Dodger Talk (5-11-23)

Off-day Dodger Talk with David Vassegh before a weekend series with the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Oh, it's an off day andwe have Dodger Talk for you. We're
here until eight o'clock right here onAM five seventy LA Sports eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy isthe phone number. If you're pumped up
about the Padres coming to LA giveus a call. As we anticipate this
show coming to Los Angeles for thefirst time this season. After the way

(00:25):
the Padres treated your Dodgers in SanDiego, I hope the Dodger fans in
Los Angeles will keep it classy,but keep it as loud as possible to
make the Padres know whose house itis and whose division it is in the
NL West. I'm excited about tonight'sshow. We got a great show for
you tonight. Andre Ethier is goingto join us from Phoenix at seven fifteen.

(00:50):
It's the first time we've had himon the show this year, so
we'll get his thoughts on the DodgersPadres series coming up again on Friday Night.
Also will ask him about Kennley Jansenpicking up his four hundred save of
his career. Ethier was on theteam the day that Kenley Jansen got his

(01:10):
first career save, so we'll dothat, and also we'll hear from Kenley
coming up at the bottom of thehour. But Andre Ethier, we'll join
us at seven fifteen. Plus.I do have a pair of sweet tickets,
not just tickets. I have apair of sweet tickets to Monday Night's
game to give away at some pointtonight in the show. If you come

(01:34):
strong, I'll consider you for apair of those sweet tickets. We won't
do name that Dodger. You justgotta come strong with the Dodger take and
you might get those sweet tickets toMonday Night Dodgers Twins at Dodgers Stadium.
Eight six six nine eight seven twofive seventy is the phone number. The

(01:55):
Dodgers just coming off a great roadtrip, a six scheme road trip where
they went four and two despite notreally hitting with runners and scoring position.
I'll say this for the Dodgers.They got the job done, but it
wasn't pretty, especially in San Diegoon Sunday Night baseball. They were kicking
the ball around, they were missingground balls, but Mookie Bets came up

(02:19):
big in the ninth inning, andthen the kids, James Altman and Michael
Bush took over in the tenth inning. It would be a very different narrative
right now if the Dodgers lost thatgame on Sunday, but they were able
to pull it out in the ninthinning and tenth inning and break the hearts
of the Padres. Yeah, thePadres were really just ready to celebrate after

(02:43):
the first game in that series.And really, isn't that who the Padres
are? Everything they do. AndI mentioned this with Matt and Damashak earlier.
It's not just since twenty twenty.This goes back to twenty thirteen when
the Padres and Dodgers actually we're partof a trade together where the Dodgers traded

(03:06):
Matt Kemp to San Diego. Theygot ys money grandall back from San Diego.
This goes back to AJ Preller andAndrew Friedman's first year in charge of
their respective clubs. I'm not evensure Andrew Friedman knew much about the Padres,
but AJ Prellers seemed to be obsessedwith the Dodgers the first day he

(03:30):
took the job. And it feelslike, from top to bottom in the
Padres organization, it feels like allthey care about and everything they do is
about the Dodgers. Everything they dothey have been obsessed. We're trying to

(03:54):
knock the Dodgers off in the divisionsince twenty thirteen. And credit to them.
They won the biggest series that mattersthe most, the playoffs series last
year in the NLDS. Congratulations,but it did not win the World Series.
And for the Dodgers, even ifthey beat the Padres last year and

(04:15):
lost in the NLCS, it wouldn'thave been a success. But for the
Padres, their whole season was predicatedon beating the Dodgers in the NLDS,
and they outplayed them. They cameto play the Dodgers, didn't. We
have been all over that. Butin the regular season, the Dodgers have
won each of the last eleven regularseason series between these two teams. Just

(04:43):
think back to even last weekend inSan Diego. It's single to my a
weekend. There's a long way togo. Last Friday's game was just the
thirty fourth game of the season andthey're putting up a crying meme of Clayton
Kershaw. And then the next daysome fan shows up with a sign insulting

(05:05):
Mookie Bets. I can't even imaginea Dodger fan putting in that much effort
for the Padres. Maybe the Braves, maybe the Braves, maybe the Houston
Astros, certainly the Houston Astros,but for the Padres, you wouldn't even
waste your time on a sign forthe Padres. Do you believe if the

(05:30):
Dodgers win Tomorrow Night's game, they'regoing to replay Austin Barnes getting a bass
hit off of Blake Snell, who'sstarting tomorrow night. Do you think the
Dodgers are going to mock any ofthe Padres players What they did to Kershaw
last Friday would be similar to theDodgers tomorrow night putting a syringe or a

(05:54):
needle or referencing ringworm when Fernando TactisJunior came to the plate tomorrow and the
Dodgers would never even consider it.That's how obsessed the Padres are with the
Dodgers. It's kind of sad.That's all they care about. All they
care about is beating the Dodgers.This goes back many years. Look at

(06:15):
the Padre's record, win or losea series after playing the Dodgers, they
go into the tank because they havespent themselves emotionally in every series against the
Dodgers. They just went into thetank in Minnesota, while the Dodgers went
to Milwaukee and stayed consistent and kepttheir eyes on winning series and beat the

(06:40):
Brewers two out of three, whilethe Padres went into the tank. This
seems like a recurring theme that thePadres win every off season supposedly with the
big names and the big splashes,and come up short. They came up
short last year to the Phillies,even after beating the Dodgers. How are

(07:05):
you going to treat the Padres whenthey come to Dodger Stadium tomorrow night eight
six six nine, eight seven,two five seventy. Now, my message
to you is keep it classy.Let's not see any extracurricular activity out there
at Dodgers Stadium. The best wayyou could put yourself above those Padre fans

(07:27):
is by just cheering on the Dodgers, booing the Padres and playing it straight.
That's the way you stay above themin every sense of the word.
By the way, the Padre fansthey've never even tasted winning before they went
to the World Series in ninety eight. That was that was a dream come

(07:49):
true. Tony Gwynn would be ashamedof the way the Padre fans acted last
weekend in San Diego. That's notwhat Tony Gwynn embodied. And I certainly
believe the Padre's owner Peter Seidler,who's a great man, he would he
did not green light anything that wenton in San Diego last weekend. He's

(08:11):
a great man, and I justfeel like some of those Padres people got
a little over zealous, and thefans themselves got over zealous. I'm looking
for a big series from the Dodgers, and quite honestly, something is going
on with the Padres. I don'tknow what it is, but Bob Melvin.
According to Kevin As from the SanDiego Union Tribune, he reported Melvin

(08:35):
kind of lit into his team aftertheir loss in Minnesota today. Something is
going on with that team because theyshould be scoring more runs than what they
are. And what has happened toJuan Soto. Juan Soto, I mean,
he doesn't look like himself anymore.So that's where things line up with
the Dodgers and Padres. Would loveto hear if you're going to any of

(08:58):
the games this weekend. I knowit's Lakers Warriors Game six downtown and the
downtown Hoop Dojo. As Victor Brickwould like to say, it's a big
Friday night in Los Angeles. DodgersLakers, both at home, big series
in different ways. Obviously, theLakers are trying to move on in the
playoffs. That's always significant. Butit brings back memories of when I had

(09:20):
Dodger tickets and the Lakers were inthe playoffs and at Dodgers Stadium, they
would always show highlights in the middleof the game of what was going on
at the Forum. I feel likeTomorrow night it's going to be the same
vibe. So it's going to beelectric at Dodgers Stadium, It's going to
be electric at the downtown Hoop Dojo. Big night in Los Angeles, in
downtown Los Angeles as the Dodgers andLakers both at home, both big series

(09:46):
in their own respects, and it'sgoing to be electric in both places.
Hope to see you at Dodgers Stadium. First pitch Tomorrow night, Dustin May
Blake Snell at seven ten. Ourcoverage begins at six o'clock. When we
continue on off day, Dodger Talk, your phone calls at eight six,
six nine, eight seven two fiveseventy and Andre Ethier will join us.

(10:07):
He's taken a time out from theSun's game to join us, or we
appreciate that. We'll talk to Andrenext. Drey Day on Dodger Talk on
M five seventy LA Sports, Steve, Eric, Mark, Josh, I
see all of you out there.We will get to you after we talk
to a man that has become sucha great ambassador for the Dodgers. You

(10:28):
know, since we've lost the greatTommula Sorda and Vince Scully, we need
ambassadors for the Dodgers to carry thetorch, and he has certainly done that
in his own way, in agreat way. He only played for the
Dodgers in his Major league career twelveyears career, two eighty five average,
Gold Glove Award winner, All Starand a champion of the people, and

(10:50):
such a great Dodger ambassador that hehas stepped away from his beloved Phoenix Suns
playoff game to join us to talkto you on Dodger Talk. That is
the great Andre Ethier. Dre Dayon M five seventy LA Sports. How
you doing, Andre, how'd youlike that intro? I love it.
I think it's a it's a littleover the top here for an off day,

(11:13):
but yeah, we'll take it noway, man, that is not
over the top. And that's actuallysomething that you know, just thinking about
this during our upbringing, Tommy LaSorda and Vince Scully certainly were guys that
really love the Dodgers and in theirown way really made people fall in love
with the brand. And you certainlyhave done that in your own way.

(11:35):
Is that something that you that youcherish that you can be that next generation
of you know, the Tommy Lasorta kind of guy. Well, I
don't think it's starting off those twonames right there, Tommy and Vin.
I don't think anyone ever replaced himor replicate you know what they contribute to
the to the Dodger uh you know, brand and to daughter franchise and everything

(11:58):
like that. But uh yeah,I mean you see it. You get
a chance to play in arguably thebest uh you know, franchise and Major
League Baseball and and I know fora fact the best fans in all of
Major League Baseball, and you uh, you know, want to be someone
who can still give back and contributeeven when you're done playing. And you

(12:20):
know, it's it's great just tobe back in the community. Anytime I
get to be back in La bein the stadium, be around the city,
and just be a part of theorganization. Well, you're a big
part of it, even though youhaven't played in a few years. Uh.
When you played, though, DodgersPadres was not as hyped up as
it is these days. What didyou think about what went on in San

(12:41):
Diego last weekend? I think Ithink it was you know, it's nice,
it's good for baseball, it's goodfor for the NL West. It's
good to add another team. Wealways know that the Giants Dodgers rivalry will
always be there. It's been theresince the start back in New York,
and it naturally came out West allthose years ago, and it you know,

(13:07):
had its moments all those times.You know, the Podres organization,
as I guess, come up ontheir own. I still don't believe or
seeing anything they say or do downthere. You know, that's just me
being a Dodger player who played againstthem and and now from seeing the other
side. So I think it's agood team, but I can be with

(13:30):
everyone else. I do not likeSan Diego. I do not like Podres
not like anything about it. Younever felt like that series was a big
series. Are you surprised the waythat the intensity has been dialed up over
the course of the last couple ofyears. I think their ownership group,

(13:50):
I think they're marketing. I thinkeveryone has done a really good job to
you know, make the Dodgers,you know, to be out the evil
team or whatever they want to sayand do. And I guess that happens
when for thirteen shor some of someonesaid that person. I ran into a
gentleman from San Diego a couple ofmonths ago and he said, for thirteen

(14:13):
or you know whatever many of yoursyou played, you came down, your
team came down to San Diego andkicked our butts all the time. So
that's the kay. I guess that'sthe type of resentment and feelings you have
towards the Dodgers when that's happened forgeneration of fans, you know, growing
up and being a fan there,you don't like that team in LA because

(14:39):
you haven't had much success against them. Andre Ethier is our guest, and
Andre, you can appreciate this whenit comes to some of the younger Dodgers
especially James Outman. He was neverhighly recruited out of high school. He
was never made that number one prospector even top ten Dodger prospect that got
that got hyped up. He hadto even fight to make the team this

(15:01):
year, and here he is oneof the best rookies in Major League Baseball.
What have you seen from him thatyou appreciate? And do you see
any of yourself and James Outman asfar as the way he's come up,
I think it's just all that opportunity, and you know, everyone's waiting their
opportunity. Some guys are are givena little sooner, given a little easy

(15:22):
road, and you know it's allyou know, harder road, whatever it
is. But it's just whenever youget your opportunity, you have to show
up and show out. And youknow, that's what he's done. And
uh, I think you gotta givehim a lot of credit for you know,
staying headgstrong, for staying ready forthat chance to get up there and
do it. And he's taken fulladvantage of it and he's become you know,

(15:45):
a pretty uh you know, importantpart and important player in that lineup,
you know, both offensively, defensively, and you know we've seen over
this course the year, he's wona few games already in his you know
short uh you know, stint withthe team here, and you know you
like to see him, uh,you know, keep progressing and figure out

(16:06):
a way to be a mainstay inthis lineup. And you know, that's
the great thing about this organization isyou know the quality and the depth you
have top to bottom through the wholething. And you know, you know
I came up, you know,as you know, he started coming up
after you, and then you havethe guys now are coming up after them,
and it just shows you that,you know, this team's loaded from

(16:26):
top to bottom, you know,not only on the Major Leaue roster,
but in the depths, and there'splayers in there, and there's diamonds in
the rough, and this is one, you know right there you see so
far. But you know, atthe same time, it's it's a long
year and you know that, andyou know, you just hope, like
I said, he keeps going outthere, progressing and uh, you know,

(16:47):
finds his place, finds his footand can be a Major leaguer for
a lot of years to come.You've taught me a lot just being around
you when you were playing. Andthe one thing that always stuck out to
me that you told me was everyyears you to itself. It's not just
because he had a great year lastyear. It doesn't mean you're going to
come back with that same feel asa hitter or a pitcher. How do
you find that? And right nowI don't think Freddie Freeman has found it,

(17:11):
and I certainly don't think Mooky Bettshas found it yet. Yeah,
but I think those guys have abig enough track record. I think because
guys have a big enough success,you know, to see that they know
how to come out of things.They know how to you know, have
tough starts, have hot starts.You know. I one a coach we
had over the years, he wouldalways say, you know, it's when

(17:34):
you have that sample size, thelaws of average always seem to come out
and play out the same way.Might be a little little bit less,
might be a little bit more,but they're always around where you're used to.
Especially those guys with those the trackrecords, the years they have underneath
them, the sample size you have, I think you know they're gonna end
up right around where they're you know, historical average has been for their career.

(18:00):
And not to say they won't orthey will, but you know that's
what you rely on. Steady veteranbig time players like them, who are
you know, arguably the best,you know, some of the best that
they're positioned and in what they do, and you know to rely on them,
and you know it's filling in thegaps and around them that you take

(18:21):
the pressure off and can sometimes feelthe void when those guys are not playing
their best. If you have thatsupports staff around you, which this team
is starting to shape up to looklike it does, you know you're not
missing them as much when they're goingto this little, you know, rough
patch to start the year, andI guess they may get they may get
more hits because there's not a shiftanymore. How envious are you of these

(18:41):
hitters now that don't have three orfour guys on the right side of the
infield. Yeah, it's you know, it's it's it's been a time in
a long time in the game,right It's it's one where you know so
much of parts of the games,some of the nuances, some of those
parts made you know, fans enjoyablefor you know, and having an advantage

(19:07):
of being a left handed hitter,you know, taken away from the game
because of some of the statistical analysisthat were looked upon, you know,
and we're used in its advantage,and you know, it's it's nice to
see that the teams are finally makingan adjustment and uh you know in the

(19:30):
league's making an adjustment to put theteams and the players and allow them to
have their strengths out there. AndI think we talked about this earlier in
the winter, right you remember whatyou said, Well, I don't know,
you know, it's a part ofthe game and does this And I
said, well, a right handergets rewarded for rolling over a ball into
the hole because there's not many shortstopsand not that many slow runners who are

(19:52):
gonna get thrown out from shallow leftfield on a ball to first base.
I left, the same thing.Hits a ball in the hole and in
a second base that makes all theycan still get up and make the play.
So you know, you can shiftsome what you can shift a power
pulling right hand or over put thesecond basement as short and the short stop

(20:12):
and in uh third, you know, or in short left field and uh,
you know he's not going to throwthe guy run out the first base,
So you know, I guess there'sso many camps in that department that
go back and forth. And Ido the same thing, like, Hey,
if I was a manager and I'mrunning by defense, I would want

(20:37):
every advantage I have against the hitor if I knew that these were the
best odds to get them out.But then I'm on offense and I think
the other way around. So youknow, you go back and forth,
and I can understand why. Youknow, it's still a hot topic,
but I think it's good for thegame. And you can see how you
know, a simple base hit stufflike that by a left hander can can

(20:57):
you know, be a more effectivein the game. Andre Ethy years thirty
game hitting streak happened last week intwenty ten, and it was the anniversary
of it coming to an end.If there was no shift, would that
hitting streak have gone on? Ican't remember the exact outs and all that
of that game, but do youthink it would have been extended without a

(21:18):
shift? No, because I actuallyI think I remember a couple of them
during like the ninth or tenth one, where I had a fisted ball right
over the pitcher's head towards the secondbasement, and if he wasn't shifted,
he probably would he played on itand got me out at first though maybe
the shift helped me out a littlebit. But yeah, you never know.

(21:41):
You can see you like, youknow, guys who've maybe struggled or
had a little bit of a timehaving that extra base hit that might you
know, like a month, seelike a like a Belgier guys we've seen
over the course of you know,a lot of years who've had that extra
base hit taken away from them.You can see how just that one or
two extra hits a week by thathard hit ground ball through you know,

(22:03):
first and second kind of just liftsthem up a little bit more, lifts
up you know, their averages andlists up everything in their game. And
you know that was the one thingthat would point out right away is the
left hander who can hit a decentvelocity, Uh, you know, ball
through that hole is going to bethat much more valuable. Now all right,

(22:25):
I know the Sun's game is goingon, Dre, So I have
just a couple of more questions foryou. Last night in Atlanta, your
former teammate Kenley Jansen recorded his fourhundredth save of his career. You were
on the team when he recorded hisfirst save. Did you ever believe or
imagine that this guy that used tobe a catcher turned into a relief pitcher

(22:48):
it would become one of seven pitchersto have four hundred saves, Yes or
no? I write like it wasthe funny thing where, you know,
I knew Kenley as a catcher andknew him all, you know, those
first couple of years when he,you know, got into the Dodgers organization
in spring training at Vero Beach andhe's catching, and you know, you

(23:08):
like, you make fun of itnow because he's a you know, a
top ten closer of all time.But literally, you know, he couldn't
he couldn't hit water swing and ifhe fell out the boat, you know,
that type of that type of hitter. So he had this unbelievable arm,
and they, you know, hedisappeared. I remember leaving. I
think it was in two thousand andeight or nine THO was the last time

(23:29):
I kind of saw him, youknow, as he started his transformation into
pitching, and then all of asudden, you know, they're in what
it was a two thousand and tenhe's coming up yea and closing a game
for us, And you know,over you know, those first first year
or two three, you never knowhow things were gonna end up. But
at the end of my career,yeah, you knew you were playing with

(23:51):
one of the best closers of ourgeneration, one of the best closers of
you know now, of all time, and a guy I kind of looked
up after he had that last night, and I mean, he has a
little did him a chance to sneakin the top five by this year and
if something else happens, he's goingto be he has a chance to be

(24:11):
the top four save leaders by theend of the season. But then this
year, and that's a pretty specialplace to be. And when you look
at those names on there, andif he has another two three years in
him, you know, I don'tthink he catches you know, the top
two guys, but he's gonna diskhimself number three for you know, quite
of ways because what is what isTrevor at six six? Him and Mariana

(24:37):
are up there. I don't thinkthat's happening. Yeah, I mean right,
like I'm not saying he didn't do. Look, but does he have
what is that that takes what fivemore years to get to at a at
a thirty to forty year clip orthirty to forty save a year clip right
there, which is a lead ofelite. I think he got forty one
last year. That was that's prettyunbelievable. And I don't see why with

(24:59):
the stuff he's bringing this year,he can't get forty again this year.
Yeah, Trevor Hoffman six hundred andone career, says Mariano six hundred and
fifty two, and mister Lee Smithhad four hundred and seventy eight. He
was third all time and saves heyout of you never did see him.
Hey, hey, Dave, Idefinitely see him get into four seventy eight.

(25:19):
I think that's gonna reach if youplay right, If he plays two
or three more years, I thinkthat's definitely a reachable, reachable number for
him. If he plays two orthree more years, you never know how
things go up, you know howthings go down over these next couple of
years. But I mean, hefor no particular reason doesn't seem like he's

(25:41):
you know, slowing down any bitmore than any other And let's just concert.
They say thirty five in the nexttwo after this year, and you
know you're knocking on the door orseventy eight. Yeah, good point.
He was throwing ninety nine last nightin the nineteen that's pretty right, right.
Forty puts him at like four thirtythis year, four four, four

(26:03):
thirty five. And you're, like, I said, you had sixty on
top of that, and you're rightat four seventy creeping You're right. You're
better at math than I am.That's a that's a good point by you.
Hey, Victor, I know you'rea little slow on the take.
I know you're a little slow onthere. You have a lot of things
going on. I do not thatmuch. It's just a lot of crickets.
But hey, Victor Brick just textme. He told me to send

(26:26):
his love to you. Andre.I. I miss Vick and I hope
he's doing well. I know he'sprobably gearing up for that Lakers game there
tomorrow, and what a what awhat a treat to see you know,
that team and the way they're playingright now. Yeah. Hey, all
your years in Phoenix, your adultyears, you ever run into Charles Barkley?

(26:51):
Uh No, I've not seen Charlesuh, you know, I think
he's always in that being set allthe time. He just lives in Atlanta,
I guess, and that yeah,it lives on that set. Hey.
By the way, I want tosay this before you go, Dodger
fans will be going out to DodgersStadium all weekend long. You can get
the Andre Ethier Walk Off Blonde TarantulaHill beer at Dodgers Stadium. You go

(27:17):
out to the center Field Plaza,you go to any of those IPA places
that sell all those beers and youcould get a pretty cool can that Andre
designed for the Andre Ethier Walk OffBlonde. So fans will be enjoined that
this weekend while the Dodgers whoop thatpadres you know what, boom, there
we go, let's do it.And yeah, for sure, I know

(27:40):
big series this weekend. You know, I think it's they did a great
job last week and putting those guysback to the place. And I think
each time you can show up andand when the series from those guys,
I think it, you know,just takes a little bit of confidence that
they gained by winning that playoff serieslast year. All right, well,
we'll hope to see you out heresoon. Andre You take care of yourself

(28:02):
out there in the desert. Besafe, all right, Thanks David,
thanks for coming on. Appreciate it. There he goes Andre Ethier getting back
to that Phoenix Suns playoff game.Appreciate him calling in. And that's true.
There's a beer at Dodger Stadium thatyou can get, the Andre Ethier
Walk Off Blonde. It was brewedby Tarantula Hill out in Thousand Oaks and

(28:25):
they're available at Dodgers Stadium. Soif you're over twenty one and you want
to enjoy a beer or two,look for that one. We're gonna take
a time out here on Dodger Talk. When we come back. Your phone
calls at eight six six nine eightseven two five seventy Padres coming into your
house starting tomorrow night, and ouraction begins at six o'clock with Morongo Casino

(28:47):
Dodgers on deck and then first pitchat seven ten Dustin May and Blake Snell
right here on Dodgers Radio and fiveseventy LA Sports this weekend between the Dodgers
and Padres to see you out atDodgers Stadium for all three games tomorrow night.
First pitches at seven ten, Saturdayis at four fifteen, it's a

(29:08):
nationally televised game, and then onSunday Mother's Day one ten. So we
hope to see you out there anduh certainly make Dodgers Stadium loud. Tomorrow
Dustin May against Blake Snell at DodgersStadium. Eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. Time to hear from you. Let's

(29:29):
go out to Steve and Lahabra.You're on Dodger Talk with David Vasse.
How you doing, Steve? I'mdoing great game? We do. I
mean when you offs was our money? You're a bakings you keep it out
of state. You're a lot ofstate. That's what they should call you.
But I want to talk about MookieBets. Is he a bowler or
a podcaster or he a Dodger baseballplayers. I mean, we know what

(29:55):
happened in the playoffs last season,and he didn't stay with the team in
the hotel because he said of aghost, but then did a podcast.
I mean, what do you think. I know you keep a real day.
I watch a real answer. Whatdo you think about Mookie Bett?
In his dedication to the daughter team. You know, I'm like Freddy Freeman
and other players like Cure Shaw.Where do you think? Okay, well,

(30:19):
number one, Mookie Bets does havea new podcast, and I have
a feeling the whole ghost story wasa little embellished by I'm not going to
say by anybody. I feel likethat was secondary to Mookie needing a place
to have the podcast film, whichis fine. You could stay wherever you

(30:40):
want, honestly, but that issomething he's doing. And you know,
he hit a leadoff home run thesame day that he recorded the podcast,
so I will say that he's both. I'm not against baseball players trying to
promote the game in different ways.I'm not against that. But you're right,

(31:00):
Steve, once you start doing theseother things, you open the door
too. If you don't perform,people like you are gonna say, well,
it's because you're bowling, it's becauseyou're podcasting. So I'm not against
it. But the whole ghost storythat was just Mookie saying that's part of
it too. But the main pointwas is that he needed a spot to

(31:22):
have for a podcast, a flatand it was a great excuse to be
able to find that. So Idon't have a problem with it because he
showed up for the game that night, and when he's at Dodger Stadium or
anywhere he's there, he's putting inthe work. And if that doesn't if
that's not happening, then yeah,then maybe that should be questioned. How

(31:47):
does that sound? Sounds good?Every answer you give is the best answer.
We all love. You want touh, you know, I'm gonna
give away these pair of tickets toMonday Night's Sweet. The way I'm gonna
do it, I'm gonna put youback on hold, Steve. But right
now, the way I'm going todecide. When you come with your strong

(32:08):
take, and it's a solid one, I want to hear you give me
your best Victor Brick impersonation of feelingyou, Hello, Vick, feeling you?
What's all that we have to giveit? Okay, all right,
let's stop right there, Steve.Let's stop right there. Hold on eight
six six nine, eight seven twofive seventy is the phone number. Let's

(32:30):
go out to Eric, who's inthe grade one eight. How you doing,
Eric, You're on Dodger Talk.Eric, You're on the air.
What's up swinging? Miss Eric?Let's go out to East La. Mark,
you're on Dodger Talk. How youdoing feeling you day? Best say?

(32:51):
And yeah, Madres think that theycan come into Dodger Stadium this weekend
when this is the year of therookies, Dude, James Altman and Maggie
Vargas Amadres can stack their lineup withall these big names. We just keep
bringing out these rookies, putting allthis talent on the field, and we're

(33:13):
just bringing them down year after year, and we will continue to do so,
you know. And then we havethe samurai Clayton Kershaw. They are
so lucky he is not pitching thisweekend. I know, I wanted to
see that, Mark. I wantedto see Kershaw pitch against the Padres this
weekend. Oh, it would havebeen beautiful to watch them cry this weekend.

(33:38):
But you know, as Victor Brickwould say, he is a samurai
and he will sit there and relaxand watch us deep down on the Madres.
So, you know, like hewould say, fielding you all right,
Mark, that's solid. Hold on, Okay, you've moved on.
Hold on, Steve, You're stillthere. I'm here, all right,

(34:04):
you say, I'm a straight shooter. Right, I'm gonna be honest with
you. You're not winning after whatI heard from Mark. Okay, I'm
sorry, go ahead, Okay,thanks a lot for calling in. Eight
six six nine, eight seven twofive seventy is the phone number. Let's
go out to Josh in La.You're on Dodger Talk with David Vasse.
How you doing, Josh? I'mgood. What's happening in Davy? I'm

(34:28):
doing great. You know, myguy Victor Brick was listening. He wanted
me to give a message to AndreEthier. So this is my homage to
the great, the great Victor BrickJacobs. So he would be pumped up
with the Dodger poncho at Dodgers Stadium. So we've got to make Vic feel
the energy of Dodgers Stadium tonight.Absolutely. Absolutely, I gotta give a

(34:51):
shout out to you, though,Dave, you first thought. I gotta
give it to you. Facing thefear is getting back on the slide over
in Milwaukee. Eight that that takessome co who knows from you. Hey,
thank you, even though it wasthe kids slide. You know,
I figured i'd give everybody some closure. Well, I want to. I
just want to put a put ashot out on this. You know,

(35:13):
somebody born and raised in La livedin San Diego the past seven years.
I'd never have seen more faker fansin my entire life. Just became baseball
fans in twenty twenty. Hottest take. I want to say to you right
now, I think Project fans havetaken over as the worst fans in baseball
over the New York Yankees. Okay, okay, I wouldn't I guess so

(35:39):
I you know, honestly, Ifeel like Red Sox fans are the most
obnoxious fans in baseball. So Yankeefans are like the Dodger fans. They've
won before. They know what it'slike to win. Red Sox up until
oh four never knew what it waslike to win, and they act like
they're entitled to win every year.Well, the thing is, the least

(36:00):
of Red Fox have won something.The Padres have it. That's true,
that's true. But before that theyhadn't won anything. So I appreciate it.
Josh, thank you for the phonecall. Eight six six nine eight
seven two five seventy is the phonenumber. Let's try my guy Eric in
the eight one eight again. What'sup? Eric, how's it going,

(36:21):
David. Everybody's really appreciate you beingone of our representatives. But let's get
down at the basis. San Diego. They've been trying to be contenders for
years. They failed, failed andfailed. They have some big contracts out
right now, but those contracts havenot peddled out to anything, and in

(36:44):
the postseason they're not gonna be there. If they are, I'll be surprised.
But when it comes down to thatKershaw incident, come on, now,
come on, now, that isjust that's no class. That's what
that is. That's no class.You know, well, we're not going
to go put a needle on,you know, to show how to tease

(37:06):
is killed his shoulder, which isgoing to keep on messing up throughout his
career. We're not going to dothat. Dodgers have a little more class
than that. And what the fanssay, you know, the fans will
say. But you know, forthe management, I don't think they would
let something like that slide in ourNo chance. They would never let that

(37:28):
happen. So I agree with you. Eric, Thanks a lot for the
phone call, appreciate it. Let'sgo out to Ronnie in Huntington Beach,
you're on Dodger Talk with David Vasse. How you doing, Ronnie, I'm
feeling you days. Oh yeah.What I got to say is, let's
look back what we're missing here,what we're missing here. If we're not

(37:49):
really missing anything, if we havethe right balance right now of youth in
veterans, the only thing is welook back to some of the teams that
we had, Like I watch theWorld Series. That's all Tommulas order his
rookie year, take him to theWorld Series as a manager in seventy seven.
I went to seventy seven, seventyeight, and I went to seventeen
and eighteen and seventeen was probably oneof the best teams ever too. And

(38:12):
we got kind of jip that year. But we we have we have this,
We gotta have that. It's actorwe don't right now. It seems
like we're missing. Look, Mookie'sgot to step up. Mookie's got to
step up. I think he's gottabe the guy that's gonna take us there.
Freddy Freeman's great. Don't get mewrong. I love Freddy. He's
awesome, but he's not really avocal leader or anything like that. And
we're missing like the fun that likeJohn Peterson just bring the first guy out

(38:37):
there. Every time my home browmssay the end he was out there and
Keiki and stuff. But it seemslike we're just missing that, just some
of the intangibles. We have.The talent there. The talent's there,
but I think someone's got to stepup. Someone's gonna step up and lead
us to this place, to thepromised Land. Yeah, and I'm not
sure that type of leader. Imean, he'll talk to guys, he

(38:58):
leads by example. I think himand Freddie Freeman are that type of leader.
They're leaders by example in different ways. Because Mookie kind of took Miguel
Vargas under his wing at the endof last season. I feel like JD.
Martinez from what I've heard Ronnie,j D. Martinez and Jason Hayward
have been those vocal leaders to holdguys accountable. Those are the guys,

(39:20):
and they gotta play. They gottaplay well to kind of have that credibility
with guys. And that's why usuallythe leader of your team is the best
player on your team because they usuallyplay well and they play every day.
So I'm not disagreeing with you thatit would be nice that for Mookie to
be that guy, since he ishere the longest and he is the highest

(39:43):
paid player. But you can't changewho people are, and he's not a
ra ra vocal get in your faceor let's grab the group type of guy.
Thanks a lot for the phone call. Appreciate it. Eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy.Let's go out to Reggie and Pomona.
You're on Dodger Talk with David Vasse. How you doing, Reggie? Singing

(40:05):
you? Brig Jacobs seeing in you. David Bassett, friend of every Dodger
fan in a Los Angeles. Oh, love it the love it all?
All right? You want you wantthose tickets, So I'll put you on
hold for a second. You'll beyou'll be in the mix. Hold on
one second. Let's go out toRaymond and Wittier. You're on Dodger Talk.
I heard you. You have avtb impersonation. Oh my goodness,

(40:31):
David Bassett, Dodger fan, Lakersfan. I'm feeling you Dodgers all right,
Raymond, thanks a lot for thephone call. Swing and miss on
that one, big guy. Let'sgo out to San Diego. Mike,
where are you? Oh? Whathappens to all the calls? What did

(40:52):
we just lose? Everybody? Allright, all right, hold on,
let's rerack everybody. Let's not blockout the calls. Here we go,
Let's get on. How about this. We have a special guest calling in
right now. He's been listening andhe gave me the idea for people to
pay homage to King Flavor. Thatis the great Victor Brig Jacobs. Feeling

(41:15):
you, my brother, A feelingyou, DV. I just want to
go on record before we give awaythe spectacular Dodger tickets that you are fearless
in Milwaukee. You are now legendaryin Milwaukee. You faced your fears,
which is the ultimate triumph, andyou did with you with good vibes,

(41:40):
with flair, with benevolence and funin your heart, and the way you
handle the entire horrific injury is reallyinspirational. David Vessey and I just want
to you know, let you knowin all our great Dodger listeners know that
you are a warrior and you aredefinitely sitting a great example a young journalist

(42:04):
on how to conduct yourselves. Youknow, while you're doing your job with
an incredible amount of courage, Sodv again, I want to go you
know, un record, not videodisc, not any social media Kakameni machine,
but reality truth. You're spectacular,David Essey, Oh much love.

(42:28):
That means a lot, Vic,Thank you, Vick. I appreciate that.
I you know, I went downthe kids slide because you know,
things would have been a little bitdicey in the vass A household if I
would have gone down the big slide. Again, now test testing your mom.
You know it's the right call,definitely the right call. But holy
crap. Okay, Vic, haveyou heard some of these uh, these

(42:52):
fans that have called in trying towin these tickets by giving me their best
feeling you. Let's see, let'ssee if you want to judge one of
these guys. All right, I'mgonna pull up a caller right here,
and you let me know if they'reworthy. A lot of beautiful, beautiful
voices. Thank you so much foryour limitations. That's a lot of love
there, So thank you Dodger fans. You're all doing a great job at
the feeling yous. All right,all right, let's go to a line

(43:15):
two here. Let's see who wegot here. Who's who's on the air
with Victor brick Jacobs. Yeah,yeah, that's Mark from East La stilling
you. Vic. I'm feeling Bakersgo Dodgers. It's the year of the
rookies and Clayton winning a cy YoungAward this year again for you, Vick,

(43:38):
for you because he's feeling you aswell. Are you feeling that vacant?
I'm feeling it was nice to getthe Clayton Kershaw angle. And just
as a quick aside, it seemsto me you and Clayton are getting very
this year after you know, somany years you know, of of interviews.

(43:58):
It's just you and Kur, veryvery tight. It seems, yes,
we're feeling it twelve years together,Vic, So he's put up with
me for a lot of years.So are you are? We gonna give
the tickets to Mark. I thinkMark has done a valiant job here of
doing his best King flavor love forthe Dodgers. Gotta give it to markilso

(44:20):
mixed in Los Lakers. Of course. We'll wrap it up tomorrow. In
Game six, Mitchell Wiggins is somethingvery questionable with a torn rib, which
is great news for the Lakers andthe fourth make the great Anthony Davis.
We'll be playing, you know,with a headache, but he will be
bolling. But I like the wayhe infused Lakers and Dodgers. Is Dodgers
fans are Laker fans are Lanko fansof Dodgers fans. I'm feeling you all

(44:40):
right, love it. Mark,You've got the tickets. Vic, thanks
a lot for calling in to DodgerTalk. Appreciate you listening tonight. Thanks
to Andre Ethier calling in as well. In case you missed any of the
show, you can find it onthe iHeartRadio app. We got to get
out of here for Fox Sports Radio. Dodgers padres tomorrow night at Dodgers Stadium
at seven ten. Our coverage beginsat six o'clock right here on Dodgers Radio

(45:06):
A five seventy LA Sports. Thanksto Ronnie Fossio for his help back at
our Burbank studios. We will talkto you tomorrow night. See ya,