June 19, 2025 • 51 mins
DV takes your calls and talks to Jose Mota after Will Smith hits a pinch-hit walk-off HR against the Padres. Dalton Rushing talks to DV after hitting a clutch 2-run single. Emmet Sheehan speaks to the media after returning to the mound for the first time since 2023. Dave Roberts talks about Michael Conforto's struggles. DV celebrates the anniversary of Clayton Kershaw's No-hitter.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
One thing about this gene is the invisible and tangibles
that they have.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This team is really becoming a family.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Let's not play one on tone, Let's wind it.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
I love listening to these guys after the show.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So just thank you, give me are.
Speaker 5 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire and not a pisson. This is
world champion, Dodger world championing for a small soft time.
They get up people what they want to die too?
In a row two is special.
Speaker 6 (00:26):
I'm like, yeah, it's not a headache.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
One of a con.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
This ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 7 (00:32):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hell old time.
Speaker 6 (00:33):
Go to the sound, grab your phone to get in
on the show called eight six six nine eighty seven
two five seven and.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Go to the show.
Speaker 6 (00:41):
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Vasse, Welcome the Dodger Talk David Vasse, back with you
live at Dodgers Stadium tonight until eleven thirty. We have
phone lines open at eight six six nine eighty seven
two five seventy. Other exciting game between the Dodgers and Padres.
These two teams seemed to give us our money's worth
(01:07):
and then some so far this year and going back
to last year's regular season and five game thrilling finish.
In the NLDS Tonight, another thrilling finish as the Dodgers
beat the Padres thanks to a pinch hit walk off
home run by Will Smith off of Robert Suarez. It
(01:29):
was an interesting battle as the Dodgers catcher came off
the bench he was not starting tonight. Dalton Rushing got
the start tonight, but the Dodgers took their shot with
Smith after the Padres tied it up in the top
of the ninth inning. He pinch hit in the eighth spot,
which was occupied by Hayesung Kim to start the game.
(01:51):
Keiky Hernandez came in in the middle of the game
and Dave Roberts went to Smith to be able to
try to win the game. In the bottom of the
ninth inning, he was down two after he fouled off
the second fastball down the left field line foul. It
had the distance for a home run, but it was foul.
(02:11):
In fact, the foul ball went farther probably than the
home run. So that'll show you that all this launchangle
and distance of home runs really don't mean a lot
unless you get it over the wall and in fair
territory and that's exactly what Will Smith did. On the
third pitch, Suarez tried to throw him a change up.
(02:33):
Smith was all over it like he was last night.
Just put the barrel of the bat on the baseball,
just dropped it right on the ball, and he pushed
it to right field, just over the outstretched glove a
Fernando Tatist Junior into the home run seats. It was
served up on a platter right there for those lucky fans.
It looked like the gentleman's wife, I hope just shied
(02:58):
away from trying to try to grab the ball, which
was smart because you don't want any questions of finn
interference when you're sitting in those home run seats. And
it was right there for them on the table, right
next to their nachos, their surveysas, and they were able
to have a walk off home run pinch it style
(03:19):
from Will Smith and Fernando Tatist Junior. Not sure what
was going on with him. It didn't seem like he
really had the hops getting off the ground. If he did,
he may have caught that. The timing also was a
little off, But Will Smith and the Dodgers will take
it on a four to three win eight six six
(03:40):
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number
the Dodgers had fifty three thousand, five hundred and sixty
eight at Dodgers Stadium tonight to witness their fifth win
in a row. The Dodgers' attendance now over two billion.
Fans have come through the gates here at Dodgers Stadium,
and they thank you for your support. Without the passion
(04:02):
of the fans, Dodger Stadium would not be the home
field advantage that it is these days. It wasn't that
way fifteen years ago, it wasn't that way twenty years ago.
But Dodger Stadium has turned back into one of the
toughest places to play. And that's why home field advantage
(04:24):
is so important to the Dodgers as they try to
get into the postseason and also have as many home
games as possible. Don't discount that. I feel like people
discount how tough of a place Dodger Stadium is to
play these days, and the Padres and Giants have found
that out yet again. The Padres fanned that out in
(04:47):
the postseason last year, and the Giants found it out
again before the Padres came to town, and the Dodgers
have certainly taken care of business on this homestand they
were able to take two out three from the Giants.
They are now four and a half games ahead of
San Francisco and they've won the first three games of
(05:07):
this four game series against the Padres, so they're now
six games ahead of San Diego in the NL West.
The Diamondbacks are nine games back of the Dodgers in
the NL West. So the Dodgers have actually separated themselves
to start this ten game homestand from the rest of
the NL West by beating the teams that are right
(05:29):
behind them. And that's why, you know, I know the
Dodgers and Dave Roberts want to downplay the significance of
these games in division, but the reality is they're worth
two games, a two game swing in the standings. So
the Dodgers taking two out of three from the Giants
(05:50):
when they came in here, and we're thinking about leaving
town in first place. Now they're four and a half
games back after they've lost four in a row. So
the Dodgers have won the first three games of this
series against the Padres and are looking to sweep them out.
Of town in a four game series for the first
time since two thousand and nine at Dodgers Stadium. Not
(06:14):
to mention the Dodgers, which they started this twenty nine
game stretch of facing teams above five hundred and teams
that were fighting for a division or a wildcard spot
back on May nineteenth, when they started the three game
series against the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers during this twenty nine
(06:38):
game stretch, which will end tomorrow against the Padres, have
played the Diamondbacks three times. They have played the Mets
seven times. They have played the Guardians three times in Cleveland,
they have played the Yankees three times. They have played
the Cardinals, and they have played the Padres now seven
(06:59):
times during this twenty nine game stretch, and so far
are seventeen and eleven during this grueling twenty nine game
stretch really impressive. Also impressive was Emmitt she And tonight
in his return to Major League Baseball, first time on
the mound since September twenty seventh, twenty twenty three four innings,
(07:23):
tonight one earned run with six strikeouts. Emmig Sheen was solid,
and he was on Sports in at LA after Tonight's game.
Speaker 8 (07:31):
Yeah, it was awesome. Once I was out there. It
was kind of just back in compete mode once she
hit her in the box. But definitely before and then after,
you're feeling emotions of just the past year for.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, stuff wise.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Were you feeling lying, you felt comfortable with kind of
the velocity, how you were attacking them, where things.
Speaker 8 (07:49):
Were, Yeah, I think so. I mean definitely maybe it
ticked down on the VLO, but other than that, I
feel like execution was really good. No walks, I'll take
that every time. So definitely feeling a different pictures were
before showgury it should body a little bit different, right,
but how you not really maybe slightly different, but for
the most part, everything feels pretty close to where it
(08:10):
was before.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And it's six strikeouts.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You watch, you look at all your work this year,
got twenty seven strikeouts.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
One watch has been what's the biggest key to gain
at command?
Speaker 8 (08:18):
I think it's just you know, being in control of
my body, being able to repeat my mechanics and just
trying to, you know, keep that release point consistent and
try to make adjustments when I do throw, you know,
pitches where I don't want them to be. You know,
that's a that's kind of a two yids the last
thing of them.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Why do you think it's come back to pick the
pretty much the play was.
Speaker 8 (08:35):
I don't really know, but I'm definitely, you know, happy
with it. I think, you know, it just comes from
Burke being put in all the mound work before throwing
multi bullpens, before even facing hitters.
Speaker 6 (08:46):
For sure.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
What was this process like over the last year and
a half. How difficult was it just to kind of
you know, push through rehab and how much more meaningful
did it kind of make a going out there.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
And just be back out there?
Speaker 8 (08:57):
Yeah, I mean I was thankful we had a we
had a really good group in Arizona this year, so
it was good to spend time with those guys and
not have to go through it alone. That was big.
But yeah, it definitely meant a lot to get back
out there, and you know, to watch what the team
did last year was really special and definitely motivated me
to get back out there.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
And she and tonight in his four innings of work
where he allowed us one run and had six strikeouts
with no walks through sixty five pitches, twenty eight of
those were his fastball, he was able to throw his
sweeper nineteen times. Tonight. He also mixed in his change
up and even dabbled with the curveball, so he was
(09:35):
using all four pitches tonight. And he was telling me
yesterday that, you know, he's been feeling out the curveball.
Maybe not a pitch that he's going to go to
a lot, but he is certainly going to show it
and put it in the back of hitters' minds. And
tonight sixty five pitches and four innings, I would anticipate
the next time she and is on the mound with
(09:56):
the Dodgers, he'll go a little bit further, maybe five
innings and stretch it out to seventy seventy five pitches
when he's on the mount. So that was a great sign.
And Justin Robleski also really good for the Dodgers tonight
as he went five innings. Even though the Padres tied
the score against Robleski in that ninth inning, he did
(10:16):
his job. He hung in there for five innings, and look,
it was big for the Dodgers not to go extra
innings because they allowed Robleski to pitch that ninth inning
because they wanted to try to give not just one
or two guys or three guys arrest in that bullpen.
They wanted to give everybody a rest in that bullpen.
And if you go to extra innings, you may have
(10:38):
to dip into it. But Max Muntsey made an air
and throw on a ground ball by Manny Machado couldn't
get the force out at second base, possibly even a
double play, which really would have changed the dynamics of
that inning being up three to one. But you know,
Max has been playing so much better defense the last
couple of weeks. That was just, you know, a mistake.
(11:01):
These guys will make mistakes, and it was an unfortunate
throw that Tommy Edmund was not going to be able
to dig out. And Uh, look, Max Mounsey uh has
done so well offensively and defensively since the beginning of May.
I think we understand that we can uh with the
way things ended tonight, We're not going to focus on that.
(11:22):
Nex monthly on base three times tonight, including his second
triple of the season. Eight six, six, seven, two five
seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Padres four
to three. Let's go out to Ben in Washington, d C.
Thanks for staying up late. In our nation's capital.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Ben, always a pleasure day walk off.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Yeah, that was pretty cool. A lot of the guys,
you know, even the umpires, This umpiring crew does not
communicate really well because they did not really give that
home run signal out and some of the guys, even
Alton Rushing said he wasn't sure went over the wall,
but uh, luckily it counted.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Ben, what do you got We'll take it, We'll take it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
I actually wanted to ask about what Dave had said
today about.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Hang Kim and get more playing time. What should we
view this like for Michael Conforto especially.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And what should we see as a progress for has
On Kim over the last couple of months.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
Well, look at you, and I'm ready for that question.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Ben.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
It sounded like Dave Roberts was giving us a soft,
a soft answer that maybe Michael Conforto is going to
be benched for the time being. And he didn't put
it that way, but that's my translation. Listen to this, Ben.
This was Dave Roberts earlier today talking about how Michael
(12:46):
Conforto maybe sitting out a few more games than he
has recently. Okay, we'll get that to you in a
little bit. All right, Ben, we'll get it to you.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah, of course, pleasure Dave there, all right, no.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Problem, thank you for the phone call. I'm going to
get that to Colin Yee because Dave Roberts kind of
made it sound that Hay Sung Kim is going to
get more time in the outfield and the you know,
the Dodgers have given Michael Conforto ample opportunity to try
to bail his way out of this whole slump here.
It's it's been a little bit. It's been a little
(13:23):
disappointing for Michael Conforto, who's on a one year contract.
The Dodgers signed him to a seventeen million dollar deal.
It just hasn't come to fruition. So we'll get to
that at the top of the hour. Ray and Georgia,
you're on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.
Speaker 7 (13:37):
Ray, Hey, David, a great job on the show as usual.
And one of the things I want to say is,
peep what we're doing and the Dodgers are doing with
all these injuries I'm talking about with Freeman Betts and
the pitching staff, and plus the fact that the Dodgers
are playing these teams that are after them because they're
(13:58):
world champions. And we're are with a four and a
half game lead over the Giants and now a six
game lead over the Padres. It's amazing. And if we
get these starters back last now and Snell and I
don't know about Asasaki if he's coming back, but I mean,
it could be amazing. We may be able to build
that record. So we do get those that first round
(14:20):
by and it gives them a rest before they start
playing again, you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Look right right, I say this all the time when
certain teams hang in there in games with the Dodgers,
but then seventh, eighth, and ninth innings they just don't
have enough coming out of the bullpen or don't have
enough depth in their lineup. I feel the same way
about the regular season. Yeah, the Giants and Padres are
hanging in there until June, maybe July, but they just
(14:49):
don't have enough to hang in there for the whole season,
especially the Padres, who obviously have their ownership in a
weird situation right now after the unfortunate passing of a
great man, Peter Seidler. They don't have a lot of
prospects to trade because they already traded them, so aj
Preller is in a tough position to even try to
(15:11):
add to a very thin depth group. So I just
don't see them having enough to even win the division,
and it's gonna be a photo finish in my opinion,
for them to make a wild card push.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
Right, And let me ask you this, David. You know
when you guys are playing, when we're playing the Giants
in San Francisco, is there any chance you can do
an interview view with John Miller? Because a lot of
times I'm watching the Dodger games and I'll listen to
the broadcast because I think John Miller and Vin Scully
were two of the best I've ever heard, and so
(15:45):
I was just wondering if you could do an interview
with John Miller.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
I don't usually take requests, Ray, but yes, I'll try
to get John Miller on the pregame show before the
end of the season. How about that.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
That'd be great.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
And just hang in there.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
We were doing a great job and I can't wait
for our next World championship.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
It's on his way, all right, Ray, thank you for
the phone call. Eight six six nine eight seven two
five seventy is the phone number. Last night, we had
some hitters being hit by pitches. The Dodgers. Lu Trevino
hit Fernando Tattist Junior last night, and then the Padres
responded by having Randy Vasquez hit sho He Otani in
(16:27):
the next at bat that he came to the plate.
And the issue the Dodgers had with Vasquez was, it
took you two times to try to hit him. You
try to hit him on the first pitch and you missed,
and then you hit him right above the knee on
his right leg. And I guess one of the unwritten
rules is you get one shot if you miss it. Sorry,
(16:50):
but Vasquez took another shot and he hit Otani. So
Mike Shildt after the game last night kind of laid
that out that he wasn't happy that Lutrevio hit Fernando
Tattos Junior last night after hitting Tattas Junior in the
first inning of last Tuesday night's game, But talking to
Lou before the game tonight, he just said, you know,
(17:11):
I can't explain it. I haven't hit a batter in
four years, and I've hit him twice in the last week,
and I completely understand the optics but I wasn't trying
to hit him. I was just trying to come inside,
and that's what I do against right handed hitters. I
just yanked it a little bit too far, and I
think if Mike Shildt took a step back, he'd understand that.
(17:31):
But nonetheless, I don't believe Mike shilt whether or not
he thought Trevino hit Tattas Junior intentionally. If your best
player gets hit twice against the same team, a division rival,
where you know attentions are high, you got to protect
that hitter, and you got to understand that. But you
(17:54):
only get one shot. You know you can't try to
take if you don't get it on the first pitch.
A little iffy right there, But nonetheless everything was cooled
off tonight. The umpires did not issue warnings before first pitch,
and even when Andy pie Has was hit again tonight
in the bottom of the seventh inning by the Padre
(18:15):
starter Stephen Colek, he understood it wasn't on purpose. And
even when Mike Schiltz brought in the reliever and they
crossed paths going across the field, Colick coming off the field,
Paz and Colic did not have any issues with each other.
So that was good, and look, this is great. This
reminds me of a rod veritec Yankees Red Sox type
(18:40):
of games, where you're seeing these teams battle it out
in the postseason and certainly high intensity during the regular season.
We saw it last year, we've seen it since twenty twenty,
but it feels like it's been raised a notch after
these two teams have faced each other in the postseason
a couple of times in the last two or thre
three years, and certainly after the Dodgers came back in
(19:03):
that five game NLDS. And another layer to why the
tensions may be running hot is because these two teams
are seeing each other seven times within a week after
not seeing each other for the first sixty games of
the season. So you pack in these many games in
(19:24):
such a short period of time, it'll feel like the postseason.
And these two teams don't like each other. The Padres
obviously do not like the Dodgers. Their emotions spill out
over the dugout railing often, it's really obvious. And the
Dodgers probably don't like the Padres either. In fact, I'll
(19:44):
say it, the Dodgers don't like the Padres or their antics,
and the Padres are resentful that the Dodgers are the Dodgers.
So when you bring all of those factors in, you're
going to have tempers boil over like we've seen. Eight
six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number. We're gonna take a time out here on
(20:05):
Dodger Talk. When we come back, we'll hear from Dave
Roberts about where the Dodgers are going with Michael Confordo
after a slow start to begin the season. And also
we'll check in with Jose Mota and hear from Justin
Robleski after the Dodgers walk it off on a pinch
hit home run by Will Smith in the bottom of
the ninth inning off of Robert Suarez four to three
(20:28):
victors over San Diego on a five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
Dodger Talk is available on AM five seventy LA sports
dot com hand on the iHeartRadio app Back to more
Dodger Talk with Dodger insider David Basse allowed and long
strike for ss now The O two pitch Smith, which
is a fly ball right center field tatis on there
on at the warning track.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Pat it's gone, It's gone, and this games is over.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
Just got be all to reach it for no no
top Tis Junior.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Will Smith comes home and now we go home. Brick
Monday and Steven Nelson on the call tonight. That was
the pin hit, walk off home run by Will Smith
to give the Dodgers the win four to three over
Robert Suarez and the San Diego Padres David Vasse live
(21:37):
at Dodgers Stadium. We are with you until the bottom
of the hour right here on Dodger Talk and we
have phone lines open at eight six six nine, eight
seven two five seventy. Daniels Jewelers presents the home run forecast.
Go to AM five seventy LA sports dot Com use
the keyword home run for your chance to win a
fifty dollars Daniels Jeweler's gift card predicting the number of
(21:59):
home runs in the very next game. Daniels Jewelers own
the dream all right. I had a chance to catch
up with another Dodger catcher who was the starting catcher tonight,
Dalton Rushing. He had a big, go ahead, two run
single in the game to give the Dodgers a three
to one lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
(22:20):
He also made a nice block of the plate in
the ninth inning on a great throw by Freddie Freeman
to get Brandon Lockridge out in the top of the
ninth inning. A good all around game for rushing, and
he had a great view of Will Smith's walk off
home run because he was on deck. Here was rushing
moments after Smith's heroics.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Well, thank you branding it early. Well, nobody wanted to
play extras. And there's one guy you trust going up
there in that situation as well.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
And yeah, it was pretty cool to say you had
a great view you were on deck. How did you
see that at back going, especially after that fall ball
down the left field line. Uh, not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I was about just as confused as Will was. We
thought Tatis caught it. I also thought he caught it
and then he just started walking. So yeah, it all
worked out. I mean, Will, he's such a great player.
It's fun to be able to see that that close.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
You had a big part of tonight's game. Let's go
back to the ninth inning. Freddie Freeman is able to
have the field awareness to realize the runner at third
Lockridge is breaking home. Were you surprised in that situation
he was coming home.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
No, I mean they're pressing the envelope. They're gonna try
to get a run across the board anyway possible. Guy
like Freddy just fundamentally sound with the best of him,
and obviously he's gonna make that play and take the
out at home.
Speaker 5 (23:41):
What could you say about what Emmett and Robleski did tonight.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, it's massive being able to have those two guys
come out here and just essentially just do their job.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Do their job.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
They save a bullpen and give us a chance to
obviously go ahead and sweep the weekend, sweep the series
tomorrow and moving into the weekend a better situation.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Hey, this is the way that Dodgers planned it. The
one two combo behind the play tonight. Rush again, Will Smith, thanks.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
A lot for stopping absolutely, thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
There he is Dalton Rushing, who had a really good
game tonight, including that go ahead two runs single in
the fifth inning, part of a three run inning for
the Dodgers to take a three to one lead into
the ninth inning. The Padres would tight in the top
of the ninth inning, and the other catcher, Oh yeah,
the All Star Will Smith with the pinch hit walk
(24:28):
off home run for the Dodgers to give them the
win four to three. You know, it's funny. Will Smith
really made a reputation for himself during his rookie year
of twenty nineteen being part of that weekend remember with
Alex Verdugo and Matt Batty walk off Weekend. Will Smith
hitting a walk off home run against the Rockies on
that Friday, Saturday Sunday weekend in the middle of that
(24:50):
twenty nineteen summer. And he has now three pinch hit
walk off home runs for the Dodgers and s a
big deal because number sixteen has broken a record that
are number sixteen, Rick Monday held with the Dodgers. That
(25:10):
was Will Smith's third career pinch hit walk off home run,
breaking a tie with Rick Monday for the most in
Dodger history. So it was passed down to a numbers
another number sixteen. And we can't forget about the other
number sixteen, Andre Ethier, who made a reputation being mister
clutch as well. So something about that number with the
(25:34):
clutch Gene. Let's go out to Sarkis in Valencia. You're
on Dodger talk with David vasse Hi Sarkies.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Hey, Dave, how you doing that? Just two quick points.
First one is finally the concerto thing. It's way overdue
in my opinion. You know, the analogy I'm going to
use is you got a Ferrari sitting in the garage. Yeah,
you continue to drive your pino. Dave Roberts finally made
their decision. I'm play over due. Second point, the Dodgers
(26:06):
have to reason to start the call. Hey, so look,
I'll see you. The trade deadline has to come into
a lot clear picture. With emmit Chian doing what he
did tonight, that has to be a game changer for
the Dodger front office. He basically upgraded himself to number
(26:28):
two or number three?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Oh really after four innings?
Speaker 9 (26:34):
I think so he looked amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
What about when Blake Snell comes back? What about the
future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw? What about Glass? Now
you think he's uh, he's a number two over those.
Speaker 9 (26:45):
Guys they come back. No, Well, once they come back,
you know, we'll see what happens. I don't trust anybody
until they actually come back and pitch.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
All right, great, sarchise, I appreciate the phone call. Look,
Emma Sheian's great, and certainly even Dave Roberts said a
couple of months ago that Emmit Shean's going to have
a big role and even a sleeper type of bet
on Emit she in the second half of the season.
And I'm not going to say that he is not
going to have a great year, but that's a little presumptuous.
(27:17):
After his first start, going four innings, throwing sixty five pitches,
I believe he's going to be really good. But if
Blake Snell and Tyler Glass now are back in healthy
when October rolls around, they're going to be your number
two and number three starters, with Yamamoto and Kershaw alongside them.
And already we've gotten two phone calls about Michael CONFORDO.
(27:40):
He was not in the starting lineup tonight. He's batting
a buck sixty eight. The Dodgers have given him a
very long leash, longer than a lot of players have
been given the last ten years. If they would be
performing this way, and Dave Roberts said before the game
that he may not be getting as many opportunities to
they want to give Kim some opportunities. I would be
(28:03):
an advocate of mixing in kek Hernandez a little bit
more because he's been relegated to pinch hit duties because
they haven't been facing a lot of lefty starters. But
you got to give them some credit at bats to
be ready when those lefty starters are on the mound.
Here's what Dave Roberts had to say before the game
about Michael Confordo's struggles and the fact that he may
(28:24):
not be getting as many opportunities as much as he
was before.
Speaker 10 (28:30):
Just not getting to the heater. I think that's probably
the start of it. And you know, when you don't
hit the fastball, that starts to lends to a little cheating,
chasing on spin, and so we got to get him
back to the heater, to the big part of the field.
But he's working on that. He knows that it's not
(28:50):
something he doesn't know, and he's not trying to miss fastballs.
So that's probably the genesis of the whole deal. I
see him playing a lot still.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
I do.
Speaker 10 (29:01):
I do think that in a meritocracy, in that vein,
I think that Heysong has earned opportunities and I don't
want to just kind of get him to lose his
mojo and sit for four or five six days and
expect good at bat. So I think that he's earning
the opportunity to get somewhat of a consistent look and
(29:23):
we'll go from there.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Look that's fair. I mean, this is a results oriented business.
The Dodgers have given Michael Confordo two hundred and forty
three plate appearances. He's now hitting eighth. Whenever he has
been starting recently, he has four home runs. They're far
and few between. It just hasn't clicked. And quite honestly,
(29:47):
I don't believe he's this bad of a player. He's
a really good player, but for whatever reason, it just
hasn't clicked yet. So maybe giving him a few starts
off to work with Rob Van Sooye and Aaron Bates
to get him mechanically straight, maybe get his confidence up,
give him a mental breather, can help him reset his season.
(30:09):
Because the Dodgers aren't just going to cut him, they're
not giving up on him. But certainly, you know they've
got really good players, and really good players need to play,
and if you're not up to par, they're gonna find
somebody else. And I think that's where the Dodgers are
with Michael CONFORDO, Hey Sung Kim, and like I said,
I really am a big advocate that Keith a Hernandez
(30:31):
needs to get more starts when you don't see a
lefty starter for seven to ten games. By the way,
speaking of those groupings of hitters, we were talking about
this before the game up here in the press box
amongst the broadcasters. It is really sticking out the difference
between the Dodgers seven eight nine hitters and the Padres
(30:54):
seven eight nine hitters in this series and quite frankly
for the Padres all season long. I believe last night
the seven eight nine hitters for the Padres did not
even have a hit, and in the first three games
of this series, San Diego's bottom third of the order
is a combined six for thirty two with two RBIs
(31:14):
and only four runs scored. In contrast, the Dodgers seven
eight nine hitters, including tonight's pinch hit home run by
Will Smith, are combined eleven for thirty two, a three
forty three batting average with three home runs, eight RBIs
and nine runs scored. It's really been those guys, the
(31:37):
seven eight nine hitters that have really done damage against
the Padres in the first three games of this series
because o'tani drove in a couple of runs in the
first game of this series, but last night zero for
four with four strikeouts. Tonight nothing significant. He struck out
with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the
(31:58):
seventh inning. Freddie Freeman is now getting base hits to
get back on track to be driven in by those guys,
and Mookie Betts has really not done much of anything
in this series either. So it's been Andy Paiez, Tommy
Edmund Will Smith, those guys that have been keeping this
line moving. And you're gonna need guys like that. So
(32:19):
the seven, eight nine hitters have been a big difference
maker for the Dodgers. Eight six, six nine, eight, seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We have a
few lines open. We'll try to get to you, but
we're gonna take another time out here. When we continue,
Jose Moda will join us. Oh, Jose's there. Let's not
take a time out. We're gonna roll on. We're gonna
keep it going. That's what we do here. We keep
(32:41):
it going. Let's check in with our guy, Jose.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
All Right, the Dodgers are looking for their first four
game sweep over the Padres at Dodgers Stadium since two
thousand and nine. Jose Mota. This has been hotly contested
first three games and tonight was no different.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
They're not wonderful, just to see that a rivalry is
really playing up to the fans, to the player, to
the intensity and to the results that you want. I mean,
the Dagdiers have going a very good job set bringing
themselves from those behind them, the ones that are pushing
them and turning. I expect this happened all throughout the
rest of the season, but it's good to see how
they have rebounded and have understood Dave with all the
(33:29):
stretch of good pitching they face, and teams have put
the ball in play, and teams that don't strike out
like a Potters and so the Cardinals and all that
of the Mets, they're finding a way in those small
little windows to really go out there and do some
damage effectively.
Speaker 5 (33:42):
It feels like the intensity picked up when the Dodgers
started that three game series at Petco Park, and it's
carried over. Have you felt that I did.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I think coming out of that star by Clayton Kershaw
and Saint Louis, it was like, Okay, off to San
Diego and you got to go out there and play well.
I know everybody's going to be against you. The fans
know what happened in October. They want a little revenge,
and you go out there and take care of business.
Dave Roberts, obviously he's playing it well with a medium
with the players saying it's just another series. We got
to play well.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Well.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
There's no doubt in my mind that between the fact
that the Potters are a good team and Mike shild
does want to be the Dodgers badly and knowing that
they're always pursuing, they've stepped up in many ways. And
you know, from catching the baseball, we're not talking about
bag base running, We're talking about feeling the baseball. All
those things that really went along with just not being
(34:33):
coordinated at times are happening at the right time right now.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
How about that seventy eight to nine hitter discrepancy, The
Dodgers seventy eight nine hitters really doing get Jose in
the first three games of this series. Do you believe
that's been a big difference maker.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Oh that has been here today, there's no doubt. And
now with the options of sometimes even moving monthly down
a little bit more, Tommy Evans has been of presence
down there where he had best. But the real difference
think has been Hony Pious and what he's done from
from the five spots six spot down and what he's
brought to the at bat's the decisions he's making in
(35:09):
the batter's box. He plays with a lot of intensity
himself and then you know, on top of that, you
replace a very popular guy in Austin Barnes with a
young kid, and young kid behind the plate is doing
a job that you expect him to do in terms
of just one phase at a time. So the pitt
he's not going to be there right now, don't worry
about it. And the daughters have been very transparent. But
they beneath those guys because if you look at the
(35:29):
top of the odor today it cannot just be all
about the one hint they got on base twice between
show Hey, Mukia and Freddy and that's what you need.
Tasker is you know, not quite there yet. But the
guys at the bottom are making their lives and their
evenings much easier than pleasant.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Yeah, tonight was the first night where you could say
it was the one to two punch behind the plate
with the Dodger catchers right with Rushing starting the game
catching two guys he knows really well from Oklahoma City
coming up with a big two run base it in
the fifth inning to break the tie, and then you
got Will Smith with the heroics in the ninth inning.
That's that's a threat that not a lot of teams have.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Correct And then you know the whole thing about managing
Will Smith. I see it's going to be very advantageous
to the team and to Will Smith and for god
like Will Smith to get his ego out of the way.
He says, I know why they're doing this. He wants
to play every day. He wants to be catching I
should say, the majority of the game. But understanding that
he also play a big role in developing this young
catcher that's helping the Dodgers behind the plate and with
(36:31):
a bat and guys that are behind the plate, and
you ask for just continuity of sequencing, understanding a game plan,
executing a game plan, and being a leader behind the
plate anything to do offensively is a plus, but Will
Smith has taken it to a new level. And then
for God like Russia to be watching this, Dave, I'm
telling you right now, I'm seeing the past. It is
(36:53):
such an honor for him obviously, and a luxury to
see somebody like that that sets a tone like Will
Smith does. And communication that has been made and informed
to Dallas and Russian is about catching catch and the
hitting will come. We know you have not played, You've
been an everyday player for all your life. Just understand
(37:15):
your role right now. Take care of being great behind
the plate, and everything else will be better. He's getting
much better also now with a bet, now that there's
a little like separation and knowing that I don't have
to carry the team in the bottom of the order.
I don't have to go out there and get base
hits all the time. But of course he wants to
get him, but he's understanding that you got to break
it up sometimes. Just be a good catcher. Right now,
the rest will come.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
Jose Mota is joining us after the Dodgers defeat the
Padres tonight four to three. On top of the Dodgers
winning this game, they also win in another department, the
big picture department, by not having to go to their
bullpen and use any of their high leverage relievers. We
all know the Dodger bullpen has been used more than
(37:56):
any other bullpen in baseball. How about Emid Sheen and
Justin Robleski tonight combining to go the full game and
not issuing a single walk. The Padre struck out nine times,
six of them against Shean and did not take a
single walk. The Robleski and Sheen did not issue a
single walk. That is remarkable from two rookies.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
A great example of when Theaytelier pound the zone, Glattherm
pound the zone. And for m I mean who The
whole team is so happy for this kid who has
worked so hard to get here. He's gotten a bigger
and stronger He showed very good command today of three pitches.
I know we had a conversation with him in terms
of the curveball, which is a great show pitch. If
he's not dropping for a strike, don't worry about it.
It's a great show pitch. Just to offset your hitters
(38:40):
and change just the way east west and north south
that you pitch. But man, without thirty the riagle he
has in his arm. Those risers are really exploding. And
we saw a lot of check swings upstairs, swings and
misses upstairs, and the bolt coming out of his hand
really hot. And rob Leski, you know, having a conversation
with him in San Diego. Actually there's outing in Saint Louis,
(39:01):
and he was telling me that at times he's become cerebral,
like thinking too much. How do I get this guy out?
How how do I set them up to put him away?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
And he goes.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I can just think about putting him away early, because
this stuff is good enough. And in that case, I
got to make my slaughter good early accounts and make
it tight if I need too. So all the young
players that I'm talking to and talking about Dave have
all understood that it is a luxury to be in
the big leagues, but to be learning from the guys
are around, and certainly they're putting all that time on
(39:30):
the bench of the bullpen VP to good use.
Speaker 5 (39:32):
Right now, all right, Jose Mota, we'll see you back
at the ballpark tomorrow night. I'm sure these two teams
will give us everything and more, and certainly a fun
night here at Dodgers Stadium. Thanks for joining us, Jose.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
You got it.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Good night, there he goes Jose Mota, part of the
Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast with Luis Cochito Cruz and Pepe
and Ningaz. And I still owe Pepe those tacos. I
will get them those tacos after before the homestand is over,
by the way, because I had predicted a Giants I
(40:06):
had predicted a Dodger's sweep over the Giants, so it'll
be easier to deliver these tacos after the Dodgers beating
the Giants two out of three and now taking the
first three games against the Padres. So you know I'll
I'll feed that booth no problem, after the way things
have gone on this homestand eight six six nine seven
(40:27):
two five seventy is the phone number. Speaking of the
end of the home stand, the Dodgers announced just about
an hour ago that show hey. Otani's next start is
going to be on Sunday against the National Sunday afternoon
here at Dodgers Stadium, a one ten start. Otani makes
his second start as a Dodger pitcher, so that'll be
(40:50):
exciting as well. To close out this ten game homestand
let's go back out to the phones. Bruce, who is
here at Dodgers Stadium tonight? Bruce? Is that is that
a big Sunday game changer for you? That Otani's pitching.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
I went through the uh, the craziness on Monday, and
boy was worth it. It's just just the thrill of
the idea that the generational player that he is, the
that we get to see him come full circle and
and just add to what he's already doing inane.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
I mean, the.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
Nationals aren't a big draw compared to all these division games,
but I mean i'd watch him brush his teeth.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
I don't know if i'd pay on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
Yeah, I'll be there for sure. I was just really
happy today that the game, the talk after the game
was not about umpiring. That we don't need an Angel
Hernandez situation with with somebody making the game about themselves
instead of about the product on the field.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
And so thank you, Trip Gibson.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
See I hope you get out of town tomorrow night.
And maybe maybe he gets an Angel Hernandez Award for
being the worst umpire.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
Yes, well you know you knowing his name is not
a good thing for Trip Gibson. That's something that I
learned at an early age. When you know a referees
name or an umpire's name, that means that they're they're
putting themselves out there and maybe having more controversial calls
or bad calls when you don't know an umpire's name.
(42:37):
That's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Totally agree, and let's go for the sweep.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
I'm greedy, all.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Right, Bruce.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Yeah, Let's sweep these guys out of town and break
their hearts because they wanted so bad against the Dodgers
and if they lose. If the Padres lose tomorrow, they'll
be seven games back of the Dodgers and not going
to see them for a couple of months. Let's go
out to North Hollywood. James, you're on Dodger Talk Live
(43:07):
from Dodgers Stadium. Hi James, Hey David.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
Great to see it for the first time this season.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Talk to Tim Kaits a while ago about Ben Casperius
during the rotation and with Otani coming in now. I
love the Otani Casparius combo. But as for it tonight,
it's the youth movement. I am so stoked to see
these young guys taking the ball and taking the pedestal
(43:38):
Da've been given and delivering because a lot of other
guys that have been giving that, you know, sixth man opportunity,
have not delivered. And to see Emmitt Shean coming back off,
Tommy John doing his thing, and the TV casters talked
about Robo coming out and there's some different, there's some
different about him, and he has been doing that the
(44:00):
last three times.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
And so I just have to say that the Dodger's
depth is lifting us up.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
It's bouncing, bullying the ship. And I feel really good
about this season when we get our prime guys back
to health.
Speaker 5 (44:18):
No doubt, they're not even at full strength, and they're
in first place by four and a half games and
six over the third place San Diego Padres. Thanks for
the phone call, James appreciated. Here's another angle to this
Dodger Padre rivalry, and like I said, it is a rivalry.
And it reminds me of the Sacramento Kings when they
(44:40):
rose up for about four or five years, and them
and the Lakers had a thing going for that four
or five year stretch from ninety nine to two thousand
and five. The Kings have never been back since or
relevant since, So this too will pass. This whole Padre
are a team thing, but for right now, it's really fun.
(45:06):
And I was on with Tony Gwinn Junior and his
radio partner in San Diego the other day and his
partner brought up how Padres fans really dislike Will Smith.
He may be the most disliked Dodger to the Padres
and that's a good thing, right because he's doing a
lot of damage against San Diego. Not to mention he
(45:27):
was a baseball prophet in some ways when he told
me last year that Jerkson Profar was myster irrelevant. I
mean Profar is out of baseball right now because he
was suspended for ped so in some ways, Will Smith
was ahead of his time calling Profar mister irrelevant. And
another reason why Padres fans dislike Will Smith is because
(45:51):
he has done so much damage already this year in
the first six meetings between these two teams. Will Smith
against the Padre this year nine for seventeen with three
home runs, seven RBIs and two doubles. That'll make you
really dislike the opposing player, especially when he does it
(46:12):
in the clutch like he did tonight, a pinch hit,
walk off home run off the Padres closer Robert Suarez.
Before we say goodnight, I want to recognize a big
anniversary in Dodger history, maybe one of the best no
hitter pitch games in baseball history. Even though it wasn't
(46:34):
a perfect game, it was a Hanley Ramirez error away
from being a perfect game. This is the anniversary of
Clayton Kershaw's one and only no hitter in his career
to this point. It was against the Rockies, and here
was the final out on Dodgers Radio.
Speaker 11 (46:54):
No balls, two strikes, two outs, fourteen strikeouts for Kershaw.
Corey Dickerson is the batter. Here comes the two swung
out and miss strike three and a no hitter. On
the fifteenth strikeout of the game, Clayton Kershaw about to
be mobbed by his teammates. The Dodgers win ate nothing.
(47:15):
The greatness of Clayton Kershaw shown off yet again, another
strikling chapter in the career of Clayton Edward Kershaw.
Speaker 5 (47:28):
That's a great call from our guy Charlie Steiner who
was on the call with Rick Monday, and many believe
that that was one of the greatest pitch no hitters
in baseball history. In fact, Kershaw's fifteen strikeouts in that
no hitter eleven years ago tonight against the Rockies are
tied for the third most strikeouts in a no hitter
(47:51):
in baseball history. The only pitcher in baseball history with
more strikeouts in a no hitter is a fellow Texan,
Noan Ryan, who did it twice with seventeen strikeouts and
two of his no hitters seventeen with the Angels in
nineteen seventy three and sixteen strikeouts in his no hitter
(48:12):
when he was pitching with the Rangers in nineteen ninety one.
By the way, Kershaw that night ted Warren Spawn for
the most strikeouts and a no hitter by a left
handed pitcher. Spawn did it back in nineteen sixty. And
speaking of strikeouts, Kershaw's next start is on Friday night
here at Dodgers Stadium against the Nationals. He is just
(48:34):
twelve strikeout shy of three thousand in his career. He
would join Randy Johnson, CC Sabathia and who else am
I missing? Dwayne Steve Carlton as the only left handers
to have three thousand strikeouts as a left handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball history. So twelve away for the
(48:55):
great Kershaw. Fifteen of those strikeouts eleven years ago tonight
in that no hitter against the Rockies. So that was
a special night. And I felt like Kershaw could have
had at least one more a few years ago in Minnesota.
But I'll just keep that to myself. Well, I really
haven't kept it to myself. I've expressed that many times
(49:18):
over the years. But happy anniversary Clayton Kershaw. Happy anniversary
to Miguel Rojas, who made a great play to preserve
that no hitter. He was starting at third base as
a rookie that night. Happy anniversary to aj Ellis, one
of Kershaw's closest friends to this day, who was catching
that night. It was good that aj Ellis recovered after
(49:39):
stepping on Drew but Terra's catcher's mask after the celebration
in Philadelphia a week and a half earlier, when Beckett
threw a no hitter in Philadelphia against the Philly So
there we go, crazy to believe I was there for
all that, lived all that, and we're gonna live tomorrow
night too. To see Yoshi Yamamoto on the against the Padres.
(50:01):
Ryan Burgett is on the mound for San Diego Morongo Casino.
Dodgers on Deck begins at six o'clock tomorrow with first
pitch at seven to ten. Thanks to Dwayne McDonald here
at Dodgers Stadium. Thanks to Colin you back at our
Burbank Studios. Great job screening the calls tonight, Colin, Great
job doing it all back there in Burbank. Colin's gonna
(50:23):
podcast the show and our pregame conversation with Max Munsey
in a matter of minutes, and then you can download it.
You can get all your Dodger content on the iHeartRadio
app once again tonight. The final score from Dodgers Stadium.
The Dodgers defeat the Padres four to three on a
pinch hit walk off home run by number sixteen Will Smith.
(50:46):
Coming up next is Ben Maller on Fox Sports Radio.
Have a great rest of your night. Happy to be
back ceoday. So Sally that such strap of plain
One thing about this gene is the invisible and tangibles
that they have.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This team is really becoming a family.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Let's not play one on tone, Let's wind it.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
I love listening to these guys after the show.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So just thank you, give me are.
Speaker 5 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire and not a pisson. This is
world champion, Dodger world championing for a small soft time.
They get up people what they want to die too?
In a row two is special.
Speaker 6 (00:26):
I'm like, yeah, it's not a headache.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
One of a con.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
This ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 7 (00:32):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hell old time.
Speaker 6 (00:33):
Go to the sound, grab your phone to get in
on the show called eight six six nine eighty seven
two five seven and.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Go to the show.
Speaker 6 (00:41):
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
Vasse, Welcome the Dodger Talk David Vasse, back with you
live at Dodgers Stadium tonight until eleven thirty. We have
phone lines open at eight six six nine eighty seven
two five seventy. Other exciting game between the Dodgers and Padres.
These two teams seemed to give us our money's worth
(01:07):
and then some so far this year and going back
to last year's regular season and five game thrilling finish.
In the NLDS Tonight, another thrilling finish as the Dodgers
beat the Padres thanks to a pinch hit walk off
home run by Will Smith off of Robert Suarez. It
(01:29):
was an interesting battle as the Dodgers catcher came off
the bench he was not starting tonight. Dalton Rushing got
the start tonight, but the Dodgers took their shot with
Smith after the Padres tied it up in the top
of the ninth inning. He pinch hit in the eighth spot,
which was occupied by Hayesung Kim to start the game.
(01:51):
Keiky Hernandez came in in the middle of the game
and Dave Roberts went to Smith to be able to
try to win the game. In the bottom of the
ninth inning, he was down two after he fouled off
the second fastball down the left field line foul. It
had the distance for a home run, but it was foul.
(02:11):
In fact, the foul ball went farther probably than the
home run. So that'll show you that all this launchangle
and distance of home runs really don't mean a lot
unless you get it over the wall and in fair
territory and that's exactly what Will Smith did. On the
third pitch, Suarez tried to throw him a change up.
(02:33):
Smith was all over it like he was last night.
Just put the barrel of the bat on the baseball,
just dropped it right on the ball, and he pushed
it to right field, just over the outstretched glove a
Fernando Tatist Junior into the home run seats. It was
served up on a platter right there for those lucky fans.
It looked like the gentleman's wife, I hope just shied
(02:58):
away from trying to try to grab the ball, which
was smart because you don't want any questions of finn
interference when you're sitting in those home run seats. And
it was right there for them on the table, right
next to their nachos, their surveysas, and they were able
to have a walk off home run pinch it style
(03:19):
from Will Smith and Fernando Tatist Junior. Not sure what
was going on with him. It didn't seem like he
really had the hops getting off the ground. If he did,
he may have caught that. The timing also was a
little off, But Will Smith and the Dodgers will take
it on a four to three win eight six six
(03:40):
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number
the Dodgers had fifty three thousand, five hundred and sixty
eight at Dodgers Stadium tonight to witness their fifth win
in a row. The Dodgers' attendance now over two billion.
Fans have come through the gates here at Dodgers Stadium,
and they thank you for your support. Without the passion
(04:02):
of the fans, Dodger Stadium would not be the home
field advantage that it is these days. It wasn't that
way fifteen years ago, it wasn't that way twenty years ago.
But Dodger Stadium has turned back into one of the
toughest places to play. And that's why home field advantage
(04:24):
is so important to the Dodgers as they try to
get into the postseason and also have as many home
games as possible. Don't discount that. I feel like people
discount how tough of a place Dodger Stadium is to
play these days, and the Padres and Giants have found
that out yet again. The Padres fanned that out in
(04:47):
the postseason last year, and the Giants found it out
again before the Padres came to town, and the Dodgers
have certainly taken care of business on this homestand they
were able to take two out three from the Giants.
They are now four and a half games ahead of
San Francisco and they've won the first three games of
(05:07):
this four game series against the Padres, so they're now
six games ahead of San Diego in the NL West.
The Diamondbacks are nine games back of the Dodgers in
the NL West. So the Dodgers have actually separated themselves
to start this ten game homestand from the rest of
the NL West by beating the teams that are right
(05:29):
behind them. And that's why, you know, I know the
Dodgers and Dave Roberts want to downplay the significance of
these games in division, but the reality is they're worth
two games, a two game swing in the standings. So
the Dodgers taking two out of three from the Giants
(05:50):
when they came in here, and we're thinking about leaving
town in first place. Now they're four and a half
games back after they've lost four in a row. So
the Dodgers have won the first three games of this
series against the Padres and are looking to sweep them out.
Of town in a four game series for the first
time since two thousand and nine at Dodgers Stadium. Not
(06:14):
to mention the Dodgers, which they started this twenty nine
game stretch of facing teams above five hundred and teams
that were fighting for a division or a wildcard spot
back on May nineteenth, when they started the three game
series against the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers during this twenty nine
(06:38):
game stretch, which will end tomorrow against the Padres, have
played the Diamondbacks three times. They have played the Mets
seven times. They have played the Guardians three times in Cleveland,
they have played the Yankees three times. They have played
the Cardinals, and they have played the Padres now seven
(06:59):
times during this twenty nine game stretch, and so far
are seventeen and eleven during this grueling twenty nine game
stretch really impressive. Also impressive was Emmitt she And tonight
in his return to Major League Baseball, first time on
the mound since September twenty seventh, twenty twenty three four innings,
(07:23):
tonight one earned run with six strikeouts. Emmig Sheen was solid,
and he was on Sports in at LA after Tonight's game.
Speaker 8 (07:31):
Yeah, it was awesome. Once I was out there. It
was kind of just back in compete mode once she
hit her in the box. But definitely before and then after,
you're feeling emotions of just the past year for.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, stuff wise.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Were you feeling lying, you felt comfortable with kind of
the velocity, how you were attacking them, where things.
Speaker 8 (07:49):
Were, Yeah, I think so. I mean definitely maybe it
ticked down on the VLO, but other than that, I
feel like execution was really good. No walks, I'll take
that every time. So definitely feeling a different pictures were
before showgury it should body a little bit different, right,
but how you not really maybe slightly different, but for
the most part, everything feels pretty close to where it
(08:10):
was before.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And it's six strikeouts.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You watch, you look at all your work this year,
got twenty seven strikeouts.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
One watch has been what's the biggest key to gain
at command?
Speaker 8 (08:18):
I think it's just you know, being in control of
my body, being able to repeat my mechanics and just
trying to, you know, keep that release point consistent and
try to make adjustments when I do throw, you know,
pitches where I don't want them to be. You know,
that's a that's kind of a two yids the last
thing of them.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Why do you think it's come back to pick the
pretty much the play was.
Speaker 8 (08:35):
I don't really know, but I'm definitely, you know, happy
with it. I think, you know, it just comes from
Burke being put in all the mound work before throwing
multi bullpens, before even facing hitters.
Speaker 6 (08:46):
For sure.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
What was this process like over the last year and
a half. How difficult was it just to kind of
you know, push through rehab and how much more meaningful
did it kind of make a going out there.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
And just be back out there?
Speaker 8 (08:57):
Yeah, I mean I was thankful we had a we
had a really good group in Arizona this year, so
it was good to spend time with those guys and
not have to go through it alone. That was big.
But yeah, it definitely meant a lot to get back
out there, and you know, to watch what the team
did last year was really special and definitely motivated me
to get back out there.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
And she and tonight in his four innings of work
where he allowed us one run and had six strikeouts
with no walks through sixty five pitches, twenty eight of
those were his fastball, he was able to throw his
sweeper nineteen times. Tonight. He also mixed in his change
up and even dabbled with the curveball, so he was
(09:35):
using all four pitches tonight. And he was telling me
yesterday that, you know, he's been feeling out the curveball.
Maybe not a pitch that he's going to go to
a lot, but he is certainly going to show it
and put it in the back of hitters' minds. And
tonight sixty five pitches and four innings, I would anticipate
the next time she and is on the mound with
(09:56):
the Dodgers, he'll go a little bit further, maybe five
innings and stretch it out to seventy seventy five pitches
when he's on the mount. So that was a great sign.
And Justin Robleski also really good for the Dodgers tonight
as he went five innings. Even though the Padres tied
the score against Robleski in that ninth inning, he did
(10:16):
his job. He hung in there for five innings, and look,
it was big for the Dodgers not to go extra
innings because they allowed Robleski to pitch that ninth inning
because they wanted to try to give not just one
or two guys or three guys arrest in that bullpen.
They wanted to give everybody a rest in that bullpen.
And if you go to extra innings, you may have
(10:38):
to dip into it. But Max Muntsey made an air
and throw on a ground ball by Manny Machado couldn't
get the force out at second base, possibly even a
double play, which really would have changed the dynamics of
that inning being up three to one. But you know,
Max has been playing so much better defense the last
couple of weeks. That was just, you know, a mistake.
(11:01):
These guys will make mistakes, and it was an unfortunate
throw that Tommy Edmund was not going to be able
to dig out. And Uh, look, Max Mounsey uh has
done so well offensively and defensively since the beginning of May.
I think we understand that we can uh with the
way things ended tonight, We're not going to focus on that.
(11:22):
Nex monthly on base three times tonight, including his second
triple of the season. Eight six, six, seven, two five
seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Padres four
to three. Let's go out to Ben in Washington, d C.
Thanks for staying up late. In our nation's capital.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Ben, always a pleasure day walk off.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Yeah, that was pretty cool. A lot of the guys,
you know, even the umpires, This umpiring crew does not
communicate really well because they did not really give that
home run signal out and some of the guys, even
Alton Rushing said he wasn't sure went over the wall,
but uh, luckily it counted.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Ben, what do you got We'll take it, We'll take it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
I actually wanted to ask about what Dave had said
today about.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Hang Kim and get more playing time. What should we
view this like for Michael Conforto especially.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And what should we see as a progress for has
On Kim over the last couple of months.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
Well, look at you, and I'm ready for that question.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Ben.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
It sounded like Dave Roberts was giving us a soft,
a soft answer that maybe Michael Conforto is going to
be benched for the time being. And he didn't put
it that way, but that's my translation. Listen to this, Ben.
This was Dave Roberts earlier today talking about how Michael
(12:46):
Conforto maybe sitting out a few more games than he
has recently. Okay, we'll get that to you in a
little bit. All right, Ben, we'll get it to you.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah, of course, pleasure Dave there, all right, no.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Problem, thank you for the phone call. I'm going to
get that to Colin Yee because Dave Roberts kind of
made it sound that Hay Sung Kim is going to
get more time in the outfield and the you know,
the Dodgers have given Michael Conforto ample opportunity to try
to bail his way out of this whole slump here.
It's it's been a little bit. It's been a little
(13:23):
disappointing for Michael Conforto, who's on a one year contract.
The Dodgers signed him to a seventeen million dollar deal.
It just hasn't come to fruition. So we'll get to
that at the top of the hour. Ray and Georgia,
you're on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.
Speaker 7 (13:37):
Ray, Hey, David, a great job on the show as usual.
And one of the things I want to say is,
peep what we're doing and the Dodgers are doing with
all these injuries I'm talking about with Freeman Betts and
the pitching staff, and plus the fact that the Dodgers
are playing these teams that are after them because they're
(13:58):
world champions. And we're are with a four and a
half game lead over the Giants and now a six
game lead over the Padres. It's amazing. And if we
get these starters back last now and Snell and I
don't know about Asasaki if he's coming back, but I mean,
it could be amazing. We may be able to build
that record. So we do get those that first round
(14:20):
by and it gives them a rest before they start
playing again, you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Look right right, I say this all the time when
certain teams hang in there in games with the Dodgers,
but then seventh, eighth, and ninth innings they just don't
have enough coming out of the bullpen or don't have
enough depth in their lineup. I feel the same way
about the regular season. Yeah, the Giants and Padres are
hanging in there until June, maybe July, but they just
(14:49):
don't have enough to hang in there for the whole season,
especially the Padres, who obviously have their ownership in a
weird situation right now after the unfortunate passing of a
great man, Peter Seidler. They don't have a lot of
prospects to trade because they already traded them, so aj
Preller is in a tough position to even try to
(15:11):
add to a very thin depth group. So I just
don't see them having enough to even win the division,
and it's gonna be a photo finish in my opinion,
for them to make a wild card push.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
Right, And let me ask you this, David. You know
when you guys are playing, when we're playing the Giants
in San Francisco, is there any chance you can do
an interview view with John Miller? Because a lot of
times I'm watching the Dodger games and I'll listen to
the broadcast because I think John Miller and Vin Scully
were two of the best I've ever heard, and so
(15:45):
I was just wondering if you could do an interview
with John Miller.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
I don't usually take requests, Ray, but yes, I'll try
to get John Miller on the pregame show before the
end of the season. How about that.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
That'd be great.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
And just hang in there.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
We were doing a great job and I can't wait
for our next World championship.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
It's on his way, all right, Ray, thank you for
the phone call. Eight six six nine eight seven two
five seventy is the phone number. Last night, we had
some hitters being hit by pitches. The Dodgers. Lu Trevino
hit Fernando Tattist Junior last night, and then the Padres
responded by having Randy Vasquez hit sho He Otani in
(16:27):
the next at bat that he came to the plate.
And the issue the Dodgers had with Vasquez was, it
took you two times to try to hit him. You
try to hit him on the first pitch and you missed,
and then you hit him right above the knee on
his right leg. And I guess one of the unwritten
rules is you get one shot if you miss it. Sorry,
(16:50):
but Vasquez took another shot and he hit Otani. So
Mike Shildt after the game last night kind of laid
that out that he wasn't happy that Lutrevio hit Fernando
Tattos Junior last night after hitting Tattas Junior in the
first inning of last Tuesday night's game, But talking to
Lou before the game tonight, he just said, you know,
(17:11):
I can't explain it. I haven't hit a batter in
four years, and I've hit him twice in the last week,
and I completely understand the optics but I wasn't trying
to hit him. I was just trying to come inside,
and that's what I do against right handed hitters. I
just yanked it a little bit too far, and I
think if Mike Shildt took a step back, he'd understand that.
(17:31):
But nonetheless, I don't believe Mike shilt whether or not
he thought Trevino hit Tattas Junior intentionally. If your best
player gets hit twice against the same team, a division rival,
where you know attentions are high, you got to protect
that hitter, and you got to understand that. But you
(17:54):
only get one shot. You know you can't try to
take if you don't get it on the first pitch.
A little iffy right there, But nonetheless everything was cooled
off tonight. The umpires did not issue warnings before first pitch,
and even when Andy pie Has was hit again tonight
in the bottom of the seventh inning by the Padre
(18:15):
starter Stephen Colek, he understood it wasn't on purpose. And
even when Mike Schiltz brought in the reliever and they
crossed paths going across the field, Colick coming off the field,
Paz and Colic did not have any issues with each other.
So that was good, and look, this is great. This
reminds me of a rod veritec Yankees Red Sox type
(18:40):
of games, where you're seeing these teams battle it out
in the postseason and certainly high intensity during the regular season.
We saw it last year, we've seen it since twenty twenty,
but it feels like it's been raised a notch after
these two teams have faced each other in the postseason
a couple of times in the last two or thre
three years, and certainly after the Dodgers came back in
(19:03):
that five game NLDS. And another layer to why the
tensions may be running hot is because these two teams
are seeing each other seven times within a week after
not seeing each other for the first sixty games of
the season. So you pack in these many games in
(19:24):
such a short period of time, it'll feel like the postseason.
And these two teams don't like each other. The Padres
obviously do not like the Dodgers. Their emotions spill out
over the dugout railing often, it's really obvious. And the
Dodgers probably don't like the Padres either. In fact, I'll
(19:44):
say it, the Dodgers don't like the Padres or their antics,
and the Padres are resentful that the Dodgers are the Dodgers.
So when you bring all of those factors in, you're
going to have tempers boil over like we've seen. Eight
six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number. We're gonna take a time out here on
(20:05):
Dodger Talk. When we come back, we'll hear from Dave
Roberts about where the Dodgers are going with Michael Confordo
after a slow start to begin the season. And also
we'll check in with Jose Mota and hear from Justin
Robleski after the Dodgers walk it off on a pinch
hit home run by Will Smith in the bottom of
the ninth inning off of Robert Suarez four to three
(20:28):
victors over San Diego on a five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
Dodger Talk is available on AM five seventy LA sports
dot com hand on the iHeartRadio app Back to more
Dodger Talk with Dodger insider David Basse allowed and long
strike for ss now The O two pitch Smith, which
is a fly ball right center field tatis on there
on at the warning track.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Pat it's gone, It's gone, and this games is over.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
Just got be all to reach it for no no
top Tis Junior.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Will Smith comes home and now we go home. Brick
Monday and Steven Nelson on the call tonight. That was
the pin hit, walk off home run by Will Smith
to give the Dodgers the win four to three over
Robert Suarez and the San Diego Padres David Vasse live
(21:37):
at Dodgers Stadium. We are with you until the bottom
of the hour right here on Dodger Talk and we
have phone lines open at eight six six nine, eight
seven two five seventy. Daniels Jewelers presents the home run forecast.
Go to AM five seventy LA sports dot Com use
the keyword home run for your chance to win a
fifty dollars Daniels Jeweler's gift card predicting the number of
(21:59):
home runs in the very next game. Daniels Jewelers own
the dream all right. I had a chance to catch
up with another Dodger catcher who was the starting catcher tonight,
Dalton Rushing. He had a big, go ahead, two run
single in the game to give the Dodgers a three
to one lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
(22:20):
He also made a nice block of the plate in
the ninth inning on a great throw by Freddie Freeman
to get Brandon Lockridge out in the top of the
ninth inning. A good all around game for rushing, and
he had a great view of Will Smith's walk off
home run because he was on deck. Here was rushing
moments after Smith's heroics.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Well, thank you branding it early. Well, nobody wanted to
play extras. And there's one guy you trust going up
there in that situation as well.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
And yeah, it was pretty cool to say you had
a great view you were on deck. How did you
see that at back going, especially after that fall ball
down the left field line. Uh, not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I was about just as confused as Will was. We
thought Tatis caught it. I also thought he caught it
and then he just started walking. So yeah, it all
worked out. I mean, Will, he's such a great player.
It's fun to be able to see that that close.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
You had a big part of tonight's game. Let's go
back to the ninth inning. Freddie Freeman is able to
have the field awareness to realize the runner at third
Lockridge is breaking home. Were you surprised in that situation
he was coming home.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
No, I mean they're pressing the envelope. They're gonna try
to get a run across the board anyway possible. Guy
like Freddy just fundamentally sound with the best of him,
and obviously he's gonna make that play and take the
out at home.
Speaker 5 (23:41):
What could you say about what Emmett and Robleski did tonight.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, it's massive being able to have those two guys
come out here and just essentially just do their job.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Do their job.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
They save a bullpen and give us a chance to
obviously go ahead and sweep the weekend, sweep the series
tomorrow and moving into the weekend a better situation.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Hey, this is the way that Dodgers planned it. The
one two combo behind the play tonight. Rush again, Will Smith, thanks.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
A lot for stopping absolutely, thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
There he is Dalton Rushing, who had a really good
game tonight, including that go ahead two runs single in
the fifth inning, part of a three run inning for
the Dodgers to take a three to one lead into
the ninth inning. The Padres would tight in the top
of the ninth inning, and the other catcher, Oh yeah,
the All Star Will Smith with the pinch hit walk
(24:28):
off home run for the Dodgers to give them the
win four to three. You know, it's funny. Will Smith
really made a reputation for himself during his rookie year
of twenty nineteen being part of that weekend remember with
Alex Verdugo and Matt Batty walk off Weekend. Will Smith
hitting a walk off home run against the Rockies on
that Friday, Saturday Sunday weekend in the middle of that
(24:50):
twenty nineteen summer. And he has now three pinch hit
walk off home runs for the Dodgers and s a
big deal because number sixteen has broken a record that
are number sixteen, Rick Monday held with the Dodgers. That
(25:10):
was Will Smith's third career pinch hit walk off home run,
breaking a tie with Rick Monday for the most in
Dodger history. So it was passed down to a numbers
another number sixteen. And we can't forget about the other
number sixteen, Andre Ethier, who made a reputation being mister
clutch as well. So something about that number with the
(25:34):
clutch Gene. Let's go out to Sarkis in Valencia. You're
on Dodger talk with David vasse Hi Sarkies.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Hey, Dave, how you doing that? Just two quick points.
First one is finally the concerto thing. It's way overdue
in my opinion. You know, the analogy I'm going to
use is you got a Ferrari sitting in the garage. Yeah,
you continue to drive your pino. Dave Roberts finally made
their decision. I'm play over due. Second point, the Dodgers
(26:06):
have to reason to start the call. Hey, so look,
I'll see you. The trade deadline has to come into
a lot clear picture. With emmit Chian doing what he
did tonight, that has to be a game changer for
the Dodger front office. He basically upgraded himself to number
(26:28):
two or number three?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Oh really after four innings?
Speaker 9 (26:34):
I think so he looked amazing.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
What about when Blake Snell comes back? What about the
future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw? What about Glass? Now
you think he's uh, he's a number two over those.
Speaker 9 (26:45):
Guys they come back. No, Well, once they come back,
you know, we'll see what happens. I don't trust anybody
until they actually come back and pitch.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
All right, great, sarchise, I appreciate the phone call. Look,
Emma Sheian's great, and certainly even Dave Roberts said a
couple of months ago that Emmit Shean's going to have
a big role and even a sleeper type of bet
on Emit she in the second half of the season.
And I'm not going to say that he is not
going to have a great year, but that's a little presumptuous.
(27:17):
After his first start, going four innings, throwing sixty five pitches,
I believe he's going to be really good. But if
Blake Snell and Tyler Glass now are back in healthy
when October rolls around, they're going to be your number
two and number three starters, with Yamamoto and Kershaw alongside them.
And already we've gotten two phone calls about Michael CONFORDO.
(27:40):
He was not in the starting lineup tonight. He's batting
a buck sixty eight. The Dodgers have given him a
very long leash, longer than a lot of players have
been given the last ten years. If they would be
performing this way, and Dave Roberts said before the game
that he may not be getting as many opportunities to
they want to give Kim some opportunities. I would be
(28:03):
an advocate of mixing in kek Hernandez a little bit
more because he's been relegated to pinch hit duties because
they haven't been facing a lot of lefty starters. But
you got to give them some credit at bats to
be ready when those lefty starters are on the mound.
Here's what Dave Roberts had to say before the game
about Michael Confordo's struggles and the fact that he may
(28:24):
not be getting as many opportunities as much as he
was before.
Speaker 10 (28:30):
Just not getting to the heater. I think that's probably
the start of it. And you know, when you don't
hit the fastball, that starts to lends to a little cheating,
chasing on spin, and so we got to get him
back to the heater, to the big part of the field.
But he's working on that. He knows that it's not
(28:50):
something he doesn't know, and he's not trying to miss fastballs.
So that's probably the genesis of the whole deal. I
see him playing a lot still.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
I do.
Speaker 10 (29:01):
I do think that in a meritocracy, in that vein,
I think that Heysong has earned opportunities and I don't
want to just kind of get him to lose his
mojo and sit for four or five six days and
expect good at bat. So I think that he's earning
the opportunity to get somewhat of a consistent look and
(29:23):
we'll go from there.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Look that's fair. I mean, this is a results oriented business.
The Dodgers have given Michael Confordo two hundred and forty
three plate appearances. He's now hitting eighth. Whenever he has
been starting recently, he has four home runs. They're far
and few between. It just hasn't clicked. And quite honestly,
(29:47):
I don't believe he's this bad of a player. He's
a really good player, but for whatever reason, it just
hasn't clicked yet. So maybe giving him a few starts
off to work with Rob Van Sooye and Aaron Bates
to get him mechanically straight, maybe get his confidence up,
give him a mental breather, can help him reset his season.
(30:09):
Because the Dodgers aren't just going to cut him, they're
not giving up on him. But certainly, you know they've
got really good players, and really good players need to play,
and if you're not up to par, they're gonna find
somebody else. And I think that's where the Dodgers are
with Michael CONFORDO, Hey Sung Kim, and like I said,
I really am a big advocate that Keith a Hernandez
(30:31):
needs to get more starts when you don't see a
lefty starter for seven to ten games. By the way,
speaking of those groupings of hitters, we were talking about
this before the game up here in the press box
amongst the broadcasters. It is really sticking out the difference
between the Dodgers seven eight nine hitters and the Padres
(30:54):
seven eight nine hitters in this series and quite frankly
for the Padres all season long. I believe last night
the seven eight nine hitters for the Padres did not
even have a hit, and in the first three games
of this series, San Diego's bottom third of the order
is a combined six for thirty two with two RBIs
(31:14):
and only four runs scored. In contrast, the Dodgers seven
eight nine hitters, including tonight's pinch hit home run by
Will Smith, are combined eleven for thirty two, a three
forty three batting average with three home runs, eight RBIs
and nine runs scored. It's really been those guys, the
(31:37):
seven eight nine hitters that have really done damage against
the Padres in the first three games of this series
because o'tani drove in a couple of runs in the
first game of this series, but last night zero for
four with four strikeouts. Tonight nothing significant. He struck out
with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the
(31:58):
seventh inning. Freddie Freeman is now getting base hits to
get back on track to be driven in by those guys,
and Mookie Betts has really not done much of anything
in this series either. So it's been Andy Paiez, Tommy
Edmund Will Smith, those guys that have been keeping this
line moving. And you're gonna need guys like that. So
(32:19):
the seven, eight nine hitters have been a big difference
maker for the Dodgers. Eight six, six nine, eight, seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We have a
few lines open. We'll try to get to you, but
we're gonna take another time out here. When we continue,
Jose Moda will join us. Oh, Jose's there. Let's not
take a time out. We're gonna roll on. We're gonna
keep it going. That's what we do here. We keep
(32:41):
it going. Let's check in with our guy, Jose.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
All Right, the Dodgers are looking for their first four
game sweep over the Padres at Dodgers Stadium since two
thousand and nine. Jose Mota. This has been hotly contested
first three games and tonight was no different.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
They're not wonderful, just to see that a rivalry is
really playing up to the fans, to the player, to
the intensity and to the results that you want. I mean,
the Dagdiers have going a very good job set bringing
themselves from those behind them, the ones that are pushing
them and turning. I expect this happened all throughout the
rest of the season, but it's good to see how
they have rebounded and have understood Dave with all the
(33:29):
stretch of good pitching they face, and teams have put
the ball in play, and teams that don't strike out
like a Potters and so the Cardinals and all that
of the Mets, they're finding a way in those small
little windows to really go out there and do some
damage effectively.
Speaker 5 (33:42):
It feels like the intensity picked up when the Dodgers
started that three game series at Petco Park, and it's
carried over. Have you felt that I did.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I think coming out of that star by Clayton Kershaw
and Saint Louis, it was like, Okay, off to San
Diego and you got to go out there and play well.
I know everybody's going to be against you. The fans
know what happened in October. They want a little revenge,
and you go out there and take care of business.
Dave Roberts, obviously he's playing it well with a medium
with the players saying it's just another series. We got
to play well.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Well.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
There's no doubt in my mind that between the fact
that the Potters are a good team and Mike shild
does want to be the Dodgers badly and knowing that
they're always pursuing, they've stepped up in many ways. And
you know, from catching the baseball, we're not talking about
bag base running, We're talking about feeling the baseball. All
those things that really went along with just not being
(34:33):
coordinated at times are happening at the right time right now.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
How about that seventy eight to nine hitter discrepancy, The
Dodgers seventy eight nine hitters really doing get Jose in
the first three games of this series. Do you believe
that's been a big difference maker.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Oh that has been here today, there's no doubt. And
now with the options of sometimes even moving monthly down
a little bit more, Tommy Evans has been of presence
down there where he had best. But the real difference
think has been Hony Pious and what he's done from
from the five spots six spot down and what he's
brought to the at bat's the decisions he's making in
(35:09):
the batter's box. He plays with a lot of intensity
himself and then you know, on top of that, you
replace a very popular guy in Austin Barnes with a
young kid, and young kid behind the plate is doing
a job that you expect him to do in terms
of just one phase at a time. So the pitt
he's not going to be there right now, don't worry
about it. And the daughters have been very transparent. But
they beneath those guys because if you look at the
(35:29):
top of the odor today it cannot just be all
about the one hint they got on base twice between
show Hey, Mukia and Freddy and that's what you need.
Tasker is you know, not quite there yet. But the
guys at the bottom are making their lives and their
evenings much easier than pleasant.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Yeah, tonight was the first night where you could say
it was the one to two punch behind the plate
with the Dodger catchers right with Rushing starting the game
catching two guys he knows really well from Oklahoma City
coming up with a big two run base it in
the fifth inning to break the tie, and then you
got Will Smith with the heroics in the ninth inning.
That's that's a threat that not a lot of teams have.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Correct And then you know the whole thing about managing
Will Smith. I see it's going to be very advantageous
to the team and to Will Smith and for god
like Will Smith to get his ego out of the way.
He says, I know why they're doing this. He wants
to play every day. He wants to be catching I
should say, the majority of the game. But understanding that
he also play a big role in developing this young
catcher that's helping the Dodgers behind the plate and with
(36:31):
a bat and guys that are behind the plate, and
you ask for just continuity of sequencing, understanding a game plan,
executing a game plan, and being a leader behind the
plate anything to do offensively is a plus, but Will
Smith has taken it to a new level. And then
for God like Russia to be watching this, Dave, I'm
telling you right now, I'm seeing the past. It is
(36:53):
such an honor for him obviously, and a luxury to
see somebody like that that sets a tone like Will
Smith does. And communication that has been made and informed
to Dallas and Russian is about catching catch and the
hitting will come. We know you have not played, You've
been an everyday player for all your life. Just understand
(37:15):
your role right now. Take care of being great behind
the plate, and everything else will be better. He's getting
much better also now with a bet, now that there's
a little like separation and knowing that I don't have
to carry the team in the bottom of the order.
I don't have to go out there and get base
hits all the time. But of course he wants to
get him, but he's understanding that you got to break
it up sometimes. Just be a good catcher. Right now,
the rest will come.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
Jose Mota is joining us after the Dodgers defeat the
Padres tonight four to three. On top of the Dodgers
winning this game, they also win in another department, the
big picture department, by not having to go to their
bullpen and use any of their high leverage relievers. We
all know the Dodger bullpen has been used more than
(37:56):
any other bullpen in baseball. How about Emid Sheen and
Justin Robleski tonight combining to go the full game and
not issuing a single walk. The Padre struck out nine times,
six of them against Shean and did not take a
single walk. The Robleski and Sheen did not issue a
single walk. That is remarkable from two rookies.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
A great example of when Theaytelier pound the zone, Glattherm
pound the zone. And for m I mean who The
whole team is so happy for this kid who has
worked so hard to get here. He's gotten a bigger
and stronger He showed very good command today of three pitches.
I know we had a conversation with him in terms
of the curveball, which is a great show pitch. If
he's not dropping for a strike, don't worry about it.
It's a great show pitch. Just to offset your hitters
(38:40):
and change just the way east west and north south
that you pitch. But man, without thirty the riagle he
has in his arm. Those risers are really exploding. And
we saw a lot of check swings upstairs, swings and
misses upstairs, and the bolt coming out of his hand
really hot. And rob Leski, you know, having a conversation
with him in San Diego. Actually there's outing in Saint Louis,
(39:01):
and he was telling me that at times he's become cerebral,
like thinking too much. How do I get this guy out?
How how do I set them up to put him away?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
And he goes.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I can just think about putting him away early, because
this stuff is good enough. And in that case, I
got to make my slaughter good early accounts and make
it tight if I need too. So all the young
players that I'm talking to and talking about Dave have
all understood that it is a luxury to be in
the big leagues, but to be learning from the guys
are around, and certainly they're putting all that time on
(39:30):
the bench of the bullpen VP to good use.
Speaker 5 (39:32):
Right now, all right, Jose Mota, we'll see you back
at the ballpark tomorrow night. I'm sure these two teams
will give us everything and more, and certainly a fun
night here at Dodgers Stadium. Thanks for joining us, Jose.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
You got it.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Good night, there he goes Jose Mota, part of the
Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast with Luis Cochito Cruz and Pepe
and Ningaz. And I still owe Pepe those tacos. I
will get them those tacos after before the homestand is over,
by the way, because I had predicted a Giants I
(40:06):
had predicted a Dodger's sweep over the Giants, so it'll
be easier to deliver these tacos after the Dodgers beating
the Giants two out of three and now taking the
first three games against the Padres. So you know I'll
I'll feed that booth no problem, after the way things
have gone on this homestand eight six six nine seven
(40:27):
two five seventy is the phone number. Speaking of the
end of the home stand, the Dodgers announced just about
an hour ago that show hey. Otani's next start is
going to be on Sunday against the National Sunday afternoon
here at Dodgers Stadium, a one ten start. Otani makes
his second start as a Dodger pitcher, so that'll be
(40:50):
exciting as well. To close out this ten game homestand
let's go back out to the phones. Bruce, who is
here at Dodgers Stadium tonight? Bruce? Is that is that
a big Sunday game changer for you? That Otani's pitching.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
I went through the uh, the craziness on Monday, and
boy was worth it. It's just just the thrill of
the idea that the generational player that he is, the
that we get to see him come full circle and
and just add to what he's already doing inane.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
I mean, the.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
Nationals aren't a big draw compared to all these division games,
but I mean i'd watch him brush his teeth.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
I don't know if i'd pay on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
Yeah, I'll be there for sure. I was just really
happy today that the game, the talk after the game
was not about umpiring. That we don't need an Angel
Hernandez situation with with somebody making the game about themselves
instead of about the product on the field.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
And so thank you, Trip Gibson.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
See I hope you get out of town tomorrow night.
And maybe maybe he gets an Angel Hernandez Award for
being the worst umpire.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
Yes, well you know you knowing his name is not
a good thing for Trip Gibson. That's something that I
learned at an early age. When you know a referees
name or an umpire's name, that means that they're they're
putting themselves out there and maybe having more controversial calls
or bad calls when you don't know an umpire's name.
(42:37):
That's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Totally agree, and let's go for the sweep.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
I'm greedy, all.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
Right, Bruce.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Yeah, Let's sweep these guys out of town and break
their hearts because they wanted so bad against the Dodgers
and if they lose. If the Padres lose tomorrow, they'll
be seven games back of the Dodgers and not going
to see them for a couple of months. Let's go
out to North Hollywood. James, you're on Dodger Talk Live
(43:07):
from Dodgers Stadium. Hi James, Hey David.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
Great to see it for the first time this season.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Talk to Tim Kaits a while ago about Ben Casperius
during the rotation and with Otani coming in now. I
love the Otani Casparius combo. But as for it tonight,
it's the youth movement. I am so stoked to see
these young guys taking the ball and taking the pedestal
(43:38):
Da've been given and delivering because a lot of other
guys that have been giving that, you know, sixth man opportunity,
have not delivered. And to see Emmitt Shean coming back off,
Tommy John doing his thing, and the TV casters talked
about Robo coming out and there's some different, there's some
different about him, and he has been doing that the
(44:00):
last three times.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
And so I just have to say that the Dodger's
depth is lifting us up.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
It's bouncing, bullying the ship. And I feel really good
about this season when we get our prime guys back
to health.
Speaker 5 (44:18):
No doubt, they're not even at full strength, and they're
in first place by four and a half games and
six over the third place San Diego Padres. Thanks for
the phone call, James appreciated. Here's another angle to this
Dodger Padre rivalry, and like I said, it is a rivalry.
And it reminds me of the Sacramento Kings when they
(44:40):
rose up for about four or five years, and them
and the Lakers had a thing going for that four
or five year stretch from ninety nine to two thousand
and five. The Kings have never been back since or
relevant since, So this too will pass. This whole Padre
are a team thing, but for right now, it's really fun.
(45:06):
And I was on with Tony Gwinn Junior and his
radio partner in San Diego the other day and his
partner brought up how Padres fans really dislike Will Smith.
He may be the most disliked Dodger to the Padres
and that's a good thing, right because he's doing a
lot of damage against San Diego. Not to mention he
(45:27):
was a baseball prophet in some ways when he told
me last year that Jerkson Profar was myster irrelevant. I
mean Profar is out of baseball right now because he
was suspended for ped so in some ways, Will Smith
was ahead of his time calling Profar mister irrelevant. And
another reason why Padres fans dislike Will Smith is because
(45:51):
he has done so much damage already this year in
the first six meetings between these two teams. Will Smith
against the Padre this year nine for seventeen with three
home runs, seven RBIs and two doubles. That'll make you
really dislike the opposing player, especially when he does it
(46:12):
in the clutch like he did tonight, a pinch hit,
walk off home run off the Padres closer Robert Suarez.
Before we say goodnight, I want to recognize a big
anniversary in Dodger history, maybe one of the best no
hitter pitch games in baseball history. Even though it wasn't
(46:34):
a perfect game, it was a Hanley Ramirez error away
from being a perfect game. This is the anniversary of
Clayton Kershaw's one and only no hitter in his career
to this point. It was against the Rockies, and here
was the final out on Dodgers Radio.
Speaker 11 (46:54):
No balls, two strikes, two outs, fourteen strikeouts for Kershaw.
Corey Dickerson is the batter. Here comes the two swung
out and miss strike three and a no hitter. On
the fifteenth strikeout of the game, Clayton Kershaw about to
be mobbed by his teammates. The Dodgers win ate nothing.
(47:15):
The greatness of Clayton Kershaw shown off yet again, another
strikling chapter in the career of Clayton Edward Kershaw.
Speaker 5 (47:28):
That's a great call from our guy Charlie Steiner who
was on the call with Rick Monday, and many believe
that that was one of the greatest pitch no hitters
in baseball history. In fact, Kershaw's fifteen strikeouts in that
no hitter eleven years ago tonight against the Rockies are
tied for the third most strikeouts in a no hitter
(47:51):
in baseball history. The only pitcher in baseball history with
more strikeouts in a no hitter is a fellow Texan,
Noan Ryan, who did it twice with seventeen strikeouts and
two of his no hitters seventeen with the Angels in
nineteen seventy three and sixteen strikeouts in his no hitter
(48:12):
when he was pitching with the Rangers in nineteen ninety one.
By the way, Kershaw that night ted Warren Spawn for
the most strikeouts and a no hitter by a left
handed pitcher. Spawn did it back in nineteen sixty. And
speaking of strikeouts, Kershaw's next start is on Friday night
here at Dodgers Stadium against the Nationals. He is just
(48:34):
twelve strikeout shy of three thousand in his career. He
would join Randy Johnson, CC Sabathia and who else am
I missing? Dwayne Steve Carlton as the only left handers
to have three thousand strikeouts as a left handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball history. So twelve away for the
(48:55):
great Kershaw. Fifteen of those strikeouts eleven years ago tonight
in that no hitter against the Rockies. So that was
a special night. And I felt like Kershaw could have
had at least one more a few years ago in Minnesota.
But I'll just keep that to myself. Well, I really
haven't kept it to myself. I've expressed that many times
(49:18):
over the years. But happy anniversary Clayton Kershaw. Happy anniversary
to Miguel Rojas, who made a great play to preserve
that no hitter. He was starting at third base as
a rookie that night. Happy anniversary to aj Ellis, one
of Kershaw's closest friends to this day, who was catching
that night. It was good that aj Ellis recovered after
(49:39):
stepping on Drew but Terra's catcher's mask after the celebration
in Philadelphia a week and a half earlier, when Beckett
threw a no hitter in Philadelphia against the Philly So
there we go, crazy to believe I was there for
all that, lived all that, and we're gonna live tomorrow
night too. To see Yoshi Yamamoto on the against the Padres.
(50:01):
Ryan Burgett is on the mound for San Diego Morongo Casino.
Dodgers on Deck begins at six o'clock tomorrow with first
pitch at seven to ten. Thanks to Dwayne McDonald here
at Dodgers Stadium. Thanks to Colin you back at our
Burbank Studios. Great job screening the calls tonight, Colin, Great
job doing it all back there in Burbank. Colin's gonna
(50:23):
podcast the show and our pregame conversation with Max Munsey
in a matter of minutes, and then you can download it.
You can get all your Dodger content on the iHeartRadio
app once again tonight. The final score from Dodgers Stadium.
The Dodgers defeat the Padres four to three on a
pinch hit walk off home run by number sixteen Will Smith.
(50:46):
Coming up next is Ben Maller on Fox Sports Radio.
Have a great rest of your night. Happy to be
back ceoday. So Sally that such strap of plain
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