April 7, 2025 • 41 mins
DV takes your calls and talks to Jose Mota after the Dodgers lose to the Nationals, 6-4. Dustin May talks to the media. Clayton Kershaw gives an update on his injury and rehab.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David Vase.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
We are live at Nationals Park in our nation's capitol
after the Dodgers fall to the Nationals six to four
in the first game of this three game series and
have dropped two games in a row for the first
time this year. Phone lines are open at eight six
six nine, eight seven two five seventy. We will hear
(00:26):
from Jose Mota a little bit later. We will also
give you an update on Clayton Kershaw. We had a
chance to check in with him today, and whatever you
need to know about Blake Snell's injury, I will.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Be able to answer those questions.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Not to mention, we do have a winning bid on
the World Series ball that Will Walker Bueler and the
Dodger Foundation collaborated to auction off to benefit the fire
Relief Fund. So we'll let you know how much that
last out baseball from last year's World Series went for.
(01:05):
Speaking of last year's World Series, we all talked about
how base running and defense in the little things were
the difference in that World Series. Right now, I'm not
seeing any of that from the Dodgers. I'm seeing an
offense that is trying to make up for a lot
(01:26):
of mistakes, whether it be base running or defense. You're
not gonna be able to have your offense bellue out
every single night, even though the Dodgers have had that
happen a few times, and tonight they were very close.
It was very risky for Davy Martinez to bring in
Kyle Finnegan, who yes, is their closer, but for a
(01:48):
five out save on the third straight day that he's pitching.
That was a gamble that paid off this time for
Davy Martinez. And the facts are I feel like when
I say a team survived the Dodgers, that applies tonight
more than any other game this year that the Dodgers
(02:10):
have lost, and they've only lost three.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The Nationals survived this game.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
It was it was close to being over if Tommy
Edmond comes to the plate in the ninth inning. Instead,
Mookie Betts grounds out with runners at first and third
to end the game. So a very risky managing decision
by David Martinez that.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
He got away with.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And look, the Dodger defense now has committed seven errors
in eleven games. The problem is they have guys that
are out of position. Look, I know Mookie Betts put
in a lot of time during the offseason to learn shortstop,
but he's out of position.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It's a new position.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I believe we can all agree on that, and there's
going to be still growing pains and all that, not
just him being able to field ground balls, but more
importantly the nuances of the position where he should be
on relay throws, just the feel for the position. And
tonight he missed a ground ball that he probably should
(03:17):
have had that led.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
To a run.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Miguel Rojas, who is sure handed as anybody, but hasn't
played a lot of second base the last year plus,
made a costly era as well.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So you got two guys.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Up the middle that aren't really used to playing those positions.
Those are not their natural positions, let's put it that way.
But you had guys that have played defense in left
field and center field a lot, and Chris Taylor and
Tommy Edmond it's no coincidence they made a lot of
(03:52):
good plays tonight. So there is that, And there is
the fact that the Dodgers have been on their feet
since nine am this morning with the White House visit
and then coming directly to Nationals Park to play in
very cold weather. That's not an excuse, it's just a
(04:13):
fact in reality. I'm not saying that's the reason why
they made a couple of errors early in the game,
but it was a tale of two games. I felt
like the Dodgers played a lot better after the third
inning tonight.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And how about Dustin May.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Think about what Dustin May did tonight, and our good
buddy Petros even recognized it back at his home on
the Hill. Dustin May went six innings tonight, allowed just
one earn run. That is exactly what the Dodgers needed
tonight after their bullpen was used so much in those
(04:50):
last two games in Philadelphia, where their starters gave them
a combined six innings, including Tyler Glasnell's meltdown in the
third inning yesterday where he only went two plus coming
off Rochi Sazaki going four plus innings the day before.
It was huge what Dustin May did tonight. Dustin May
(05:12):
is the unsung hero of the game tonight and maybe
the last series on the road here in Washington, d C.
For what he was able to do tonight. Let's head
downstairs right now, do you hear from the big ginger
Dustin May?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Probably the fourth inning, fourth fifth and six. I felt
pretty settled. I felt like I could throw a strike
the first three innings. I don't think I could have
been paid anymore to throw a strike, So yeah, I
settled down in the fourth, fifth, and sixth and felt
like it was a strong anam, What.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Did you seem was just missing?
Speaker 5 (05:45):
I guess really in the game for you that wasn't
allowing you to execute the pitches as.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
You'd like to kind of everything just wasn't really feeling
SYNCD up in my mechanics and everything was just kind
of feeling rushed and couldn't repeat a delivery.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Is that maybe when the velocity was down a little
bit tonight?
Speaker 7 (06:03):
No, how do you get it from like when you're
not feeling SYNCD up early to kind of find in
a rhythm later. Is it just kind of getting into
the game and change you made at all?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Did reps just getting more throws? I mean for me,
the more I throw, the better I feel. So being
able to get out and get through the rough innings,
what was a good mentality boost knowing that I can
bounce back.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Through I really do for yourself kind of feeling that
way you know earlier and starts or is that something
that you just have to figure out.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeahs the w see what was I mean?
Speaker 8 (06:37):
It was just today. I mean, just how the start
of today run.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
How different does the start day feel when it starts
at the White House and everything you guys did this morning.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
It was the early launch today. Normally would not be
up that early, but I mean I just didn't have
it in the first three.
Speaker 9 (06:55):
So it's all you can tell.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
I know, you talked about how just after your last
that was more of a kind of the emotions to
return and the anticipation of that if you felt just
with this one it was kind of just back to
your routine and kind of getting yourself to a good spot.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
I mean once I got to the field to day,
I mean everything was normal go and then was normal
feelings throughout the whole day. So yeah, nothing different, just
like less weight on my shoulders.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
All right, there's Dustin May. Thanks to Sports Net LA
for bringing tonight's starter. And look, he even said it
early launched today. It's not an excuse, it's just the reality.
Baseball players usually don't wake up until eleven ish, especially
on the road. After the Dodgers trained it from Philadelphia
(07:44):
to Washington, d C. They knew they had an early day,
and obviously a great honor for them to be invited
to the White House. And you know they're not going
to use that as an excuse, but it's a reality.
And Dustin May, you know, he averaged ninety five miles
in hour on his four seam fastball tonight. I didn't
feel like there was any issues with the velocity and
(08:06):
he's not going to throw his teammates under the bus,
but if there were some defensive plays made behind him,
especially since he's a ground ball pitcher, you need really
good defense on the infield behind him, And to me,
I don't care, you know, I know he's disappointed with
the team losing and him giving up three runs while
(08:27):
he was in there, even though one was earned. Dustin
May did more than his job tonight, especially like I said,
what took place the previous two games for the Dodgers
where they had to go to their bullpen in the
fifth inning on Saturday, and they had to go to
their bullpen in the third inning yesterday because Tyler glass
(08:47):
Now couldn't handle the rainy conditions. So I mean, Dustin
May going six innings tonight was huge, eight six six,
nine to eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Like I mentioned, the Dodger infield defense the first three
innings not the best. Like Dustin May said, it felt
like the Dodgers kind of woke up after the third
(09:09):
inning and it was a much different game, and they
came this close to coming back against Kyle Finnegan in
the Nationals, except Finnegan was able to wiggle out of
some trouble in that ninth inning after giving up two
runs in the eighth to make this a game. It
kind of felt like the walls were going to break
there in the ninth inning, considering Finnegan finished with thirty
(09:31):
two pitches going for that five out save, and the
fact that he had pitched the previous two days to
close out two other Nationals wins. So a gamble that
paid off for Davy Martinez tonight as the Dodgers fall.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Six to four.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Now, I know it's early in the season, and I
mentioned this in the Clubhouse Show, but after the Dodgers
started undefeated eight to zero to begin the season, and
there's a h one hundred and fifty games less left,
so this really doesn't mean a whole lot, but it's
kind of odd that the nine to three Dodgers will
(10:09):
wake up tomorrow firmly in third place in the NL West.
Whether or not the Giants winner lose tonight against the Reds,
they will wake up tomorrow in third place. I believe
that's more of an indication of how good the NL
West is. The Giants signed Willia Doomas, who was a
huge difference maker for the Brewers. That's evident by how
(10:32):
the Brewers are kind of floundering to start the year.
The Giants left side of the defense, left side of
the infield defense is arguably the best with the Damas
and Matt Chapman. Not to mention Jung Ho Lee in
center field, so in that ballpark, Buster Posey understands pitching
in defense wins in their home ballpark. So the Giants
(10:55):
are going to be very competitive this year. Not to
mention the diamondback Scott Better. And they were just what
one win away from being a playoff team last year
and the miracle OMG Mets being out and the San
Diego Padres, despite how many people want to just dismiss them,
they did not do a selloff this offseason. They are
(11:18):
still really good and don't discount the fact that Jason
Hayward is in that clubhouse. That's a very emotional team
and having a steadying personality like Jason Hayward is going
to make a difference where it means the most. So
the Padres are going to be there. Trust me, they
(11:38):
will be a playoff team. Eight six six eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. How about show Aotani.
He's amazing. And we had Michael Conforto on the pregame
show earlier today and he was just marveling at the
preparation Otani has and how hard he hits the baseball,
not only in games, but even in batting practice, and
(12:01):
that was evident again tonight. His first three at bats,
he gets on base and is just a double shy
of the cycle. Otani has hit for the cycle before,
he did it at Tropicana Field a few years ago
playing for the Angels. He was just a double shy
tonight after going three for three against National starter McKenzie Gore,
(12:24):
left handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, Otani infield single in his
first at bat, then ties the game with a two
run home run a no doubter, and then triples off
the tall wall in straightaway center field. He was off
to the races and had a couple of chances to
be able to double.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
He struck out in.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
His fourth at bat and then walked against Finnigan in
the ninth inning, And I actually thought, speaking of that
at bat in the ninth inning, Finnigan wonted no part
of Otani. He didn't intentionally walk in, but he was
doing the unintentional intentional walk to Otani, and then you know,
try to get back into the count very dangerously. He
(13:10):
threw a three to zero fastball right down the middle
for a strike to Otani, and Otani took it. That
was the pitch of the at bat, and Otani took it.
It was three to one and then three to two,
and then he walked him on the sixth pitch of
the at bat. But uh if Otani was a little
bit more aggressive there. Maybe he puts a little bit
(13:33):
more pressure on finnigin with two outs and Mookie Bets
coming to the plate.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But it just it didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number, no other way to put it. It
didn't happen. Two lines open. Let's go out to the
phones for the first time tonight.
Speaker 10 (13:50):
UH.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Let's go out to uh Santos in upland you're on
Dodger Talk Live from National's Park.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Hi, Santos, Hey DV. How you doing brother, I'm doing great.
I can't believe I got this much energy. I've been
up since seven ares.
Speaker 8 (14:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 10 (14:06):
You know, first, I just want to talk about like
I've been look enough to have been to the two
walkoffs of Mookie nol Tani, and I just like this
team's never really out of it. Even coming down to
that last I bat, it really felt like we could
come back. So, I mean, this team definitely has some fight,
and you know, it's kind of disappointing to see those
airs in the second or the third, but I think
no matter how far we get down, our leadership really
(14:29):
can take us to a win.
Speaker 8 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I mean, their offense is really good. There's no better
offense out there than the Dodgers, but that doesn't win championships.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Santos. We saw that in the World Series last year.
They've got to get this rectified.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And look, we're they've only played twelve games, so seven
errors in what twelve games? I'm not going to, you know, overreact,
but it feels like it's one of those things. By July,
the Dodgers will kind of move the chairs around on
the on the infield and possibly in the outfield to
be able to have their offense still as good as
(15:07):
it is, but putting guys in positions that they can
excel in. Right But I'm not saying that they're not
doing that now one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
But look, last year we saw it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Mookie Betts recognized that maybe he was better for the
team and right field, and who knows, he may have
that revelation again and slide to second base, and tom
Yedman goes to center. And you know, we're going to
see Hayesan Kim at some point this year, and he
can help the team defensively and be a good nine
(15:38):
hitter to turn the lineup over with speed for Otani
and Betts and Edmund and Freeman. So the Dodgers have
so many options at their disposal. It's only twelve games
into the season. They want to see what this version
looks like.
Speaker 10 (15:53):
Hey, I got one more thing for you. No, definitely,
I think we'll definitely turn around. It's just the beginning
of the season and everyone's out a place. I thought
it was really good point. You brought up the one
more thing. What was like your most memorable moment for
today's White House? Is it for yourself?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Well, I wasn't with the team, right, So I wasn't
on the bus with the team to the White House.
I was credentialed with the rest of the media and
first time ever for me to be at the White House.
And for me, the most startling thing to, you know,
find out is how small that briefing room is, because
(16:26):
that's where all the press is, that's where they hang out,
that's where all the press conferences are, and it's so
small and antiquated.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
It's crazy. We watch it on TV and we think
it's this huge room. It's not.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
It's anything but that. That was That was the one
thing that stood out to me. But today was an
eventful day in the world, and the Dodgers were there
playing in the sandbox for a half hour or so
with the President, so it was it was an eventful
day news media wise, and that was pretty cool to see.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Cool well, Dodgers.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
All right, Santos, thanks for the phone call.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Speaking of the White House, I'll get more into it
when we continue here, because I'll just share my experience there.
It was different than the players because I wasn't allowed
where they were allowed in the White House and everything else.
So I'll share that with you, and also I'll let
you know how much that final out baseball from last
(17:24):
year's World Series went for. The auction closed yesterday and
they got a pretty good haul. And that's thanks to
Will and his wife, Kara Smith, Walker Buehler and his
wife and the Dodger Foundation all coming together and saying,
let's choose this baseball for good and auction it off
for the fire relief funds. So we'll let you know
about that, and you'll hear from Clayton Kershaw plus Jose
(17:47):
Moto will join us and your phone calls. Two lines
open eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy.
Dodgers fall to the National six to four on a
five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Dodger Talk is available on AM five seventy LA sports
dot com hand of the iHeartRadio app. Back to more
Dodger Talk with Dodger insider David Vasse.
Speaker 11 (18:19):
Now too old, pitch Otani swings hammers are deep to right.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
This one's heading back to the wall, it has gone
a home.
Speaker 11 (18:26):
Run and Otani ties the game with his fourth home
run of the season.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Show Hey Otani, a double shy of the cycle tonight
and a losing effort as the Dodgers fall to the
Nationals six to four. David Vasse live at Nationals Park
with you until the top of the hour. Eight six
six seven two five seventy is the phone number we
want to remind you that Daniels Julius presents the home
(18:58):
run forecast. Go to am fire seventy lasports dot com
and use the keyword home run for your chance to
win a fifty dollars Daniels Jewelers gift card predicting the
number of home runs in the next game. Daniels Jewelers
Own the Dream. Eight six six nine eighty seven two
five seventy is the phone number you heard our caller
(19:19):
before the break asked me about my experience or what
stood out the most about the White House?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Uh Number one.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Being a kid growing up a Dodger fan, a Laker fan,
you had seen these teams over the course of decades.
Go to the White House after winning the NBA Championship
or winning the World Series from Ronald Reagan to UH,
Bill Clinton, UH, to Obama to you know, Joe Biden.
(19:48):
You've seen all those teams go to the White House
after winning the World Series and winning the NBA Championship.
It seems so far away. Never in my wildest dreams
did I believe that I would be at the White
House with the Dodgers or the Lakers watching Oral Herscheiser,
Steve Sachs, Kurt Gibson in nineteen eighty eight. That was
(20:08):
so cool to see them be at the White House
after winning the World Series, the Miracle Dodgers of.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Nineteen eighty eight. That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
To see Magic and Kareem at the White House during
the eighties, So that was awesome.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That was awesome. So it just seems so far away.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And when I've come to Washington, DC over the last
thirteen years, I've walked by the White House daytime, nighttime,
but you know, you're only allowed so close. And it
was a process to get the media credential. It's not
easy to get into the White House, even with the
press credential when you're not an everyday pool reporter. So
(20:48):
up until about nine o'clock Eastern time last night, I
did not know for sure that I was going to
be approved for a credential, and I got that word
that I was in. I got to the White House
at about nine am. Jack Harris of the La Times
and I met at a coffee shop across the street,
walked across the street together. He was let in first,
(21:13):
and then I stood out there for thirty minutes because
my credential was not ready in the computer system. So
I was standing in the rain for thirty minutes outside
of the White House, but nonetheless got in. And once
you get in, you have to stop at another security
booth where you get your pass, and then from there
there's a walkway.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
And this was so.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Behind the scenes, behind the curtain. We watch all these
morning shows, whether it's Channel KCBS or NBC, the Today
Show this morning, all those well they have their reporters
standing outside the White House, and I saw all of
them in their isolated canopy tents walking to the briefing room.
(21:53):
And the briefing room is where we waited until call
to the East Room, and that happened at about ten
forty five. And the briefing room, like I mentioned, is
so small, and I.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Was talking to reporters.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
An AP reporter that has a locker there said during
the summer, it's so hot there's no air coming through,
and you can understand why it gets heated in there
in a lot of different ways. But it's so small
and it looks so big on television. And then just
being there in the East room watching the Dodgers come
(22:27):
in to I Love La and we are the Champions
by the White House Band. It was surreal and like
Mookie Bets and Keik Hernandez told us the previous a
couple of Dodger talks in Philadelphia, it didn't feel political
at all. This was just being celebrated and that's it.
So that was my experience. I was not with the team.
(22:49):
I was behind the ropes with the rest of the
media documenting the Dodgers for you, like I do everywhere
they go, whether it's Tokyo, Japan, Sydney, Australia, or Washington, DC.
Eight six six seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Let's go out to Hollywood. Roy, You're on Dodger Talk.
How you doing, Roy?
Speaker 9 (23:09):
Good Dave, You're still mister Dodger Baseball in my book,
but I want to put you on the spot a
little bit far, tuny Uh, do you have a prediction
I would care to make one on the steels this
year as well as the home runs. And do you
think stealing is uh something that he could get hurt with?
(23:34):
I mean obviously did last year.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, obviously it's a risk because in when he stole
his first base of the season, he kind of went
back to his old uh sliding pattern where the play
that he jammed his shoulder in the World Series. But
since then he's been reminded and he's reminded himself to
keep you know, his left arm above ground and kind
(23:58):
of cross it over his shoulders so he doesn't jam
that left shoulder again. He only has two stolen bases
right now, two out of three three attempts, So I'm
going to say twenty five twenty five stolen bases.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
How about that? You like the over on that or
you like the under on that.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
I would take the over, but I like it.
Speaker 9 (24:21):
I think that's a good total. I like it five.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, all right, Roy, thanks for the phone call, appreciate it.
And I don't believe we're going to see Otani pitch
until the second half of the season. I've been saying
that since day one of the regular season starting, and
I am not moving off of that. Nothing has indicated
to me that that's changing. So the Dodgers want him
(24:45):
as a weapon in the postseason. They also want Clayton
Kershaw to be a weapon in the second half and
in the postseason. And Kershaw not only made a great
speech representing the organization at the White House today, but
he also threw a bullpen session. And here's what Clayton
had to say when I asked him about when he
(25:05):
might be coming back. What's the process in timeline for
him to make his return to a major league mound.
Speaker 12 (25:13):
Yeah, through another bullpen today. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna
go and face some hitters on Thursday in Arizona. You
know I did that last Thursday, face through two innings,
So I'm kind of just gonna keep on that schedule.
It's it's kind of a weird needle to thread because
physically my arm is ready to go, you know, I'm ready,
(25:36):
but my toe isn't all the way there yet. So
it's just like, whenever my toe finally is strong enough
to be out there, I want to be ready. So
it's just kind of threading that needle as best I can.
It's obviously a unique injury for pitching, unique injury for baseball,
so there's not a whole lot of precedent with it.
So we're just kind of where whenever my toe is
ready to go, I'll be ready to go.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Is it similar when you're coming back from your shoulder
the day after, field after or is it something they
get feeling in the moment.
Speaker 12 (26:05):
No, I mean day after it usually goes back to
the way it is. So I think it's just just
that final little push off that I'm trying to figure
out how to get that last little bit of be low,
that last little bit of life to your pitch, you.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Know, all right there?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Actually I don't know, but I'll take his word for it.
And that was Kershaw before the game today, just giving
us an update on where he's at. Right he's kind
of the forgotten guy, and he shouldn't be, because his
arm feels great and when he was healthy last year
he was really good and the Dodgers could use him
and use what he represents on the mound, and that's
(26:40):
a lot of toughness and the Dodgers certainly need that
no matter what these other guys. You want to talk
about Snell Glass. Now, all those guys, Yeah, their stuff
might look great on the on the stat sheet, and
they haven't accomplished what Kershaw has, and they don't represent
what Kershaw represents to the organization. And they don't have
(27:01):
the toughness that Krushaw has. He's the toughest competitor I've
been around since covering the Dodgers in twenty twelve, and
I think the only other athlete I could say that
has had the work ethic and mental toughness is Kobe Bryant.
I've covered both those guys. I've seen them both behind
the scenes, and those are the two guys that are
(27:21):
above and beyond everybody else in that department.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
All right, let's check in with Jose Mota.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It's tough to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Jose Mota is joining us.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
He's part of the Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast in Jose.
It felt like a tale of two different games. The
Dodgers seem to forget when first pitch was tonight, but
after the third inning they looked a lot sharper.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
Oh yeah, I know, thanks to a guy in the
mound who came back after an emotional start and gives
them a chance to you know, staying the game. So yeah,
I mean and even a you know, a game of
two different parts from the defensive side day when he
consider two guys thrown out by the Dodgers at third base,
a guy at home plate, and then a couple of
mischus that again become very costly things. As you have
(28:10):
been saying throughout the show, shows, they're going to get
cleaned up. Guys are going to get their grip on things.
Some pieces will be moved. But I'm going to make
a point about Mookie Bets. Mooki Bets works as hard
as anybody taking ground balls early. Right, you know about that, right?
Dave does he Yeah, he does, he does. Okay, here's
one thing the Mookie still has got to get used to.
(28:32):
In my opinion, they're talking to experienced coaches and all
star players balls off the bat. It is a different
story to get used to the backgrounds, the different in
fields that he's going to be playing in now. Is
an everyday short stuff. Because it's great that you're a
good athlete, it's great that you are willing to do it,
but these are going to be adjustment, So you're gonna
(28:53):
have to be adjusting on the fly and taking ground
balls off the fungal sometimes is not enough. And I'm
not saying he needs to be can both off the
bat and VP, but just taking jumps off the bat
and understanding that conditions and every single ballpark are going
to be different and go out there, makes some plays
and feel comfortable. Sometimes you got to play deeper. Sometimes
you got to bary your angle. Sometimes you got to
(29:13):
really almost stay lower because the backgrounds is not really good.
So things like that are going to catch up with
him eventually. But it's an adjustment for Mookie Bets and hopefully,
you know, he'll come through this.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, that's interesting because all we heard about and Mookie
told me he never started working out as quickly as
he did after last season. In his career, he was
at Crespy High School, he was at different high schools
around the San Fernando Valley working on playing shortstop, and
so it's not like he just started in spring training.
(29:45):
So I still feel like there's nuances to that position
that's hard to come by at this stage of his career.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Oh, no doubt. David and Dank consider this. You got
a guy like Dustin May throwing ground balls a ton
of them there today, And and then you got to say, Okay,
if he is at ninety nine and one hundred miles
an hour with that velocity, perhaps I'm going to really
read swings and see how they're reacted to velocity today
at ninety four ninety five. Well, sometimes that thinker is
(30:14):
not going to be is going to be more effective,
I should say, And you got to be anticipating a
little bit more. And even cheats as we call in
the infield, keeps your right against the riters a little
bit more. So things like this. All those noises you're
talking about are very true. And I can tell you
that as a former player, I can spend the whole
off season hitting VP and then came back speed called
(30:36):
facing game speed and is not the same. So that
is what Mooki's going through right now. Where the game
speed is the one's going to be dictating to him,
perhaps where he should play, how how many ground balls
he should take, where he should be positioned when the
values are so good at that positioning guys in the
right spot. But repetitions are going to be the key
for him to understand the ball is going to find you,
(30:56):
but adjustments coming to fly pretty much every single pitch
and every single ballplub that playing Jose.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Mota is joining us.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
After the Dodgers fall tonight six to four to the Nationals,
how about Dustin May. I've been singing his praises all
night long. I mean, after Sazaki and Glassnew give them
a total combined six innings in their previous two games.
For Dustin May, like you said, and like he said,
maybe not to have the life on his fastball that
he wanted the first two or three innings, but to
(31:27):
hang in there for six and pitch really well. I
mean that says a lot in something we didn't see
the pre or yesterday.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
We did not see that yesterday. It was great.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
I mean, think about it. This guy has power stuff
to knock you out your feet and to have some
swings of misses. But he showed me a lot more
today than if he had fan ten guys. He showed
that his stuff plays well, and it plays well up
in the zone when he needs to. Because now with
ninety four, when Gouzrin sayspenty ninety nine, he can beat
(31:58):
upstairs a little bit easier. And he didn't try to that.
He was like, Okay, this is working. Let me try
a little bit less. Let me put those guys to work.
You're still gotta go out there and trust your defense.
And these are the types of outings that to me
tell more about a guy and his makeup, dave and
evolution and immaturity than anything else in punching out ten
guys as I mentioned, which we all love. But I
(32:18):
just hope that tomorrow the headlines are not about him
and velocity being down because this guy pitched today and pitchability,
as we know nowadays is not something you run across
very often. But to him, second start still very emotion.
We'll be on my own now on the road. I
think I applaud the effort because he still give the
team of chans by going out there and really trusting
(32:38):
his stuff and being on the zone.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I can't talk to you tonight without bringing up Otani
just a double shy of the cycle. I'm sure you
were there in Tampa Bay when he hit for the
cycle his only time in his major.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
League career a couple or a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Did you feel like he was going to get that double?
Do you believe that he's thinking about that double in
his last two plate appearances.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
Heck, yeah, he is. I mean, don't let him lie
to you. He's thinking about that place we don't show, Hey,
with all the things that you've accomplished in one swing
and throughout his career, he's like, when I need one
more thing, I'm going to go out there and find
it with the fifty to fifty number forty, with a
grand slam, things like that. He's going to find a
way to get it done right. A quick story about
when he did it in Tampa Bay. I'm doing TV
and we go down and do the posting an interview
(33:23):
with him and we'll record it right. So I got
a signal in my ear Dave that you want to
hear as an interviewer, Jose tell him that we didn't
have the interview. We have to do it again.
Speaker 12 (33:33):
I'm like what.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Oh no, I'm like, I'm like, shure, Hey to his
interpreter back then, do you mind doing this again? He's like, Okay,
no problem. But he's like full of dirt, he's tired,
and he's like, no, it's not a problem. So I'm like,
thank you very much. So the producers like, please thank him,
Please thank him, because I mean he really saved us.
So nonetheless, he was as gracious as ever. And no,
(33:56):
I had no doubt in my mind that he was
closely doing that again today Eddie got in the pitch,
not the three old one, but if you got in
the pitch hit, I think he was living for that double.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
All right, Jose, thanks a lot for sharing that. That's
a great story.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
We'll check in with you tomorrow night after Justin Robleski
makes his season debut. Was back all right, there he
goes Jose Mota, part of the Dodgers Spanish radio broadcasting. Yes,
Justin Robleski will make the start that Blake Snell was
supposed to make tomorrow. Snell obviously on the il, probably
(34:29):
going to miss two starts. And the reason why Dave
Roberts said the Dodgers chose Robleski over Nack or Miller
is because that was his scheduled start date. And Dave Roberts,
with a smirk, also said, anticipate Landon Nack being activated
either tomorrow or Wednesday. The Dodgers need a spot starter
on Wednesday as well, so likely you're going to see
(34:51):
Robleski tomorrow and landon NAX start on Wednesday eight six
six seven two five seventy is the phone number Dodgers
fall to the Nationals tonight, six to four. Let's go
back out to the phones. Diana in Granada Hills. You're
on Dodger Talk.
Speaker 8 (35:08):
Hi Diana, Hi David. How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I'm doing great, fun.
Speaker 8 (35:14):
Day, awesome, awesome. So piggybacking on the Mookie Talk, I'm
sorry if you mentioned this already, but I'm really trying
to understand the true reason we have Mookie playing shortstop
when we have other options there, and you know he's
an amazing right fielder. I don't get it.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
I know it's a hard one to figure out, Diana.
I mean a lot of people that saw Willie May's
play that I've spoken to, said Mookie Betts is the
best outfielder they have seen since Willie Mays.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
So it's hard to figure out.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
But I could tell you this, MOOKI and the Dodgers
agree that maybe you take him off his feet a
little bit more by having him play the maybe not
necessarily shortstop, but second base when it's all said and done, so,
if he moves off a shortstop, I don't see him
going back to the outfield unless there's a catastrophic injury
(36:13):
to Taoscar Hernandez or Michael Conforto.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
If the Dodgers and MOOKI feel like, you know what,
we're a better team. If I'm somewhere else, then I
believe it'll be second base. But that's the reason why
they want to keep him off his feed and he
wants this challenge right now. And they were able to
move ta Oskar to right field and sign Confortos, So
(36:39):
your lineup is that much deeper with Muki at shortstop.
Speaker 8 (36:44):
Okay, Dave, I count on you.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
It's like it's hard to wrap your head around that
the best right fielder in the game is playing shortstop.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
But I mean, we'll see. We'll see what happens, Diana, We'll.
Speaker 8 (37:00):
See what happens, all right, David, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Thank you for the phone call. Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fault to the Nationals tonight, six
to four.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Look, I understand what you're all thinking out there.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
I'm with you, and I was very vocal about it
last year, and I was happy that Mookie realized it,
you know, in season, only having a week to prepare
for that position. The Dodgers were better off with him
in right field. But he's worked all off season to
try to make this happen. And I believe he deserves
(37:36):
more than just twelve games before the Dodgers pulled the
plug on him, which they're not going to do. I
just feel like he deserves more than twelve games, more
than fifty games to see where it goes. I mentioned,
and I was kind of bringing attention to this because
it was a great cause. The last strikeout, Walker Bueller
(37:57):
striking out Alex Verdugo. Will kept the lost out of
last year's World Series, the baseball of last year's World Series,
And you could argue that he owned some of it.
Walker Bueller owned some of it. The Dodgers owned some
of that baseball. Well, they all came together, the Bueller
family Foundation, Will and Carra's Foundation, Catching Hope, and the
(38:22):
Dodgers Foundation came together with a great idea to auction
off that baseball, the final out from last year's World Series.
Auction it off, and with the unfortunate fires and the
Palisades and Alta Dina why not donate the funds to
the fire relief fund. And that's what they did. The
(38:42):
auction closed on Sunday, and thanks to my good buddy
Harlan Werner, he was the one that hosted the auction.
He let me know that the auction for that baseball
went for four hundred and fourteen one hundred thousand dollars.
Four to one four one hundred thousand dollars. That's how
(39:06):
much the last out baseball from the twenty twenty four
World Series went for in an auction, and the proceeds
are going to the fire relief Fund. So I just
wanted to go and give you the full circle on
all that, and congratulations to Will and Carras Smith, Walker
and McKenzie Buehler and the Dodger Foundation for doing the
(39:29):
right thing and trying to help out those that need
it the most with the fire relief funds.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
So kudos to them.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Now, tomorrow, game two of this three game series between
the Dodgers and Nationals, as the Dodgers all of a
sudden have a two game losing streak that they're trying
to snap, Justin Robleski will be making a season debut.
He was really good in spring training, and it wasn't
just spring training. He made some big time adjustments to
(39:59):
get better, and we'll see it on display tomorrow in
a regular season game, the first of the year for
Robleski taking the spot of what would have been Blake'snell's
spot Marongo Casino. Dodgers on Deck begins tomorrow at two
thirty with Tim Kates, first pitch from National's Park at
three forty five with Rick Monday and Tim Neverett. That'll
(40:21):
do it for us tonight on Dodger Talk. Thanks to
Dwayne McDonald and Colin Yee for their help.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Thanks to you for listening.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
In case you missed any of the show, you can
find it on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
That's also where you can.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Listen to our full conversation with Dodger left fielder Michael
CONFORDO get to know him a little bit better and
his thoughts on hitting and being a Dodger.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
It's a great conversation.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
A great guy, humble guy, and a proud Italian American. Also,
if you want to see some photos from today or
the Dodger season, you can follow me on Instagram at
officially Vassa and on x at the Real underscore DV
once again. The final score tonight from Nationals Park in Washington,
(41:06):
d C. The Nationals defeat the Dodgers six to four.
Have a great rest of your night. We'll talk to
you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
See ya, La,
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David Vase.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
We are live at Nationals Park in our nation's capitol
after the Dodgers fall to the Nationals six to four
in the first game of this three game series and
have dropped two games in a row for the first
time this year. Phone lines are open at eight six
six nine, eight seven two five seventy. We will hear
(00:26):
from Jose Mota a little bit later. We will also
give you an update on Clayton Kershaw. We had a
chance to check in with him today, and whatever you
need to know about Blake Snell's injury, I will.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Be able to answer those questions.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Not to mention, we do have a winning bid on
the World Series ball that Will Walker Bueler and the
Dodger Foundation collaborated to auction off to benefit the fire
Relief Fund. So we'll let you know how much that
last out baseball from last year's World Series went for.
(01:05):
Speaking of last year's World Series, we all talked about
how base running and defense in the little things were
the difference in that World Series. Right now, I'm not
seeing any of that from the Dodgers. I'm seeing an
offense that is trying to make up for a lot
(01:26):
of mistakes, whether it be base running or defense. You're
not gonna be able to have your offense bellue out
every single night, even though the Dodgers have had that
happen a few times, and tonight they were very close.
It was very risky for Davy Martinez to bring in
Kyle Finnegan, who yes, is their closer, but for a
(01:48):
five out save on the third straight day that he's pitching.
That was a gamble that paid off this time for
Davy Martinez. And the facts are I feel like when
I say a team survived the Dodgers, that applies tonight
more than any other game this year that the Dodgers
(02:10):
have lost, and they've only lost three.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The Nationals survived this game.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
It was it was close to being over if Tommy
Edmond comes to the plate in the ninth inning. Instead,
Mookie Betts grounds out with runners at first and third
to end the game. So a very risky managing decision
by David Martinez that.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
He got away with.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And look, the Dodger defense now has committed seven errors
in eleven games. The problem is they have guys that
are out of position. Look, I know Mookie Betts put
in a lot of time during the offseason to learn shortstop,
but he's out of position.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It's a new position.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I believe we can all agree on that, and there's
going to be still growing pains and all that, not
just him being able to field ground balls, but more
importantly the nuances of the position where he should be
on relay throws, just the feel for the position. And
tonight he missed a ground ball that he probably should
(03:17):
have had that led.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
To a run.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Miguel Rojas, who is sure handed as anybody, but hasn't
played a lot of second base the last year plus,
made a costly era as well.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
So you got two guys.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Up the middle that aren't really used to playing those positions.
Those are not their natural positions, let's put it that way.
But you had guys that have played defense in left
field and center field a lot, and Chris Taylor and
Tommy Edmond it's no coincidence they made a lot of
(03:52):
good plays tonight. So there is that, And there is
the fact that the Dodgers have been on their feet
since nine am this morning with the White House visit
and then coming directly to Nationals Park to play in
very cold weather. That's not an excuse, it's just a
(04:13):
fact in reality. I'm not saying that's the reason why
they made a couple of errors early in the game,
but it was a tale of two games. I felt
like the Dodgers played a lot better after the third
inning tonight.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And how about Dustin May.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Think about what Dustin May did tonight, and our good
buddy Petros even recognized it back at his home on
the Hill. Dustin May went six innings tonight, allowed just
one earn run. That is exactly what the Dodgers needed
tonight after their bullpen was used so much in those
(04:50):
last two games in Philadelphia, where their starters gave them
a combined six innings, including Tyler Glasnell's meltdown in the
third inning yesterday where he only went two plus coming
off Rochi Sazaki going four plus innings the day before.
It was huge what Dustin May did tonight. Dustin May
(05:12):
is the unsung hero of the game tonight and maybe
the last series on the road here in Washington, d C.
For what he was able to do tonight. Let's head
downstairs right now, do you hear from the big ginger
Dustin May?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Probably the fourth inning, fourth fifth and six. I felt
pretty settled. I felt like I could throw a strike
the first three innings. I don't think I could have
been paid anymore to throw a strike, So yeah, I
settled down in the fourth, fifth, and sixth and felt
like it was a strong anam, What.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Did you seem was just missing?
Speaker 5 (05:45):
I guess really in the game for you that wasn't
allowing you to execute the pitches as.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
You'd like to kind of everything just wasn't really feeling
SYNCD up in my mechanics and everything was just kind
of feeling rushed and couldn't repeat a delivery.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Is that maybe when the velocity was down a little
bit tonight?
Speaker 7 (06:03):
No, how do you get it from like when you're
not feeling SYNCD up early to kind of find in
a rhythm later. Is it just kind of getting into
the game and change you made at all?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Did reps just getting more throws? I mean for me,
the more I throw, the better I feel. So being
able to get out and get through the rough innings,
what was a good mentality boost knowing that I can
bounce back.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Through I really do for yourself kind of feeling that
way you know earlier and starts or is that something
that you just have to figure out.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeahs the w see what was I mean?
Speaker 8 (06:37):
It was just today. I mean, just how the start
of today run.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
How different does the start day feel when it starts
at the White House and everything you guys did this morning.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
It was the early launch today. Normally would not be
up that early, but I mean I just didn't have
it in the first three.
Speaker 9 (06:55):
So it's all you can tell.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
I know, you talked about how just after your last
that was more of a kind of the emotions to
return and the anticipation of that if you felt just
with this one it was kind of just back to
your routine and kind of getting yourself to a good spot.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
I mean once I got to the field to day,
I mean everything was normal go and then was normal
feelings throughout the whole day. So yeah, nothing different, just
like less weight on my shoulders.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
All right, there's Dustin May. Thanks to Sports Net LA
for bringing tonight's starter. And look, he even said it
early launched today. It's not an excuse, it's just the reality.
Baseball players usually don't wake up until eleven ish, especially
on the road. After the Dodgers trained it from Philadelphia
(07:44):
to Washington, d C. They knew they had an early day,
and obviously a great honor for them to be invited
to the White House. And you know they're not going
to use that as an excuse, but it's a reality.
And Dustin May, you know, he averaged ninety five miles
in hour on his four seam fastball tonight. I didn't
feel like there was any issues with the velocity and
(08:06):
he's not going to throw his teammates under the bus,
but if there were some defensive plays made behind him,
especially since he's a ground ball pitcher, you need really
good defense on the infield behind him, And to me,
I don't care, you know, I know he's disappointed with
the team losing and him giving up three runs while
(08:27):
he was in there, even though one was earned. Dustin
May did more than his job tonight, especially like I said,
what took place the previous two games for the Dodgers
where they had to go to their bullpen in the
fifth inning on Saturday, and they had to go to
their bullpen in the third inning yesterday because Tyler glass
(08:47):
Now couldn't handle the rainy conditions. So I mean, Dustin
May going six innings tonight was huge, eight six six,
nine to eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Like I mentioned, the Dodger infield defense the first three
innings not the best. Like Dustin May said, it felt
like the Dodgers kind of woke up after the third
(09:09):
inning and it was a much different game, and they
came this close to coming back against Kyle Finnegan in
the Nationals, except Finnegan was able to wiggle out of
some trouble in that ninth inning after giving up two
runs in the eighth to make this a game. It
kind of felt like the walls were going to break
there in the ninth inning, considering Finnegan finished with thirty
(09:31):
two pitches going for that five out save, and the
fact that he had pitched the previous two days to
close out two other Nationals wins. So a gamble that
paid off for Davy Martinez tonight as the Dodgers fall.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Six to four.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Now, I know it's early in the season, and I
mentioned this in the Clubhouse Show, but after the Dodgers
started undefeated eight to zero to begin the season, and
there's a h one hundred and fifty games less left,
so this really doesn't mean a whole lot, but it's
kind of odd that the nine to three Dodgers will
(10:09):
wake up tomorrow firmly in third place in the NL West.
Whether or not the Giants winner lose tonight against the Reds,
they will wake up tomorrow in third place. I believe
that's more of an indication of how good the NL
West is. The Giants signed Willia Doomas, who was a
huge difference maker for the Brewers. That's evident by how
(10:32):
the Brewers are kind of floundering to start the year.
The Giants left side of the defense, left side of
the infield defense is arguably the best with the Damas
and Matt Chapman. Not to mention Jung Ho Lee in
center field, so in that ballpark, Buster Posey understands pitching
in defense wins in their home ballpark. So the Giants
(10:55):
are going to be very competitive this year. Not to
mention the diamondback Scott Better. And they were just what
one win away from being a playoff team last year
and the miracle OMG Mets being out and the San
Diego Padres, despite how many people want to just dismiss them,
they did not do a selloff this offseason. They are
(11:18):
still really good and don't discount the fact that Jason
Hayward is in that clubhouse. That's a very emotional team
and having a steadying personality like Jason Hayward is going
to make a difference where it means the most. So
the Padres are going to be there. Trust me, they
(11:38):
will be a playoff team. Eight six six eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. How about show Aotani.
He's amazing. And we had Michael Conforto on the pregame
show earlier today and he was just marveling at the
preparation Otani has and how hard he hits the baseball,
not only in games, but even in batting practice, and
(12:01):
that was evident again tonight. His first three at bats,
he gets on base and is just a double shy
of the cycle. Otani has hit for the cycle before,
he did it at Tropicana Field a few years ago
playing for the Angels. He was just a double shy
tonight after going three for three against National starter McKenzie Gore,
(12:24):
left handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, Otani infield single in his
first at bat, then ties the game with a two
run home run a no doubter, and then triples off
the tall wall in straightaway center field. He was off
to the races and had a couple of chances to
be able to double.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
He struck out in.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
His fourth at bat and then walked against Finnigan in
the ninth inning, And I actually thought, speaking of that
at bat in the ninth inning, Finnigan wonted no part
of Otani. He didn't intentionally walk in, but he was
doing the unintentional intentional walk to Otani, and then you know,
try to get back into the count very dangerously. He
(13:10):
threw a three to zero fastball right down the middle
for a strike to Otani, and Otani took it. That
was the pitch of the at bat, and Otani took it.
It was three to one and then three to two,
and then he walked him on the sixth pitch of
the at bat. But uh if Otani was a little
bit more aggressive there. Maybe he puts a little bit
(13:33):
more pressure on finnigin with two outs and Mookie Bets
coming to the plate.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But it just it didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number, no other way to put it. It
didn't happen. Two lines open. Let's go out to the
phones for the first time tonight.
Speaker 10 (13:50):
UH.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Let's go out to uh Santos in upland you're on
Dodger Talk Live from National's Park.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Hi, Santos, Hey DV. How you doing brother, I'm doing great.
I can't believe I got this much energy. I've been
up since seven ares.
Speaker 8 (14:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 10 (14:06):
You know, first, I just want to talk about like
I've been look enough to have been to the two
walkoffs of Mookie nol Tani, and I just like this
team's never really out of it. Even coming down to
that last I bat, it really felt like we could
come back. So, I mean, this team definitely has some fight,
and you know, it's kind of disappointing to see those
airs in the second or the third, but I think
no matter how far we get down, our leadership really
(14:29):
can take us to a win.
Speaker 8 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I mean, their offense is really good. There's no better
offense out there than the Dodgers, but that doesn't win championships.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Santos. We saw that in the World Series last year.
They've got to get this rectified.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And look, we're they've only played twelve games, so seven
errors in what twelve games? I'm not going to, you know, overreact,
but it feels like it's one of those things. By July,
the Dodgers will kind of move the chairs around on
the on the infield and possibly in the outfield to
be able to have their offense still as good as
(15:07):
it is, but putting guys in positions that they can
excel in. Right But I'm not saying that they're not
doing that now one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
But look, last year we saw it.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Mookie Betts recognized that maybe he was better for the
team and right field, and who knows, he may have
that revelation again and slide to second base, and tom
Yedman goes to center. And you know, we're going to
see Hayesan Kim at some point this year, and he
can help the team defensively and be a good nine
(15:38):
hitter to turn the lineup over with speed for Otani
and Betts and Edmund and Freeman. So the Dodgers have
so many options at their disposal. It's only twelve games
into the season. They want to see what this version
looks like.
Speaker 10 (15:53):
Hey, I got one more thing for you. No, definitely,
I think we'll definitely turn around. It's just the beginning
of the season and everyone's out a place. I thought
it was really good point. You brought up the one
more thing. What was like your most memorable moment for
today's White House? Is it for yourself?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Well, I wasn't with the team, right, So I wasn't
on the bus with the team to the White House.
I was credentialed with the rest of the media and
first time ever for me to be at the White House.
And for me, the most startling thing to, you know,
find out is how small that briefing room is, because
(16:26):
that's where all the press is, that's where they hang out,
that's where all the press conferences are, and it's so
small and antiquated.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
It's crazy. We watch it on TV and we think
it's this huge room. It's not.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
It's anything but that. That was That was the one
thing that stood out to me. But today was an
eventful day in the world, and the Dodgers were there
playing in the sandbox for a half hour or so
with the President, so it was it was an eventful
day news media wise, and that was pretty cool to see.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Cool well, Dodgers.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
All right, Santos, thanks for the phone call.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Speaking of the White House, I'll get more into it
when we continue here, because I'll just share my experience there.
It was different than the players because I wasn't allowed
where they were allowed in the White House and everything else.
So I'll share that with you, and also I'll let
you know how much that final out baseball from last
(17:24):
year's World Series went for. The auction closed yesterday and
they got a pretty good haul. And that's thanks to
Will and his wife, Kara Smith, Walker Buehler and his
wife and the Dodger Foundation all coming together and saying,
let's choose this baseball for good and auction it off
for the fire relief funds. So we'll let you know
about that, and you'll hear from Clayton Kershaw plus Jose
(17:47):
Moto will join us and your phone calls. Two lines
open eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy.
Dodgers fall to the National six to four on a
five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Dodger Talk is available on AM five seventy LA sports
dot com hand of the iHeartRadio app. Back to more
Dodger Talk with Dodger insider David Vasse.
Speaker 11 (18:19):
Now too old, pitch Otani swings hammers are deep to right.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
This one's heading back to the wall, it has gone
a home.
Speaker 11 (18:26):
Run and Otani ties the game with his fourth home
run of the season.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Show Hey Otani, a double shy of the cycle tonight
and a losing effort as the Dodgers fall to the
Nationals six to four. David Vasse live at Nationals Park
with you until the top of the hour. Eight six
six seven two five seventy is the phone number we
want to remind you that Daniels Julius presents the home
(18:58):
run forecast. Go to am fire seventy lasports dot com
and use the keyword home run for your chance to
win a fifty dollars Daniels Jewelers gift card predicting the
number of home runs in the next game. Daniels Jewelers
Own the Dream. Eight six six nine eighty seven two
five seventy is the phone number you heard our caller
(19:19):
before the break asked me about my experience or what
stood out the most about the White House?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Uh Number one.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Being a kid growing up a Dodger fan, a Laker fan,
you had seen these teams over the course of decades.
Go to the White House after winning the NBA Championship
or winning the World Series from Ronald Reagan to UH,
Bill Clinton, UH, to Obama to you know, Joe Biden.
(19:48):
You've seen all those teams go to the White House
after winning the World Series and winning the NBA Championship.
It seems so far away. Never in my wildest dreams
did I believe that I would be at the White
House with the Dodgers or the Lakers watching Oral Herscheiser,
Steve Sachs, Kurt Gibson in nineteen eighty eight. That was
(20:08):
so cool to see them be at the White House
after winning the World Series, the Miracle Dodgers of.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Nineteen eighty eight. That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
To see Magic and Kareem at the White House during
the eighties, So that was awesome.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That was awesome. So it just seems so far away.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And when I've come to Washington, DC over the last
thirteen years, I've walked by the White House daytime, nighttime,
but you know, you're only allowed so close. And it
was a process to get the media credential. It's not
easy to get into the White House, even with the
press credential when you're not an everyday pool reporter. So
(20:48):
up until about nine o'clock Eastern time last night, I
did not know for sure that I was going to
be approved for a credential, and I got that word
that I was in. I got to the White House
at about nine am. Jack Harris of the La Times
and I met at a coffee shop across the street,
walked across the street together. He was let in first,
(21:13):
and then I stood out there for thirty minutes because
my credential was not ready in the computer system. So
I was standing in the rain for thirty minutes outside
of the White House, but nonetheless got in. And once
you get in, you have to stop at another security
booth where you get your pass, and then from there
there's a walkway.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
And this was so.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Behind the scenes, behind the curtain. We watch all these
morning shows, whether it's Channel KCBS or NBC, the Today
Show this morning, all those well they have their reporters
standing outside the White House, and I saw all of
them in their isolated canopy tents walking to the briefing room.
(21:53):
And the briefing room is where we waited until call
to the East Room, and that happened at about ten
forty five. And the briefing room, like I mentioned, is
so small, and I.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Was talking to reporters.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
An AP reporter that has a locker there said during
the summer, it's so hot there's no air coming through,
and you can understand why it gets heated in there
in a lot of different ways. But it's so small
and it looks so big on television. And then just
being there in the East room watching the Dodgers come
(22:27):
in to I Love La and we are the Champions
by the White House Band. It was surreal and like
Mookie Bets and Keik Hernandez told us the previous a
couple of Dodger talks in Philadelphia, it didn't feel political
at all. This was just being celebrated and that's it.
So that was my experience. I was not with the team.
(22:49):
I was behind the ropes with the rest of the
media documenting the Dodgers for you, like I do everywhere
they go, whether it's Tokyo, Japan, Sydney, Australia, or Washington, DC.
Eight six six seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Let's go out to Hollywood. Roy, You're on Dodger Talk.
How you doing, Roy?
Speaker 9 (23:09):
Good Dave, You're still mister Dodger Baseball in my book,
but I want to put you on the spot a
little bit far, tuny Uh, do you have a prediction
I would care to make one on the steels this
year as well as the home runs. And do you
think stealing is uh something that he could get hurt with?
(23:34):
I mean obviously did last year.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, obviously it's a risk because in when he stole
his first base of the season, he kind of went
back to his old uh sliding pattern where the play
that he jammed his shoulder in the World Series. But
since then he's been reminded and he's reminded himself to
keep you know, his left arm above ground and kind
(23:58):
of cross it over his shoulders so he doesn't jam
that left shoulder again. He only has two stolen bases
right now, two out of three three attempts, So I'm
going to say twenty five twenty five stolen bases.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
How about that? You like the over on that or
you like the under on that.
Speaker 6 (24:18):
I would take the over, but I like it.
Speaker 9 (24:21):
I think that's a good total. I like it five.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, all right, Roy, thanks for the phone call, appreciate it.
And I don't believe we're going to see Otani pitch
until the second half of the season. I've been saying
that since day one of the regular season starting, and
I am not moving off of that. Nothing has indicated
to me that that's changing. So the Dodgers want him
(24:45):
as a weapon in the postseason. They also want Clayton
Kershaw to be a weapon in the second half and
in the postseason. And Kershaw not only made a great
speech representing the organization at the White House today, but
he also threw a bullpen session. And here's what Clayton
had to say when I asked him about when he
(25:05):
might be coming back. What's the process in timeline for
him to make his return to a major league mound.
Speaker 12 (25:13):
Yeah, through another bullpen today. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna
go and face some hitters on Thursday in Arizona. You
know I did that last Thursday, face through two innings,
So I'm kind of just gonna keep on that schedule.
It's it's kind of a weird needle to thread because
physically my arm is ready to go, you know, I'm ready,
(25:36):
but my toe isn't all the way there yet. So
it's just like, whenever my toe finally is strong enough
to be out there, I want to be ready. So
it's just kind of threading that needle as best I can.
It's obviously a unique injury for pitching, unique injury for baseball,
so there's not a whole lot of precedent with it.
So we're just kind of where whenever my toe is
ready to go, I'll be ready to go.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Is it similar when you're coming back from your shoulder
the day after, field after or is it something they
get feeling in the moment.
Speaker 12 (26:05):
No, I mean day after it usually goes back to
the way it is. So I think it's just just
that final little push off that I'm trying to figure
out how to get that last little bit of be low,
that last little bit of life to your pitch, you.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Know, all right there?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Actually I don't know, but I'll take his word for it.
And that was Kershaw before the game today, just giving
us an update on where he's at. Right he's kind
of the forgotten guy, and he shouldn't be, because his
arm feels great and when he was healthy last year
he was really good and the Dodgers could use him
and use what he represents on the mound, and that's
(26:40):
a lot of toughness and the Dodgers certainly need that
no matter what these other guys. You want to talk
about Snell Glass. Now, all those guys, Yeah, their stuff
might look great on the on the stat sheet, and
they haven't accomplished what Kershaw has, and they don't represent
what Kershaw represents to the organization. And they don't have
(27:01):
the toughness that Krushaw has. He's the toughest competitor I've
been around since covering the Dodgers in twenty twelve, and
I think the only other athlete I could say that
has had the work ethic and mental toughness is Kobe Bryant.
I've covered both those guys. I've seen them both behind
the scenes, and those are the two guys that are
(27:21):
above and beyond everybody else in that department.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
All right, let's check in with Jose Mota.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It's tough to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Jose Mota is joining us.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
He's part of the Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast in Jose.
It felt like a tale of two different games. The
Dodgers seem to forget when first pitch was tonight, but
after the third inning they looked a lot sharper.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
Oh yeah, I know, thanks to a guy in the
mound who came back after an emotional start and gives
them a chance to you know, staying the game. So yeah,
I mean and even a you know, a game of
two different parts from the defensive side day when he
consider two guys thrown out by the Dodgers at third base,
a guy at home plate, and then a couple of
mischus that again become very costly things. As you have
(28:10):
been saying throughout the show, shows, they're going to get
cleaned up. Guys are going to get their grip on things.
Some pieces will be moved. But I'm going to make
a point about Mookie Bets. Mooki Bets works as hard
as anybody taking ground balls early. Right, you know about that, right?
Dave does he Yeah, he does, he does. Okay, here's
one thing the Mookie still has got to get used to.
(28:32):
In my opinion, they're talking to experienced coaches and all
star players balls off the bat. It is a different
story to get used to the backgrounds, the different in
fields that he's going to be playing in now. Is
an everyday short stuff. Because it's great that you're a
good athlete, it's great that you are willing to do it,
but these are going to be adjustment, So you're gonna
(28:53):
have to be adjusting on the fly and taking ground
balls off the fungal sometimes is not enough. And I'm
not saying he needs to be can both off the
bat and VP, but just taking jumps off the bat
and understanding that conditions and every single ballpark are going
to be different and go out there, makes some plays
and feel comfortable. Sometimes you got to play deeper. Sometimes
you got to bary your angle. Sometimes you got to
(29:13):
really almost stay lower because the backgrounds is not really good.
So things like that are going to catch up with
him eventually. But it's an adjustment for Mookie Bets and hopefully,
you know, he'll come through this.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, that's interesting because all we heard about and Mookie
told me he never started working out as quickly as
he did after last season. In his career, he was
at Crespy High School, he was at different high schools
around the San Fernando Valley working on playing shortstop, and
so it's not like he just started in spring training.
(29:45):
So I still feel like there's nuances to that position
that's hard to come by at this stage of his career.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Oh, no doubt. David and Dank consider this. You got
a guy like Dustin May throwing ground balls a ton
of them there today, And and then you got to say, Okay,
if he is at ninety nine and one hundred miles
an hour with that velocity, perhaps I'm going to really
read swings and see how they're reacted to velocity today
at ninety four ninety five. Well, sometimes that thinker is
(30:14):
not going to be is going to be more effective,
I should say, And you got to be anticipating a
little bit more. And even cheats as we call in
the infield, keeps your right against the riters a little
bit more. So things like this. All those noises you're
talking about are very true. And I can tell you
that as a former player, I can spend the whole
off season hitting VP and then came back speed called
(30:36):
facing game speed and is not the same. So that
is what Mooki's going through right now. Where the game
speed is the one's going to be dictating to him,
perhaps where he should play, how how many ground balls
he should take, where he should be positioned when the
values are so good at that positioning guys in the
right spot. But repetitions are going to be the key
for him to understand the ball is going to find you,
(30:56):
but adjustments coming to fly pretty much every single pitch
and every single ballplub that playing Jose.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Mota is joining us.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
After the Dodgers fall tonight six to four to the Nationals,
how about Dustin May. I've been singing his praises all
night long. I mean, after Sazaki and Glassnew give them
a total combined six innings in their previous two games.
For Dustin May, like you said, and like he said,
maybe not to have the life on his fastball that
he wanted the first two or three innings, but to
(31:27):
hang in there for six and pitch really well. I
mean that says a lot in something we didn't see
the pre or yesterday.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
We did not see that yesterday. It was great.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
I mean, think about it. This guy has power stuff
to knock you out your feet and to have some
swings of misses. But he showed me a lot more
today than if he had fan ten guys. He showed
that his stuff plays well, and it plays well up
in the zone when he needs to. Because now with
ninety four, when Gouzrin sayspenty ninety nine, he can beat
(31:58):
upstairs a little bit easier. And he didn't try to that.
He was like, Okay, this is working. Let me try
a little bit less. Let me put those guys to work.
You're still gotta go out there and trust your defense.
And these are the types of outings that to me
tell more about a guy and his makeup, dave and
evolution and immaturity than anything else in punching out ten
guys as I mentioned, which we all love. But I
(32:18):
just hope that tomorrow the headlines are not about him
and velocity being down because this guy pitched today and pitchability,
as we know nowadays is not something you run across
very often. But to him, second start still very emotion.
We'll be on my own now on the road. I
think I applaud the effort because he still give the
team of chans by going out there and really trusting
(32:38):
his stuff and being on the zone.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I can't talk to you tonight without bringing up Otani
just a double shy of the cycle. I'm sure you
were there in Tampa Bay when he hit for the
cycle his only time in his major.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
League career a couple or a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Did you feel like he was going to get that double?
Do you believe that he's thinking about that double in
his last two plate appearances.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
Heck, yeah, he is. I mean, don't let him lie
to you. He's thinking about that place we don't show, Hey,
with all the things that you've accomplished in one swing
and throughout his career, he's like, when I need one
more thing, I'm going to go out there and find
it with the fifty to fifty number forty, with a
grand slam, things like that. He's going to find a
way to get it done right. A quick story about
when he did it in Tampa Bay. I'm doing TV
and we go down and do the posting an interview
(33:23):
with him and we'll record it right. So I got
a signal in my ear Dave that you want to
hear as an interviewer, Jose tell him that we didn't
have the interview. We have to do it again.
Speaker 12 (33:33):
I'm like what.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Oh no, I'm like, I'm like, shure, Hey to his
interpreter back then, do you mind doing this again? He's like, Okay,
no problem. But he's like full of dirt, he's tired,
and he's like, no, it's not a problem. So I'm like,
thank you very much. So the producers like, please thank him,
Please thank him, because I mean he really saved us.
So nonetheless, he was as gracious as ever. And no,
(33:56):
I had no doubt in my mind that he was
closely doing that again today Eddie got in the pitch,
not the three old one, but if you got in
the pitch hit, I think he was living for that double.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
All right, Jose, thanks a lot for sharing that. That's
a great story.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
We'll check in with you tomorrow night after Justin Robleski
makes his season debut. Was back all right, there he
goes Jose Mota, part of the Dodgers Spanish radio broadcasting. Yes,
Justin Robleski will make the start that Blake Snell was
supposed to make tomorrow. Snell obviously on the il, probably
(34:29):
going to miss two starts. And the reason why Dave
Roberts said the Dodgers chose Robleski over Nack or Miller
is because that was his scheduled start date. And Dave Roberts,
with a smirk, also said, anticipate Landon Nack being activated
either tomorrow or Wednesday. The Dodgers need a spot starter
on Wednesday as well, so likely you're going to see
(34:51):
Robleski tomorrow and landon NAX start on Wednesday eight six
six seven two five seventy is the phone number Dodgers
fall to the Nationals tonight, six to four. Let's go
back out to the phones. Diana in Granada Hills. You're
on Dodger Talk.
Speaker 8 (35:08):
Hi Diana, Hi David. How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I'm doing great, fun.
Speaker 8 (35:14):
Day, awesome, awesome. So piggybacking on the Mookie Talk, I'm
sorry if you mentioned this already, but I'm really trying
to understand the true reason we have Mookie playing shortstop
when we have other options there, and you know he's
an amazing right fielder. I don't get it.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
I know it's a hard one to figure out, Diana.
I mean a lot of people that saw Willie May's
play that I've spoken to, said Mookie Betts is the
best outfielder they have seen since Willie Mays.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
So it's hard to figure out.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
But I could tell you this, MOOKI and the Dodgers
agree that maybe you take him off his feet a
little bit more by having him play the maybe not
necessarily shortstop, but second base when it's all said and done, so,
if he moves off a shortstop, I don't see him
going back to the outfield unless there's a catastrophic injury
(36:13):
to Taoscar Hernandez or Michael Conforto.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
If the Dodgers and MOOKI feel like, you know what,
we're a better team. If I'm somewhere else, then I
believe it'll be second base. But that's the reason why
they want to keep him off his feed and he
wants this challenge right now. And they were able to
move ta Oskar to right field and sign Confortos, So
(36:39):
your lineup is that much deeper with Muki at shortstop.
Speaker 8 (36:44):
Okay, Dave, I count on you.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
It's like it's hard to wrap your head around that
the best right fielder in the game is playing shortstop.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
But I mean, we'll see. We'll see what happens, Diana, We'll.
Speaker 8 (37:00):
See what happens, all right, David, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Thank you for the phone call. Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fault to the Nationals tonight, six
to four.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Look, I understand what you're all thinking out there.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
I'm with you, and I was very vocal about it
last year, and I was happy that Mookie realized it,
you know, in season, only having a week to prepare
for that position. The Dodgers were better off with him
in right field. But he's worked all off season to
try to make this happen. And I believe he deserves
(37:36):
more than just twelve games before the Dodgers pulled the
plug on him, which they're not going to do. I
just feel like he deserves more than twelve games, more
than fifty games to see where it goes. I mentioned,
and I was kind of bringing attention to this because
it was a great cause. The last strikeout, Walker Bueller
(37:57):
striking out Alex Verdugo. Will kept the lost out of
last year's World Series, the baseball of last year's World Series,
And you could argue that he owned some of it.
Walker Bueller owned some of it. The Dodgers owned some
of that baseball. Well, they all came together, the Bueller
family Foundation, Will and Carra's Foundation, Catching Hope, and the
(38:22):
Dodgers Foundation came together with a great idea to auction
off that baseball, the final out from last year's World Series.
Auction it off, and with the unfortunate fires and the
Palisades and Alta Dina why not donate the funds to
the fire relief fund. And that's what they did. The
(38:42):
auction closed on Sunday, and thanks to my good buddy
Harlan Werner, he was the one that hosted the auction.
He let me know that the auction for that baseball
went for four hundred and fourteen one hundred thousand dollars.
Four to one four one hundred thousand dollars. That's how
(39:06):
much the last out baseball from the twenty twenty four
World Series went for in an auction, and the proceeds
are going to the fire relief Fund. So I just
wanted to go and give you the full circle on
all that, and congratulations to Will and Carras Smith, Walker
and McKenzie Buehler and the Dodger Foundation for doing the
(39:29):
right thing and trying to help out those that need
it the most with the fire relief funds.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
So kudos to them.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Now, tomorrow, game two of this three game series between
the Dodgers and Nationals, as the Dodgers all of a
sudden have a two game losing streak that they're trying
to snap, Justin Robleski will be making a season debut.
He was really good in spring training, and it wasn't
just spring training. He made some big time adjustments to
(39:59):
get better, and we'll see it on display tomorrow in
a regular season game, the first of the year for
Robleski taking the spot of what would have been Blake'snell's
spot Marongo Casino. Dodgers on Deck begins tomorrow at two
thirty with Tim Kates, first pitch from National's Park at
three forty five with Rick Monday and Tim Neverett. That'll
(40:21):
do it for us tonight on Dodger Talk. Thanks to
Dwayne McDonald and Colin Yee for their help.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Thanks to you for listening.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
In case you missed any of the show, you can
find it on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
That's also where you can.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Listen to our full conversation with Dodger left fielder Michael
CONFORDO get to know him a little bit better and
his thoughts on hitting and being a Dodger.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
It's a great conversation.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
A great guy, humble guy, and a proud Italian American. Also,
if you want to see some photos from today or
the Dodger season, you can follow me on Instagram at
officially Vassa and on x at the Real underscore DV
once again. The final score tonight from Nationals Park in Washington,
(41:06):
d C. The Nationals defeat the Dodgers six to four.
Have a great rest of your night. We'll talk to
you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
See ya, La,
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com