December 16, 2025 • 29 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We are starting off leading off the show with two
of my favorite players from my favorite Dodger team, and
that was the miracle nineteen eighty eight World champion Dodgers.
Will you talk about these days the Dodgers being perceived
as Goliath, Well, back in nineteen eighty eight, they were.
David and these two men were drafted a year apart
(00:31):
by the Dodgers in the late seventies. I won't give
away which year for both these guys out of respect
to one of them, but these two guys have been
linked for a long time in their baseball lives and
have a never dying friendship to this day. They were
huge parts of the Dodgers winning the nineteen eighty eight
(00:51):
World Series and still keep tabs on the team and
you can be up close and personal with them wearing
their number nine and number four fourteen respectively. In January
at the Dodger Adult Fantasy Camp. There are still a
few spots open. It's almost sold out, but you can
be there with our guests Mike Sooshia and Mickey Hatcher.
(01:14):
If you go to Dodgers dot com slash fantasy camps
and they join us right now. Mike and Mickey, thank
you so much for taking the time out. It's great
to have you guys together.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
All right, David Gregor, are you going first, Mike or what? Well? Mickey?
You they called you first, evidently, Mickey, so you go first.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, Uh no, you're the manager. Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So guys, maybe you could fill us in here. I
mean this, this friendship did not end in nineteen ninety
or nineteen ninety one or even you know, when you
guys were done being together on the Angels. How close
are you to this day? And where does that come from?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Mike? Well, we're yeah, we're close, except when he's my
butt in the golf course and we're not that close.
But you know what, David, it was a great time.
I mean we still keep in touch with guys that
we played with in the minor leagues, coming up through
the Dodge organization, and then that eighty eight team was
so special. There's a bond there, and you know, whether
it was Oral or Kirk Gibson or or t Bone Shelby, everybody,
(02:21):
I mean, we all keep in touch and I think
that's that's the bond that you get from playing on
a championship team. And I've known Mickey, you know, you know,
since nineteen seventy seven when he signed, So you know
we've been we've been together, Ron, Renicky, all of us,
we're we're just we're good friends and we enjoy each
other's company.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do you feel that way about Mike Mickey?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Oh yeah, I mean we came up. We have many
stories that you know, we developed over the years and
the bond. But you know what the greatest thing was
not only the players that we had an opportunity to
be part of, It was Peter O'Malley and uh, you
know that friendship has still been really close from an
(03:06):
owners to his players, and we still keep in touch
a lot and do lunches together. And I think that's
that's a special part about being a Dodger.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I know Mickey comes out to Dodger Stadium a lot.
His wife, Patty is a big time Dodger fan. I
think Dodger fans would love to know from two great
champions themselves, what you thought about this year's World Series hatch?
Do you want to start since you you really follow
it and your wife has a great passion for it.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Still oh yeah, definitely. And of course Mike's social remembers
probably every play that happened from Game one to Game seven,
but I can only remember a couple, and you know,
the game sometimes are won by inches, and uh, you know,
it was just a great game to watch, going back
and forth and just seeing uh, you know, Roberts just
(03:58):
managed a great job in game seven, especially with that
defensive move and you know, itches a guy leading off
one more foot on third base and World Series goes
to Toronto. So it was an exciting game going back
and forth, especially for the fans. I mean, you know,
to me, I really think it's going to go down
(04:20):
as one of the Dodgers' best World Series.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Mike, when you were watching Game six and it's the
ninth inning, they're they're going to more starters. Tyler Glass
now gets the first out on the first pitch, and
you see keythk a Hernandez use his own Baseball IQ
to shade in to be able to pull off that
game ending double play. Just the sequence of events that
took place to end game six in game seven, is
(04:47):
that have you ever seen World Series games in that way?
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Well, you know, David, that was one of the most
exciting series I think I've ever witnessed when we're with
the Angels and two. Our seven game series with the
Giants was so back and forth and we managed to
you know, beat him in seven games. But not only
was this the seventh game, the Dodgers going on the
road and winning every game was back and forth, back
(05:14):
and forth. And what I like about it was, I
really feel the Dodgers stepped up and won the game.
Toronto didn't hand them anything. The Dodgers had to make
plays they did. They had to do things in the
offensive end, and they you know, got some some incredible
hits that that you know, just just got them back
into the game. And the home runs were exciting. So
(05:36):
I think the way Micky already talked about Dave Roberts,
he did a terrific job. I think remolding that bullpen
with a lot of the starters in game seven was
the only way they were going to get that done,
and they did it. And masasak Yama mode I should say,
did his best impersonation of or A hersheives er an
eighty eight come out of the bullpen and getting you know,
(05:59):
and saving the game, and that was what an exciting series.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Hey, Mike, since you are and known as being a catcher,
caught more games than anybody else in Dodger franchise history.
In Game seven, you know, one play where the Dodgers
by an inch could have lost the World Series was
with the infield in and the play at the plate
bases loaded Isaiah Connor Falaffa just a hair behind the
(06:24):
throw by Miguel Rojas to Will Smith. Can you explain
you know, that situation for a catcher and how maybe
his foot could have slipped off?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Well, you know, Will Smith's incredible. I think as a catcher,
you're told to put your foot right on the middle
of the plate so as you do reach for the ball,
your foot will stay on the plate. And I think
he did, but the timing Rojas had kind of played
and in between hop he lost his balance a little bit,
but he showed his great arm strength and threw a
(06:55):
bullet home and will stretch forward and just barely got
you know, the runner. And I think Mickey already said it.
They're very passive at third base on their lead because
they don't want they don't want to get, you know,
get you'll get a line drive double play. But there's
a left handed hitter up and if that line drive
is hit to the right side of the infield, you
(07:16):
can be aggressive at third base and still get back.
And I think that's you know, that's the little things
that I think maybe get lost under you know, they
get lost like water under the bridge. But if he
if he had another two foot lead, then Mickey's right
that the series goes to Toronto's favor, and but will
Will kept this sort of the plate. I think Grohaus
(07:39):
made a great play after he lost his balance, and
the Dodgers jumped up and won the game, and I
think that's what they can feel good about.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
That's the voice of Mike Sooshia and Mickey Hatcher, teammates
World Champions as the Dodgers won it back in nineteen
eighty eight, as David slang Elias slain the Mighty Mets
and slaying the Oak's in five games, beating the Mets
in seven games, and Mickey, you know, Miguel Rojas sitting
that home run in Game seven of the World Series
(08:09):
with the Dodgers down to their final two outs. I'm
not going to say it was exactly the same situation,
but did it remind you of a guy in Shay
Stadium keeping your season alive against the Mets and Dwight Gooden.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Oh, definitely. Sosia's home run was just amazing. And I'll
tell you what, Rojas, that pitch was a pretty nasty
pitch for him to pull and hit a home run,
and you know it was just I kind of like
Rojas's day. Man. That play a second base was amazing,
and that home run and you can see it lifted
(08:45):
the Dodgers. I mean it lifted their bench, It lifted
everything for them. So that was That's going to be
one of the most memorable home runs I think in
that series.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Mickey, you understand this. You were the leader of the
stuff man, a group of bench players in nineteen eighty
eight that if a guy got hurt all of a sudden,
you had to be ready or coming off the bench
to pinch it. You had an incredible World Series filling
in for Kirk Gibson. You hit three sixty eight. Arguably,
you know, if it wasn't for fifty five, could have
been named the World Series MVP. But can you appreciate
(09:20):
how tough it was for Rojas not to play for
the entire World Series get in in Game six and
have such a huge impact in the last two games.
How do you do that?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah, I just think you know, it's like, you know,
even when I was in the World Series, we had
a bunch of guys we knew our career was coming
to an end, and this was our moment, and you
just stay into the moment and you take every advantage
you can to that moment. I think the same thing
with Rojas. You know, he knows he's coming to the
(09:52):
end of the end of his career, and you know what,
he wanted to be ready, and he wanted that one
opportunity and he turned in to be about twenty five
year old kid and that those two innings, and it
was just a great moment for him. So no matter
how his his life goes on, or whether he's going
to retire or whether he's going to try to keep playing,
(10:15):
this is going to be remembered in his family and
his life, and it's just a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Mickey Hatcher, you were on Mike's Socio's coaching staff with
the two thousand and two Angels that found a way
to come back so many times in that seven game
win over the Giants, and O two did this World
Series remind you of that seven game World Series win
by the Angels.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yes, I'm telling you what we just Mike did a
great job with those players and putting them together and
from the start of the season teaching them what it.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Took to win.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
And we had to do the little thing just like
the Dodgers had to do to win this game. And
you know, it was just watching those guys go through
get out there in game six. Uh, you know when
we were down and even when Dusty Baker went out
to the mound to take the guy uh can remember
(11:14):
the pitcher's name out, or to see our players say
we're going to win this game. We're going to win
this game. And I think sitting back as a coach
and seeing your players still having that energy to want
to win that game means a lot to you.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, that was Ramon Ortiz, right, Mike, Daddy, he took out.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And hello Russ Russ Russe or Teeth Russell, te Rush
Russell t Yes, yeah, yes, And do.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You remember the feeling that you had before Game seven?
Could you as you're as you're watching Game seven start
in Toronto, do you have some of those same feelings
that you had maybe managing Game seven in two thousand
and two, what Dave Roberts maybe going.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Through Well, you know, you're you're you're so busy and
good busy because you're getting uh, you know, you're getting
everything together, you're getting your matchups, you're getting uh you know,
you've already done all your scouting and everything and your
pitcher and catcher should be on the same page. Uh,
So you're ready for this game to start. I think
that little anxiety like you're saying, let's get going, let's
(12:17):
get going. Uh, you just want to You just want
to get going and and and get get some momentum
built and hopefully win a game.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
But but you know you're you're you're still doing so
much David to prepare up until you know, you take
the field. And I think it just keeps you saying
so you're not dwelling on things too much. But we uh,
you know, the team. One of the things I really
liked about the Dodger club. I mean you talked about
key k and being able to just use his experience.
(12:46):
These guys played free, and I mean they they didn't
play with with with with any burden of maybe if
they if they missed a play or or if they
were going to make a play, they played aggressively. Of defense,
they played aggressively run the base and in the batter's box.
And that's the same thing, you know two with our club.
Our club was very aggressive in every aspect of it.
(13:07):
They didn't think about making mistakes. They thought about making plays.
And I think that's when it comes down to crunch
time and everyone's going to point to a lot of
the things that happened in that game. The Dodgers made plays,
and I think what you're alluded to with kick Hernandez
in left field, he knew when he caught that ball
exactly where he was throwing it. Rohaus made a great pick,
(13:28):
doubled off the runner, and the games over. So I
think that had a lot to do with why they
you know, why they played so well.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Mike Soosie and Micky Hatcher are joining us on Dodger Talk,
all right. I want to go back to when you
guys were on the same staff, Mike the manager, Mickey
the hitting coach, because this year when the Dodgers played
the Angels, I was privy to a conversation of Dino
Ebel and Tim Salmon praising Mike Soosha and Micky Hatcher
(13:57):
just about the message you guys sent, the tone, especially
Mike at the beginning of the season where you needed
team at bats, whether it was Albert Poolhols, Mike Trout,
Tim Salmon, Garan Anderson Mickey, do you remember those type
of meetings that Mike would have and did you see
some of those team at bats from guys like Otani
(14:17):
and Freeman that reminded you of the message you guys had.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Well, you know, we had an opportunity to go in
there and see the players and have you know, a
year under our bell watching these guys play. And I
remember in the offseason, Mike before spring training says, we
got to get these guys together. They don't know how
to win, and and and he proceeded with the game
(14:44):
plan of you know, we've got to move runners. The
worst scenario, we got a runner in second base, we
got to get them to third. We got to score them.
We got to move runners over. You know, we we've
got to play that type of game, knowing to use
the big part of the field in those situations and
not just to give away in at bat, give yourself
(15:07):
an attempt to get a hit, but get the job done.
And uh, in spring training, these guys started doing it.
We said, hey, these bats don't count. Uh, you know,
Mike had the meeting and we said I applied it
as a hitting coach and said, hey, we're going in
the spring training these had bats don't count, but this
is what we're going. And and uh, these guys start
(15:29):
doing it. And you know, here guys moving a runner
to third base for the other guy to get an RBI.
You see him start giving knuckles and they got really
into it, and it was amazing. And when we started
the season, we probably had the worst record the starting
the season. What was our record, Mike when we were
started the season fourteen? Yeah, we were struggling, yeah, fourteen.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
And then but the guys they kept doing it. Yeah, yeah,
they kept doing it. You know, Mickey remember with Troy Gloss.
It was funny. We're talking about move and runners a
guy on second and Troy saying Troy says, he goes, Mike,
I can't hit a ground ball a second, I said,
And Mickey goes, Troy, we're not asking. We don't want
you hit a ground ball a second if we're on
the other team. And hit her like you hit the
ground ball to second. With a guy on second, we're saying,
(16:14):
thank you, we want you knock down the centerfield wall.
We want you to hit the ball left center centerfield,
use a big part of the field. And he exhaled.
He goes, oh, thank you, Okay.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
I can do that.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And U and Tim Sabon, Tim Savon and spring training
and a guy was on second base and uh and
he hit a ball off the batter's eye in center field.
And he came back and he goes, should I apologize?
And I said, heck no, you shouldn't apologize. I said,
I said, it's a big part of the field. If
you hit it out of the ballpark, it's a beautiful thing.
I said that.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
That's what we're talking about. But you know, the big
thing was these guys. These guys, they they understood it
and they played great baseball, and they really blended with
great base running, situational hitting and plug when we look
about you talk about the middle of the lineup, and
you had you know, Ga and and Tim Salmon and
(17:07):
Gloss and our stat up at hitting second and ex
Stein leading off. These guys fed the whole lineup and
and and it was really a It was really a
lineup that was I think very underrated. But these guys
are one of the top lineups in baseball for a
number of years, and they showed it in O two.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Do you guys still believe if you were on the
same staff, with the way the game has been played
the last ten something years, do you think players would
still be open to Mikesoshi Mickey Hatcher saying, Hey, I
need twenty five team at bats the entire year. I
need twenty five team at bats. Do you feel like
that would still be in play today?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Well, you know, there's some different philosophies out like strikeouts
another out, which I don't know what Moron came up
with that line a strikeouts not just another out. But
I think what I think, I think what's important is
you know, like like I say, you talk to Darren
Nurseat who was a great team player. Anyway, he would
do it anyway he's gonna get he's gonna go with
six hundred plate appearances, and we would talk to these guys.
(18:10):
So you guys are gonna get six hundred plate appearances
if you don't have the twenty five team at bats.
That we're talking about to where you get two strikes,
you know, you got to shorten it up and pull
the ball in the ground if you're er stat or
ga to get a guy from from second to third,
you know, and and two strikes, shorten it up and
maybe hit that sack fly instead of and take the RBI.
(18:32):
But you're not trying to hit home run, then that's
on you. And I think as you communicate with these guys,
and I think you know, there there's a lot of
baseball players understand that part of it. There's a lot
of guys that are not going to strike down those situations.
And I think that that those are the guys that
stand out, and you just know they're going to help
their team win. And as I said, you're gonna get
(18:52):
six hundred plate appearances. For most of the player appearances,
you're free to swing and do whatever you want. But
with that team at bat and it presents itself to you,
we need it. And and I think I think guys,
you know, I think ball players now would would rally
around that and would embrace that. Also.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Do you remember those those talks, Mickey, And do you
believe that in today's game that players would accept that
as well. And did you see it from the Dodgers
in twenty five?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
You start seeing it on more teams now, you really do.
You start seeing a little bit more bunning. You start
seeing it. But you know, it's like Mike says, I mean,
come on, a two strike approach, you know, that's when
you got to like get up there and battle with
that picture. And it's just a swing and misses that
are are just amazing to me, especially on pitches that
(19:47):
are right there with two strikes. And you know that
was Mike's biggest, biggest thing was, Hey, come on, guys,
two strikes, you know, maybe come off the knob. We've
we've got a bad up there. We've got to put
that ball in play. And uh, you know, strikeouts, that's
just an easy out for anything. You put a ball
(20:08):
in play. They can make an air, they can throw
it away, they can there's a lot of scenarios that
could happen. Uh, you know that can't happen if you're
slinging miss.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Dave Roberts is actually one of the managers that are
active today that actually echoes what you guys have said.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Well, I know, Dave, I know he was that type player,
and he understands it. And I think you see players,
I mean you see Will Smith choking up and putting
the bamb play in some of the situations, you know,
Freddie Freeman, I mean, these guys are professional hitters, even
you know Show hey, he he's got such an a
great idea of what to do in the battle box. Mookie,
you know, Mookie bets same way. Mickey and I were
(20:48):
contact hitter. So we had a guy on third base
and less than two outs, and if we struck out,
which you know sometimes it happens, sometimes you just get beat.
We you know, we were we were upset with ourselves.
Well we we were more upset because we knew what
was waiting for us in the dugout from Togo Lasorda
as we're walking back and here I'm walking back on
(21:09):
the dugout and you can see you can see Tommy
turning purple like like just saying, what's the ball in play?
What are you doing? And you know that was that
was the worst part of you know, the worst part
about striking out in the situation like that.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
All right, before I let you guys go, You're not
answering this question, Mike. This is only for Mickey Hatcher.
Mickey Hatcher, Okay, there was a manager with the Angels
manage one team for nineteen years, had unprecedented success. For
those nineteen seasons, he won more games than any other
(21:43):
Angels manager in the history of that franchise, sixteen hundred
and fifty wins, won the only World Series an Angels
franchise history. Don't you believe that guy should be in
the Hall of Fame as a manager And don't you
believe number fourteen should be retired in Anaheim? Mickey?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Oh, I do you know one thing that you and
you can hear how Mike speaks, and you know he
can remember a pitch forty years ago, what this guy
did and whatever. But he's always had a passion for
the game, and he's always wanted to win. You know,
there's you know, I don't care if you give him
the worst team in baseball. He's going to make him
(22:28):
learn how to win. And I think that that was
his passion as a manager. But he's the players really
respect him. He has that. You know, he's able to
bring him in the office and have the one on
one you know, like he's like their father. And that's
why I think you hear, like the Salmon's and the
(22:48):
Erstes and all those kind of guys, just how much
passion they had for Mike as a manager. I mean,
their career was probably one of the differences in that
they've ever had being playing baseball. And they'll tell you that,
and uh, you know, I think it's going to happen
for Mike. But I think in baseball, uh, he's well known.
(23:09):
You go to an event and all these players from
different teams or whatever they want to go and and
talk to Mike and and and listen to his uh
philosophies and stuff like that, and uh, you know, he
just has a passion and uh and that's going to
take him a long ways. And I do.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
But can I answer that question?
Speaker 2 (23:30):
No, No, because I know it.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Mike shut up.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
That was my turn.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Let me just say this real quick. I know you
got to cut us up, but real quick, I want
to say this. You know, this game is about playing it.
This game isn't about coaching and managing it. When you're
in the backyard with your brother and you're playing just
you know, you're just playing baseball with him and you're
making up situations, you're the one up at bat with
three two bases loaded, and you hit the home run
(23:57):
to win the game like Freddie Freeman did or Kirk
Gibson didd and and uh, you know you're the one
that hits it. You're out the one managing and putting
guys in. So for me and I know Micky is
the same way. We loved playing the game. We and
we love playing the game for the Dodgers.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
And that's a special feeling of of of of playing
the game that you can take with you.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
We like coaching, I love managing, but it doesn't compare
to playing the game. And that's where our hearts are
is really as ballplayers, and in particular with the Dodgers,
we had great experience and uh fortunately you know one
won some championships there and that's what we'll we'll take
for over with us. And that means what means the
most to me.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
That's why you're special. Okay, if you're if you're a player,
you love the player. I want you in the Legends
of Dodger Baseball. I want you wearing a blue coat
one day. And I would love to have as many
stunt men put in as legends of Dodger baseball as well,
just the group of the stuntmen and Mike Soosha, how
about that.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I like the stumpman getting in because those guys, those
guys were huge for us in eighty eight. And all
the pieces fit. And you know, you said one time
that we might have been the you know, David, you
say we might have been the worst World Series team,
Dodger team.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I did not say that. Bob Costa said.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I don't care what Bob Costas does. You repeated it,
and let me tell you what the pieces fit. We
were a great team that had a tremendous pitching staff,
great bullpen, and players like the stump men that played free,
They played loose, They did whatever. Whatever the situation was
that Tommy wanted to do, he could do because we
(25:40):
all had the back control to do it. And going
down the whole lineup, we would get bunts down. We
could hit and run. We put the ball in play
with two strikes, and once in a while you hit
the ball good and went out of the park. And
I think that as you talk about the stumpman in
that group with Mickey and and Rick Dempsey and and
Danny Heap and Dave and I know I'm leaving missing somebody, Mickey,
(26:02):
but you guys, you guys were so important does not
only during the season, but in the playoffs and and
and uh and and we were. We were terrific team
in eighty eight.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Very underrated as to the talent on the team and
how it worked and how we played. And I just
don't like you, David, saying we're one of the worst
Championship Dotor teams on paper.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I never said that.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
I said wins, Mike, we had ninety one.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
How many wins?
Speaker 3 (26:27):
We had?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Ninety something wins?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
You were?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I feel like, yes, ninety four great wins. You guys were, David.
The Mets were Goliath, the A's were Goliath. Nobody thought
you guys could beat them. You know, I was getting
phone calls as a ten year old by adults just
like you know, mocking my Dodgers at that point in time,
and I said, you just wait, this team can do it.
So it wasn't a slight to call you David. David's
(26:52):
a great name, yea, A great biblical reference.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah, you're trying to you're trying to worm yourself out.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Of that one.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I see as always.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
That's what I do.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
I just punch my way out of the corner. Hey,
you know, I might sign up for this fantasy camp
just so I could be there, maybe to be managed
or coached by Mickey Hatcher and Mike Soosha. How about that.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I'll tell you what. I can only picture you in
a baseball uniform running around, and I'm about to start
laughing right now.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Maybe I'll wear number nine one day and number fourteen
another day. How about that?
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Oh, I'll tell you you're if you're playing defense, you
better have shing guards on, wear a batting helmet out
there in the field, and have a double cup on.
Because I don't know what's going to happen to you, David.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You guys, I will say this, and I don't care
what my wife thinks. Nineteen eighty eight was the greatest
year of my life. To this day, I will say
that flat out. You guys brought baseball to life for
so many of us and made so many of us
young people in Los Angeles in nineteen eighty eight fall
in love with the Dodgers and fall in love with
(28:05):
the game of baseball. And you guys were two huge
parts of the Dodgers and you guys. As long as
I'm doing this, nobody will forget the eighty eight Dodgers
as great as you were. And nobody will forget Mike's
Osha and Mickey Hatcher and the rest of you guys.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I appreciate that, David. It was a special year for
all of us, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
All right, Mike can't wait to come over me and Mickey.
What time do you want us over for Christmas? We
look forward to it.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
We celebig Christmas on the twenty six, So come on
over there.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks guys, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Thank you. Okay, bye, all right, bye.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
There they go, Mickey Hatcher and Mike's Sooshia. That was awesome.
That was definitely a bucket list. It's one thing to
interview one of them, but both of them together. Just Spectac,
we're gonna take a break. When we come back, your
phone calls, and also we'll get to my conversation with
Keike Hernandez coming up from this past Saturday at the
(29:09):
Polo Ralph Lauren store. They treated us great, trust us great,
and I can't wait to share Keik with you as well.
Mike Soshia, Mickey Hatcher, forever Dodgers,
And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We are starting off leading off the show with two
of my favorite players from my favorite Dodger team, and
that was the miracle nineteen eighty eight World champion Dodgers.
Will you talk about these days the Dodgers being perceived
as Goliath, Well, back in nineteen eighty eight, they were.
David and these two men were drafted a year apart
(00:31):
by the Dodgers in the late seventies. I won't give
away which year for both these guys out of respect
to one of them, but these two guys have been
linked for a long time in their baseball lives and
have a never dying friendship to this day. They were
huge parts of the Dodgers winning the nineteen eighty eight
(00:51):
World Series and still keep tabs on the team and
you can be up close and personal with them wearing
their number nine and number four fourteen respectively. In January
at the Dodger Adult Fantasy Camp. There are still a
few spots open. It's almost sold out, but you can
be there with our guests Mike Sooshia and Mickey Hatcher.
(01:14):
If you go to Dodgers dot com slash fantasy camps
and they join us right now. Mike and Mickey, thank
you so much for taking the time out. It's great
to have you guys together.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
All right, David Gregor, are you going first, Mike or what? Well? Mickey?
You they called you first, evidently, Mickey, so you go first.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, Uh no, you're the manager. Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So guys, maybe you could fill us in here. I
mean this, this friendship did not end in nineteen ninety
or nineteen ninety one or even you know, when you
guys were done being together on the Angels. How close
are you to this day? And where does that come from?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Mike? Well, we're yeah, we're close, except when he's my
butt in the golf course and we're not that close.
But you know what, David, it was a great time.
I mean we still keep in touch with guys that
we played with in the minor leagues, coming up through
the Dodge organization, and then that eighty eight team was
so special. There's a bond there, and you know, whether
it was Oral or Kirk Gibson or or t Bone Shelby, everybody,
(02:21):
I mean, we all keep in touch and I think
that's that's the bond that you get from playing on
a championship team. And I've known Mickey, you know, you know,
since nineteen seventy seven when he signed, So you know
we've been we've been together, Ron, Renicky, all of us,
we're we're just we're good friends and we enjoy each
other's company.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do you feel that way about Mike Mickey?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Oh yeah, I mean we came up. We have many
stories that you know, we developed over the years and
the bond. But you know what the greatest thing was
not only the players that we had an opportunity to
be part of, It was Peter O'Malley and uh, you
know that friendship has still been really close from an
(03:06):
owners to his players, and we still keep in touch
a lot and do lunches together. And I think that's
that's a special part about being a Dodger.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I know Mickey comes out to Dodger Stadium a lot.
His wife, Patty is a big time Dodger fan. I
think Dodger fans would love to know from two great
champions themselves, what you thought about this year's World Series hatch?
Do you want to start since you you really follow
it and your wife has a great passion for it.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Still oh yeah, definitely. And of course Mike's social remembers
probably every play that happened from Game one to Game seven,
but I can only remember a couple, and you know,
the game sometimes are won by inches, and uh, you know,
it was just a great game to watch, going back
and forth and just seeing uh, you know, Roberts just
(03:58):
managed a great job in game seven, especially with that
defensive move and you know, itches a guy leading off
one more foot on third base and World Series goes
to Toronto. So it was an exciting game going back
and forth, especially for the fans. I mean, you know,
to me, I really think it's going to go down
(04:20):
as one of the Dodgers' best World Series.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Mike, when you were watching Game six and it's the
ninth inning, they're they're going to more starters. Tyler Glass
now gets the first out on the first pitch, and
you see keythk a Hernandez use his own Baseball IQ
to shade in to be able to pull off that
game ending double play. Just the sequence of events that
took place to end game six in game seven, is
(04:47):
that have you ever seen World Series games in that way?
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Well, you know, David, that was one of the most
exciting series I think I've ever witnessed when we're with
the Angels and two. Our seven game series with the
Giants was so back and forth and we managed to
you know, beat him in seven games. But not only
was this the seventh game, the Dodgers going on the
road and winning every game was back and forth, back
(05:14):
and forth. And what I like about it was, I
really feel the Dodgers stepped up and won the game.
Toronto didn't hand them anything. The Dodgers had to make
plays they did. They had to do things in the
offensive end, and they you know, got some some incredible
hits that that you know, just just got them back
into the game. And the home runs were exciting. So
(05:36):
I think the way Micky already talked about Dave Roberts,
he did a terrific job. I think remolding that bullpen
with a lot of the starters in game seven was
the only way they were going to get that done,
and they did it. And masasak Yama mode I should say,
did his best impersonation of or A hersheives er an
eighty eight come out of the bullpen and getting you know,
(05:59):
and saving the game, and that was what an exciting series.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Hey, Mike, since you are and known as being a catcher,
caught more games than anybody else in Dodger franchise history.
In Game seven, you know, one play where the Dodgers
by an inch could have lost the World Series was
with the infield in and the play at the plate
bases loaded Isaiah Connor Falaffa just a hair behind the
(06:24):
throw by Miguel Rojas to Will Smith. Can you explain
you know, that situation for a catcher and how maybe
his foot could have slipped off?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Well, you know, Will Smith's incredible. I think as a catcher,
you're told to put your foot right on the middle
of the plate so as you do reach for the ball,
your foot will stay on the plate. And I think
he did, but the timing Rojas had kind of played
and in between hop he lost his balance a little bit,
but he showed his great arm strength and threw a
(06:55):
bullet home and will stretch forward and just barely got
you know, the runner. And I think Mickey already said it.
They're very passive at third base on their lead because
they don't want they don't want to get, you know,
get you'll get a line drive double play. But there's
a left handed hitter up and if that line drive
is hit to the right side of the infield, you
(07:16):
can be aggressive at third base and still get back.
And I think that's you know, that's the little things
that I think maybe get lost under you know, they
get lost like water under the bridge. But if he
if he had another two foot lead, then Mickey's right
that the series goes to Toronto's favor, and but will
Will kept this sort of the plate. I think Grohaus
(07:39):
made a great play after he lost his balance, and
the Dodgers jumped up and won the game, and I
think that's what they can feel good about.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
That's the voice of Mike Sooshia and Mickey Hatcher, teammates
World Champions as the Dodgers won it back in nineteen
eighty eight, as David slang Elias slain the Mighty Mets
and slaying the Oak's in five games, beating the Mets
in seven games, and Mickey, you know, Miguel Rojas sitting
that home run in Game seven of the World Series
(08:09):
with the Dodgers down to their final two outs. I'm
not going to say it was exactly the same situation,
but did it remind you of a guy in Shay
Stadium keeping your season alive against the Mets and Dwight Gooden.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Oh, definitely. Sosia's home run was just amazing. And I'll
tell you what, Rojas, that pitch was a pretty nasty
pitch for him to pull and hit a home run,
and you know it was just I kind of like
Rojas's day. Man. That play a second base was amazing,
and that home run and you can see it lifted
(08:45):
the Dodgers. I mean it lifted their bench, It lifted
everything for them. So that was That's going to be
one of the most memorable home runs I think in
that series.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Mickey, you understand this. You were the leader of the
stuff man, a group of bench players in nineteen eighty
eight that if a guy got hurt all of a sudden,
you had to be ready or coming off the bench
to pinch it. You had an incredible World Series filling
in for Kirk Gibson. You hit three sixty eight. Arguably,
you know, if it wasn't for fifty five, could have
been named the World Series MVP. But can you appreciate
(09:20):
how tough it was for Rojas not to play for
the entire World Series get in in Game six and
have such a huge impact in the last two games.
How do you do that?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah, I just think you know, it's like, you know,
even when I was in the World Series, we had
a bunch of guys we knew our career was coming
to an end, and this was our moment, and you
just stay into the moment and you take every advantage
you can to that moment. I think the same thing
with Rojas. You know, he knows he's coming to the
(09:52):
end of the end of his career, and you know what,
he wanted to be ready, and he wanted that one
opportunity and he turned in to be about twenty five
year old kid and that those two innings, and it
was just a great moment for him. So no matter
how his his life goes on, or whether he's going
to retire or whether he's going to try to keep playing,
(10:15):
this is going to be remembered in his family and
his life, and it's just a great feeling.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Mickey Hatcher, you were on Mike's Socio's coaching staff with
the two thousand and two Angels that found a way
to come back so many times in that seven game
win over the Giants, and O two did this World
Series remind you of that seven game World Series win
by the Angels.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yes, I'm telling you what we just Mike did a
great job with those players and putting them together and
from the start of the season teaching them what it.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Took to win.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
And we had to do the little thing just like
the Dodgers had to do to win this game. And
you know, it was just watching those guys go through
get out there in game six. Uh, you know when
we were down and even when Dusty Baker went out
to the mound to take the guy uh can remember
(11:14):
the pitcher's name out, or to see our players say
we're going to win this game. We're going to win
this game. And I think sitting back as a coach
and seeing your players still having that energy to want
to win that game means a lot to you.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, that was Ramon Ortiz, right, Mike, Daddy, he took out.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
And hello Russ Russ Russe or Teeth Russell, te Rush
Russell t Yes, yeah, yes, And do.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
You remember the feeling that you had before Game seven?
Could you as you're as you're watching Game seven start
in Toronto, do you have some of those same feelings
that you had maybe managing Game seven in two thousand
and two, what Dave Roberts maybe going.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Through Well, you know, you're you're you're so busy and
good busy because you're getting uh, you know, you're getting
everything together, you're getting your matchups, you're getting uh you know,
you've already done all your scouting and everything and your
pitcher and catcher should be on the same page. Uh,
So you're ready for this game to start. I think
that little anxiety like you're saying, let's get going, let's
(12:17):
get going. Uh, you just want to You just want
to get going and and and get get some momentum
built and hopefully win a game.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
But but you know you're you're you're still doing so
much David to prepare up until you know, you take
the field. And I think it just keeps you saying
so you're not dwelling on things too much. But we uh,
you know, the team. One of the things I really
liked about the Dodger club. I mean you talked about
key k and being able to just use his experience.
(12:46):
These guys played free, and I mean they they didn't
play with with with with any burden of maybe if
they if they missed a play or or if they
were going to make a play, they played aggressively. Of defense,
they played aggressively run the base and in the batter's box.
And that's the same thing, you know two with our club.
Our club was very aggressive in every aspect of it.
(13:07):
They didn't think about making mistakes. They thought about making plays.
And I think that's when it comes down to crunch
time and everyone's going to point to a lot of
the things that happened in that game. The Dodgers made plays,
and I think what you're alluded to with kick Hernandez
in left field, he knew when he caught that ball
exactly where he was throwing it. Rohaus made a great pick,
(13:28):
doubled off the runner, and the games over. So I
think that had a lot to do with why they
you know, why they played so well.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Mike Soosie and Micky Hatcher are joining us on Dodger Talk,
all right. I want to go back to when you
guys were on the same staff, Mike the manager, Mickey
the hitting coach, because this year when the Dodgers played
the Angels, I was privy to a conversation of Dino
Ebel and Tim Salmon praising Mike Soosha and Micky Hatcher
(13:57):
just about the message you guys sent, the tone, especially
Mike at the beginning of the season where you needed
team at bats, whether it was Albert Poolhols, Mike Trout,
Tim Salmon, Garan Anderson Mickey, do you remember those type
of meetings that Mike would have and did you see
some of those team at bats from guys like Otani
(14:17):
and Freeman that reminded you of the message you guys had.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Well, you know, we had an opportunity to go in
there and see the players and have you know, a
year under our bell watching these guys play. And I
remember in the offseason, Mike before spring training says, we
got to get these guys together. They don't know how
to win, and and and he proceeded with the game
(14:44):
plan of you know, we've got to move runners. The
worst scenario, we got a runner in second base, we
got to get them to third. We got to score them.
We got to move runners over. You know, we we've
got to play that type of game, knowing to use
the big part of the field in those situations and
not just to give away in at bat, give yourself
(15:07):
an attempt to get a hit, but get the job done.
And uh, in spring training, these guys started doing it.
We said, hey, these bats don't count. Uh, you know,
Mike had the meeting and we said I applied it
as a hitting coach and said, hey, we're going in
the spring training these had bats don't count, but this
is what we're going. And and uh, these guys start
(15:29):
doing it. And you know, here guys moving a runner
to third base for the other guy to get an RBI.
You see him start giving knuckles and they got really
into it, and it was amazing. And when we started
the season, we probably had the worst record the starting
the season. What was our record, Mike when we were
started the season fourteen? Yeah, we were struggling, yeah, fourteen.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
And then but the guys they kept doing it. Yeah, yeah,
they kept doing it. You know, Mickey remember with Troy Gloss.
It was funny. We're talking about move and runners a
guy on second and Troy saying Troy says, he goes, Mike,
I can't hit a ground ball a second, I said,
And Mickey goes, Troy, we're not asking. We don't want
you hit a ground ball a second if we're on
the other team. And hit her like you hit the
ground ball to second. With a guy on second, we're saying,
(16:14):
thank you, we want you knock down the centerfield wall.
We want you to hit the ball left center centerfield,
use a big part of the field. And he exhaled.
He goes, oh, thank you, Okay.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
I can do that.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And U and Tim Sabon, Tim Savon and spring training
and a guy was on second base and uh and
he hit a ball off the batter's eye in center field.
And he came back and he goes, should I apologize?
And I said, heck no, you shouldn't apologize. I said,
I said, it's a big part of the field. If
you hit it out of the ballpark, it's a beautiful thing.
I said that.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
That's what we're talking about. But you know, the big
thing was these guys. These guys, they they understood it
and they played great baseball, and they really blended with
great base running, situational hitting and plug when we look
about you talk about the middle of the lineup, and
you had you know, Ga and and Tim Salmon and
(17:07):
Gloss and our stat up at hitting second and ex
Stein leading off. These guys fed the whole lineup and
and and it was really a It was really a
lineup that was I think very underrated. But these guys
are one of the top lineups in baseball for a
number of years, and they showed it in O two.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Do you guys still believe if you were on the
same staff, with the way the game has been played
the last ten something years, do you think players would
still be open to Mikesoshi Mickey Hatcher saying, Hey, I
need twenty five team at bats the entire year. I
need twenty five team at bats. Do you feel like
that would still be in play today?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Well, you know, there's some different philosophies out like strikeouts
another out, which I don't know what Moron came up
with that line a strikeouts not just another out. But
I think what I think, I think what's important is
you know, like like I say, you talk to Darren
Nurseat who was a great team player. Anyway, he would
do it anyway he's gonna get he's gonna go with
six hundred plate appearances, and we would talk to these guys.
(18:10):
So you guys are gonna get six hundred plate appearances
if you don't have the twenty five team at bats.
That we're talking about to where you get two strikes,
you know, you got to shorten it up and pull
the ball in the ground if you're er stat or
ga to get a guy from from second to third,
you know, and and two strikes, shorten it up and
maybe hit that sack fly instead of and take the RBI.
(18:32):
But you're not trying to hit home run, then that's
on you. And I think as you communicate with these guys,
and I think you know, there there's a lot of
baseball players understand that part of it. There's a lot
of guys that are not going to strike down those situations.
And I think that that those are the guys that
stand out, and you just know they're going to help
their team win. And as I said, you're gonna get
(18:52):
six hundred plate appearances. For most of the player appearances,
you're free to swing and do whatever you want. But
with that team at bat and it presents itself to you,
we need it. And and I think I think guys,
you know, I think ball players now would would rally
around that and would embrace that. Also.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Do you remember those those talks, Mickey, And do you
believe that in today's game that players would accept that
as well. And did you see it from the Dodgers
in twenty five?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
You start seeing it on more teams now, you really do.
You start seeing a little bit more bunning. You start
seeing it. But you know, it's like Mike says, I mean,
come on, a two strike approach, you know, that's when
you got to like get up there and battle with
that picture. And it's just a swing and misses that
are are just amazing to me, especially on pitches that
(19:47):
are right there with two strikes. And you know that
was Mike's biggest, biggest thing was, Hey, come on, guys,
two strikes, you know, maybe come off the knob. We've
we've got a bad up there. We've got to put
that ball in play. And uh, you know, strikeouts, that's
just an easy out for anything. You put a ball
(20:08):
in play. They can make an air, they can throw
it away, they can there's a lot of scenarios that
could happen. Uh, you know that can't happen if you're
slinging miss.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Dave Roberts is actually one of the managers that are
active today that actually echoes what you guys have said.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Well, I know, Dave, I know he was that type player,
and he understands it. And I think you see players,
I mean you see Will Smith choking up and putting
the bamb play in some of the situations, you know,
Freddie Freeman, I mean, these guys are professional hitters, even
you know Show hey, he he's got such an a
great idea of what to do in the battle box. Mookie,
you know, Mookie bets same way. Mickey and I were
(20:48):
contact hitter. So we had a guy on third base
and less than two outs, and if we struck out,
which you know sometimes it happens, sometimes you just get beat.
We you know, we were we were upset with ourselves.
Well we we were more upset because we knew what
was waiting for us in the dugout from Togo Lasorda
as we're walking back and here I'm walking back on
(21:09):
the dugout and you can see you can see Tommy
turning purple like like just saying, what's the ball in play?
What are you doing? And you know that was that
was the worst part of you know, the worst part
about striking out in the situation like that.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
All right, before I let you guys go, You're not
answering this question, Mike. This is only for Mickey Hatcher.
Mickey Hatcher, Okay, there was a manager with the Angels
manage one team for nineteen years, had unprecedented success. For
those nineteen seasons, he won more games than any other
(21:43):
Angels manager in the history of that franchise, sixteen hundred
and fifty wins, won the only World Series an Angels
franchise history. Don't you believe that guy should be in
the Hall of Fame as a manager And don't you
believe number fourteen should be retired in Anaheim? Mickey?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Oh, I do you know one thing that you and
you can hear how Mike speaks, and you know he
can remember a pitch forty years ago, what this guy
did and whatever. But he's always had a passion for
the game, and he's always wanted to win. You know,
there's you know, I don't care if you give him
the worst team in baseball. He's going to make him
(22:28):
learn how to win. And I think that that was
his passion as a manager. But he's the players really
respect him. He has that. You know, he's able to
bring him in the office and have the one on
one you know, like he's like their father. And that's
why I think you hear, like the Salmon's and the
(22:48):
Erstes and all those kind of guys, just how much
passion they had for Mike as a manager. I mean,
their career was probably one of the differences in that
they've ever had being playing baseball. And they'll tell you that,
and uh, you know, I think it's going to happen
for Mike. But I think in baseball, uh, he's well known.
(23:09):
You go to an event and all these players from
different teams or whatever they want to go and and
talk to Mike and and and listen to his uh
philosophies and stuff like that, and uh, you know, he
just has a passion and uh and that's going to
take him a long ways. And I do.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
But can I answer that question?
Speaker 2 (23:30):
No, No, because I know it.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Mike shut up.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
That was my turn.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Let me just say this real quick. I know you
got to cut us up, but real quick, I want
to say this. You know, this game is about playing it.
This game isn't about coaching and managing it. When you're
in the backyard with your brother and you're playing just
you know, you're just playing baseball with him and you're
making up situations, you're the one up at bat with
three two bases loaded, and you hit the home run
(23:57):
to win the game like Freddie Freeman did or Kirk
Gibson didd and and uh, you know you're the one
that hits it. You're out the one managing and putting
guys in. So for me and I know Micky is
the same way. We loved playing the game. We and
we love playing the game for the Dodgers.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
And that's a special feeling of of of of playing
the game that you can take with you.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
We like coaching, I love managing, but it doesn't compare
to playing the game. And that's where our hearts are
is really as ballplayers, and in particular with the Dodgers,
we had great experience and uh fortunately you know one
won some championships there and that's what we'll we'll take
for over with us. And that means what means the
most to me.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
That's why you're special. Okay, if you're if you're a player,
you love the player. I want you in the Legends
of Dodger Baseball. I want you wearing a blue coat
one day. And I would love to have as many
stunt men put in as legends of Dodger baseball as well,
just the group of the stuntmen and Mike Soosha, how
about that.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I like the stumpman getting in because those guys, those
guys were huge for us in eighty eight. And all
the pieces fit. And you know, you said one time
that we might have been the you know, David, you
say we might have been the worst World Series team,
Dodger team.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I did not say that. Bob Costa said.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I don't care what Bob Costas does. You repeated it,
and let me tell you what the pieces fit. We
were a great team that had a tremendous pitching staff,
great bullpen, and players like the stump men that played free,
They played loose, They did whatever. Whatever the situation was
that Tommy wanted to do, he could do because we
(25:40):
all had the back control to do it. And going
down the whole lineup, we would get bunts down. We
could hit and run. We put the ball in play
with two strikes, and once in a while you hit
the ball good and went out of the park. And
I think that as you talk about the stumpman in
that group with Mickey and and Rick Dempsey and and
Danny Heap and Dave and I know I'm leaving missing somebody, Mickey,
(26:02):
but you guys, you guys were so important does not
only during the season, but in the playoffs and and
and uh and and we were. We were terrific team
in eighty eight.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Very underrated as to the talent on the team and
how it worked and how we played. And I just
don't like you, David, saying we're one of the worst
Championship Dotor teams on paper.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I never said that.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
I said wins, Mike, we had ninety one.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
How many wins?
Speaker 3 (26:27):
We had?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Ninety something wins?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
You were?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I feel like, yes, ninety four great wins. You guys were, David.
The Mets were Goliath, the A's were Goliath. Nobody thought
you guys could beat them. You know, I was getting
phone calls as a ten year old by adults just
like you know, mocking my Dodgers at that point in time,
and I said, you just wait, this team can do it.
So it wasn't a slight to call you David. David's
(26:52):
a great name, yea, A great biblical reference.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah, you're trying to you're trying to worm yourself out.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Of that one.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I see as always.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
That's what I do.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
I just punch my way out of the corner. Hey,
you know, I might sign up for this fantasy camp
just so I could be there, maybe to be managed
or coached by Mickey Hatcher and Mike Soosha. How about that.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I'll tell you what. I can only picture you in
a baseball uniform running around, and I'm about to start
laughing right now.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Maybe I'll wear number nine one day and number fourteen
another day. How about that?
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Oh, I'll tell you you're if you're playing defense, you
better have shing guards on, wear a batting helmet out
there in the field, and have a double cup on.
Because I don't know what's going to happen to you, David.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You guys, I will say this, and I don't care
what my wife thinks. Nineteen eighty eight was the greatest
year of my life. To this day, I will say
that flat out. You guys brought baseball to life for
so many of us and made so many of us
young people in Los Angeles in nineteen eighty eight fall
in love with the Dodgers and fall in love with
(28:05):
the game of baseball. And you guys were two huge
parts of the Dodgers and you guys. As long as
I'm doing this, nobody will forget the eighty eight Dodgers
as great as you were. And nobody will forget Mike's
Osha and Mickey Hatcher and the rest of you guys.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I appreciate that, David. It was a special year for
all of us, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
All right, Mike can't wait to come over me and Mickey.
What time do you want us over for Christmas? We
look forward to it.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
We celebig Christmas on the twenty six, So come on
over there.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks guys, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Thank you. Okay, bye, all right, bye.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
There they go, Mickey Hatcher and Mike's Sooshia. That was awesome.
That was definitely a bucket list. It's one thing to
interview one of them, but both of them together. Just Spectac,
we're gonna take a break. When we come back, your
phone calls, and also we'll get to my conversation with
Keike Hernandez coming up from this past Saturday at the
(29:09):
Polo Ralph Lauren store. They treated us great, trust us great,
and I can't wait to share Keik with you as well.
Mike Soshia, Mickey Hatcher, forever Dodgers,
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