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 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:19.359 Talk bike back David Vasse. Welcome the Dodger Talk David Vasse live at Dodger 4 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:24.920 Stadium. After the Dodgers defeat the Rockies tonight by a final score of four 5 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.399 to one. We have phone lines open at eight six, six, nine, 6 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.759 eighty seven, two five seventy. Jose Mota will join us at eleven 7 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:38.359 o'clock tonight. Also, you will hear from Austin Barnes, who is one 8 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:43.240 of the hitters that faced Clayton Kershaw today. This was the first time that 9 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:49.479 Kershaw faced hitters since his left shoulder surgery back in December. So we'll hear 10 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:55.719 from Austin Barnes, who has the unique perspective of not only catching Kershaw's bullpen 11 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:02.479 during this rehab process two homestands ago, but then today getting a look at 12 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:07.599 how Kershaw is coming along in his rehab process. So we'll get to all 13 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:11.799 that a little bit later in the show. But tonight the Dodgers got a 14 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:17.920 really good performance from Yoshi Yamamoto, maybe did not have his best stuff the 15 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:22.480 entire night, but he competed and was able to get through six innings and 16 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:27.439 strike out seven, which was encouraging, and we had touched upon it during 17 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:33.000 the clubhouse show. On the top of the second inning, everybody was wondering 18 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:38.680 where the heck Yoshi yama Moto was when he was supposed to be out on 19 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:45.120 the mound warming up between innings, and Sportsnet LA went into the dugout trying 20 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:49.159 to scan the dugout to see if yama Moto was in there, if there 21 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:55.439 was an injury or something was going on. Yama Moto apparently had an issue 22 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:59.640 with his shoelaces, and that's what took him so long to come out to 23 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:04.359 warm up for the second inning. Me personally, I thought he was in 24 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.959 the bathroom, and the reason why I thought he was in the bathroom was 25 00:02:07.080 --> 00:02:13.039 because Dave Roberts was seen coming out from under the tunnel and I thought maybe 26 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:19.400 Dave Roberts was occupying the bathroom and Yamamoto wanted to get in and was delayed 27 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:24.159 a little bit. But that was not the case. Yamamoto had shoelace issues 28 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:30.199 and all was well. Bud Black very level headed manager did not make a 29 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:34.960 big fuss about it. I'm sure David Bell would have thrown like ten chairs 30 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:38.439 that Yamamoto was not out there warming up in time. But Bud Black, 31 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:46.039 good Man, and certainly a guy that has a level head, understood these 32 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:51.919 things happen, and the umpires allowed Yamamoto the enough time to warm up in 33 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.840 between innings to start that second and from there he was able to well. 34 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:00.400 He gave up a run in that second inning, but after that was able 35 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:05.919 to find his fastball command and really use that split fingered fastball tonight effectively. 36 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:09.840 He threw the four seam fastball fifty five times tonight. He threw the split 37 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:15.960 fingered fastball twenty eight times tonight, and he threw one hundred and one pitches. 38 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:21.120 That's the second time this year Yamamoto has thrown over one hundred pitches, 39 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.879 So that's a great sign as well. Eight six, six, nine eighty 40 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:29.319 seven two five seventy is the phone number. How about the seven eight to 41 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:34.639 nine hitters tonight? Those were Andy Pajes, Jason Hayward, and keike A 42 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.280 Hernandez. Those three hitters were on base seven times tonight and were combined six 43 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:46.639 four eleven, Hayward and Hernandez drove in runs, So the Dodgers got some 44 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:51.719 production from the bottom of the order tonight. And I do want to give 45 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:59.439 love to Freddie Freeman, who actually tonight not only went for a single, 46 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.639 but he went for a triple in the fifth inning with one out against Cal 47 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:10.199 Quantrill. Here is the most exciting play in baseball outside of a walk off 48 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.560 home run, payoff pitch and Freddy lines a down the left field line. 49 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.040 It is slicing a diving attempt by Bouchard. He missed it. It's rolling 50 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:23.120 around in the corner, rounding second and heading per third as Freeman. Here's 51 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:30.639 the relay he slides. He say, what about triple? Freddy's second triple 52 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:36.720 of the season. Freddie Freeman gone for three and he certainly was in there 53 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:43.120 and got his daddy long legs into third base safely. And then Will Smith 54 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:47.000 had the best at bat of the night. Eight pitches against Quantrill and he 55 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:53.360 drives in Freddie Freeman. Not only did Smith drive in Freeman after seeing eight 56 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:58.120 pitches from Quantrill, he threw out the speedy shortstop in the game, Ezekiel 57 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.879 Tovar. And how about this Will Smith? Last year, only threw out 58 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:06.720 twenty one percent of the runners trying to steal off of him. This year, 59 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:13.279 he's thrown out forty five percent of the runners, including Tovar tonight. 60 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.240 And it's not just on Will Smith. The pitchers are actually giving him something 61 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.680 to work with. So Will Smith, to me, had the game of 62 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:25.560 the night. And when I talk about the most exciting play in baseball, 63 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.439 that goes back to a debate I had with Chris Taylor a few years ago 64 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:35.600 where I maintained the most exciting playing baseball is the triple outside of a walk 65 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:40.360 off home run. He disagreed. He thought a third inning home run is 66 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:45.839 super exciting. I disagree. The triple, Freddie Freeman's triple more exciting than 67 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:49.720 a solo home run in the fourth inning by anybody. Eight six six nine 68 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:55.399 eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. It was Tyler glass Now 69 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.720 Bobblehead night out here at Dodgers Stadium, and I saw a lot of happy 70 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.199 fans vents walking out with the Glass Now Bobblehead is first as a Dodger, 71 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:09.120 and Glass Now had a lot of support from his fans in his hometown of 72 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:14.560 the six sixty one Glass Now's Heart High School coach Jim Mozella sent me a 73 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:19.720 text yesterday alerting me that two hundred Heart Baseball supporters were going to be at 74 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:26.959 the game tonight, including the CIF Southern Section champions and Glass Noow was signing 75 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:31.519 autographs for the D two CIF Southern Section champions from his alma mater at Heart 76 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:35.519 High School. So a great night out here at Dodgers Stadium, culminating in 77 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:41.240 a Dodger four to one victory over the Rockies. Let's go out to James 78 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.839 who is at Dodgers Stadium tonight. Hi James, you're on Dodger Talk. 79 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:48.199 Hey, thanks DV. Great to be here with you, man, I 80 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.720 got to ask you a question. So, Dodger Stadium had made all these 81 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:56.560 upgrades, and you're telling me that their bathroom is only one at a time. 82 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:00.480 That's like an airplane laboratory. What's going on with that's the close US 83 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:05.800 one? Fair enough? Fair enough? Hey? I love watching Yoshi pitch. 84 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:11.160 He's one of these guys that I feel is never gonna have an ERA 85 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:15.360 under three. But he'll also never have an ERA over four. He's gonna 86 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.560 be one of these guys that's always going to be like a great number two, 87 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:24.519 and therefore I think a great buy for the Dodgers in terms of bringing 88 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.439 him in on that contract that they did. Like you said, man, 89 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.319 bottom of the lineup tonight seven through nine. So good to see those guys 90 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:35.199 getting hits. And as Dave Roberts would say, I read a great article 91 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:42.000 about his the doc isms on his fifty second birthday, And those guys have 92 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:46.720 compete, and if we keep throwing shade on the bottom of the lineup, 93 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:49.240 they're gonna get mad at it, and they're gonna show up and they're gonna 94 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:54.680 start putting the bat to the ball instead of trying to do damage. And 95 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:59.399 there's nothing wrong with singles and keeping the line moving to get it to the 96 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.879 top of the line lineup. So that was incredible to see tonight. I 97 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:05.680 was very happy to see that. And one guy I want to talk about 98 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:11.639 that didn't play is how about the season that Meggie Rowe is having, hitting 99 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.439 what two seventy two eighty and he's only playing a third of the time. 100 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.680 I mean, I almost thought that, you know, he should have started 101 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:24.959 instead of Kyk because Keyk is so good with those pinch hit clutch situations. 102 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.079 If you need a guy, you bring him off the bench. But I 103 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.519 would actually like to see Meggi row play a little bit more because his defense 104 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.720 Keyk's plus at like seven positions. But Meggi Rowe is elite at third, 105 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.720 short, second, I mean, and his bat is hotter than Kyk's or 106 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:46.320 anybody else in the bottom of the lineup. So as good as a bottom 107 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.639 did, I would like to see Niggi ro get a little more playing time, 108 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:52.159 all right, James, He got the start last night at third base, 109 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:56.320 and uh yeah, we'll see more of Miguel Rojas between now and the 110 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:01.720 time Max Munsey returns. He's swinging the bat. We saw Monsey in the 111 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:07.440 dugout last night, but Dave Roberts said before the game Monsey is not swinging 112 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:11.399 a bat right now, which says he's still a long ways away from returning. 113 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:16.840 And I think we all forget the fact that the Dodgers miss Max Munsey 114 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:20.240 in the middle of that lineup. But say what you will about him being 115 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:24.360 a three true outcome player, but he sees a lot of pitches and does 116 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:28.240 a lot of damage when he's on points, So don't forget about the loss 117 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.679 of Max Munsey in the middle of that Dodger lineup, which has a ripple 118 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:39.080 effect for sure. Taoscar Hernandez has to move up a spot and the rest 119 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:43.120 of the lineup moves up a spot. You got Gavin Lux hitting six more 120 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:48.360 nights than not without Monsey in the starting lineup. As far as the seven, 121 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.000 eight to nine hitters tonight, it was Andy pat has his night three 122 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:56.480 hits tonight for the Dodgers center fielder. He'd been scuffling on the last road 123 00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:01.440 trip and before the Dodgers left for Cincinnati in New York, so it's good 124 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.639 to see him come back to start this homestand in a big way because they 125 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:09.519 need him to be a little bit more consistent. But that comes with the 126 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.960 package of starting a rookie player. There's going to be growing pains throughout the 127 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:18.639 season, and you just hope that if there are down times offensively, it 128 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:22.600 doesn't affect his defense. Last night, he made a big air in center 129 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:28.559 field and it led to two Rockies runs. But tonight the Dodgers come back 130 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:31.960 even the series with a four to one victory. Tonight eight six six nine, 131 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:35.759 eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to 132 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:39.679 Burbank. Eric, You're on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi. Eric. 133 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:43.799 Hi, David, first time, long time, Oh thank you. I 134 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:48.519 wanted to let you know a couple things. I so enjoy listening to you 135 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:54.759 every night, especially after the win. Had one comment and one quick question. 136 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:56.960 I'll make it fast. I wanted to let you know how excited I 137 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:01.960 was I was at the game tonight and how exciting it was, hopefully for 138 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.000 the first time of many to see Hudson in the seventh trying in the eighth 139 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:09.080 and Phillips to close out the game, And if that's something you think we 140 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.759 will see moving forward. And my quick question for you was any updates on 141 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:18.960 Charlie Steiner. I'm excited to hopefully hear him again this season. Yeah, 142 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:22.320 Eric, we missed Charlie. He's still dealing with health issues and we hope 143 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:26.759 to have him back sooner rather than later. We all keep in touch with 144 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:31.399 him, and we all keep encouraging him to keep getting better, and I'll 145 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:35.840 pass along your well wishes Eric, and hopefully he does return this year. 146 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.600 But his health is number one. That's the one thing I keep reminding Charlie 147 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:43.240 about. We need him healthy. And then after that, the rest will 148 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:48.159 take care of itself. But as far as the bullpen, I mean, 149 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.080 Evan Phillips coming back is huge. I know the Dodgers would love to have 150 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:56.799 Joe Kelly and Ryan Brazier back, but with Blake Trening coming back eric and 151 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:03.399 being nasty as ever, man, with Phillips back and you got Trinan and 152 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:07.519 Hudson bridging from the starter to him, that shortens the game a lot. 153 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:16.159 But don't forget Trining's coming off a big shoulder injury and Hudson is thirty five 154 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.399 thirty six years old, so you got to be careful with those guys as 155 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.320 well. And that's why I'm a firm believer that Andrew Friedman's looking for maybe 156 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:31.960 some reinforcements at the deadline to help those veterans down there. Absolutely, and 157 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.720 granted if everybody does stay healthy, do you think you could see those three, 158 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.159 Hudson Trying and Phillip come postseason? Yeah, I hope so. And 159 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.480 then you know, the Dodgers have a lot of good pitching in their starting 160 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:48.320 rotation, not all of them are going to be in the rotation for the 161 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:52.960 postseason when the schedule shrinks, So you know, you could see maybe one 162 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:58.759 of these young guys going to the bullpen to help those veterans. Absolutely. 163 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.879 Absolutely, let's just pray all these guys stay healthy and looking forward to a 164 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:07.200 fun season. David, thank you so much. It's so enjoyable to listen 165 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.039 to you, and I think you're amazing at what you do and we sure 166 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:13.720 appreciate you. Thanks, Eric, appreciate it. Check is in the mail. 167 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:18.279 Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number Evan 168 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.840 Phillips tonight with his ninth save of the season, retiring the Rockies in order. 169 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.080 It is a breath of fresh air to see the Dodgers super reliever back 170 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:31.039 out there because he kind of restores order to that bullpen, right knowing you 171 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:37.120 have your ninth inning closer right there healthy, and then you have Hudson and 172 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:41.519 trying in alex Vesia, also being part of the high leverage group for Dave 173 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:46.879 Roberts to call upon. Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is 174 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.399 the phone number. Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight four to one. Let's go 175 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.200 back out to the phone, Sacramento. Frank, You're on Dodger Talk. 176 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.639 Hi, Frank, Good evening, Dave c I told you this was a 177 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:03.600 little just a little thickup. We're back on the winning side now. Two 178 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:09.960 quite two things for you. Number one, what was up with Monday and 179 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:18.559 never tonight saying that our own DV is the breakdance champion of the locker room? 180 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:22.039 And then also, I want to know is there any truth to the 181 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:30.639 rumor that maybe our all time save leader will be coming back and retire as 182 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:37.080 a Dodger ken Lee Janssen. Well, I did see Bob Nightingale's report that 183 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:43.679 the Red Sox are probably going to shop ken Ley around the trade deadline, 184 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:50.120 and look, the Dodgers in Red Sox had some discussions during spring training and 185 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:54.200 before spring training about Kenley, so I wouldn't rule it out. But there's 186 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.600 some other teams out there that can use ken Ley as well. I'm thinking 187 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:01.720 Cubs, I'm thinking Rangers, I'm thinking and Padres as well. So I 188 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:05.360 do believe Kennelly's going to be traded. I know he would love to come 189 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:07.960 back to the Dodgers, so we'll see. Uh, he doesn't have control 190 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:11.799 over that, but we'll see where he lands. But yeah, I wouldn't 191 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:16.279 rule it out. Okay, And then also about never written Monday saying that 192 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:18.639 you were the break Oh, they're just trying to make some fun. They're 193 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:22.120 just trying to have a good time. Frank. I've never breakdanced. I'm 194 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:26.559 not a good dancer, Frank. But it's slow dancing. That's it. 195 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:33.000 That's my sight spot. Okay, Frank, thanks a lot for the phone 196 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:37.159 call and appreciate the encouragement on my breakdancing. Eight six six nine eight seven 197 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:43.399 two five seventy is the phone number. Tonight. Ta Oscar Hernandez got back 198 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:46.120 in the hit callumn tonight. He was two for three tonight with a run 199 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:50.840 score. Do you heard Dave Roberts praise him for his base running in the 200 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:54.960 second inning when the Rockies were throwing the baseball all over the field to allow 201 00:15:56.039 --> 00:16:00.679 him to score all the way from first base on a ground out by Gavin 202 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:04.159 Lux And can you believe if you look at the landscape of the National League 203 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:11.879 outfield, Taoscar Hernandez leads all National League outfielders with twelve home runs and thirty 204 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:18.759 eight RBIs. Think about the outfielders in the National League. Fernando Tattis Junior 205 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:25.679 jumps out at me. I'm thinking about Schwarber in Philly. I guess Akunya 206 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:30.799 Junior before he got hurt, I was thinking of him. But Taoscar Hernandez 207 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:34.919 leads the National League with twelve home runs and thirty eight RBIs, and he 208 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:41.720 also has the third highest slugging percentage at four seventy five among National League outfielders. 209 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:48.159 That just shows you. Number one, what under the radar signing Taoscar 210 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:52.440 Hernandez was for the Dodgers. And number two, man, where have all 211 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:57.200 the outfielders gone in the National League? Right? Cody Bellinger? You know 212 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:02.840 he's included in all this. He's hitting two fifty seven and he only has 213 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:07.359 five home runs this year. You know, just looking at this list here, 214 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.000 there's not many good National League outfielders out there. I hate to say 215 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:15.799 it, but mystery relevant. Jerkson Profar is in the top three of production 216 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:22.759 of National League outfielders. So is Spencer Steer of the Reds and Jash Chisholm. 217 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:26.119 But Taoscar Hernandez is at the top of it. And you know, 218 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.720 as we get into June, this is when All Star Game voting starts. 219 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.480 I feel like, for sure, Taoskar Hernandez is going to be a National 220 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:38.880 League starter. I feel like Will Smith is going to be a National League 221 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:44.359 starter. Mookie Bets at shortstop, that's a toss up. There's a lot 222 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.960 of good shortstops out there in the National League, but he certainly will be 223 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:52.400 part of the team. But Taoscar Hernandez having a great year to start twenty 224 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:56.160 twenty four. Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight four to one. Here at Dodgers 225 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:03.400 Stadium, we mentioned Clayton Kershaw u he had his first day of facing hitters. 226 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:07.920 When we continue from Dodgers Stadium, we will let you hear from Austin 227 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:12.200 Barnes and also give you more details on what took place and when Clayton Kershaw 228 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:17.480 may return to the Dodgers. Tonight, the Dodgers beat the Rockies four to 229 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:26.960 one on A five seventy LA Sports on air at AM five seventy, online 230 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:32.039 at AM five seventy LA sports dot com, and available my podcast on the 231 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.759 iHeartRadio app. This is Dodger Talk with David Bassan pre ball, two strike 232 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:45.319 bitch and Will Linees. A down the left field line of Bash Freeman scores 233 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:49.759 rounding first and heading to a second with a run scoring double is Will Smith. 234 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:55.839 It is four to one. Will Smith with the at bat of the 235 00:18:55.960 --> 00:19:00.519 night in the fifth inning to drive in Freddie Freeman after he tripled with one 236 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:06.880 out as the Dodgers defeat the Rockies tonight four to one. David Vaz say, 237 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:10.799 Dodger talk with you until the bottom of the hour. Well check in 238 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:15.079 with Jose Mota in ten minutes. But first I want to remind you that 239 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:19.319 our friends at Daniel's Jewelers, they are the official sponsor of the trip around 240 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:25.359 the Diamond. Stop by any Daniel's location and say home run for your free 241 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:30.480 team bracelet and a fifty dollars gift card toward any purchase of ninety nine dollars 242 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:33.799 or more. Daniels Jewelers own the Dream. Eight six, six, nine, 243 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:37.759 eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number. Look, I know 244 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:41.119 a lot of people are talking about the bottom of the Dodgers lineup, the 245 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:45.400 seven eight nine hitters. I just wanted to point out again that something I 246 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:49.720 said last night and on the road trip. Jason Hayward is just starting to 247 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:55.359 get into a rhythm at the plate after missing basically the first couple of months 248 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:59.119 of the season. Tonight, he doubled in the go ahead run in the 249 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:03.759 second inning. He was on base twice tonight. So I feel like Jason 250 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:07.640 Hayward is a big key to that bottom third of the lineup, and I 251 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.799 have no doubts that he's going to come close to replicate what he did for 252 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:17.279 the Dodgers last year in right field. So he's a big piece to that 253 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:21.119 bottom of the order to make that lineup a little bit longer. And like 254 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:23.640 I said before, it's not just him getting hits. He knows how to 255 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:29.000 play the game. He's a really smart baseball player and he makes the right 256 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:33.039 place. He surveys the field, he understands the situation, and he tries 257 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:37.039 to do his best to execute. So I feel like Hayward definitely is going 258 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:41.319 to be a big part of that bottom of the order for the Dodgers, 259 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:45.160 and tonight he was part of the seven eight, nine hitters of Pajez, 260 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:51.279 Hayward, and Keike Hernandez on base seven times tonight, going a combined six 261 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:56.359 four eleven. All Right, I mentioned Clayton Kershaw throwing to hitters today for 262 00:20:56.440 --> 00:21:02.559 the first time since his left shoulder surgery. He's throwing bullpen sessions. So 263 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:07.440 this was the first time we had seen Kershaw throw to hitters, and I 264 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.359 saw him warm up in the bullpen, and I counted twenty six pitches, 265 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:15.160 and I said, that's pretty close to the amount of pitches he throws when 266 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:22.119 he comes into a game. And all of a sudden, Chico his catcher 267 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.440 bullpen catcher. His five minutes of fame were over in twenty twenty, but 268 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:30.440 he got another second look tonight and encore for Chico this afternoon. As he 269 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:37.880 was catching Kershaw during this simulated game, and Kershaw faced hitters Chris Taylor, 270 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:42.960 Austin Barnes, and also the Dodgers' first round pick last year, Kendall George. 271 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.880 It was one inning. He faced them a few different times and he 272 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:53.400 did incorporate his curveball. Chris Taylor did hit a home run off a Kershaw. 273 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:59.319 After he was done, Dave Roberts said that Kershaw was throwing eighty eight 274 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:03.599 miles an hour with his fastball, which is trending upwards, because he had 275 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:07.519 told me on the last homestand his fastball was around eighty six, so he's 276 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:11.640 trending upwards. And Dave Roberts, when I asked him, I said, 277 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:15.079 so where is he? Where is the timeline when is Kershaw coming back? 278 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:23.319 And Dave Roberts said, basically, today is Kershaw's liking it to Kershaw coming 279 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:27.400 in for spring training, and it's the second day of pitchers and catchers. 280 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:34.240 So he's six weeks away at least from the Dodgers considering him being activated into 281 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:38.400 the rotation because let's face it, it's June first, even though the weather 282 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:42.400 doesn't feel like it, it is the first day of June, and Kershawn 283 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:48.400 the Dodgers have talked about a July or early August return, so that would 284 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:53.079 line up six weeks from today. Austin Barnes, who we all know has 285 00:22:53.119 --> 00:23:00.000 caught Kershaw more than any other catcher outside of aj Ellis, he caught Kershaw's 286 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:03.839 second bullpen session h during the regular season, and today was one of the 287 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:08.720 hitters that he faced. So here's what Austin Barnes saw. It was good. 288 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:11.920 It was I just, you know, I thought he's obviously the first 289 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:18.880 one is kind of a monumental step in the recovery, you know, so 290 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:21.400 it's a it's a great scene him out there. I thought the fastball was 291 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.720 coming out with his like true little life to it, you know, the 292 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:27.160 little little Ridey has do it and uh, you know, just coming out 293 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:30.279 there mixing all his pitches is you know, it was good. I was 294 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:34.799 seeing Clint Kershaw bitch of Dotish cudium is always a a good sign. So 295 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.440 you know, I thought it was. I thought it was a really good 296 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:44.039 day. You caught him two home stands ago. Was it better than what 297 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:48.039 you caught? Uh? Yeah, I mean I thought his stuff for where 298 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:51.319 he's at is it's awesome. You know. I think for him to be 299 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:56.279 hitting the vls he's hitting that this point is pretty special and a glad. 300 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.240 I'm just happy for him that, you know, it's it's working out and 301 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:03.039 everything feels good. You know. All right, there's Austin Barnes. He 302 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.319 had first look at Kershaw today and obviously has caught him during this process. 303 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:14.680 So, look, is Kershaw where he wants to be? Probably not. 304 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:18.079 I got the sense that he was really frustrated with the way things went today. 305 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:25.039 But nobody is a harsher critic of Kershaw than Kershaw himself. So this 306 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:27.319 is going to be a process and look, there's going to be ups and 307 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:33.279 downs. The good news is he has not had any physical setbacks. Today 308 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:36.400 was a good day for him to be on the mound, and like Dave 309 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:41.000 Roberts said to us after it was all said and done, this is basically 310 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:45.759 the second day of spring training for him when pictures and catchers reports, so 311 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.680 it's not a good thing. I think we've seen this with some of these 312 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:55.319 young pictures. First day showing up to camp and you're bragging about throwing one 313 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.640 hundred miles an hour. That's not the way it should be. You should 314 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:03.680 be easing into your velocity when you start spring training. And that's what Kershaw's 315 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:07.640 doing eighty eight miles an hour on the fastball today, using the slider, 316 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:11.400 using a little bit of the change up, and also breaking the curveball to 317 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:17.559 Kendall George. Rick Monday said he noticed that he was bailing out on that 318 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:22.119 curveball. So Kendall George got an education at a young age. Today during 319 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:26.799 a simulated game against a future Hall of Famer. After it was all said 320 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:30.279 and done, the Dodgers went out and beat the Rockies tonight four to one. 321 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:36.319 Let's go out to Jose Mota. It's time to go around the horn 322 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.559 with Jose Mota. All right, Jose Mota, not sure if you were 323 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:42.680 here or not. But did you have a chance to take a look at 324 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:49.039 Kershaw throwing to those hitters today? I did, and it was gratifying, 325 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:52.920 and you know what a nice thing for the ice to see that guy going 326 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:55.319 out there and competing. I mean, anytime cursh is on the mound, 327 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.839 you never know if it's a regular season game, is it this playoff game, 328 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.920 if it's a Ballton Because he keeps it all the same, that's what 329 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.920 he is, who he is. There are a lot of people in that 330 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:07.440 dugout, a lot of his teammates wanting to see how it looked Jose, 331 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:11.440 so there was a lot of interest. Even Bud Black from the Rockies wanted 332 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:15.920 to see how it looked. Well, Buddy Black knows about pitching a thing 333 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:18.240 or two about lefties who are coming back from injury. And Buddy Black himself 334 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:25.000 as a former pitching coach that understands motion, release points, mechanics, and 335 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:27.880 who wouldn't want to see at Clayton Kersher on his way back. If your 336 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:34.640 Buddy Black's thinking about watching this legend Hall of Famer today and starting to see 337 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:38.160 where his progress is, because as he progresses, obviously he knows they're going 338 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:41.640 to take a look at it, and also for Buddy Black little little study 339 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:47.160 and see which pictures are in development of which pictures are already there. But 340 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:51.039 to he here eighty eight miles an hour, that's very encouraging. Jose Mota 341 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:53.839 is joining us. After the Dodgers beat the Rockies in game two of this 342 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:59.599 short three game homestand four to one the final score. Tonight, Yoshi Yama 343 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:03.640 modah with his sixth win of the year. How'd you think Yamamoto looked out 344 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:10.920 there tonight, Jose against a team that obviously is not a juggernaut that he 345 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:14.680 may face in the future. Yeah, I might not be a juggernaut, 346 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.559 but those are the kind of teams you've got to be careful with. And 347 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:19.000 I'm happy on the way that he was able to at least manage those pitches 348 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:22.839 after the third inning, because at one point I'm looking at fifty six up 349 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:26.279 for three. But Yo moo moota is one thing that he does not beat 350 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:29.880 himself by falling behind a lot of accounts and walking guys. He walked that 351 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:33.000 first guy in that first sitting, and after that it was like strike one 352 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:37.400 on one into oho and two's one of these into one and ones. And 353 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:40.759 the one thing I'll tell you this from the inside is I'm a moto. 354 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:45.799 Well, the teams in New York had very extensive talks with Kodak Singa about 355 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:49.200 the splitter and about fastball commands. So the fact that he threw more fastbles 356 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:52.599 today and the splitter was so effective does not surprise me at all, because, 357 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:56.480 I mean, over two days, the conversation was about not just sitting 358 00:27:56.559 --> 00:28:00.960 up and where it finishes, but I'm using that pitch on both sides of 359 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.519 the plate. But with that in, Singa throws it much slower. But 360 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:10.119 once they're talking about was you know, releasing looking at making it look like 361 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:12.359 a fastball and the room. But also a lot of guys use the splitter 362 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:18.119 Dave when they use a stiffer wrists to have a better effect and more tumbling 363 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:21.039 effect, to make sure they push a little bit more, the more friction 364 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.880 with your fingers and makes it tumble a little bit more. The one he 365 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:27.720 threw it's the montero to strike him out for out number two and the fourth 366 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:32.279 inning is the best split finger I've seen him throw here in his big Lack 367 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:37.920 career. Yeah, the Japanese reporters told me that Yamamoto was speaking to code 368 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.519 I Sanga, so I guess it was more involved than just trying to catch 369 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:48.640 up and exchange pleasantries. And the consensus is from the Japanese reporters that have 370 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:55.200 seen Yamamoto and Sanga that Yama Moto split fingered fastball is superior to Segas. 371 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:59.240 It's harder, that's for sure. That's ninety ninety one singer can throw. 372 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:02.720 That thing is low eighty three miles an hour. But he, you know, 373 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:06.119 obviously he has a different arms slot, bigger hands. Jammta does not 374 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:08.160 have the biggest hands they're gonna see in a pitcher. But man, this 375 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:12.880 guy at twenty five years old, not the biggest guy, not the bulkiest 376 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:15.799 guy, goes out there makes every single pitch count, which is something that 377 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:21.480 he's also been kind of getting accustomed to, knowing that these line ups there's 378 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.880 no breather to take. And and one thing that was really catching my eye 379 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:29.039 was how well like number nine hitters were hitting against them, and how well 380 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.839 he was able to hold back some of the biggest hitters in the game, 381 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:36.839 you know, meaning in the order, which means that there's there's this emphasis 382 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:41.279 on it, you know, executing pitches against certain eyes and maybe maybe a 383 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:45.319 little letdown of certain guys, but one through nine the lineus he's facing now 384 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:48.559 he never saw in Japan, and one through nine, no matter what says 385 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.319 in the front of that team, these guys are gonna go out there and 386 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:55.119 hurt you. And the more information they have on you, trust me, 387 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.240 they're gonna be able to ambush you it. And so you got to be 388 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:59.920 able to change. And I think he's getting more to the point now. 389 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:03.880 Every pitch has a purpose, which is really part of what he did in 390 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:07.480 Japan and with the culture and how they think, and you know, those 391 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:11.680 extensive conversations about learning, Hey, Sega has success, how did you do 392 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:14.880 it? How can you help me? How can we make sure that we'll 393 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:18.319 help the counfture man out. But understanding that we have different stuff, this 394 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:22.039 was what was a preparation also different ways in which we compete. Jose Mota 395 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:26.480 is joining us. After the Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight four to one, 396 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:32.119 Yamamoto with a sixth win of the year after seven strikeouts and six innings, 397 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:36.279 and for the Dodgers tonight, so much talked about Jose with the seven eight 398 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:41.240 nine hitters, and I firmly believe that Jason Hayward is going to help change 399 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:45.559 those type of things. Jason Heyward's a professional guy. Man. This guy's 400 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:52.240 won individually his gold gloves. Obviously he's won World Series. He's instrumental in 401 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:56.880 what the Cubs did over there with the World Series. But also you know 402 00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:00.400 the time in New York, same thing. He took that time to kind 403 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:03.920 of a part of it where he was. This guy's never going to catch 404 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:08.359 the headlines by a quote. He's going to walk there and just be the 405 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:11.319 greatest teammate ever. But you can see the ad Bassa getting better. And 406 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:15.440 I'm glad you mentioned the fact that, I mean he hasn't played a whole 407 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:18.720 lot. He has not played a whole lot. So getting into rhythm and 408 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:22.640 getting into you know, a flow of known that he's healthy now with his 409 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:25.559 back is not going to be an issue. It's important because they said, 410 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.920 hey, what with a about a part of the order. It needs to 411 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:30.559 understand this. They're not out there to slug. He's going to run into 412 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:33.839 something because he's a big, strong man. But the more he has that 413 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:37.200 bottom of the order and he does with the young outfielder's thinking. Guys, 414 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:41.400 our job is to do the smallest of things to make sure that we turn 415 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.680 around that lineup that we have done our job. I've been moving the guy 416 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:48.400 over or you know, sliding hard or the base as well, so those 417 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:52.000 guys at the top have better opportunities. But he is huge for this team. 418 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:57.359 Andy Pie has had three hits tonight. Jose has he started to make 419 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.240 some adjustments after going into a little bit of a slump. It looks like 420 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:05.839 it started New York too. I think, boy, a lot of things 421 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:12.279 happened in New York. What happened Dave things I know, But yes, 422 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:15.640 I see better coverage from him. I see his body in a better position 423 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:20.799 to attack the pitches that he was getting beaten with or this time when he 424 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:23.200 was beaten with those pitches, he was able to take him today by more 425 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:27.279 than anything. Loading up a little bit earlier, which allows him to get 426 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:30.279 into a position where he can reach the outside half, stay inside the basketball 427 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:34.920 and pull the slower pitches fair and that leftield line. And I think he's 428 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.440 going to keep building off of this and know that he is a good hitter 429 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.880 that's developing and going through the ups and downs in the big leagues. But 430 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:43.079 I'm glad to see the adjustments because I know he listened, and guys have 431 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:45.599 been, you know, pointing to him on some of the little things not 432 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.279 to throw too much at him because they know that the league has adjusted well. 433 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:50.960 So now was it's starting to make small tweaks here and there, and 434 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.279 know that he can play at this level. Overall, A good night for 435 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:58.440 the Dodgers. Jose. Let's see if they can close out this series before 436 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:00.720 they head back to the East Coast, and we'll talk to you either way 437 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:05.599 after the game. It's good to see that we can counter guy like Gavin 438 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:07.000 Stone to go out there and gave you a quality star, which she will 439 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:10.680 do again tomorrow, no doubt. Jose, Thanks and we'll see you tomorrow. 440 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:15.200 Sleep quick, don't there? He goes. Jose Mota part of the 441 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:22.519 Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast with Pepe and Ningez and the great Fernando Valenzuela. Speaking 442 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:29.039 up Fernando Valenzuela, I told him, don't watch the highlights of Darryl Strawberry 443 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:32.720 getting his number eighteen retired out there at City Field. They showed us some 444 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:38.519 of Strawberry's more majestic home runs off some of the greatest pitchers of the eighties, 445 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:43.759 Nolan Ryan to name one, and the other was our very own Fernando 446 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:47.359 Valenzuela. And I described to him which home run it was nineteen eighty seven 447 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:51.519 Shay Stadium. He said, oh, yeah, I remember that. That 448 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:54.680 was the first day John Shelby was with the Dodgers, and he joked to 449 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:59.279 Shelby, why didn't you jump and catch the home run? But hey, 450 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:05.759 Fernando was shown on that highlight reel for a reason because he was one of 451 00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:09.400 the best pitchers in the National League in the eighties, and Strawberry was certainly 452 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:15.519 one of the best hitters of the eighties for the Mets before he signed with 453 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:19.639 the Dodgers prior to the ninety one season. And the only reason why I 454 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:23.960 bring that up is because Dale Strawberry forever will have a connection to Los Angeles, 455 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:30.320 graduating from Crenshaw High School. Him and Eric Davis were the two best 456 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:35.480 players in the eighties and both came out of South central Los Angeles, Eric 457 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:40.199 Davis from Fremont High Daryl Strawberry from Crenshaw High. And I gotta be candid 458 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:49.679 with you outside of the Dodger players. My favorite player watching them from afar 459 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:53.320 that was not wearing a Dodger uniform growing up was Daryl Strawberry. I mean, 460 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:58.679 this guy was a monster six' six, He was a thirty thirty 461 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:04.880 player in nineteen eighty nine. He hit almost three hundred home runs from nineteen 462 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:09.039 eighty three to nineteen ninety one. If he did not have his own personal 463 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:14.679 demons, obviously drug abuse, he would have been a Hall of Famer, 464 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:19.719 no doubt about it. And everybody in Los Angeles you talk about Otani being 465 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:25.119 an international newsmaker when he signed with the Dodgers. When Darryl Strawberry signed with 466 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:30.400 the Dodgers at the time, he signed a five year, twenty million dollar 467 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:35.639 contract after leaving New York and being one of the best players in the National 468 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:39.840 League to come back home and sign the richest contract at that time twenty million 469 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:45.119 dollars. That was the largest contract at the time by a Major League baseball 470 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:51.800 player, and Peter O'Malley dug deep into his wallet to pay Strawberry, and 471 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.880 unfortunately, after the ninety one season, back issues and his own personal demons 472 00:35:57.360 --> 00:36:00.920 got the best of him. But nineteen ninety one was a special year. 473 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:04.639 His first year with the Dodgers, he made the All Star Team. He 474 00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:07.880 had twenty eight home runs, drove in ninety nine runs. Unfortunately, the 475 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:15.079 ninety one Dodgers I would rank them among the best Dodger teams that never made 476 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:19.920 it to the playoffs because they blew a nine game All Star Break lead and 477 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:24.519 the Braves won their first Division championship of that string of thirteen or fifteen in 478 00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:30.840 a row, and the Dodgers were a game short by the end of the 479 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:36.639 season. And Darryl Strawberry today, congratulations straw You're a great guy, and 480 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:40.280 you deserve your number retired out there in New York, number eighteen. Forever. 481 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:45.519 We'll be hanging up at City Field. And during his press conference, 482 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:52.400 Darryl Strawberry reflected on the impact that he and Eric Davis had not only in 483 00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:59.000 Major League Baseball, but also going back to Harvard Park in South Central LA. 484 00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:01.440 So like to say thank you to my best friend. You know, 485 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:07.480 my best friend growing up playing together, being successful. We had a dream 486 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:12.519 coming out of South Central LA, me and Eric Davis to play Major League 487 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:15.599 baseball, and not just to play, but to be the best. We 488 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:19.760 pushed each other every day you know, we started our January first workouts in 489 00:37:20.679 --> 00:37:24.360 Harvard Park. Every year after getting to the major leagues, being successful making 490 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:29.159 millions of dollars, we would go down to the getto and train and put 491 00:37:29.239 --> 00:37:34.360 up trash cands and hit baseballs and work on our fundamentals. That that was 492 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:37.519 important. That was important to me getting to where I needed to get get 493 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:40.519 and for Eric to get to where he needed to get to be the color 494 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:44.440 players that we wanted to be because so many players come out of Southern California 495 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:49.079 with great players like Eddie and Alsie, and they were ahead of us, 496 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:54.239 Brooksy, Huby, so many guys. But we had a dream. We 497 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:58.400 had a dream to come out of there and be just as good as those 498 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:04.360 guys. And I'm really rateful that I had that opportunity to have a teammate 499 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:09.880 like their growing up and having success that we had. That was so cool 500 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:15.599 to hear. Darryl Strawberry referenced that because that was the total package right growing 501 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:21.599 up in Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, growing up a big baseball 502 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:25.639 fan, even though games were not as easily accessible. You can get the 503 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:30.159 news, you can read the box score this week in Baseball was the Baseball 504 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:36.480 Show every Saturday, and you would see the highlights every single weekend of what 505 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:40.440 Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis were doing every single week. And what made it 506 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:45.599 so special too, was they were our own. They were LA born, 507 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:51.159 bred through their veins, they were LA and they never forgot their roots. 508 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:58.519 Think about that. That would be like right now, Mookie Betts and I 509 00:38:58.599 --> 00:39:04.280 don't know, I get pick anybody else going to Harvard Park in South Central 510 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:08.119 LA during the off season and working out and just being out there amongst the 511 00:39:08.199 --> 00:39:13.079 people working out to get ready for the season. That just doesn't happen. 512 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:15.800 But in the eighties when those two guys you heard straw mention it, they 513 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:22.039 were already making millions of dollar. They were already the best players and MVPs 514 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:25.760 in the National League. In every off season, they would go back to 515 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:30.719 their hometown, South Central LA, go to Harvard Park. There's actually a 516 00:39:30.840 --> 00:39:36.440 documentary you can find online about it. They would go back to Harvard Park 517 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:43.000 in South Central LA every off season and do their off season workouts there and 518 00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:47.760 bring in high school kids from the inner city to shagfly balls, maybe teach 519 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:52.119 them something, and then as the legend grew that they knew they were going 520 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:58.280 to be there. Then you had other youngsters that wanted to be in Major 521 00:39:58.360 --> 00:40:01.119 League Baseball start to work out with them. And then they took young guys 522 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:06.599 like Chris Brown who played for the Padres under their wing. They took Royce 523 00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:12.000 Clayton under their wing. All of a sudden, these other top prospects in 524 00:40:12.159 --> 00:40:16.159 minor leagues. In the minor leagues would start showing up at Harvard Park trying 525 00:40:16.199 --> 00:40:21.480 to work out with Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis. So it's not just about, 526 00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:24.440 you know, doing a charity event in the inner city and handing out, 527 00:40:25.239 --> 00:40:30.480 you know, groceries for an hour. These guys were doing a lot 528 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:35.360 more than that. They were invested in the people at Harvard Park in South 529 00:40:35.400 --> 00:40:38.320 central LA, and they never forgot about it. And quite honestly, you 530 00:40:38.440 --> 00:40:43.960 know, Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis were the coolest cats out there. Not 531 00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:46.480 only were they the best players in the National League at the time, but 532 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:51.280 they had a lot of style. They were the first major leaguers to wear 533 00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:55.920 Nike high top cleats in Major League Baseball. Eric Davis, playing for the 534 00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:01.440 Reds, had all red with the white swoosh tops. Darryl Strawberry playing for 535 00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:07.480 the Mets and Dodgers had the all blue high top cleats with the white Nike 536 00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:13.480 swoosh. Those guys were ridiculous and set the bar for everybody else. And 537 00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:17.519 you know, I was so excited and so was everybody else in LA when 538 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:22.679 the Dodgers signed Darryl Strawberry. They thought the sky was the limit. In 539 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:27.280 fact, he had his introductory press conference when he signed with the Dodgers, 540 00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:32.079 not just at the Stadium club, but it was televised on Fox eleven at 541 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:37.599 Crenshaw High School as alma mater. They were all there, the whole student 542 00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:40.400 body was there to welcome him home with his mom. So it was a 543 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:45.760 big deal when Darryl Strawberry left the Mets to sign with the Dodgers. And 544 00:41:45.880 --> 00:41:50.400 I know now he says that it was a mistake for him to leave New 545 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:53.840 York and sign with the Dodgers. Maybe it was because he got back with 546 00:41:53.920 --> 00:42:00.280 the wrong people and they took him down a road that unfortunately derailed what would 547 00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:04.960 have been a Hall of Fame career. But he persevered, He persevered, 548 00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:09.079 and he came back and he had a great career. After things went south 549 00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:15.480 with the Dodgers, he got a chance, thanks to George Steinbrenner, to 550 00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:20.320 be part of the nineties Yankees and won a couple of World Series championships. 551 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:24.239 So God bless Darryl Strawberry. He's a great guy. I've gotten to know 552 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:30.079 him over the years since he stopped playing, and he actually was my first 553 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:34.880 ever player interview when he was playing for the Yankees his first year there, 554 00:42:34.920 --> 00:42:38.280 when they were on the way to the World Series. I asked him a 555 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:45.320 young kid just trying to find my way working for Joe McDonald, and Joe 556 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:49.480 sent me down to Anaheim to interview Strawberry. He let me interview him, 557 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:52.199 sent it back and that was the first ever player interview that I ever had 558 00:42:52.599 --> 00:42:55.760 on the radio, Darryl Strawberry when he was playing for the Yankees. So 559 00:42:58.000 --> 00:43:02.519 congratulations, straw Love you in Los Angeles still, and I know South Central 560 00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:07.199 will never forget you. And Eric Davis all right, that'll do it for 561 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:10.400 us. On Dodger Talk tonight. Coming up tomorrow, Gavin Stone is on 562 00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:14.760 the mound for the Dodgers. He's five and two with an ERA of three 563 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:19.760 sixteen, going up against left hander Austin Gomber, who in ten starts for 564 00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:23.079 the Rockies this year, has an ERA of two seventy six. His record 565 00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:28.920 is one and two. Morongo Casino Dodgers on Deck begins at noon, first 566 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:35.639 pitch at one ten on getaway Day. That was quick home stand over tomorrow 567 00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:39.079 and the Dodgers are going back to the East Coast. Three games in Pittsburgh 568 00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:45.519 starting on Tuesday, and then the biggest regular season series as far as hype 569 00:43:45.639 --> 00:43:52.599 goes, Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees demolished the Giants again tonight and 570 00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:58.559 the judge all rise for the judge another home run, So the Dodgers are 571 00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:02.800 catching a very hot Aaron Judge when they head to Yankee Stadium next weekend. 572 00:44:04.440 --> 00:44:07.719 Thanks to Dwayne McDonald, I have here at Dodgers Stadium, thanks to Colin 573 00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:12.000 Yee back at our Burbank Studios, and thanks to you for listening. In 574 00:44:12.119 --> 00:44:15.159 case you missed any of the show, you can find it on the iHeartRadio 575 00:44:15.239 --> 00:44:22.280 app and that's where you can also find our pregame conversation with new reliever Anthony 576 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:24.960 Bunda. Get to know him. He may be around for a while. 577 00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:30.280 He looks like he has some good stuff, they say. That's what they 578 00:44:30.360 --> 00:44:34.800 tell me. Interesting good stuff. So far, so good for Anthony Bonda, 579 00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:38.159 great kid as well. Once again. The final score tonight from Dodgers 580 00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:43.400 Stadium. The Dodgers defeat the Rockies four to one. Have a great rest 581 00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:45.840 of your night, see them so