Jake Peavy (7-16-24)

DV talks to the 2007 CY Young Award winner and 3-time All-Star, Jake Peavy.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Right now, we are joined bya man that was one of the best
pitchers of his generation, and certainlya man that was known for his competitive
spirit during his career that saw himwin two World Series titles, one with
the Giants, the other with theBoston Red Sox. He pitched eleven years
in the nl West with the Padresand San Francisco Giants. He's a cy

(00:25):
Young Award winner, He's a tripleCrown winner. He's a three time All
Star and now part of MLB Network'scoverage during the All Star break. He
is a champion of the people,the one and only Jake Peevey. Jake,
thanks a lot for the time.Appreciate it. What an introduction.
It's an an honor to be here. I know Dodger fans may have mixed

(00:47):
feelings. We have Dave Roberts incommon. Dave Roberts tied and put this
bad blood together. And that's thebeautiful thing about post career. You don't
have to hate or be enemies withanybody. You can appreciate it all.
You're such a nice guy. Idon't think anybody could hate you like they
hated Madison Bumgardner. Well, I'lltell you what Madison gave the Dodger nation

(01:07):
a lot to hate. He wasone hell of a teammate, I'll tell
you that. And I don't getto carry around one of those titles of
champion if it's not for number forty. Him and Yasielpwi come to mind when
you talk about Dodgers giants in general, no doubt about it. And I
guess before we move on Jake andget into all that you mentioned Dave Roberts.

(01:30):
You were teammates with him with thePadres. Did you ever envision him
being not only a manager, butthis successful of a manager doesn't surprise me
one bit because a manager, he'sjust got to know the game of baseball,
but he's got to be able tocommunicate and put it all together.
And that's what the best that Iplayed for were able to do. They
were incredible communicators. They could rallythe truth. The truth would rally around

(01:55):
that person. That's who Dave is. And we've seen that come to fruition.
You know, Look, we canget deep into it. And I
think the guy should have another worldtitle too, if another team's not cheating,
and you know, so, look, I think if he does have
that other world title, he's viewedeven differently than he is. Dave Roberts
is a great manager and to nosurprise of anybody who's been a friend,

(02:17):
teammateer around him. It's interesting youbrought that up twenty seventeen. If the
Dodgers win that World Series championship,Jake, the narrative surrounding two men,
Dave Roberts and Clayton Kershaw are completelydifferent. Well, that's why I brought
that up, David, is becauseit needs to be in the peripheral when

(02:38):
you're having that discussion, because there'sa huge asterisk by that, and it's
the first thing that comes to mymind when Dodger fans want to talk about
who Dave Roberts is as a leaderas a manager, who the front office
is? Look this front office sinceI kind of when the changeover, when
Andrew Freeman kind of came in,there's been nobody front office wise, down

(03:00):
through the on field product to theoff field marketing of the players that do
it better than the Dodgers. Andthat's just the truth in my opinions.
Jake Peve is our guest, formerMajor League pitcher now a great analyst on
MLB Network. This will be JakePeeve's first All Star game, covering it

(03:21):
for MLB Network during this All Starbreak, and you'll see him on MLB
Tonight and their coverage not only duringthe All Star break but also in the
second half of the season. Areyou seeing the game a little bit differently,
Jake, being in the studio thanyou did maybe in the dugout on
the days you didn't pitch well somuch as went into it because of how

(03:42):
much the game's changed, and youcan't be stubborn. I think it's kind
of labeled on me that I'm anon analytic guy, or I'm the opposite
in the studio of Brian Kenney,but that's not true. I've continued to
try to stay evolved, evolving withthe game and to stay current and now
having so many friends still within systems. Mike Napolis a first Bay coach and

(04:06):
been with David Ross, but he'sstill there now. He's under Craig Council
learning wanting to be a manager.Craig Breslow Chris Young two former teammates that
are now successful general managers. CraigBreslo in his first year doing Wonders in
Boston See why and Boach and thoseguys having the belt. So these guys
were very close friends. Andrew Bailey, you know, who's now went over

(04:28):
to join Breslow. You know,the guys who I still have out there
in the game are helping me stayrelevant and understand, you know, the
new lingo. But the game isthe game. Winning baseball is winning baseball.
You don't have to have anybody oranalytics tell you that. The when
you watch the Dodgers play, youunderstand if we're doing things the right way
or the wrong way. And theleaders that we're talking about in Dave Roberts,

(04:50):
you know, still pushing the rightbuttons awfully, you know good.
Did you ever encounter the analytics towardsthe end of your career, Jake,
of course, yeah. No.By twenty sixteen, they were, you
know, coming on full board andwe were getting ready to take off with
them in San Francisco. You know, it was kind of you know,

(05:11):
and I think one of the thingswhere analytics went wrong is they pushed a
lot of the experience and the olderguys and even the coaching staff managers Bochie
out of San Francisco, I'm saying, And that was there was many more.
That was I think where the analyticswent wrong. It just didn't it
valued a young and upcoming star withsomebody who had years of experience and maybe

(05:32):
didn't metric out as well, buthad those invaluable and intangibles that that add
so much to a ball club.And I you know, it was a
tough mix because those guys wanted tohold on and listen to the guys who
had had taught them the game,and then guys were you know, in
suits telling them, no, thisis how you got to look at it,

(05:55):
and there wasn't really a marriage tothat. It was kind of a
hostile takeover. Yeah, that's oneway to put it, for sure.
Jake Tevee is our guest, andlook, I side with you, Jake.
I feel like analytics certainly has aplace in the game, but a
three year sample size is not goingto help any manager win tonight. And
maybe the macro of a one sixtytwo marathon doesn't really reflect how you deviate

(06:21):
or how you manage a game inthe postseason. I think the play a
big part in it. David.I think you're you're all over and what
you just said, and the Dodgersget this right, just said, I
don't want to weave in front ofall of sudden better. They are heavily
analytically driven, and I think overthe macro that stuff can really play out

(06:42):
in place of your advantage. Wetalk about winning championships. That's a whole
different story now winning baseball, andyou can throw some of the analytics out
the window, and they need totake a little bit of a back seat
to game management and field and I'mtalking to maybe like decisions and I I
hate to bring this up because I'mnot throwing shade at anybody, but I'm
just going back and playing Monday morning. Quarterback Tyler Anderson coming out of that

(07:05):
game in San Diego was an analyticaldecision. It seemingly. Hilary Loretta was
sitting next to me, not watchingthe game at all, and just said
to me, I'm so glad theytook that left hander out of the game.
We had no chance for him.They didn't care that graderral was you
know what I'm saying, Just anormal casual fan who was watching the game
had the feel of it of gosh, we have a better chance versus anybody

(07:29):
but that guy. And so Ithink when you get to the playoffs,
you have to match that feel becauseyou're riding a hot hand. Bruce Bochi's,
you know, playing his hot handthat given night might go against what
the matchup says, but in theplayoffs, I believe that stuff wins championships.
Two time World Series champion Jake Peeveyknows all about it. He is

(07:53):
our guest. He's on MLB tonight'scoverage of the All Star Game and certainly
their coverage during the entire baseball season. And Jake, that brings me to
the question twenty twenty four, howdo you view this Dodger team and their
chances to get through the National League. Well, look, I still view
him as the class of the league. We have some big issues. I'll

(08:18):
start with the two teams behind you. I think Arizona's in real trouble,
potentially missing the dance. San Diegocertainly has issues, but they're coming.
The Giants certainly have issues, butthey're coming if they get some healthy pieces
back, and that leads us tothe Dodgers. You have a seven and
a half game lead. We've gotsome When Mooki and Max Munty are back

(08:39):
in this lineup, it gives itthe length and look, especially with ta
Oscar providing the way he is.When you put those two bodies back in
this Dodger lineup, it becomes alineup like kind of the Phillies are on
the opposition tonight. They're a completelineup. You saw last night, seven
through nine of that Philly team beatyou seven nine. They were in the

(09:01):
game last night. That's incredible.When you're getting that kind of production and
you're winning games like they did lastnight. That Bryce Harper in the middle
other than Trey Turner goes over.So the Dodgers to me, when you
get Mookie and Max back, you'refine. I will tell you this,
when I just mentioned Tray Turner,I wish we wered have signed Trey Turner
and that short stopposition would have beenhis because since he he's been himself in

(09:24):
August and he got used to Philly, he's been the best player in the
National League. And I think thatcontract is gonna be the best one out
of that winner signed over the lengthof it. The way he plays the
game and gets older, smarter andlooks as good as ever. But the
Dodgers also on the same side.We're just beat up in a pitching way.
Of my gosh, if you lookat since Yamamoto went on now Glass

(09:48):
now and on and on with thenames, we've just you got a seven
and a half game lead that you'regonna be able to hold that lead throughout
the second half. We've just gotto get healthy and poised and really respond
onto being punched in the mouth thelast few years in the postseason. Just
get there with an edge. AndI believe your leadership not only with Dave
Roberts, but on the team.Freddie Freeman wants another title. He's a

(10:09):
world champion. Muki Betts wants anotherone. Will Smith stud all Star,
Tay Oskar's riding that way show Hey'sthe best player on the planet. It
can happen. You just got toget in the playoffs healthy with those guys
motivated. I can't talk to JakePeevee without asking him about future Hall of
Famer Clayton Kershaw. You've competed againsthim, you obviously respect him. Do

(10:33):
you believe that he'll be able tocome back and look like himself after a
major shoulder surgery? Jake, itscares me. A major shoulder surgery is
not anything guaranteed, and anybody whoknows about it. Will tell you that,
and that's just the facts of it. What I will tell you is
Clayton Kershaw's as good as anybody tomaybe ever do it. He's in the

(10:54):
question of as good as anybody toever do it. And greatness comes with
long and Clayton has just been themodel of all of that. Greatness and
longevity is all encompassing. Clayton Kershaw, the Dodger fans should be lucky to
have him, and none of thenegativity should be allowed to see finn it

(11:15):
does when we get older in ourcareer and don't produce and we're not healthy.
But I'm just very glad that wehave a chance for him to come
back. I think Clayton is asmentally strong as anybody I've ever met.
You can't do what he's done withoutit. The mind's a powerful thing in
the body. You know, Clayton'sgonna work and do all of his rehab,
and I know he's doing that.I'll have a lot more feel maybe
talking to some guys today. AsI told you, I'm on the way

(11:37):
of the ballpark. But Clayton Kershaw, this is all you need to know.
He's as good as maybe anybody everdo it? Are you kidding me?
The Dodgers have Sandy Kofax and ClaytonKershaw, the two best left handers
of all time to hang their haton. Possibly, I hope to see
him one more time doing what we'veseen him do for so long. Man,
Jake Peebe, you got me firedup. Throw that suit. You

(12:01):
got to take the mound for theDodgers. They need to forget about training
for somebody. How about just signingJake Peevey. I tell you what what
you've got coming off the IL andwhat you've got in that minor league system.
The arms, you've got plenty coming. Mark Pryor is another friend,
former teammate. You guys are goingto be just by well. You brought
up Mark Pryor. You and MarkPryor had the best bent caps in baseball

(12:26):
history. When you used to bendyour bill like prior, Yo, you
knew game was on PV me andPrior matched up in the minor leagues in
Double A and then got to doit all through the big leagues. And
gosh, what a shame that hecouldn't stay healthy because he would have been
in that conversation of the best toever do it. The stuff out of

(12:46):
this world, IQ betch Ability allthere, man. I love Jake Pevy.
That's why it was. I knewit was going to be a tough
day when you saw him on themound at Dodger Stadium. Two time World
Series Champion, triple Crown winner.I mean, people don't give you the
love because you're so humble. Youhad one of the great careers in recent
memory, Jake, and it's anhonor to have you on the show,

(13:09):
and I hope to meet you oneday in beautiful Santiago. I look forward
to the same, my friend.Thanks for having me all