August 20, 2025 • 42 mins
DV takes your calls after the Dodgers defeat the Rockies, 11-4. Freddie Freeman talks to the media after hitting his 540th career 2B. Dave Roberts talks about his "meeting" with Mookie Betts.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
One thing about this gene is the invisible and tangibles
that they have.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This team is really becoming a family.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Let's not play one on too. Let's wind 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.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire and not a pissess.
Speaker 6 (00:17):
This is world champion, Dodgers, world champion being for the small.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Soft time they get a people what they want to
die too in a row two is special.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm light. Yeah, it's not a headache one of them.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Come, this ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 6 (00:32):
Sure, old time to grab your phone 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 bas saying.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome to Dodger Talk, David Vass say with you until
ten o'clock tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports.
We have phone lines open at eight six six nine,
eight seven two five seventy. After the Dodgers blow out
the Rockies tonight by a final score of eleven to four,
we will hear from Freddie Freeman. In a moment, we
(01:07):
will hear from Dave Roberts about this so called meeting
we woke up to in the La Times written by
Kevin Baxter. Even though Kevin Baxter did not report what
exactly was taking place in that office, it was him
guessing what was said between Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts, and
(01:28):
Mookie Betts. So we'll get to that in a second.
And also we have one VIP pass to give away
to a meet and greet with one of the greatest
third basemen in Dodgers' history, if not the greatest in
Ron Say. He is signing autographs this Saturday at one
(01:50):
Way Autograph place. I guess I don't know what you
want to call One Way. It's an autograph memorabilia store,
but it is in Monterey Park. And what's happening this Saturday,
August twenty third, from eleven to noon. And we have
a photo op and VIP autograph pass to skip the
(02:11):
line and meet and greet Ron Say to give away
for this Saturday morning at one Way at twenty three
point thirty four South Atlantic Boulevard in Monterey Park. So
we'll give that away at some point between now and
ten o'clock eight six, six, nine eighty seven, two five
(02:31):
seventy is the phone number. Before we really dive into
a couple of things that need to be corrected from
last night and from this morning's La Time story, I
just want to celebrate Alex Call, who last night had
a really good game but was taken out because of
platoon reasons. But tonight Alex Call started against Austin Gomber.
(02:56):
It was allowed to stay in the game and he
rewarded the Dodgers because he had a career night four hits,
scored three times, had two RBIs, and was a triple
shy of the cycle and the Dodger offense scored in
the first inning. That was huge and gave Emma Chehan
something to work with at cors Field where they had
(03:18):
a seven to nothing lead after three innings tonight, So
that was good as well. And I have to give
Miguel Rojas a lot of props because he made a
fantastic play in this game. And outside of Alex Call
being the player of the game, considering how well he
played and you know, being a triple shot of the
(03:40):
cycle homering with shoe Hey Otani in the second inning,
Miguel Rojas for me was the player of the game
because Rojas did the things the Dodgers need. He was
two for three tonight with an RBI and a run scored.
He also walked, not to mention, he helped the Dodgers
score again in a three run seventh inning where he
(04:02):
gave up a bat. He gave up and at bat
in the seventh inning with runners at first and second
to get them in scoring position, and the Dodgers cashed
them in and also getting the start a second base.
Doing what every player on the field should be doing,
moving on every pitch, moving on every play. You heard
(04:27):
that in little league, you heard that in high school.
It also applies in Major League Baseball more than ever.
And Miguel Rojas made one of the best plays of
the game tonight in the fourth inning where an overthrow
by Emitt Shehan on a comebacker by Bernabelle on a
bunt Shean overthrew Freddie Freeman. He had no shot at it.
(04:53):
Where was Miguel Rojas. He was shaded closer to second base,
but he was moving on the pl and that gave
him the chance to back up on warming Bernabelle's bunt
that emmittt Sheen threw over the head of Freddie Freeman.
Bernabelt tried to make it to second base and Rojas
threw a strike and that was it. I mean, tip
(05:15):
of the cap to Miguel Rojas. He is really playing
really good baseball. And he wasn't even supposed to play
this much. But he's playing more than he anticipated, more
than the Dodgers anticipated, and he's playing great. He's doing
so many things that are helping the Dodgers win ball games,
including tonight. Even in a blowout game like tonight, it
(05:38):
still mattered what he did. And that just shows you
the type of guy he is. Because two Saturdays ago
at Superior Grocers, he talked about the Dodgers needing more
team at bats. He wasn't just pointing the fingers at
other players, he was pointing the finger at himself. And
he has done that the last couple of weeks. He
(06:00):
does it more than anybody else, and certainly other guys
that are not named Otani, Betts, Freeman Smith have got
to take some notes on what Miguel Rojas is doing.
Freddie Freeman tonight, I'm sure is taking notes. He knows
how valuable Miguel Rojas is to this team. Let's head
back to Denver to here from the future Hall of Fame.
(06:22):
First Baseman didn't.
Speaker 7 (06:23):
Even think about that. Actually, I think that would be
later on in the year. It's a little too early
for that, but you know, we'll get in three hits tonight.
That was awesome for him.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
With just the performance today that you had kind of
bouncing back from yesterday, did it feel a little.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Different going into this one, and how you guys wanted
to get going early and maintain that throughout the game.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
I wish we could I can give you. Yeah, that's
what we just got on the board early, scored some rounds.
It's good to tack on runs. When you score runs,
you want to keep keep it going. And as an offense,
we did a really good job. First stating Steen Ninthenning,
you know, got in and some runs early. He pitched
really really well.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Man.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
You know, it's just a good bloat game. I think
six of those stevens against Common with two out. So
what did you sort of see in those up paths
to sort of extend those innings and keep pushing runs across. Yeah,
I was just trying to see a strike and hit it.
I would assume that's what everyone was, just trying to
get strikes. He spends the ball a lot. Our game
plan was just go up with him and I guess it,
pitches up and be ready to hit him.
Speaker 8 (07:17):
You go from two for eleven with runners at the
scoring position yesterday to today's perform it. How do you
hit the reset button to get this?
Speaker 7 (07:26):
I think that's the beauty of our game. Every day
is a new day. I don't think anybody was thinking
about two for eleven. I don't even know if we
knew we were two three eleven going into today. So
and I don't think anybody's going to think about how
good we did today tomorrow. So every day is a
new day. We'll go out there and give it, give it,
give it all, all the game tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, it's August.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
It's August.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Windays.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Like if there is a bad title competition we call
a final leak, be right, don't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
If you think you're right, all right, I mean, come on, really,
we're talking about the batting title right now. This is
the way it stacks up. Will Smith is leading the
National League and hitting at three oh eight, Xavier Edwards
at three oh four the Marlins, and then there's Freddie
Freeman hitting three Tozho two. So I agree with Freddy.
There's a lot of time between here and now to
(08:17):
be able to talk about the batting title. Eight six
six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number.
The Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight eleven to four. All right,
let's set the record straight on a couple of things
that happened last night. First and foremost, every Yahoo out
there that has some sort of platform on social media
(08:38):
went to Baseball Savant and looked up that the catch
probability of Taoscar Hernandez making that catch last night was
ninety nine percent. I'll just say this. Most right fielders
make that catch, no doubt about it. But here is
the reality of it. Talking to people with the Dodgers
in that dugout, the catch probability of that ball that
(09:02):
Tovar hit that went in and out of taoskars glove
last night, because he was playing no doubles, meaning his
back was right against the warning track and right field,
it was actually a forty two percent chance of catching it.
According to the catch probability of the metrics the Dodgers
(09:23):
have in Major League Baseball has that's number one, Number two.
The LA Times fill in beat writer, fill in beat
writer Kevin Baxter trying to do too much. They talk
about players trying to do too much. If you're a
fill in for a great beat writer like Jack Harris,
just go under the radar. Just go under the radar.
(09:46):
You're in Denver covering the Dodgers and Rockies for a reason.
You don't need to make waves, and you don't need
to make up stuff to try to impress everybody. In fact,
it backfired on Kevin Baxter of the La Times. Apparently
these writers saw Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts, and Mookie Betts
(10:06):
talking in the manager's office after last night's game, and
this guy, this guy decided to take it upon himself
to basically make up a story that Andrew Friedman and
Dave Roberts were talking to Mookie Betts about moving back
(10:28):
to right field. Now, if he would have just taken
a second to take a step back and assess the situation, No,
Tommy Edmond, No Heyesong Kim, no Key k a Hernandez,
and no Max Muncy. Are you really telling us that
we're supposed to believe Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, we're
(10:50):
telling Mookie Betts, you're moving to right field, so Alex
Friedlink can play shortstop. And if they were telling Mookie
Bets he was moving to right field, don't you think
Taoscar Hernandez and Michael Confordo would be in the office
at the same time. That's the way the Dodgers do things.
But Kevin Baxter wouldn't know that because he's not around
(11:12):
the team every day. So that's why I found it
hard to believe when I saw that, considering how badly
and how much the Dodgers have bent over to allow
Muki to play shortstop all of a sudden, one bad
game or one bad week, or two bad weeks for
Taoscar Hernandez worse than other weeks in right field. Albeit
(11:33):
are telling Mookie Betts by himself and only these two guys,
you're going back to right field. Kevin Baxter of the
La Times made you believe something that was unbelievable. There
were no quotes in his story, He had no firm confirmation.
It was just complete conjecture, and it spread like wildfire.
(11:58):
Rogan and Rodney, who get all their show prep from
the La Times, thought it was the Bible. Petrosen Money,
who barely follow Baseball realized that this was a story.
I'm sure the other station was talking about it like
it was gospel, but it was just fake news. And
I love the way Dave Roberts handled things in the
(12:18):
dugout today because there was no confirmation. This writer never
asked any one of those three people that he saw
in the office whether or not it was true before
he wrote it and created a firestorm where there was
nothing to be Here was Dave Roberts on the record,
setting the record straight in Denver. Yeah, that was no Mookie.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Mookie pops in him office all the time, and so
we're just talking about his swing and kind of I
wanted him to check in with me about where he's at,
you know, certain checkpoints as we get through the season,
and that was a check in. So I hope not
much is made about that because he pops him office
all the time, which I think is a good thing.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
A phrase that you used, front office uses a lot
his net s.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, hasn't it gotten to the.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Point where the net sum would be better offensively and
defensively with Mookie Betts in right field?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Say, it's a fair question, you know, I don't think
I'm still giving Michael Confordo some opportunities. Hasn't played much
right field, if any, I don't know. Tayo certainly played
some left field last year, which is which is certainly
(13:39):
a good thing. I think right now having Tommy Edmund out,
hay Song Kim out, Maximuntsey out, just trying to manage
Migy's playing time and freeling too much. I love the
way Mookie's playing short. But I think though that's a
(14:00):
fair question. But you know, I don't think that we're
there quite yet.
Speaker 8 (14:06):
I would really ask is Tato doing less damage in
left field than he wouldn't write?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think, if you know, I just know that there's
been times that he's played a formidable right field. I
think he's going to going to get back to that,
I really do. I think if you're talking about potentially
(14:34):
the first to thirds, I think that's something that we
can be better at, you know, closing in on the ball.
But as far as you know, left field versus right field,
we're just not there yet. But but I I it's
a totally fair question.
Speaker 8 (14:55):
Is mookie'st more valuable at shore or is it more
valuable in right field?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Well, I think if you're looking at who would if
there's got to be an alternative, right, And I think
right now, the way Mookie's playing at short, I'm not
bouncing him around. I think we feel very good about it.
Also appreciating who we do have coming back. I know
(15:24):
that things kind of pop at certain times of a season,
but you know, given everything that we've we're going through,
we've gone through, we're still finding ways to win a
lot of ball games, and I think, just in totality,
we can all do a better job, all of us.
And so I just refuse to try to pin it
(15:45):
on one position, one person. I just don't. I just
don't believe that's That's just not what I do. But
I do think that the idea of how can we
get better, if there's ways to get better on the margins,
I think that that way to look at it is
completely fair and very honest.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
All Right, there's manager Dave Roberts tackling the subject about
the Dodgers outfield defense and setting the record straight on
what was a bad report by Kevin Baxter, who is
the normal La Times soccer writer that is filling in
for the great beat writer they have in Jack Harris,
that was not Jack Harris that wrote that story that
(16:28):
was completely false. It was Kevin Baxter filling in for
Jack Harris, who just took it upon himself to write
something that was not true without having all the facts,
and in fact he did not have the facts. It
was just completely wrong. Eight six six nine seven two
five seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Rockies
(16:49):
eleven to four. And if you were listening to the broadcast,
you heard Rick Monday say Taoscar Hernandez took it upon
himself to go out during batting practice and field fly
balls in right field. That's a guy that has professional pride.
He's obviously not not completely out of touch with what
(17:10):
is being said on social media, what's being said on
all these national baseball platforms. His name was in the
news for the last twenty four hours and not for
good reason. So he knows he's got to get better.
And tonight he looked better in right field. But it's
still hard to ignore the fact that he was so
good in left field last year and all of a sudden,
(17:33):
we're supposed to expect him to be this great right fielder.
I think the Dodgers just want him to make what
plays he's able to make, and to be able to
give one hundred percent effort and be I don't know,
I mean be good enough, be good enough. I think
that's what it is. And I still feel like when
(17:54):
the postseason rolls around and if Michael Confordo is still struggling,
they've got to take a look, long look at what
Dave Roberts was talking about and getting better on the margins.
And to me, that would mean moving Taoscar Hernandez to
left field. But it doesn't automatically mean Mooki Bets to
right field. You can make this outfield better in a
(18:17):
number of different ways by moving Pa Haz to right,
Taoscar to left, and either have Alex call Keik Hernandez
or Tommy Edmund in center field and still have Mooki
Betts play shortstop. It doesn't necessarily have to mean Mookie
Bets going to right field. But it's hard to ignore
(18:38):
the fact that everybody that has seen a lot of
baseball believes Mooki Bets is one of the top three
right fielders in the in the history of the game.
That's hard to ignore. Eight six, six nine, eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out
to Matthew and Redondo Beach. You're on Dodger Talk. How
you doing, Matthew, Hey the Dave.
Speaker 9 (19:01):
Thanks for having me. I just want to say, amazing
game for Alex call.
Speaker 10 (19:07):
Our Dodger fans have been waiting for this.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
I've seen a lot of negativity out there on saying
he hasn't proven himself.
Speaker 9 (19:13):
He just showed everybody who he is.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
And I'm so over mcc mc.
Speaker 9 (19:23):
We won't go any farther there, Dave.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
All right, Matthew, I mean Michael, he didn't even play tonight,
he go, he didn't even go.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
I know, we'm looking out and we scored over ten.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
All right, Matthew, thank you for the phone call. Eight
six six seven two five seventy. Even on a night
the Dodgers win and Michael Conforto doesn't play. He's catching
strays from the South Bay. Let's go out to see
me Valley. Ben. You're on Dodger Talk with David Vassa.
Speaker 10 (19:53):
Hi, Ben, David, thank you so much for taking my call.
Speaker 9 (19:57):
Man.
Speaker 10 (19:57):
I gotta say you are the ultimate ball nowhere and
I heard you say earlier.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Some say the ultimate.
Speaker 10 (20:07):
Yes, well.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Balanced?
Speaker 10 (20:12):
Yeah, right, I heard you say earlier on Petros and
Money to watch Alex Call tonight, and man, you really
nailed that. But I really wanted to ask you. You know,
you're so fired up about this fake news story, and
it's got me pretty fired up too, Like, uh, did
you see this guy around today? This bastard guy. I
(20:33):
imagine you like eating in the cafeteria and this guy,
Oh yeah, I see him meet with you and you
just get up and I.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Try to avoid him. No, you know, I do try
to avoid him.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
You're right, Yeah, did you make him feel like a
real jerk?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Like what, I'm not in Denver. I'm not in Denver,
but I'm around him, and uh yeah, I still try
to avoid him. But look, it was irresponsible. That was
the number one baseball news story and the big headline
on the La Times website. If you go on their
app right now, it's still the number one most read
(21:09):
story in the last twenty four hours. And it's a
complete lie. Yeah I mean that, but people, Yeah, this
is the only place to get true Dodger coverage. We
are the true, honest Dodger coverage station right here on
five seventy LA Sports. That's right, Thank you. Ben and
the Ultimate ball Washer. Thank you so much for the
(21:31):
phone call. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy. Look,
that's the problem with these type of stories that have
no grounds of truth to them. There's no basis of
truth other than seeing these three guys in Dave Roberts's office.
I got news for you. The Dodgers, Dave Roberts and
Andrew Friedman are two of the most player friendly managers
(21:55):
and baseball executives, sometimes to a fault, and that's why
I move Bets is in there off in his office.
There's an open line of communication. It's not authoritarianism. They
actually listen to their superstars, and that's the way it's
supposed to work. I'm sorry for those of you that
think everybody should be treated the same. That's not the
(22:17):
way it works in the real world. If you're a superstar,
if you're Otani, if you're Mookie Bets, if you're Freddie Freeman,
if you're Clayton Kershaw, they're gonna listen to you more
than they're going to listen to Buddy Kennedy. I'm sorry.
If you're the La Times, you should listen more to
Jack Harris than you should you're Buddy Kennedy. Eight sixty six,
(22:38):
nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number.
We're gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk.
When we continue, more of your phone calls and we'll
get more into the debate of how the Dodger outfield
defense should be aligned. But tonight it was all about
Alex Call a triple shy of the cycle. He has
a career high four hits, two RBIs, and the Dodgers
(23:00):
roll over the Rockies tonight, eleven to four on a
five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
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 2 (23:18):
This is Dodger Talk with David Bassi, Austin Gomber.
Speaker 11 (23:25):
The Colorado left hand big delivers swing and a long
drive deep to left, and that one is gone. Alex
call the first pitch home run here on the second
and he gets three nothing Dodgers fourth home run of
the season for call as he dialed long distance here
in Colorado.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Now Carl knew it was gone as soon as he
hit it. Put it into home run trot mode.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Alex call with a career ninety had four hits. He
was a triple shy of the cycle, and the Dodgers
beat the Rockies tonight, elet to four in Game two
of this four game series show. Haotani also hit his
forty fourth home run of the season that came with
two outs in the second inning tonight. Daniels Jewelers presents
(24:13):
the home run forecast. Go to AM five to seventy
LA Sports dot Com use the keyword home run for
your chance to win a fifty dollars Daniels Jewelers gift
card predicting the number of home runs in the very
next game. Daniels Jewelers Own the Dream. Eight six, six,
nine to eighty seven two five seventy is the phone
number in case you missed it. Despite what the La
(24:35):
Times Kevin Baxter wanted you to believe, Mookie Beds got
the started shortstop tonight and Taoscar Hernandez got the start
and right field. Ta Oscar was part of that two
run first inning. He and Freddie Freeman doubled in that
first inning. Taoscar Uh also played better right field tonight
than what we have seen in recent memory. By the way,
(24:58):
got a text from loyal Dodger fan and loyal Dodger
Talk listener Brad Paisley after Freddie Freeman doubled in the
second inning and Brad Paisley wanted a Freddie Freeman doubles
counter update. So here you go, dedicated to Brad Paisley.
Let's see if that truck still works. I'm Brad Well.
(25:19):
The Freddie Freeman double counter is up to thirty two
on the season for Freddy's career. That was double number
five hundred and forty in his future Hall of Fame career.
That ties him with Dave Winfield and Joe Medwick for
thirty ninth all time. And since he has a long
way to go to catch the number one guy, why
(25:41):
don't we just stick with a guy that meant to
meant something to him? In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman is just
ten doubles away from passing his former teammate Chipper Jones
for thirty second all time on the doubles list. Eight
six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number. Let's go out to Luke in La. You're
(26:02):
on Dodger Talk.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
Hi, Luke, Hey, how's it going.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I'm doing great? What he got.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
I just want to talk about the a couple of
calls ago, I heard someone talking trash on Michael Conforto,
and I just don't agree with that. I think he's
made some really great defensive plays in a lot of
tough situations. And I know he hasn't hit much, but
I just like the defensive plays has been making and
(26:29):
you can tell he's given a lot of effort out there.
So yeah, I just want to see what you thought
about that. And I didn't like the trash though being
talked on him earlier.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
All right, well, I appreciate that pro Michael Confordo phone call, Luke,
And you're right. I never thought Michael Confordo was that
great of a left fielder. But he's better than what
I expected, that's for sure. But it's hard to ignore
where he's been at offensively this year. The Dodgers did
not sign him to play good left field. They signed
(26:58):
him to be a better hitter than what he has
shown so far this season. But let's see what he's
got the final six weeks of the regular season and
whether or not he can make a contribution, because right
now the Dodgers are evaluating just where they stand heading
into the postseason, whether or not Michael Confordo is going
to be their starting left fielder right now, I would
(27:20):
say it's fifty to fifty at best. I think there's
a very good chance you could see a realignment in
the Dodger outfield. That doesn't necessarily mean Mookie Betts goes
to right field. I could see keyk Hernandez, Tommy Edmond
in center field. In fact, on Sunday morning, Keik Hernandez
(27:42):
was taking live batting practice on the field, and he
also was taking fly balls in center field. Now Key
k is scheduled to start a rehab assignment this week
and could be back from what I've been told, as
soon as next week when the Dodgers return home from
this road trip. So there's a very good chance the
Dodgers go back to Key k a and center. Uh
(28:05):
that worked in the postseason. Remember the Dodgers won the
World Series with Tommy Edmond at short, Key k Hernandez
in center, Mookie Bets and right, and Taoscar Hernandez in
left field. But Andy pah Haz was not Andy pa
has this year. So it's something that Dodgers are going
to evaluate, and certainly Andy Pai has has earned a
(28:26):
starting spot in the outfield, whether it be in center field,
in left field, or right field. That's the biggest thing.
Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is
the phone number. I do have one VIP Autograph Photo
Opportunity pass to give away still to meet Ron Say,
one of, if not the greatest third basemen in Major
(28:50):
League Baseball this weekend in Monterey Park, courtesy of our
friends at One Way Memorabilia. Eight six six nine eight
seven two five seventy is the phone number for that.
All right, I mentioned this last night, we didn't have
a chance to get to it. Rob Manfred on Sunday
Night Baseball talked about how the Dodgers Padres rivalry has
(29:12):
caught his attention and right now currently is probably the
hottest rivalry in baseball. He also talked about something that
Jason Stark floated out in the Athletic a couple of
years ago, probably at the behest of somebody in the
Commissioner's office, to get the temperature of the public, about
how the schedule has changed over the course of the
(29:35):
last couple of years, where you played within your own
division nineteen times to now playing within it thirteen times
because the Commissioner's office wanted teams to play each other
once a year, whether it's on the road or at home.
The Dodgers play the Yankees once a year. They play
(29:56):
the Athletics once a year. Whether it's in Oakland, Sacra Meno,
or Los Angeles, they will play them once a year.
And the reason is because Baseball wants everybody to get
used to the fact that there may be a different
alignment to the two leagues. Instead of three divisions, going
(30:17):
back to two divisions in each league and having it
more geographically sensible having teams that you're used to seeing
in the American League in the National League or in
the Western Conference or the Eastern Conference. Having the Angels
and Dodgers and the Padres and Giants all in the
same league in the same division while the Yankees, Mets,
(30:42):
Marlins are in that Eastern Division. Not sure exactly what
realignment would look like, but geographically it's gonna look different.
And here's what Rob Manfred had to say on Sunday
Night Baseball about the possibility of realignment in the next
couple of years.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
I can you know, I think that I think the
first two topics are related. In my mind, I think
if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to
geographically realign. I think we could save a lot of
wear and tear on our players in terms of travel.
And I think our postseason format would be even more
(31:21):
appealing for you know, entities like ESPN, because you'd be
playing up out of the East, out of the West,
and that ten o'clock time slot where we you know,
sometimes get Boston Anaheim would be two West Coast teams
and that ten o'clock slot that's a problem for us
sometimes becomes a real opportunity for our West Coast audience.
So I think, you know, I think the owners realize
(31:44):
that there's demand for Major League Baseball in a lot
of great cities, and then we have an opportunity to
do something good around that expansion process.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Yeah, so that makes sense. It's something we read by
Jason Stark a couple of years ago. He obviously was
informed this was on the table and under consideration by
the league's office. And as we get closer to the
end of this current collective bargaining agreement, which expires at
the end of next year, and a lot of people
(32:15):
are wondering how long that's going to take to get settled.
Once Major League Baseball on the players come out from
the other side of that, No doubt, expansion is on
the table, expanding by two teams. A lot of people
that I've spoken to expect it to be Nashville and
Salt Lake City. And then from there you create a
(32:37):
realignment of divisions. And like what Rob Manfred was basically
giving us a sneak peek into, is having teams like
the Mariners, the A's, the Angels, the Dodgers, the Giants,
the Padres. You get the idea being in the same division,
in the same maybe not the same league, but certainly
in the same division. I'm not sure how it would look,
(32:59):
but that would cut down on the travel. The Dodgers
would not have to go back to Pittsburgh and Baltimore
the first week of September under this realignment. So it's
something to prepare yourself for. Because you heard it from
the Commissioner of Baseball. That's what they're looking at. Let's
go back out to the phones, Michael and Whittier. You're
(33:19):
on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
Michael, Hey, David, how are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (33:25):
I'm fired up. I have to set the record straight.
This is the baseball show of record when it comes
to the Dodgers.
Speaker 9 (33:33):
Oh, you're very right, sir, and you know, a great
win for the Dodgers. But here's a question for you.
So you interviewed Alex call and he says that he
was a great baseball player. Yeah, he had a great
game today. But I know what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Yeah, yeah, he believes he's a great baseball player. He
did say that in the postgame interview with Kirsten. That
caught my year too.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
Yeah, but you know, this is the first time that
he's actually performed and hopefully, hopefully this will continue on.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Yeah, I think the Dodgers are going to play. They're
going to play the matchups. He's gonna face left handed starters.
He's going to come off the bench against left handed relievers.
That's why they acquired him.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Well, I hope that he continues his great because we
were listening to that interview and my wife was like,
after that, Oh my god, this guy.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Hey, he's confident.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
He's not he's not Otani, he's not Freeman, he's not
Bets And he called himself a great player. She's like, no, Hey, hey.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
He's got to be somewhat good to be in the
major leagues. But you're right. That was a very confident answer, Michael,
thanks for the phone call. Eight sixty six nine eighty
seven two five seventy is the phone number. The Dodgers
beat the Rockies tonight eleven to four. The Padres beat
the Giants tonight five to one, So the Dodgers in
the NL West is still at two games. Let's go
(35:03):
out to Monterey Park. Mark, You're on Dodger Talk with
David vasse Hi.
Speaker 12 (35:07):
Mark, Hey, Dave, I was just wondering what you think
about the difference between last year and this year. It
seemed like they were kind of a team of destiny
and this year with the lackadaisical play and whatnot. I'm wondering,
do you think they have a chance to repeat?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah? I still do. And you know, at times last year, Mark,
I'm not sure we thought the Dodgers were a team
of destiny. When their pitching staff was decimated by injuries,
everybody thought it was over going into the postseason with
a Yamamoto, a shaky Walker, Bueller and Jack Flaherty. I
don't remember people around this time of the year, thinking
(35:44):
the Dodgers were a shoeing to win the World Series.
Good enough, Thank you, Dave, all right, Mark, thank you
for the phone call. Eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We are reading
the immediate filing of tonight. It's a game story from
Kevin Baxter in the La Times and it does not
(36:05):
include any correction or clarification about last night's miss reporting.
You would think there would be that considering it was
a front page news, if you will, for a lack
of better term, since not many people get the newspaper anymore.
They read online. But there's a lot of aggregators out there,
and all of a sudden, people take for what they
(36:27):
see in those aggregated sites that it's the truth, which
it couldn't be further from the truth. That Andrew Friedman
and Dave Roberts and Mookie Beds had a meeting after
last night's game to discuss him going back to right field.
They may have broached the subject, but Dave Roberts said
before the game on the record, when asked about it properly,
(36:52):
that that was not part of the conversation, So that
was never discussed according to Dave Roberts, and according to
the Athletic who spoke to Andrew Friedman, he also said
the same thing. So that was mis reporting that turned
out to have everybody on the hook believing it was true.
Let's go out to Highland Park, Christopher. You're on Dodger Talk.
(37:14):
How are you doing, Christopher?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Great? Thank you, King David. I'm glad you called that out.
We're just talking about that. I just had a couple
of questions for you, David, from the four guys that
are out, you know, Kei, k Muncie, Kim Edmond, if
any of these other four guys that are called up
are hot, like who who goes up and who stays down?
And my last question would be you just mentioned about
(37:38):
the expansion. When there's teams like the White Sox and
the Rockies doing so bad, how are they thinking about expansion?
So I just wanted to hear your Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
I know, I know, I know there's an appetite for
baseball in Nashville, a huge appetite for baseball in Nashville.
But you're right, at some point, when this collective bargaining
agreement come to pass, there's gonna have to be some
sort of accountability between owners to get some of these
teams to be more competitive. Because the Rockies have a
(38:11):
great fan base, they just don't I guess they do
spend they spend it poorly, so you can't really criticize
them about that. But I've always been a little confused
considering when revenue sharing was put into place back in
nineteen ninety four by Bud Seligue, where bigger markets that
go over the luxury tax and generate a lot of
(38:35):
TV revenue that goes to teams like the Rockies or
the Pirates or the Reds, why aren't they reinvesting that
in their twenty six man roster or their forty man roster.
That was the spirit of having revenue sharing, But we
don't see that. But that has never been answered, which
(38:58):
is surprising. But obviously there's a lot of money in
expansion money to other owners. When leagues expand, there's an
expansion fee, so that would make the owners a lot
of money. And like I said, there's a big appetite
for baseball in Nashville.
Speaker 7 (39:16):
That's a great point.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
But hey, I'm with you, Chris, Hey, get get your
house in order. You're You're only as good as your
weakest league.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
By more than just two though, I thought that would
be to keep the divisions even. But what about the
the other question asking but who's going to stay and
who's going to go? Then if anybody else get.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
That's a slam slam dunk. Buddy Kennedy goes back. When
keyk is activated, Alex Friedlan and Justin Dean are next
on the list. When Tommy Edmond and Kim come back,
and whenever Monsey comes back, that'll be another question. But yeah,
that's that's an easy question to answer there, Christopher. I
think there's some obvious candidates.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Gets tough when some of these players get hot, like
who's gonna stay? Who's gonna go?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Have they got hot yet? Waiting for them to get hot?
So sorry, one's not going anywhere. Call staying all right, Chris,
thanks a lot for the phone call. Eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number,
by the way. Speaking of guys coming back, Dave Roberts said,
Kirby Yates is going to be the first reliever activated
(40:27):
off the il Tanner Scott is also right behind him,
and Michael Kopek right there with those three, with those
other two relievers, So the Dodgers are very optimistic they're
gonna get three key relievers back in the next couple
of weeks. That'll do it for us. Tonight, on Dodger
Talk Tomorrow, shoe Hey Otani is going to make his
(40:49):
tenth start of the season. He is looking for his
first win of the year. He has thrown twenty three
to third innings this year. He's going up against the
right handed pitcher by the name of Tanner Gore of
the Rockies, who has made eight starts this year. Tanner
Gordon is three to five with an ERA of seven
ninety eight. Morongo Casino. Dodgers on Deck begins at four
(41:10):
thirty tomorrow with first pitch at five point forty from
Corsfield in Denver. Before we say goodnight, want to send
out congratulations to Kyle Carros, who hit his first major
league home run tonight. Congratulations to Kyle. It was great
that he was playing the Dodgers. It was meant to
be for his dad to be in attendance at Corsfield
(41:31):
as well. So congratulations to Kyle Carros. Thanks to Calingie
for all his health, Thanks to Dwayne McDonald for all
his help. Back at Corsfield and thanks to you for listening.
In case you missed any of the show, you can
find it on the iHeartRadio app once again. The final
score tonight from Corsfield, Mookie Bets at Shortstop, ta Oscar
(41:52):
Hernandez and right field, the Dodgers beat the Rockies eleven
to four. We'll talk to you tomorrow night. See um
doing this so sillly, Stal struck with my gla
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 wind 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.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Your attention, your fire and not a pissess.
Speaker 6 (00:17):
This is world champion, Dodgers, world champion being for the small.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Soft time they get a people what they want to
die too in a row two is special.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm light. Yeah, it's not a headache one of them.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Come, this ball's gone. You ready to go?
Speaker 6 (00:32):
Sure, old time to grab your phone 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 bas saying.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome to Dodger Talk, David Vass say with you until
ten o'clock tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports.
We have phone lines open at eight six six nine,
eight seven two five seventy. After the Dodgers blow out
the Rockies tonight by a final score of eleven to four,
we will hear from Freddie Freeman. In a moment, we
(01:07):
will hear from Dave Roberts about this so called meeting
we woke up to in the La Times written by
Kevin Baxter. Even though Kevin Baxter did not report what
exactly was taking place in that office, it was him
guessing what was said between Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts, and
(01:28):
Mookie Betts. So we'll get to that in a second.
And also we have one VIP pass to give away
to a meet and greet with one of the greatest
third basemen in Dodgers' history, if not the greatest in
Ron Say. He is signing autographs this Saturday at one
(01:50):
Way Autograph place. I guess I don't know what you
want to call One Way. It's an autograph memorabilia store,
but it is in Monterey Park. And what's happening this Saturday,
August twenty third, from eleven to noon. And we have
a photo op and VIP autograph pass to skip the
(02:11):
line and meet and greet Ron Say to give away
for this Saturday morning at one Way at twenty three
point thirty four South Atlantic Boulevard in Monterey Park. So
we'll give that away at some point between now and
ten o'clock eight six, six, nine eighty seven, two five
(02:31):
seventy is the phone number. Before we really dive into
a couple of things that need to be corrected from
last night and from this morning's La Time story, I
just want to celebrate Alex Call, who last night had
a really good game but was taken out because of
platoon reasons. But tonight Alex Call started against Austin Gomber.
(02:56):
It was allowed to stay in the game and he
rewarded the Dodgers because he had a career night four hits,
scored three times, had two RBIs, and was a triple
shy of the cycle and the Dodger offense scored in
the first inning. That was huge and gave Emma Chehan
something to work with at cors Field where they had
(03:18):
a seven to nothing lead after three innings tonight, So
that was good as well. And I have to give
Miguel Rojas a lot of props because he made a
fantastic play in this game. And outside of Alex Call
being the player of the game, considering how well he
played and you know, being a triple shot of the
(03:40):
cycle homering with shoe Hey Otani in the second inning,
Miguel Rojas for me was the player of the game
because Rojas did the things the Dodgers need. He was
two for three tonight with an RBI and a run scored.
He also walked, not to mention, he helped the Dodgers
score again in a three run seventh inning where he
(04:02):
gave up a bat. He gave up and at bat
in the seventh inning with runners at first and second
to get them in scoring position, and the Dodgers cashed
them in and also getting the start a second base.
Doing what every player on the field should be doing,
moving on every pitch, moving on every play. You heard
(04:27):
that in little league, you heard that in high school.
It also applies in Major League Baseball more than ever.
And Miguel Rojas made one of the best plays of
the game tonight in the fourth inning where an overthrow
by Emitt Shehan on a comebacker by Bernabelle on a
bunt Shean overthrew Freddie Freeman. He had no shot at it.
(04:53):
Where was Miguel Rojas. He was shaded closer to second base,
but he was moving on the pl and that gave
him the chance to back up on warming Bernabelle's bunt
that emmittt Sheen threw over the head of Freddie Freeman.
Bernabelt tried to make it to second base and Rojas
threw a strike and that was it. I mean, tip
(05:15):
of the cap to Miguel Rojas. He is really playing
really good baseball. And he wasn't even supposed to play
this much. But he's playing more than he anticipated, more
than the Dodgers anticipated, and he's playing great. He's doing
so many things that are helping the Dodgers win ball games,
including tonight. Even in a blowout game like tonight, it
(05:38):
still mattered what he did. And that just shows you
the type of guy he is. Because two Saturdays ago
at Superior Grocers, he talked about the Dodgers needing more
team at bats. He wasn't just pointing the fingers at
other players, he was pointing the finger at himself. And
he has done that the last couple of weeks. He
(06:00):
does it more than anybody else, and certainly other guys
that are not named Otani, Betts, Freeman Smith have got
to take some notes on what Miguel Rojas is doing.
Freddie Freeman tonight, I'm sure is taking notes. He knows
how valuable Miguel Rojas is to this team. Let's head
back to Denver to here from the future Hall of Fame.
(06:22):
First Baseman didn't.
Speaker 7 (06:23):
Even think about that. Actually, I think that would be
later on in the year. It's a little too early
for that, but you know, we'll get in three hits tonight.
That was awesome for him.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
With just the performance today that you had kind of
bouncing back from yesterday, did it feel a little.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Different going into this one, and how you guys wanted
to get going early and maintain that throughout the game.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
I wish we could I can give you. Yeah, that's
what we just got on the board early, scored some rounds.
It's good to tack on runs. When you score runs,
you want to keep keep it going. And as an offense,
we did a really good job. First stating Steen Ninthenning,
you know, got in and some runs early. He pitched
really really well.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Man.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
You know, it's just a good bloat game. I think
six of those stevens against Common with two out. So
what did you sort of see in those up paths
to sort of extend those innings and keep pushing runs across. Yeah,
I was just trying to see a strike and hit it.
I would assume that's what everyone was, just trying to
get strikes. He spends the ball a lot. Our game
plan was just go up with him and I guess it,
pitches up and be ready to hit him.
Speaker 8 (07:17):
You go from two for eleven with runners at the
scoring position yesterday to today's perform it. How do you
hit the reset button to get this?
Speaker 7 (07:26):
I think that's the beauty of our game. Every day
is a new day. I don't think anybody was thinking
about two for eleven. I don't even know if we
knew we were two three eleven going into today. So
and I don't think anybody's going to think about how
good we did today tomorrow. So every day is a
new day. We'll go out there and give it, give it,
give it all, all the game tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, it's August.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
It's August.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Windays.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Like if there is a bad title competition we call
a final leak, be right, don't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
If you think you're right, all right, I mean, come on, really,
we're talking about the batting title right now. This is
the way it stacks up. Will Smith is leading the
National League and hitting at three oh eight, Xavier Edwards
at three oh four the Marlins, and then there's Freddie
Freeman hitting three Tozho two. So I agree with Freddy.
There's a lot of time between here and now to
(08:17):
be able to talk about the batting title. Eight six
six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number.
The Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight eleven to four. All right,
let's set the record straight on a couple of things
that happened last night. First and foremost, every Yahoo out
there that has some sort of platform on social media
(08:38):
went to Baseball Savant and looked up that the catch
probability of Taoscar Hernandez making that catch last night was
ninety nine percent. I'll just say this. Most right fielders
make that catch, no doubt about it. But here is
the reality of it. Talking to people with the Dodgers
in that dugout, the catch probability of that ball that
(09:02):
Tovar hit that went in and out of taoskars glove
last night, because he was playing no doubles, meaning his
back was right against the warning track and right field,
it was actually a forty two percent chance of catching it.
According to the catch probability of the metrics the Dodgers
(09:23):
have in Major League Baseball has that's number one, Number two.
The LA Times fill in beat writer, fill in beat
writer Kevin Baxter trying to do too much. They talk
about players trying to do too much. If you're a
fill in for a great beat writer like Jack Harris,
just go under the radar. Just go under the radar.
(09:46):
You're in Denver covering the Dodgers and Rockies for a reason.
You don't need to make waves, and you don't need
to make up stuff to try to impress everybody. In fact,
it backfired on Kevin Baxter of the La Times. Apparently
these writers saw Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts, and Mookie Betts
(10:06):
talking in the manager's office after last night's game, and
this guy, this guy decided to take it upon himself
to basically make up a story that Andrew Friedman and
Dave Roberts were talking to Mookie Betts about moving back
(10:28):
to right field. Now, if he would have just taken
a second to take a step back and assess the situation, No,
Tommy Edmond, No Heyesong Kim, no Key k a Hernandez,
and no Max Muncy. Are you really telling us that
we're supposed to believe Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, we're
(10:50):
telling Mookie Betts, you're moving to right field, so Alex
Friedlink can play shortstop. And if they were telling Mookie
Bets he was moving to right field, don't you think
Taoscar Hernandez and Michael Confordo would be in the office
at the same time. That's the way the Dodgers do things.
But Kevin Baxter wouldn't know that because he's not around
(11:12):
the team every day. So that's why I found it
hard to believe when I saw that, considering how badly
and how much the Dodgers have bent over to allow
Muki to play shortstop all of a sudden, one bad
game or one bad week, or two bad weeks for
Taoscar Hernandez worse than other weeks in right field. Albeit
(11:33):
are telling Mookie Betts by himself and only these two guys,
you're going back to right field. Kevin Baxter of the
La Times made you believe something that was unbelievable. There
were no quotes in his story, He had no firm confirmation.
It was just complete conjecture, and it spread like wildfire.
(11:58):
Rogan and Rodney, who get all their show prep from
the La Times, thought it was the Bible. Petrosen Money,
who barely follow Baseball realized that this was a story.
I'm sure the other station was talking about it like
it was gospel, but it was just fake news. And
I love the way Dave Roberts handled things in the
(12:18):
dugout today because there was no confirmation. This writer never
asked any one of those three people that he saw
in the office whether or not it was true before
he wrote it and created a firestorm where there was
nothing to be Here was Dave Roberts on the record,
setting the record straight in Denver. Yeah, that was no Mookie.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Mookie pops in him office all the time, and so
we're just talking about his swing and kind of I
wanted him to check in with me about where he's at,
you know, certain checkpoints as we get through the season,
and that was a check in. So I hope not
much is made about that because he pops him office
all the time, which I think is a good thing.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
A phrase that you used, front office uses a lot
his net s.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, hasn't it gotten to the.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Point where the net sum would be better offensively and
defensively with Mookie Betts in right field?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Say, it's a fair question, you know, I don't think
I'm still giving Michael Confordo some opportunities. Hasn't played much
right field, if any, I don't know. Tayo certainly played
some left field last year, which is which is certainly
(13:39):
a good thing. I think right now having Tommy Edmund out,
hay Song Kim out, Maximuntsey out, just trying to manage
Migy's playing time and freeling too much. I love the
way Mookie's playing short. But I think though that's a
(14:00):
fair question. But you know, I don't think that we're
there quite yet.
Speaker 8 (14:06):
I would really ask is Tato doing less damage in
left field than he wouldn't write?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think, if you know, I just know that there's
been times that he's played a formidable right field. I
think he's going to going to get back to that,
I really do. I think if you're talking about potentially
(14:34):
the first to thirds, I think that's something that we
can be better at, you know, closing in on the ball.
But as far as you know, left field versus right field,
we're just not there yet. But but I I it's
a totally fair question.
Speaker 8 (14:55):
Is mookie'st more valuable at shore or is it more
valuable in right field?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Well, I think if you're looking at who would if
there's got to be an alternative, right, And I think
right now, the way Mookie's playing at short, I'm not
bouncing him around. I think we feel very good about it.
Also appreciating who we do have coming back. I know
(15:24):
that things kind of pop at certain times of a season,
but you know, given everything that we've we're going through,
we've gone through, we're still finding ways to win a
lot of ball games, and I think, just in totality,
we can all do a better job, all of us.
And so I just refuse to try to pin it
(15:45):
on one position, one person. I just don't. I just
don't believe that's That's just not what I do. But
I do think that the idea of how can we
get better, if there's ways to get better on the margins,
I think that that way to look at it is
completely fair and very honest.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
All Right, there's manager Dave Roberts tackling the subject about
the Dodgers outfield defense and setting the record straight on
what was a bad report by Kevin Baxter, who is
the normal La Times soccer writer that is filling in
for the great beat writer they have in Jack Harris,
that was not Jack Harris that wrote that story that
(16:28):
was completely false. It was Kevin Baxter filling in for
Jack Harris, who just took it upon himself to write
something that was not true without having all the facts,
and in fact he did not have the facts. It
was just completely wrong. Eight six six nine seven two
five seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Rockies
(16:49):
eleven to four. And if you were listening to the broadcast,
you heard Rick Monday say Taoscar Hernandez took it upon
himself to go out during batting practice and field fly
balls in right field. That's a guy that has professional pride.
He's obviously not not completely out of touch with what
(17:10):
is being said on social media, what's being said on
all these national baseball platforms. His name was in the
news for the last twenty four hours and not for
good reason. So he knows he's got to get better.
And tonight he looked better in right field. But it's
still hard to ignore the fact that he was so
good in left field last year and all of a sudden,
(17:33):
we're supposed to expect him to be this great right fielder.
I think the Dodgers just want him to make what
plays he's able to make, and to be able to
give one hundred percent effort and be I don't know,
I mean be good enough, be good enough. I think
that's what it is. And I still feel like when
(17:54):
the postseason rolls around and if Michael Confordo is still struggling,
they've got to take a look, long look at what
Dave Roberts was talking about and getting better on the margins.
And to me, that would mean moving Taoscar Hernandez to
left field. But it doesn't automatically mean Mooki Bets to
right field. You can make this outfield better in a
(18:17):
number of different ways by moving Pa Haz to right,
Taoscar to left, and either have Alex call Keik Hernandez
or Tommy Edmund in center field and still have Mooki
Betts play shortstop. It doesn't necessarily have to mean Mookie
Bets going to right field. But it's hard to ignore
(18:38):
the fact that everybody that has seen a lot of
baseball believes Mooki Bets is one of the top three
right fielders in the in the history of the game.
That's hard to ignore. Eight six, six nine, eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. Let's go out
to Matthew and Redondo Beach. You're on Dodger Talk. How
you doing, Matthew, Hey the Dave.
Speaker 9 (19:01):
Thanks for having me. I just want to say, amazing
game for Alex call.
Speaker 10 (19:07):
Our Dodger fans have been waiting for this.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
I've seen a lot of negativity out there on saying
he hasn't proven himself.
Speaker 9 (19:13):
He just showed everybody who he is.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
And I'm so over mcc mc.
Speaker 9 (19:23):
We won't go any farther there, Dave.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
All right, Matthew, I mean Michael, he didn't even play tonight,
he go, he didn't even go.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
I know, we'm looking out and we scored over ten.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
All right, Matthew, thank you for the phone call. Eight
six six seven two five seventy. Even on a night
the Dodgers win and Michael Conforto doesn't play. He's catching
strays from the South Bay. Let's go out to see
me Valley. Ben. You're on Dodger Talk with David Vassa.
Speaker 10 (19:53):
Hi, Ben, David, thank you so much for taking my call.
Speaker 9 (19:57):
Man.
Speaker 10 (19:57):
I gotta say you are the ultimate ball nowhere and
I heard you say earlier.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Some say the ultimate.
Speaker 10 (20:07):
Yes, well.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Balanced?
Speaker 10 (20:12):
Yeah, right, I heard you say earlier on Petros and
Money to watch Alex Call tonight, and man, you really
nailed that. But I really wanted to ask you. You know,
you're so fired up about this fake news story, and
it's got me pretty fired up too, Like, uh, did
you see this guy around today? This bastard guy. I
(20:33):
imagine you like eating in the cafeteria and this guy,
Oh yeah, I see him meet with you and you
just get up and I.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Try to avoid him. No, you know, I do try
to avoid him.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
You're right, Yeah, did you make him feel like a
real jerk?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Like what, I'm not in Denver. I'm not in Denver,
but I'm around him, and uh yeah, I still try
to avoid him. But look, it was irresponsible. That was
the number one baseball news story and the big headline
on the La Times website. If you go on their
app right now, it's still the number one most read
(21:09):
story in the last twenty four hours. And it's a
complete lie. Yeah I mean that, but people, Yeah, this
is the only place to get true Dodger coverage. We
are the true, honest Dodger coverage station right here on
five seventy LA Sports. That's right, Thank you. Ben and
the Ultimate ball Washer. Thank you so much for the
(21:31):
phone call. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy. Look,
that's the problem with these type of stories that have
no grounds of truth to them. There's no basis of
truth other than seeing these three guys in Dave Roberts's office.
I got news for you. The Dodgers, Dave Roberts and
Andrew Friedman are two of the most player friendly managers
(21:55):
and baseball executives, sometimes to a fault, and that's why
I move Bets is in there off in his office.
There's an open line of communication. It's not authoritarianism. They
actually listen to their superstars, and that's the way it's
supposed to work. I'm sorry for those of you that
think everybody should be treated the same. That's not the
(22:17):
way it works in the real world. If you're a superstar,
if you're Otani, if you're Mookie Bets, if you're Freddie Freeman,
if you're Clayton Kershaw, they're gonna listen to you more
than they're going to listen to Buddy Kennedy. I'm sorry.
If you're the La Times, you should listen more to
Jack Harris than you should you're Buddy Kennedy. Eight sixty six,
(22:38):
nine eighty seven two five seventy is the phone number.
We're gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk.
When we continue, more of your phone calls and we'll
get more into the debate of how the Dodger outfield
defense should be aligned. But tonight it was all about
Alex Call a triple shy of the cycle. He has
a career high four hits, two RBIs, and the Dodgers
(23:00):
roll over the Rockies tonight, eleven to four on a
five to seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
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 2 (23:18):
This is Dodger Talk with David Bassi, Austin Gomber.
Speaker 11 (23:25):
The Colorado left hand big delivers swing and a long
drive deep to left, and that one is gone. Alex
call the first pitch home run here on the second
and he gets three nothing Dodgers fourth home run of
the season for call as he dialed long distance here
in Colorado.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Now Carl knew it was gone as soon as he
hit it. Put it into home run trot mode.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Alex call with a career ninety had four hits. He
was a triple shy of the cycle, and the Dodgers
beat the Rockies tonight, elet to four in Game two
of this four game series show. Haotani also hit his
forty fourth home run of the season that came with
two outs in the second inning tonight. Daniels Jewelers presents
(24:13):
the home run forecast. Go to AM five to seventy
LA Sports dot Com use the keyword home run for
your chance to win a fifty dollars Daniels Jewelers gift
card predicting the number of home runs in the very
next game. Daniels Jewelers Own the Dream. Eight six, six,
nine to eighty seven two five seventy is the phone
number in case you missed it. Despite what the La
(24:35):
Times Kevin Baxter wanted you to believe, Mookie Beds got
the started shortstop tonight and Taoscar Hernandez got the start
and right field. Ta Oscar was part of that two
run first inning. He and Freddie Freeman doubled in that
first inning. Taoscar Uh also played better right field tonight
than what we have seen in recent memory. By the way,
(24:58):
got a text from loyal Dodger fan and loyal Dodger
Talk listener Brad Paisley after Freddie Freeman doubled in the
second inning and Brad Paisley wanted a Freddie Freeman doubles
counter update. So here you go, dedicated to Brad Paisley.
Let's see if that truck still works. I'm Brad Well.
(25:19):
The Freddie Freeman double counter is up to thirty two
on the season for Freddy's career. That was double number
five hundred and forty in his future Hall of Fame career.
That ties him with Dave Winfield and Joe Medwick for
thirty ninth all time. And since he has a long
way to go to catch the number one guy, why
(25:41):
don't we just stick with a guy that meant to
meant something to him? In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman is just
ten doubles away from passing his former teammate Chipper Jones
for thirty second all time on the doubles list. Eight
six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the
phone number. Let's go out to Luke in La. You're
(26:02):
on Dodger Talk.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
Hi, Luke, Hey, how's it going.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I'm doing great? What he got.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
I just want to talk about the a couple of
calls ago, I heard someone talking trash on Michael Conforto,
and I just don't agree with that. I think he's
made some really great defensive plays in a lot of
tough situations. And I know he hasn't hit much, but
I just like the defensive plays has been making and
(26:29):
you can tell he's given a lot of effort out there.
So yeah, I just want to see what you thought
about that. And I didn't like the trash though being
talked on him earlier.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
All right, well, I appreciate that pro Michael Confordo phone call, Luke,
And you're right. I never thought Michael Confordo was that
great of a left fielder. But he's better than what
I expected, that's for sure. But it's hard to ignore
where he's been at offensively this year. The Dodgers did
not sign him to play good left field. They signed
(26:58):
him to be a better hitter than what he has
shown so far this season. But let's see what he's
got the final six weeks of the regular season and
whether or not he can make a contribution, because right
now the Dodgers are evaluating just where they stand heading
into the postseason, whether or not Michael Confordo is going
to be their starting left fielder right now, I would
(27:20):
say it's fifty to fifty at best. I think there's
a very good chance you could see a realignment in
the Dodger outfield. That doesn't necessarily mean Mookie Betts goes
to right field. I could see keyk Hernandez, Tommy Edmond
in center field. In fact, on Sunday morning, Keik Hernandez
(27:42):
was taking live batting practice on the field, and he
also was taking fly balls in center field. Now Key
k is scheduled to start a rehab assignment this week
and could be back from what I've been told, as
soon as next week when the Dodgers return home from
this road trip. So there's a very good chance the
Dodgers go back to Key k a and center. Uh
(28:05):
that worked in the postseason. Remember the Dodgers won the
World Series with Tommy Edmond at short, Key k Hernandez
in center, Mookie Bets and right, and Taoscar Hernandez in
left field. But Andy pah Haz was not Andy pa
has this year. So it's something that Dodgers are going
to evaluate, and certainly Andy Pai has has earned a
(28:26):
starting spot in the outfield, whether it be in center field,
in left field, or right field. That's the biggest thing.
Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is
the phone number. I do have one VIP Autograph Photo
Opportunity pass to give away still to meet Ron Say,
one of, if not the greatest third basemen in Major
(28:50):
League Baseball this weekend in Monterey Park, courtesy of our
friends at One Way Memorabilia. Eight six six nine eight
seven two five seventy is the phone number for that.
All right, I mentioned this last night, we didn't have
a chance to get to it. Rob Manfred on Sunday
Night Baseball talked about how the Dodgers Padres rivalry has
(29:12):
caught his attention and right now currently is probably the
hottest rivalry in baseball. He also talked about something that
Jason Stark floated out in the Athletic a couple of
years ago, probably at the behest of somebody in the
Commissioner's office, to get the temperature of the public, about
how the schedule has changed over the course of the
(29:35):
last couple of years, where you played within your own
division nineteen times to now playing within it thirteen times
because the Commissioner's office wanted teams to play each other
once a year, whether it's on the road or at home.
The Dodgers play the Yankees once a year. They play
(29:56):
the Athletics once a year. Whether it's in Oakland, Sacra Meno,
or Los Angeles, they will play them once a year.
And the reason is because Baseball wants everybody to get
used to the fact that there may be a different
alignment to the two leagues. Instead of three divisions, going
(30:17):
back to two divisions in each league and having it
more geographically sensible having teams that you're used to seeing
in the American League in the National League or in
the Western Conference or the Eastern Conference. Having the Angels
and Dodgers and the Padres and Giants all in the
same league in the same division while the Yankees, Mets,
(30:42):
Marlins are in that Eastern Division. Not sure exactly what
realignment would look like, but geographically it's gonna look different.
And here's what Rob Manfred had to say on Sunday
Night Baseball about the possibility of realignment in the next
couple of years.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
I can you know, I think that I think the
first two topics are related. In my mind, I think
if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to
geographically realign. I think we could save a lot of
wear and tear on our players in terms of travel.
And I think our postseason format would be even more
(31:21):
appealing for you know, entities like ESPN, because you'd be
playing up out of the East, out of the West,
and that ten o'clock time slot where we you know,
sometimes get Boston Anaheim would be two West Coast teams
and that ten o'clock slot that's a problem for us
sometimes becomes a real opportunity for our West Coast audience.
So I think, you know, I think the owners realize
(31:44):
that there's demand for Major League Baseball in a lot
of great cities, and then we have an opportunity to
do something good around that expansion process.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Yeah, so that makes sense. It's something we read by
Jason Stark a couple of years ago. He obviously was
informed this was on the table and under consideration by
the league's office. And as we get closer to the
end of this current collective bargaining agreement, which expires at
the end of next year, and a lot of people
(32:15):
are wondering how long that's going to take to get settled.
Once Major League Baseball on the players come out from
the other side of that, No doubt, expansion is on
the table, expanding by two teams. A lot of people
that I've spoken to expect it to be Nashville and
Salt Lake City. And then from there you create a
(32:37):
realignment of divisions. And like what Rob Manfred was basically
giving us a sneak peek into, is having teams like
the Mariners, the A's, the Angels, the Dodgers, the Giants,
the Padres. You get the idea being in the same division,
in the same maybe not the same league, but certainly
in the same division. I'm not sure how it would look,
(32:59):
but that would cut down on the travel. The Dodgers
would not have to go back to Pittsburgh and Baltimore
the first week of September under this realignment. So it's
something to prepare yourself for. Because you heard it from
the Commissioner of Baseball. That's what they're looking at. Let's
go back out to the phones, Michael and Whittier. You're
(33:19):
on Dodger Talk with David vasse Hi.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
Michael, Hey, David, how are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (33:25):
I'm fired up. I have to set the record straight.
This is the baseball show of record when it comes
to the Dodgers.
Speaker 9 (33:33):
Oh, you're very right, sir, and you know, a great
win for the Dodgers. But here's a question for you.
So you interviewed Alex call and he says that he
was a great baseball player. Yeah, he had a great
game today. But I know what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Yeah, yeah, he believes he's a great baseball player. He
did say that in the postgame interview with Kirsten. That
caught my year too.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
Yeah, but you know, this is the first time that
he's actually performed and hopefully, hopefully this will continue on.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Yeah, I think the Dodgers are going to play. They're
going to play the matchups. He's gonna face left handed starters.
He's going to come off the bench against left handed relievers.
That's why they acquired him.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Well, I hope that he continues his great because we
were listening to that interview and my wife was like,
after that, Oh my god, this guy.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Hey, he's confident.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
He's not he's not Otani, he's not Freeman, he's not
Bets And he called himself a great player. She's like, no, Hey, hey.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
He's got to be somewhat good to be in the
major leagues. But you're right. That was a very confident answer, Michael,
thanks for the phone call. Eight sixty six nine eighty
seven two five seventy is the phone number. The Dodgers
beat the Rockies tonight eleven to four. The Padres beat
the Giants tonight five to one, So the Dodgers in
the NL West is still at two games. Let's go
(35:03):
out to Monterey Park. Mark, You're on Dodger Talk with
David vasse Hi.
Speaker 12 (35:07):
Mark, Hey, Dave, I was just wondering what you think
about the difference between last year and this year. It
seemed like they were kind of a team of destiny
and this year with the lackadaisical play and whatnot. I'm wondering,
do you think they have a chance to repeat?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah? I still do. And you know, at times last year, Mark,
I'm not sure we thought the Dodgers were a team
of destiny. When their pitching staff was decimated by injuries,
everybody thought it was over going into the postseason with
a Yamamoto, a shaky Walker, Bueller and Jack Flaherty. I
don't remember people around this time of the year, thinking
(35:44):
the Dodgers were a shoeing to win the World Series.
Good enough, Thank you, Dave, all right, Mark, thank you
for the phone call. Eight six six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We are reading
the immediate filing of tonight. It's a game story from
Kevin Baxter in the La Times and it does not
(36:05):
include any correction or clarification about last night's miss reporting.
You would think there would be that considering it was
a front page news, if you will, for a lack
of better term, since not many people get the newspaper anymore.
They read online. But there's a lot of aggregators out there,
and all of a sudden, people take for what they
(36:27):
see in those aggregated sites that it's the truth, which
it couldn't be further from the truth. That Andrew Friedman
and Dave Roberts and Mookie Beds had a meeting after
last night's game to discuss him going back to right field.
They may have broached the subject, but Dave Roberts said
before the game on the record, when asked about it properly,
(36:52):
that that was not part of the conversation, So that
was never discussed according to Dave Roberts, and according to
the Athletic who spoke to Andrew Friedman, he also said
the same thing. So that was mis reporting that turned
out to have everybody on the hook believing it was true.
Let's go out to Highland Park, Christopher. You're on Dodger Talk.
(37:14):
How are you doing, Christopher?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Great? Thank you, King David. I'm glad you called that out.
We're just talking about that. I just had a couple
of questions for you, David, from the four guys that
are out, you know, Kei, k Muncie, Kim Edmond, if
any of these other four guys that are called up
are hot, like who who goes up and who stays down?
And my last question would be you just mentioned about
(37:38):
the expansion. When there's teams like the White Sox and
the Rockies doing so bad, how are they thinking about expansion?
So I just wanted to hear your Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
I know, I know, I know there's an appetite for
baseball in Nashville, a huge appetite for baseball in Nashville.
But you're right, at some point, when this collective bargaining
agreement come to pass, there's gonna have to be some
sort of accountability between owners to get some of these
teams to be more competitive. Because the Rockies have a
(38:11):
great fan base, they just don't I guess they do
spend they spend it poorly, so you can't really criticize
them about that. But I've always been a little confused
considering when revenue sharing was put into place back in
nineteen ninety four by Bud Seligue, where bigger markets that
go over the luxury tax and generate a lot of
(38:35):
TV revenue that goes to teams like the Rockies or
the Pirates or the Reds, why aren't they reinvesting that
in their twenty six man roster or their forty man roster.
That was the spirit of having revenue sharing, But we
don't see that. But that has never been answered, which
(38:58):
is surprising. But obviously there's a lot of money in
expansion money to other owners. When leagues expand, there's an
expansion fee, so that would make the owners a lot
of money. And like I said, there's a big appetite
for baseball in Nashville.
Speaker 7 (39:16):
That's a great point.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
But hey, I'm with you, Chris, Hey, get get your
house in order. You're You're only as good as your
weakest league.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
By more than just two though, I thought that would
be to keep the divisions even. But what about the
the other question asking but who's going to stay and
who's going to go? Then if anybody else get.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
That's a slam slam dunk. Buddy Kennedy goes back. When
keyk is activated, Alex Friedlan and Justin Dean are next
on the list. When Tommy Edmond and Kim come back,
and whenever Monsey comes back, that'll be another question. But yeah,
that's that's an easy question to answer there, Christopher. I
think there's some obvious candidates.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Gets tough when some of these players get hot, like
who's gonna stay? Who's gonna go?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Have they got hot yet? Waiting for them to get hot?
So sorry, one's not going anywhere. Call staying all right, Chris,
thanks a lot for the phone call. Eight six six
nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number,
by the way. Speaking of guys coming back, Dave Roberts said,
Kirby Yates is going to be the first reliever activated
(40:27):
off the il Tanner Scott is also right behind him,
and Michael Kopek right there with those three, with those
other two relievers, So the Dodgers are very optimistic they're
gonna get three key relievers back in the next couple
of weeks. That'll do it for us. Tonight, on Dodger
Talk Tomorrow, shoe Hey Otani is going to make his
(40:49):
tenth start of the season. He is looking for his
first win of the year. He has thrown twenty three
to third innings this year. He's going up against the
right handed pitcher by the name of Tanner Gore of
the Rockies, who has made eight starts this year. Tanner
Gordon is three to five with an ERA of seven
ninety eight. Morongo Casino. Dodgers on Deck begins at four
(41:10):
thirty tomorrow with first pitch at five point forty from
Corsfield in Denver. Before we say goodnight, want to send
out congratulations to Kyle Carros, who hit his first major
league home run tonight. Congratulations to Kyle. It was great
that he was playing the Dodgers. It was meant to
be for his dad to be in attendance at Corsfield
(41:31):
as well. So congratulations to Kyle Carros. Thanks to Calingie
for all his health, Thanks to Dwayne McDonald for all
his help. Back at Corsfield and thanks to you for listening.
In case you missed any of the show, you can
find it on the iHeartRadio app once again. The final
score tonight from Corsfield, Mookie Bets at Shortstop, ta Oscar
(41:52):
Hernandez and right field, the Dodgers beat the Rockies eleven
to four. We'll talk to you tomorrow night. See um
doing this so sillly, Stal struck with my gla
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