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<v Speaker 1>Well, the Dodgers need reinforcements, and I'm with one of

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<v Speaker 1>them today and that's Dodger top pitching prospect or one

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<v Speaker 1>of their top pitching prospects, Ben Casparius. Ben, thanks a

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<v Speaker 1>lot for the time and great to introduce you to

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<v Speaker 1>Dodger fans.

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely, thanks for having me. It's good to be here.

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously, last night went sideways on the Dodgers with Kershaw

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<v Speaker 1>coming out of the game and having you use seven

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<v Speaker 1>different relievers. When did you get the call, hey, we

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<v Speaker 1>kind of need some reinforcements today.

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<v Speaker 3>Yep.

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<v Speaker 2>I got the call late last night.

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<v Speaker 3>I was notified a little bit earlier in the clubhouse

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<v Speaker 3>after our game. It ended just to you know, be

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<v Speaker 3>understand by, have my phone on me and just wait

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<v Speaker 3>and kind of hear what was going on.

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<v Speaker 1>Where was Oklahoma City? Where did bank Casperius come in from?

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<v Speaker 2>Yep?

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<v Speaker 3>So we were in Round Rock, Texas playing the Rangers,

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<v Speaker 3>Triple A affiliate for the week.

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<v Speaker 1>So I hope at the very least you got Group

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<v Speaker 1>A on Southwest.

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<v Speaker 3>I did.

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<v Speaker 2>I did, so I can't complain about that.

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<v Speaker 1>So, yeah, how anxious are you to get into a

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<v Speaker 1>game because the Dodgers called you up? In a similar situation,

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<v Speaker 1>they did not use you. But how anxious are you

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<v Speaker 1>now that you're here to be used in a game?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean I think I give a little bit

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<v Speaker 3>of relief to the bullpen in kind of an extended

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<v Speaker 3>bullpen role. So I mean, whenever that time comes to

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<v Speaker 3>and I hear my name call, that's going to be

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<v Speaker 3>a really exciting time.

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously, the Dodgers have tapped into their young pitching talent

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<v Speaker 1>the last couple of years. What's it like to be

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<v Speaker 1>that guy at this moment to be called upon?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean, I think it's, you know, one of

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<v Speaker 3>the biggest compliments in the world, especially doing it with

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<v Speaker 3>the Dodgers, and you know how much how much star

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<v Speaker 3>power they have, the way that they're able to develop

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<v Speaker 3>pitchers throughout the minor league.

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<v Speaker 2>So it means a lot to me, and it's it's

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<v Speaker 2>great to be here.

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<v Speaker 1>Ben Casparius is our guest as the Dodgers and Diamondbacks

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<v Speaker 1>are getting set for Game two of this four game series.

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<v Speaker 1>The last couple of years, I mentioned some of the

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<v Speaker 1>young pitching that the Dodgers have called up for their

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<v Speaker 1>major league debuts. Emma she and Gavin Stone are a

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<v Speaker 1>couple of names that come to mine as well as

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<v Speaker 1>Landed Nack that not only have started, but also I've

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<v Speaker 1>been very good at being coming out of the bullpen.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you one of those guys too that can do

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<v Speaker 1>any one of these type of rules?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah? I think so.

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<v Speaker 3>I think that's a big reason why I'm standing here today,

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<v Speaker 3>is just being able to be versatile, give a different look,

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<v Speaker 3>whether it's later in a game, whether it's you know,

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<v Speaker 3>second or third inning, or starting a game.

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<v Speaker 2>I think I'm able to.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, just be able to handle those different roles

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<v Speaker 3>coming out of the pen or starting a game.

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<v Speaker 1>Is that the new norm bend where guys have to

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<v Speaker 1>be able to be more versatile than say twenty years ago,

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<v Speaker 1>where you are just a starter and cannot change your routine.

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<v Speaker 3>I think with the amount of injuries across the league

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<v Speaker 3>wide and just kind of being able to manipulate the

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<v Speaker 3>roster of the way teams are now, I think it

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<v Speaker 3>gives guys a better chance to crack the big leagues

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<v Speaker 3>and just show that you can, you know, handle a

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<v Speaker 3>different workload if it's thrown at you and kind of

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<v Speaker 3>just go about your day the same way, whether it's

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<v Speaker 3>a the start or if it's in the bullpen.

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<v Speaker 1>How many times have you done this where you started?

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously you're a starting pitcher, but how many times have

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<v Speaker 1>you come out of the bullpen in a situation that

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<v Speaker 1>you may be used tonight?

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<v Speaker 2>Yep? Well this year once.

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<v Speaker 3>Okay, I was lucky enough to be in there wason

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<v Speaker 3>A Fall League last year where I solely did that,

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<v Speaker 3>So I think part of the reason was to manage workload,

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<v Speaker 3>but I think a big part of it too was

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<v Speaker 3>just to pitch late into the year, into November, come

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<v Speaker 3>out of the bullpen in a new role and get

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<v Speaker 3>used to that. And then I did it a little

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<v Speaker 3>bit last year in Double A also when I got

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<v Speaker 3>it initially promoted.

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<v Speaker 1>You've had a great season, and obviously I've earned this opportunity.

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<v Speaker 1>How would you describe this season and you coming of age?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I think for me it was always just trusting

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<v Speaker 3>my stuff, staying in the zone with my fastball, expect

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<v Speaker 3>swings every pitch, and really just the biggest part of

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<v Speaker 3>it is just keeping myself healthy and staying on a

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<v Speaker 3>good routine for the entirety of the year.

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<v Speaker 1>Is that the biggest thing for pitchers? Maybe we're getting

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<v Speaker 1>back to that where you have to establish your fastball command.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I believe so.

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<v Speaker 3>I think I think there's only really a few guys

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<v Speaker 3>who are you know, ninety or eighty percent breaking ball.

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<v Speaker 3>So I think fastball command, for at least for me,

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<v Speaker 3>is key.

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, I think I'm gonna miss more bats

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<v Speaker 2>the more my fastballs in this one.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not sure if you do this or whether or

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<v Speaker 1>not it's emphasized in the minor leagues, but I've heard

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<v Speaker 1>great catchers and great pitchers talk about establishing the down

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<v Speaker 1>and away fastball to right handed hitters. Is that something

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<v Speaker 1>that is emphasized or in your bullpen sessions? Is that

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<v Speaker 1>something that you focus on?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I think for me, it's, you know, covering the

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<v Speaker 3>up quadrant with my fastball with when I'm ahead and

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<v Speaker 3>account if I want to steal a strike, it's down

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<v Speaker 3>in a way, And I think my slider will play

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<v Speaker 3>better off fastballs that are kind of executed down in

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<v Speaker 3>a way to righties and down in the way to lefties.

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<v Speaker 1>Bank Aspirius is our guest. He's here in Arizona. He

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<v Speaker 1>will be available tonight coming out of the bullpen. Gavin

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<v Speaker 1>Stone starting for the Dodgers. He's been obviously a revelation

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<v Speaker 1>this season. I'm not sure sure where the Dodgers would

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<v Speaker 1>be without Gavin Stone. How well do you know him

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<v Speaker 1>and how much have you been following his season?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 3>I've known Gav probably for two years now. It was

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<v Speaker 3>kind of funny every time he got promoted, I felt

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<v Speaker 3>like I was.

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<v Speaker 2>Just missing him by a team.

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<v Speaker 3>So okay, I mean I've followed him for two years.

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<v Speaker 3>He's a great due and he's an unbelievable pitcher, and

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<v Speaker 3>he's done special things this year.

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<v Speaker 1>Is there anything that you have in common with guys

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<v Speaker 1>like Gavin Stone, Landon Nag, Justin Robleski even though he's

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<v Speaker 1>from the left side. But is there something that all

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<v Speaker 1>of you guys have in common to be able to

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<v Speaker 1>be under the same umbrella of an organization like the Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it really comes down to just trusting our stuff,

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<v Speaker 3>going out there, competing and you know, giving our team

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<v Speaker 3>the best chance to win. And I think it all

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<v Speaker 3>starts with the basketball, and I think all four of

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<v Speaker 3>us have pretty good fastballs.

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<v Speaker 1>Before I let you go, how will you get ready

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<v Speaker 1>for whatever is called upon tonight?

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<v Speaker 3>I think just sticking to my routine. It's just another game.

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<v Speaker 3>It's another day. I think convincing myself that it's going

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<v Speaker 3>to kind of like ease my nerves a little bit

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<v Speaker 3>and just you know, go out there and have fun

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<v Speaker 3>because you only get to debut once, so.

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<v Speaker 1>No doubt, we're looking forward to it.

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<v Speaker 2>Ben.

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<v Speaker 1>Whenever that phone rings, we're looking forward to seeing Bank Aspirius.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you,