.720 Dodgers here in Cincinnati at Great American Ballpark. It is Memorial Day weekend, 93 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:55.560 Frank, and thank you for bringing that up. We want to say thank 94 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:59.959 you to all of the families and the servicemen that made the ultimate sacrifice. 95 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:03.920 It isn't lost upon us or lost on Major League Baseball. And I always 96 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:09.199 remember listening to Vin Scully on Memorial Day. He would always weave in a 97 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.560 story and obviously honor those that have fallen and those that are currently serving. 98 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:20.480 And here's a little SoundBite from a game broadcast about ten years ago from a 99 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:26.120 Vin Scully. Hi, everybody, in a very blessed Memorial Day to you 100 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:31.399 or whatever you may be. It's too serious today, but we will take 101 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:35.799 our minds off it for a couple of hours as the Dodgers in the Atlanta 102 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.840 Braves play a child's game. But all you have to do for a moment 103 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:45.519 is shit and think and realize how many men and women gave their lives up 104 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.840 so we could be shitting here and worrying such a thing is will that fly 105 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:54.240 ball score a run, will that pitcher win his seven game of the year, 106 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.600 etc. So thank you to all of you who have served in the 107 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.840 military. Are bloss in prayers for the gold star parents who lost fathers, 108 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:09.799 sons and daughters. And of course when we talk about the dead, and 109 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.840 that's what we always do on Memorial Day, remember the wounded. There are 110 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:20.600 so many wounded who gave up sight or hearing or limbs. So we salute 111 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:28.120 each and everyone the war a uniform representing the United States, and to each 112 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:33.039 and every one of us sitting here contentedly at Dodger Stadium worrying about the home 113 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.720 team will beat the visiting team. If you're watching at home, we would 114 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:43.039 ask you please to see if you would tell your kids the importance of the 115 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:48.720 day, as the military unmasked five of them throughout the ceremonial. First bitch, 116 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:54.519 we had representatives from every area of the military here a very touching pregame 117 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:58.759 ceremony. But again to repeat, don't just let it go by as a 118 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.799 hot Don't let it go by for you know, barbecueing on the grill. 119 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:13.200 Please take the time and tell your children exactly what Memorial Day means. Nobody 120 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:18.320 could say it better than Vin Scully on Memorial Day twenty fifteen. So thank 121 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:22.240 you to all that have sacrificed the ultimate, and thank you, as Vin 122 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:28.480 Scully said, to the wounded. We cannot forget those that have obviously put 123 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:31.960 their lives at risk for our freedom. So happy Memorial Day weekend. And 124 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.480 as Vin Scully said, don't just make it about barbecues. Make it about 125 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:41.320 remembering those that have paid and the families that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 126 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:46.120 Eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. It 127 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:52.320 is really coming down now here in Cincinnati at Great American Ballpark, so much 128 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:56.360 so Rick Monday and Tim Nevertt have closed the windows for shelter. So the 129 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:01.080 Dodgers and Reds in a rain delay here in Cincinnati in the finale of this 130 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:05.519 three game series, with the red scoring four runs in the third inning, 131 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:11.559 holding on to a four to nothing lead after five innings, Let's go back 132 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:16.000 out to the phones. Mark in Long Beach you're on Dodger Talk with David 133 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.200 vasse Hi. Mark. Hey, David, I got a question about Jackie 134 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:26.000 Robinson. If you can answer now, I end try. Okay, I 135 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:31.720 understand there's a museum of Jackie Robinson in New York. Yeah, the Dodgers 136 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.720 have a Jackie Robinson museum. And if they do not, why not? 137 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:41.159 I know they I know you play, I know you play there in New 138 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:46.159 York. I can get it. Yes, but the Dodgers don't have a 139 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:50.039 museum, not only for Jackie Robinson or for anybody else. They do a 140 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:56.480 great job of honoring him with the first ever statue at Dodger Stadium. The 141 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:01.639 Jackie Robinson statue was the first ever statue at Dodger Stadium. And if you 142 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.559 go around the ballpark, there's a lot of history of Jackie Robinson. So 143 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:11.240 maybe there's not a dedicated quote museum, but Dodger Stadium at this point in 144 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:15.960 time, is a museum of history and it's all around if you take a 145 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.480 walk around the concourse. Mark, Okay, well that's that's a good point. 146 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.759 I mean, I just didn't want New York to have a museum, 147 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.360 and you know, the daughters they're not but you're right. Yeah, well, 148 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:30.320 it's not like the museums at City Field. The museum's at a different 149 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:35.960 spot in Manhattan, and that's where his widow, Rachel Robinson lives. So 150 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.080 they're a East Coast family and that's the reason why they decided to start it 151 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:43.679 there. Okay, well, okay, I understand. I mean he grew 152 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:48.960 up in southern California. Okay, I understand he did, and then as 153 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:52.120 an adult moved to the East Coast. You know that goes, Mark, 154 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:56.320 Thanks a lot for the phone call. Eight sixty six nine eighty seven, 155 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:00.440 two five seventy is the phone number. We're gonna take a time out here 156 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.600 from Cincinnati. When we come back, you'll hear our conversation with one of 157 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:09.480 the greatest shortstops of his generation. No mar Garcia Para. He gave a 158 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:15.240 report card on Mookie Beds and how he may improve as time goes on playing 159 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:18.279 the same position Nomar played for so many years in the nineties and early two 160 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:24.320 thousand, So don't go anywhere more. Rain Delay Dodger Talk from Cincinnati rolls 161 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:35.279 on on the Los Angeles Dodgers Audio Network every game every year on air or 162 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:45.519 on the app LA Dodgers Baseball lives right here on its exclusive hole. It's 163 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:52.039 rain Delay Dodger Talk live from Great American Park in Cincinnati, where the Reds 164 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:56.840 are leading the Dodgers at Great American Ballpark four to nothing. It is an 165 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:00.799 official game, so if they decide that Wheather is not going to cooperate, 166 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.759 the win would go to the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers will have lost their 167 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:11.679 fifth consecutive game. The Dodger offense continues to struggle today, just two hits 168 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:16.159 and only one after Mookie Bett's leadoff single to start the game. Show. 169 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:18.960 Hey o'tani is oh for two, Freddy Freeman is oh for two. And 170 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:26.480 the Dodger offense continues to go through what most teams go through during the season, 171 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:31.480 and that is a slump. There's no other way to say it. 172 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:33.639 It is a slump, and the Dodgers are going to have to find their 173 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:37.600 way out of it, you know. Dave Roberts has been very candid with 174 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:43.279 the fact the Dodgers have been chasing pitches down out of the strike zone and 175 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:48.120 they have not been hitting fastballs in the strike zone. That amounts to a 176 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:54.480 slump, and they have got to figure that out because it has not worked 177 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:58.320 for the Dodger offense the last ten twelve games, where they're only averaging just 178 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:03.600 about three runs per game. The first game of this series, they scored 179 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:07.000 six runs on eleven hits, but the pitching did not cooperate, and the 180 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:13.399 Reds beat the Dodgers on Friday night and then yesterday a wolfful offensive performance. 181 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:18.759 Hunter Green had a lot to say about that, but the Dodgers lost three 182 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:22.759 to one yesterday and now facing their fifth loss in a row, the first 183 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:28.440 time since twenty nineteen the Dodgers have lost five in a row. Daniel's Jewelers 184 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:33.600 they are the official sponsor of the Trip around the Diamond. Stop by any 185 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:39.000 Daniel's location and say home run for your free team bracelet and fifty dollars gift 186 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:43.559 card toward any purchase of ninety nine dollars or more. Daniels Jewelers Own the 187 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.799 Dream. We're watching video right now of the reigning National League MVP Ronald Acunya 188 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.720 Junior, who led off with a base hit in the first inning. He 189 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:58.200 was at second base taking a secondary lead, and he crumbled to the ground. 190 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:03.399 It appears that he's grabbed his right knee, and it just seems like 191 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:08.399 it's not ending well for Ronald da Kunya Junior. Actually looks like he's holding 192 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:12.759 his left leg there where his spikes may have got caught in the dirt dirt 193 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:18.440 out there at P and C Park. So Ronald d'acunya Junior still down on 194 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.480 the field in Pittsburgh at P and C Park. He was the fifth major 195 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.240 league player last year to be a forty to forty player. Forty home runs 196 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:33.559 for a Kunya Junior last year and he stole seventy one bases. So show 197 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:37.120 hey, Otani right now is the only major league player to have at least 198 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:42.440 ten home runs and ten stolen bases. Otani is on pace himself to be 199 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:47.000 a forty to forty player. And the reason why I bring that up is 200 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:52.639 because yesterday we all noticed when Otani was going for third on his triple in 201 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:56.039 the sixth inning, he was not running at full speed. And after the 202 00:16:56.080 --> 00:17:03.600 game, Dave Roberts told reporters they that he was dealing with a left hamstring 203 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:07.119 contusion. In fact, he never even said which leg, But we found 204 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:11.119 out this morning it's his left hamstring that has been bothering him and that he's 205 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:15.119 been running with a quote governor. So this morning when we went into the 206 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:21.079 manager's office, we got a little more clarity on what's going on with Otani's 207 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:26.240 left hamstring. Dave, after last night's game, you mentioned that show has 208 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:30.720 been running with a governor dealing with a left hamstring issue. How concerned are 209 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.839 you that this can turn into something bigger if he doesn't come out of the 210 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:38.119 lineup at this point? Not at all. I think that, as I 211 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:45.039 mentioned yesterday, yesterday was better than two days ago. He felt it's kind 212 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:48.599 of a right around ninety percent, and so feeling that, you know, 213 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:53.319 just assuming that it'll keep getting better. I feel confident that he can kind 214 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:57.279 of play smart and not push it, you know, as a player and 215 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:00.599 a base runner, if there's a play, maybe you put it into that 216 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:07.119 extra gear. Any concern about that, not really. I think that I've 217 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.160 talked to him about, you know, not trying to steal a base and 218 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:17.039 being smart and the value of him being in the lineup is everything, and 219 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:21.359 so so yeah, obviously things can happen, but I think right now, 220 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:25.759 my trust in him that he can manage it is pretty high. What'd you 221 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:29.319 think about him with all that that he was able to get to third base 222 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.319 on a triple down the right field corner. It was very impressive because I 223 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.920 was hoping he would just stop at second base, but he didn't kind of 224 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:41.160 he didn't intensify the pace and he just kind of kept that, like I 225 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:45.720 said, the governor on and he cruised in the third base. So pretty 226 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:51.519 pretty easily. All right, there's Dave Roberts with a little more detailed description 227 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.440 on what is going on with show Hey Otani and his left hamstring. I 228 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:00.279 did notice after Otani's first at bat he did go into the tunnel and back 229 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:04.359 to the Dodger clubhouse, followed by one of their trainers. And Dave Roberts 230 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:10.480 said before the game that the part of the therapy is acupuncture. So I'm 231 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:14.920 sure being the dh he has the luxury in between at bats to be able 232 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:18.759 to go down and get treatment before he has to take his next ab As 233 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:23.279 they say in the business, eight six six nine seven two five seventy is 234 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:27.240 the phone number. We are in a rain delay here at Great American Ballpark. 235 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:32.599 After five innings. The Reds lead the Dodgers for nothing. It is 236 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:36.599 an official game, and right now the rain has led up, but the 237 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:40.319 fans are still taking shelter down the right field line. But all of a 238 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.319 sudden, now the fans are starting to come back to their seats, so 239 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:48.680 we may resume this game sooner than later. Let's go out to Larry in 240 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:52.559 Hollywood. You're on Dodger Talk, Colin. Can you punch up Larry for 241 00:19:52.680 --> 00:20:00.640 me? Please? Hy Larry, you're on Dodger Talk, David da Yes, 242 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:04.160 yes, David. This is this is Melrose Lowry Green calling. First 243 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.960 of all, David, I love all your reports of the Dodgers. You're 244 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.200 wonderful and I know you know everybody on the team. I'm a mega Dodger 245 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:18.680 fan, and I need you to tell Dave Roberts that I think that he 246 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:22.480 is the best manager. And I'm a Yankee fan from the days of Case 247 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:26.079 of Sengle, the best manager in history. And they need to have you, 248 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:30.839 David, right in the dugout next to Dave Roberts, and I guarantee 249 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:34.960 you the Dodgers will be in the world service with the Yankees. All right, 250 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.240 Larry, Well, today I've been in the camera well next to him. 251 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.680 One player which will go on name, told me to get the blank 252 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:45.480 out of that area because it's for players in a joking way, Larry, 253 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:49.640 but I don't think I could do well. I only play a manager on 254 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:53.160 the radio. I have no place near that dugout. But I appreciate the 255 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:57.319 sentiment, Larry. And there's a very good chance it's Dodgers Yankees. I 256 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:03.400 unfortunately, Larry and hollywod would predicted Dodgers Orioles a rematch of the nineteen sixty 257 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:08.119 six Fall classic. I hope you're not offended. No, no, I 258 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:11.240 remember I was sixteen years old. I remember that year which I think Jim 259 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:17.000 Palmer was in that World Series. He was, and that was Sandy Kofax's 260 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:22.839 last World Series. They got swept by the Orioles. So we'll see what 261 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.640 happens there. Thank you for the phone call, Larry, appreciate it. 262 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:30.440 We just got word from the director of travel for the Dodgers. The Reds 263 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:36.279 ground crew is looking to restart this game at two forty five Eastern time eleven 264 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:41.359 forty five Pacific time. And here they are taking the tarp off to loud 265 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:45.960 cheers here at Great American Ballpark. So just to give you an update, 266 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:49.119 this game is going to resume. It will be the top of the sixth 267 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:55.640 inning the Dodgers trailing the Reds four to nothing. It will begin at eleven 268 00:21:55.799 --> 00:22:00.440 forty five Pacific time, two forty five Eastern. When we were We're back 269 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.480 at home and the Dodgers were hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks. So Nomar garcia Paro 270 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:08.799 was working for Sports at LA and I thought it was a great opportunity to 271 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:15.200 get his assessment of Mookie Bets the shortstop. And honestly, it dawned on 272 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:22.240 me, why hasn't Mookie Betts approached Nomar about that position? He has approached 273 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:26.559 everybody under the sun except the guy that played it at a high level, 274 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:30.720 and he's in a suit and tie on the field at Dodgers Stadium before every 275 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.720 home game. That makes zero sense to me. And Nomar is not going 276 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:38.759 to overstep. He's going to just stay in his lane unless somebody approaches him. 277 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:42.519 And that's the way it should be. If somebody want to ask Rick 278 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:47.480 Monday how to play center field, he's not going to insert himself. That's 279 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:52.640 just the respect of the coaches that they have. So it dawned on me 280 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:56.799 that why wouldn't we talk to Nomar about shortstop? And I'm a little surprised. 281 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:02.519 Nobody with the Dodgers have I wanted Mooki in no Mar's direction, But 282 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:07.119 at this point in time, a lot of voices in Mooki's head and they've 283 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:12.000 kind of consolidated that to Jose Viscaino, who was a really good defensive infielder, 284 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:18.079 Miguel Rojas's teammate, and Diano Ebel, the Dodgers infield coach. But 285 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:22.759 if I was mookie I from one former Red Sox to another, I feel 286 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:29.359 like he would benefit by picking Nomar's brain about the cerebral part of that position. 287 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.440 So here's Nomar on how to play shortstop and what he's seen from Mooki. 288 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:37.319 Nomar, you have such a great perspective on the position of shortstop. 289 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.720 You played it your entire life. You know how demanding it is. You 290 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:45.160 played it at the top better than a lot of guys. What are you 291 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:49.960 seeing so far from Mooki Betts. Listen, Mookie Bets is doing a fine 292 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:53.039 job over there as shortstop. I know he's so hard of himself. He 293 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:57.880 has such high expectations of himself. But at the same time, you know, 294 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:02.079 having those high expectations great because that's what makes you to continue to work 295 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:04.319 and try to get better rather than then just be complacent. And we know 296 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:08.759 one thing Mooki is not is complacent, that is for sure. But like 297 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:12.160 I said, he's getting the job done. He's doing a fine job. 298 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:17.880 There's things that he may have some miscues, but that's just due to experience. 299 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.960 But it has nothing to do with the talent or nor the ability to 300 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:26.160 play at that position. It's when you watch him as a former shortstop, 301 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:30.039 I can't say, you know what, he's not a short stop just trying 302 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:33.319 to play the position. No, he has he has all the movement, 303 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:37.039 the mannerisms. You and I have talked before. You've asked me about other 304 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.119 short stops in the past, and I said, no, he you know, 305 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.079 they have that look of a short stuff. I've told you that, 306 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.359 and I've told you some guys that potentially like they're short stuff now. But 307 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:48.920 I can see those guys moving later or kind of you know, kind of 308 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:52.160 either grown out of the position or just don't have the movement to last there 309 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:56.559 very long. Yeah, but Mooki has the movements, the mannerisms and everything 310 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.880 of a shortstop. He's not one that's that. I say, Well, 311 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:03.119 he's just feeling in right now and doing a fine job. I think with 312 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:07.400 due time and experience, he'll learn some of the nuances that go along with 313 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:10.960 it. That's maybe some of those things where he maybe look a little bit 314 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:14.039 off, or he might have a miscue here and there that comes with more 315 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:17.839 experience rather than ability. When you look at the way he's been able to 316 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:22.559 adapt so quickly, spent only two months, and for him to get the 317 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:27.440 praise or validation from you, what does that say about his athletic ability? 318 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:30.160 Well, we knew that. We know he's a ridiculous athlete, right And 319 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:34.799 like I said, the more and more you play with experience, you're no 320 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:40.240 longer an athlete playing shortstop. You become a shortstop. And that doesn't happen 321 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.640 overnight, you know, And I think that's where the expectation is from. 322 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:47.720 So he wants to just be a shortstop. He thinks it takes you know, 323 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:51.000 it takes years, not necessarily just months in order to do that. 324 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:55.039 You know. I know when I moved over to first base, I knew 325 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.799 I was a short stop playing first base. I was in a first basement 326 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:00.880 and it took me a while. I don't know if I mean it maybe 327 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:03.079 towards the end of the year, Rife kind of felt like, yeah, 328 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:06.640 I'm a first baseman, like you know, it took me that long. 329 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:11.200 And it goes back to being able to where things work instinctively, where I'm 330 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:17.400 not overthinking it too much, where I just let the game just kind of 331 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.640 come and it just took time. It wasn't anything. It wasn't for the 332 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:22.680 lack of effort. It wasn't that I you know what, It could have 333 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:26.359 happened sooner if I had taken a thousand more ground balls than what I did 334 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:29.480 to try to get some. It wasn't that. And hearing Mookie Bets talk 335 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:32.279 about that the other day, he sounds like, you can take all the 336 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:34.440 ground balls. But it's just the game. The game. It's hard to 337 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:40.599 duplicate. It's hard to find these little situations that happened over a course of 338 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:42.599 a game. I know when I was at first, there's so much footwork 339 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:47.000 watching the throw. You don't work on every single throw that comes at you 340 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:51.720 because game situation is just so different. With the adrenaline, the movement of 341 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.839 the guys that are throwing over there, there's a lot of things that come 342 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:59.119 into play, and the same things that short the game speed is different than 343 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:03.119 what you try to simulate. You do it as best you can, but 344 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:07.400 just when the game happens, and also the way the adrenaline is in you 345 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:12.079 also affects. Maybe that first step, maybe that one little read. You 346 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:17.400 know, it's the hit yere game of inches. It is so much less 347 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:19.480 than that. And I always said that from a hitting perspective, but also 348 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:26.279 from a fielding perspective, there are times where that first step you get or 349 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:30.880 that first read right off the bat is so vital to your rhythm. The 350 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:37.559 one thing that shortstop compared to other positions is, let's say that first initial 351 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:41.400 read I don't get if I'm at third base and I'm able to still knock 352 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:45.119 it down, but I still have time to get it over to first base. 353 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:48.319 Second base the same thing. I may miss that read or I may 354 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:52.880 be able to make up for it, and I may be off balance, 355 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:56.319 but I still have enough time to get the ball to first base to get 356 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:59.759 the out. Shortstop, it all has to be in sync. Because you 357 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:03.480 are at shortstop. As you're fielding, you're already preparing yourself for the throw. 358 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:07.319 That's the one position in the infield where more than anywhere else. You 359 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:12.839 were already preparing yourself to throw before you even have the ball. So it's 360 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:17.519 that type of movement at first that that all matters no more. It's interesting 361 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:21.880 you bring that up because opposing scouts have been here at Dodger Stadium and some 362 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:26.000 of them have observed that MOOKI is thinking about the throw before he actually gets 363 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:29.799 the ball in the glove. Have you seen that at times? I don't 364 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:33.559 know if he's necessarily thinking about the throw. I think it's more about what 365 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:37.079 position I'm supposed to be in for the throw, right, rather than Okay, 366 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:40.480 I got to think about that. There are a lot of times you're 367 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:45.119 thinking of he moved too quickly because he's already trying to throw the ball, 368 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.400 you know, or he didn't get the glove, he lifted his glove up 369 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:51.519 too soon. I don't see that. I think he's more working on how 370 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:53.960 do I want to get myself into the position for that throw? For example, 371 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:57.240 the backcan you know, there's a couple of ways to go from the 372 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:02.400 backhand. There's some that at a certain angle depends on where it's hit. 373 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:06.000 Where you actually go through the ball on a backhand, where your hand is 374 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.359 staying down and you're going through. And then there's other times where you're where 375 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:14.200 you're on your backhand, where the glove is kind of more is soft. 376 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:17.000 It's where you're just kind of, you know, catching it like an egg. 377 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.079 You know, at an egg, you don't want to really go through 378 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:21.720 it because you fail, you're gonna break it. But there are times based 379 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.599 on the angle and the way it's hit where you're now your hands are supposed 380 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:27.359 to be soft and kind of let it give a little bit and then come 381 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:32.960 up and get ready to throw. Those are really hard to understand based on 382 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:36.440 you know, that comes with practice, and I think that's where we see 383 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:40.359 more of his in between is trying to recognize is this one where I'm supposed 384 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.839 to be soft like an egg, or I'm supposed to go through the ball 385 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.160 with my momentum going toward first. No, mar Garciapara is our guest. 386 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.359 He is a wizard. I know he's not Ozzie Smith, but he was 387 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:53.119 a wizard at shortstop as well. And you just hear the way you talk 388 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:57.000 about it, Nomar. It's like driving a car or riding a bike for 389 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:00.160 you, or putting on your shoes. It was second nature. It sounds 390 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:04.279 like for you to play that position. Ask Mookie talk talk to Mooki about 391 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:07.880 right field and want you to listen how second nature it is for him right 392 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:10.319 because you play it for so long. He was an MVP, He's an 393 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:12.200 All Star out in right field. There's so many nuances that you and I 394 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:15.599 both know because we didn't have the experience, you know, and now you're 395 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:18.359 asking him to go do something. So you're right, I did it for 396 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:22.920 a long time. So I hope that with that experience and you know, 397 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:26.200 that instinctiveness and that just came out, that I would know it to some 398 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:30.440 degree. You know. It's like, especially at this level, the guy's 399 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:33.240 up here to play it at this level, it's really hard to do that 400 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:36.680 without that knowledge. And like I said, we're asking a lot of Mooki, 401 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:38.960 But like I said, by no means is he incapable of doing it. 402 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:44.519 He can do it. Nomar is so humble and he respects the players 403 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:47.920 and their preparation. But I feel like, Nomar, you're in your tie 404 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:51.640 suit ready to go for sports at LA tonight. I feel like I just 405 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:55.680 want to drag you out there right now, and maybe Mookie Bets can get 406 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:59.279 a tutorial from one of the best. You know what, I'm watching him 407 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:02.599 take ground balls right now and work and he already has one of the best 408 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:06.799 out there. Miguel Rojas is phenomenal. He really is special out there, 409 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:10.680 and I love watching Miguel rohas. I love watching him. I've always liked 410 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:12.720 watching guys practice, even when I was little and wanted to come to a 411 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:19.079 background and just watched how professional guys got themselves prepared, how they took their 412 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:22.599 ground balls. Just watch their footwork, watch what they were doing, and 413 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:26.559 you know those little things that we were just talking about earlier. From the 414 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:32.079 shortstop position. Miguel Rojas, he knows all those little nuances. He knows 415 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:36.559 all maybe the little tricks he sees things. Dino Ebo is another one you 416 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:40.319 talk to Dino man. I love talking to him about infield and watching him 417 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:42.279 work with the infielders and what they do, the little, you know, 418 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:45.640 subtleties that can put your body in the right position that you may not be 419 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:48.759 recognizing you're doing it. It's like a good hitting coach is supposed to do, 420 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:52.599 maybe recognizing that your hands are down an inch or you know, the 421 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:56.200 batpath isn't going right, because you know that could be that front foot that 422 00:31:56.319 --> 00:32:00.559 isn't pointed the right way and it's messing with your hips. These guys are 423 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.720 great, so he actually has some of the two best. They're helping him 424 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:06.559 out, all right, Nomar, Thanks a lot for the time. When 425 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:08.720 you played, everybody always asked you about your family, so I got to 426 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:13.160 give a shout out to your mom and dad. How's mom and dad doing 427 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.839 out there? And Whittier, you're the best, Dave. I appreciate that 428 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:19.319 they are doing well. I talk to him every day. I talked to 429 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:22.279 them earlier today, so it's always good to catch up with them, and 430 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:27.000 you know what they are doing great, you know, running around watching their 431 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.440 grandkids, you know, do all the different activities that they're doing. So 432 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.599 they're having a blast. Love it. Waiting for that invite to Christmas, 433 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:37.440 Nomar, it might be a wild day. Thanks a lot for the time. 434 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:42.119 It is truly special to hear you talk about the position. So thank 435 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:46.640 you. You got it, Dave. Anytime there is no more Garciapara man, 436 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:50.960 Yeah, I want to be invited to Christmas at the Garcia Para house. 437 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.839 I mean, I want those tamales that they get Nomar is. He 438 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:58.680 reminds me the way his family is the way our family has a big, 439 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:02.920 a big part and a lot of food flowing. So always great to catch 440 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.640 up with Nomar. And I thought the biggest thing that he said was, 441 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:13.559 you know, not just about fielding ground balls. It's more about just having 442 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:17.359 the head and the field awareness of that position. And I know he was 443 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:22.640 talking about certain times where you want to reach for the ball quickly in front 444 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:25.319 of you, sometimes you got a backcandidate closer to you. Those are things 445 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:30.079 that come with playing that position, not just for a year or two. 446 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:35.119 But you know, these guys that are the greatest shortstops in Major League Baseball 447 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:40.480 have been playing since high school and non stop shortstop. Mookie Betts stopped playing 448 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:45.480 shortstop after high school. And you could say all you want, well, 449 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:50.160 he came up as a second baseman. Second base is not shortstop in a 450 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:53.519 lot of different ways. Shortstop, outside of being the catcher, is the 451 00:33:53.559 --> 00:34:00.039 most demanding and most important position on the field, and Mookie Bets continues to 452 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:04.519 put in the work. And I know the scouts I've spoken to no more 453 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:08.559 even said it right there that considering he picked up this position just about two 454 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:15.840 weeks before opening Day. He's better than most guys at that position right now. 455 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:19.760 And I know the games where he makes an error or he throws wide 456 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:24.119 or doesn't come up with a infield ground ball that he should have. Everybody 457 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:29.360 wants to talk about it and ask him about it, but nobody really points 458 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:35.159 out the games where it's clean because there's no abnormality when he does that, 459 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:37.960 and more times than not, he's had pretty good games. And the more 460 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:43.719 he plays there as we get into June, the more comfortable he's going to 461 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:47.760 be, obviously, And we'll see where this goes at the trade deadline on 462 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:54.480 July thirtieth, because Andrew Friedman Dave Roberts, they are evaluating whether or not 463 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:59.920 they can move forward, not just for the rest of the regular season, 464 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:07.000 but move forward into the postseason with this infield alignment of Mookie Bets at shortstop 465 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:12.159 and Gavin Lux at second base. Lux is part of this equation because if 466 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:15.800 you trade for a shortstop, Mookie Bets is going back to second base. 467 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:21.159 No matter how all of us believe it would probably fit better for him to 468 00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:24.119 go back to right field. He's not going back to right field. He's 469 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:30.320 made that pretty clear that he loves playing on the infield, and whether that's 470 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:36.679 the best thing for the team or that's something that the Dodgers even would love 471 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:40.639 to do right now, they can't go back to do that because right now 472 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:45.679 he's entrenched on the infield. And I think another layer to all this is 473 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:52.760 how it's not really talked about how many superstars would actually move positions, not 474 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:57.800 just from right field to second base, but how about a six time Gold 475 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:05.239 Glove right fielder at age thirty one moving to shortstop and opening himself up to 476 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:12.039 criticism and the vulnerability of playing a demanding position at age thirty one. I 477 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:16.039 don't believe too many other superstars, if any, would do what Mookie Betts 478 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:22.400 said yes to in spring training when it became apparent that the Dodgers were concerned 479 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:27.519 about playing Rojas there every day and that Gavin Lux frankly just couldn't play the 480 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:31.639 position. I'm not sure too many other superstars would do that, and Mooki 481 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:39.119 has volunteered in a big way to play that position and has poured everything he 482 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:45.280 can into that position. Even this morning, quick turnaround day game after a 483 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:49.800 night game, early start twelve ten Eastern time, Mookie Betts was out there 484 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:54.440 at about eleven am ten thirty eleven am taking round balls with Miguel Rojas. 485 00:36:54.480 --> 00:37:00.800 So he's not, you know, going into this with one foot in. 486 00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:06.639 He's all in. And that's the interesting part. If the Dodgers believe that 487 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:12.119 the team construction at the trade deadline would be better with Mooki going back to 488 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:16.519 second base, will he accept that. I would imagine they've had conversations with 489 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:22.159 him going back to when they asked him to play this position, that if 490 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:25.119 they can find a shortstop at the trade deadline, they would do it. 491 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:30.480 And I know there's a lot of buzz about Bob Bishett. He's under team 492 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:36.199 control not only for the rest of this year, but for the entirety of 493 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:39.039 next year as well, and the Blue Jays are going nowhere at this point 494 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:44.400 in time, So the Blue Jays are not going to be able to extend 495 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:51.079 all these young stars they have Vladimir Guerrera Junior and Bob Basheed and the others. 496 00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:55.320 And considering Bob Bashett has had an underwhelming start to his season and is 497 00:37:55.400 --> 00:38:00.280 due a big payday and arbitration, it kind of feels like, yeah, 498 00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:07.280 the Blue Jays maybe won't trade Bob Baschett, but they will certainly consider Bo 499 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:12.599 Baschett. And the facts are, yeah, the Dodgers have a surplus of 500 00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:16.039 younger outfielders, but they need somebody that can play this year. And the 501 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:22.239 blue Jays have a veteran and Kevin Kiermyer that the Dodgers were interested in each 502 00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:27.000 of the last two off seasons. So maybe up the middle can be solved 503 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:30.400 with the Blue Jays. We'll have to wait and see how that plays out. 504 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:34.679 We're gonna take one final time out when we continue, we will lead 505 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:37.639 you up to first pitch before we hand it off back to Rick Monday and 506 00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:43.719 Tim Neverett. The game is going to resume here at two forty five Eastern 507 00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:49.559 time, eleven forty five Pacific, as the Dodgers and Reds will begin the 508 00:38:49.559 --> 00:38:53.159 top of the sixth inning with Austin Barnes at the plate. And the good 509 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:58.920 news is Nick Martinez probably done for the day, officially done for the day. 510 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:05.519 Nick Martinez and his change up have given the Dodgers fits not only today, 511 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:09.280 but even back at Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers are over on there on 512 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:14.880 Nick Martinez's changeup, so he's out after four and a third scoreless innings, 513 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:19.159 so that's good news. Also good news when the top of the six begins, 514 00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:22.960 after Austin Barnes leads off the inning, he will be followed by Mookie 515 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:30.000 Betts and show hey o'tani. So we continue on this raindelay edition of Dodger 516 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:35.480 Talk, leading you back up to the game resumption at eleven forty five Pacific 517 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:45.920 time right here on the Los Angeles Dodgers Audio Network, freeloaded and ready to 518 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:57.519 return to the top LA Dodgers Baseball on its exclusive home David Vasse live at 519 00:39:57.519 --> 00:40:01.599 Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, where the Dodgers and Reds are going to resume 520 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:07.280 play in the top of the sixth inning in about nine minutes here on the 521 00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:13.000 Los Angeles Dodgers Audio Network. Austin Barnes will lead off against Chris Spire of 522 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:17.199 the Cincinnati Reds, and the Dodgers are thankful for the range on one front 523 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:23.639 that Nick Martinez has been sitting to too long and will not be back on 524 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:29.760 the mound. Martinez has given the Dodgers fits this season in this same role 525 00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:34.679 where he has come in as the long reliever after an opener, and today 526 00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:39.039 Martinez stifled the Dodger offense for four and a third scoreless innings. Tonight, 527 00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:45.320 the Dodgers are over against Martinez's changeup. They have not been able to lay 528 00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:50.880 off that pitch, and he certainly has taken advantage of that. Eight six 529 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:53.800 six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Let's sneak in 530 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:59.239 Dan, who is here somewhere at Great American Ballpark? Hi? Dan, 531 00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:04.280 where are you at? David Veasse? I'm sitting in Section one eighteen, 532 00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:07.960 about six rows up behind Dodger dugout do it every year. I'm an LA 533 00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:13.719 County kid that's been on the East Coast for fifty years, and I always 534 00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:17.320 find a way to get out of Dodger game. Rooster boys on and have 535 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:22.159 a great time being on the Dodger Blue. But I just I give a 536 00:41:22.199 --> 00:41:27.719 quick word of Dodger fans that are feeling sorry for themselves right now. Sure, 537 00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:32.840 okay, Hey, this is a team with a long history that, 538 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:36.840 yeah, we have some ups, we have some downs, we get looting 539 00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:43.639 streak, and there is a tough, battle tested fan base nationwide that sticks 540 00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:49.679 with his team in foreign land and de Fenzi's Dodgers. So we're here in 541 00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:52.679 numbers and we're here always to black the blue, good, bad, ugly, 542 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:57.559 and I'm here today. Just just let Dodger Nation know, keep the 543 00:41:57.599 --> 00:42:00.440 faith. This is a great team. The one thing I want to ask 544 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:05.119 you to, Dave that do you think we are missing Max Monty he added 545 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:08.840 Lin to the lineup. Absolutely, I think we're Absolutely they're missing Max Muntsey. 546 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:14.280 He is a good fastball hitter. He's a presence in the middle of 547 00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:17.880 that lineup. He breaks up you know, the big three and Will Smith, 548 00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:23.400 Antioscar Hernandez. They they definitely are missing Max Munsey, especially in a 549 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:27.960 game like this where you have to give Will Smith a day off. You're 550 00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:32.199 without Will Smith and Max Muntsey. That makes this lineup a little less longer. 551 00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:37.159 I'm with you. I'm with you always. He gives a lot of 552 00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:40.199 quality of back, takes a lot, gets a lot of pitches Uh grown 553 00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:44.360 at him, and it just kind of sets the tone to move that lineup 554 00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:47.760 round get with man on base and I just like to see a little bit 555 00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:52.719 more contact out of everybody. It looks like we're still trying to hit the 556 00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:58.079 long ball instead of playing like the Reds got it. You're behind the dugout. 557 00:42:58.239 --> 00:43:00.239 You should be shouting that. Make contact like a little league game. 558 00:43:00.360 --> 00:43:05.039 Just say, hey, put the ball and play kids. I'm with you. 559 00:43:05.159 --> 00:43:07.880 I'm with you to day. Hey, we listened to you out here 560 00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:10.079 on podcasts all the time. I can't say up to one in the morning 561 00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:13.800 to hear you, but I catch you the next day. Keep up the 562 00:43:13.800 --> 00:43:16.519 great ward. Let's go Blue. All right, Dan, thanks a lot 563 00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:21.679 for podcasting the show. Appreciated. You'll be able to find this rain delay 564 00:43:21.800 --> 00:43:25.840 edition of Dodger Talk on the iHeartRadio app as well. We're gonna take a 565 00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:30.679 break here when we return. Rick Monday and Tim Neverett will have the call 566 00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:36.320 as we begin play again top of the sixth inning between the Dodgers and Reds 567 00:43:36.360 --> 00:43:40.000 Cincinnati leading for nothing. Tim Kates will talk to you after the game. 568 00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:44.480 We'll talk to you from New York City. But right around the corner, 569 00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:49.039 we got more baseball, more Dodger baseball. Rick Monday and Tim Neverett right 570 00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:52.519 around the corner as we begin the top of the sixth inning with the Reds 571 00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:55.840 leading for nothing on the Los Angeles Dodgers Audio Network,