Christian Walker (7-4-24)

DV catches up with the "Dodger killer" before the Dodgers play the Dbacks on the 4th of July. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks wrapping up thisthree game series on the fourth of July.
And I'm with a man that Ihave now labeled a Dodger killer public
enemy number one here in Los Angelesbecause he has done amazing things, not
against the Dodgers only, but againstmajor League Baseball. He has twenty home
runs, tied with the best firstbasemen, among the most hit this year.

(00:23):
And that's the one and only ChristianWalker. Christian, thanks a lot
for the time. Appreciate it.Yeah, thanks for having me. I
feel like I was obligated to comeover here just so Dodger fans can hear
what you sound like, what yourpersonality is like. So I guess this
is your personal introduction after your bathas done all the talking. No,
it's an honor. There's a tonof history in the stadium, in this

(00:46):
organization, so you know, tobe even on anybody's radar of you know,
having success against the team or theorganization, it's it's humbling for sure.
After last year the Diamondbacks going tothe World Series sweeping the Dodgers in
the first round, is there adifferent era of confidence among this group of
players. Yeah, it's no secret. You know how how good this Dodgers

(01:07):
team is year in and year out, and especially last year. So I
know, I know personally that thatgave us and and me a ton of
confidence and a ton of momentum movingforward. That was that was something that
was circled on our on our postseasonto do list, and you know,
to be proud of that that thatseries win and and you know, it
felt like that was that was abig stepping stone for us and in our

(01:27):
success in the postseason. I knowthere's an extra wild card berth now at
stake, and it seems like teamslike the Dodgers, the Phillies, they
talk about October, but for otherteams and for them as well, doesn't
there need to be a sense ofurgency and not try to diminish the regular
season? Yeah, yeah, Ithink, you know, I think it's

(01:47):
it's all part of the preparation.You know, some some teams have the
luxury they they know they're going tobe able to put up a certain amount
of wins every year. They havethe luxury to you know, set their
sights on the postseason, and youknow, it doesn't seem to affect how
they go about their business during theregular season. I think other teams that
are, you know, a littleunfamiliar with the postseason and how hard it
is to get in. Uh,you know, their their focus is day

(02:07):
to day and and trying to winevery game. I know the pitching has
been hurt for you guys so farthe first half of the season. Do
you feel like you're in the sameposition or a better position to make a
run in the second half this yearif you get guys like Eduardo Rodriguez and
Merril Kelly back. Yeah, anyanytime you get your you know, your
your your top guys back, that'sthat's huge. But you know that being

(02:30):
said, it's there's still a lotof baseball left. You know, there's
there's gonna be there's gonna be moreinjuries, right There's gonna be guys that
come back from the i L.It's just it's part of the season.
It's the nature of it. Youknow, there's there's a lot of good
talent in this in this clubhouse rightnow to win games. And yeah,
just a matter of you know,trusting each other and having each other's backs
and and just leaving it on thefield. That's the voice of Christian Walker

(02:51):
ahead a first pitch between the Dodgersand Diamondbacks. All right, Christian,
we all know how well you've donehere at Dodgers Stadium. Is it something
about the way you see the ballhere? Is it the heightened atmosphere here
at Dodger Stadium? Can you putyour finger on why you've excelled? No,
I mean a little bit of both, you know, all of the
above. It's you know, it'sdefinitely a you know, there's a there's

(03:13):
a play to your competition type typeexpectation when you come here. We know,
you know that the Dodgers are gonnagive us some some good games.
And yeah, it's you know,I wish there was you know, a
rhyme or reason to it. It'sjust I think it's just one of those
funny baseball stats. When you goinside that batter's box last night, obviously
you're locked in. Is there afeel, like you can use an analogy

(03:34):
sort of like Klay Thompson or StephCurry when they're making threes from half court?
Is there that same feel in thebatter's box for a hitter? I
know, I know, you know. One major difference that comes to mind
is just the size of the park, not that this is like a small
park by any means, but playingat Chase, you know, I hit
a ball last week that was afour hundred and twenty foot double, So

(03:55):
like right, like, sometimes it'sit's a little daunting feeling like you have
to hit the ball so hard andso far to get rewarded there at Chase
sometimes, and you know, there'sthere's other pros that come with it.
There's a lot of doubles, there'sa lot of triples to be had in
that big outfield. But you know, I would say maybe maybe it takes
a little bit of effort level outwhere, you know, maybe on that
like eighty ninety percent effort level andit's maybe a little bit more efficient and

(04:19):
just trusting that you know, ifI put a good swing on it and
put the ball in the barrel,I can be rewarded for it. So
you have twenty home runs this year? Are you telling us your short change
playing in what hitters consider a hittersballpark? No, you're talking about Chase.
Yeah, yeah, that's not ahitters ballpark anymore. I think I
think five or six years ago itdefinitely was. But I think since you

(04:41):
know, the humidors have been added, and it seems like the league is
trying to regulate how the ball,how the ball flies around the league.
You know, there's still some parksthat it's it's still a good place to
hit, right, Like Cincinnati comesto mind, Colorado comes to mind,
stuff like that. But yeah,for whatever reason, you know, I
just I enjoy I enjoy competing atDodger Stadium, Christian I know, and
Kershaw's on the injured list, butyou've competed really well against him. Does

(05:03):
that go back to just certain matchupsare more beneficial to hitters than pitchers.
What have been those type of headto head confrontations for a lack of better
term, You know, anytime,anytime it's like righty, lefty or something,
as a hitter, you try totake you try to channel that as
confidence, right, Like, regardlessof who's out there, It's like,

(05:24):
obviously the credibility and the career successesis there, you know, so you
have to acknowledge that. But inthe same sense, it's like it's just
a body out there. You're tryingto play the head game. It's like,
oh, I got the match upon my side, and you know,
however, However, you got tokind of phrase it and think about
it to feel like you have anadvantage or have an edge in the box.

(05:45):
You know. I think that's abig part of it. I think,
you know, the mechanics are importantand all that, but you know,
the more confident I can be andthe more I can just trust myself
in the box, the better hitterI am. I've always felt, no
matter who it is or what teamyou're playing for, when you go to
a visiting ballpark and you get thebooze, I feel like that's a sign
of respect. Do you feel likemaybe you could feed off of that because

(06:06):
I hate to tell you, Christian, I feel like you're a household name
now in Los Angeles. Yeah.Yeah, anytime the fans you know,
acknowledge you good or bad, Ithink there's something positive to be taken from
there for sure. But yeah,like I said, man, it's just
one of those things. It's uh, you know, I wish I wish
I had like a good juicy nuggetfor you. Why it's here, But

(06:27):
yeah, I think it's just oneof those one of those funny baseball stats.
That's awesome. Well, great meetingyou and thank you. For the
time. I really appreciate it.Yeah, thank you. You're okay with
me ending this by calling you dodgerkiller? Still right? Hey, I'm
not saying it. A lot ofgames to be played, you know.
There he is, Dodger Killer ChristianWalker on the fourth of July