Danny Lehmann (6-20-25)

The Dodgers bench coach talks about last night's benches clearing incident, filling in for Dave Roberts, and Clayton Kershaw's greatness. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's a new series here at Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers
are welcoming in the Washington Nationals. But obviously last night
there was tempers that flared over the Padres, emotions spilled
onto the field, and today Major League Baseball announced that
both managers have been suspended for one game and Robert Suarez,
the Padres closer, are suspended for three games. And we're

(00:27):
joined right now by tonight's acting manager, and that's Dave
Roberts bench coach Danny Lehman. Danny, thanks a lot for
the time.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Thanks Dave.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
How did you find out that Doc was suspended for
tonight's game? And how does that change what you do?

Speaker 1 (00:41):
It doesn't change much at all obviously for me for
what I do to prepare for the game and get ready.
But yeah, everything's been kind of emotional the last couple
of games, as you know, but I think we're all
glad that this series is over with and we're onto
the next one to get kind of rolling into the weekend.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
How surprised were you when you saw Mike Schild come
out of the dugout and not go check on Fernando
Tatis Junior, but come out and kind of get after Dave.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, it wasn't the best situation to be in obviously yesterday,
but I understand how emotional it was for both teams
and how he came out and looking to I assume
to protect his players. I didn't see him coming out
that hot, but he did, and and it escalated pretty quick,
and I'm just glad, you know, we're past it and

(01:31):
nobody's really hurt through all of it, and we can
kind of move on.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Speaking of almost being hurt, how close and how out
of bounds is it for Robert Suarez, who was suspended
three games today, to go that high to hit Shoho Tani.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah, I mean where the game.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Was and three zero count, three zero count.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, it's just you know, like I said, the tempers
were just high, and it was Nobody likes to get
thrown up in the zone around your head or above
the waist, obviously, and and I don't I can't speak
to the intent on it with him, and you'd have
to talk to him or whatever, but it's you just
don't like getting your players hit, and especially up top,
so you know that's not comforting for anybody on either team.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
You were able to chase down Dave Roberts pretty quickly
there as things started to spill onto the field. You
are a former catcher, so you know how to run
out there and try to grab somebody. How successful were
you last night at being the peacemaker?

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah? And I think everything just escalated quickly with how
it was handled by both guys, and I just try
to get out there and make sure that nothing crazy
happened for our players obviously, but for also for Dave
and and like I said, it was emotional, and Shilt
was emotional, and it just kind of boiled over at
that point.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
How much do you attribute the schedule playing the Padres
seven times within a week to the tempers boiling over
last night?

Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah? I think obviously that has something to do with it.
The history has something to do with it. In the rivalry,
how good both teams have been over the last couple
of years, all of it just kind of baked together,
and we want to beat them and they want to
beat us, and it just kind of pushed a little
too far, I think in the last couple of games,
and so it got emotional quickly.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Dodgers bench coach Danny Leman is joining us. He is
tonight's acting manager, with Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt each
being suspended by Major League Baseball earlier. Today it is
Kershaw Day, Danny Leman, how aware are you of the
fact that he's just twelve strikeouts away from three thousand
in his career.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, his curse's day to day, and obviously he had
a really good one last time, and I think that's
what he's trying to repeat. But yeah, everybody's aware of it.
It's unbelievable milestone and it's going to be really exciting
when it happens, and it's well deserved obviously for the
guy and what he's done. But it's a cool thing
to witness and be a part of in a small way.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
You've been around him for a decade now. How incredible
is it to watch him do what he's doing after
everything he's been through.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
It's unbelievable. The consistency with him, how he fights to
get back and what he's continually able to do is
just super impressive. So it's it's fun to watch me
on the outside watching from the side.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
The curveball seems to be the same with everything else
that seems to still be as good as it was.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, curveball's great. So it's just a very unique pitch
and he has a good feel for it, and his
other pitches makes his other pitches better, So obviously just
part of his repertoire.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
All right, Danny, thanks a lot for checking in with us.
Appreciate it. I know your record is pretty good. Filling
in for Dave Roberts.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yeah, what is it?

Speaker 2 (04:39):
You're undefeated?

Speaker 1 (04:40):
Is it? What about last night?

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Last night? I don't think that counts. You have to
go at least five innings and manage.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
You exactly exactly right, all right.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
At least you'll have Will Smith catching tonight, finally back
to back games for your all star catcher. Just kidding.

Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, well yeah, will'son there.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
Thanks a lot, Danny. I'll let you go. You got
a game plan, thanks Dave,