August 9, 2025 • 23 mins
World Series Champion Miguel Rojas joined David Vassegh for a special edition Dodger Talk at Ria Money Transfer inside Superior Grocers in Huntington Park, CA.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk.
We arelive a very special Saturday morning Dodger Talk with
you until noon right here on a five seventy LA
Sports David Vass say, we are live at Superior Grocers
in Huntington Park, sixty ten Pacific Boulevard, and in thirty minutes,
(00:23):
World Champion Miguel Rojas, a man of the people, one
of the fan favorites of this team, is gonna start
taking photos, kissing babies, maybe throw people up in the sky.
You never know what could happen here at Superior Grocers.
We're right next to the real money transfer and we
want to remind you that at RHEA you can do
it all in one place. Money transfers, check cashing, bill payments,
(00:46):
currency exchange, all with friendly service you can count on.
And we are joined right now by a man that
means so much to the Dodgers and so much to
the city, coming down to Huntington Bar in Huntington Park
to embrace this community that is World Champion Miguel Rojaus. Miguel,
thank you for the time, appreciate it. Nobody claps anymore,
(01:07):
they just have their phones up just staring at you.
There we go, There we go. Get this guy some love.
He deserves it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's nice to be here and take a little bit
of my morning before I go to the ballpark and
say hi to some fans and be part of the community.
I think that's it's one of the biggest reason why
we enjoy baseball and we play baseball because we have
so many people behind us every single night and every
(01:34):
single day behind the scenes that we have a responsibility
to get back to the community. And this is awesome.
I really enjoy my time around LA. This is my
fourth year as a Dodger, but it feels like I've
been here for more than that. So I'm really happy
and I'm excited to see some people over here.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You're from a different generation where you don't just stay
in your hotel room and play video games and get Postmates.
You're a guy that likes to go and meet people
and see people, right, You like to feel the people,
the energy of the city.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I feel like it's always important to kind of don't
take this opportunity for granted, you know, like I know,
we're we're a baseball player and athlete and uh a
famous people for a.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Lot of for a lot of them over there.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But uh, at the same time, I feel like we
have to stay ground there and humble and continue to
be out there for for the people to kind of
have the opportunity to to see that you're like a
human being and and and you're part of this community too,
and you want them to, uh, to actually experience that
every single day, not just at the ballpark when the
lights are on and you're you're wearing your custom.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Make your costume. That's an interesting way to put it
sometimes because people think that you're a character or you're
a video game guy.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
You have a heartbeat, Yeah, that's that's That's why I
say a custom because a lot of people who go
to the stadium and watch the games and and see
us on TV, they think we were not human.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, and that's that's not That's not what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I feel like we we all come to the supermarket,
and we all do groceries and and and we we
like to have a life outside of baseball two and
this is part of it. So I'm happy that that
people get to see a lot of the Dodgers players
around and I know there are more players doing this,
and I'm excited and happy to be uh, to be
(03:21):
part of this community.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Miguel Rojas. The doors are going to open inside to
Superior Grocers at eleven am. It's gonna take photos from
eleven to noon, a full hour to have your chance
with a photo a world champion, Miguel Rojas. And I
know you got to experience the parade and really see
how much this city loves this team and loves these
group of Dodgers, including yourself. But when you show up
(03:44):
here in Huntington Park and people see you and react
the way they do, does it make it more real
how much you do mean to these fans.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
It's really special, not just for me, but the whole
The whole group of guys are kind of bottling every
single night too, to uh, to put some smile on
people's faces and make them go to sleep feeling really
proud that.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The Dodgers win another game or win a championship. Last year.
We continue to do that every single night.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
We we go to the ball part and we we
take this really serious.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You know, we were.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Trying to win again and and that's that's that's what
motivators and drives every single day. To put ad smile
and kind of joy on people at the end of
the season when we enjoy the parade together. But these
times are are are really fun too because you kind
of like embrace it the fan base and the community
in a different way because when you go to the
(04:38):
ball part, you know, you can actually get a big
hit or or make a big play for them to share.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But right now it's a little bit different.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
It's more uh being there and being closed for them
and and for them to take a picture and actually
have some some quality time together is uh.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Uh is priceless, and.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's great that you're here. After a Dodger win last night,
five one over the al least leaders the Toronto Blue
Jays last night, I felt like this may have been
Mookie's best game since maybe his walk off home run
against the Tigers. Was that one of his best games
this year?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I feel like Mookie has been working so hard
every single day to to find himself again, and I
think it's more of like finding that confidence, you know,
and and seem smiling is kind of like the best
part of last night, you know, when he came back
to a dog out after his first hit and in
the first seating. I know we couldn't capitalize that uh
(05:35):
those runs over there, but I feel like he was,
uh he was smiling, you know, and he was in
a better mood over all. And I feel like that's
what we need out of him, because we all know
the great player the Mookie is, and we all know
this season is too long for us to be kind
of worrying about his production. But uh, it's nice to
see him smile and nice to see him get the
(05:56):
big homer to put us ahead and actually make great
player shortop. And you can see the demeanor and the
and the happiness on his face that we haven't seen
that in a while.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Hey, we see a lot of smiles from Miguel Rojas too.
It feels like you started to find your footing maybe
two or three months ago. I mean, I think people
are sleeping on how well you're hitting the ball now,
and obviously not playing every day, but playing a lot.
It feels like this season has presented a lot of
opportunities for you.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, there's a couple of stretches where I play seven
in a row, something that I haven't done in the
last couple of years, especially here with with Dog and
the organization knowing the I mean my mid thirties now,
and it's not easy to play, especially last year in
twenty three, I was playing shortstop, which is a premium position,
and it's really hard to kind of like keep.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Up with that on the on the physical stakeboint.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
But I feel like, I mean, the team needs it,
and I'm I'm this is my job and I'm always
going to be ready for them whenever they need me
at any position. And it's been good because I'm getting
an opportunity and that it is not it's not a
surprise that my numbers and my play and the quality
(07:13):
of my abats and everything got better when I got
the opportunity to play a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So I'm happy that I got that chance.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And but I'm happy too that we have Max back
and like we almost on a in one hundred percent
full force going into October.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I'm not sure fans appreciate how difficult it is to
play just two or three times a week. It takes
a special player to be able to do that. How
are you able to go from playing seven in a
row and maybe this week playing twice.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, I mean it's part of like your role and
understanding what are you here for? And I was having
this conversation with Dalton Rushing last night. Yeah, the expectations
of always be ready because you can play at any time,
at any moment, but at the same time, you can just
be on the bench and wait for your opportunity for
(08:02):
over five.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
For seven days. So that's a that's a tough job.
But I'm not gonna.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Say that that's gonna be an excuse for us not
to produce. I feel like that's that's in our in
our power to kind of buy in into what we're
doing for this organization and what is our role right
now in this team, And it feels like, I mean,
whatever they ask us.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
To do, we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So that's the best mindset for me to kind of
like keep up, keep myself ready and and keep.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Up with the with the good word whenever we have
a chance.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
That's the voice of Miguel Rojas. At eleven am, it's
gonna start taking photos with the people here in Huntington Park.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
We are at sixty ten Pacific Boulevards, Superior Grocers in
Huntington Park. Miguel Rojas will be taking photos from eleven
to New no autographs, please, no autographs today. Neither Miguel
or myself are stunning autographs. Today, Miguel will be taking photos.
There's a line wrapped around Superior Grocers here in Huntington Park,
right near the real money transfer and coming up in
(09:02):
about five minutes will open up the phone lines. Maybe
you want to touch the people over the phone. They
can ask you a question.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
That would be great. That's what that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah, the game before the game here at Superior Grocers
in Huntington Park. Now, Miguel, last year was such a
great ride. Am I allowed to still ask about last year?
Or do you feel like we can no longer ask
about the World Series? And what you guys did last year?
Tell me when the cutoff was?
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Well, I think I think that the kind of year
that we have in this year, and how how hard
it is being to uh to be on the top
of the league this year, especially with all the teams
kind of like getting hot at the right moment, you know,
and and having a team that is like kind of
leading the National League on the Milwaukee Brewers with the
(09:49):
pitching staff and and all that, and and knowing that
we have in the Padres right there, like they're not
They're not going to be easy to kind of go through,
you know, especially having six more games against that. It's
really hard to kind of like be thinking about what
happened last year because we kind of like focusing on
what we need to do in twenty five to be
a War Series champion, Because I mean, we're happy that
(10:11):
we won last year, but we're not sertified just with that.
We have another thing to do this year. The organization
did everything in their power to make us better, and
it's our time to deliver, you know. And I know
we've been through a lot of up and downs and
on injuries on the pitching side and the offensive part,
but I feel like there's a lot of things that
we can get better in this last couple month or
(10:34):
month and a half that we have before October, and
securing the.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Division is going to be important for us.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Now. I'm glad you brought that up. With the pitching staff.
You guys are finally healthy with your starting pitchers. You
got Glass now back, you got snell Otani's now up
to four or five innings to start. Do you feel
like a night like last night is a great example
where the offense doesn't have to feel that burden to
score six seven runs. If you score four runs with
(11:02):
that starting pitching, you should win more games.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, it's not it's not just how many runs we score.
It's like the opportunities that we that we have throughout
the game, Uh, to do the small, the small things,
you know, moving the run or over. I think that's
gonna start, like keeping the ball rolling on the right direction,
because I feel like the last couple of months, I
feel like we have a couple of guys trying to
(11:26):
find themselves in the lineup instead of like just playing
baseball and trying to contribute with what we need to do.
So and we all being a part of that. You know, Uh,
it's not it's not just one guy, but a couple
a couple of guys in the lineup at the same
time battling and struggling through things. And I know this
is not gonna happen when the games kind of matter
(11:48):
and kind of mian the most for for them because
I know we all professionals here and nobody cares about
you know, what kind of numbers you're putting in the season.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
The most important thing is is winning at the end
of the year.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
So I know, we get into a spot right here
where everybody, especially on the defensive party's gonna kind of
glue together. And I mean it looks it looks really
good the last couple of weeks where we can put
the offense together. Everybody's kind of pulling on the san ditch.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I'm glad you brought that up because when Mike Sooshi
was man in managing the Angels and they had the
success they had, he would stand up in spring training
and in front of the whole team, in front of
Vladimir Guerrero, Junior, Garrett Anderson, all those guys and said,
I need twenty five team at bats from all of you.
If anybody has an issue with that, let me know.
(12:39):
Are you a believer that that's a that's a fair
amount of at bats that you have to give up
for the team during the regular season to be ready
to do that in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I mean there's not there's not a swish that you
can turn off on and off in baseball, so you
have to be able to bring that every single night.
And I feel like it's time for us to kind
of like glue as a team like that because.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
We know, we know we can do it.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We have the kind of the same personnel that we
had last year for the for the playoffs, and we
knew we have to kind of like twig some things
and the Patters Series last year, and that's why it's important.
And we're still talking about the championship season because that's
gonna be kind of the base line for us to
kind of go this year too, because we knew we
(13:24):
have to kind of like play our best baseball to
continue to advance in the playoff last year to get to.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
A Wards Heeries.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And when we got to the Wards Series, what make
us win was like doing the little things. Yeah, we
didn't hit the so many homers. We I know, Freddie
went off and hit hit homers in five games in
a row or something like that. But at the same time,
it was like the small ball, putting the ball in
play with two strikes, pulling the pressure on the defense
running the bases. And I think that's something that we
(13:53):
kind of lack off the last month and a half here,
So I think it's going to be important for us
to kind of remember those times. And last night, last
night game kind of give me a really good impression
of like we're close to get there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Love it. Miguel Rojas is joining us live at Superior
Grocers in Huntington Park. Eight sixty six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We have phone
lines open if you want to ask Miguel a question.
Starting at eleven am, we are going to let the
Dodger fans into Superior Grocers in Huntington Park to be
able to take a photo and Miguel shake his hand,
(14:28):
maybe give him a hug or hugs allowed, Miguel, Okay,
for sure? What is off limits?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
The autograph? Everything else is fine, all right?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
I love it. I love it. Maybe they'll put a
baby on your shoulder, you'll take a photo with them.
You never know that, Okay. Miguel ROAs is our guest now, Miguel,
I meant to ask you this when I found out
we were going to be together here at Superior Grocers.
On that last road trip, Kevin Kiermeier showed up in
the Dodger clubhouse and you said some words to in
(15:00):
front of the team as you presented him with his
championship ring. And I've seen a few of these, but
I thought you were on the verge of getting really emotional.
Why did you get so choked up when you were
speaking about Kevin Kiirmeyer.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, I mean it was a special group of guys,
and I mean nobody really from from outside, nobody really
knows what transpire through those days, you know, going through
injuries and and fighting to play even though you was
like hurting.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
And and and.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Having those uh, having those guys right next to you
and support you through the open downs of like not
being on the being on the edge of not being
on the rostered and he's him taking taking my spot
and then have to give my spot back for the
World series. I think everything was kind of like emotional
about Kevin because KK bro like this energy and this
(15:57):
kind of edge to not just the veteran players, but
the young guys too. So he helped this organization wait
so much in two months that he was here or
or or so, and and I feel like it was
a it was a great, great wave to for us
to kind of close the chapter of like being a
dodger giving him his ring. And I remember like our
(16:18):
conversation when I was putting in the wars, here is
a roster and he was taken out and it was
kind of emotional at that time, and I kind of
felt the same thing when I was giving his ring
because he deserved it and he did everything that he
can to make us better last year.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
That's amazing. That's amazing. Backstory on the video that we
saw on Dodgers social media makes a lot of sense.
And on that last road trip, you guys gave Walker
Bueller his ring as well. Did you catch that he
helped the Dodgers out last night in San Diego too?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy for him that he that
he that he throw the ball really well, and uh,
I know he's been trying to kind of get to
form the playoff form and he looks like the Boston
Rexs are going to be in the playoffs, and I'm
happy that they got Walker Beauty because he's he's a
champion and he knows how to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Winning comes.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
I feel like he uh he pitched last night for
the Red Sox, but he also pitched for the Dodgers
last night.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I know he's a dog, He's a dog on the heart,
So I'm happy for Walker.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Miguel Rojas is our guest. He is gonna be here
until noon at Superior Grocers. Sixty ten Pacific Boulevard. It
is all presented by Real Money Transfer. You can find
Ria inside every Superior Grocer's and at many other convenient
locations across Los Angeles. Visit them in store online at
reamoney transferre dot com. And they also have an app.
(17:36):
Download the Ria app today from the App Store or
Google Play and keep your world connected, no matter the distance.
All right, ready to take some phone calls, get you
warmed up for the people coming into Superior Grocers. Let's
start out in Pico Rivera. Joel, you're on Dodger Talk
with Miguel Rojas. Say hi to Miggy. What's up, Maggie.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Man?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I'm good and good man? How are you?
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I'm good, good man. Just happy to hear everything you
were said about the World Series, you know, last year,
and how you get to do this this year. Man,
it's all, it's all true.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Man. Of course we're trying. We're trying to win another one,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
That's for sure. Man.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
You know, I see the way all you guys, like
you said, you guys in the jail and everything you know,
back together.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Man, But thanks for playing for us, and uh, you know,
keep keep it on, keep it going, man, have yourself
a good day and enjoy the day.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Man.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Hope hope to see you later on today. Thank you, man,
Thank you, and thank you for the support every single night.
I know all your friends are are the best in
the business. And continue to support the players and uh
and and the team because we're trying to uh, we're
trying to accomplish the same thing that you guys want.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Fifty three thousand plus at Dodger Stadium last night. Thanks
for the phone called Joel. Let's go out to rialto Carlos.
You're on with the great Miguel Rojas. Say hello, Carlos, Hey,
tell me how's it going?
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Oh? I got looking with us. Everything is good, man.
Real quick question for you after a Dodger victory.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Is your favorite beer?
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well, I always always like our celebration after we win
the series, and uh, we're taking a shout out Tequila there.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
But I'm trying. I'm trying to stay away from from the.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Michellas that much because I mean, it's gonna just make
me a lot of make me slower. So but every
time I can, I go to a Mexican place, I
get my Mitchelle here and there for sure, you.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Got another question for him? How about a baseball question?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Good luck and let's win the series. Man, Let's let's
take over the series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Were
trying to We're trying to sweep this this weekend for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Hey, we love that, Carlos, Thank you for the phone call.
If you win tonight, that means you win the series.
That means there is going to be a toast after
tomorrow sweep or no sweep. So can you just remind
us the genesis how this originated with you being so
celebratory after series wins. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I think in a long season like m W season,
we play so many games and and in six months,
and sometimes we forget about the joy the winning a
series can cause in a in a in a clubhouse.
I feel like celebrating these little little victories will keep
you motivated to like the big picture, which is getting
(20:26):
to a playoff and winning series in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I know we we pup.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Battles of champagne and we make a big party every
time we advance in the playoffs. But I think recognizing
what the players do and what your teammates did for
that series is really important.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Because that is how you get to the to a playoff.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
And that's how we we came up with these kind
of little toast that we do after the game kind
of we picked the play it off the with the
series or or the game whatever, whoever make us make
us win those those two games, and that guy talks,
that guy talk and have a little a little speech
for the guys, and we take up a selfie that
(21:06):
we kind of collect throughout the year in our in
our group chat. And after that, hopefully we can we
can have a good footage of pictures after.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, maybe one day you could publish a book with
those photos.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
That The thing is like, I don't think I don't
think it's allowed for the public because there's a lot
of a lot of people in their ware and stuff
over that, so we don't we don't want to put
it out there for the public, but definitely you guys
can imagine how how fun and how good it is
in the clubhouse for us.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Hey, can't wait to do that again after the Dodgers
win this series against the Jays. Want to take one
more phone call, Let's do it, Ted in l A
your last up because Miguel's got to get ready. He's
gotta he's got to get warmed up for these photos.
What do you got ted?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Hey, Miguel, Good morning sir, Good morning job. We're very
proud of you.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Our community we make Americans are very proud of all
your work and all the Dodges and all the dodges.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
My question for you is, as you retired me here,
we like to coach? Is that in your plan? Yeah? Definitely.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I feel like I want to stay focused on on
what what do I need to do right now to
make our team better and to help us win a championship.
But I definitely been thinking about what's gonna what's gonna
happen after my playing days are are done, and I
definitely want to coach. I definitely want to be out
there for for the younger players and the new generation
(22:30):
that is going to get to a big legs and
hopefully I can be uh, I can be Service Service
Hall somewhere to be a to be a great coach,
and I'm looking forward to that. I want to managing
the big leaks, but I don't know what the what
the path is gonna be for me, but definitely coaching
is is on my plans for for after my career
is old.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Hey, that's true. I mean you're a coach now, you're
a player coach in a lot of ways, and players
look to you in the middle of a game for
some coaching. So I mean you're you're a player, Miguel,
and the Dodgers certainly respect everything that you mean to
this organization. I know us that cover you have so
much respect for you and what you stand for, and
(23:10):
how you play the game and how you actually shield
your teammates and really take it upon yourself. That's a
sign of leadership too. So I mean, can't say enough
about you. You meant so much to the Dodgers even
when you first started. And here you are in your
twelfth season, ready for another World Series championship, but a
(23:31):
long way to go, and you've got a lot left
in the tanks.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Do it a couple more years for sure.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Oh, I love it all right, Miguel, thanks a lot
for stopping by. Thank you for putting the headset on
your days. Just starting because the doors are going to
open right now. It's Superior Grocers and Huntington Park. The
line is very long. I don't know if you saw
the line when you came in ready for them, all right,
all right, Miguel Rojas is going to start the meet
and greet right now. Miguel, thank you again for stopping by.
Really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Thank you, guys,
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk.
We arelive a very special Saturday morning Dodger Talk with
you until noon right here on a five seventy LA
Sports David Vass say, we are live at Superior Grocers
in Huntington Park, sixty ten Pacific Boulevard, and in thirty minutes,
(00:23):
World Champion Miguel Rojas, a man of the people, one
of the fan favorites of this team, is gonna start
taking photos, kissing babies, maybe throw people up in the sky.
You never know what could happen here at Superior Grocers.
We're right next to the real money transfer and we
want to remind you that at RHEA you can do
it all in one place. Money transfers, check cashing, bill payments,
(00:46):
currency exchange, all with friendly service you can count on.
And we are joined right now by a man that
means so much to the Dodgers and so much to
the city, coming down to Huntington Bar in Huntington Park
to embrace this community that is World Champion Miguel Rojaus. Miguel,
thank you for the time, appreciate it. Nobody claps anymore,
(01:07):
they just have their phones up just staring at you.
There we go, There we go. Get this guy some love.
He deserves it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's nice to be here and take a little bit
of my morning before I go to the ballpark and
say hi to some fans and be part of the community.
I think that's it's one of the biggest reason why
we enjoy baseball and we play baseball because we have
so many people behind us every single night and every
(01:34):
single day behind the scenes that we have a responsibility
to get back to the community. And this is awesome.
I really enjoy my time around LA. This is my
fourth year as a Dodger, but it feels like I've
been here for more than that. So I'm really happy
and I'm excited to see some people over here.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You're from a different generation where you don't just stay
in your hotel room and play video games and get Postmates.
You're a guy that likes to go and meet people
and see people, right, You like to feel the people,
the energy of the city.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I feel like it's always important to kind of don't
take this opportunity for granted, you know, like I know,
we're we're a baseball player and athlete and uh a
famous people for a.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Lot of for a lot of them over there.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But uh, at the same time, I feel like we
have to stay ground there and humble and continue to
be out there for for the people to kind of
have the opportunity to to see that you're like a
human being and and and you're part of this community too,
and you want them to, uh, to actually experience that
every single day, not just at the ballpark when the
lights are on and you're you're wearing your custom.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Make your costume. That's an interesting way to put it
sometimes because people think that you're a character or you're
a video game guy.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
You have a heartbeat, Yeah, that's that's That's why I
say a custom because a lot of people who go
to the stadium and watch the games and and see
us on TV, they think we were not human.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, and that's that's not That's not what it is.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I feel like we we all come to the supermarket,
and we all do groceries and and and we we
like to have a life outside of baseball two and
this is part of it. So I'm happy that that
people get to see a lot of the Dodgers players
around and I know there are more players doing this,
and I'm excited and happy to be uh, to be
(03:21):
part of this community.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Miguel Rojas. The doors are going to open inside to
Superior Grocers at eleven am. It's gonna take photos from
eleven to noon, a full hour to have your chance
with a photo a world champion, Miguel Rojas. And I
know you got to experience the parade and really see
how much this city loves this team and loves these
group of Dodgers, including yourself. But when you show up
(03:44):
here in Huntington Park and people see you and react
the way they do, does it make it more real
how much you do mean to these fans.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
It's really special, not just for me, but the whole
The whole group of guys are kind of bottling every
single night too, to uh, to put some smile on
people's faces and make them go to sleep feeling really
proud that.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The Dodgers win another game or win a championship. Last year.
We continue to do that every single night.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
We we go to the ball part and we we
take this really serious.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You know, we were.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Trying to win again and and that's that's that's what
motivators and drives every single day. To put ad smile
and kind of joy on people at the end of
the season when we enjoy the parade together. But these
times are are are really fun too because you kind
of like embrace it the fan base and the community
in a different way because when you go to the
(04:38):
ball part, you know, you can actually get a big
hit or or make a big play for them to share.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But right now it's a little bit different.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
It's more uh being there and being closed for them
and and for them to take a picture and actually
have some some quality time together is uh.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Uh is priceless, and.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's great that you're here. After a Dodger win last night,
five one over the al least leaders the Toronto Blue
Jays last night, I felt like this may have been
Mookie's best game since maybe his walk off home run
against the Tigers. Was that one of his best games
this year?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I feel like Mookie has been working so hard
every single day to to find himself again, and I
think it's more of like finding that confidence, you know,
and and seem smiling is kind of like the best
part of last night, you know, when he came back
to a dog out after his first hit and in
the first seating. I know we couldn't capitalize that uh
(05:35):
those runs over there, but I feel like he was,
uh he was smiling, you know, and he was in
a better mood over all. And I feel like that's
what we need out of him, because we all know
the great player the Mookie is, and we all know
this season is too long for us to be kind
of worrying about his production. But uh, it's nice to
see him smile and nice to see him get the
(05:56):
big homer to put us ahead and actually make great
player shortop. And you can see the demeanor and the
and the happiness on his face that we haven't seen
that in a while.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Hey, we see a lot of smiles from Miguel Rojas too.
It feels like you started to find your footing maybe
two or three months ago. I mean, I think people
are sleeping on how well you're hitting the ball now,
and obviously not playing every day, but playing a lot.
It feels like this season has presented a lot of
opportunities for you.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, there's a couple of stretches where I play seven
in a row, something that I haven't done in the
last couple of years, especially here with with Dog and
the organization knowing the I mean my mid thirties now,
and it's not easy to play, especially last year in
twenty three, I was playing shortstop, which is a premium position,
and it's really hard to kind of like keep.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Up with that on the on the physical stakeboint.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
But I feel like, I mean, the team needs it,
and I'm I'm this is my job and I'm always
going to be ready for them whenever they need me
at any position. And it's been good because I'm getting
an opportunity and that it is not it's not a
surprise that my numbers and my play and the quality
(07:13):
of my abats and everything got better when I got
the opportunity to play a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So I'm happy that I got that chance.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And but I'm happy too that we have Max back
and like we almost on a in one hundred percent
full force going into October.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I'm not sure fans appreciate how difficult it is to
play just two or three times a week. It takes
a special player to be able to do that. How
are you able to go from playing seven in a
row and maybe this week playing twice.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, I mean it's part of like your role and
understanding what are you here for? And I was having
this conversation with Dalton Rushing last night. Yeah, the expectations
of always be ready because you can play at any time,
at any moment, but at the same time, you can just
be on the bench and wait for your opportunity for
(08:02):
over five.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
For seven days. So that's a that's a tough job.
But I'm not gonna.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Say that that's gonna be an excuse for us not
to produce. I feel like that's that's in our in
our power to kind of buy in into what we're
doing for this organization and what is our role right
now in this team, And it feels like, I mean,
whatever they ask us.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
To do, we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
So that's the best mindset for me to kind of
like keep up, keep myself ready and and keep.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Up with the with the good word whenever we have
a chance.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
That's the voice of Miguel Rojas. At eleven am, it's
gonna start taking photos with the people here in Huntington Park.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
We are at sixty ten Pacific Boulevards, Superior Grocers in
Huntington Park. Miguel Rojas will be taking photos from eleven
to New no autographs, please, no autographs today. Neither Miguel
or myself are stunning autographs. Today, Miguel will be taking photos.
There's a line wrapped around Superior Grocers here in Huntington Park,
right near the real money transfer and coming up in
(09:02):
about five minutes will open up the phone lines. Maybe
you want to touch the people over the phone. They
can ask you a question.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
That would be great. That's what that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah, the game before the game here at Superior Grocers
in Huntington Park. Now, Miguel, last year was such a
great ride. Am I allowed to still ask about last year?
Or do you feel like we can no longer ask
about the World Series? And what you guys did last year?
Tell me when the cutoff was?
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Well, I think I think that the kind of year
that we have in this year, and how how hard
it is being to uh to be on the top
of the league this year, especially with all the teams
kind of like getting hot at the right moment, you know,
and and having a team that is like kind of
leading the National League on the Milwaukee Brewers with the
(09:49):
pitching staff and and all that, and and knowing that
we have in the Padres right there, like they're not
They're not going to be easy to kind of go through,
you know, especially having six more games against that. It's
really hard to kind of like be thinking about what
happened last year because we kind of like focusing on
what we need to do in twenty five to be
a War Series champion, Because I mean, we're happy that
(10:11):
we won last year, but we're not sertified just with that.
We have another thing to do this year. The organization
did everything in their power to make us better, and
it's our time to deliver, you know. And I know
we've been through a lot of up and downs and
on injuries on the pitching side and the offensive part,
but I feel like there's a lot of things that
we can get better in this last couple month or
(10:34):
month and a half that we have before October, and
securing the.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Division is going to be important for us.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Now. I'm glad you brought that up. With the pitching staff.
You guys are finally healthy with your starting pitchers. You
got Glass now back, you got snell Otani's now up
to four or five innings to start. Do you feel
like a night like last night is a great example
where the offense doesn't have to feel that burden to
score six seven runs. If you score four runs with
(11:02):
that starting pitching, you should win more games.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, it's not it's not just how many runs we score.
It's like the opportunities that we that we have throughout
the game, Uh, to do the small, the small things,
you know, moving the run or over. I think that's
gonna start, like keeping the ball rolling on the right direction,
because I feel like the last couple of months, I
feel like we have a couple of guys trying to
(11:26):
find themselves in the lineup instead of like just playing
baseball and trying to contribute with what we need to do.
So and we all being a part of that. You know, Uh,
it's not it's not just one guy, but a couple
a couple of guys in the lineup at the same
time battling and struggling through things. And I know this
is not gonna happen when the games kind of matter
(11:48):
and kind of mian the most for for them because
I know we all professionals here and nobody cares about
you know, what kind of numbers you're putting in the season.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
The most important thing is is winning at the end
of the year.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
So I know, we get into a spot right here
where everybody, especially on the defensive party's gonna kind of
glue together. And I mean it looks it looks really
good the last couple of weeks where we can put
the offense together. Everybody's kind of pulling on the san ditch.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I'm glad you brought that up because when Mike Sooshi
was man in managing the Angels and they had the
success they had, he would stand up in spring training
and in front of the whole team, in front of
Vladimir Guerrero, Junior, Garrett Anderson, all those guys and said,
I need twenty five team at bats from all of you.
If anybody has an issue with that, let me know.
(12:39):
Are you a believer that that's a that's a fair
amount of at bats that you have to give up
for the team during the regular season to be ready
to do that in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I mean there's not there's not a swish that you
can turn off on and off in baseball, so you
have to be able to bring that every single night.
And I feel like it's time for us to kind
of like glue as a team like that because.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
We know, we know we can do it.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We have the kind of the same personnel that we
had last year for the for the playoffs, and we
knew we have to kind of like twig some things
and the Patters Series last year, and that's why it's important.
And we're still talking about the championship season because that's
gonna be kind of the base line for us to
kind of go this year too, because we knew we
(13:24):
have to kind of like play our best baseball to
continue to advance in the playoff last year to get to.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
A Wards Heeries.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And when we got to the Wards Series, what make
us win was like doing the little things. Yeah, we
didn't hit the so many homers. We I know, Freddie
went off and hit hit homers in five games in
a row or something like that. But at the same time,
it was like the small ball, putting the ball in
play with two strikes, pulling the pressure on the defense
running the bases. And I think that's something that we
(13:53):
kind of lack off the last month and a half here,
So I think it's going to be important for us
to kind of remember those times. And last night, last
night game kind of give me a really good impression
of like we're close to get there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Love it. Miguel Rojas is joining us live at Superior
Grocers in Huntington Park. Eight sixty six nine eight seven
two five seventy is the phone number. We have phone
lines open if you want to ask Miguel a question.
Starting at eleven am, we are going to let the
Dodger fans into Superior Grocers in Huntington Park to be
able to take a photo and Miguel shake his hand,
(14:28):
maybe give him a hug or hugs allowed, Miguel, Okay,
for sure? What is off limits?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
The autograph? Everything else is fine, all right?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
I love it. I love it. Maybe they'll put a
baby on your shoulder, you'll take a photo with them.
You never know that, Okay. Miguel ROAs is our guest now, Miguel,
I meant to ask you this when I found out
we were going to be together here at Superior Grocers.
On that last road trip, Kevin Kiermeier showed up in
the Dodger clubhouse and you said some words to in
(15:00):
front of the team as you presented him with his
championship ring. And I've seen a few of these, but
I thought you were on the verge of getting really emotional.
Why did you get so choked up when you were
speaking about Kevin Kiirmeyer.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, I mean it was a special group of guys,
and I mean nobody really from from outside, nobody really
knows what transpire through those days, you know, going through
injuries and and fighting to play even though you was
like hurting.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
And and and.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Having those uh, having those guys right next to you
and support you through the open downs of like not
being on the being on the edge of not being
on the rostered and he's him taking taking my spot
and then have to give my spot back for the
World series. I think everything was kind of like emotional
about Kevin because KK bro like this energy and this
(15:57):
kind of edge to not just the veteran players, but
the young guys too. So he helped this organization wait
so much in two months that he was here or
or or so, and and I feel like it was
a it was a great, great wave to for us
to kind of close the chapter of like being a
dodger giving him his ring. And I remember like our
(16:18):
conversation when I was putting in the wars, here is
a roster and he was taken out and it was
kind of emotional at that time, and I kind of
felt the same thing when I was giving his ring
because he deserved it and he did everything that he
can to make us better last year.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
That's amazing. That's amazing. Backstory on the video that we
saw on Dodgers social media makes a lot of sense.
And on that last road trip, you guys gave Walker
Bueller his ring as well. Did you catch that he
helped the Dodgers out last night in San Diego too?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy for him that he that
he that he throw the ball really well, and uh,
I know he's been trying to kind of get to
form the playoff form and he looks like the Boston
Rexs are going to be in the playoffs, and I'm
happy that they got Walker Beauty because he's he's a
champion and he knows how to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Winning comes.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
I feel like he uh he pitched last night for
the Red Sox, but he also pitched for the Dodgers
last night.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I know he's a dog, He's a dog on the heart,
So I'm happy for Walker.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Miguel Rojas is our guest. He is gonna be here
until noon at Superior Grocers. Sixty ten Pacific Boulevard. It
is all presented by Real Money Transfer. You can find
Ria inside every Superior Grocer's and at many other convenient
locations across Los Angeles. Visit them in store online at
reamoney transferre dot com. And they also have an app.
(17:36):
Download the Ria app today from the App Store or
Google Play and keep your world connected, no matter the distance.
All right, ready to take some phone calls, get you
warmed up for the people coming into Superior Grocers. Let's
start out in Pico Rivera. Joel, you're on Dodger Talk
with Miguel Rojas. Say hi to Miggy. What's up, Maggie.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Man?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I'm good and good man? How are you?
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I'm good, good man. Just happy to hear everything you
were said about the World Series, you know, last year,
and how you get to do this this year. Man,
it's all, it's all true.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Man. Of course we're trying. We're trying to win another one,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
That's for sure. Man.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
You know, I see the way all you guys, like
you said, you guys in the jail and everything you know,
back together.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Man, But thanks for playing for us, and uh, you know,
keep keep it on, keep it going, man, have yourself
a good day and enjoy the day.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Man.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Hope hope to see you later on today. Thank you, man,
Thank you, and thank you for the support every single night.
I know all your friends are are the best in
the business. And continue to support the players and uh
and and the team because we're trying to uh, we're
trying to accomplish the same thing that you guys want.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Fifty three thousand plus at Dodger Stadium last night. Thanks
for the phone called Joel. Let's go out to rialto Carlos.
You're on with the great Miguel Rojas. Say hello, Carlos, Hey,
tell me how's it going?
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Oh? I got looking with us. Everything is good, man.
Real quick question for you after a Dodger victory.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Is your favorite beer?
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well, I always always like our celebration after we win
the series, and uh, we're taking a shout out Tequila there.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
But I'm trying. I'm trying to stay away from from the.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Michellas that much because I mean, it's gonna just make
me a lot of make me slower. So but every
time I can, I go to a Mexican place, I
get my Mitchelle here and there for sure, you.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Got another question for him? How about a baseball question?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Good luck and let's win the series. Man, Let's let's
take over the series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Were
trying to We're trying to sweep this this weekend for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Hey, we love that, Carlos, Thank you for the phone call.
If you win tonight, that means you win the series.
That means there is going to be a toast after
tomorrow sweep or no sweep. So can you just remind
us the genesis how this originated with you being so
celebratory after series wins. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I think in a long season like m W season,
we play so many games and and in six months,
and sometimes we forget about the joy the winning a
series can cause in a in a in a clubhouse.
I feel like celebrating these little little victories will keep
you motivated to like the big picture, which is getting
(20:26):
to a playoff and winning series in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I know we we pup.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Battles of champagne and we make a big party every
time we advance in the playoffs. But I think recognizing
what the players do and what your teammates did for
that series is really important.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Because that is how you get to the to a playoff.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
And that's how we we came up with these kind
of little toast that we do after the game kind
of we picked the play it off the with the
series or or the game whatever, whoever make us make
us win those those two games, and that guy talks,
that guy talk and have a little a little speech
for the guys, and we take up a selfie that
(21:06):
we kind of collect throughout the year in our in
our group chat. And after that, hopefully we can we
can have a good footage of pictures after.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, maybe one day you could publish a book with
those photos.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
That The thing is like, I don't think I don't
think it's allowed for the public because there's a lot
of a lot of people in their ware and stuff
over that, so we don't we don't want to put
it out there for the public, but definitely you guys
can imagine how how fun and how good it is
in the clubhouse for us.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Hey, can't wait to do that again after the Dodgers
win this series against the Jays. Want to take one
more phone call, Let's do it, Ted in l A
your last up because Miguel's got to get ready. He's
gotta he's got to get warmed up for these photos.
What do you got ted?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Hey, Miguel, Good morning sir, Good morning job. We're very
proud of you.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Our community we make Americans are very proud of all
your work and all the Dodges and all the dodges.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
My question for you is, as you retired me here,
we like to coach? Is that in your plan? Yeah? Definitely.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I feel like I want to stay focused on on
what what do I need to do right now to
make our team better and to help us win a championship.
But I definitely been thinking about what's gonna what's gonna
happen after my playing days are are done, and I
definitely want to coach. I definitely want to be out
there for for the younger players and the new generation
(22:30):
that is going to get to a big legs and
hopefully I can be uh, I can be Service Service
Hall somewhere to be a to be a great coach,
and I'm looking forward to that. I want to managing
the big leaks, but I don't know what the what
the path is gonna be for me, but definitely coaching
is is on my plans for for after my career
is old.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Hey, that's true. I mean you're a coach now, you're
a player coach in a lot of ways, and players
look to you in the middle of a game for
some coaching. So I mean you're you're a player, Miguel,
and the Dodgers certainly respect everything that you mean to
this organization. I know us that cover you have so
much respect for you and what you stand for, and
(23:10):
how you play the game and how you actually shield
your teammates and really take it upon yourself. That's a
sign of leadership too. So I mean, can't say enough
about you. You meant so much to the Dodgers even
when you first started. And here you are in your
twelfth season, ready for another World Series championship, but a
(23:31):
long way to go, and you've got a lot left
in the tanks.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Do it a couple more years for sure.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Oh, I love it all right, Miguel, thanks a lot
for stopping by. Thank you for putting the headset on
your days. Just starting because the doors are going to
open right now. It's Superior Grocers and Huntington Park. The
line is very long. I don't know if you saw
the line when you came in ready for them, all right,
all right, Miguel Rojas is going to start the meet
and greet right now. Miguel, thank you again for stopping by.
Really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Thank you, guys,
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