Dodger Talk (7-13-23)

Off-day Dodger Talk with Tim Cates before the Dodgers begin the second half of the 2023 season with the New York Mets.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Oh, it's so great to beback with you on this Thursday night,
July thirteenth, Off Night Dodger Talkfor the next hour. Thanks for being
with us on this hot Thursday evening. It is gonna get steamy here in
southern California this weekend. Stay cool, if you got a pool, jump

(00:22):
in it, if you got anythingto cool you off. Make sure you're
doing to go to the beach,do whatever. Make sure you keep a
five seventy LA Sports with you whereveryou're going. We appreciate you listening,
of course always on the iHeartRadio app. You can listen and stream in HD
our phone number eight six six nineeight seven two five seventy eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy.It feels like it's been a while,

(00:45):
because it has. The Dodgers andMajor League Baseball have been on the All
Star break. For the Dodgers andAngels, it started after Saturday night's game.
For the rest of baseball, itstarted after their game on Sunday,
and the festivities up in Seattle callNATed with the All Star Game on Tuesday
night. I got them thoughts onthat coming up in just a minute.
If you want to weigh in onthe All Star Game All Star Weekend in

(01:07):
Seattle. We can certainly do thatat eight six six eight two five seventy.
The Dodgers will be back at ittomorrow on the road as they started
a road trip in New York atCity Field in Queens for a three game
weekend series against the New York Mets. Julio Odious and Justin Verlander. The

(01:29):
pitching matchup in game one tomorrow.Then they'll play Saturday and Sunday morning before
the Dodgers head off to continue theirroad trip. But they'll start off this
second half of the season on theroad, first up three game series against
the Mets. Some good news fromthe Dodgers on this road trip. They
could they could see two guys comeoff the injured list, being Clayton Kershaw

(01:53):
and Chris Taylor. Chris Taylor hashad a couple of minor league rehab assignments.
He was in Rachel Kukama a coupleof days ago playing for the Quakes,
and if he checks out okay andthe knee is not sore and he's
feeling good, we could see ChrisTaylor back with this Dodgers team on this
road trip we expect to see ClaytonKershaw activated on this road trip as well,

(02:15):
so that is certainly good injury newsfor the Dodgers, who were the
first half of this season have beenabsolutely riddled by injuries, and that's something
we're gonna get into as well.Coming up at seven forty five, I'll
get you a farm report the latestin the Dodgers top minor league prospects,
Dalton Rushing, Gavin Stone, DiegoCartaya, River, Ryan Eddie's, Leonard,

(02:38):
Max Maddox, Bruns, Jorbet Vivas, Jose Ramos, Austin Gothier.
What are they doing in the minorleagues? These are names you could be
hearing in the next few weeks,and certainly with the Dodgers in the middle
of trade rumors out there, theseare names you're gonna hear a lot more
because the Dodgers top minor league prospectsat levels from Low A ball Rancho Cucamonga

(03:01):
through Great Lakes and High A ballDouble A Tulsa, the Triple A,
Oklahoma's city, and the Dodgers havenine of the top one hundred prospects in
all of baseball, according to MLBPipeline. Baseball America they're right up there
as well, but they've got aheavy farm system full of prospects, and

(03:22):
they could be in the running forseveral players at the trade deadline. And
that's why I want to start offright there. At eight six nine,
eight seven two five seventy, theDodgers, believe it or not, go
into the second half of the seasontied for first with the Arizona Diamondbacks at
fifty one and thirty eight. Theywon four to a row going into the
break. They won three or fouragainst the Pirates, and they swept the

(03:44):
two game miniseries with the Angels.They won seven of ten overall going into
the All Star Break, and despiteall the injuries and the up and down
play of certain players, the Dodgersgo into the All Star Break and now
start the second half of the seasontied with Arizona atop the division. The

(04:05):
Dodgers are fifty one and thirty eight, the Arizona Diamondbacks are fifty two and
thirty nine. And I'm coming offa couple of days in which I was
very fortunate got to go away withthe family for the All Star Break,
the only time I'd get any timeto really get away and not have to
work too much outside of the petrolsome money show which was working remotely but

(04:26):
still had a chance to get awayfor a few days. And was talking
to somebody yesterday about this when wewere out to dinner about the Dodgers and
what are they gonna do and howdisappointing of this season has this been for
you? I said, what disappointing? This is a disappointing first half of
the season. They said, Yeah. They went one hundred and eleven games
a year ago. They ran awaywith the division a year ago. I

(04:49):
mean this team has been struggling.I mean, you know, some of
these guys have been hitting under twohundred. I said, yeah, you're
right. You know, James Outmanhas been up and down. Miguel Varcas
gets optioned to TRIPLELA Oklahoma City atthe All Star break. We'll figure out
what's he's gonna do the second halfof the season if he can get right
offensively. Max Munsey's sub two hundred, but he's also got twenty plus home

(05:13):
runs. Yeah, guys have beenup and down. Injuries have riddled this
Dodgers team the first half of thisseason. Was starting pitching in particular being
affected the most. But as Isit back and I think about it,
Dodgers are fifty one and thirty eight. Sure, they're not the best record
in the National League. Okay,stats wise, they're not number one on
this and number one on that andleading the baseball and all this, But

(05:34):
they're fifty one and thirty eight.They're tied to top the NL West.
Despite everything we just talked about andmentioned, the up and down play of
the young players, the inconsistency ofthe of some of the veterans, and
the injuries to Chris Taylor and MaxMunsey being up and down, and the
Dodgers, you know, starting rotationbeing decimated by injuries and having to call

(05:57):
upon three of your top pitching respectsto come up and give you multiple starts
and gonna have to count on themin the second half of the season.
Dustin May done for the year,Daniel Hudson teases us for two games he's
done, Gavin Luck's done in springtraining. Despite all that, the Dodgers
are fifty one and thirty eight,and they're gonna get healthy. As we

(06:20):
mentioned, Clayton Kershaw coming back,Chris Taylor, hopefully he can come back,
and be the Chris Taylor that earnedthat contract and produced, and it's
been a really good postseason player andversatile infielder and outfielder for this Dodger team
the last four years. Hopefully hecan return to that level. James Altman
maybe some consistency. Jason Hayward cancontinue to be a pleasant surprise. Will

(06:44):
Smith an All Star year, MaxMookie Betts an All Star year, Freddie
Freeman an All Star year. TheDodgers gets a little bit more production at
the shortstop position, they can figureit out in left field and get some
production from David Praulto, who's heatedit up before the All Star break.
The rotation can get healthy, thebullpen can add some pieces, and the
trade deadline can bring some guys tohelp out this roster the final two months.

(07:12):
So no, this hasn't been adisappointing season. They're not gonna win
one hundred and eleven games. Notmany teams do. Dodgers were the first
team and won decades to do that. Besides, the Seattle Mariners hasn't been
a disappointed first half of the season. It's quite the contrary the Dodgers at
fifty one and thirty eight. Despiteall the problems, the injuries, the

(07:34):
inconsistent play, they counting on rookies. The Dodgers are fifty one and thirty
eight and as I mentioned, gonnaget healthy hopefully to get some consistent play
the second half of the season fromthese veterans who haven't been consistent, and
gonna get guys at the trade deadline. And they're tied with Arizona, who,

(07:55):
by the way, let's look atArizona real quick. Dodger fans fifty
two and thirty nine played baseball thenew twenty twenty three way fast station to
station steal bases. That's awesome,that's awesome. But over one sixty two
can they keep this up? We'llfind out. But the Dodgers, despite
everything we just talked about, ourneck and neck with the Diamondbacks, who

(08:18):
have played, you know, abovetheir skis, who have played out of
their mind the first half of theseason, surprice everybody, and how quickly
this young nucleus has put together anddone it here in twenty twenty three,
and they've been relatively injury free,and our good friend Ned Colletti talks about

(08:39):
it all the time. The Dodgersjust have too much depth. He was
all Rogan and Rodney I think yesterdayin studio or two days ago, and
he was fantastic talking about the Dodgers. Nine innings are just gonna wear you
down. The talent is just better, The depth is just better. And
I used depth for this reason.The Dodgers have depth, and they've had
to dip into the depth and startingstarting pitching because of injuries. Bobby Miller,

(09:01):
and you know, we've seen EmmettSheen, We've seen Gavin Stone out
of necessity. Arizona's relied heavily onZach Gallan and Merril Kelly, who have
pretty much made every start and beenhealthy the first half of the year.
Nineteen starts for Zach Gallan, allstart, He's fantastic, but he can
he keep it up at the samepace in the second half. We'll find

(09:24):
out. But after Zach Gallant andMerril Kelly, nobody in that Diamondbacks rotation
scares me at all. I don'tthink. I don't look at the series
and go gotch man. They gotone, two, three in a five
game series, in a seven gameseries, three the four games, man,
they got lights out rotation. Idon't look at the Diamondbacks that way.
I look at two guys a topthe rotation who've had really good first

(09:46):
half of the season. And ZachGallant, who's now put the back back
to back seasons as a top levelpitcher in the National League. Good for
him. He's won the better onesabsolutely offensively Arizona, they've been healthy.
Christian Walker could tell Marte, Gurriel, Corbyn Carroll, who's one of the
young bright stars in baseball, GurrielJunior, who's an All Star this year.

(10:09):
Christian Walker, who hits bombs,could tell Marte, who's a consistent
all around good player. They've allbeen healthy. Look at the numbers.
They've played almost every game or closeto it. They haven't been hit by
injuries. But you take away thosefour stars on their offense, producers on
their offense, Walker, Mary Marte, Carol Guriel, you take away those

(10:31):
four guys who have been the consistentevery day producers of offense, there's not
a lot of depth there. Oneof those guys gets hurt, they're in
problems. One of those guys getsa slump. Two of those guys going
and rut. That's a problem inArizona. They've been playing a way above
their skis the lot the first month, the first half of the season,

(10:52):
and they're good, There's no doubtabout it. I don't think they fade
completely in the second half. Butit's gonna be interesting to see if they've
got the depth over one sixty twopitching and offense. Can they keep it
up? Can they keep this momentumfor one hundred plus win season up Over

(11:13):
in Phoenix, we'll find out.It's gonna be fun to see the Dodgers
and Diamondbacks, who I think aregonna be the two teams ultimately going neck
and neck here for the division,You're gonna see the Padres going a little
bit of run. The Giants aregonna hang around for the while the Rockies
are done. But I think overall, fifty one and thirty eight Dodger fans,
injuries, relying on young arms,the inconsistent out of some of the

(11:35):
veterans offensively, the injuries to guyslike Chris Taylor, I mean, I'll
take that any day, knowing whatcouldn't now add to this team in a
trade, knowing what's going to beadded off the injured list. Absolutely,
I'll take that. But does Arizonahave the depth. Do they have the

(11:56):
talent to hang over the course ofone sixty two eight six six nine,
eight two five seventy. I thinkit's fun to talk about. I think
it's great for the Dodgers to bein this position at the All Star break.
They didn't have everything break their waythe first half of the season like
Arizona did. They didn't have everythingline up perfectly rotation wise, the offense

(12:18):
sort of like Arizona did. Thisfirst half of the season. They had
the ups and downs, losing threeof four, losing two of three in
Kansas City to the Royals. Gross. But despite all that, here they
are fifty one and thirty eight,tied atop the NLS eight six six nine
eight seven two five seventy. TheDodgers also today officially unveiled they're twenty twenty

(12:45):
four schedule, as did every teamacross Major League Baseball. But all we
care about is there boys in bluewho will start this season, as you
know, in Seoul, South Korea, next March twentieth and twenty first,
yes, the and Padres aren't goingto South Korea to start the twenty twenty
fourth season. The Dodgers legacy ofKorean players young Jin Ryu chan Ho Park.

(13:09):
I mean, the Dodgers in Japan, in Korea, even Taiwan have
been fantastic as far as bringing overplayers, players being at the major league
level of this Dodgers team, andreally the fan base just surrounding these players

(13:30):
and the fan base evolving and expandinginto these countries and becoming favorites of a
lot of people in Japan and alot of Dodger fans in South Korea.
And so the Dodgers and Padres willstart next season in South Korea. Now
they'll come back home and for thosewho you don't know, the twenty twenty
four regular season at home will beginon March twenty eighth with the Dodgers and

(13:52):
a couple of highlights for next year'sseason. Now, this year we saw
the Yankees come to die Stadium.Was fantastic to had that three game weekend
series. Interleague play, balanced schedulehas certainly changed things, no doubt about
it. In a few years whenthis is down the road, I don't
think it will necessarily be as excitingto hear, Hey, you know what,

(14:15):
the Boston Red Sox are coming toDodgers Stadium like they are next year
and next year when they come inJuly nineteen, twenty and twenty one for
a three game series against the Dodgers, will be the first time back since
twenty eighteen and the World Series,and Justin Turner will be back, and
Kenley Jameson i assume will still beon the Red Sox and keeping Hernandez and

(14:35):
alex Fordugo. I'm assuming all fourof these guys will still be on the
roster next year for the Red Sox. In a few years, that novelty
will wear off, but it's stillcool. Dodgers going to Fenway Park this
year, Dodgers going to Arizona toArlington this year to take on Corey Seeger
and the Texas Rangers are one ofthe better teams in baseball. Next year,

(14:56):
Seeger and the Rangers will come toDodgers Stadium in June first. I'm
Corey Seager will be backed in theregular season, not wearing a Dodger uniform.
So it's cool to see interleague playnow and still the novelty of the
Red Sox coming next year. TheYankees came this year. Next year we'll
see the Tampa Bay Raise come toDodgers Stadium, so it'll be fun to

(15:20):
see that eight six six nine,eight seven, two five seventy the All
Star Game. I real quickly wantto get into it before we get to
your phone calls and again a farmreport coming up in thirty minutes. The
All Star Game in Seattle. Twobig takeaways from the All Star Game,
and I'll really mentioned a third one, okay, but the big two for

(15:41):
me, I loved the mic dubplayers. Now, before you start yelling
at the radio or your telephone oryour your iPhone, I know they did
it last year. I was atthe All Star Game covering it for the
station. I didn't get a chanceto hear it. You're in the stadium.
You don't know that Joe Davis andJohn Smolts are talking to a player

(16:03):
and they're miked up because you can'thear any of it. Okay, So
this is my first time experience inthe mike d up players this year at
the All Star Game watching it onFox in Seattle, and to see Nathan
Vivaldi of the Texas Rangers and CorbynCarroll both miked up at the same time
facing each other. Was really cool. To have Evaldi out there pitching and

(16:27):
John Smoltz talking to him in hisear about what's your process, what are
you thinking? What are you gonnathrow here, and putting his glove up
over his mouth and saying, youknow, splitter here. Haven't thrown a
splitter yet? Going with the goingwith the slider was awesome. I'm a
baseball nerd. I loved it.I loved seeing the mike up players and
hearing, you know, Nathan Valditalk about what he's gonna throw and talk

(16:48):
to Joe Davis and John Smolts betweenpitches. I loved it. I loved
it. The battle, although brieflybetween the Valdi and Corbyn Carroll, who
are both miked up, and andif all he kind of joked like I'm
gonna tell you I'm thrown and gotkind of quiet and have Freddie Freeman and
Mookie Bets miked up at the sametime, and to hear that banter which

(17:10):
you never hear, Mookie Betts jokingwith Freddie Freeman about when he plays the
infield and then Freddie's like, yeah, you're just lucky, you know,
you get to come touch dirt andnot all the grass out. I mean
they were kind of you know,jabbing at each other in a fun way
and something you don't hear all thetime. And I loved it. I
loved the miked up aspect of italmost every inning, and I think it's

(17:33):
something Baseball got right with the AllStar Game, allowing the players to talk
about what's happened. I know theydo it on Sunday Night Baseball, but
to have any All Star game withthe pitcher and the and the hitter was
a great timing first off. Butto have players almost every eight he miked
up a lot of fun. Thatwas the big takeaway for me. Number
two, The uniforms suck. Okay, I'm sorry they do. I love

(17:56):
baseball. I don't know every playeron the Blue Jays or the Twins,
or even the Mariners relievers or middlerelievers or the Tampa Bay you know,
bullpen guy, I don't. I'msorry. So when they come into pitch
or they come up to bat andI don't know who it is, and
they have a big N or anA on their helmet for National League or

(18:18):
American League, and I'm hoping thecamera gets an angle of the patch on
their jersey so I can see whatteam they play for, and then hope
I know what player it is,because it's not a superstar. That's not
good. You are trying to sellyour sport. And it's on the biggest
stage, a standalone game on aTuesday night in July where there's nothing else

(18:41):
happening besides the All Star Game.And you got it so right with the
mic d up players. But theuniforms, let's go back to the old
school. The American League, ballpark, American League where's their home, the
National League where they're away grays.We know what team they play for.
Fans can identify who they are.If they're not representing their team, they
know what team they play for.It's not a guessing game. It's not

(19:04):
a Okay, that guy looks likeit looks like an Oriole on the side
of it. Okay, definitely aBaltimore Oriole. I don't know who that
is, though. It's like,come on, guys are having great seasons,
young guys. You may not knowwho they are. If they're wearing
their uniform, you know, hatdown to their cleats, you know what

(19:25):
team they play for, and thenyou can have a pretty guide. Oh,
I know this guy's having a greatseason for Tampa. This guy's having
a fantastic year for the Baltimore Orioles. You can kind of pinpoint who they
are if you're not a baseball fanof that particular team. They got it
wrong again with the uniforms. Theygotta do something about it. I know
the commissioner addressed it and said heliked it this way. I don't.
My personal opinion, I don't.I'm old school. I think it's better

(19:48):
for the game. You're putting theseplayers on a spotlight, a pedestal.
You're recognizing them for being superstars orhaving superstar years in this All Star game.
Let them be identified by the teamthey represent, sent not by a
league jersey and a league helmet withan inn or a you know a on
it and niked a guessing game.So I just needed to get that off

(20:11):
my chest. The uniforms bothered me, miked up. I absolutely loved it.
Now, if they really wanted totweak the All Star Game and it's
getting kind of boring in some people'seyes, they can come to me beyond
idea. I think the NHL didit a few years ago where they had
North Americans versus the world in anAll Star game. What if you did
that North Americans versus the world.I mean, I'd be kind of cool

(20:34):
for an All Star game that's justdown the road if something putt in their
back pocket. I love it nowAmerican League, National League, it's still
to me means something. I thinkit's really cool. The uniforms stunk.
Change those let's identify the players.The mic up part of it was really
cool. All right, I'll takea quick break. We'll come back.
Farm Report cut up at seven fortyfive. Robert Adrian Aaron Isabelle. I

(20:56):
see, I got two lines open. If you want to jump on board,
we can talk All Star Game.Look about the Dodgers in the first
half of the season. Some Dodgerfans think it's been in disappointment. I
disagree. First place in the divisionand you've been up and down, and
you're getting guys back, you'll possiblymake trades, and you expect some guys

(21:17):
to perform better than they did inthe first half, and you get the
trade deadline coming up at the endof the month. What are the Dodgers
gonna do. I'll tell you onename that's been out there the last twenty
four hours. It would be aperfect fit for this Dodgers team the final
two months eight six, six,nine, eight seven, two, five
seventy ten Kids Off Night, DodgerTalk here on this Thursday night, July

(21:40):
thirteenth, the All Star Break comingto an end. We're gonna play baseball
tomorrow and New York Dodgers of Metsright here on your home with the Dodgers
at five seventy LA Sports Live everywhereon the iHeart Radio app on the road
at City Field in New York,Julio Odious and justin Virlandard Dodgers Mets.
We'll get it all started with MorongoCasino Dodgers on deck at three o'clock,
first pick from Queens, New York. He is coming up at for tam

(22:03):
We got into the first half ofthis season. The twenty twenty four unveiling
of their schedule came out today.Dodgers will start the year in Soul,
South Korea in March against the Padresthe All Star Game. I gave you
my thoughts on that. During theAll Star break, very quietly, it
was announced that Daniel Hudson was movedto the sixty day injured list, and
during the same press release, itwas announced that Miguel Vargas was optioned to

(22:27):
triple at Oklahoma's city. Now,the young second baseman was given every opportunity
to win the starting job during springtraining and was basically handed the job at
short at second base if he wasgoing to produce offensive like he has done
at every level at the minor leagues, and defensively was gonna figure it out
at second base, a position hehadn't played a lot in the minor league

(22:51):
level. Defensively, Miguel Vargas hasbeen really good on the eighty one games
that he played this season. Now, Miguel Vargas option to Triple A not
because of his defense, but thetwo hundred and fifty six at bats one
ninety five average, seven home runs, fifteen doubles, and Miguel Vargas just

(23:11):
struggled the final three weeks going intothe All Star break, and for him,
I think mentally more than anything,needs to go out of a Triple
A and just reset, get right, get back to that swing, the
mechanics, get that right, andnot have the pressure of the every day,
you know, going out there andask to produce and have all the
eyes on you. You know what, This is an opportunity for Mookie Bets

(23:34):
to play second base, Jason Heywardat be in right field. Chris Taylor's
coming back, He'll get every someopportunities to play second base as well.
Miguel Vargas, this isn't a knockon him. He's gonna be a really
good major leaguer. He's still young. It's gonna be a long time major
league I believe. But right nowhe just needs to get right down at
Triple A Oklahoma City, work onhis mechanics without the pressure and the eyeballs

(23:56):
on him every single day and themedia asking questions and Dave Roberts having to
ask and to answer questions about MiguelVargas' struggles at the plate and being won
for his last thirty three at theat the you know, at the plate.
No, none of that. He'sgonna have to worry about. Go
down to a Triple A Oklahoma City, get his mechanics right, mentally,

(24:17):
get right at the plate, produceput the you know string together, quality
of bats, get right offensively,and there's no doubt we're gonna see Miguel
Vargas back up here with this Dodgersteam at some point the second half of
this season. The Doctors also madea move during this All Star break.
They acquired right hander Tyson Miller fromthe Milwaukee Brewers, a twenty seven year

(24:37):
old, a reliever and nine inthe third innings a five seventy one array
with the Brewers this year. Evenwith three teams in the last couple of
years. It's bullpen help. It'sanother arm in which the Dodgers desperately need
now that Daniel Hudson is back onthe injured list. Not to say that
he'll replace Daniel Hudson by any means, that's not what I'm saying at all.
But he's a right handed arm theDodgers can maybe tinker with, adjust

(25:00):
get his mechanics right, figure outwhat he does right. What the Dodgers
have been so well at is theyacquire these relievers. It's a Yancy Almonti
a Bigford and instead of throwing fivepitches or you know, four different pictures,
let's find the two or three picturesyou do really well, and let's
just work on those, and let'sjust have you throw those, and let's

(25:21):
simplify everything for you as a reliever. And that's what they've done so well
over the years, going back toJoe Blanton, and who knows, maybe
a Tyson Miller is a guy whocan come in and give him some solid
innings the second half of the season. We'll find out, all right,
eight six, six, nine,eight seven two five seventy Aaron and east
La, Welcome to Dodger Talk hereon an five seventy on this Thursday night.
How you doing, Aaron, Hey, I'm doing great. I'm just

(25:44):
wondering with all these rumors that aregoing around, Lucas Giolito, Kim Anderson,
a lot of these stars who aren'treally that persistent I believe this season,
is it really worth getting rid ofsome of our top prospects for these
guys? I'll ask you this,Aaron, Is it worth it when you've
got Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts inthe prime of their careers, and you've

(26:07):
got a thirty five year old futureHall of Famer name Clayton Kershaw on a
one year deal, looking to winanother World Series and meaning so much as
he does to your franchise on andoff the field, does it make sense
to win now, to go outand make a trade to better this team?
Right? Right? Yeah? Itdoesn't make sense. Well, I
mean I know Will smith contract isending pretty still, and I believe I

(26:32):
know he's not. No, WillSmith's under contract under his rookie deal for
a few more years. Oh okay, well, what about like Diego Cartel.
I mean, I know he's hecould come up soon. I don't
know if trading him for like aTim Anderson is going to be great.
I mean, I would rather seelike a superstar that's very consistent. Obviously
everyone's talking about a Tommy's something likethat. But I mean down the line,

(26:55):
are we I mean, are wegonna be losing out on these guys
if we let him go? AppreciateAaron Here's my thinking on this and today
the big you know name that wasmentioned and John Paul Morossi from MLB Network
was on with Petro some Money justa couple of hours ago. In fact,
I think he was on at fivethirty talking about this very same thing
that he reported earlier today, inthat the Dodgers are very much interested in

(27:17):
right hander Lucas Giolito out of HarvardWestlake High School. Here in the eight
one eight, it's twenty nine tomorrow. He is having a good season at
six and five three forty five ereight hundred and seventeen strikeouts and nineteen starts.
He is a free agent at theend of the season, and if
you're the Dodgers, he'd be agood addition to your rotation. He really

(27:38):
would. To me, he'd bethat three in your rotation. You know,
he'd be that guy who you cancount on in the postseason. I
believe as well, and I thinkwould come here and would be as a
breath of fresh air for this guy. Free agent at the end of the
year, certainly not ending well inChicago, they're looking to get better.
I don't think you'd have to giveup the farm to get him. I

(28:00):
really don't believe so. I don'tthink this is a Max Scherzer trade Turner
type deal. I don't believe it. Lucas Gilito is a good pitcher and
going into free agency, is lookingto get paid. But he's twenty eight
going on twenty nine tomorrow, localkid. I think he'll come back home.
I think he would fit in perfectlyhere, and who knows what his
future is after this year when he'sa free agent. But knowing that,

(28:22):
I don't think you're gonna have togive up four prospects to get him.
If you're just looking for Lucas LucasGilito, Tim Anderson, I'm out on
I have no interest at this pointoffensively, he has fallen off, and
I think the Dodgers can go differentdirections, and one being a healthy Chris
Taylor producing offensively is a way betteroption. It really is. Now that

(28:45):
being said, and I appreciate thephone call, Aaron. You bring up
the question that was also brought uprecently, Well, why trade away all
these top prospects, these pitching armsthat we're seeing and hearing about, and
Diego Kartia, why why we tradehim? Well? Do you not want
to win? Now? This isn'tan organization that has got a short window

(29:07):
and the windows closing and it's gonnabe rebuild mode for another ten years.
This is a team that consistently isgoing to the playoffs, winning divisions,
going to World Series, and it'scompeting at the highest level, which you
can't say about every team and everyorganization in Major League Baseball, you just
can't. But the Dodgers are atthe top. They're right up there.

(29:30):
And as I mentioned Aaron, justa few minutes ago, you've got a
thirty five year old Clayton Kershaw who'sstill pitching really good. He's an All
Star not based on a resume,and based on who he is and longevity,
and we're gonna go let him goout with the bang. Here is
an All Star like an Albert Pools. Uh uh. This is a legitimate

(29:52):
All Star season for Clayton Kershaw.How many more of these does he have
in his back pocket? How manymore of these All Star seasons where he's
basically been the foundation of this rotationthe first half of the season because of
injuries and inconsistency of the rest ofthe rotation. Gonselin May Julio odious,

(30:14):
who's been the consistent Clayton Kershaw.But how many more years do you have
like this? You don't know.So you win now, you give up
some prospects to get somebody who's gonnacome in here and make this team even
better. Not somebody's gonna come inhere and just soak up Indians. Uh,
this isn't. Let's go out andget a guy who's a journeyman,
veteran who's gonna give give you afive Indians and flip over the rotation every

(30:37):
five days. No, I wantsomebody who's gonna come in and get in
this rotation, and when you getto the postseas gonna be like, dang,
they got Dodgers, got this,this, and this in a series.
Wow, look out, they gotsome arms that they're thrown at us.
That's what I want at the tradedeadline. Lucas Gilino could be one
of those guys again. He couldbe a three very easily in this Dodgers

(30:59):
rotation, but it may involve givingup a prospect or too. I don't
think you have to give up aton like a trade turner Max Scherzer deal,
because it's just Lucas Giolito. Butalso keep in mind the year that
Clayton Kurtshaw's having, and you've gotMookie Bets and Freddie Freeman in the prime
of their careers. Why would youwaste that They're gonna get older, hopefully

(31:23):
their production doesn't taper off, butyou've got them an all star MVP type
seasons both of them. Bets andFreeman. Freeman can win their freaking by
batting title again this year, andwe're just gonna go out and try to
better our team. Plugin guy hereanother bat off the bench. Journeyman bullpen

(31:45):
guy. Let's go out use someof these chips that they have in minor
league prospects, guys who I'm gonnatell you about in ten minutes, and
let's make a run at this thing. Let's go on and get some names
that are gonna come in in hereand make this team even better and pull
away and win the division and moreimportantly, more importantly, be there in

(32:07):
October and be counted upon to pitchor hit or come off the bench or
come out of the bullpen and winfreaking games and get to the World Series
again. It's not good enough justto bring in an I name them pitch
every five days. I'm sorry,I keep hearing Rich Hill. I love
Rich Hill. I love them,but to me, that's not a move

(32:30):
that's gonna put the Dodgers ahead ofanybody else in the National League. It's
not gonna separate them from the ArizonaDiamondbacks. It's a name. To me,
I love rich Hill, but Idon't think man October day, we
got Kershaw Orias and Rich Hill.It's not twenty seventeen, dude, it's

(32:51):
twenty twenty three. I love RichHill, but that to me, that's
a plug in move that helps outthe innings in the regular season. That's
not an October move. I wantan October move. I want to move
that's gonna be a guy that's gonnahelp out in October more than Max Scherzer
did a few years ago. Hewas in October move. Who we got
hurt in October? Lucas Gilito.It's a good guy. You can plug

(33:15):
in and be a three in thisrotation. Is there somebody bigger out there?
Think big? Why not? Theygot the prospects to make trades,
Dodger fans. I'm gonna give youa list here again, coming up at
seven forty five of names of prospects. They got nine of the top one
hundred top prospects in minor league baseball. They got to catch in Diego Kartia.

(33:37):
Diego Kartia is twenty one in DoubleA. If he's ready in a
year or two, guess what willSmith's still on this Dodgers team, under
contract until twenty twenty five. He'snot a free agent till twenty six.
Michael Bush is knocking on the door. Is there a room for him?
In the end, Dodger's got armsin Tulsa. All we keep hearing this

(33:58):
Tulsa Drillers team is the best doublea rotation we've ever seen the history of
baseball. Great, how many ofthese guys are gonna be ready to pitch
this year next year? Because Iwant to win this year? Trade him?
You just reloaded in the draft acouple of days ago. Nick Nastrini,

(34:21):
Nick Frasso, River, Ryan Maddox, Brons, Gavin Stone. There's
are guys right there that you couldbe putting together in a package. And
I'm sorry, Diego Kartia to me, is one of those prospects. I'm
dangling to another team right now.Why because I got Will Smith under contract,
an All Star, And I gota guy who you're gonna hear about,

(34:44):
and you've heard his name. DavidVasse had him on the pregame show
lot of two weeks ago in DaltonRushing. He's a twenty two year old
catcher. He's actually older than DiegoCartie played at Louisville. He's the second
round pick of the year ago.He's in Great Lakes. He is one
level behind Diego Kartia, and heis a catcher. Dh you can play

(35:04):
first base, power, left handed, hitting power hitter with a nine oho
eight ops. I'm gonna give youhis numbers here in a few minutes,
Draws walks. He's a stud,so is Diego Kartya. But you've got
two catchers right next to each otherin the minor leagues a year, a
part in age. You can't havetwo frontline catchers in the big leagues and

(35:28):
Will Smith, you can trade oneof them. You can't. It's okay,
but it better be a front linestarting pitcher or a big time bad
I want a picture for October.That's what I want on this Dodgers team
after the deadline. They got theprospects to do it. Unfortunately, and
I hate to do it. Someof these guys aren't gonna be on the

(35:50):
Dodgers, but you can use themas trade because their prospects and their Dodgers
can get better now. And it'snot gonna coplete the system. The Dodgers
have a great farm system. JaredCarros has been a great surprise with Racho
Kucamonga. The Dodgers just drafted morepitching prospects. They can reload. They'll

(36:13):
be okay, but they talent theyhave there. I truly believe you've got
a log jamt catcher. You've gottwo minor league catchers, deal one of
them. If Cartia is gonna getyou the most because he's your number one
prospect and in many people's eyes acrossBaseball Baseball America MLB pipeline, he's a
top ten minor league prospect. Youknow what, one day, he could

(36:36):
be an All Star one day.But we got an All Star and Will
Smith here. Now, now that'scatching for the Dodgers. So trade Kartia,
go out and get an October pitcherfor this Dodgers team this year.
Adrian, you're next up here onDodger Talk. Sorry for my rant there,
Adrian, but I'm getting more andmore fired up as we get closer

(36:59):
this trading deadline. I don't know, you're good. I'm just as fired
up, Like like Dodgers ever given, Like what's reckless? You know,
trades and that's like admirable. They'drather invest and you know, how do
you call it? Journeymen? Bullpeningguys in the off season, develop them

(37:20):
and then make some trade. Developtheir prospects from the rail with seasons,
show them off, and then maketrades. They're smart they're type for first
to spite of all the injuries,just like how you said and like I'm
like, just spite of that,it's like, yeah, they're stolen first,
but it's like our future unfortunately,because injuries are on the field.

(37:44):
So it's unfortunately that may Bueller andyou know, our whole you know staff
cannot be on the field and we'reprotecting you know, these ships like she
and Miller and stuff like that too. You can keeping you can still keep
the appreciate the phone call. Youcan still keep Bobby Miller and Emma Shehan.
Okay, take those two guys outof your equation, because if you're

(38:05):
worried about losing those two guys aftereight or nine starts, that you like
what you've seen so far and they'regoing to be part of this rotation.
They are this year because of necessity. I'm not even talking about trading those
two. Gavin Stone, Nick Nastrini, Nick Frost, So River, Ryan
Maddox, Bruns. These are allminor league guys either at double A.
Max Bruns is at high A ball. I'll tell you what he's doing.

(38:27):
It's the first round pick two yearsago. Those are all guys not named
Bobby Miller and Emma Sheen, thenyou could hold on to at the trade
deadline. I don't think I'd getrid of either two of those, But
you know what top Miley prospect,I would dangle out there, Diego Kartia.
I would Robert corvallis Oregon five fourone up in Oregon. How you

(38:50):
doing, Robert? Just great?You know Dodger fans since sixty three or
sixty four years, and then movemoved to La. I got a big
question. This is driving me nuts. You remember the movie Moneyball, and
the big line says, well,if he's a good hitter, why it
doesn't you hit good? Right?Okay, Well, when we comes down
to managing time for these pictures andtaking them out of the sixth inning and

(39:14):
then giving them time off to saveinjuries, how come it doesn't save injuries.
It seems like they've all been injuredthe last couple of years, and
they've all been on a time restriction. It's a good question. Doesn't it
work? And if it doesn't work, why do we keep doing it?
It's a good question. I thinkthe appreciate Robert. The numbers overall will
tell you that you don't burn outguys. You don't force arms to be

(39:37):
used as much as they were overthe last decades. One and I'll tell
you the big reason why. It'smoney. You're investing a lot of money
in draft picks, free agency andthen resigning guys to big money deals.
Garrett Cole is an example. We'lluse Garrett Cole as quickly as an example.
You paid a guys three hund milliondollars, two unfrety million dollars.
You're gonna baby him. You're gonnakeep every into that arm in look every

(40:00):
day to make sure that it's okay, that there's nothing wrong with it,
doesn't hurt, there's not even anache, there's nothing wrong with that,
and then his body's okay because yougot a lot invested in it. That's
another big reason. The investment inthese guys is so high that you want
to make sure you take care ofyour player. That's exactly what it is.
And looking basketball, it's the samething. You know your return on
investment to what you get. Youknow you don't need to push it over

(40:22):
eighty two games in the NBA seasonor one sixty two over the course of
MLB season, and real quickly beforewe take a break. I know we're
up against it here. We gottaget to our farm report real quickly.
You mentioned the offseason moves and goingand getting guys who are journeymen and bringing
him in him in bullpen help overthe course of one hundred sixty two games
and a Major League Baseball season.It's okay to have a roster that are

(40:43):
guys that you bring in and arehoping you can turn around a career.
A Tyler Anderson's of the world,a Yancey Almonte's of the world, that
Joe Bland's of the world, youknow, a Brandon Morrow a few years
ago of the world. Because theycan help you over one sixty two and
they can help you get to thepromised Land. But your star they didn't
have to help you carry you inOctober, and you hope those guys can
continue what they did in the regularseason into the postseason. So at the

(41:07):
trade deadline, it's there to goout and get guys who are gonna help
you immediately. You're not gonna justsay all right, we're gonna go and
get a player and hope we canstick around and have this guy in two
or three years. Nah, you'reworried about what they're gonna do the next
ninety days going into October. That'sall you care about. You get a
Max Scherzer in a trade turner likethey did the a couple of years ago.
That's a rarity to get a guywho's gonna be a holdover for another

(41:27):
year like trade turner. Usually it'sguys at the end of an expiring contract.
So I still think that Dodgers areprimed for some big moves. I
hope. So I really do.I want an arm for October to make
this team a legitimate World Series contender. All Right, we'll take a break,
we'll come back. We'll get toa farm report, give you the

(41:49):
top minor league prospects. I'll tellyou what Diego Cartie is doing in the
minor leagues. Dalton Rushing, NickNastrini, heis Leonard. Farm Report is
next off night, Dodge, You'retalking totinuees here on a seventy's Live Everywhere
on the iHeartRadio web chup in theseries opener, first pitch right here on
five seventy LA Sports Live Everywhere onthe iHeartRadio app is at four ten,
while Morongo Casino Dodgers on deck startingat three o'clock. The Major League Baseball

(42:14):
trade deadline just a couple of weeksaway. We've been getting into that all
show long again. Today, thetwenty twenty fourth Major League Baseball schedule was
unveiled. The Dodgers starting the seasonin Soul, Korea on March twentieth and
twenty first against the San Diego Padres. The first regular season home game is
on March twenty eighth. Next year, the Dodgers. We'll welcome a pair
of former players to the Dodgers Stadium, as Corey Seeger and the Rangers will

(42:37):
play at Dodger Stadium in mid June. Justin Turner of the Boston Red Sox
will come to Dodger Stadium after theAll Star break in July next season.
Last promised, gotta give you anupdate on the Dodgers top minor league prospects
from Rancho Cucamonga all the way upto Oklahoma City. Let's go down the
farm from Diego kart Taya to JorbetVivas and landon knack. The Dodgers minor

(43:00):
league prospects here in twenty twenty three, and how they're doing here in mid
July Diego car Tie the number oneoverall prospect, twenty one year old catcher
from Venezuela. He's in double ATulsa, swinging a line drive, face
hit left field. Leonard scores thesecond base viz Farcas RBI is single for

(43:21):
car tire. He drives in histhirty seventh run of the year. Tulsa
drillers a radio network with the call. There's sixty one games, the two
oh three average, that's not great, seven doubles, eleventh home runs,
thirty seven ribbies, twenty two walks, and a six sixty three ops.
Again, double A is considered bymany that jump, that's a big one
from a ball to double A,and how you mature and how you make

(43:44):
that jump and adjust is a bigthing amongst evaluators across baseball. So Diego
Cartia now in the midst of thatjump to double A Tulsa through now sixty
one games. Dodgers number three overallprospect is Michael Bush. We've seen him
up and down at the major leaguelevel. First round pick in twenty nineteen
North Carolina, the second baseman,third baseman outfielders in TRIPLELA Oklahoma City and

(44:04):
since going back to Oklahoma City twoseventy three average. It's got a double
triple eight ribbies get on base acouple of times to be a walk.
He's got four hole runs, swings, and it's a flyball and a deep
right center field tucker back towards thewall. It is gone. The third
whole run of the Sherries for Bush, this one to the base of the

(44:25):
hardy pad out in right center ona long one out to right center by
Bush, number eleven overall this year, and he gives it Anders a one
nothing lead of the third is OklahomaCity Dodgers Radio Network with the call as
Michael Bush. It's being sent backdown from the Dodgers. Is heating up

(44:45):
in Triple A. Number four overallprospect is Gavin Stone, the twenty four
year old right hitter. He's beenup and down from TRIPLELA to the big
leagues. Thirteen starts down in TripleA, three and four, the six
zero three r a seventy two strikeouts. We saw what he did when he
came up to the major League's mixedresults in Triple A in the month of
June. He was one and twoand four starts with a twelve eer race.

(45:07):
Trying to figure things out in Julyso far, maybe he's turned the
corner. In July one start againstAlbuquerque and he had six shutout and he's
one two swaying at a miss forstrike three gets Tucker this time ask Stone
with three strike counts in a one, two, three, six up to
eight and six scoreless. One ofhis maybe his best outing of the season.

(45:30):
Oklahoma City Dodgers Radio Network is thecall. He scattered three hits,
struck out eight against Albuquerque and hisfirst start in the month of July in
Triple A Oklahoma City. Andy Piehas twenty two year old outfielder. He
has torn his labor. He hasdone for the year. Dalton Rushing,
second round pick out of Louisville ayear ago, twenty two year old catcher

(45:51):
also play at first base. He'sa left hander. It got a lot
of power. He's in Great Lakeswith the Loons in High eight ball.
Fifty six games, two fifty eightaverage, sixteen doubles, eight home runs,
forty seven walks, thirty five ribbies. He gets on base. He's
got a nine oh eight ops.Nick Nastrini number eight overall prospect for the
Dodgers twenty three year old right hander, fourth round pick in twenty twenty one

(46:14):
out of UCLA. He's in DoubleA Tulsa. Fourteen starts, four and
two, three, eighty six RAand sixty six strikeouts. Also in Double
A Tulsa. Twenty four year oldright hander Nick Frosso, fourth round pick
in twenty twenty of the Toronto BlueJays, came over to the Dodgers in
the Mitch White Train. Fourteen starts, one in three, four RA and
fifty eight strikeouts in Rancho Kuca Manga. If you have a chance to check

(46:36):
out Posua Depola, eighteen year oldoutfielder. He's been with the Quakes for
thirty games, two sixty three average, eight doubles, two triples, a
home run, eleven walks, aseven forty six ops. He can fly
and he can get on base.River Ryan another one of these star pitchers
in Double A Tulsa. He's twentyfour years old. Eleventh round pick of

(46:58):
the Padres in twenty twenty one.He came to the Dodgers and the Matt
Baty deal. He's been a stealso far for the Dodgers. Fourteen starts
in Double A, one three record, two seventy one RA and sixty seven
punch Outson Maddox, Brunt's first roundpick in twenty twenty one out of high
school Alabama. He has been aslow progression through the minor leagues. He's

(47:19):
twenty one now. He was draftinghe was eighteen. He's in Great Lakes
with the Loons ten starts one andone, but in two fifty two r
A and forty eight strikeouts and tenstarts. He started the year in Rancho
Cucamonga and was really good in sixstarts. Eddie's Leonard, twenty two year
old shortstop at the Demandantan Republic.He is in Double A Tulsa and tearing
it up, swinging out its tworound Harmer Tulsa Drillers Radio networked with the

(47:55):
call Leonard eighty games, two fortynine average, but he's got a hour,
nine home runs, twenty doubles andforty RBI. Orbet Vivas, twenty
two year old Venezuelan second basement.He's in Double A Tulsa in seventy seventy
games. Listen to these numbers forYorbert Vivas two and ninety eight average,

(48:15):
nineteen doubles, ten home runs,thirty five walks. He's got an A
eighty ops to go along with fortyRBI. Landen Knack one of these young
pitchers the Dodgers have been moving upthe farm system. Twenty five years old
now, so he's getting up there. He's in trip La, Oklahoma City,
a second round pick in twenty twenty. He was drafted at the college,
so a little older. When hegive him a professional start of the

(48:37):
year in Double A twelve starts,sixty one strikeouts. Now three starts in
tripla's two and zero with a threetwenty nine r A and sixteen strikeouts.
You know the name of land andKnack because Landon Knack has been on the
Dodgers taxi squad the last couple ofgames before the All Star break. We
could see him baby on this roadtrip. Who knows. A couple of
the guys I want to spotlight whoare considered top twenty prospects but are certainly

(48:59):
in the makes ofup having great yearsand moving up Dot prospect list. Jose
Ramos. He's a Panamanian. He'stwenty two years old, a center fielder
in Double A Tulsa. Eighty games, two fifty nine average, ten doubles,
sixteen hold runs, and fifty ribbies. Also Austin Gotthier, twenty four
year old shortstop. He was undraftedin twenty twenty one out of Hofstra.

(49:22):
How this guy went undrafted, Idon't know. He started the year in
Great Lakes, was tearing it up. His numbers were through the room.
He got promoted to double A Tulsa. So far in thirty four games,
two seventy five average, six doubles, five home runs in an eight eighty
four ops. Undrafted Austin Gothier,twenty four year old shortstop in the Dodgers

(49:44):
minor leagues. All right, thereyou go. So these are names you've
heard in the Farm report, namesyou're starting to hear as a trade deadline
gets closer. Some of these playerscould be used in a trade to bring
back major league talent that can helpout this Dodgers team here in twenty twenty
three. We'll find out as thetrade deadline gets closer. All right,
Thanks Ronni Fascio, Thanks all youDodger fans for being a part of this

(50:06):
show. That's gonna do it foroff night Dodger Talk tonight. The Dodgers
back at it tomorrow, post AllStar Break Dodgers in New York to take
on the Mets. Julio Odious andJustin Verlander. The pitching matchup with the
series opener Maranco Casino Dodgers on deckwill get it all started at three o'clock.
First pitch is at four ten.I have a great rest of your
Thursday night until then, So longeverybody,