Matt Sauer (5-19-25)

Matt talks about being lockermates with Blake Treinen, his new cut fastball, and his first career save. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're in the Dodger Clubhouse right now in the High
Rent district. Whenever you're next to Blake Trinon's locker you
know it's High Rent district. And we're joined right now
by the man Whiskey Sour Sweden Sour, Matt Sour. Thanks
a lot for.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
The time, Yeah, thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
So what is it like being the locker mates with
Blake Trnon? You know, he has a lot of rules,
he wants, he wants a lot of structure. So what's
it like.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
It's awesome. But Blake's man, obviously having a sender right
next to a vet is always good. And get to
pick his mind and see how he goes about his
day every day.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Don't be concerned. He's playing that little Finger soccer game
over there. He can't hear what you're gonna say. So
full disclosure here about Blake Trinon as a locker mate,
because as you could see, the gloves perfectly placed, the
hats perfectly placed, while yours same thing.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah No, I mean I'd say we got a pretty
clean corner over here. I'm not gonna bad man his side.
Neither of us crossed the center line, so we're doing good.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Is there a delineation here? I mean, we all want
to know the dynamics of being this close to another teammate.
What is the line here?

Speaker 1 (01:12):
I mean, I think his line goes a little onto
my side, but he's over on his side.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
So you feel like he can encroach on your side
of the locker. But because of him being the decorated
reliever and veteran that he is, you know, you have
to respect the wall. So you're kind of hugging the wall.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
That's okay.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Matt Sour is our guest. What a ride it's been
for you since the beginning of spring training. Have you
been able to take inventory of where you started and
how much the Dodgers have relied upon you early on?

Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah? For sure. I mean obviously signed here because I
thought the pitching development was, you know, the top of
the top, and you know, I think it's shown in
the brief stint that I've been up here so far,
and I think just within the last you know, three
months of being with this Horde, my pitching has gone
to away new heights and I really enjoy being here.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
You developed a cut fastball. Where did you start to
develop that cut fastball?

Speaker 1 (02:09):
It was actually Ryan Dennick down during spring training came
up with the idea because I already h I mean,
my fourth seam, I already cut a little bit. So
he said, why don't we just lean into you know,
actually cutting it, throwing a cutter with it, and the
first a through it in a bullpen. I was like, yeah,
I love this pitch and just took off from there.
It was a real easy pitch for me to learn
and just been writing it.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
A lot of right handers use that pitch to be
effective against lefties? Is that the thought behind yours?

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah. Throughout my whole career, I've always been, you know,
good splits against rieties. I'm always had a little more
issues getting lefties out. So I think this cutter has
opened up where, you know, I can get both sides
of the plate out with these.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Matt Sour is our guest. Can you tell us and
explain the life of a pitcher like Matt Sour where
you're not Clayton Kershaw, You're not Blake Snell. The Dodgers
use your versatility. How do you adapt so well?

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah? No, you know, I once I got called up.
I kind of understood that I'd be more of like
a Swiss army guy here, you know, might make some
spot starts, do some long relief appearances. But you know,
whatever opportunities to give to me, I love pitching into him.
I just want the ball, and whatever opportunity that is,
I'm gonna do it.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
So you've this year been able to record your first
major league win in your first major league save. Did
you ever believe that would happen? Yeah, I mean I
hope so I always win, yes, but not the same.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
The save was a little surprising. It was honestly immediately
after the game. I didn't even realize it because you know,
I came in and it was at the sixth inning.
Came in the sixth and get through and finish the
game out, and then they all congratulated after the game,
and I was like a little confused, like, wait, did
I really get the save there? But yeah, so it
was awesome.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
I remember being on the field with you and James Outman.
Were you concerned that he was going to throw the
ball into the stands.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
No, I never was concerned. I saw him catch the
ball and spin straight in and he put a right
in my glove as soon as he got to the dugout,
so it was all good.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Hey, you can never put anything by out man. The
other day I had to remind him it was his birthday.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
That sounds about right, that's funny.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Matt sour is our guest just in front of first
pitch between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Pretty tough lineup over there, Matt.
What did you learn from that four game series in
the desert?

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, no, I got to, you know, watch. It's kind
of cool the situation where I'm in because I'll watch
the starters and see how they can get through a
lineup more than one time, and then also getting to
pick the reliever's brains where if I do go in
for you know, one or two innings, I gotta be
able to come in and throw my best stuff immediately
and get out immediately. So I get to watch a

(04:38):
little more of both sides of the pitching aspect of it,
understanding that for when I come into games, I need
to be efficient. So watch the starters a little bit
what they're doing in the lineup where they're trying to
throw guys, and then you know, relievers you might need
a big strikeout in this situation. So you know, talking
to borrow Bart always gets us ready as soon as
we get into the game. You know, he always got
us right. So yeah, it's been great.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
That's interesting. I wonder if being a reliever coming out
of the bullpens certain games has helped you throw more
strikes as a starter because of what you said, it's
so important to throw strikes and be aggressive early.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, exactly. I mean as a reliever, always you're coming
into the game, you gotta get out immediately, so you
start with strike one. And so far this year, I mean,
I feel like I've been pretty good at pounding the zone.
And once you get strike one, then you're in a
picture advantage count and then you can go from there.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Hey, you never know, we might see Matt sour tonight.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
Never know, never know.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
Thanks a lot for the time we got out of
this clean Tryina never came to his locker.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
He did it. We're all good. We're safe over here.

Speaker 2 (05:40):
Thanks Matt.

Speaker 1 (05:41):
Thank you,