WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.799 Our first Dodger Talk of twenty twenty five. Hope you 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:10.240 had a great Christmas New Year, Hanikah. I ate too much. 3 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:13.880 I drank too much, and I'm not stopping. Won't stop, 4 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.559 can't be stopped. We got a great show for you tonight. 5 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:20.879 Phone lines are open for the first time in twenty 6 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:25.079 twenty five. Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy. 7 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:29.920 You'll hear from Teoscar Hernandez, who was at Dodger Stadium 8 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.439 today for a press conference. I had a chance to 9 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.640 talk to ta Oscar moments after he stopped uh at well, 10 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:40.000 moments after he came off the stage. So you hear 11 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.759 from tai Oscar. And also I chose my top five 12 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:50.600 tail moments, my top five ti Oscar Hernandez moments. If 13 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:53.880 you have a top ta Oscar Hernandez moment, I want 14 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:56.280 to hear from you. Eight six six nine eighty seven 15 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.640 two five seventy. Also, coming up at the bottom of 16 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:04.280 the hour, you'll hear from Walker Buehler. We haven't had 17 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.760 a chance to talk about Buehler signing with the Boston 18 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.599 Red Sox. You'll hear from Buehler and you'll give some 19 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:15.040 more insight on that faithful night at Yankee Stadium. No, 20 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:19.200 not Game five, but the night he started Game three 21 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:23.239 and Fat Joe cursed the Yankees, So you'll hear what 22 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:26.599 Buehler had to say about that game as well. The 23 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:31.280 Dodgers also signed a Korean infielder that they played against 24 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:35.200 in South Korea last year, High Song Kim. We'll get 25 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:37.920 into what this means for the rest of the Dodger 26 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:42.359 roster and what Brandon Gomes believes Kim's role will be. 27 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:47.359 But before we do that, just to repack everything or 28 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:51.799 unpack the ta Oscar Hernandez signing. About three weeks ago, 29 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:54.959 I had reported that things were getting close to getting 30 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:57.840 done and they just got hung up at the same 31 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:03.239 ten yard line until recently before Christmas. Was Taoscar Hernandez 32 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:04.599 going to sign with another team? 33 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:04.799 No? 34 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:08.080 Was there a bidding war for Tioscar Hernandez. 35 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:08.800 No. 36 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:14.479 The qualifying offer attached to Taoscar Hernandez was something that 37 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:18.639 gave other teams some pause because they aren't just draft 38 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:24.120 picks that teams are forfeiting or losing to sign a 39 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.599 player with a qualifying offer. As I mentioned the Petros 40 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.800 some money a few times. There's a monetary value these 41 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.599 front offices put on these draft picks, so they don't 42 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.240 just give them away or push their picks back to 43 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.319 sign any free agent. Now, Taoscar Hernandez did have a 44 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:46.240 lot of interest from the Cincinnati Reds. I would say 45 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:49.159 that was the team that possibly could have came in 46 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:53.039 and swooped ta Oscar from the Dodgers. Not only did 47 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:56.319 the Reds want ta Oscar in their lineup in that ballpark, 48 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:00.879 but also to mentor Elie d la Cruz. Harry Francona, 49 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.759 who's now the Reds manager, talked a lot about how 50 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:07.919 he's going to try to emphasize Ellie de la Cruz 51 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.599 and talk to him and try to get him and 52 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:12.680 take the next step in his maturation. The Reds thot 53 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:16.560 ta Oscar Hernandez could help him do that. But ta Oscar, 54 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.680 as he mentioned during his press conference, was it really 55 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.520 worth going somewhere else for five or six million extra dollars. 56 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:26.199 And you never hear a player really be that candid. 57 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.280 But that's what makes ta Oscar Hernandez pretty special. And 58 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.439 my understanding is that new mural down in South central 59 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.439 LA with a few of the Dodgers' key Dodgers Tommy Edmund, 60 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:42.280 t Oscar Hernandez, Mooki, and Freddy ta Oscar wanted to 61 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:45.080 see that mural. And my understanding is one of the 62 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.599 Dodger officials took Taoscar down to twentieth in Hooper where 63 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.520 that mural was painted. And we'll see whether or not 64 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:55.400 ta Oscar posts a photo in front of it. But yeah, 65 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.919 that was one of the things ta Oscar wanted to 66 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.759 do today and that it's pretty cool that he recognized that. 67 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.400 So we'll see if Taoscar made it down there and 68 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.639 whether or not he posts a picture on his Instagram. Uh, oh, 69 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.080 he did. He did post a picture already, all right, Okay, 70 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:14.039 a couple of them do Ronnie Fossio nice? All right? 71 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:16.800 His esposa went down there with him too, So they 72 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.360 made it down there to twentieth and Hooper where that 73 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:22.959 mural is. So Taoscar Hernandez getting deep into the city 74 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.920 today after talking to us and being on on Petro 75 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.079 some money. Now, as far as the Dodger outfield looks, 76 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:35.120 Taoscar Hernandez is going to be the right fielder. Michael 77 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:39.439 Confordo is going to be the everyday left fielder. Andy 78 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.920 pa has Tommy Edmund, Chris Taylor, maybe James Outman if 79 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.920 there's an injury, is in the mix there. But that's 80 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:51.560 the way the Dodger outfield looks right now. So we'll 81 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.639 get into the roster and how this fits with trying 82 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:58.720 to bring back keyk Hernandez and how they do bring 83 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.959 back Key k Hernandez. Now not only was signing Taoscar Hernandez, 84 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.560 but also uh Sognning has sung high song Kim. Here 85 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.360 is Taoscar Hernandez from earlier today. We had a chance 86 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.720 to catch up with him before he went to go 87 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:15.480 see that mural. It's a celebration in Los Angeles. The 88 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:20.000 weight is over. Tioscar Hernandez is finally officially a Dodger. 89 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.600 My son Joseph can stop asking me every single day 90 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:26.160 if Tayo is back. And I feel like he was 91 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:29.800 speaking for the entire city of La Could you feel 92 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.680 the love from the city and how badly they wanted 93 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:33.120 you back? 94 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:37.000 Oh yeah, I mean I watched all the media social 95 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:41.600 media just asking when I was gonna sign with the 96 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.839 Dodgers again, And you know that gives me a little 97 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:48.079 a little bit of push just to make that decision, 98 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.360 make a quick So the fans. Do your fans are 99 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:55.360 They were really excited last year and there I think 100 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:58.360 they're even more excited. We mean to come back here. 101 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.199 Tai Oscar. I think the fans of appreciated not only 102 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.879 what you did on the field, but they could tell 103 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.040 you really invested everything you had in your teammates and 104 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:10.079 in the city that doesn't usually happen. 105 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.279 I mean, that's that's why I love this game. I 106 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:17.360 played this game to help the team wins, in this 107 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:24.040 case the Dodgers, and make my teammates better, not only players, 108 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.720 but a better person. And the same way, being there 109 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:33.199 for any anybody that needs me that I can make better, 110 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:37.720 and just you know, just happy to be around these people, 111 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:38.680 this organization. 112 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:41.720 How many teammates reached out to you or did you 113 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.160 send a text to the rest of the team when 114 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:45.279 you officially signed. 115 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:49.839 They were all happy, they say same. They were congratulating 116 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.680 me and the group chat that we have. They were 117 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:54.639 happy and I'm really happy to be back. 118 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:57.519 What was free agency like for you this year compared 119 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.519 to last year. It seemed like you had a little 120 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:02.600 bit more our direction that you wanted to come back 121 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:03.600 compared to last year. 122 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:07.680 Not knowing Yeah, you know, last year, you like me 123 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:12.040 come here. I didn't know what to spad like. I 124 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:15.360 had an idea because I hear other players saying. But 125 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:20.759 when you realize that it's more than what you were expecting, 126 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:26.639 it just make every single decision easier when it comes 127 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.040 to free agency to make a decision, and for me, 128 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:30.160 it was easy to come back. 129 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:32.439 Do you feel like now you might want to try 130 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.959 to recruit Keik to come back. 131 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:34.839 Yeah. 132 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:38.639 I think he's the only one musing right now from 133 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.519 last year. He was huge for us last year and 134 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:44.720 hopefully they can make a work so he can come 135 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:45.800 back in twenty twenty five. 136 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:47.839 I thought it was interesting that you said during the 137 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:51.279 press conference what you guys accomplished last year was in 138 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.120 the past. Is that how you feel like last year's 139 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.920 World Series it's over with now you have to focus 140 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:00.360 on twenty five or can you still enjoy what you 141 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.600 guys were able to accomplish as a group. 142 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:05.079 Yeah, I mean you go back and think about how 143 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:08.439 you watch videos and you like, you get excited about 144 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:13.120 what we did last year. But I think everybody's mine 145 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.920 right now, it just focused on twenty twenty five. What 146 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.519 can we do to do the same thing that we're 147 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.199 doing in twenty twenty four, and that's our goal, trying 148 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.600 to go there, stay healthy and win a championship. 149 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:26.920 I've been back to back. That sounds nice, tail. 150 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:27.240 Back to back. 151 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:30.160 Yeah, I've been seeing your Instagram. You're really putting in 152 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.240 a lot of work already. 153 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:31.759 Yeah. 154 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.879 I'm trying to, you know, to get myself ready so 155 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.000 I can be there for the team and just give 156 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:42.200 everything that I have so we can go back to 157 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.240 the World Series and win it. 158 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.120 How much you're squatting, not much. 159 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.039 I'm not a big squat guy. 160 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.759 I tried just to get bench pressing five hundred. 161 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:56.559 No, not really. I'm not a heavy weight lifter. But 162 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.600 I try to get myself ready just to to being 163 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:01.480 a bit on the field every day. 164 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:04.720 You were out there every day. Yeah, I mean that's 165 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:07.919 what separates you from so many other players. It wasn't 166 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.399 so much about you know, the numbers. That was a 167 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:12.759 product of you being out there every day. You miss 168 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.600 some time with a family passing away, and you know 169 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.000 you had a little nagging thing, but you're You and 170 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.480 Freddie Freeman are the guys that play every day. 171 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:23.799 Yeah, I mean there's there's things that are gonna happen throughout 172 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.519 the year that you cannot have control of it. But 173 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:31.639 when he comes to my body, I try to make myself, 174 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.120 make put my body in a good shape so that 175 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:38.240 way I can be on the field the whole season 176 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:39.639 and just help the team. 177 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.600 Before I let you go. Being a World champion? Does 178 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.679 it feel different? How has your life changed since winning 179 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:46.519 the World Series? 180 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.399 It feels great, you know. That's why I think every 181 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.639 player played this game just together and have a chance 182 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:58.519 to win everything. And for us it's not different. For 183 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:02.240 me especially, I always one of that and I had 184 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.519 it and now I want more. 185 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:06.399 I love it. Great to have that smile back in 186 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:10.200 La Tale. I know everybody's really excited and can't wait 187 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.120 for spring train to start for you guys to try 188 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:12.840 to run this back. 189 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.080 Yeah, let's do it. 190 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:20.519 All right, ta Oscar Hernandez humbled, but still very excited 191 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.120 to be back with the Dodgers. It was a place 192 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:25.360 that he wanted to be back, and that's how this 193 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:29.159 all came together. Both sides wanted it to happen. And look, 194 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:31.639 I'm telling you do not close the door on key 195 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.840 A Hernandez either. I'm going to tell you in our 196 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.000 next segment, how that can happen now, But before we 197 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:41.440 get there, we have phone lines open eight six, six, nine, 198 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:45.399 eighty seven, two, five, seventy. Here are my ti Oscar 199 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:48.879 Hernandez moments from twenty twenty four. And it's not just 200 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.960 the postseason. Yes, things ended at Yankee Stadium. Yes he 201 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.200 had a big World Series. Yes they celebrated there in 202 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:59.679 the Bronx. But if you go back to June of 203 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:04.919 the regular season, that was Taoscar hernandez Is coming out 204 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:09.240 party for the Dodgers, Taoscar Hernandez coming out party, in 205 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.080 my opinion, at Yankee Stadium in June. And I guess 206 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:15.639 it was meant to be for the Dodgers to win 207 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:19.519 the World Series at Yankee Stadium in October because ti 208 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:22.919 Oscar had such a big part of that as well. Now, 209 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:26.200 before they got to the World Series, the Dodgers were 210 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:30.120 almost eliminated by the Padres in the NLDS, and yes, 211 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:34.000 even though they lost Game three in San Diego, I 212 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.919 felt like this grand slam by Tioscar Hernandez made a 213 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:41.440 statement to his teammates that this thing should not be 214 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.600 considered over. 215 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:47.679 Hernandez HiT's a high fly ball center field Merrill going back, 216 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.559 he's on the warning track at the. 217 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:56.720 Wall gon and grand Tioscar Hernandez barking down the first 218 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:00.799 base line a grand slam of the Dodgers right back 219 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:06.279 in it tail absolutely launched one the dead center field 220 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:12.279 and it's now six to five, four hundred and three feet, 221 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:15.919 his first postseason home run as a Dodger. 222 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:19.120 The Padres thought they were on their way to the 223 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:22.240 NLCS when they had that six to nothing lead, and 224 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.399 I bet they even thought they were on their way 225 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:29.000 after winning six to five. But I personally believed the 226 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:33.879 Dodgers' postseason fortunes changed in that game, not only because 227 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.799 Keyy Hernandez finally got in the starting lineup, but remember 228 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.399 Walker Buehler, after giving up those six runs with some 229 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:46.399 poor defense behind him, threw, you know, a gatorade bucket 230 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:49.080 full of bubblegum and kind of screamed at his teammates 231 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.399 and let them know it's not acceptable. And then Taoscar 232 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.519 Hernandez hit that grand slam to pull the Dodgers within 233 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.120 one run in the third inning when a lot of 234 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:01.200 other teams would have just punted on that game. And 235 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:05.360 if you remember, you heard Steven Nelson describe it Taoscar 236 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:08.360 Hernandez was barking not only at the dugout, but he 237 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.960 was barking at the guy that was coming up behind him, 238 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.879 Max Munsey, to let him know, to try to rally him, 239 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:17.039 to say, you know what, give us a great at 240 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.720 bad here. Even though it came as the final out 241 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:22.519 of that inning, Munsey did give a good at bat, 242 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.919 so to me, Game three the NLDS was just as important, 243 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.960 even in a loss, than any other game in the 244 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.559 postseason for the Dodgers as far as their road to 245 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.559 the World Championship. All right, here we go, Game five, 246 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:41.440 World Series, right, Ronnie, we got that one's that's number 247 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:44.639 four on our top five. Game five one of the 248 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:49.279 most historic innings in World Series history, where the Yankees 249 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:53.120 just completely opened the door for the Dodgers to come 250 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:56.320 back from the dead and win the World Series. Here 251 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:59.480 it is top of the fifth inning in New York. 252 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:02.120 To Oscar Hernandez ties the game. 253 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:08.159 Col out of the stretch the pitch, Hernandez fly ball 254 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:11.720 left center field, judge going back chasing after it, he's not. 255 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:15.399 Gonna get there, and what hops up the wall, Momky scars. 256 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:22.799 Here comes Freddy Tioscar Hernandez has tied Game five, two. 257 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:25.159 Run double from Tayo. 258 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.200 Five five in Game five. 259 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:31.320 I mean, everybody remembers some of the misplays and all that, 260 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:34.759 but Taoscar Hernandez. That's why he's so vital and why 261 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.879 it was so important to bring him back. You don't 262 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.399 cash in those runs without Taoscar Hernandez, you don't cash 263 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:44.799 in that win. And I know his defense is considered 264 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.840 below par by some, but how about the throw he 265 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.279 made in Game three of the World Series to throw 266 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.200 out John Carlos Stanton in the bottom of the fourth 267 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:53.960 inning that night. 268 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:57.200 Two two volpi to left field. That's gonna drop for 269 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.159 a base hit, Stanton being waved around. Here's the on 270 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.000 went for Tioscar. 271 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.799 The play at the play got them cut up the 272 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:09.879 loute hose from Hernandez and left and standing nailed down 273 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.519 at the plate. 274 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:14.759 So there they are. Those are the five Taoscar Hernandez 275 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.399 moments that stand out to me. Did I miss any 276 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.679 Eight sixty six nine eighty seven two five seventy is 277 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.960 the phone number when we continue here on Dodger Talk. 278 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.720 Your phone calls at eight sixty six nine eight seven 279 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:30.120 two five seventy, and I will tell you how to 280 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.600 fit Keith K. A Hernandez on this roster. Right now, 281 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.039 the Dodger forty man roster is full. I will tell 282 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:40.480 you how to fit key K. A Hernandez, and there 283 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:43.559 is more ways than one to do it, long ways 284 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.120 away between now and the start of spring training, and 285 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.639 even longer between now and the time the Dodgers uh 286 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:54.519 play in Tokyo, Japan for opening Day. David Vassay our 287 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:57.799 inaugural Dodger talk of twenty twenty five with you until 288 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:01.240 eight o'clock right here on a five seventy LA Sports 289 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:04.960 the City of Los Angeles. A big sigh relief. I 290 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.840 thought it was great how Dodgers GM Brandon Gome said 291 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:11.200 at the press conference today that his eight year old 292 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.480 daughter had been asking him every day whether or not 293 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:17.440 they were going to bring back Taoscar. I feel like 294 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:21.120 he was speaking for a lot of dads out there 295 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.440 that had Dodger fans in their house. Like I mentioned 296 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:27.879 to ta Oscar, my son was asking me every day, 297 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:30.440 did they bring back tail? Did they bring back tail? 298 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:34.120 I said, not yet, but it's so close, And it 299 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:38.960 eventually became official this afternoon. Ta Oscar Hernandez is back. 300 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.960 Last year he split time between left and right field. 301 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:44.919 This year, going into spring training, he will be the 302 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:49.480 Dodgers right fielder because they signed Michael Conforto before the 303 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:52.519 holidays and they signed him to a big contract. In fact, 304 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:57.360 Cornfordo's contract was signed officially the same day that Juan 305 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:01.919 Soto signed with the Mets, so maybe that's why it 306 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.119 may have got lost in the shuffle. Conforto signed the 307 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.480 same night as Juan Soto did. And I think I 308 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.079 told this story when I was out there in Dallas. 309 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.000 But I walked into the elevator with Scott Boris and 310 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:18.680 his Boris Corp Crewe the night that Juan Soto signed, 311 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.759 in the night that Michael Conforto signed, And when I 312 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:23.960 saw Scott, I was like, hey, Confordo, looking forward to it. 313 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.920 I think he's a great sign for the Dodgers. And 314 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:29.240 then we got into the elevator and he said, Sodo, 315 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:32.960 it's official. I was like really, He's like, yeah, just 316 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.839 a minute ago, Dodgers. It's like, come on. The whole 317 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:40.400 elevator started laughing. He's like, no, no, Mets, Mets. I 318 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.480 was like, wo all right, cool being in the same 319 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:47.200 elevator with Scott Boris minutes after Soto signed, and honestly, 320 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.079 Michael Conforto got lost in the shuffle there. But looking 321 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:55.200 forward to the Dodgers having Michael Conforto, he is going 322 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:58.839 to benefit tremendously for playing his home games at Dodgers 323 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:02.119 Stadium instead of Oral Park up there in the Bay Area. 324 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:06.319 The Dodgers also made a signing today with the Taoscar 325 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:10.440 Hernandez press conference happening. Moments before it took place, word 326 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:14.759 started to leak out that they signed Korean infielder High 327 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:17.799 Sung Kim, who's twenty five years old and from what 328 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:21.839 I understand, is a great defensive player, but the bat 329 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.480 needs to catch up to the glove, and the Dodgers 330 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:27.400 are pretty confident that his bat will catch up. 331 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:32.160 Yeah, I think there's ability to continue to add strength, 332 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:35.880 and I think the there's an approach standpoint, and just 333 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:38.799 some moves that are hitting group sees that we could, 334 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.400 you know, make some adjustments to him. He already has 335 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.240 really good bat to ball, which is a good foundation obviously, 336 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:48.240 and then you know, being able to impact the ball 337 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.119 a little bit more and you know, write out some 338 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:54.200 off CB pitches in a better way. So there's definitely 339 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:56.920 some some pieces there that we feel like we can 340 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.440 address to tap into thepside. 341 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.799 And that was Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes who was talking 342 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.400 about the upside of what the Dodgers hope is a 343 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:09.519 better offensive player. Kim did hit three hundred in South Korea, 344 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:13.400 but that's not major league pitching, so it'll be interesting 345 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:15.799 to see whether or not the bat does catch up 346 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.640 to the glove. The one thing that I'm being told 347 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:21.880 is don't pigeonhole him as a second baseman. I know 348 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:24.839 that's the way it was being framed earlier today, but 349 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:28.400 my understanding is the Dodgers believe he's a very versatile 350 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.720 infielder and they are going to give him opportunities to 351 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:36.279 play shortstop. Which brings me on how the Dodgers are 352 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.400 going to fit keyk Hernandez. I think many of you 353 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:42.519 out there are concerned that with this signing of Kim, 354 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:47.079 with Taoscar Hernandez, Confordo, all these guys, there's no room 355 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:50.880 for keyk Hernandez. There is room for Key k Hernandez. 356 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.960 And as we get closer to spring training, the way 357 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.680 you fit a guy like keyk Hernandez on the roster 358 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.799 is starting to play Some of these pitchers and po 359 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.880 SI positioned players on the sixty day IL. That's how 360 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.000 you open up forty man roster spots, because right now 361 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.680 the forty man roster is full, and there's other ways 362 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:14.279 to make room with a trade. Right I know many 363 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:17.519 of you think automatically Gavin Lux is the odd man out. 364 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:21.119 Why would he be automatically the odd man out. There's 365 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:24.279 nothing that says the Dodgers have to trade Gavin Lux 366 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:27.880 right now. He's a proven commodity. No matter if you 367 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:30.359 love him or hate him, or you're kind of indifferent 368 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:33.519 or in the middle. Gavin Lux was part of a 369 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:37.720 World Series championship team last year. He was on. He 370 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:41.559 was in the starting lineup throughout October. He was part 371 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:44.799 of it. You can't deny it, and you can't tell 372 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:48.240 me that you sign a South Korean infielder that has 373 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:51.359 a suspect bat and Andrew Freeman all of a sudden 374 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.640 is going to trade Gavin Lux. He is not in 375 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.559 a corner to trade Lux right now. And I believe 376 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.519 many of you are thinking, well, then just get rid 377 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:03.720 of Chris Taylor. That should be key Key Hernandez's spot. True, 378 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:07.039 he's making what fourteen million dollars this year, the last 379 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:10.319 year of a four year, sixty million dollar contract. But 380 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:12.920 you tell me which team is going to take Chris Taylor. 381 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:15.839 And the Dodgers are not in the business of basically 382 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:20.759 selling off prospects to attach to Taylor's contract, And they 383 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.480 pointed out several different times last year that Taylor's second 384 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.559 half was much better than what you saw on the 385 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:30.240 surface in totality, So I don't see them just getting 386 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.680 rid of Chris Taylor for nothing. It could happen, but 387 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.759 I don't see any other team that's going to take 388 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:41.880 Chris Taylor's contract, Which leads me to Miguel Rojas, who 389 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.039 is thirty six thirty seven years old. The Dodgers picked 390 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:49.160 up the option days after the World Series five million dollars, 391 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.880 and Miguel Rojas is the ultimate insurance policy. He was 392 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:56.759 the insurance policy for Mookie Betts last year. He was 393 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.960 supposed to be kind of a utility defensive replace infielder. 394 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.440 Turned out they needed him to play a shortstop the 395 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.599 rest of the regular season in the second half when 396 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:09.680 they moved Mooki to right field. But like I mentioned earlier, 397 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:12.440 and this is no knock to Miguel Rojas. He was 398 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:16.279 playing her to a certain extent, but his bat was 399 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:21.319 ineffective during the NLDS and the Dodgers' fortunes changed when 400 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.480 they moved tom Y Edmund to shortstop and Key k 401 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:27.799