April 28, 2025 • 5 mins
"The Cat Man" talks about making his return from the injured list on Wednesday, Freddie's Grand Slam in Game 1 of the World Series, and his new hairstyle.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talking.
We're here with Wednesday starter. That's right, it's official. It's
on every app, every website. Tony Gonsolin is back on Wednesday,
and he joins us a couple of days before his start.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thanks a lot for the time. Yeah, thanks for having me.
Happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, so now it's official. How have the feelings been,
because I know you've been waiting for this moment for
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, I'm feeling good. You know.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Having that little setback in spring and then having to
build back up and go through springs training essentially at
the start of the season. Not fun, but got through
it and I'm back now, hopefully for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Dustin May talked about just the emotions he had getting back,
even in a spring training game in the Freeway Series.
Do you feel like you have to control your emotions
when you get back out there on Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Not really. I feel like I've been doing a pretty
good job.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Maybe it'll hit me once I'm actually out there on
the field in front of our you know, I because
it's a day game, so are.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
There'll be a lot of fans.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Our thirty five fans instead of our nice fifty. But yeah,
I'm just excited to get back out there and try
to help.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The team win.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Last October, you were part of the Dodgers winning the
World Series in a different way. Did you feel connected
to that run, because even in a limited way, you
were able to prepare the hitters for the postseason.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
You know, I felt like the live reads that I
gave our hitters to live AB's that I gave those
guys got them prepared to go in and face the
face whoever and have success against them.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
If the Dodgers needed you last October, could you have
pitched in a postseason game?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah? Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Were you hoping for that opportunity?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I was looking forward to it whether that that time came. Honestly,
I wasn't necessarily hoping for it because that means we
had some guys get hurt. So I'm glad I didn't
get in there because that means.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Our guys stayed healthy.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Where were you when Freddy Freeman hit his walk off
Grand Slam?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I mean I think I was right up here somewhere
somewhere in the dugout. But no, that was incredible to
see just nothing like that. I don't think Freddy pimps
pimps it very very often. So watching him do it,
he looked like it was his first time a little bit,
but it's it's a memorable.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Moment for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
You were teammates a long time on the same starting
staff as Walker Buehler. To see him do what he
did last year? How rewarding do you believe that was
for him? And what was it like for you to
see him have that moment?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah, watching Walker pitch through the years, coming back from injury,
going through some adversity, you know, struggling and then having
success late in the year last year, and then I'm
ultimately closing out Game five of the World Series to
clinch the whole thing. It was it was really cool,
really cool to see so happy for him, and.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, just incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Watching that run not just during October but the entire
season last year. Do you have visions of helping the
Dodgers in that same way this year? I know a
lot of guys do a lot of visualizations of success.
Do you ever allow yourself to go there?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Absolutely, you know, getting that different perspective of watching games
on TV. I suppose that in the dug out in
the clubhouse with the guys being around them every day,
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not being able to do that.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I got to see a different light from it, and
really just watch how competitive our bats are, how everybody
comes up the bat just ready to hit, you know,
and watching how much work they do to score runs
for us so.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And ultimately scoring runs.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So I feel like it takes a little bit of
the pressure off of myself pitching, knowing I don't need
to be so fine and that we're gonna score runs,
and you know, everything isn't Every pitch isn't so much.
There isn't so much pressure on each pitch.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Do you feel like that's what you've taken away, taken
a step back, not being able to pitch. Is that
which you've kind of learned when you go and start
again on Wednesday?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Uh, yeah, that's one of the things for sure. And
just to go out there and just have fun. I mean, yeah,
it doesn't need to be so serious. Granted, like I
want to win, like that competitive nature is not gone,
but I'm just gonna go out there and.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Just try to have as much fun as I can.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
I remember that about you when you first came up.
You were saying that you were taking in so much
information from other guys that you needed to simplify that.
Have you turned the corner in that mentality as well?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I like keeping it simple, honestly. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It can be as complex as you wanted, or it
can be as simple as you need it to be,
and I'm trying to keep it simple.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Any new tricks in the cat bag for Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
No, let's just attackt the zone and see what happens.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right, Since we have you here and we've heard
so much about the new hairdo or lack thereof for
Tony Gonsolin, would you mind showing America the way it
looks now? This is a new improved Tony Gonsolin in
more ways than one.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, you know, maybe hated it said it was said
my air was so we decided to cut it all off.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It's due for a shave, but I'll love the fresh
one on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Maybe you're catcher Will Smith who is looking on, can
come over here and give us a review on Tony
Gonsolin's new shaved head.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
He likes it.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
A man of few words, no doubt about it. Tony,
thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it. And happy
to have you back on Wednesday. Thank you, thank you,
appreciate it. Can't wait to see that ball beautiful head
on Wednesday,
And an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talking.
We're here with Wednesday starter. That's right, it's official. It's
on every app, every website. Tony Gonsolin is back on Wednesday,
and he joins us a couple of days before his start.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thanks a lot for the time. Yeah, thanks for having me.
Happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, so now it's official. How have the feelings been,
because I know you've been waiting for this moment for
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, I'm feeling good. You know.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Having that little setback in spring and then having to
build back up and go through springs training essentially at
the start of the season. Not fun, but got through
it and I'm back now, hopefully for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Dustin May talked about just the emotions he had getting back,
even in a spring training game in the Freeway Series.
Do you feel like you have to control your emotions
when you get back out there on Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Not really. I feel like I've been doing a pretty
good job.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Maybe it'll hit me once I'm actually out there on
the field in front of our you know, I because
it's a day game, so are.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
There'll be a lot of fans.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Our thirty five fans instead of our nice fifty. But yeah,
I'm just excited to get back out there and try
to help.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The team win.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Last October, you were part of the Dodgers winning the
World Series in a different way. Did you feel connected
to that run, because even in a limited way, you
were able to prepare the hitters for the postseason.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
You know, I felt like the live reads that I
gave our hitters to live AB's that I gave those
guys got them prepared to go in and face the
face whoever and have success against them.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
If the Dodgers needed you last October, could you have
pitched in a postseason game?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah? Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Were you hoping for that opportunity?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I was looking forward to it whether that that time came. Honestly,
I wasn't necessarily hoping for it because that means we
had some guys get hurt. So I'm glad I didn't
get in there because that means.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Our guys stayed healthy.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Where were you when Freddy Freeman hit his walk off
Grand Slam?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I mean I think I was right up here somewhere
somewhere in the dugout. But no, that was incredible to
see just nothing like that. I don't think Freddy pimps
pimps it very very often. So watching him do it,
he looked like it was his first time a little bit,
but it's it's a memorable.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Moment for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
You were teammates a long time on the same starting
staff as Walker Buehler. To see him do what he
did last year? How rewarding do you believe that was
for him? And what was it like for you to
see him have that moment?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah, watching Walker pitch through the years, coming back from injury,
going through some adversity, you know, struggling and then having
success late in the year last year, and then I'm
ultimately closing out Game five of the World Series to
clinch the whole thing. It was it was really cool,
really cool to see so happy for him, and.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, just incredible.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Watching that run not just during October but the entire
season last year. Do you have visions of helping the
Dodgers in that same way this year? I know a
lot of guys do a lot of visualizations of success.
Do you ever allow yourself to go there?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Absolutely, you know, getting that different perspective of watching games
on TV. I suppose that in the dug out in
the clubhouse with the guys being around them every day,
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not being able to do that.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I got to see a different light from it, and
really just watch how competitive our bats are, how everybody
comes up the bat just ready to hit, you know,
and watching how much work they do to score runs
for us so.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And ultimately scoring runs.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So I feel like it takes a little bit of
the pressure off of myself pitching, knowing I don't need
to be so fine and that we're gonna score runs,
and you know, everything isn't Every pitch isn't so much.
There isn't so much pressure on each pitch.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Do you feel like that's what you've taken away, taken
a step back, not being able to pitch. Is that
which you've kind of learned when you go and start
again on Wednesday?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Uh, yeah, that's one of the things for sure. And
just to go out there and just have fun. I mean, yeah,
it doesn't need to be so serious. Granted, like I
want to win, like that competitive nature is not gone,
but I'm just gonna go out there and.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Just try to have as much fun as I can.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
I remember that about you when you first came up.
You were saying that you were taking in so much
information from other guys that you needed to simplify that.
Have you turned the corner in that mentality as well?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I like keeping it simple, honestly. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It can be as complex as you wanted, or it
can be as simple as you need it to be,
and I'm trying to keep it simple.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Any new tricks in the cat bag for Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
No, let's just attackt the zone and see what happens.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right, Since we have you here and we've heard
so much about the new hairdo or lack thereof for
Tony Gonsolin, would you mind showing America the way it
looks now? This is a new improved Tony Gonsolin in
more ways than one.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, you know, maybe hated it said it was said
my air was so we decided to cut it all off.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It's due for a shave, but I'll love the fresh
one on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Maybe you're catcher Will Smith who is looking on, can
come over here and give us a review on Tony
Gonsolin's new shaved head.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
He likes it.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
A man of few words, no doubt about it. Tony,
thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it. And happy
to have you back on Wednesday. Thank you, thank you,
appreciate it. Can't wait to see that ball beautiful head
on Wednesday,
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