WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.480 Oh, we got a fun show tonight, Off Night Dodger Talk. 2 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:09.599 On this Thursday night, April seventeen, twenty twenty five, Tim 3 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:12.160 Kate's with you here for the next hour on Off 4 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:15.320 Night Dodger Talk is the Dodgers hit the road for 5 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.920 a five game road trip beginning tomorrow in Arlington, Texas 6 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:22.600 at Globe Life Field against the Texas Rangers. Eight sixty six, 7 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.079 nine eighty seven to two, five seventy is the number 8 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.280 I want you to be a part of the show tonight. 9 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:31.239 It's Dodger Talk. We talk Dodger Baseball. Eight six six 10 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:34.320 nine eighty seventy two five seven. We got a fun show. 11 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.759 Your phone calls talking Dodgers coming up. In about forty 12 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.439 five minutes, we are going to get you a farm report. 13 00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:42.840 We are about three weeks into the minor league season. 14 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:45.799 We're a month in to the major league season. We'll 15 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:48.119 get you an update on the Dodgers' top minor league 16 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.479 prospects and also check in with the voice of the 17 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:56.359 Triple A Oklahoma City Comments, Alex Friedman will join us 18 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:59.640 during the farm report, give us the latest on Clayton Kershaw, 19 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:04.200 who made minor league rehabs start yesterday in okc Tony Gonsolin, 20 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:07.480 who's now three starts in to his minor league rehab 21 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:12.079 appearances and hopefully joining this Dodger rotation soon. Hey Sung 22 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:15.280 Kim in Triple A Oklahoma City, how is he doing 23 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:19.280 in his first taste of professional baseball in the United States? 24 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:22.879 Dalton Rushing and of course Alex Freeland the Dodgers' top 25 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:27.159 Triple A middle infielder prospects. So we'll get an updated 26 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:29.359 on all of them, plus the guys in Double A 27 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:33.439 Tulsa High A Ball, Great Lakes and the Rancho Cucamonga 28 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.799 Quakes that's coming up in about forty five minutes your 29 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.000 phone calls between then and now. Though. At eight six 30 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:40.640 six ninety eighty seven to two five seventy the Dodgers 31 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:44.480 fresh off a six game homestand that saw them get 32 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:46.439 off to a rocky start, drop two of three to 33 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:50.120 the Chicago Cubs, but then bounce back and really feast 34 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.079 on a bad Colorado Rockies team, the Dodgers winning all 35 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.040 three games Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last night in eight 36 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:00.200 seven victory over the Rockies. As the Dodgers go far 37 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.760 two on this most latest homestand They're now fourteen and 38 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.840 six overall, and as we speak right now, the Dodgers 39 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.280 now in second place in the National League West, as 40 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.319 they are behind the San Diego Padres, who are leading 41 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:18.319 the division right now, the Padres at fifteen and four overall, 42 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:21.000 the Dodgers at fourteen and six. The Dodgers set in 43 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:23.159 a game and a half back in the standings, the 44 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.280 Giants two games back, the Diamondbacks are three games back 45 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.280 of first place, and the Colorado Rockies, who we saw 46 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.360 in the last three nights at Dodgers Stadium, boy, that 47 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:35.960 is a bad baseball team. They are eleven and a 48 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.759 half games back already now one month into this season, 49 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:42.960 and that's where we're at. We are one month in 50 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.000 to this marathon of his season. They've officially played eight 51 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:50.919 percent of their one hundred and sixty two game schedule 52 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.000 at twenty games in. And there's a lot to kind 53 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.280 of digest with this Dodgers team now twenty games in. 54 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:01.680 Most certainly what jumps off the page is the Dodgers' 55 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:05.439 injuries and have they've navigated through these injuries and the 56 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:07.919 injuries they knew about going into the start of the season. 57 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.840 The Clayton Kershaws, the Tony Gonsolins, the bullpen, high leverage 58 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:16.639 relievers in Michael Kopek and Evan Phillips. They started the 59 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:20.599 year injured. Knew about those injuries, but then the injuries 60 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:24.159 that they've had to deal with, in particularly the bug 61 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.199 that Mookie Betts got that effected of him in Japan 62 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:31.360 and the first part of the season, the il stent 63 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:36.680 for Freddie Freeman reaggravating that ankle injury. The Dodgers haven't 64 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:40.960 been at full strength this season. We've had the injury 65 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.960 bug and we've had the sick bug go through the 66 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:47.599 Dodger clubhouse, most recently Teoscar Hernandez missing a couple of 67 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.400 games on this last homestand because of the sick bug 68 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:55.120 that went through the Dodgers' clubhouse twenty games into this season. 69 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.919 My thoughts, the Dodgers pretty much played as good as 70 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:03.080 they can now. They're gonna get better and this Dodgers 71 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:05.639 lineup is gonna get better and it's gonna get healthy. 72 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:10.280 This Dodgers have with stand some injuries early on and 73 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:14.879 really some disappointments early on in the rotation. Think about 74 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:17.639 the Blake Snell injury and what the Dodgers have had 75 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:19.639 to deal with with him making a couple of starts 76 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:23.079 and then going to the injured list, the Dodgers navigating 77 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:28.839 with Yoshi Yamamoto and Sasaki, two starters who realistically are 78 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:32.199 gonna be once a week starters for the Dodgers. As 79 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:35.600 will show, Hao Tani be a one start a week 80 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.360 starter for the Dodgers when he gets healthy and joins 81 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:42.519 this rotation, and the Dodgers having this depth that we 82 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.240 thought they had in pitching well hasn't lived up to 83 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:49.480 the hype quite yet. But twenty games into this season, 84 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:53.319 we've got a pretty good sample size of this twenty 85 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:57.360 twenty five Dodgers roster. We've seen some ops, We've seen 86 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:01.639 some downs. We've seen some offensive slumps. We've seen some 87 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:05.439 bad defense, We've seen some sloppy base running. We've seen 88 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:10.680 some just flat out bad pitching at times. The number 89 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:13.560 one thing that sticks out to me is the bullpen 90 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.000 and what this Dodgers' bullpen has been able to do. 91 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:22.199 I believe carrying this Dodgers team through the first twenty games, 92 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.680 the bullpen has been asked to do a lot already 93 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.959 this year. Certainly when you're in the beginning part of 94 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.720 a season. You're not gonna throw your starters out there 95 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.319 six seven Indians. You're not gonna have them go up 96 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:36.800 to one hundred pitches. You're not even gonna get him 97 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:39.720 close to eighty eighty five pitches the first couple times 98 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.439 through the rotation. I understand that. So you're gonna rely 99 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:46.560 a little bit more on your bullpen early in this 100 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:51.319 season as you're starting pitchers ramp up. That's kind of 101 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:57.040 understood already, But this Dodgers' bullpen has had to kind 102 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:00.720 of cover the butts of starting pitchers who have just 103 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.720 not been very good and not given them the length 104 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:08.120 past the third or the fourth inning. This bullpen has 105 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:12.560 been asked to do a lot entering tomorrow, eleven more 106 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.519 innings pitch than any other major league bullpen so far 107 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:22.800 this season. Dodgers relievers have averaged four to third innings 108 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:27.160 pitch per game already this year. And remember last night, 109 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:30.959 they had to cover the final six innings because Bobby 110 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.759 Miller can only go three innings and get to eighty 111 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.839 four pitches and give up five in runs. After giving 112 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:42.079 up a run in the first, Ben Casparius has had 113 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.439 been asked to carry a lot Jack Dryer has been 114 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:49.160 asked to carry a load. Alex Vesi had pitched again 115 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:55.519 last night. Anthony Bonda Tanner Scott, We've seen the Dodgers 116 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.319 bullpen a lot the first twenty games of the season. 117 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:04.600 The Dodgers relievers have pitched almost as many innings as 118 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:09.319 Dodgers starters through the first twenty games, eighty seven and 119 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:14.120 two third innings combined for the Dodgers' bullpen eighty nine 120 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.800 and a third innings pitched by the Dodger starters. That 121 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:23.560 has got to change as the weather gets warmer and 122 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:28.040 we get closer to summer. It just has to, or 123 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.079 else you're going to see a bullpen with dead arms 124 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:34.480 by the All Star break. And quite frankly, the reason 125 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.079 why we're seeing Michael Kopek, Evan Phillips, some of the 126 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:41.040 high leverage older relievers for the Dodgers start the season 127 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:43.279 on the injured list, it's because they pitched a lot 128 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.319 last year. Bruce Dargraderol, where are you? It's been hurt 129 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:51.000 the last year plus. He pitched a lot going into 130 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.680 twenty twenty four injured last year, unable to help. That's 131 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:58.680 why Jack Dryer and Ben Casparius were big parts of 132 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:02.360 the bullpen in October and Casperi's pitching in the World 133 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:06.240 Series because you used your bullpen a lot during the season. 134 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:10.839 It's something that Yeah, twenty games in, are we panicking 135 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:13.879 about the bullpen? No, but they have carried this Dodgers 136 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:17.519 team to a fourteen and six start. The offense has 137 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:19.279 been up and down. They can score runs in bunches. 138 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.439 Last night they put a seventh spot on the board 139 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:25.519 in the first inning. Unreal. But they could also go 140 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:29.079 through droughts and the starting pitching has really not lived 141 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:30.519 up to what we thought it was gonna be. 142 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:30.839 Sure. 143 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:34.799 Yoshi Yamamoto has pitched really well and has looked really good. 144 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:37.159 David Vasse has gone out and said he could win 145 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.960 the Cy Young Award, but before the season even started well. 146 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:44.200 Four starts in, he's two and one with a one 147 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.120 to twenty three ERA and twenty eight strikeouts. He's pitched 148 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:52.039 really well. Dustin May welcome back. Code Red has pitched 149 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:55.480 really well for this team. Roki Sasaki four starts up 150 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:58.360 and down. Tyler Glass now up and down. You get 151 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.440 a little cold weather, a little rain, and he melts. 152 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.240 But he bounced back and pitched well against the Cubs 153 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:08.240 over the weekend at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are gonna 154 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.559 get healthy and get arms back, but the depth has 155 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:17.320 already been challenged with the rotation. The bullpen has saved them. 156 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:20.720 The bullpen has carried it a lot the first twenty 157 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:24.480 games I just mentioned pretty much even as far as 158 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:27.159 innings pitched by the bullpen and the innings pitched by 159 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:30.799 the starters. It's gotta change, gotta get more out of 160 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:33.840 the starting pitching. As we get to May and the 161 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:38.240 weather even gets warmer into the summertime, the Dodgers will 162 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:41.240 get Clayton Kershaw back. Tony Gonslim will be infused into 163 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:45.399 this rotation at some point show hey Otani, my guess 164 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:48.679 is the second half of the season will be ramped 165 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:52.320 up and added to this rotation. So you'll see major 166 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:57.720 league depth ready to go, but already landed neck Justin 167 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:02.639 Robleski and last night Bobby Miller, three young arms that 168 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:05.639 going into this season, we looked at his depth. We 169 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.480 looked at is all right extra arms ready to go? 170 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:12.200 An injury occurs, we'll pop up Bobby Miller. Something happens 171 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:15.559 in the rotation, a short stint on the il boom, 172 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.759 Land and Neck inserted into the rotation. You didn't have 173 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.039 a worry about that, and quite frankly, I still don't 174 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:26.159 worry about them starting. But they none of them, Robleski, 175 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:30.639 Knack and last night Bobby Miller, in their opportunity so far, 176 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.399 and they've been given all opportunities to go out there 177 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:37.320 and start and flash and do something to catch the 178 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:41.440 eye of this Dodger coaching staff have not done that. 179 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.960 Land and Neck has certainly not done that in his 180 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.879 two starts in three outings. Justin Robleski has come up 181 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.480 and pitched five innings and gave up eight earned runs 182 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:55.360 on eight hits in his time out there, included a 183 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:59.519 couple of home runs. And last night Bobby Miller was 184 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:02.679 given a seven to one lead, only to give up 185 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:04.320 five runs in the third and make it a one 186 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.480 run game before having to hand it over to the 187 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:10.399 bullpen after three innings. I love Bobby Miller, the kid 188 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.840 as tough as nails. I love his grit and the 189 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.240 way he goes out there on the mound and pitches. 190 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:19.679 The control issues who are a problem. I think the 191 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:24.320 confidence has been lost and he's searching for it. And 192 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:27.440 we thought this offseason, he'd do some searching for it 193 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.519 this spring training, he'd find it. Certainly, getting hit in 194 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.799 the spring training didn't help. He was behind the eight 195 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:35.639 ball as far as the race was concerned with Landon 196 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:38.159 Knack to make the major league roster to start the season. 197 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.120 But last night golden opportunity to come up. He was 198 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:46.120 spotting a six run lead after one inning and couldn't 199 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:49.240 get out of the past the third inning. Give it 200 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:52.440 an opportunity. You gotta take advantage of it. Got to 201 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.039 get more out of these young starting pitchers. You just 202 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.320 have to if you're the Dodgers. That's what's stood out 203 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.799 to me Dodger fans. The first twenty games of this season, 204 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:05.159 the bullpen has been lights out. How many times have 205 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.759 we talked about it on postgame Dodger Talk, talked about 206 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:10.240 it on a five to seven DLA Sports. David Veasse 207 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.440 has brought it up on pre and postgame shows. Rick 208 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:15.559 Monday's talked about it. How big the bullpen has been 209 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:19.879 putting up zeros, keeping teams at certain runs to allow 210 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:22.919 the offense to get back into a game, keeping a 211 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:25.480 team off the board so the Dodgers can maintain a lead, 212 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:27.840 keeping a team off the board, So what is a 213 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:30.360 scoreless game? The Dodgers' offense can get jump started and 214 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:34.279 get going and give them the lead. The lack of 215 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:38.279 starting pitching outside of really Dustin May and Yoshiyamamoto has 216 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:41.799 been glaring the first twenty games, and the bullpen has 217 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:45.120 been there to save their behinds and to help out 218 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:48.879 this Dodgers team collectively. Last night, having to pitch six 219 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:53.919 innings over the weekend picking up innings, Ben Casparius Jack 220 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:58.000 Dryer asked to do yeoman's work pitching two three three 221 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:03.679 plus innings add the bullpen times. Through twenty games, the 222 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:07.120 bullpen has pitched just as many innings as the starters 223 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.480 eighty seven to two thirds, eighty nine and a third. 224 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:13.440 Basically right there next to each other. As far as 225 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.600 the bullpen and starters is concerned, that's gotta change. But again, 226 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:20.120 my my opinion, the first twenty games of this season, 227 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.399 the bullpen has been the MVP for this Dodgers eight 228 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.799 sixty six nine eight seven two five to seventy. The 229 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:31.080 division is tight. The NL West is gonna be like 230 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.759 this all season long? Will it be four teams vying 231 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.759 for the division like it is right now? With the Dodgers, 232 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:42.799 the Padres, the Giants, and the Diamondbacks. I don't think so. 233 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.759 I think this will ultimately come down to a three 234 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.440 team race. Really by the time the weather warms up 235 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:53.360 into June, and by the time we get past the 236 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:56.039 All Star break and get into August and pass the 237 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:59.960 trade deadline, I think it can be tighter than that 238 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:04.120 Padres and Dodgers. Right now, the Giants are playing way 239 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:08.600 above their skis. You're seeing Wilbert Flores hit six home 240 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:12.919 runs early on for a San Francisco Giants team that's 241 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:20.720 getting big time production out of him. Junghuglee, Ustrimsky, Willia Domas, 242 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:27.039 Helio Romes, Lamont Way Junior has done nothing for him. 243 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:31.440 But you're seeing a Matt Chapman team for the San 244 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.600 Francisco Giants off to a good start. They're not going 245 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:37.000 to maintain this. They don't have the depth, they can't 246 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:40.360 overcome injuries like other teams in the division, and they've 247 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:45.000 got guys like Wilmer Flores having awesome starts. But quite frankly, 248 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.840 we'll come back to reality at some point, as will 249 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:50.639 the San Francisco Giants. They will be who they think 250 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:54.519 they are pretty much an above five hundred team, but 251 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:58.759 not a playoff team. The Diamondbacks, they're a team that's scary. 252 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:02.000 They've now won in a row and are crept back 253 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.600 into this race here early on with the Padres, Dodgers, 254 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:07.559 and Giants. They'll be here for a while, but in 255 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.519 the end it's gonna come down to the Padres and 256 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.799 Dodgers again. It's gonna be a neck and neck back 257 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:14.919 and forth. I think the depth of the Dodgers over 258 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.159 one sixty two is the one thing other teams don't 259 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:22.399 have and can't compete with. When a starting pitcher like 260 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:24.919 a Blake Snell goes on the injured list on another 261 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:30.399 team like the Padres, what happens to them? Their rotation 262 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.720 goes down dramatically. Do they have the talent around them 263 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:36.480 to plug in a starter, go to the minor leagues 264 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.200 and plug in a young arm for a couple of starts, 265 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.840 a couple of spins around the rotation. They just don't. 266 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.559 They don't have what the Dodgers have. They don't even 267 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:47.519 have a bullpen like the Dodgers. Even when a young 268 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:51.320 arms like Robleski and Nack and Bobby Miller don't have 269 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:54.919 great outings when plugged in like they have been. Other 270 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.879 teams don't have the bullpen depth like the Dodgers to 271 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:00.840 carry them for a couple of games series for a 272 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:04.000 stretch like the bullpen has carried the Dodgers so far 273 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:07.120 this year. If the Dodgers lose a player in the 274 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.799 lineup like a Freddie Freeman, which they have for an 275 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:13.000 il stint, lose a player like a Mookie Betts like 276 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:15.559 they have because of the illness that he had in 277 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:17.840 the stomach bug, miss a couple of games here for 278 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.799 Taoscar Hernandez two games out of three in a series. 279 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.639 Most teams don't have the depth in the lineup or 280 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.759 the bats in the lineup to survive something like that 281 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.320 over the stretch of a couple of eel stins. The 282 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:32.200 Dodgers do. That's where I think ultimately it'll come down 283 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.480 to the Dodgers and Padres the second half of the season. 284 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.600 Injuries are part of baseball. It happens. The Dodgers are 285 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.919 gonna have them, the Padres are gonna have them. It's 286 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:42.679 going to affect a team and kill a team's chances 287 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.840 of a postseason run. But the Dodgers have so much depth, 288 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.639 and they got so many guys still waiting to come 289 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:51.320 back and haven't even played yet, that they are going 290 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.840 to be able to overcome the longevity of one hundred 291 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.000 and sixty two game season just because other teams will 292 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:59.960 not be able to do that. It's going to be 293 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.919 a wild, wild though in l West this twenty twenty 294 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.240 five season. Something I'm looking forward to it. It's good 295 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.119 for the Dodgers, it's good for West Coast Baseball, and 296 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:13.759 it's good for baseball in general to have a competitive division, 297 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:18.359 to have meaningful games over six months of a season. 298 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:22.039 The last thing you want is a blowout runaway. Well, 299 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:25.480 certainly it would feel good for the Dodgers, But to 300 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:30.079 be in a competitive division, to play meaningful games from 301 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:34.119 April through September, to be in a fight for a 302 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:39.400 playoff spot, to make this team hungry to get another championship, 303 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:42.359 there's nothing wrong with that at all. Eight to sixty six, 304 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:46.039 nine to eighty seven, two five seventy. So the Dodgers bullpen, 305 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:49.039 in my opinion, has been the MVP so far the 306 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:52.640 first twenty games of this season, hands down. Even through 307 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:56.119 all the usage, all the innings pitched so far, collectively, 308 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.640 they have saved the Dodgers many times so far held 309 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.799 on to wins for this Dodgers team, held off teams 310 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.680 by putting zeros on the board when the starters go 311 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:10.480 down early. The bullpen, to me, has been the MVP 312 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.279 of this Dodgers team, and the NL Wild Wild West 313 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.640 is gonna continue to be that all season long. And 314 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:19.359 I'm ready for it. I'm excited for it. I think 315 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.279 you're gonna have a lot of head to head showdown 316 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:25.599 still with the Padres, the Giants, the Diamondbacks that are 317 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:29.680 gonna be fun series at Dodgers Stadium and on the road. 318 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.359 Eight sixty six nine, eight seven, two, five seventy. We'll 319 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.359 take a time out, we'll come back. We'll get to 320 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:37.160 your phone calls coming up in about twenty minutes or so. 321 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:39.400 We're gonna get you a farm report, the latest on 322 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.279 the Dodgers' top minor league prospects. Host way to Paula. 323 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.319 Is that your hope? You saw them in spring training? 324 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:49.160 You heard their name a lot. They're off to pretty 325 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:52.200 good starts in the minor leagues. Plus, we will check 326 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.400 in with Alex Friedman, the play by play voice of 327 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:58.559 the Dodgers Triple A affiliate, the Oklahoma City comments, your 328 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:00.880 phone calls, will we come back? I got one line open, 329 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:06.680 Dodger fans, twenty games in. Your thoughts on this Dodgers team, 330 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:11.240 what you've seen so far? To me, it's bullpen, bullpen, bullpen. 331 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:15.400 They have been the MVP twenty games into this season. 332 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:17.880 Your phone calls, when we come back. Tim Kates, Rodney Fossio, 333 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:21.400 and you. It's Off Night Dodger Talk on this cold, 334 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:25.200 gloomy Thursday night here in southern California brings the sunshine 335 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.079 to the show here on an FHI seventy LA Sports 336 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:31.079 Live Everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. Off Night Dodger Talk 337 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:34.359 continues here on AMPI seventy LA Sports Live Everywhere on 338 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:37.319 the iHeartRadio app. Tim Kate's with you here till the 339 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:39.680 top of the hour. Coming up in about twenty minutes, 340 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.119 we'll get you a farm report the Dodgers' top minor 341 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:44.960 league prospects from TRIPAA, Oklahoma City, all the way down 342 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.920 to Rancho Cucamongo. We'll check in with the voice of 343 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:53.119 the Oklahoma City Comets, Alex Friedman. Also during our farm report, 344 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:58.119 Dodgers twenty games in, I told you my MVP, the 345 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.880 bullpen and what they've been able to do. Eighty seven 346 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.519 plus innings pitched for the Dodgers' bullpen so far this season, 347 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:10.519 eighty nine innings pitched for the Dodgers' starters. The Dodgers' 348 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:14.160 bullpen has been big helping out this Dodgers team. Certainly, 349 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:16.400 the lineup is what it is, but the Dodgers' bullpen 350 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.200 has been tremendous. Eight sixty six, ninety seven, two five seventy. 351 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.079 It's go out to the phones, Joshua and Porter ranch 352 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:25.480 is first up here on this off night Dodge Talk. 353 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.240 How you doing, Joshua, I'm doing all right. 354 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.759 Mister Tim Kates. It is so refreshing to hear you 355 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:33.160 on the radio and just the knowledge that you have 356 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:36.000 that you're able to spread out. I completely agree. The 357 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:40.200 Dodgers' bullpen has been phenomenal. For the years, we always 358 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:43.079 struggled in the bullpen, and the Dodgers slowly built that up, 359 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:47.200 and obviously their death has been huge because their pitching 360 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:50.759 has struggled and their hitters have struggled. You got guys 361 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:52.960 that batting in the lineup in the one twenties and 362 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.799 the two twenties, and you know some of these guys 363 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.759 that are barely hitting their weight, Chris Taylor finally hitting 364 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:01.240 a little two fifty, which is not Austin Barnes back 365 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:05.000 as usual. You know, zero fifty nine, but that top 366 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.559 of the lineup is huge. But then once you get 367 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:08.799 past that number five hit or we're in trouble, what 368 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.440 do you think them? 369 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.599 I appreciate it, Joshua, don't be a stranger. Thanks for 370 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.000 checking in here on off night Dodger Talk. Thank you 371 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:16.440 for the kind words. Yeah, we saw the Dodgers seven 372 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:19.480 through nine hitters finally step it up for the Dodgers 373 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:23.319 last night in the win against the Colorado Rockies, and 374 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:26.119 I bring up Austin Barnes's name is Joshua did just 375 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:28.400 now as a guy who finally got a base hit 376 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:31.519 last night. It was great to see Austin Barnes deliver 377 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:34.519 with a two run double. Dodgers seven through nine hitters 378 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:37.079 last night in the eight to seven win over the Rockies. 379 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:42.400 It combined five for eleven, a double, five ribbies, four 380 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:45.480 runs scored, and a walk. So, yeah, we talk about 381 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.559 the top heavy Dodgers lineup, guy get something out of 382 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.599 the bottom of the lineup, and last night they delivered 383 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:54.720 in an eight seven Dodgers win. But what happened also, 384 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:57.720 the bullpen picked up the Dodgers when they needed him. 385 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:00.640 When Bobby Miller went just the three innings, the Dodgers 386 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:05.119 bullpen they combined six innings of work last night to 387 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.039 help the Dodgers and really a Rockies team that the 388 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:10.480 Dodgers are supposed to beat, and they did over the 389 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:12.480 course of three games. But it wasn't just last night. 390 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:14.880 Go back and look what the Dodgers they didn't. The 391 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:18.000 bullpen has done throughout this first twenty games of this season. 392 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:21.319 They have been nails and virtually every time they'd been 393 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.440 called upon to come up out and keep a game 394 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:27.200 where it's at, keep the team off the scoreboard the 395 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:29.440 remainder of the way so the Dodgers offense can get 396 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:31.519 this team back into a game. We've seen it time 397 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.079 and time again what the Dodgers bullpen has been doing. 398 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:36.480 Corey and long Beach is next up here on off 399 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.640 Night Dodger Talk with Tim Kates. How you doing, Corey? 400 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.440 Hey? 401 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:44.039