Dodger Talk (8-18-25)

DV takes your calls after the Dodgers lose to the Rockies, 4-3. Teoscar Hernández and Dave Roberts talk to the media. 

Episode Transcript

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 too, Let's lend it.

Speaker 4 (00:11):
I love writing me these guys after the show.

Speaker 5 (00:13):
So just thank you, give me are your attention, your
fire and not a pisson.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
This is world champion, Dodger, world champion thing here for
a small soft time they get a people what they
want to.

Speaker 6 (00:24):
Die in a row two is special. I'm like, yeah,
it's not a headache one of them. Con this ball's gone.
You ready to go? Hell, go to the show, grab
your phone.

Speaker 1 (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 Vasse.

Speaker 6 (00:46):
Welcome the Dodger Talk David Vasse with you until nine
thirty tonight here on AM five seventy LA Sports eight
sixty six nine eighty seven two five seventy is the
phone number. We have three lines and z open. Already
a lot of callers on hold wanting to talk about
a disappointing loss against the Lowly Rockies, and rightfully so.

(01:09):
After riding high after the Padres sweep the Dodgers a
two game lead, with the golden opportunity to possibly even
add to that because the Giants going into the seventh inning,
we're a head forward to nothing behind a really good
pitching performance from Robbie Ray. But hold everything. The Padres

(01:31):
have come back and are now just down a run
heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. That's right,
the Padres four, Padres three, So the Padres win this game.
They're just a game back of the Dodgers in the
NL West. Eight six six nine seven two five seventy
is the phone number. Look, I know what you're gonna do.

(01:52):
You're gonna call in and you're gonna rip Teoscar Hernandez. Yes,
he should have caught that ball in right field. Yes,
he looks like he's running in quicksand out there in
right field because not only the catch that he didn't
make that he should have in the ninth inning on
that Tovar bloop double, but also a ball that he

(02:13):
misplayed in the third inning which led to Kyle Carrows
going first to third and starting a rally for the
Rockies when they tied the score in the third inning
at to a piece. And then yesterday should have caught
a fly ball for Tyler glass Now in the fifth inning.
That may have changed circumstances to have Dave Roberts send

(02:35):
glass Now back out for the sixth inning. Instead, glass
Now was done after ninety one pitches in five innings.
I still felt like he should have gone out for
the sixth. But it changes things. It changes things. There
was traffic on the bases after ta Oscar couldn't get
to that ball. There were a couple of other plays
yesterday that did not look very Taoscar like. He has

(02:59):
reassured me that his groin is all good. He told
me in Anaheim that the ball that he felled off
his left foot was bothering him until the All Star break.
Getting the All Star break and being in Boston on
that nine game road trip, that's when his left foot
really started cooperating. And also he got out of some

(03:19):
bad habits that he got into to compensate for the
pain in that left foot. But I mean, it's hard
not to question whether or not the Dodgers are considering
moving Taoscar Hernandez back to left field, where he played
so great for the Dodgers last year and they won

(03:40):
the World Series. And this year he's been in right field.
He's been okay. He's been okay, but in the second half,
especially the dog days of August, he has not looked okay.
And with the offensive struggles of Michael Conforto and the
defensive struggles of Taoscar Hernandez, you wonder if Dave Roberts

(04:02):
and the Dodgers are considering a change, because if it's
not broke, why fix it? Is my question. He was
so good in left field, he hit thirty three home runs.
Why is he in right field? Now? I understand you
signed Confordo, before you signed ti Oskar Mookie wanted to

(04:22):
play shortstop, all those things, But at this point, and
maybe into September, don't you have to consider maybe ta
Oscar Hernandez being your left fielder. Now the Dodgers are
in first place, they had a nine game lead, but
outfield defense has been a big problem all year long.
I don't care what you say. It's been a problem.

(04:45):
And at times they have outslugged their deficiencies defensively, but
on nights like tonight, they were not able to and
it sticks out like a sore thumb. But the Dodger
offense was not very good tonight, including Taoscar Hernandez. Outside
of show Hey Otani and Freddie Freeman and maybe a

(05:05):
little Mookie Betts. Tonight, there really wasn't much offense. Alex
Frielan came up with a big pinchhit double in the
sixth inning to give them the lead, but Otani was
two for four with an RBI, Freddy Freeman two doubles,
and I actually thought the Dodgers were in big trouble
after that first inning, a huge missed opportunity with Otanian

(05:26):
Betts starting the game with back to back singles and
tai Oscar, Freddie Freeman and Andy Pajez went down in order.
That was a possible big inning like it was yesterday
for the Dodgers, a four run first inning against you Darvish,
and from there not much offense and they struck out
twelve more times against the team that's not known for

(05:48):
their pitching. Alarming number of strikeouts for the Dodgers in
the last three weeks, especially eight six, six, nine, eighty seven,
two five seventy is the phone number. Let's head back
to wars Fiel to hear from Taoscar Hernandez.

Speaker 7 (06:03):
I mean we were playing no doubles. Like you said,
it's a big outfield. That was really far. You know,
I tried to to make the play. I didn't. It
came out my glove unfortunately, So good things to happen.
I just got washed it and just came moving for
Did you think you had a shot. I tried to

(06:23):
catch it work Where did it sort of kickoff the glove?
I mean that was really far from the where the
ball lands, So you know, I tried to do my best.
Every time I get those five balls, try to get
under and make the play. So, like I said, unfortunately
did happened. I get to the ball, I get the ball,
but it came out of my clothes. So tomorrow, just

(06:47):
try it again. Taking both of thirty was sort of
similar situation where you're kind of playing back and all
kinds of chopping in front of you or what's sort
of happened on that play. I mean, it's one of
those that you had to make a expotacular player.

Speaker 6 (06:59):
I didn't.

Speaker 7 (07:01):
I don't think if I would have died, I would
make it. But I think that was a clear hit.

Speaker 8 (07:08):
Was it going all the way and the second basement
was coming out too, and you almost caught. I mean
you did catch it, but couldn't hold onto.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
It was the second basement of concern with you.

Speaker 6 (07:16):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (07:17):
I don't know if it was a notice that we
were playing a doubles. I'm not gonna say he can
get there. Obviously is one of those balls that anybody
can get it. But of course I was a little
bit far from you.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
Didn't you didn't like to see him?

Speaker 7 (07:30):
No, no, no, no, no no no, no, I didn't. I was
seeing the ball all the way. Try to gotch How
tough is he played hisself field a few times?

Speaker 3 (07:38):
But how tough is it to play because postings played
deeper than usual because of the altitude and how large
it is.

Speaker 4 (07:44):
How tough is it to cover the ground in the southfield?

Speaker 7 (07:47):
It's it's a little bit different though the one maybe
at Dodger Stadium that the outfielder is a little smaller.
But I don't think it make any difference, uh, in
base of where you play or how you play?

Speaker 6 (08:02):
All right, taaskar. Hernandez is one hundred percent correct when
he says that's a big outfield. In fact, square footage wise,
course field is the biggest outfield in Major League baseball.
But left field, to me and from what others have
told me in the past, managers, players, coaches, is a
bigger left field than most the biggest. Actually, right field

(08:26):
is not as big center and left field shockingly at
corsefield is bigger. And the reality is uh stadcast says,
our eyes are one hundred percent right. That was a
ninety nine percent catch probability that ball should have been caught.
But Taoscar Hernandez is limited, I mean physically, I mean

(08:50):
there's only so much he can do.

Speaker 5 (08:52):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (08:52):
He's in right field, though, and that's the reason why
it wasn't caught. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two
five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out to
the phones for the first time and look, Taioscar Hernandez
has been tremendous for the Dodgers. I don't want to
pile on and say they lost the game because of him,
because who knows what happens after that, but it's hard

(09:14):
not to notice the last two games especially, he has
not been able to get the balls that most right
fielders would get to. Let's go out to Torrance, Bob,
you're on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Bob, Hey, hey David, how you doing?

Speaker 9 (09:30):
Man? I just want to give you a props. Man,
you're very good.

Speaker 3 (09:32):
I was gonna comment about their situation, but now I'm
not because you laid it out.

Speaker 9 (09:36):
Okay.

Speaker 8 (09:37):
On toy is this the Dodgers are not scoring enough
rons and two reasons Munsey is on the d You
know Munsey's injury and what's the Edmn's injury. Those are
two key guys for the Dodgers that they rely on
them that hit we get RBI's. Now, my toy is this,
can we temporarily switch to order around maybe put Otani

(09:59):
and and Mookia first or Freddy on second and just
temper road it until we get our guys back. What
do you think about that?

Speaker 6 (10:07):
I wouldn't mess with that. That part is not broken,
so I wouldn't do that. But yeah, Monthsy's the guy.
You can't replace Bob and they certainly miss him. There's
no doubting that, and there's no arguing that. The good
news is Tommy Edmund is starting to do some baseball activities.
Even better news is that Keith a Hernandez is headed

(10:28):
out for a rehab assignment starting tomorrow and they return
as soon as next homestand so that's really great news.
Eight sixty six seven two five seventy is the phone number.
Let's go out to Andre. Andre, You're on Dodger Talk.
How you doing.

Speaker 10 (10:46):
I'm doing well, Dave. It's been a couple of years
since I've called in, and that's mainly because of my
work schedules. Haven't always had time to call in. But
a couple of things I want to touch on tonight
and I'm not here. Also the pile on taoscar Hernandez.
But it's just getting to a point you hit all
the nails of it. He needs to be moved back
to left field, and Mooki needs to go back to

(11:09):
right field. I mean, let's just be realistic about this.
We're talking about a golold glove right fielder. I know
he wants to play shortstop. You know, I get that,
but let's be honest with our amongstself, amongst all us
fans out here. The whole thing about Mookie playing the
influ he's Initially he was supposed to play second base.
Of course we know why that didn't work out. He

(11:30):
was forced to move over to shortstop. He's been adequate
this year. But when I hate to say it, but
ta Oscar he's just not getting good reads and tonight
it simply costs us the game. I know, as you mentioned,
it was a ninety eight percent catch probability, I mean,
whether it be quicksand or MUDs, and that ball has
to be caught tonight, And.

Speaker 6 (11:51):
Yeah, I'm with you, I'm with you, And look the
whole Mookie going back to right field, I don't see
that being a real option until you get Edmund and
key k a back and even Hasan Kim, because right
now you can't play Miguel Rojas every day, And what
are you gonna do. You're gonna put Alex Friedland at shortstop?
I mean, I guess you could, but is that really

(12:13):
does that really hold up? If you're asking Moki to
go back to right field. So until the Dodgers get
healthy position player wise with Keiky and tom Y Edmund,
that's not even a fair ask at this point. But
what you could do is play Taoscar and left field
and figure out what you're doing in right field, maybe
with Alex call maybe and Andy pa has even those

(12:35):
things could be more settled when you get Edmund and
keyk Hernandez.

Speaker 10 (12:39):
Back, I agree with you, but I just feel in
my heart our best defensive oulfield would be Kaoscar and left,
Pas in center, and Mooki and right. I understand Edmund's
problem with his angle, even when he does get back,
you can even key in there.

Speaker 6 (12:58):
I wouldn't argue with that would be a better outfield
defense offensively and defensively than what we have what the
Dodgers have now, But I would even argue having Pajz
and right, Keith Gay and center, and Taoscar and left
is as good, if not better, defensively, considering Mookie hasn't
been out in right field all season long, so at

(13:20):
least we I mean it's it's it's been shaky all
season long, Andre, It's just been covered up by offense
and other things. But on nights like tonight, the Dodgers
were not able to outslug them their way out of
this one. Thanks for the phone call, appreciate it. Eight
six six nine eight seven two five seventy. Let's head

(13:41):
back to coursefield to hear from manager Dave Roberts get
his thoughts on what went sideways on the Dodgers in
Game one of this series against the Rockies.

Speaker 5 (13:52):
I just think that offensively to start, you know, outside
of a couple guys having good nights, we just didn't
you know, do much offensively, which was actually pretty surprising.
And I thought Yoshi threw the ball really well, and

(14:15):
you know, we should have won that game, and certainly
the way with the way he pitched, and uh, yeah,
this is this is a hard one to kind of,
uh put into words.

Speaker 11 (14:25):
You know, it doesn't all fall on that final ning.
But what were you seeing just on the read from Taoscar.
Obviously it's a huge outfield out there, but just kind
of how one it popped out of his glove and
just kind of how it was played there.

Speaker 5 (14:39):
Yeah, you know, I I I know, Uh, I didn't
see the break. I didn't look at the replay. It
was up in there a long time. You know, I
thought he had a chance to get it it it
got off his glove, and fortunately we didn't come up
with the play. So uh and unfortunately Tovar, to his credit,
ran hard out of the box and was on second

(14:59):
base and Robo gives up a ground ball and that's
the end of the game. So certainly not on Robo,
And yeah, that's just a tough one.

Speaker 7 (15:10):
Well on the third inning of us furt of similar
to that sort of fell in front of tail that
do you feel you maybe how to play on that
ball as well?

Speaker 5 (15:17):
You know, I don't know if you would have had
to play on that one. I know it shouldn't have
been second and third. You know, it shouldn't have ended
up at second and third. You know, So then that
the base hit scores two right there. So I mean
he does he's got to get better out there, and
there's just no way to put it. Yeah, I mean,

(15:43):
I know there's there's effort. It's not a lack of effort.
But I think the thing is is that, you know,
we just got to kind of get better. We do,
and so yeah, I don't know what else to say.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
You sound a little frustrated for this part of the
season with the ringfield player.

Speaker 8 (16:02):
You're considering any change?

Speaker 2 (16:03):
Is there anything you can do?

Speaker 5 (16:07):
You know, I don't think that there's right now. Yeah,
I mean he's going to be in the lineup. You know,
there's nothing you know, so for you know, when you
have a plus game, I think I'm doing a good
job of trying to get him off his legs and
putting in some defensive specialists to go into prevent run
prevention mode. But you know, he's got to keep putting

(16:28):
in the work to continue to get better. You know,
he's up third in the next in in the bottom
half or the top half, so I'm not going to
take him out.

Speaker 6 (16:36):
Of the game.

Speaker 5 (16:37):
And so it's just one of those things that you know,
the defense is a big part of postseason baseball and
winning baseball. So yeah, he's just got to continue to
get better.

Speaker 6 (16:49):
All right, there's manager Dave Roberts obviously frustrated, but he's
not going to bury one of his key players. He
didn't make the play. I don't know what you want
Dave Roberts to say. I mean, he kept getting He's
not gonna just rip Taoscar Hernandez right there. He needs
ta Oscar Hernandez. And obviously, uh, they're gonna have to
re examine as they get closer to the postseason. As

(17:12):
Dave Roberts said, defense is a huge part of it
and a huge reason why the Dodgers beat the Yankees
in the World Series last year. Timber Tech Decking and
Railing everything would should be visit timber tech dot com
eight six six nine seven two, five seventy is the
phone number. Giant still holding on to a one run
lead in the ninth inning. We'll keep you updated as

(17:34):
we go to the bottom of the hour. Right now,
let's go out to San Luis Obispo. Rubin, you're on
Dodger Talk. How you doing.

Speaker 3 (17:42):
I'm doing fine, Dave.

Speaker 9 (17:43):
How are you doing?

Speaker 3 (17:45):
This is it's a question my fifth year old son, Danny,
we watch baseball games, Dodger Baseball almost every night, and
he's a little frustrated or we're not putting up runs
like we we normally do. And then he was like, Dad,
we need a but we need in the first inning
he wants, you know, but with you know, after show
Hay and uh and Mookie got on, you know, and

(18:07):
then the second inning we also had a chance with Kennedy.
We had first and second uh, and then Kennedy up
and we didn't butt.

Speaker 6 (18:15):
And now we're talking about Buddy Kennedy.

Speaker 3 (18:17):
Though yeah, funding also and with with yeah, but still
he still wants to butt.

Speaker 10 (18:24):
I coached him.

Speaker 4 (18:24):
I coach him in Babe Ruth.

Speaker 3 (18:25):
And we do that stuff with their three and four hitters.

Speaker 6 (18:27):
I go. But in the MLB, I'm good with but
Buddy Kennedy bunting. I there's a reason why he's been
on so many teams. I mean, at some point he's
you know, you got to do some productive out. So
I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with wanting ta
Oscar Hernandez or Freddie Freeman or Andy pa has bunting.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah, and then there's times during late late game situations
where yes we need a bunt and there's been tied.
I have been frustrated. We we played, we played small
ball last year in the playoffs, and that helped us out,
you know, to get and two winning championship.

Speaker 6 (19:01):
In this year, Miguel Rojas played small ball in Game
one of the Padres series. Helped the Dodgers win that game.
So they play it. I don't know, you know, in coursefield,
you get so enticed into trying to go for the
big inning there. But yeah, I'm all in with you, Ruben,
and so are the Dodgers to have team at bats.

(19:23):
Thanks for the phone call. Eight six six nine eight
seven two five seventy is the phone number. Let's go
out to Doug in Riverside. Hi, Doug, you're on Dodger Talk.

Speaker 9 (19:33):
Hey, let's up the DV. It's always a pleasure to
talk to you. I love the opening line by Monday Today. Yeah,
they're all happy that you didn't go with the trip.
Guys must love you, hodeys. I love to hate. Yeah,
but I think you know I love Teoscar. But I

(19:54):
tell you what. I think it's time to call the
Paula up. He can play center, Pield.

Speaker 6 (19:58):
I think you played Wait wait, jose Way to Paula. Yes, sir,
you're saying, call up a guy that hasn't even played
at Double A to be in the big leagues right
now and play the outfield.

Speaker 9 (20:13):
Okay, Well they can bring up Ward.

Speaker 6 (20:16):
Who's that.

Speaker 2 (20:18):
Is it?

Speaker 9 (20:19):
Josh Ward or Tyler Ward.

Speaker 6 (20:22):
I don't know who those guys are. If I don't
know him, I'm not sure you want to call him up,
jose Way. Depaula has only played at HIA so far
this year, Doug. Those guys are a couple of years away.
Those are not the answers right now. I appreciate the
phone call, thank you for calling in and for the
kind words. Appreciate you listening. But yeah, I know in

(20:43):
this day and age, how the minor leagues and prospects
are so hyped up everywhere you turn, if you're a
baseball fan, where you could say, hey, why don't we
call this guy up? Well, the reason why is because
he barely's touching Hia or he barely got to that's
to me. The disservice to a lot of these guys

(21:04):
in the minor leagues is that there is so much
attention and a little bit too much of a microscope
on their struggles, on their successes, and just let these
guys mature and let them get seasoned and give them
a chance to make mistakes, and let's not over hype guys,
because we have seen, even with the Dodger minor leaguers

(21:28):
over the years, over high prospects that really don't pan out.
So they're all suspects until they could prove it at
this level. Eight sixty six nine seven two five seventy
is the phone number. We're going to take a time
out here on Dodger Talk when we come back, more
of your phone calls, and also if we have time,
we'll let you hear what Rob Manfred had to say

(21:48):
about the Dodgers and Padres rivalry. Dodgers fall to the
Rockies tonight, game one of a four game series at
Corsefield before the Dodgers head back to San Diego tonight
frustrating loss four to three to the Rockies on a
five to seventy LA Sports.

Speaker 1 (22:09):
On air at AM five to seventy, online at AM
five to seventy LA sports dot com, and available my
podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 6 (22:18):
This is Dodger Talk with David Vass. David Vass with
you until the bottom of the hour. After the Rockies
beat the Dodgers tonight four to three. The Rockies have
won a season high four games in a row. They

(22:38):
have won six of their last seven, and they take
down the first place Dodgers tonight four to three in
Game one of this four game series. I have the
Padres Giants game on right now. It's still four to
three Giants. In the bottom of the ninth inning with
one out. Jose Glacias got a one out single, but

(22:59):
Freddy for Me pops it up and the first baseman
came over to make a catch, so two down, the
Padres down to their last out, So the Dodgers may
be helped out by their real rivals, the Giants and
maintain a two game lead in the NL West. But
you have to look at it the other way. The

(23:19):
Dodgers blew a golden opportunity if the Giants hold on
here to gain another game and try to pad their
lead again before they head back to San Diego for
a three game series against the Padres. Daniels Jewelers presents
the home run forecast. Go to a five to seventy
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(23:41):
chance to win a fifty dollars Daniels Jewelers gift card
predicting the number of home runs in the very next game.
Daniels Jewelers owned the dream. We'll try to get back
to your phone calls in a moment. But last night
Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, jumped on
the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. And you know, coming off
the exciting Dodger win yesterday when Mookie bets go ahead

(24:03):
home run in the eighth inning, sell out a crowd
for all three games at Dodger Stadium. Even the East Coasters,
like the Commissioner, took notice of what's brewing between or
what has been brewing actually between the Dodgers and Padres.
I think that that Dodger.

Speaker 7 (24:22):
Padre rivalry is getting into that same zone that the Yankees.

Speaker 6 (24:27):
And the Red Sox are and have men. So you know, the.

Speaker 4 (24:31):
Game on the field, we feel like is in really,
really good shape.

Speaker 6 (24:35):
I agree with that the game on the field is
in great shape. Yankees Red Sox goes back one hundred
years to when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth. There
is nothing like that going on between the Dodgers and Padres.
But I would say it is the two It is
the two teams that dislike each other the most, and

(24:59):
it is the compelling Inner Division rivalry going for the
last five years, going back to twenty twenty. But like
I've said before, even last year's postseason, the Dodgers and
Padres reminds me of the NBA version of the Lakers
and Sacramento Kings of the early two thousands, the Kings

(25:21):
always being the stepping stone for the Lakers up until
they got good for a four or five year period
and then have not been heard from since. While the
Lakers have a storied history. So it feels the same
way with the Dodgers and Padres, where this is a
rivalry right now, but is it going to be in

(25:41):
even three years. With the uncertainty of the Padres ownership,
I would venture to say the Padres are probably going
to fizzle out while the Dodgers keep going strong. Eight
sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number. Let's go out to Justin and Santa Monica.
You're on Dodger Talk with David Vassay. Oh, we have

(26:01):
a final in San Diego. Ryan O'Hearn flies out to
make the last out and the Giants hold on to
help the Dodgers four to three. So the Dodgers remain
two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West.
All right, Justin, it's you. It's your turn now.

Speaker 2 (26:19):
Thanks man.

Speaker 9 (26:20):
Listen.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
You know it's like you just said right before. I mean,
it would have been a great thing to have to
put another game in our pocket, but you know, I'm forging.
And again, I love the Oscar Missus, Hughes are my kids,
they all. He's just a great personality. But you know,
we've got to judge things on the field and not
to pile on, which I'm not gonna do. But there

(26:42):
has been a little bit of an issue with him.
We're a lot of good visions since he's been injured
and coming back and he just can't get those balls
out there and right. So why don't we do what
everybody seems to know what we need to do. Move
them back over to left if you don't want to
feel comforable putting looky right, which I think that one
game we were all I'm excited that he was playing
out there and it felt right again, and I mean

(27:04):
freel and it has been an amazing glove. His offense
is not there, but I love him at short. I
think until we get Kim back, he slaunched in there
real nicely. I mean, unfortunately we still have Conforto going
back to comforting and Alex call me if you need
a strikeout. He isn't helping us much. Ryan Ward is
I think who that other caller wanted to talk about,

(27:26):
and that kid is crushing it. So I would love
to see him get a chance and come up. What
do you think?

Speaker 6 (27:32):
Yeah, I know you're see you kept the streak alive
justin whether it's Tim Neverett or Tim Kaids or a
caller calling in. Somebody asks me every day about Ryan Ward.
And look, I've asked people inside the organization, outside the organization,
and they have said that his defense is not great.
It's probably as good, if not a little less than

(27:55):
Michael Conforto. But he only plays left field. He does
and run well. He only plays left field. But the
Dodger offense hasn't been great, so why not see what
you have? But right now, are you gonna ask Ryan
Ward to carry the Dodger offense? That's a big ask
at this point in time. Maybe a little bit more

(28:16):
realistic and better for him if they would have done
it two months ago, But right now, I just feel like, Okay,
Ryan Ward's here, what's he gonna do. You're gonna ask
a guy that has crushed it at Triple A, which
isn't a great league to hit in, uh, to all
of a sudden be the everyday left fielder. Because if
you have Ryan Ward, you don't have Michael Confordo out there.

(28:38):
So are you saying, Michael Conforto, thanks a lot for
everything you've done, We'll see you later. So that's kind
of the problem with Ryan Ward. He doesn't play any
other position.

Speaker 2 (28:50):
It's like, thanks for everything you haven't done, Michael. Look
at he had with bases loaded this year.

Speaker 6 (28:56):
You know, he just hey, Justin, I could tell you
this debate has gone on inside the Dodgers front office
just right now, Michael Confordo is winning that debate.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
It's so much wishing well on him.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
Man.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
I just think that you've got to look into the
next month September, like we got to dial in and
I don't think Confordo's really we all know, we don't.
We're hoping for it, but you can eyeball you know
he's not going to be able to deliver in these
playoff months when you have the opportunity to go ahead.
He's with so many times I did, could we really

(29:31):
believe that all the playoff is going to magically work?
I just think we have the keys there Jasker left,
Luki and right where we put another we have speed
out and right we know we have the pieces to
do it, but we keep putting Conforta out there. And
cal was just really the waterfall version down of Kwan,
who we all wanted, and.

Speaker 4 (29:52):
He has been still unimpressive.

Speaker 6 (29:55):
Okay, Justin, I thought Caul was having a good game
tonight before he got pinched hit for I know it's
right versus left, but why not just let it ride?
I mean, he had a good feel at the plate tonight.
Thanks for the phone call. Appreciated. Eight sixty six nine
eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number. Let's
go out to Orange County. This has turned into the

(30:15):
Ti Oscar Hernandez Show, Matt and the OC Are you
really going to pile on ti Oscar even more?

Speaker 4 (30:22):
How's it going, brother? Thanks for taking the call. I
kind of abie, I'm upset with him. I backed off
a little because everyone else is called in to talk
about it.

Speaker 6 (30:29):
Jeez, I know. I mean, ta Oscar is a fan favorite.
He's taken a lot of incoming tonight.

Speaker 4 (30:36):
I mean, Manny Mota kind of went on about about
it earlier. The hit probability on that on that ball
was like point ninety percent.

Speaker 6 (30:45):
That was the batting average, expected batting average. The catch
probability ninety nine percent.

Speaker 4 (30:52):
And he kind of looks like he's just loafing around.
And you know, I.

Speaker 6 (30:58):
Hate to say low, Matt. I just feel like he's
not mobile. That's why he was so good in left
field last year. How can you tell me last year
he was the left fielder for the Dodgers. But he's
a year older, he's over the age of thirty. I
believe he's thirty three years old, and you're telling me
he's gonna be better in right field this year. I mean,

(31:20):
that's hard to believe. You're just hoping that he doesn't
get exposed, and for the most part, he hadn't. But
all of a sudden, now it's becoming a bigger problem.

Speaker 4 (31:30):
And it's gonna be a problem. Like I watched the
Brewers play earlier. If they play him in the playoffs,
any ball hitting the grass to him, they're taking two bags.

Speaker 6 (31:39):
Kyle Carros did Kyle Carros did that too?

Speaker 4 (31:42):
Or go first to third right because now he just
kind of looks like he's not interested.

Speaker 6 (31:47):
But and what my point is, he is interested. My
point is he's a year older. He didn't move it
around that great last year in left field. But now
you're saying you're good enough to play right field.

Speaker 4 (32:01):
That's the Dodgers management. But also, wasn't it a little uh?
I promise not in his contract. The only reason he
did resign is that they almost guaranteed him he would
play right field, otherwise he was gonna lie.

Speaker 6 (32:11):
I don't know about that. They had already signed Conforto,
so they were committed to that and right field was
the only spot for him.

Speaker 4 (32:19):
They got to eat the money on Conforto. Because here's
my thing, too, right the Ryan Ward he can only
play left, Okay, I get that he's not gonna be
much worse to Conforido. Are you guarantee that?

Speaker 6 (32:29):
Are you sure he could get hitting at the major
league level? Are you sure the level?

Speaker 4 (32:35):
Right now?

Speaker 6 (32:36):
I would say yes, he could do the Conforto for sure.

Speaker 4 (32:40):
Yes, second worst qualified hitter in the league.

Speaker 6 (32:42):
I'll concede that. I'll concede that. Yes, Okay. Look, it's
it's a fair argument. I don't know the answer why
Ryan Ward's not getting an opportunity other than it's a
debate that rages on that right now. Michael Confordo was
winning for some reason, Matt, And that's the reality reality
of it right now. And it's a lot to ask

(33:04):
a kid that has never played at the major league
level to all of a sudden step in and be
the guy that you need from Triple A at the
major league level. That's a big ask.

Speaker 4 (33:17):
Yeah, I like how touch on the prospects too?

Speaker 11 (33:19):
Right?

Speaker 4 (33:19):
You said you kind of referred to with one of
the last callers, like you don't know what a prospect's
going to turn into.

Speaker 6 (33:25):
Dodge about Diego Kart tire. How'd he turn out?

Speaker 9 (33:27):
Right?

Speaker 6 (33:28):
How did Miguel Vargus turn out.

Speaker 4 (33:30):
Miguel vart I mean, Bobby Millers. It's moving to the
pen has been better. He's not getting the whiff ray,
he's not missing barrels or anything.

Speaker 6 (33:36):
But that's my point. That's my point. That's why you
trade these guys if you have a chance to win
a World Series. And obviously right now the Dodgers are
all about winning a World Series. And for the most part,
Andrew Friedman hasn't been Gunshine trading guys like Michael Busch
or Miguel Vargas to get guys to help them win.

(33:56):
If he doesn't trade Miguil Vargas last year, the Dodgers
don't get Michael Kopek, they don't get Tommy Edmund, and
they probably have a harder time winning the World Series.

Speaker 4 (34:08):
You think, you think holding on to a rushing.

Speaker 6 (34:14):
I just think that there was no who would you
have traded? Well Number one, Matt, Here's something that nobody
talks about that I have firsthand knowledge of the morning
of the trade deadline. It was clear to teams that
the Guardians were not going to trade Stephen Kwan. So
what are the Dodgers supposed to do?

Speaker 4 (34:32):
I've heard other sources, Well, obviously I have first hand.

Speaker 6 (34:37):
I have firsthand knowledge from a president of baseball operations
on a baseball team that has told me it was
clear the Guardians would not trade Stephen Kwan the morning
of the deadline. And did he get traded? Matt? Did
he get traded?

Speaker 4 (34:53):
He did not get traded?

Speaker 6 (34:54):
Well, why don't you believe it now, Matt? Matt, who
you believe in? You believe in some blogger or you
gonna believe the guy that's with the team every day
and talks to a lot of other executives and players
and managers.

Speaker 4 (35:07):
Didn't Rushing play left field in the miners a little bit?

Speaker 6 (35:10):
He didn't do well there, Matt. And by my point
is I don't think the Dodgers are saying Dalton Rushing's untouchable,
because obviously Will Smith is there. But the reality is, Matt,
who was available at the trade deadline that you pulled
the trigger on trading Dalton Rushing for who could become
a really good catcher for another team. There was no superstar.

(35:33):
There was no Wan Soto at the trade deadline. I'm
not trading Dalton Rushing for Joan Durant. I'm sorry.

Speaker 4 (35:40):
So what's the plan with Rushing because Will Smith's the catcher.

Speaker 6 (35:43):
Well, let's see what materializes this offseason. Maybe there's an
outfielder like Stephen Kwan that is more available than he
was at the trade deadline. Maybe you make a trade
at the during the off season where there's a bigger
fish to be had that really justifies trading one of
your top prospects instead of a reliever.

Speaker 4 (36:05):
Do you think he'd be better serving Triple A getting
more at bat?

Speaker 6 (36:08):
No, he proved himself there. This is better for him
because he gets to know how to catch major league games,
gets to get gets to see major league pitching. He
approved everything that he could prove at Triple A.

Speaker 4 (36:22):
It just seems like he's not uh limited, and they're
and they're gonna, they're gonna.

Speaker 6 (36:26):
Maybe he's not. Maybe he's not everything Matt in Orange
County thinks he is.

Speaker 4 (36:31):
I'm just saying, I think is that bathroom the season
pushes on.

Speaker 6 (36:35):
Maybe Dalton Rushing isn't as good as you think he is,
and everybody else that uh uses uh that those rankings
as the oracle.

Speaker 4 (36:44):
Right, he was a prospect and he's not hitting right
now when he gets his opportunity. You're right, that's what
I'm saying.

Speaker 6 (36:49):
He hit a ball to the to the wall at
course Field. What does that tell you? He's got to
be better, got to be better. Thanks for the phone call, Matt.
I've gone way over. I could debate this all night
with you. This is a real radio show. It's not
a podcast. We have time constraints. Tomorrow it'll be Emmi
Sheen on the mound for the Dodgers. He's three and

(37:11):
two with an ERA of three eighty six, going up
against the winless aunts Austin Gomber, who is zero six
with an ERA of six seventy five Morongo Casino. Dodgers
on Deck begins at four thirty, first pitch at five forty.
Thanks to Colin e at our Burbank Studios, Thanks to
Dwayne McDonald at Corsfield, and thanks to you for listening.

(37:32):
In case you missed any of the show, you can
find it on the iHeartRadio app. That's also where you
can hear our pregame conversation with Andre Ethier. He was
at the game yesterday. Maybe he needed to go to
Denver with the team for that good luck charm. You
can find all of that on the iHeartRadio app once again.
The final score tonight from Denver. The Dodgers fall to

(37:53):
the Rockies four to three. But the good news is
the Padres fall to the Giants four to three, so
the Dodgers maintain a two game lead in the National
League West. Coming up next, Fox Sports Radio. If you
stay up late enough, maybe you'll hear Ben Maller and
those very interesting creatures that come out from the night

(38:15):
to take his phone calls. Once again. The final score tonight,
the Dodgers fall to the Rockies four to three. We'll
talk to you tomorrow. See U.