July 12, 2025 • 8 mins
Dalton talks about the new ABS (automatic ball-strike system) and learning how to be a big leaguer.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey or Dodger Talk.
We're here with one of my favorite guys. That's Dodger
catcher Dalton Rushing. Dalton, thanks a lot for the time,
appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's always fun to talk about.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Say I always started, you always finish.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, you're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Hey, I've been talking to some veteran pictures that have
gone to the minor leagues for rehab assignments, and they've
talked about the automated strike zone. You're familiar with it
more than most guys up here. What's your feelings about
how it may work in the big leagues?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, I think, Uh, I think there's a chance it
for sure makes its way here.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It kind of gives everyone a baseline. There's no more
of the argument of oh that's a ball, that's a
strike either either side. I think there's gonna have to
be some tweaks for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Uh. I'm not one hundred.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Percent sure whether it's gonna be picture friendly, hit or friendly.
I guess that all kind of determines or is it's
gonna be determined based on how they make the zone.
Are they gonna change it? Are they gonna shrink it,
make it bigger. I do think it'll be beneficial for
the big leagues. Uh, it'll take a lot of the
complaining about umpires, complaining about crucial calls and big spots.
(01:18):
I think it just kind of, like I said, makes
it makes it fair to both sides, and both sides
have their right and have their honor to tap their
head and challenge the call if they want to full disclosure.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
The guys I've talked to about it are only pictures,
so I don't know how hitters feel, but pictures feel
that three ball count hitters are not going to swing correct.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
It's gonna it can make some pictures run away from
the zone. Uh, But at the same time, it's I
think that's what builds the craft of pitching in a
world like today. I think nowadays, we're seeing the offensive
side of players go down every year. You're seeing a
(02:07):
smaller sample size of power throughout the league. You're seeing
a lower batting average throughout the league year after year
as these obviously pitchers continue to develop and pictures have
been nasty for years, but it's it's almost starting. It's
to the point where one hundred miles an hour is
(02:27):
normal now. So it's like I said, it's taken a
little bit of a offensive hit for the big leagues.
And I think that's why MLB wants to make this
move to the automatic strike zone and you get guys
in the zone a little more. When guys are in
the zone, what happens, Guys hit the ball. And when
guys hit the ball, fans are happy. But yeah, I
(02:48):
don't I don't think it's I don't think it's going
to alter the game too much. I do think like
I said, though, I think it just brings a little
fairness to both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Dalton Rushing speaking from a catcher and perspective on all this. Now,
here's something I'm curious about because I know the dynamics
of a clubhouse to a certain extent, the whole challenge
and if you only have two, will it create a
divide in the dugout? If one guy burns all the challenges?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I think one hundred percent you I've seen it happen
at the minor league level, and there's there's always usually
a baseline for the team. Look, you're only challenging if
you know you're right, especially early in the game. Try
and say a challenge till the last two innings, last inning,
whatever it is. You never want to lose a free
(03:39):
challenge for your team. And you also don't want to
lose twice in one a bat like I've seen it happen.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And so that's where that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Huh, that's a thing. And it just looks selfish more
than anything. And and I think at the end of
the day, that's where that's going to be. Most of
the problem with the challenge system is guys just challenging everything,
Guys just thinking that they're right in every single moment
instead of just saying, all right, maybe I could have
(04:10):
been right right there, but it's not worth challenging. It's
an ocount rather than a three to two count when
bases loaded, you know what I mean, you have much
more like margin for success if it's bases loaded three
two count and there's a fringy fifty to fifty strike.
So like you challenge that. Guess what the risk reward
there is? You risk strike three, inning's over, or the
(04:32):
reward is you it's ball four, you get a run
on the board, you know what I mean. So it's
it's understanding those types of situations as a player, as
a team, and like you said, I think I think
it's gonna actually for a team like this, it's gonna
bring us together to help everyone understand when is the
right time when is not the right time.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Dalton Rushing is our guest, all right, speaking from the
catcher standpoint, because again pitchers have complained even this year,
there is no more top of the strike zone strike
is that a result of this new automated strike zone?
Is there a top of the strike zone anymore?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And where is it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I think there is. I think it. It depends on
the guy. It depends on where they're how their stuff plays,
where it plays best. If you have a North South guy,
like You're gonna have to get calls at the top.
That's just that's what they need in order to be
successful because that's how their stuff plays. If you have
an East West guy and he shoots a four team
(05:31):
up top and he doesn't get a call for it,
that's a little more understandable. As an umpire, I mean,
we have to understand these umpires are human, These guys
are These guys are gonna mess up. They're gonna miss calls,
They're gonna make really bad calls, They're gonna make some
really good calls, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
So it's it's it's more understanding.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Who you are, how you pitch, where you pitch, and
where you're trying to get guys out. I think I
think guys are starting to lean that way a little more,
just because in years past, obviously the zone's been expanded
about a ball every direction, and that that's just because,
like I said, like umpires are starting to be held
(06:12):
a little more accountable for their mistakes. They don't want
to mess up. So when you don't want to mess up,
what do you do? You shrink the zone so you
you squeeze guys a little bit. And when you do
things like that, it not only hurts the picture, but
it hurts everyone because no one really at that point
knows what's a strike and what's not a strike, you know.
(06:32):
So I think there's many different things that go into it.
But like I said earlier, I think that's where the
automated strike zone is going to allow both sides to one.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You can no longer be.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Mad or angry about a strike zone if it's the
same for every hitter, you know. So yeah, I think
it's it's gonna come to the big leagues here soon.
Whenever that is, no one knows, but I do think
at the end of the day, it'll be very beneficial
for the game of baseball.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
All Right, Before I let you go, that was incredible
insight on what's to come. The future may be closer
than we ever thought. You and the baseball season it's
a grind. I'm not going to ask you, are you
having fun? But are you enjoying the grind?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, it's it's still baseball. It's things haven't went the
perfect way for me as far as results, numbers, stuff
like that.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's like I said, it's baseball.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's I tell myself every day when I put my
head on the pillow, when I get up out of bed,
it's I want things like this to happen now so
I can learn from them. It's I just turned twenty
four years old. It's I got a lot of time
in this game in the future, and I don't have
much time being here. So if there's a time to learn,
it's now. And the role that I'm in allows me
(07:56):
to learn a lot easier than being thrown into the
fire trying to lead a team to win a World Series.
And like I said, is that my job when I'm
on the field, Yes, to help lead a team, help
do best of my ability lead us to a win.
But it's not what I'm doing every day, so it's
it takes a little bit of pressure off of me.
(08:16):
But yeah, I'm I'm enjoying the atmosphere here at Dodger Stadium.
I'm enjoying the big leagues. I'm enjoying being around these guys,
learning from all these players every day. I do think
it's only going to allow me to excel over years
to come.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Damn, twenty four years old and you're way more mature
than I am. I mean, you have nothing to worry about.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I wouldn't go that far, David.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yes, you could be my life coach.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
No, you don't. You don't want that. You don't want that.
There's too much going on up here in this head.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Same here.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
We'll try to work it out together, all right. Thanks
a ba say, thanks a lot for the time, Dalton.
Always great to talk baseball with you and always great
to be around you. You're an easy gotta root for.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Absolutely. I appreciate the basic
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey or Dodger Talk.
We're here with one of my favorite guys. That's Dodger
catcher Dalton Rushing. Dalton, thanks a lot for the time,
appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's always fun to talk about.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Say I always started, you always finish.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, you're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Hey, I've been talking to some veteran pictures that have
gone to the minor leagues for rehab assignments, and they've
talked about the automated strike zone. You're familiar with it
more than most guys up here. What's your feelings about
how it may work in the big leagues?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, I think, Uh, I think there's a chance it
for sure makes its way here.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It kind of gives everyone a baseline. There's no more
of the argument of oh that's a ball, that's a
strike either either side. I think there's gonna have to
be some tweaks for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Uh. I'm not one hundred.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Percent sure whether it's gonna be picture friendly, hit or friendly.
I guess that all kind of determines or is it's
gonna be determined based on how they make the zone.
Are they gonna change it? Are they gonna shrink it,
make it bigger. I do think it'll be beneficial for
the big leagues. Uh, it'll take a lot of the
complaining about umpires, complaining about crucial calls and big spots.
(01:18):
I think it just kind of, like I said, makes
it makes it fair to both sides, and both sides
have their right and have their honor to tap their
head and challenge the call if they want to full disclosure.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
The guys I've talked to about it are only pictures,
so I don't know how hitters feel, but pictures feel
that three ball count hitters are not going to swing correct.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
It's gonna it can make some pictures run away from
the zone. Uh, But at the same time, it's I
think that's what builds the craft of pitching in a
world like today. I think nowadays, we're seeing the offensive
side of players go down every year. You're seeing a
(02:07):
smaller sample size of power throughout the league. You're seeing
a lower batting average throughout the league year after year
as these obviously pitchers continue to develop and pictures have
been nasty for years, but it's it's almost starting. It's
to the point where one hundred miles an hour is
(02:27):
normal now. So it's like I said, it's taken a
little bit of a offensive hit for the big leagues.
And I think that's why MLB wants to make this
move to the automatic strike zone and you get guys
in the zone a little more. When guys are in
the zone, what happens, Guys hit the ball. And when
guys hit the ball, fans are happy. But yeah, I
(02:48):
don't I don't think it's I don't think it's going
to alter the game too much. I do think like
I said, though, I think it just brings a little
fairness to both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Dalton Rushing speaking from a catcher and perspective on all this. Now,
here's something I'm curious about because I know the dynamics
of a clubhouse to a certain extent, the whole challenge
and if you only have two, will it create a
divide in the dugout? If one guy burns all the challenges?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I think one hundred percent you I've seen it happen
at the minor league level, and there's there's always usually
a baseline for the team. Look, you're only challenging if
you know you're right, especially early in the game. Try
and say a challenge till the last two innings, last inning,
whatever it is. You never want to lose a free
(03:39):
challenge for your team. And you also don't want to
lose twice in one a bat like I've seen it happen.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And so that's where that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Huh, that's a thing. And it just looks selfish more
than anything. And and I think at the end of
the day, that's where that's going to be. Most of
the problem with the challenge system is guys just challenging everything,
Guys just thinking that they're right in every single moment
instead of just saying, all right, maybe I could have
(04:10):
been right right there, but it's not worth challenging. It's
an ocount rather than a three to two count when
bases loaded, you know what I mean, you have much
more like margin for success if it's bases loaded three
two count and there's a fringy fifty to fifty strike.
So like you challenge that. Guess what the risk reward
there is? You risk strike three, inning's over, or the
(04:32):
reward is you it's ball four, you get a run
on the board, you know what I mean. So it's
it's understanding those types of situations as a player, as
a team, and like you said, I think I think
it's gonna actually for a team like this, it's gonna
bring us together to help everyone understand when is the
right time when is not the right time.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Dalton Rushing is our guest, all right, speaking from the
catcher standpoint, because again pitchers have complained even this year,
there is no more top of the strike zone strike
is that a result of this new automated strike zone?
Is there a top of the strike zone anymore?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And where is it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I think there is. I think it. It depends on
the guy. It depends on where they're how their stuff plays,
where it plays best. If you have a North South guy,
like You're gonna have to get calls at the top.
That's just that's what they need in order to be
successful because that's how their stuff plays. If you have
an East West guy and he shoots a four team
(05:31):
up top and he doesn't get a call for it,
that's a little more understandable. As an umpire, I mean,
we have to understand these umpires are human, These guys
are These guys are gonna mess up. They're gonna miss calls,
They're gonna make really bad calls, They're gonna make some
really good calls, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
So it's it's it's more understanding.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Who you are, how you pitch, where you pitch, and
where you're trying to get guys out. I think I
think guys are starting to lean that way a little more,
just because in years past, obviously the zone's been expanded
about a ball every direction, and that that's just because,
like I said, like umpires are starting to be held
(06:12):
a little more accountable for their mistakes. They don't want
to mess up. So when you don't want to mess up,
what do you do? You shrink the zone so you
you squeeze guys a little bit. And when you do
things like that, it not only hurts the picture, but
it hurts everyone because no one really at that point
knows what's a strike and what's not a strike, you know.
(06:32):
So I think there's many different things that go into it.
But like I said earlier, I think that's where the
automated strike zone is going to allow both sides to one.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You can no longer be.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Mad or angry about a strike zone if it's the
same for every hitter, you know. So yeah, I think
it's it's gonna come to the big leagues here soon.
Whenever that is, no one knows, but I do think
at the end of the day, it'll be very beneficial
for the game of baseball.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
All Right, Before I let you go, that was incredible
insight on what's to come. The future may be closer
than we ever thought. You and the baseball season it's
a grind. I'm not going to ask you, are you
having fun? But are you enjoying the grind?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, it's it's still baseball. It's things haven't went the
perfect way for me as far as results, numbers, stuff
like that.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's like I said, it's baseball.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's I tell myself every day when I put my
head on the pillow, when I get up out of bed,
it's I want things like this to happen now so
I can learn from them. It's I just turned twenty
four years old. It's I got a lot of time
in this game in the future, and I don't have
much time being here. So if there's a time to learn,
it's now. And the role that I'm in allows me
(07:56):
to learn a lot easier than being thrown into the
fire trying to lead a team to win a World Series.
And like I said, is that my job when I'm
on the field, Yes, to help lead a team, help
do best of my ability lead us to a win.
But it's not what I'm doing every day, so it's
it takes a little bit of pressure off of me.
(08:16):
But yeah, I'm I'm enjoying the atmosphere here at Dodger Stadium.
I'm enjoying the big leagues. I'm enjoying being around these guys,
learning from all these players every day. I do think
it's only going to allow me to excel over years
to come.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Damn, twenty four years old and you're way more mature
than I am. I mean, you have nothing to worry about.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I wouldn't go that far, David.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yes, you could be my life coach.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
No, you don't. You don't want that. You don't want that.
There's too much going on up here in this head.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Same here.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
We'll try to work it out together, all right. Thanks
a ba say, thanks a lot for the time, Dalton.
Always great to talk baseball with you and always great
to be around you. You're an easy gotta root for.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Absolutely. I appreciate the basic
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