July 20, 2025 • 39 mins
DV takes your calls and talks to Jose Mota after the Dodgers fall to the Brewers, 8-7. Dave Roberts addresses the media. DV shares part of his pregame conversation with Dusty Baker.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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 Tom.
Speaker 4 (00:10):
Let's wind it.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I love writing me these guys after the show. So
just thank you, give me are.
Speaker 5 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire, not a pisson.
Speaker 6 (00:17):
This is world champion, Dodger world championing for a small
soft time.
Speaker 5 (00:22):
They get up people what they want to die too?
In a row two is special.
Speaker 7 (00:26):
I'm like, yeah, it's not a headache.
Speaker 6 (00:28):
One of a con.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
This ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 8 (00:32):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Hell old time, go to the su grab your phone.
Speaker 7 (00:36):
To get in on the show called eight six six
nine eighty seven two five seven and go to the show.
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David Basse.
Speaker 6 (00:47):
Welcome the Dodger Talk David Fasse live at Dodgers Stadium.
After the Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight by a
final score of eight to seven eight six six nine
eight seven seventy is the phone number. We're with you
until ten thirty tonight here at Dodgers Stadium. And obviously
(01:07):
the pregame ceremony was great, honoring Fernando Valnezuela and I
strongly encourage you to go check out the mural that
was painted and unveiled today of Fernando down the left
field line on the loge level.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
That was awesome.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
And you'll hear from Dusty Baker a little bit later
in the show about his former teammate part of the
nineteen eighty one world champion Dodgers. But before we get
to all that, obviously you're not happy with the way
things are going for the Dodgers right now. I'm not
happy about the way things are going right now for
(01:44):
the Dodgers, and the Dodgers are not happy about the
way things are going for them right now. They just
have so much talent that they can bully themselves to
wins against lesser opponents when they're not playing their best.
But right now they're not playing their best, and they're
seeing a buzzsaw in the Milwaukee Brewers six times in
(02:07):
the matter of a week ten days. They saw him
three times in Milwaukee. They have had the best record
in baseball since May twenty second. I would argue their
pitching staff is the best in baseball. I mean it's
it's really good. Not just one or two guys. I'm
talking about ten deep. You talk about their starters, you
(02:29):
talk about their bullpen, you talk about their closer.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
I mean Trevor McGill.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
He comes into the ninth inning and the door is
just a crack for you to be able to come
back against a guy that's that dominant. And he's the
successor to Devin Williams, who the Brewers traded to the
Yankees this offseason. Devin Williams was the successor to Josh Haterer.
So Matt Arnold has this thing going with the Brewers
(02:59):
and has found you know, the Rays get all the
credit for doing a lot with less, the Brewers have
been just as, if not more successful since twenty eighteen
in that department than the Tampa Bay Rays. And I
would not rule out a rematch of the twenty eighteen
NLCS this season between the Dodgers and Brewers, and any
(03:23):
team in the National League does not want to see
this pitching staff in any sort of short series, best
of five series. And right now they're a wildcard team.
They're the best wildcard team out there. They are a
game back of the Cubs in the NL Central and
the Dodgers are playing a very hot team that has
(03:43):
a nine game winning streak going for him. Five of
those wins against the Dodgers, and the Brewers are catching
the Dodger offense in a downturn right now. The Dodger
offense is not what it has been, It's not what
it will be, but it is what it is right now.
I hate to sound like Mookie Betts, but I mean
(04:05):
that's what it is. And I always go back to
Don Mattingly when he was the manager of the Dodgers.
He would always remind us that the records matter to
a certain extent, but it's about when you're catching a team,
whether or not you're catching the team with the best
record that's in a cold streak, whether or not you're
catching the team with one of the worst records on
(04:28):
a hot streak. That's what he meant by that, and
that is really at the forefront of my mind tonight
and over the course of the last week, where the
Dodgers are catching the hottest team in baseball in the Brewers,
they caught the hottest team in the American League in
the Astros, and their offense is not hitting on all
(04:52):
cylinders right now. It was great to see show hey
Otani come to life tonight. But he's turned into kind
of a a slugger, you know. He in the last
month or so, it seems like he's swinging for the
fences more times than not. And this talk about his
slump in the last twenty thirty games connected to him pitching.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I mean, I could be.
Speaker 9 (05:20):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
I hate when managers and GM say this. I could
be really lazy and agree with that take, but I'm sorry.
He has done it before, he has pitched and hit before.
He knows how to do it. There's a reason why
he's the best player on the town, on the planet.
It's not because he's not in a slump right now
(05:42):
because he started pitching again. He's been pitching for the
last six months, at like one o'clock in the afternoon,
he's been pitching. And you know, people that just want
to say that Otani's in a slump because he's pitching. Okay,
maybe on the days that he pitches, that carries more
(06:03):
weight with me, but not when he's not pitching. How
about last night he didn't pitch. He didn't pitch in
the All Star Game. Are you gonna connect that to
him pitching last night as well?
Speaker 5 (06:14):
He doesn't pitch every day.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
He pitches once a week, so and he's only pitching
two or three innings. So let's not make it seem
like this guy's throwing complete games like the Bulldog every
fifth day or every fourth day. He pitches once a
week and so far has only pitched two three innings
max in a start. So I'm sorry, I'm not going
(06:37):
to buy into Otani's pitching again.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
He's in a slump. And what do you think is
gonna happen?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
You think the La Times saying that he's in a
slump because he's pitching again, is gonna all of a
sudden have Otani say, you know what, You're right, You're right, blogger,
you're right. So and so I'm in a slump because
I'm pitching. I'm not pitching anymore. I'm just not going
to pitch anymore. The bigger issue, and the more concerning issue,
(07:05):
is the fact that Otani, Bets, and Freeman have not
hit at the same time this year, and if they have,
it hasn't been for long stretches. Freddie was on another
planet in May and April Otani was. Those two guys
were going, but in between them, Mookie Betts has been
in a season long slump, and it's harder to ignore that.
(07:28):
And no, it's not because he's playing shortstop. If you
remember before he was hit on the hand last year,
he was one of the best players playing shortstop, best
hitters playing shortstop. But if you look at Mooki Betts now,
I mean, he is so small right now, and you
(07:50):
don't gain weight as the season goes on. So I
just feel like he's been playing from behind since day
one and you can't try, can't try to chase those
at bats, and right now I'm not I can't get
into Mooky's head. His teammates can't get into his head.
He's got to figure this out himself mentally, because the
(08:13):
hitting coaches, the teammates, his hype man right here can
only do so much. He's got to look in the
mirror and realize, I'm Mooky freaking Bets. What am I doing?
Why am I acting like this? I'm really good. I
gotta remind myself that. And he's gonna come out of it.
You never know when. But I'm not giving up on
(08:35):
Mooki Betts' season. Just after a couple of couple of
bad months and it's been a season long struggle for him,
no doubt about it. Eight six six nine, eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. And oh, by
the way, it's not a coincidence Mookie Betts sat tonight
because he was just one for twelve in his career
(08:56):
against Freddie Peralta. So that also, I'm sure played into
Dave Robert's decision to not have Mookie play there. But
you're not gonna get out of a slump sitting He's
got to play through this. He's got to find a
way to regain the confidence. This is not physical. It
is to a certain extent. Just if you watch him,
and if you look at photos of him this year
(09:18):
or video of him this year compared to last year,
he's a lot smaller. I don't know what happened, if
it was just the illness in Tokyo that made him
this small, but he is being dwarfed by Tommy Edmund's size.
I'm talking about strength, girth of Miguel Rojas, all that
stuff that plays into it. And he's not gonna be
(09:41):
able to gain that weight. But get him to you know,
your favorite steakhouse every night of the week. We got
to get some weight on him to get that strength
back because he just hasn't had it, and maybe he
has to adapt to playing from behind as far as
just not having the strength that he had be before
he got sick on the way to or right before Tokyo.
(10:02):
He's got to adapt, like Clayton Kershaw does. You got
to adapt in this game, and if you don't, you're
going to be left behind.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
No matter how good you were or how good you are.
You've got to adapt.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight
to seven. Let's head downstairs right now to hear from
manager Dave Roberts.
Speaker 9 (10:25):
Well, tonight was probably the best offensive performance we've had
in a while. I thought, just good at bats, some
slug in there, some walks, and you know, against a
really good pitcher in Freddie Pralta, and also even Keenig
(10:45):
to take some really good swings right there to you know,
put the game, make the game closer, make it somewhat
of a game. I thought that was good, seeing some life. Unfortunately,
we still you know, came up short. You know, tonight
was one of those nights where the offense showed life
and just on the pitching side, we just didn't do
(11:06):
a good job tonight.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
Do you take a bigger meeting from this when one
team each five times?
Speaker 9 (11:16):
Probably not. They're they're playing as good as anybody in
baseball right now. They clearly have our number tonight. We
certainly scored some runs, but we haven't beatn these guys.
So you know, I think right now we're not going
to see these guys after tomorrow until potentially October. So
(11:39):
we just got to win a game and try to
find a way to salvage a series and get ready
for the twins. And like I said, the most important
thing for me, regardless of opponent, is we got to
play a complete game. So, yeah, you don't want to
lose five in row to one team, but it's it's
where we're at.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
We're right, people that work made that they had been
a ti I start talking about the triple into the
gap and home run into the front rows.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
He's like, maybe a couple of steps more speed than
a guy there.
Speaker 9 (12:14):
You know, I didn't look at the homer, but the
one in the one in the terrain, that ball's got
to be a double. That ball's got to be cut off.
It can't be a triple. And then you know the
other one late turned into a triple as well, or
you know, double with an air whatever it was. So
those are little things that just can't happen. Baseball pitching
(12:35):
is tough enough. Hitting it's tough enough. But the defensive
part of the thrown to the right base is, you know,
cutting the ball off, getting it in, not turning a
double into triple. That stuff can't happen.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
And that's what happened in the third inning.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Blake Perkins should have been at a double instead it
was a triple and that run was cashed in during
that four run third inning. And yeah, some sloppy play
by Andy poe has and ti Oscar Hernandez tonight and
said field and right field, and look, that's something as
you get closer to the trade deadline on July thirty first,
how are the Dodgers going to improve their outfield defense
(13:09):
going down the stretch. They have internal options. It doesn't
need to be from the outside. You can make the
outfield defense a lot better with Keik Hernandez in center field,
Tommy Edmond in center field and moving Pajez to right
field and having te Oscar Hernandez play left field, where
(13:30):
the Dodgers won the World Series with him hitting thirty
three home runs and driving in ninety nine runs and
having a plus arm in left field. I mean, we
saw it last year. Let's not act like this is
the way it has to be. It doesn't have to
be this way. They have a lot of other options.
And the Dodgers have the second best record in the
(13:52):
National League. They've been at the top in Major League
Baseball with the outfield the way it is, with the
struggles of Michael Confordo with taoscar struggles since coming back
from the IL, but they found a way to win
these many games, and they had the second best record
in the National League. But you could say against better teams,
(14:13):
you need some better outfield defense and not to give
away extra bases and extra outs. So, like I said,
it's not a this is not a crazy thought to
have ta Oscar Hernandez go to left field. He was
pretty good out there last year. I know he likes
right field, but at some point, everybody's got to do
what's best for the team. That's what it comes down to.
(14:36):
And you can make some trades to maybe shore up
left field and keep Taoing right. I mean, I guess,
but I would be an advocate. If October started tomorrow,
I would have key K, a Hernandez or Tommy Edman
in center field and move Paz to a corner, preferably
right and Pies. You know, I'm not saying he's a
(14:57):
sure handed outfielder, but he's certainly better than what we
you have seen the first couple of weeks of the year,
and it's had a great season, improving out there offensively
and defensively.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
But key K. I mean, you look at the Dodgers
right now.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
They miss Key K. They miss Max Mounsey. All of
you Monthsey haters, where have you been now? I mean
you're looking at a lineup with the five, six seven
hitters tonight, Andy Pajz, Michael Confordo, and Tommy Edmond. You
would have had Max Munsey hitting cleanup tonight instead of
ta Oscar Hernandez maybe or at least hitting fifth or sixth.
(15:32):
Instead you got Piz and he got Confordo. And I'm
not saying those guys can't do it, especially Paz, but
Mounsey serves such a greater function to the lineup than
what anybody appreciates on a nightly basis, and they miss him,
and they miss his threat of the home run. They
missed the thread of him having the best quality at
(15:55):
bat in that part of the lineup. And yeah, I
mean he sitting. He was taking ground balls today, hitting
in the cage. So hopefully he gets back sooner rather
than later. This is a pain tolerance thing. It seems
like uh uh for Monsie. But they miss him, and
they miss key K. Eight six six seven two five
(16:16):
seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to Frank,
who is at Dodger Stadium tonight. Hi Frank, you're on
Dodger Talk.
Speaker 10 (16:23):
Thank god, be okay.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, it's a nice game. You know, our best team
alive against the best team in baseball right now with
Brus they just start pitching, you know, but as a
game of five margins, as you mentioned earlier, you know,
his game going cycles without bunci, without key K, you know,
only by one run. You know, listen to the positives here. However,
(16:48):
you are pitching our bollhit today. Just didn't do it today,
you know, and tomorrow we shall see.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
All right, Frank, thank you for the phone call. Yeah,
you bring up the bullpen. It turned out with the
Dodger off fighting back thanks to home runs by Edmund
and Rojas in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lou
Trevino giving up a home run a Joey Ortiz in
the top half of the eighth inning was the difference
in the game. And you talk about home runs by
the bullpen, fifty eight home runs given up by the
(17:18):
Dodger bullpen this year. That's the second most in baseball
to the Angels. That is what has killed the Dodgers
and their bullpen. It's not so much giving up runs,
it's them giving up the long ball. You can't have
relievers giving up home runs. And I know they're not
trying to give up home runs, but last night Kirby
Yates gave up a key home run and tonight Lou
(17:40):
Trevino gave up a key home run. So fifty eight
home runs that is shocking by the Dodger bullpen this year.
Eight six, six, nine, eight seven, two five seventy is
the phone number. And you want to talk about positives.
Tommy Edmund, he came to life tonight. He was zero
for his last twenty none when he stepped into the
(18:01):
batter's box in the sixth inning, got a single and
in the eighth inning hit his first home run since
June fifteenth. That was great to see Tommy Edmund get
some positive results in the batter's box tonight.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
And it's it's one thing.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
To talk about the process, but this is the Big
League's results matter, and you know, at this point in
time of the season, we're not in May anymore.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
It's not April. We're at the end of July. Now.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Results matter, and it was good to see Tommy Edmund
get some results. Eight six six, nine eighty seven two
five seventy is the phone number. We also have a
pair of tickets to give away to the July twenty
second game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins. And you know,
the Minnesota Twins come into town and a lot of
their players are rumored to be on the trading block,
(18:53):
including their clothes are Joan Duran. You know, everybody's talking
about what I mentioned weeks ago, and Manuel class A
and Stephen Kwan. It's gonna take a lot to get
Stephen Kwan from the Guardians, even if you take class A, who,
by the way, isn't the most lockdown postseason closer. But
Yoan Duran is that would be my first choice. Duran
(19:16):
would be my first choice, and I would even take
on Byron Buxton and his injury plague career. This year,
he's been healthy and if you move him out of
center field and play him in the corners, he might
stay healthier. And he's only got three years and forty
five million dollars left on his contract. If that's what
it takes to get Joan Duran, I can't see that
(19:38):
getting in the way of the Dodgers making that trade.
And I know Buckston was trying to posture during the
All Star breaks saying he wouldn't waive his no trade
clause or he was flaunting it. I should say he
said he would. I shouldn't put words in his mouth.
He was just flaunting his no trade clause. So he'll
be in town and we'll see what he has to say.
(19:58):
But if you're Byron and Buxton and Joan Duran, uh,
that would be pretty special for the Dodgers to get
a Duran at the trade deadline. Also, a more realistic
reliever out there, David Bednar the Pirates. He's been really
good in his career. He had a bad first month
or so, but it's been good since. So everybody's swinging
(20:19):
for these big names and the Dodgers.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
You know, they pulled off some big trades.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
But I've told you this last year and in years past,
the Guardians front office, it's not that easy to pull
a trade off with them, especially at the trade deadline.
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight
to seven. Let's go out to Mission Viejo. Bill, you're
on Dodger Talk. How you doing, Bill?
Speaker 8 (20:46):
Hi, thanks for taking my call. Yeah, that Trevino pitch
was a bad pitch too, as I recall, And yeah,
I was just wondering, when is the Yeah, when is
the U? When is Snell coming back?
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Blake Snell's actually pitching for Oklahoma City tomorrow and I
could see him returning on towards the end of the
next road trip.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
I feel like he's ready to go here.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
So, yeah, he's on his way back, Bill, and I
wouldn't be surprised to see him by the end of
the month.
Speaker 8 (21:16):
Yeah, that's good news, and in fact is hopefully the
bull can get bullpen could get short up to a
little bit with is what's his name coming back from
the injury.
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Yeah, Blake Trining. Blake Trinan's on a rehabit Simon in
Oklahoma City. And it's not out of the question to
believe that the Dodgers may have Blake Trining and Bruce
star graderol in their bullpen down the stretch the Bazooka.
I haven't seen him, but he's on his way back.
I'm not saying it's a guarantee when you come back
(21:46):
from shoulder surgery, but there's a real possibility you might
Blake Trining. Things are moving in the in the right
direction for him, for sure. Let's go out to Norco
en Rique. You're on Dodger Talk. How you doing in Rique?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Pretty good day?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Like doing?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Yeah. I want to get to a point where Roberts,
I mean, I think he makes me all mistakes by
by taking out the pictures too soon. He should have
let Dryer in there for another inning at least, or
even had him replaced. Uh, let him see him go
out another you know one battery, you know, giving up
the home the home run.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
You think Dryer, dryer, but see Dryer did his job.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
The bullpen is a unit Dryer did pitch two scoreless
innings tonight. He did his job. You can't just worry
about tonight. There's tomorrow, there's the day after, there's residuals.
So he did his job, and they've used him a
lot this year. Casparius just wasn't on his game tonight.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
When he when he bought the spars in, it was
you know, real quick, another run, and then they didn't
after that another run. And then I figure that Roberts
also too. He need he needs the guys to bun.
I mean, he had Reeves come up in that plate
before adding hit the home run. I mean, get a bunch,
and they did it to us yesterday. Why can't he
do that himself? You know, get get reached to bun
(23:06):
and maybe maybe Amy would have hit a two run Homer.
You know this this day where where Roberts is just
you know, he just making bad calls.
Speaker 6 (23:14):
I don't think so, I see, I I already debunked
onwe of your disagreements with him, Casparius. How good has
Caspira's been this year, Enrique? Would you have any hesitation
going to him?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Well, he's been he's been all right, I mean compared
to those all.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Right, He's been the most valuable pitcher on the staff
this year.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
But when they when they tried to put him in
as a as ayame.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
I know he's been really good as a reliever.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
But but he gave up that run real quick.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
Yeah, well that happens. Guys aren't perfect. But if he
pitched the scoreless gem, you wouldn't be calling to complain
about Dave Roberts. That was the right move. Just Casparius
was not on his game tonight. Dryer and Casparius have
been the two stall wars in that Dodger bullpen, the
two rookies that are making the league minimum. Those two
(24:06):
guys have been the two best relievers the Dodgers have had.
I'm sorry, Enrique, I disagree with you. Eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number
Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight to seven. We're
gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk. When
we come back, you'll hear from Dusty Baker and also
we'll check in with Jose Mota after the Dodgers fall
(24:27):
to the red hot Brewers.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Milwaukee has won nine in a row.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
They have beaten the Dodgers five straight, eight to seven,
the final score at Dodgers Stadium tonight. Brewers over the
Dodgers on AM five to seventy LA.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
Sports on air at AM five to seventy, online at
AM five seventy LA sports dot com, and available by
podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
This is Dodger Talk with David Bassan.
Speaker 7 (24:57):
Now the one Ozero Rojas hits.
Speaker 5 (24:59):
It an air left field.
Speaker 10 (25:00):
This ball's back, This ball has bout of hair. Biguel
Rojas with a more slug second home run of the
inning for the Dodgers. It's now eight to seven.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edmond with solo home runs in
the eighth inning to pull the Dodgers within a run.
That's as close as they would get, as Trevor McGill
slammed the door in the ninth inning for his twenty
third save of the season, and the Brewers win their
ninth in a row with an eight to seven victory. Rojas,
by the way, had a very good game filling in
(25:38):
at shortstop for Mookie Betts, who was on the bench
tonight just because of the struggles and the struggles against
Freddy Peralta and his career. Rojas two for three tonight,
scored twice and was on base three times, including hitting
his sixth home run of the year. O'tani also went
deep for the Dodgers tonight. Daniels Jewelers presents the home
(25:59):
Run four Cast. Go to AM five to seventy LA
sports dot com use the keyword home run for your
chance to win a fifty dollars Daniel Steweler's gift card
predicting the number of home runs in the very next game.
Daniel Stewelers own the Dream. Eight six, six, seven, two,
five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to
Sissan who is at Dodger Stadium tonight.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Hi Sassan, Hey Dave, thanks for taking my call. I
just wanted to say, you know, today was super awesome.
Getting a chance to see all the tributes to the alumni,
Dodger alumni and the Regent World Series win, seeing all
the old timers or Hersheiser with the World Series trophy
walking out, and getting a chance to see the Fernando mural.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
It was awesome.
Speaker 11 (26:44):
And you know, if you've seen all the fans still
showing their love for Fernando and all that he's given
to this team and just to baseball as a whole.
Was honestly like the best moment for me today, especially
in light of the how the team's But no, it
was awesome.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
It was super awesome.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Did you go check out the mural down the left
field line on the lost.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Level, Yeah, for sure. No, there was a lot of.
Speaker 12 (27:09):
People trying to get selfies with it, and yeah, I
just I took a quick picture of it. But no,
it was super awesome. I think it was the same
guy that painted the Otani mural in uh Little Tokyo,
So it was. It was awesome getting a chance to
see more of his art. And you know how how
Fernando is uh, you know, contributed to the Mexican heritage
in the sport of baseball.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
So no, it was.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It was an awesome experience.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Love it.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Love that you had a great time, and I'm with you.
I mean, what makes the Dodgers special is the players
that played wearing that uniform, going back to Jackie Robinson
and Don Newcomb and Roy Campanella. And you think about
guys like Reggie Smith, Rick Monday, Dusty Baker, the infield,
Garby Lopes, Russelling say, and then the eighties with Oral Herscheiser,
(27:55):
Kurt Gibson, I mean the eighty eight Dodgers. If you
listen to this show, you know how much they meant
to me, how much they meant to Dodger fans. In
nineteen eighty eight, they were the most magical championship team
the Dodgers ever had.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
Nobody gave them a chance.
Speaker 6 (28:10):
They literally were David going up against too Golias in
the Mets, in the NLCS and the Oakland A's, two
teams that won over one hundred games, and somehow Someway,
Oral Herscheizer, Kirk Gibson, Mickey Hatcher, and Mike Soosha, along
with guys that we saw today, Tim Belcher and Jay
(28:31):
Howe carried the way along with our buddy Steve Sachs.
I could tell you the whole starting lineup, Franklin Stubbs,
you want, Tracy Woodson, who else you want? Anyway, we
had a chance to catch up with Dusty Baker. He
was our pregame guest and Dusty has meant a lot
to me and so many others. He's a special guy.
And he shared some of his reflections on being here
(28:53):
this weekend and seeing some of his old teammates and
certainly celebrating the memory of Fernando Valezuela.
Speaker 13 (29:00):
It's a great weekend. It's great to see all the
guys that I played with, you know, see Garvey and
and Royce and Darryl Thomas and you know Dave Anderson today,
you know some of the guys that you know, Bill
Russell and Penguin. Last night and today it was it
was heartfelt with the Fernando and veiling man. I mean
(29:20):
it was great man. And uh, you know, the artist
Vargas is unbelievable because I hadn't seen, you know, too
much of his art. And uh, you know, the guys
that were here, uh, you know, really appreciated it. His
family appreciated it.
Speaker 8 (29:34):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (29:35):
I didn't know he had so many grand grandchildren, all girls,
and uh, you know, just you know, does my heart
good that you know, we're celebrating something, you know, for
such a great man, Fernando Venezuela.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
We know what he did on the mound and how
much he meant to you guys on the field, But
what was he like behind the scenes.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
I heard about this last so he had.
Speaker 13 (29:55):
Well he had a last so he'd give you a
hot foot with some matches. He tap you on the
shoulder and guys were like, oh, yeah, he's from Mexico.
He's older than he said. No, he wasn't. He was
a kid, and he acted like a kid anytime other
than when he was on the mound. When he's on
the mound, he acts like a man. But but off
the field, uh, he acted like a kid. I mean
he'd crack you up, he'd do something crazy. And I
(30:17):
remember the time I saw him doing that hackey sack.
I don't know if you remember the hacky sack man.
He could keep that thing going for like thirty minutes
and I was like, man, I mean he could do
everything but run and only thing he couldn't do, I
mean any any game but Hannah and eye coordination. He
was he was excellent at it. But you know, but
you know, he just couldn't run and that was the
(30:38):
only that he could hit field.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
Do you name it?
Speaker 13 (30:40):
I mean, you know he was an athlete.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Rick Monday always tells us how protective you all were
of Fernando his first year. Do you remember having that
kind of protective feeling towards him.
Speaker 13 (30:51):
Well, certainly, I mean he was like, like you know,
like our little brother, and uh, you know we made sure,
uh you know, nobody took advantage of him. You know,
made sure nobody took advantage of him because he was
just learning English, because of his age. You know, we
took care of him. We took care of him on
the field, off the field, you know, make sure that
you know he didn't you know, he wasn't old enough
(31:14):
to go to the clubs and anything, all the bars
even you know, we sneaking of beer too every once
in a while, but you know that was about it.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
Dusty Baker is the best.
Speaker 6 (31:24):
I mean, I love the way he tells stories, and
he's so candid with his stories and certainly great fun
memories of being teammates with Fernando Vealezuela on their way
to the World Series in nineteen eighty one. And Dusty
came in last night for the Great Ronse Tribute being
inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball. Hung out today,
but he has to get back to Sacramento because he's
(31:46):
got to get back to his his vineyard Baker family wines.
He gave me the card. He's a grower and a partner.
He's got it in his backyard. He's got to get
back to the grape so he's not like one of
these celebs that just puts their name on the label.
He's actually out there picking the grapes and doing things
to make the wine. So he's got to get back
(32:08):
to Sacramento, he said, because the grapes need him. So
awesome to see Dusty Baker. And you can listen to
our full conversation on the iHeartRadio app. And I know
Dusty love Manny Mota, which means it's moda time on
Dodger Talk.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
Jose, I know it was a great weekend or the
last two nights for your dad. It's great to see
many Mota out here and under his own power, wearing
number eleven again and being out here and seeing his
old teammates. I know it's a very special last couple
of days for you guys.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
It is very special, especially to see all these guys
on the field. How much they mean to all of
us as part of the doll your family for so
many generations, so obviously from our father whod on the
field again on his own is quite significant and out
of blessing, that is. But the celebration today for Fernando
and for you know, the four championships he was attached
(33:06):
to and those faces that I grew up with. You
talked about Dusty Baker, man, we were there's so many
stories with Dusty Baker because I was telling Tim the cases.
You know, the lockers used to be aligned in America.
So it was Ron say, my name was a Dusty
Baker and then Joe Ferguson, right. But so we were
next to Dusty Baker that locker for so many years
and we got to learn so much from him. No
(33:28):
doubt in my mind that we're also happy about his success.
But certainly I think as a group, you can see
with the cohesiveness the culture that created, you know, starting
with Tom and the Sword and now Campanis and obviously
you know Frank Claire. But these guys loved each other.
They knew how to win, they knew how to fight,
they know how to argue together, but they also know
how to take the business out on the field, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
They always did.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
And the Dodgers are what they are today because of
those players that played for them and the legacy that
they have paid forward, Jose, let's talk about these Dodgers,
the defending World Series champion Dodgers. They're kind of limping
right now offensively, but it was good to see them
put up seven runs.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
It was good to see that, especially against a guy
like Paralta. Regardless of whether he made some decisions they
were questionable in selection, he got hit. I mean, Parata
had not given up one of three runs but one
time all season long. And this guy's in the big
leagues and wins for a reason. He has the stuff.
He doesn't overthat. Oh, he's not chasing strictions, but he
does get stricted because the stuff is so good. The
(34:30):
angle is so good, and he uses you know, the
crossbody action to fire against you, to use a change
up in curble more effectively.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
It was good to see the offense wake up a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
There's more things that need to be done right. And
you know, as we pinned down, Dave, all these things
about what is happening and when did it start, you're
going to be facing good pitching and as you also
experienced success, things are going to be pinned down to
the max. I mean, reports are being sent by the
second okay, and if some nobody says, this guy is
(35:01):
not hitting the fastball inside, this guy's not hitting a cutter.
That's report's going to come right back to the next series.
And if you have the staff, it's number one thing.
You got to have the pitchers. They can go out
there and execute and stick with a plan and then
vary the plan accordingly. And that is exactly what the
dues are running into with all that. Okay, not the
best decisions are being made in the batter's box. There's
(35:24):
when way too many swings out of the box, a
lot of questionable calls that are strikes. And at the
same time, I think they need to be again more
reactive than proactive, because there's so much information that sometimes
you get lost in the information and you don't react
to what's happening in the game and what the situation
is calling for.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
It just seems like a lot of these guys that
are in slumps, they already are downh one to oh
two to what you're talking about, Jose, I know the
great hitters have always said be ready to hit on
the very first pitch because that may be the best
pitcherre going to see. And it makes sense, especially when
you're facing really good pictures.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Well, consider those guys are good pictures because they can
pinpoint half command. But you can go out there with
a planet of say, hey, I want to be aggressive
early in the account, right, but you see a fastball,
if it's not the fast where you're looking forward, you're
better off taking it and being down zero to one
to saying I swung because there was a fastball. Well,
that's when you see a lot of guys rolling over.
(36:22):
That's when we see a lot of lady fly balls,
week round balls and weak contact because those ascisions need
to come based on the information that you get, but
also based on how you feel and how you can
cover home plate and I mean mechanically. There's a few
things you can do at this stage of the year.
There's some things you can fall into because of the
way they're pitching to you. But you got to go
out there and think about who you are, strengths that
(36:43):
you bring. But mainly is swing at strikes. And one
thing about Showy a Tony for example, when Showy's going, well,
show here is walking and why now we're not seeing
the walk in this game? And certainty is looked in
the way that he swung the bat and today hopefully
it's a good indication that things are going to get back.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up, because coming into
the game tonight, in his last twenty seven games, he
has thirty one strikeouts and eighteen walks. He was nineteen
for his last ninety five coming into tonight's game. What
did we see differently tonight and is it something that
is going to carry him now for the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
I would hope so, because he's also shown indications at
times that he's finding and then for example, to me,
going back to yesterday in the third inning, grand ball
third base hit the ball, you know, thirty hard to
the third baseman who's playing that hole in shortstop is
a better sign to me that him hitting a d
fly ball to right field for right now, because now
he's thinking more, I got to get back to the
(37:42):
middle of the field. That's what to show. He's at
his best middle of the field. He sees the ball better,
he lays off the break him most down and in
he lays out the high fastballs. And the league with
good pitching are going to find all those things and
exploit it. But certainly everybody needs to strike, and not
every strike in the big leagues is perfect. So that's
what boys make their money because they know that they're
are capitalized by not trying to do too much, and
(38:04):
those pittures are missed out of the plate.
Speaker 6 (38:07):
All right, Jose, we'll see if the Dodgers can get
a win tomorrow. Certainly have the right guy on the
mound to be competitive to try to give them a chance,
and that's Clayton Kershaw. So we'll see you out here
tomorrow to close out Alumni weekend day. All right, there
he goes Jose Mota, part of the Spanish radio broadcast
(38:27):
tonight alongside Luis Cochito Cruz.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
The Dodgers they've you know, we could talk all we.
Speaker 6 (38:34):
Want about o'tawani, about having a plan, all this stuff
just results at this point. The Dodgers need some wins
and they got to stop the bleeding against the Brewers.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
They got to get a win.
Speaker 6 (38:45):
Let's not forget the Dodgers are the defending World Series champions.
They got to remind the Brewers about that. Tomorrow, Clayton
Kershaw on the mound going up against Jose Cantana Morongo
Casino Dodgers on deck begins at noon, first pitch at
one ten. Thanks to Colin Yee back at our Burbank studios,
thanks to Dwayne McDonald out here at Dodgers Stadium, and
(39:08):
thanks to you for listening. We still have a pair
of tickets to give away to the next Tuesday night's game.
We'll try to do that tomorrow after the Dodgers salvage
the final game of the series against Milwaukee. Don't forget
you can listen to the show and our conversation with
Dusty Baker on the iHeartRadio app once again. The final
score tonight the Brewers defeat the Dodgers eight to seven.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
Have a great rest of your Saturday. Be safe, See
you Send
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 Tom.
Speaker 4 (00:10):
Let's wind it.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I love writing me these guys after the show. So
just thank you, give me are.
Speaker 5 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire, not a pisson.
Speaker 6 (00:17):
This is world champion, Dodger world championing for a small
soft time.
Speaker 5 (00:22):
They get up people what they want to die too?
In a row two is special.
Speaker 7 (00:26):
I'm like, yeah, it's not a headache.
Speaker 6 (00:28):
One of a con.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
This ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 8 (00:32):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Hell old time, go to the su grab your phone.
Speaker 7 (00:36):
To get in on the show called eight six six
nine eighty seven two five seven and go to the show.
And now your host of Dodger Talk, David Basse.
Speaker 6 (00:47):
Welcome the Dodger Talk David Fasse live at Dodgers Stadium.
After the Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight by a
final score of eight to seven eight six six nine
eight seven seventy is the phone number. We're with you
until ten thirty tonight here at Dodgers Stadium. And obviously
(01:07):
the pregame ceremony was great, honoring Fernando Valnezuela and I
strongly encourage you to go check out the mural that
was painted and unveiled today of Fernando down the left
field line on the loge level.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
That was awesome.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
And you'll hear from Dusty Baker a little bit later
in the show about his former teammate part of the
nineteen eighty one world champion Dodgers. But before we get
to all that, obviously you're not happy with the way
things are going for the Dodgers right now. I'm not
happy about the way things are going right now for
(01:44):
the Dodgers, and the Dodgers are not happy about the
way things are going for them right now. They just
have so much talent that they can bully themselves to
wins against lesser opponents when they're not playing their best.
But right now they're not playing their best, and they're
seeing a buzzsaw in the Milwaukee Brewers six times in
(02:07):
the matter of a week ten days. They saw him
three times in Milwaukee. They have had the best record
in baseball since May twenty second. I would argue their
pitching staff is the best in baseball. I mean it's
it's really good. Not just one or two guys. I'm
talking about ten deep. You talk about their starters, you
(02:29):
talk about their bullpen, you talk about their closer.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
I mean Trevor McGill.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
He comes into the ninth inning and the door is
just a crack for you to be able to come
back against a guy that's that dominant. And he's the
successor to Devin Williams, who the Brewers traded to the
Yankees this offseason. Devin Williams was the successor to Josh Haterer.
So Matt Arnold has this thing going with the Brewers
(02:59):
and has found you know, the Rays get all the
credit for doing a lot with less, the Brewers have
been just as, if not more successful since twenty eighteen
in that department than the Tampa Bay Rays. And I
would not rule out a rematch of the twenty eighteen
NLCS this season between the Dodgers and Brewers, and any
(03:23):
team in the National League does not want to see
this pitching staff in any sort of short series, best
of five series. And right now they're a wildcard team.
They're the best wildcard team out there. They are a
game back of the Cubs in the NL Central and
the Dodgers are playing a very hot team that has
(03:43):
a nine game winning streak going for him. Five of
those wins against the Dodgers, and the Brewers are catching
the Dodger offense in a downturn right now. The Dodger
offense is not what it has been, It's not what
it will be, but it is what it is right now.
I hate to sound like Mookie Betts, but I mean
(04:05):
that's what it is. And I always go back to
Don Mattingly when he was the manager of the Dodgers.
He would always remind us that the records matter to
a certain extent, but it's about when you're catching a team,
whether or not you're catching the team with the best
record that's in a cold streak, whether or not you're
catching the team with one of the worst records on
(04:28):
a hot streak. That's what he meant by that, and
that is really at the forefront of my mind tonight
and over the course of the last week, where the
Dodgers are catching the hottest team in baseball in the Brewers,
they caught the hottest team in the American League in
the Astros, and their offense is not hitting on all
(04:52):
cylinders right now. It was great to see show hey
Otani come to life tonight. But he's turned into kind
of a a slugger, you know. He in the last
month or so, it seems like he's swinging for the
fences more times than not. And this talk about his
slump in the last twenty thirty games connected to him pitching.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I mean, I could be.
Speaker 9 (05:20):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
I hate when managers and GM say this. I could
be really lazy and agree with that take, but I'm sorry.
He has done it before, he has pitched and hit before.
He knows how to do it. There's a reason why
he's the best player on the town, on the planet.
It's not because he's not in a slump right now
(05:42):
because he started pitching again. He's been pitching for the
last six months, at like one o'clock in the afternoon,
he's been pitching. And you know, people that just want
to say that Otani's in a slump because he's pitching. Okay,
maybe on the days that he pitches, that carries more
(06:03):
weight with me, but not when he's not pitching. How
about last night he didn't pitch. He didn't pitch in
the All Star Game. Are you gonna connect that to
him pitching last night as well?
Speaker 5 (06:14):
He doesn't pitch every day.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
He pitches once a week, so and he's only pitching
two or three innings. So let's not make it seem
like this guy's throwing complete games like the Bulldog every
fifth day or every fourth day. He pitches once a
week and so far has only pitched two three innings
max in a start. So I'm sorry, I'm not going
(06:37):
to buy into Otani's pitching again.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
He's in a slump. And what do you think is
gonna happen?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
You think the La Times saying that he's in a
slump because he's pitching again, is gonna all of a
sudden have Otani say, you know what, You're right, You're right, blogger,
you're right. So and so I'm in a slump because
I'm pitching. I'm not pitching anymore. I'm just not going
to pitch anymore. The bigger issue, and the more concerning issue,
(07:05):
is the fact that Otani, Bets, and Freeman have not
hit at the same time this year, and if they have,
it hasn't been for long stretches. Freddie was on another
planet in May and April Otani was. Those two guys
were going, but in between them, Mookie Betts has been
in a season long slump, and it's harder to ignore that.
(07:28):
And no, it's not because he's playing shortstop. If you
remember before he was hit on the hand last year,
he was one of the best players playing shortstop, best
hitters playing shortstop. But if you look at Mooki Betts now,
I mean, he is so small right now, and you
(07:50):
don't gain weight as the season goes on. So I
just feel like he's been playing from behind since day
one and you can't try, can't try to chase those
at bats, and right now I'm not I can't get
into Mooky's head. His teammates can't get into his head.
He's got to figure this out himself mentally, because the
(08:13):
hitting coaches, the teammates, his hype man right here can
only do so much. He's got to look in the
mirror and realize, I'm Mooky freaking Bets. What am I doing?
Why am I acting like this? I'm really good. I
gotta remind myself that. And he's gonna come out of it.
You never know when. But I'm not giving up on
(08:35):
Mooki Betts' season. Just after a couple of couple of
bad months and it's been a season long struggle for him,
no doubt about it. Eight six six nine, eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. And oh, by
the way, it's not a coincidence Mookie Betts sat tonight
because he was just one for twelve in his career
(08:56):
against Freddie Peralta. So that also, I'm sure played into
Dave Robert's decision to not have Mookie play there. But
you're not gonna get out of a slump sitting He's
got to play through this. He's got to find a
way to regain the confidence. This is not physical. It
is to a certain extent. Just if you watch him,
and if you look at photos of him this year
(09:18):
or video of him this year compared to last year,
he's a lot smaller. I don't know what happened, if
it was just the illness in Tokyo that made him
this small, but he is being dwarfed by Tommy Edmund's size.
I'm talking about strength, girth of Miguel Rojas, all that
stuff that plays into it. And he's not gonna be
(09:41):
able to gain that weight. But get him to you know,
your favorite steakhouse every night of the week. We got
to get some weight on him to get that strength
back because he just hasn't had it, and maybe he
has to adapt to playing from behind as far as
just not having the strength that he had be before
he got sick on the way to or right before Tokyo.
(10:02):
He's got to adapt, like Clayton Kershaw does. You got
to adapt in this game, and if you don't, you're
going to be left behind.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
No matter how good you were or how good you are.
You've got to adapt.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight
to seven. Let's head downstairs right now to hear from
manager Dave Roberts.
Speaker 9 (10:25):
Well, tonight was probably the best offensive performance we've had
in a while. I thought, just good at bats, some
slug in there, some walks, and you know, against a
really good pitcher in Freddie Pralta, and also even Keenig
(10:45):
to take some really good swings right there to you know,
put the game, make the game closer, make it somewhat
of a game. I thought that was good, seeing some life. Unfortunately,
we still you know, came up short. You know, tonight
was one of those nights where the offense showed life
and just on the pitching side, we just didn't do
(11:06):
a good job tonight.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
Do you take a bigger meeting from this when one
team each five times?
Speaker 9 (11:16):
Probably not. They're they're playing as good as anybody in
baseball right now. They clearly have our number tonight. We
certainly scored some runs, but we haven't beatn these guys.
So you know, I think right now we're not going
to see these guys after tomorrow until potentially October. So
(11:39):
we just got to win a game and try to
find a way to salvage a series and get ready
for the twins. And like I said, the most important
thing for me, regardless of opponent, is we got to
play a complete game. So, yeah, you don't want to
lose five in row to one team, but it's it's
where we're at.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
We're right, people that work made that they had been
a ti I start talking about the triple into the
gap and home run into the front rows.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
He's like, maybe a couple of steps more speed than
a guy there.
Speaker 9 (12:14):
You know, I didn't look at the homer, but the
one in the one in the terrain, that ball's got
to be a double. That ball's got to be cut off.
It can't be a triple. And then you know the
other one late turned into a triple as well, or
you know, double with an air whatever it was. So
those are little things that just can't happen. Baseball pitching
(12:35):
is tough enough. Hitting it's tough enough. But the defensive
part of the thrown to the right base is, you know,
cutting the ball off, getting it in, not turning a
double into triple. That stuff can't happen.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
And that's what happened in the third inning.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Blake Perkins should have been at a double instead it
was a triple and that run was cashed in during
that four run third inning. And yeah, some sloppy play
by Andy poe has and ti Oscar Hernandez tonight and
said field and right field, and look, that's something as
you get closer to the trade deadline on July thirty first,
how are the Dodgers going to improve their outfield defense
(13:09):
going down the stretch. They have internal options. It doesn't
need to be from the outside. You can make the
outfield defense a lot better with Keik Hernandez in center field,
Tommy Edmond in center field and moving Pajez to right
field and having te Oscar Hernandez play left field, where
(13:30):
the Dodgers won the World Series with him hitting thirty
three home runs and driving in ninety nine runs and
having a plus arm in left field. I mean, we
saw it last year. Let's not act like this is
the way it has to be. It doesn't have to
be this way. They have a lot of other options.
And the Dodgers have the second best record in the
(13:52):
National League. They've been at the top in Major League
Baseball with the outfield the way it is, with the
struggles of Michael Confordo with taoscar struggles since coming back
from the IL, but they found a way to win
these many games, and they had the second best record
in the National League. But you could say against better teams,
(14:13):
you need some better outfield defense and not to give
away extra bases and extra outs. So, like I said,
it's not a this is not a crazy thought to
have ta Oscar Hernandez go to left field. He was
pretty good out there last year. I know he likes
right field, but at some point, everybody's got to do
what's best for the team. That's what it comes down to.
(14:36):
And you can make some trades to maybe shore up
left field and keep Taoing right. I mean, I guess,
but I would be an advocate. If October started tomorrow,
I would have key K, a Hernandez or Tommy Edman
in center field and move Paz to a corner, preferably
right and Pies. You know, I'm not saying he's a
(14:57):
sure handed outfielder, but he's certainly better than what we
you have seen the first couple of weeks of the year,
and it's had a great season, improving out there offensively
and defensively.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
But key K. I mean, you look at the Dodgers
right now.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
They miss Key K. They miss Max Mounsey. All of
you Monthsey haters, where have you been now? I mean
you're looking at a lineup with the five, six seven
hitters tonight, Andy Pajz, Michael Confordo, and Tommy Edmond. You
would have had Max Munsey hitting cleanup tonight instead of
ta Oscar Hernandez maybe or at least hitting fifth or sixth.
(15:32):
Instead you got Piz and he got Confordo. And I'm
not saying those guys can't do it, especially Paz, but
Mounsey serves such a greater function to the lineup than
what anybody appreciates on a nightly basis, and they miss him,
and they miss his threat of the home run. They
missed the thread of him having the best quality at
(15:55):
bat in that part of the lineup. And yeah, I
mean he sitting. He was taking ground balls today, hitting
in the cage. So hopefully he gets back sooner rather
than later. This is a pain tolerance thing. It seems
like uh uh for Monsie. But they miss him, and
they miss key K. Eight six six seven two five
(16:16):
seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to Frank,
who is at Dodger Stadium tonight. Hi Frank, you're on
Dodger Talk.
Speaker 10 (16:23):
Thank god, be okay.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, it's a nice game. You know, our best team
alive against the best team in baseball right now with
Brus they just start pitching, you know, but as a
game of five margins, as you mentioned earlier, you know,
his game going cycles without bunci, without key K, you know,
only by one run. You know, listen to the positives here. However,
(16:48):
you are pitching our bollhit today. Just didn't do it today,
you know, and tomorrow we shall see.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
All right, Frank, thank you for the phone call. Yeah,
you bring up the bullpen. It turned out with the
Dodger off fighting back thanks to home runs by Edmund
and Rojas in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lou
Trevino giving up a home run a Joey Ortiz in
the top half of the eighth inning was the difference
in the game. And you talk about home runs by
the bullpen, fifty eight home runs given up by the
(17:18):
Dodger bullpen this year. That's the second most in baseball
to the Angels. That is what has killed the Dodgers
and their bullpen. It's not so much giving up runs,
it's them giving up the long ball. You can't have
relievers giving up home runs. And I know they're not
trying to give up home runs, but last night Kirby
Yates gave up a key home run and tonight Lou
(17:40):
Trevino gave up a key home run. So fifty eight
home runs that is shocking by the Dodger bullpen this year.
Eight six, six, nine, eight seven, two five seventy is
the phone number. And you want to talk about positives.
Tommy Edmund, he came to life tonight. He was zero
for his last twenty none when he stepped into the
(18:01):
batter's box in the sixth inning, got a single and
in the eighth inning hit his first home run since
June fifteenth. That was great to see Tommy Edmund get
some positive results in the batter's box tonight.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
And it's it's one thing.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
To talk about the process, but this is the Big
League's results matter, and you know, at this point in
time of the season, we're not in May anymore.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
It's not April. We're at the end of July. Now.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Results matter, and it was good to see Tommy Edmund
get some results. Eight six six, nine eighty seven two
five seventy is the phone number. We also have a
pair of tickets to give away to the July twenty
second game Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins. And you know,
the Minnesota Twins come into town and a lot of
their players are rumored to be on the trading block,
(18:53):
including their clothes are Joan Duran. You know, everybody's talking
about what I mentioned weeks ago, and Manuel class A
and Stephen Kwan. It's gonna take a lot to get
Stephen Kwan from the Guardians, even if you take class A, who,
by the way, isn't the most lockdown postseason closer. But
Yoan Duran is that would be my first choice. Duran
(19:16):
would be my first choice, and I would even take
on Byron Buxton and his injury plague career. This year,
he's been healthy and if you move him out of
center field and play him in the corners, he might
stay healthier. And he's only got three years and forty
five million dollars left on his contract. If that's what
it takes to get Joan Duran, I can't see that
(19:38):
getting in the way of the Dodgers making that trade.
And I know Buckston was trying to posture during the
All Star breaks saying he wouldn't waive his no trade
clause or he was flaunting it. I should say he
said he would. I shouldn't put words in his mouth.
He was just flaunting his no trade clause. So he'll
be in town and we'll see what he has to say.
(19:58):
But if you're Byron and Buxton and Joan Duran, uh,
that would be pretty special for the Dodgers to get
a Duran at the trade deadline. Also, a more realistic
reliever out there, David Bednar the Pirates. He's been really
good in his career. He had a bad first month
or so, but it's been good since. So everybody's swinging
(20:19):
for these big names and the Dodgers.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
You know, they pulled off some big trades.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
But I've told you this last year and in years past,
the Guardians front office, it's not that easy to pull
a trade off with them, especially at the trade deadline.
Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is
the phone number Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight
to seven. Let's go out to Mission Viejo. Bill, you're
on Dodger Talk. How you doing, Bill?
Speaker 8 (20:46):
Hi, thanks for taking my call. Yeah, that Trevino pitch
was a bad pitch too, as I recall, And yeah,
I was just wondering, when is the Yeah, when is
the U? When is Snell coming back?
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Blake Snell's actually pitching for Oklahoma City tomorrow and I
could see him returning on towards the end of the
next road trip.
Speaker 5 (21:07):
I feel like he's ready to go here.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
So, yeah, he's on his way back, Bill, and I
wouldn't be surprised to see him by the end of
the month.
Speaker 8 (21:16):
Yeah, that's good news, and in fact is hopefully the
bull can get bullpen could get short up to a
little bit with is what's his name coming back from
the injury.
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Yeah, Blake Trining. Blake Trinan's on a rehabit Simon in
Oklahoma City. And it's not out of the question to
believe that the Dodgers may have Blake Trining and Bruce
star graderol in their bullpen down the stretch the Bazooka.
I haven't seen him, but he's on his way back.
I'm not saying it's a guarantee when you come back
(21:46):
from shoulder surgery, but there's a real possibility you might
Blake Trining. Things are moving in the in the right
direction for him, for sure. Let's go out to Norco
en Rique. You're on Dodger Talk. How you doing in Rique?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Pretty good day?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Like doing?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Yeah. I want to get to a point where Roberts,
I mean, I think he makes me all mistakes by
by taking out the pictures too soon. He should have
let Dryer in there for another inning at least, or
even had him replaced. Uh, let him see him go
out another you know one battery, you know, giving up
the home the home run.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
You think Dryer, dryer, but see Dryer did his job.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
The bullpen is a unit Dryer did pitch two scoreless
innings tonight. He did his job. You can't just worry
about tonight. There's tomorrow, there's the day after, there's residuals.
So he did his job, and they've used him a
lot this year. Casparius just wasn't on his game tonight.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
When he when he bought the spars in, it was
you know, real quick, another run, and then they didn't
after that another run. And then I figure that Roberts
also too. He need he needs the guys to bun.
I mean, he had Reeves come up in that plate
before adding hit the home run. I mean, get a bunch,
and they did it to us yesterday. Why can't he
do that himself? You know, get get reached to bun
(23:06):
and maybe maybe Amy would have hit a two run Homer.
You know this this day where where Roberts is just
you know, he just making bad calls.
Speaker 6 (23:14):
I don't think so, I see, I I already debunked
onwe of your disagreements with him, Casparius. How good has
Caspira's been this year, Enrique? Would you have any hesitation
going to him?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Well, he's been he's been all right, I mean compared
to those all.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Right, He's been the most valuable pitcher on the staff
this year.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
But when they when they tried to put him in
as a as ayame.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
I know he's been really good as a reliever.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
But but he gave up that run real quick.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
Yeah, well that happens. Guys aren't perfect. But if he
pitched the scoreless gem, you wouldn't be calling to complain
about Dave Roberts. That was the right move. Just Casparius
was not on his game tonight. Dryer and Casparius have
been the two stall wars in that Dodger bullpen, the
two rookies that are making the league minimum. Those two
(24:06):
guys have been the two best relievers the Dodgers have had.
I'm sorry, Enrique, I disagree with you. Eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number
Dodgers fall to the Brewers tonight, eight to seven. We're
gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk. When
we come back, you'll hear from Dusty Baker and also
we'll check in with Jose Mota after the Dodgers fall
(24:27):
to the red hot Brewers.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
Milwaukee has won nine in a row.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
They have beaten the Dodgers five straight, eight to seven,
the final score at Dodgers Stadium tonight. Brewers over the
Dodgers on AM five to seventy LA.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
Sports on air at AM five to seventy, online at
AM five seventy LA sports dot com, and available by
podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
This is Dodger Talk with David Bassan.
Speaker 7 (24:57):
Now the one Ozero Rojas hits.
Speaker 5 (24:59):
It an air left field.
Speaker 10 (25:00):
This ball's back, This ball has bout of hair. Biguel
Rojas with a more slug second home run of the
inning for the Dodgers. It's now eight to seven.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edmond with solo home runs in
the eighth inning to pull the Dodgers within a run.
That's as close as they would get, as Trevor McGill
slammed the door in the ninth inning for his twenty
third save of the season, and the Brewers win their
ninth in a row with an eight to seven victory. Rojas,
by the way, had a very good game filling in
(25:38):
at shortstop for Mookie Betts, who was on the bench
tonight just because of the struggles and the struggles against
Freddy Peralta and his career. Rojas two for three tonight,
scored twice and was on base three times, including hitting
his sixth home run of the year. O'tani also went
deep for the Dodgers tonight. Daniels Jewelers presents the home
(25:59):
Run four Cast. Go to AM five to seventy LA
sports dot com use the keyword home run for your
chance to win a fifty dollars Daniel Steweler's gift card
predicting the number of home runs in the very next game.
Daniel Stewelers own the Dream. Eight six, six, seven, two,
five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to
Sissan who is at Dodger Stadium tonight.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Hi Sassan, Hey Dave, thanks for taking my call. I
just wanted to say, you know, today was super awesome.
Getting a chance to see all the tributes to the alumni,
Dodger alumni and the Regent World Series win, seeing all
the old timers or Hersheiser with the World Series trophy
walking out, and getting a chance to see the Fernando mural.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
It was awesome.
Speaker 11 (26:44):
And you know, if you've seen all the fans still
showing their love for Fernando and all that he's given
to this team and just to baseball as a whole.
Was honestly like the best moment for me today, especially
in light of the how the team's But no, it
was awesome.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
It was super awesome.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Did you go check out the mural down the left
field line on the lost.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Level, Yeah, for sure. No, there was a lot of.
Speaker 12 (27:09):
People trying to get selfies with it, and yeah, I
just I took a quick picture of it. But no,
it was super awesome. I think it was the same
guy that painted the Otani mural in uh Little Tokyo,
So it was. It was awesome getting a chance to
see more of his art. And you know how how
Fernando is uh, you know, contributed to the Mexican heritage
in the sport of baseball.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
So no, it was.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It was an awesome experience.
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Love it.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Love that you had a great time, and I'm with you.
I mean, what makes the Dodgers special is the players
that played wearing that uniform, going back to Jackie Robinson
and Don Newcomb and Roy Campanella. And you think about
guys like Reggie Smith, Rick Monday, Dusty Baker, the infield,
Garby Lopes, Russelling say, and then the eighties with Oral Herscheiser,
(27:55):
Kurt Gibson, I mean the eighty eight Dodgers. If you
listen to this show, you know how much they meant
to me, how much they meant to Dodger fans. In
nineteen eighty eight, they were the most magical championship team
the Dodgers ever had.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
Nobody gave them a chance.
Speaker 6 (28:10):
They literally were David going up against too Golias in
the Mets, in the NLCS and the Oakland A's, two
teams that won over one hundred games, and somehow Someway,
Oral Herscheizer, Kirk Gibson, Mickey Hatcher, and Mike Soosha, along
with guys that we saw today, Tim Belcher and Jay
(28:31):
Howe carried the way along with our buddy Steve Sachs.
I could tell you the whole starting lineup, Franklin Stubbs,
you want, Tracy Woodson, who else you want? Anyway, we
had a chance to catch up with Dusty Baker. He
was our pregame guest and Dusty has meant a lot
to me and so many others. He's a special guy.
And he shared some of his reflections on being here
(28:53):
this weekend and seeing some of his old teammates and
certainly celebrating the memory of Fernando Valezuela.
Speaker 13 (29:00):
It's a great weekend. It's great to see all the
guys that I played with, you know, see Garvey and
and Royce and Darryl Thomas and you know Dave Anderson today,
you know some of the guys that you know, Bill
Russell and Penguin. Last night and today it was it
was heartfelt with the Fernando and veiling man. I mean
(29:20):
it was great man. And uh, you know, the artist
Vargas is unbelievable because I hadn't seen, you know, too
much of his art. And uh, you know, the guys
that were here, uh, you know, really appreciated it. His
family appreciated it.
Speaker 8 (29:34):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (29:35):
I didn't know he had so many grand grandchildren, all girls,
and uh, you know, just you know, does my heart
good that you know, we're celebrating something, you know, for
such a great man, Fernando Venezuela.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
We know what he did on the mound and how
much he meant to you guys on the field, But
what was he like behind the scenes.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
I heard about this last so he had.
Speaker 13 (29:55):
Well he had a last so he'd give you a
hot foot with some matches. He tap you on the
shoulder and guys were like, oh, yeah, he's from Mexico.
He's older than he said. No, he wasn't. He was
a kid, and he acted like a kid anytime other
than when he was on the mound. When he's on
the mound, he acts like a man. But but off
the field, uh, he acted like a kid. I mean
he'd crack you up, he'd do something crazy. And I
(30:17):
remember the time I saw him doing that hackey sack.
I don't know if you remember the hacky sack man.
He could keep that thing going for like thirty minutes
and I was like, man, I mean he could do
everything but run and only thing he couldn't do, I
mean any any game but Hannah and eye coordination. He
was he was excellent at it. But you know, but
you know, he just couldn't run and that was the
(30:38):
only that he could hit field.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
Do you name it?
Speaker 13 (30:40):
I mean, you know he was an athlete.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Rick Monday always tells us how protective you all were
of Fernando his first year. Do you remember having that
kind of protective feeling towards him.
Speaker 13 (30:51):
Well, certainly, I mean he was like, like you know,
like our little brother, and uh, you know we made sure,
uh you know, nobody took advantage of him. You know,
made sure nobody took advantage of him because he was
just learning English, because of his age. You know, we
took care of him. We took care of him on
the field, off the field, you know, make sure that
you know he didn't you know, he wasn't old enough
(31:14):
to go to the clubs and anything, all the bars
even you know, we sneaking of beer too every once
in a while, but you know that was about it.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
Dusty Baker is the best.
Speaker 6 (31:24):
I mean, I love the way he tells stories, and
he's so candid with his stories and certainly great fun
memories of being teammates with Fernando Vealezuela on their way
to the World Series in nineteen eighty one. And Dusty
came in last night for the Great Ronse Tribute being
inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball. Hung out today,
but he has to get back to Sacramento because he's
(31:46):
got to get back to his his vineyard Baker family wines.
He gave me the card. He's a grower and a partner.
He's got it in his backyard. He's got to get
back to the grape so he's not like one of
these celebs that just puts their name on the label.
He's actually out there picking the grapes and doing things
to make the wine. So he's got to get back
(32:08):
to Sacramento, he said, because the grapes need him. So
awesome to see Dusty Baker. And you can listen to
our full conversation on the iHeartRadio app. And I know
Dusty love Manny Mota, which means it's moda time on
Dodger Talk.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
Jose, I know it was a great weekend or the
last two nights for your dad. It's great to see
many Mota out here and under his own power, wearing
number eleven again and being out here and seeing his
old teammates. I know it's a very special last couple
of days for you guys.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
It is very special, especially to see all these guys
on the field. How much they mean to all of
us as part of the doll your family for so
many generations, so obviously from our father whod on the
field again on his own is quite significant and out
of blessing, that is. But the celebration today for Fernando
and for you know, the four championships he was attached
(33:06):
to and those faces that I grew up with. You
talked about Dusty Baker, man, we were there's so many
stories with Dusty Baker because I was telling Tim the cases.
You know, the lockers used to be aligned in America.
So it was Ron say, my name was a Dusty
Baker and then Joe Ferguson, right. But so we were
next to Dusty Baker that locker for so many years
and we got to learn so much from him. No
(33:28):
doubt in my mind that we're also happy about his success.
But certainly I think as a group, you can see
with the cohesiveness the culture that created, you know, starting
with Tom and the Sword and now Campanis and obviously
you know Frank Claire. But these guys loved each other.
They knew how to win, they knew how to fight,
they know how to argue together, but they also know
how to take the business out on the field, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
They always did.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
And the Dodgers are what they are today because of
those players that played for them and the legacy that
they have paid forward, Jose, let's talk about these Dodgers,
the defending World Series champion Dodgers. They're kind of limping
right now offensively, but it was good to see them
put up seven runs.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
It was good to see that, especially against a guy
like Paralta. Regardless of whether he made some decisions they
were questionable in selection, he got hit. I mean, Parata
had not given up one of three runs but one
time all season long. And this guy's in the big
leagues and wins for a reason. He has the stuff.
He doesn't overthat. Oh, he's not chasing strictions, but he
does get stricted because the stuff is so good. The
(34:30):
angle is so good, and he uses you know, the
crossbody action to fire against you, to use a change
up in curble more effectively.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
It was good to see the offense wake up a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
There's more things that need to be done right. And
you know, as we pinned down, Dave, all these things
about what is happening and when did it start, you're
going to be facing good pitching and as you also
experienced success, things are going to be pinned down to
the max. I mean, reports are being sent by the
second okay, and if some nobody says, this guy is
(35:01):
not hitting the fastball inside, this guy's not hitting a cutter.
That's report's going to come right back to the next series.
And if you have the staff, it's number one thing.
You got to have the pitchers. They can go out
there and execute and stick with a plan and then
vary the plan accordingly. And that is exactly what the
dues are running into with all that. Okay, not the
best decisions are being made in the batter's box. There's
(35:24):
when way too many swings out of the box, a
lot of questionable calls that are strikes. And at the
same time, I think they need to be again more
reactive than proactive, because there's so much information that sometimes
you get lost in the information and you don't react
to what's happening in the game and what the situation
is calling for.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
It just seems like a lot of these guys that
are in slumps, they already are downh one to oh
two to what you're talking about, Jose, I know the
great hitters have always said be ready to hit on
the very first pitch because that may be the best
pitcherre going to see. And it makes sense, especially when
you're facing really good pictures.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Well, consider those guys are good pictures because they can
pinpoint half command. But you can go out there with
a planet of say, hey, I want to be aggressive
early in the account, right, but you see a fastball,
if it's not the fast where you're looking forward, you're
better off taking it and being down zero to one
to saying I swung because there was a fastball. Well,
that's when you see a lot of guys rolling over.
(36:22):
That's when we see a lot of lady fly balls,
week round balls and weak contact because those ascisions need
to come based on the information that you get, but
also based on how you feel and how you can
cover home plate and I mean mechanically. There's a few
things you can do at this stage of the year.
There's some things you can fall into because of the
way they're pitching to you. But you got to go
out there and think about who you are, strengths that
(36:43):
you bring. But mainly is swing at strikes. And one
thing about Showy a Tony for example, when Showy's going, well,
show here is walking and why now we're not seeing
the walk in this game? And certainty is looked in
the way that he swung the bat and today hopefully
it's a good indication that things are going to get back.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up, because coming into
the game tonight, in his last twenty seven games, he
has thirty one strikeouts and eighteen walks. He was nineteen
for his last ninety five coming into tonight's game. What
did we see differently tonight and is it something that
is going to carry him now for the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
I would hope so, because he's also shown indications at
times that he's finding and then for example, to me,
going back to yesterday in the third inning, grand ball
third base hit the ball, you know, thirty hard to
the third baseman who's playing that hole in shortstop is
a better sign to me that him hitting a d
fly ball to right field for right now, because now
he's thinking more, I got to get back to the
(37:42):
middle of the field. That's what to show. He's at
his best middle of the field. He sees the ball better,
he lays off the break him most down and in
he lays out the high fastballs. And the league with
good pitching are going to find all those things and
exploit it. But certainly everybody needs to strike, and not
every strike in the big leagues is perfect. So that's
what boys make their money because they know that they're
are capitalized by not trying to do too much, and
(38:04):
those pittures are missed out of the plate.
Speaker 6 (38:07):
All right, Jose, we'll see if the Dodgers can get
a win tomorrow. Certainly have the right guy on the
mound to be competitive to try to give them a chance,
and that's Clayton Kershaw. So we'll see you out here
tomorrow to close out Alumni weekend day. All right, there
he goes Jose Mota, part of the Spanish radio broadcast
(38:27):
tonight alongside Luis Cochito Cruz.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
The Dodgers they've you know, we could talk all we.
Speaker 6 (38:34):
Want about o'tawani, about having a plan, all this stuff
just results at this point. The Dodgers need some wins
and they got to stop the bleeding against the Brewers.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
They got to get a win.
Speaker 6 (38:45):
Let's not forget the Dodgers are the defending World Series champions.
They got to remind the Brewers about that. Tomorrow, Clayton
Kershaw on the mound going up against Jose Cantana Morongo
Casino Dodgers on deck begins at noon, first pitch at
one ten. Thanks to Colin Yee back at our Burbank studios,
thanks to Dwayne McDonald out here at Dodgers Stadium, and
(39:08):
thanks to you for listening. We still have a pair
of tickets to give away to the next Tuesday night's game.
We'll try to do that tomorrow after the Dodgers salvage
the final game of the series against Milwaukee. Don't forget
you can listen to the show and our conversation with
Dusty Baker on the iHeartRadio app once again. The final
score tonight the Brewers defeat the Dodgers eight to seven.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
Have a great rest of your Saturday. Be safe, See
you Send
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.