October 8, 2025 • 18 mins
Dodgers broadcaster (and former MLB player) Jerry Hairston Jr. addresses the bullpen moves by LA, including Roki Sasaki’s emergence as closer. Jerry also covers the Hernandez bros impact, Will Smith's rehab journey, THE wheel play and looks ahead at the rest of the series.
Hosts: Todd Frazier, Erik Kratz, Scott Braun
Foul Territory Presented by FOX One: Start your 7-day free trial today at FOXone.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
We've got Dodgers broadcaster and former Big leaguer Jerry Harrison
Junior joining us right now. He's always on the postgame
pregame on Sports at LA. Jerry, great to see you, man.
What do you think of these first two games here
for the Dodgers against what many looked at as maybe
the top team or at least the top three team
in the sport.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, yeah, listen, I would be lying to you if
I said I knew going into the Dodgers would take
the first two games in Philadelphia. As you guys are
well aware, you know that's Philadelphia is a tough place
to play, let alone win. And for the Dodgers to
go out there and take the first two games on
the road in Philadelphia, it's a little surprising. But you know,
this Dodger team, they're defending World Series champions. They played
(00:46):
in houstel environments before, and they played great baseball. When
you get great starting pitcher, not good great starting pitching
like the Dodgers. They put themselves in position to win
these ball games, and they're very fortunate coming up home
two oh and have a chance to close out the
series in La.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Do we see an actual bullpen pitcher come out of
the bullpen for the Dodgers the restless series. After what
we saw last night from VESSI end Trinan, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Listen, you know, first, Alex Vestris put in a tough situation.
You know, he was definitely put in a tough situation,
did the best he could. He's been outstanding the entire season.
Blake Trianon is an absolute warrior. He's a Dodgers legend.
We don't win the World Series last year without Blake Trining.
He's battled through some injuries this year. But to really
(01:38):
answer your question, I think we all were a little
surprised that Rookie Sazaki didn't get the ball in the
ninth inning up the runs to really close out the
Phillies there too. Oh, I was surprised. I know a
lot of people were surprised. I will say this, I
think moving forward, I think it's pretty clear that rookie
(01:58):
Sazaki is to die closer. I think if they're in
a similar situation to close out Game three, I think
you're to see Rookie Kazaki take them mound.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
But you know, listen, the Dodger bullpen.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Everybody understands that it hasn't been their strength, and that's
why they've added guys like Tinder a Glass now put
him in the pens shee and did an outstanding job
last last night. And you see Clayton Kershaw in the
bullplin as well. So it's the post needs demand. Whatever
you need to do to close out games, to win
ball games, you're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Do you feel like maybe Dave Roberts wasn't one hundred
percent sure of rookie in that moment, that's why he
didn't make him start the ninth inning? Do you feel
like it was the matchups because they had the off day,
It wasn't the fact that, wow, he was a starter
all year. I know he's coming off the injury. We
don't know if he's gonna be able to bounce back.
There seems like a level of uncertainty from what I
(02:54):
watch and what I see, And then when they don't
bring him out in the ninth I'm like, why would
they not go to him? So I was in your camp.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, well that's a great question. I think that was
the very first question.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Dave Roberts was asked in his press conference after the game,
and he said, listen, I have belief in Blake Trining.
You know, he said that he wanted him, you know,
go out there and get those three outs, just showing
confidence in him. But just seeing his facebal expression, I
think he knew, you know what, maybe I should have
went to rookie.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Now. He did also say that, you know.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
He didn't want to overwork rookiees aazaki Biss because this
is a new role for him. It'll be the second
time he's pitched in three days. But I will say this,
he's built up like a starter. He was injured majority
of the year, so he's fresh, and he's also young.
And when you're young and you're in the postseason, you're
going through so much adrenaline. You know, those innings aren't
(03:50):
really going to add up. So, like I said, they
have the day off today. If they're in that position,
Hopefully the Dodgers are in that position tomorrow night and
they got a chance to close out the Phillies.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
If they're in that position, I have a really good
feeling rookies Zaki will be will be in that position
to close out the game.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, he's been, He's been absolutely lights out. I want
to talk about tasker Hernandez a little bit. This guy
just seems like playoffs come around, he just absolutely finds
a way to get the job done. The opposite field,
home run, the base. It's like this guy is absolutely unbelievable.
They talk about, you know, the ball in the gap,
not running out the first base, but I think the
way he's been hitting the ball, I think you'll take
(04:29):
that as you move forward.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Rise of a young guy I played with years ago.
He's come up to the system with the reds light
tower power named Todd Frazier.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I don't know if you want part of him.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Uh Frase could hit the ball out of the ballpark anywhere,
right field, right center, dead center, doesn't matter. Taskar Nanas
has that type of power. And listen, you know this
season and a lot of people aren't aware, especially guys
are on Dodger fans. Taskar Nandas was battling through some
growing issues and it kind of kind of got up
to which is abdomen and he really couldn't fire his hands,
(05:02):
fire his hips to the baseball, so he didn't have
the season he would have lights. But we know on
the once he's close to one hundred and then the
bell rings of the postseason, he's that dude loves the
bright lights, loves to be in those situations, wants the guy,
wants to be the guy with the bat in his hands,
to be a difference maker at the plate. And it's
(05:24):
no surprise to us that he's come up clutch, come
up huge, not just this postseason but last year as well.
And another guy you know because they call him the
Hernandez Brothers, Keithy Aaron Nanis. It's no secret to us
he's a difference maker in the postseason. He just lights
up when the bright lights are on. And the postseasons here, uh.
(05:44):
Those two guys man Keik and the taskar Man. Those
guys have been clutched in the postseason so far. We
expect him to continue to play well because we're going
to desperately need him If this team's gonna repeat.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
The best hitter with the runnings and scoring position would
be clutch and that's Will Smith. Has Will Smith rehabbed
enough in the in the NLDS against Big League Baseball
teams to say, Okay, we're starting in game in Game three.
I mean, I've never seen anything like it. The guy's
not healthy enough to start. He's one of your clutch hitters.
And yet he's played half the game. So are they
(06:19):
just building him up? Are they going to have like
an inning where they roll it over to so it's
like spring training.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
You know, I haven't seed it either.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
You know, it's amazing, And I will say this, Ben
Urtvett has done an incredible job behind the plate calling pitches,
and he had that rapport with the starting pitchers. So
the Dodgers have had that luxury to be able to
be able to slow play Will Smith to make sure
he's near or close to one hundred percent, and they
(06:49):
can use Will Smith as that weapon, you know, like
they did in game one and obviously in game two
when he came out off the bench and you know,
got in the game and had a huge two run same.
So I have a feeling, you know, now that they
work Will Smith in I think he's going to be
a starter Game three. But if not, they have confidence
in Ben Wartville because he does a great job calling
(07:11):
the game just like Will Smith. But listen, Will Smith
is a difference maker, as we all know, with the bat,
also with the arm. You know, he has a rocket
of an arm. It's very accurate. He really kind of
slows down the running game as well. So I'm hoping
Will Smith is back in the lineup in game three
because anytime you're dealing with that throwing hand, having that
(07:32):
little fracture in his hand.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It could be an issue.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
So hopefully he's healthy enough to start, because we all
know that Will Smith is an absolutely difference maker in
the lineup.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Hey, shout out to Fox one. This episode is presented
by Fox One, are presenting sponsor for the next few weeks.
Here the playoff coverage is brought to you by Fox
one on foul Territory because we want to keep reminding
everyone that all Alds and ALCS games, playoff games, and
the world series can be found on Fox one and
if you want to try it out, you've got a
(08:02):
seven day free trial that you can go to foxone
dot com for We post the description the link to
the description in the episode with our ft links. If
you want to click that and give us a little love,
that would be cool. We're working our asses off all
postseason long, and you can see that Tigers Mariners game
that Prazinski and Wayne Ray and Adam Ameen are going
(08:22):
to be calling again. If you're like, ah, I don't
have an option here, Fox one seven day free trial.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Go check it out. They have live goats.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Like you like that.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
He looks handsome there.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
He does, he does.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
It's a great headshot for him. Anyway, stream all your
Fox favorites together in one place at the Fox one app.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
I want to talk about the biggest play that happened
yesterday on the wheel play bunt. I want to first,
I want to get to know what if you've heard
anything about what they do and their bunt plays and seconds.
As an infielder well as a hitter, you're supposed to
bunt the ball third base. You want that third baseman
to come through and attack the ball, which which is
(09:04):
what you're ultimately trying to get out of him. They
just did it to perfection. The bunt went to third base.
All of a sudden, I'm just drawing a blank. Who
is at third base? Gott It makes the play, throws
the ball to third and Moki. I felt like Mooki
was the separation from him and Castianos wasn't even that
(09:26):
far away, and then he just took off.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
It was the perfect play.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
I thought the bunt was perfect, don't get me wrong,
but I think the execution of the Dodgers was a
lot better.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You know that phrase. You're exactly right. You know, I'm
going to take the Philly side. You know, this is
a really good butt, Scott is You're taught to deaden
the ball towards third base, which he does.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
It's a really good butt by Scott. But here's the thing.
Teams don't really practice.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Bunt plays anymore because a lot of teams don't bunt anymore.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
This is not like, you.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Know, fifteen years ago, when you have the picture bunning
and you have this wheel play, you have so many
different plays to defend the bunt.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
This all happened because of Mookie Bets.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
When they all got on them mount Mookie said, you
know what, all the momentum has gone towards the Phillies.
We got to make sure we cut down that runner
at third base if and when they do bunt, because
if he gets a third base less than two outs,
they tie the ball game up, and then now all
the momentum goes to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
So that was really Mookie Betts saying, hey, let's just
make this play happen. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Max Munky does an incredible job crashing as well as
Freddy Freeman, you know, for us, and you know this phrase.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
You want him to bun.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
It towards first because now the first base from Freddy
Freeman of Oh Glover, He's got a clear look to
third base. So Scott does the right thing, bunch it
and dends it towards third base. But Max Munsey really
makes that play because he crashes hard and he's almost
on top of him when he makes that play, and
he fires an absolute stripe moving target in Mooki Bets
(11:02):
and able to apply the tag. And I will say this,
Mookie Betts showed the crash late that is so important
for a shortstop.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
And see him break.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
He's breaking after the pitch is practically released. So now
as a hitter, because as a hitter, if I'm up
at the plate like Stott, I'm seeing the shortstop break
and once I see the shortstop break, then I'm gonna
slash because Mookie Bess did it so late and he's
so fast going over there. Stops, That's okay, he's not
(11:33):
they're not doing the will play. I'll just execute the
bunch with which he does. So Mookie Bets is really
the one who set up that play. Because he broke
to the bag of late. The attention to detail, man,
was so perfect, and I want I want to say
another thing. Mookie applies a tag after Freddy Freeman knows
that that ball is not coming to him. Freddy Freeman
(11:56):
makes a bee line towards second base to make sure
second base is covered and that way stop doesn't go
from first to second base. It was a well executed
bump play, something that I would expect the nineteen nineties
type of teams to execute, but these guys executed perfection
and they don't practice that play that just goes to
(12:16):
show their baseball IQ And it.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Was just so well run. Man. It was really fun
to see so.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Well run you forgot the fact that the dude's got
six gold gloves at another position, Like it's like it's
really his first full season playing it. It's like, yeah,
you know what, guys out here in this wiffleball game,
we're gonna go do this. Let's go to the end
of the game, Tommy Edmonds throw one. Has this been
something that you've seen? Is it something that going forward?
(12:44):
Has there been some like eh?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
No? And two?
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Does Freddy get overlooked at first base because of what
he does. You just said it on him covering second
base because he hits so well and he's kind of
like stiff looking. Does he get overlooked at first base?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I think maybe naturally he made good overlooked.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I have the luxury to see these guys play every
single night. And I remember when when Freddie Freeman signed
with the Dodgers, David Ross, who's the manager with the
Cubs of the time we played together with the Reds,
he said, Man, I'm telling you he's a baseball player.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
He's going to be the best base runner you've ever seen.
I've never seen a.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Guy go first to third or first to home better
than Freddy Freeman. The angles he takes and he was
right incredible base runner as well. But on the defensive side,
you mentioned he's the goal glover for a reason. He
saves so many throws in the dirt, makes it making
it look easy saving his infielders. And listen, as a
(13:47):
former infielder myself, third, short and second, sometimes you're.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Not going to get the best grips on the baseball.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You got to be able to fire it over there
and pray that your first base and can pick you
up on the Timmy Edmund throw. I have never seen
Tommy Edmund make a bad throw ever at shortstop, third base,
and at second base.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
He's a goal glover of second base. One.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
The only thing I can think of is when he
had the ball, he didn't have the best grip, and
as an infielder, sometimes you start to get your grip
on the FLYO. Okay, as I'm going back, then I'll
find the grip and now be able to throw. He
didn't have the grip and he knew guess who was running,
Trey Turner flying down the line, and he said, God,
I just got to get it over there, and he
(14:27):
threw it over there, and fortunately for all of us, Freddy.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Freeman was able to pick him up.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
But no, I have never seen Tommy had to make
a bath throw. That probably the only bad throw I'll
ever see him make, because he is so fundamentally sound
and is so accurate with his throws.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Jerry Philadelphia is on fire right now on one because
they're about to be eliminated.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Two.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Aaron Nola is pitching. He is starting the game tomorrow.
Philly fans are like, why, from a Dodgers point of view,
look at the Philly decision to pitch Aaron Nola. Do
you feel like that gives them an advantage because of
how they've struggled against left handers early in this series,
and now, to me, their biggest their their biggest linch
(15:14):
pin in the lineup is Max Munsey. He gets to start,
but then he's got a face lefty. So from a
Dodgers standpoint, do you go who I'm licking my chops?
We might get two or three off of Nola before
they can even pull them.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Listen, I understand the Philly fans. I get it why
they feel like they just dropped two at home. Like
I mentioned earlier, it is a tough place to play there,
and for the Dodgers to steal a game, Uh, then
steal two, that's huge on the flip side. And I'm
just gonna kind of reiterate with Max, Max Mounsey said
last night. Also, Mookie Betts, Listen, you don't take anything
(15:51):
for granted. This is the Phillies team. Veteran players on
that team. You have world champions like Kyle Schwarber, world
champion like Trade Turn as well, guys that are veteran
guys that aren't going to be rattled by going into
Dodger State. They're very familiar with that ballpark, so I'm
sure they're going to go out there and make sure
they put their best foot forward. And you're gonna have
(16:13):
to play the Dodgers are They're gonna have to play
their best game. They're not gonna roll over. That team
is not going to roll over. And to really answer
your question, I think manager Rob Thompson is trying to
give them a different look.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
We've faced two lefties.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
You throw the right hander out like kind of like
you kind of reiterated with Nola, and maybe he gets
you three or four strong innings and possibly I have
a feeling maybe Ranger Schwarz comes in after him to
piggyback him when you have your left handed hitters already
in the lineup for the Dodgers, So listen, I know
there's always a cat and mouse game, but their backs
(16:48):
are against the wall. I think everybody's gonna be available
for the Phillies and they're a desperate team and they're
just thinking, hey, if we just get Game one. Then
the first game at Dodger State, which is games read,
all the pressure really shipped back to the Dodgers in
Game four, because they know they don't want to go
back to Philly for Game five, So there's still pressure
on the Dodgers, pressure on both sides. You just got
(17:11):
to play good baseball, man, and hopefully with a Dodger's shake,
they continue to playing baseball and really push put this
veteran Phillies team away.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Jerry, great stuff. Really good to see you. I loved
your quick analysis on Todd father at one point to
the pop to hall Field. You got him going, man,
you got him flexing, taught him that?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Who do you think taught him that when he was
coming up? I was at the Reds who taught him?
That's right? Hey, I'm waiting.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
The only the only difference I used your brother's bat
from the Marouchie Back Company. Not You're sorry, big Doll,
My bad, My bad, Big Scott, Big Scott, your hair.
Oh two and a half.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Very good to see you, Thanks again, man. Love your
coverage over on Towards in La anytime you guys, Great guys.
Fo
We've got Dodgers broadcaster and former Big leaguer Jerry Harrison
Junior joining us right now. He's always on the postgame
pregame on Sports at LA. Jerry, great to see you, man.
What do you think of these first two games here
for the Dodgers against what many looked at as maybe
the top team or at least the top three team
in the sport.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, yeah, listen, I would be lying to you if
I said I knew going into the Dodgers would take
the first two games in Philadelphia. As you guys are
well aware, you know that's Philadelphia is a tough place
to play, let alone win. And for the Dodgers to
go out there and take the first two games on
the road in Philadelphia, it's a little surprising. But you know,
this Dodger team, they're defending World Series champions. They played
(00:46):
in houstel environments before, and they played great baseball. When
you get great starting pitcher, not good great starting pitching
like the Dodgers. They put themselves in position to win
these ball games, and they're very fortunate coming up home
two oh and have a chance to close out the
series in La.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Do we see an actual bullpen pitcher come out of
the bullpen for the Dodgers the restless series. After what
we saw last night from VESSI end Trinan, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Listen, you know, first, Alex Vestris put in a tough situation.
You know, he was definitely put in a tough situation,
did the best he could. He's been outstanding the entire season.
Blake Trianon is an absolute warrior. He's a Dodgers legend.
We don't win the World Series last year without Blake Trining.
He's battled through some injuries this year. But to really
(01:38):
answer your question, I think we all were a little
surprised that Rookie Sazaki didn't get the ball in the
ninth inning up the runs to really close out the
Phillies there too. Oh, I was surprised. I know a
lot of people were surprised. I will say this, I
think moving forward, I think it's pretty clear that rookie
(01:58):
Sazaki is to die closer. I think if they're in
a similar situation to close out Game three, I think
you're to see Rookie Kazaki take them mound.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
But you know, listen, the Dodger bullpen.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Everybody understands that it hasn't been their strength, and that's
why they've added guys like Tinder a Glass now put
him in the pens shee and did an outstanding job
last last night. And you see Clayton Kershaw in the
bullplin as well. So it's the post needs demand. Whatever
you need to do to close out games, to win
ball games, you're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Do you feel like maybe Dave Roberts wasn't one hundred
percent sure of rookie in that moment, that's why he
didn't make him start the ninth inning? Do you feel
like it was the matchups because they had the off day,
It wasn't the fact that, wow, he was a starter
all year. I know he's coming off the injury. We
don't know if he's gonna be able to bounce back.
There seems like a level of uncertainty from what I
(02:54):
watch and what I see, And then when they don't
bring him out in the ninth I'm like, why would
they not go to him? So I was in your camp.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, well that's a great question. I think that was
the very first question.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Dave Roberts was asked in his press conference after the game,
and he said, listen, I have belief in Blake Trining.
You know, he said that he wanted him, you know,
go out there and get those three outs, just showing
confidence in him. But just seeing his facebal expression, I
think he knew, you know what, maybe I should have
went to rookie.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Now. He did also say that, you know.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
He didn't want to overwork rookiees aazaki Biss because this
is a new role for him. It'll be the second
time he's pitched in three days. But I will say this,
he's built up like a starter. He was injured majority
of the year, so he's fresh, and he's also young.
And when you're young and you're in the postseason, you're
going through so much adrenaline. You know, those innings aren't
(03:50):
really going to add up. So, like I said, they
have the day off today. If they're in that position,
Hopefully the Dodgers are in that position tomorrow night and
they got a chance to close out the Phillies.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
If they're in that position, I have a really good
feeling rookies Zaki will be will be in that position
to close out the game.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, he's been, He's been absolutely lights out. I want
to talk about tasker Hernandez a little bit. This guy
just seems like playoffs come around, he just absolutely finds
a way to get the job done. The opposite field,
home run, the base. It's like this guy is absolutely unbelievable.
They talk about, you know, the ball in the gap,
not running out the first base, but I think the
way he's been hitting the ball, I think you'll take
(04:29):
that as you move forward.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Rise of a young guy I played with years ago.
He's come up to the system with the reds light
tower power named Todd Frazier.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I don't know if you want part of him.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Uh Frase could hit the ball out of the ballpark anywhere,
right field, right center, dead center, doesn't matter. Taskar Nanas
has that type of power. And listen, you know this
season and a lot of people aren't aware, especially guys
are on Dodger fans. Taskar Nandas was battling through some
growing issues and it kind of kind of got up
to which is abdomen and he really couldn't fire his hands,
(05:02):
fire his hips to the baseball, so he didn't have
the season he would have lights. But we know on
the once he's close to one hundred and then the
bell rings of the postseason, he's that dude loves the
bright lights, loves to be in those situations, wants the guy,
wants to be the guy with the bat in his hands,
to be a difference maker at the plate. And it's
(05:24):
no surprise to us that he's come up clutch, come
up huge, not just this postseason but last year as well.
And another guy you know because they call him the
Hernandez Brothers, Keithy Aaron Nanis. It's no secret to us
he's a difference maker in the postseason. He just lights
up when the bright lights are on. And the postseasons here, uh.
(05:44):
Those two guys man Keik and the taskar Man. Those
guys have been clutched in the postseason so far. We
expect him to continue to play well because we're going
to desperately need him If this team's gonna repeat.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
The best hitter with the runnings and scoring position would
be clutch and that's Will Smith. Has Will Smith rehabbed
enough in the in the NLDS against Big League Baseball
teams to say, Okay, we're starting in game in Game three.
I mean, I've never seen anything like it. The guy's
not healthy enough to start. He's one of your clutch hitters.
And yet he's played half the game. So are they
(06:19):
just building him up? Are they going to have like
an inning where they roll it over to so it's
like spring training.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
You know, I haven't seed it either.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
You know, it's amazing, And I will say this, Ben
Urtvett has done an incredible job behind the plate calling pitches,
and he had that rapport with the starting pitchers. So
the Dodgers have had that luxury to be able to
be able to slow play Will Smith to make sure
he's near or close to one hundred percent, and they
(06:49):
can use Will Smith as that weapon, you know, like
they did in game one and obviously in game two
when he came out off the bench and you know,
got in the game and had a huge two run same.
So I have a feeling, you know, now that they
work Will Smith in I think he's going to be
a starter Game three. But if not, they have confidence
in Ben Wartville because he does a great job calling
(07:11):
the game just like Will Smith. But listen, Will Smith
is a difference maker, as we all know, with the bat,
also with the arm. You know, he has a rocket
of an arm. It's very accurate. He really kind of
slows down the running game as well. So I'm hoping
Will Smith is back in the lineup in game three
because anytime you're dealing with that throwing hand, having that
(07:32):
little fracture in his hand.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It could be an issue.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
So hopefully he's healthy enough to start, because we all
know that Will Smith is an absolutely difference maker in
the lineup.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Hey, shout out to Fox one. This episode is presented
by Fox One, are presenting sponsor for the next few weeks.
Here the playoff coverage is brought to you by Fox
one on foul Territory because we want to keep reminding
everyone that all Alds and ALCS games, playoff games, and
the world series can be found on Fox one and
if you want to try it out, you've got a
(08:02):
seven day free trial that you can go to foxone
dot com for We post the description the link to
the description in the episode with our ft links. If
you want to click that and give us a little love,
that would be cool. We're working our asses off all
postseason long, and you can see that Tigers Mariners game
that Prazinski and Wayne Ray and Adam Ameen are going
(08:22):
to be calling again. If you're like, ah, I don't
have an option here, Fox one seven day free trial.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Go check it out. They have live goats.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Like you like that.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
He looks handsome there.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
He does, he does.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
It's a great headshot for him. Anyway, stream all your
Fox favorites together in one place at the Fox one app.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
I want to talk about the biggest play that happened
yesterday on the wheel play bunt. I want to first,
I want to get to know what if you've heard
anything about what they do and their bunt plays and seconds.
As an infielder well as a hitter, you're supposed to
bunt the ball third base. You want that third baseman
to come through and attack the ball, which which is
(09:04):
what you're ultimately trying to get out of him. They
just did it to perfection. The bunt went to third base.
All of a sudden, I'm just drawing a blank. Who
is at third base? Gott It makes the play, throws
the ball to third and Moki. I felt like Mooki
was the separation from him and Castianos wasn't even that
(09:26):
far away, and then he just took off.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
It was the perfect play.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
I thought the bunt was perfect, don't get me wrong,
but I think the execution of the Dodgers was a
lot better.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You know that phrase. You're exactly right. You know, I'm
going to take the Philly side. You know, this is
a really good butt, Scott is You're taught to deaden
the ball towards third base, which he does.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
It's a really good butt by Scott. But here's the thing.
Teams don't really practice.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Bunt plays anymore because a lot of teams don't bunt anymore.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
This is not like, you.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Know, fifteen years ago, when you have the picture bunning
and you have this wheel play, you have so many
different plays to defend the bunt.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
This all happened because of Mookie Bets.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
When they all got on them mount Mookie said, you
know what, all the momentum has gone towards the Phillies.
We got to make sure we cut down that runner
at third base if and when they do bunt, because
if he gets a third base less than two outs,
they tie the ball game up, and then now all
the momentum goes to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
So that was really Mookie Betts saying, hey, let's just
make this play happen. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Max Munky does an incredible job crashing as well as
Freddy Freeman, you know, for us, and you know this phrase.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
You want him to bun.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
It towards first because now the first base from Freddy
Freeman of Oh Glover, He's got a clear look to
third base. So Scott does the right thing, bunch it
and dends it towards third base. But Max Munsey really
makes that play because he crashes hard and he's almost
on top of him when he makes that play, and
he fires an absolute stripe moving target in Mooki Bets
(11:02):
and able to apply the tag. And I will say this,
Mookie Betts showed the crash late that is so important
for a shortstop.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
And see him break.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
He's breaking after the pitch is practically released. So now
as a hitter, because as a hitter, if I'm up
at the plate like Stott, I'm seeing the shortstop break
and once I see the shortstop break, then I'm gonna
slash because Mookie Bess did it so late and he's
so fast going over there. Stops, That's okay, he's not
(11:33):
they're not doing the will play. I'll just execute the
bunch with which he does. So Mookie Bets is really
the one who set up that play. Because he broke
to the bag of late. The attention to detail, man,
was so perfect, and I want I want to say
another thing. Mookie applies a tag after Freddy Freeman knows
that that ball is not coming to him. Freddy Freeman
(11:56):
makes a bee line towards second base to make sure
second base is covered and that way stop doesn't go
from first to second base. It was a well executed
bump play, something that I would expect the nineteen nineties
type of teams to execute, but these guys executed perfection
and they don't practice that play that just goes to
(12:16):
show their baseball IQ And it.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Was just so well run. Man. It was really fun
to see so.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Well run you forgot the fact that the dude's got
six gold gloves at another position, Like it's like it's
really his first full season playing it. It's like, yeah,
you know what, guys out here in this wiffleball game,
we're gonna go do this. Let's go to the end
of the game, Tommy Edmonds throw one. Has this been
something that you've seen? Is it something that going forward?
(12:44):
Has there been some like eh?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
No? And two?
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Does Freddy get overlooked at first base because of what
he does. You just said it on him covering second
base because he hits so well and he's kind of
like stiff looking. Does he get overlooked at first base?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I think maybe naturally he made good overlooked.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I have the luxury to see these guys play every
single night. And I remember when when Freddie Freeman signed
with the Dodgers, David Ross, who's the manager with the
Cubs of the time we played together with the Reds,
he said, Man, I'm telling you he's a baseball player.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
He's going to be the best base runner you've ever seen.
I've never seen a.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Guy go first to third or first to home better
than Freddy Freeman. The angles he takes and he was
right incredible base runner as well. But on the defensive side,
you mentioned he's the goal glover for a reason. He
saves so many throws in the dirt, makes it making
it look easy saving his infielders. And listen, as a
(13:47):
former infielder myself, third, short and second, sometimes you're.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Not going to get the best grips on the baseball.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You got to be able to fire it over there
and pray that your first base and can pick you
up on the Timmy Edmund throw. I have never seen
Tommy Edmund make a bad throw ever at shortstop, third base,
and at second base.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
He's a goal glover of second base. One.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
The only thing I can think of is when he
had the ball, he didn't have the best grip, and
as an infielder, sometimes you start to get your grip
on the FLYO. Okay, as I'm going back, then I'll
find the grip and now be able to throw. He
didn't have the grip and he knew guess who was running,
Trey Turner flying down the line, and he said, God,
I just got to get it over there, and he
(14:27):
threw it over there, and fortunately for all of us, Freddy.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Freeman was able to pick him up.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
But no, I have never seen Tommy had to make
a bath throw. That probably the only bad throw I'll
ever see him make, because he is so fundamentally sound
and is so accurate with his throws.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Jerry Philadelphia is on fire right now on one because
they're about to be eliminated.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Two.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Aaron Nola is pitching. He is starting the game tomorrow.
Philly fans are like, why, from a Dodgers point of view,
look at the Philly decision to pitch Aaron Nola. Do
you feel like that gives them an advantage because of
how they've struggled against left handers early in this series,
and now, to me, their biggest their their biggest linch
(15:14):
pin in the lineup is Max Munsey. He gets to start,
but then he's got a face lefty. So from a
Dodgers standpoint, do you go who I'm licking my chops?
We might get two or three off of Nola before
they can even pull them.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Listen, I understand the Philly fans. I get it why
they feel like they just dropped two at home. Like
I mentioned earlier, it is a tough place to play there,
and for the Dodgers to steal a game, Uh, then
steal two, that's huge on the flip side. And I'm
just gonna kind of reiterate with Max, Max Mounsey said
last night. Also, Mookie Betts, Listen, you don't take anything
(15:51):
for granted. This is the Phillies team. Veteran players on
that team. You have world champions like Kyle Schwarber, world
champion like Trade Turn as well, guys that are veteran
guys that aren't going to be rattled by going into
Dodger State. They're very familiar with that ballpark, so I'm
sure they're going to go out there and make sure
they put their best foot forward. And you're gonna have
(16:13):
to play the Dodgers are They're gonna have to play
their best game. They're not gonna roll over. That team
is not going to roll over. And to really answer
your question, I think manager Rob Thompson is trying to
give them a different look.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
We've faced two lefties.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
You throw the right hander out like kind of like
you kind of reiterated with Nola, and maybe he gets
you three or four strong innings and possibly I have
a feeling maybe Ranger Schwarz comes in after him to
piggyback him when you have your left handed hitters already
in the lineup for the Dodgers, So listen, I know
there's always a cat and mouse game, but their backs
(16:48):
are against the wall. I think everybody's gonna be available
for the Phillies and they're a desperate team and they're
just thinking, hey, if we just get Game one. Then
the first game at Dodger State, which is games read,
all the pressure really shipped back to the Dodgers in
Game four, because they know they don't want to go
back to Philly for Game five, So there's still pressure
on the Dodgers, pressure on both sides. You just got
(17:11):
to play good baseball, man, and hopefully with a Dodger's shake,
they continue to playing baseball and really push put this
veteran Phillies team away.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Jerry, great stuff. Really good to see you. I loved
your quick analysis on Todd father at one point to
the pop to hall Field. You got him going, man,
you got him flexing, taught him that?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Who do you think taught him that when he was
coming up? I was at the Reds who taught him?
That's right? Hey, I'm waiting.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
The only the only difference I used your brother's bat
from the Marouchie Back Company. Not You're sorry, big Doll,
My bad, My bad, Big Scott, Big Scott, your hair.
Oh two and a half.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Very good to see you, Thanks again, man. Love your
coverage over on Towards in La anytime you guys, Great guys.
Fo
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!