WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.399
<v Speaker 1>We are in our nation's capital and we're joined right

2
00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:07.360
<v Speaker 1>now by the Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. Andrew,

3
00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:09.119
<v Speaker 1>thanks a lot for the time. And I always love

4
00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:10.039
<v Speaker 1>it when it's good mood.

5
00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:15.759
<v Speaker 2>Andrew, Yeah, that's fleeting. I think it. You know, you

6
00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:18.359
<v Speaker 2>can always tell what mood I'm in based on how

7
00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:18.960
<v Speaker 2>we're playing.

8
00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:21.519
<v Speaker 1>Here's something I used to cover the Lakers when Phil

9
00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.719
<v Speaker 1>Jackson was coaching, and he said he never evaluated any

10
00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:28.239
<v Speaker 1>of his teams until probably a quarterway through the season.

11
00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:30.640
<v Speaker 3>Do you look at it big picture like that?

12
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.000
<v Speaker 1>And also on a day to day basis, how do

13
00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:34.679
<v Speaker 1>you view it this early in the season.

14
00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.359
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean I think you know where we will

15
00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.640
<v Speaker 2>really take stock is basically a third of the season,

16
00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:45.600
<v Speaker 2>get through May and get a real feel for things.

17
00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.640
<v Speaker 2>That being said, we feel it intensely every day, and

18
00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:52.840
<v Speaker 2>so tell not to overreact to things that are you know,

19
00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.840
<v Speaker 2>happening in a moment in time and try to get

20
00:00:55.880 --> 00:01:00.759
<v Speaker 2>a bigger, broader perspective before making you know, big changes.

21
00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:04.159
<v Speaker 1>When you look at the team so far, obviously, offense

22
00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:07.120
<v Speaker 1>has got to be the biggest strength. Is it performing

23
00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:09.799
<v Speaker 1>the way you envisioned it when you put this together.

24
00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:16.359
<v Speaker 2>No, which is actually pretty exciting. I think there's a

25
00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:20.799
<v Speaker 2>lot more in there. Offensively, We've had some games with

26
00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:24.200
<v Speaker 2>some really timely hits, which has helped, and it's helped

27
00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:26.239
<v Speaker 2>us put some points on the board, but just the

28
00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:30.719
<v Speaker 2>consistency of our offense up and down hasn't really been there.

29
00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:33.560
<v Speaker 2>A lot of our runs, feels like, have come via

30
00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.200
<v Speaker 2>the home run, which is great to have the ability

31
00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.040
<v Speaker 2>to hit the ball all of the park. It's not

32
00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.879
<v Speaker 2>as great when we're relying on it as it kind

33
00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:44.680
<v Speaker 2>of feels like. But this is a really dynamic, talented offense,

34
00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:48.120
<v Speaker 2>and you know, in a lot of ways, feel good

35
00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:51.239
<v Speaker 2>about where we are record wise, because I think from

36
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:57.799
<v Speaker 2>a fundamental standpoint offensively, we haven't played to our ability yet,

37
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.239
<v Speaker 2>which is great being that these wins are in the bank,

38
00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:04.760
<v Speaker 2>and feel like there's even more upside from here.

39
00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:07.159
<v Speaker 1>I know you block out a lot of the noise,

40
00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:10.479
<v Speaker 1>but I get to hear it all. So after starting

41
00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:13.680
<v Speaker 1>out eight and oh you were unbeatable, now the team

42
00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.479
<v Speaker 1>has lost three of the last four and all of

43
00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.240
<v Speaker 1>a sudden, the sky's falling, The defense is horrible.

44
00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:20.080
<v Speaker 3>How do you keep that perspective?

45
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:25.319
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, I'm glad that you feel them. People of

46
00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.759
<v Speaker 2>Los Angeles are really lucky to have you to as

47
00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:29.840
<v Speaker 2>their outleot.

48
00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:32.159
<v Speaker 3>I'm a therapist at times.

49
00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:36.240
<v Speaker 2>Yes, yes, you know, I think any you know this

50
00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.840
<v Speaker 2>season is a series of daily narratives.

51
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.439
<v Speaker 3>When we win, things couldn't be any better.

52
00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:46.919
<v Speaker 2>When we lose, the sky's falling and totally get that,

53
00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:51.199
<v Speaker 2>and fans are right. Our defense has been really poor

54
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.080
<v Speaker 2>the last three or four days. We haven't played well fundamentally,

55
00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:59.680
<v Speaker 2>but that's not who we are, and I will bet

56
00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:02.520
<v Speaker 2>a lot that that's not how we will play going forward.

57
00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:06.800
<v Speaker 2>So while frustrating looking back, everything for us is about

58
00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:09.599
<v Speaker 2>looking forward and making a bet on what we think

59
00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:16.240
<v Speaker 2>will happen. And I will bet on this team being

60
00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.960
<v Speaker 2>good defensively and you know, doing what we need to

61
00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:22.199
<v Speaker 2>to keep runs off the board and with our offense

62
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.120
<v Speaker 2>be able to score more than we allow and win

63
00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:24.879
<v Speaker 2>a lot of games.

64
00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:28.439
<v Speaker 1>Andrew, I'm not sure we fully appreciate it as you did.

65
00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:32.439
<v Speaker 1>How good Tommy Edman is playing every day. And we

66
00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:35.199
<v Speaker 1>were all a little looking at you sideways when you

67
00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.879
<v Speaker 1>said a couple of off seasons ago you had two

68
00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:39.240
<v Speaker 1>guys at the top of your board.

69
00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.240
<v Speaker 3>Otani and Tommy Edman.

70
00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.759
<v Speaker 1>But I believe we've started to see and we saw

71
00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:46.840
<v Speaker 1>it when you acquired him last year, just how good

72
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.240
<v Speaker 1>he is and what you saw.

73
00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.280
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean that makes it sound like we had

74
00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.319
<v Speaker 2>those guys is like one and two in the league.

75
00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.840
<v Speaker 2>It was more just guys that we felt like really

76
00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:59.599
<v Speaker 2>fit us and we're going to be you know, really

77
00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:05.479
<v Speaker 2>guys we could potentially acquire elsewhere. Obviously, Tommy's played great.

78
00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.039
<v Speaker 2>It's been more power than what I expected, more home runs,

79
00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.520
<v Speaker 2>but just doing all the little things on the Field's

80
00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:17.959
<v Speaker 2>ability to play infield, outfield, run the base is just

81
00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:22.040
<v Speaker 2>what kind of baseball player he is. Even on days

82
00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:24.560
<v Speaker 2>he goes oh for he can help us win a

83
00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:27.720
<v Speaker 2>game in different ways. So those are the kind of

84
00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:31.920
<v Speaker 2>players that we really like, and he fits our rosters

85
00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:32.519
<v Speaker 2>so well.

86
00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:36.399
<v Speaker 1>How long did you have that vision or want for

87
00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.720
<v Speaker 1>tom Y Edmund Obviously you have to be patient in

88
00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.480
<v Speaker 1>certain circumstances with teams, But how long had you been

89
00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:46.240
<v Speaker 1>feeling Tom Edman would be a great fit for this team.

90
00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.800
<v Speaker 2>I mean really since early on with Saint Louis, but

91
00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:54.480
<v Speaker 2>it wasn't realistic then more in the last like two

92
00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:59.319
<v Speaker 2>two and a half years, they started entertaining the thought

93
00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.000
<v Speaker 2>of it. That's where you know, we spent a lot

94
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.120
<v Speaker 2>of time trying to acquire them for a couple of

95
00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:08.319
<v Speaker 2>years and then felt fortunate to kind of line up

96
00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:12.000
<v Speaker 2>on that convoluted three way last July.

97
00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:13.360
<v Speaker 3>Hey, it worked out.

98
00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:15.720
<v Speaker 1>Michael Kopek and Tommy Edman were a big part of

99
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.639
<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers run last year and this year as well

100
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.639
<v Speaker 1>as far as the depth of the organization. You take

101
00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:24.319
<v Speaker 1>a lot of pride in that you going to give

102
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:27.480
<v Speaker 1>Yamamoto an extra day of rest tomorrow, Blake Snail's on

103
00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.839
<v Speaker 1>the IL and you have the luxury of having a

104
00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:35.480
<v Speaker 1>guy like Justin Robletski and Landon nak be here. What

105
00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.519
<v Speaker 1>can you say about just your starting five in Oklahoma

106
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.879
<v Speaker 1>City at double A and being able to have this luxury.

107
00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:46.480
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean we've talked about it a lot, you know,

108
00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.240
<v Speaker 2>the scouting and player development groups, the work that they

109
00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:54.480
<v Speaker 2>have done, just how connected they are, the value we've

110
00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.120
<v Speaker 2>been able to create. You know, it's one of my

111
00:05:57.160 --> 00:06:00.319
<v Speaker 2>favorite things. When we met with Showhy before we signed them,

112
00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:05.079
<v Speaker 2>and you know, going through our organization and talking about

113
00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:09.360
<v Speaker 2>our farm system, you know, and got into how everything

114
00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:11.759
<v Speaker 2>in the system is designed for us to have a

115
00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:14.879
<v Speaker 2>bottom farm system. We pick at the end of the draft.

116
00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:19.160
<v Speaker 2>We have less draft money to spend. Our international pool

117
00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:23.079
<v Speaker 2>is less than everyone in July every year, we're trading

118
00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:27.399
<v Speaker 2>away players to get, you know, shorter term players for

119
00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:31.639
<v Speaker 2>an October push. Everything is designed for us to be

120
00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:35.800
<v Speaker 2>at the bottom. But we're top five and Joy stops

121
00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.199
<v Speaker 2>me and he just goes how, which I think really

122
00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.360
<v Speaker 2>speaks volumes to the work that our scouting and player

123
00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:47.279
<v Speaker 2>development group does. And so with as talents as our

124
00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:50.000
<v Speaker 2>major league team is, we got a lot of talent

125
00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:54.160
<v Speaker 2>coming as well, and for us to be able to

126
00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.399
<v Speaker 2>do what we're doing on the pitching side right now,

127
00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.120
<v Speaker 2>and just a number of guys that we could have

128
00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.959
<v Speaker 2>a discussion about, yeah, who would come.

129
00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.040
<v Speaker 3>Up and pitch these games.

130
00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:07.360
<v Speaker 2>And you know, with Tony Gonson on his way back

131
00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:12.800
<v Speaker 2>and Kersh and Blake coming back, you know, opportunities can

132
00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.240
<v Speaker 2>come and go, and it's hard to predict when things

133
00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:20.360
<v Speaker 2>will happen. But to ROBO's credit, to Knacker's credit, they've

134
00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.680
<v Speaker 2>done everything they could to be ready for this opportunity.

135
00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.360
<v Speaker 2>And we feel very fortunate to have guys like that

136
00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:27.360
<v Speaker 2>ready to step in.

137
00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:31.240
<v Speaker 1>So you weren't considering an Otani spot start today or tomorrow.

138
00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.040
<v Speaker 3>Not yet.

139
00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:33.600
<v Speaker 2>It's coming, but not yet.

140
00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.800
<v Speaker 1>What can you tell us about the design for Otani

141
00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:40.639
<v Speaker 1>this season and how you view his pitching season.

142
00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:45.240
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, I think for us it's interesting in

143
00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:48.360
<v Speaker 2>that had he not had left shoulder surgery, you know,

144
00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.920
<v Speaker 2>maybe the timing would look a little bit different. But

145
00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:55.560
<v Speaker 2>with it, we said, hey, let's make sure we strengthen

146
00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:59.399
<v Speaker 2>that and get that ready, which then slowed down the

147
00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.959
<v Speaker 2>throwing rushing a little bit and just kind of pushed

148
00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:05.920
<v Speaker 2>everything back. And the biggest thing for us is we'd

149
00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.600
<v Speaker 2>much other error on the side of caution with him

150
00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:12.560
<v Speaker 2>in this on this front, and so we kind of

151
00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:15.720
<v Speaker 2>got him going just to make sure everything was in

152
00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:19.439
<v Speaker 2>order able to you know, make sure his delivery is

153
00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.639
<v Speaker 2>in a good spot ball was coming out of his hand.

154
00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.439
<v Speaker 2>Then kind of slowed it down some in that it

155
00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:26.439
<v Speaker 2>was never realistic for him to be able to go

156
00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.439
<v Speaker 2>wire to wire, you know, April through a long October

157
00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.159
<v Speaker 2>run and so you know, he started theming bullpens again

158
00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:36.919
<v Speaker 2>and we'll start to build him up and get that going.

159
00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:40.039
<v Speaker 2>We're not going to try to cut any corners. We're

160
00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.559
<v Speaker 2>going to take our time and figure it out and

161
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:48.200
<v Speaker 2>basically figure out each step based just on how he's

162
00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:52.360
<v Speaker 2>recovering and making sure that things are going really well

163
00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.200
<v Speaker 2>with the idea of when we go get him back

164
00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:58.279
<v Speaker 2>to have him plug in and be a big part

165
00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.639
<v Speaker 2>of our pitching staff through October.

166
00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:01.799
<v Speaker 3>How does that happen?

167
00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.320
<v Speaker 1>How do you thread the needle with a player that

168
00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:07.320
<v Speaker 1>is so unique and how much he means to your offense.

169
00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.679
<v Speaker 1>Usually a guy would go out on a few rehab starts.

170
00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.919
<v Speaker 1>How do you get him ready for a game when

171
00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.000
<v Speaker 1>that's not an option?

172
00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.799
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, he's one of one, So all of

173
00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:20.639
<v Speaker 2>this is kind of uncharted territory for us as well.

174
00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:26.399
<v Speaker 2>I think communication is key, and you know, it's one

175
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:31.200
<v Speaker 2>of those things that he's almost got like a split personality.

176
00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.639
<v Speaker 2>He's got his offensive mindset and then the pitching and

177
00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.639
<v Speaker 2>he's got his routine dialed on the offensive side and

178
00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:41.039
<v Speaker 2>on the pitching side. When he gets to a point

179
00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:44.519
<v Speaker 2>of facing hitters. We can get guys in from Rancho,

180
00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.080
<v Speaker 2>We can set up ZIM games, We can do things

181
00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:52.080
<v Speaker 2>that simulate a minor league outing at two o'clock, give

182
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:56.440
<v Speaker 2>him time to go nap in the in the quiet

183
00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:59.200
<v Speaker 2>room and then come back out and dh and hit

184
00:09:59.240 --> 00:09:59.960
<v Speaker 2>laid off four set.

185
00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.960
<v Speaker 1>All right, Andrew, this looks like a great room too,

186
00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:06.360
<v Speaker 1>here in the bowels of National's Park. I'm not sure

187
00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.799
<v Speaker 1>if anybody could take a nap here.

188
00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.399
<v Speaker 2>No, but I think anytime you're in the vicinity of

189
00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.600
<v Speaker 2>Danny Lehman, you know it's gonna be a good day.

190
00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:13.919
<v Speaker 3>Oh yeah, that's Stringy here.

191
00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.320
<v Speaker 1>That's always standing right next to Dave Roberts, and that

192
00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.799
<v Speaker 1>Dodger dugout is always nearby.

193
00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.919
<v Speaker 2>Have you noticed Harris kind of no man's land right now?

194
00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:24.840
<v Speaker 2>He can't decide whether he's gonna let it flow or

195
00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:28.039
<v Speaker 2>cut it more business like, he's cutting no man's land.

196
00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.360
<v Speaker 2>So fans, if you have any feedback for him, he

197
00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.159
<v Speaker 2>would welcome it.

198
00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:31.879
<v Speaker 3>No doubt.

199
00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:35.159
<v Speaker 1>A man that never speaks only in the dugout. Outside

200
00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:37.240
<v Speaker 1>of the dugout, you will never hear from Dodger bench

201
00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:40.279
<v Speaker 1>coach Danny Lehman. Andrew, thanks a lot for the time.

202
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.240
<v Speaker 1>Always great to see you. It's been a fun trip

203
00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:44.519
<v Speaker 1>so far, and we'll keep going with this ride.

204
00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.879
<v Speaker 2>Wow, we'd like to win a few more games.

205
00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:49.320
<v Speaker 3>Here in this trip. Yeah, you will.

206
00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:52.600
<v Speaker 1>You will, No panic, Andrew, I'm here the voice of reason.

207
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.960
<v Speaker 3>Thank you, thank you,