October 10, 2025 • 46 mins
The Dodgers beat the Phillies to advance to the NLCS. We talk about the gritty win that included dominant performances by both pitching staffs and defensive mistakes that were ultimately the difference in the game. Jack Harris from the LA Times joins us to offer some perspective on what we saw at Dodger Stadium last night. Also, USC let last years game at the Big House slip away - so how will they fare at the Coleseum tomorrow against a top 20 Michigan team?
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
All right, here we go, Fred Rogan and Rodney Pete
on a five seventy l A sports And like I
always uh like, I always like to say, Rodney.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Never a doubt, never a doubt, Never an easy, easy,
easy win.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Fred, that couldn't have been any easier last night, exactly
as it was scripted. Never a worry, no reason to sweat,
nothing to be concerned about, nothing to see here. They
gonna take it. They're gonna take them easy. Fred.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
That's what you said, and that's what happened. Man, You're
a spot on buddy. Everybody should listen to you and
run out to their broker, run out to fan duel,
run out to draft kings, run out to whatever. MGM Betton,
just bet on thread because he's all ways right. Jeesus, Fred,
don't say that the next series. Please don't just don't
(00:52):
do that, because when you say I'll be honest like that,
the opposite happens.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm probably I'm gonna
fel very confident, but I'm probably gonna water down what
I say being honest, probably water it down a little bit.
That might be a good idea, because that last night. Yeah,
that could have gone either way. Yes, it could have.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And when you really think about it, you know, I
know people were flying high after the first two wins
in Philly, but those games could have gone either way.
Those games, you know, think about it. First one, Dodgers
are down until Tail hits a three run home run.
Otherwise they lose Game one. And then you know, even
though as much as they thought they had it in
(01:38):
hand in Game two, it got dicey because of the bullpen.
Every one of these games except for the really the
third one where the Phillies blew out, the Dodgers could
have gone either way. And thank god it happened a way,
because I don't think anybody. I know, the fans, you know,
players are gonna play, they're just gonna deal with it.
(01:59):
But I know the Dodgers that don't play, and the
FED did not want the team to go back to
Philly for Game five.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It really was, as people suggested, a battle of two Titans,
the two best teams in the playoffs. Now we said
going in and of course I said, oh yeah, well
that'll be the World Series. The Dodgers win that and
they win the whole thing. I'm gonna water it down
a little bit, So I'm not just gonna keep going
with that, but they are gonna win the whole thing.
(02:30):
But those games were tight, and the Phillies were good.
And if you have a soul as a human being,
a soul, now you might be soulless, but if you
have a soul, you had to feel for Orion kirker
Ring after last night, you had to feel for him.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
A lot of folks that didn't have that don't have
souls in for it, because there are a lot of
folks that didn't care.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Hell with kirk Wing, Hell with the Phillies. Good good
on you, that's what you get.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I mean, there was a lot of no sympathy folks
out there last night after the Dodgers won that game,
and how they won that game. He didn't care. He
really didn't care. It was he should have made the play.
Oh he's a bum.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I can only imagine what's happening in Philly right now.
I felt so badly for him because look at it.
I mean, here's the ball, he picks it up. We
all know the.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Plays the first pace. If he throws the first Paez
is going to be out by seven feet. We all
know the play in that situation, it's the first base,
especially when you gobble it, especially if you especially especially
if you bobble it immediately you go to first base
and you know, to hear him talk about it, you know,
you think, oh, it's right back to me.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I got time, it's easy play, I'm close to home.
I just flick it to him. But first of all,
at on that play, you don't necessarily know what kind
of jump, what kind of lead that right which is
which Kim was on third base, the fastest Dodger. You
don't know what kind of leader jump he gets from
third base. You know, you know that the batter, the
(04:09):
hitter's got to start from the box, so you know
what kind of timing it is. You don't know that
that runner in third base could be halfway down the
line as soon as that ball's hit, and even if
you feeled it clean, it was gonna be a close
plate going to the plate. So yeah, that's why you know,
from the time you're a little leaguer, every good manager
(04:30):
a coach should tell you, will tell you, hey, know
where you're going with the ball before it's hit. Know
what you're gonna do before it's hit To you if
it's hit to you, what are you.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Going to do?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And so you play it out in your mind. And
I think he did have an idea, but once he
bobbled it, I think he just panicked and tried to
flick at home and obviously made a bad throw.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, he had a mental mistake. He freaked out. He
freaked out. And to show you how stunned everybody was,
if you happen to be watching on TV, did you
see the reaction from the Dodger dug out, especially Dave Roberts.
They cut to the Dodger dug out. Dave Roberts was
in amazement and he was amazed at what had happened.
(05:13):
He was smiling.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He I mean, it was just unbridled enthusiasm and genuine
and authentic. He was stunned about what happened. And then
if you saw them run on the field, Freddie Freeman,
if you saw his face, it was shock.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean it was joyful, but it was shock. How
in God's name that happened like that?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, as a player, when you fight like that for
eleven innings and he's back and forth and the pitching
has been incredible, the defense was incredible. I mean, you
gotta give it up. I mean, Trey Turner made some
unbelievable plays, and even our boy tail in right field
made some great plays out there. You know, probably probably
could have been team plays normally, but he made them
(06:02):
look adventurous and he made them good plays in right field.
But yeah, you don't expect it to end that way.
And when it did, it was like, what just happened?
What just happened? And I will I'll say this too.
I'm not I'm not always a fan of Nick Castellanos.
I wasn't a fan of his. I just you know,
(06:24):
some of his actions and attitude and all that kind
of stuff. Wasn't a big fan of his. But yesterday
I'm a fan of his because during all of the commotion,
all of the jubilation from the Dodgers and them, you know,
whenever somebody, you know hits the walk off, you know,
once you score, everybody runs to the guy that hit
the ball, and the Dodgers were sprinting towards Andy Pajs
(06:47):
at first base and congratulating him. And then you look
up and there was a there was an overhead shot
of the whole scene, and as the Dodger players were
running there. There were the Philly players that were just
in defeat, walking off the field and sad hanging their heads,
and some of them pissed and some of them like
what just happened as well. And Castlanos made a bee
(07:11):
line right for Kirkering on the pitcher's mound, because if
you remember he he did that, and then he bent
over and stood there for you know, a good five seconds.
And uh, of course Rio moved to a walked out
and gave him a hug. And but you could see
Castellanos just sprint from right field, not to the dugout,
(07:31):
not anywhere else, but spent right to the pictures mound
to uh to give him a big hug. So to me,
that spoke volumes because in that moment, you know, he
felt like he just wished he could dig a hole
and climb into it and uh, but he had to
take it. But to see his teammates, especially Costellanos, go
right to him and console him was big for me.
(07:54):
And I appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And during that sequence that you point out, there was
such a classic shot. And ABC used to do a
show called Wide World of Sports, The Thriller, Victory and
the Agony of defeat. And it was in that moment
they had the real high camera. Well, Rodney, you saw that,
but they also had a lower camera and it showed
the Dodgers sprinting from the dugout. And this will be
(08:19):
a shot I guarantee you that will be saved forever.
The shot of kirkering on the mound, bent over, hands
on his knees, looking down, not moving, and the Dodger
sprinting past him, joyful, full of emotion, excited, running past him.
(08:44):
That shot. If you work in television production, that shot
gives you chills because it was raw and authentic, and
it was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,
and it was just pour trade perfectly, one lonely soul
bent over, hands on knees, head down in disbelief over
(09:07):
what had just happened, while the other group of people
is celebrating his misfortune. I thought that was chilling. I'm
just a TV guy and I thought, Wow, whoever whoever
got that shot wins an award because that was spectacular.
Let's talk about to Tory right, it told the story. Yeah,
(09:29):
let's talk about Tyler Glass. Now. Well, suddenly, now this
guy's got to pitch every game. You know, he'd been
the forgotten soul. He was not. Yeah, if we gotta
go that many games, you'll get to pitch. Well, good lord,
did he pitch.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
He wasn't good, Fred, He was great. He was fantastic.
He was the reason they signed him last year. He
was every bit of the talented six foot seven whatever
he is, flamethrower he was. He had attitude, he had confidence,
(10:06):
he was hitting his spots, and he got out of jams.
I mean, he was as good as it gets. And
like you said, he was the forgotten guy in that rotation.
It was like, if the series goes long enough, or
you know, some one of our starters gets in trouble,
then we can bring him out of the pen. Or
if we need an arm and we have to go
(10:27):
back to whatever, we'll glass. Nile's the afterthought. But man, man,
and you said this the other day, on any other team,
he is absolutely, without questioning, your number two, and on
a lot of those teams, he's the number one guy.
He's your ace, and he looked like it last night.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yeah, he was the guy Dodger's number four guy. And man,
did he pitch twelve? Give him credit? Also, let's give
credit Taroki Sazaki. Now that's what we expected. Of course,
was sitting there going, well, hell send him out there again.
Just if the game was twenty innings, then he'll go
like nine of them. It's fine with me. He went
(11:10):
three innings, three good innings. That that could prove to
be his return. Is sort of like the Dodgers traded
for a closer at the trade deadline, except he's already
here and he's never closed. Oh man, yeah, that's scary too.
(11:34):
And he went three innings. I give Dave Roberts a
lot of credit. He let him go.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Rodney, Yeah, where's that poem? Where's that poem? Whoever's getting
the prayers? That was the prayer. It was a prayer Jesus. Yeah,
let's not bring that up again. But anyway, yeah, no,
to let him go in that moment one to one,
you know, he was an afterthought, and you know a
lot of folks were saying, hey, well, just Sazaki just
(12:04):
doesn't have it this year. Fred, Let's just get him
ready for next year and you know, help just build
him up and work on his mechanics, work on certain things,
and he'll be he'll be a big pivotal part of
the team next year. No Dodgers had this in mind
for him while he was in rehab, while he was
on the il. This is how we're gonna utilize you
(12:25):
because our starters are healthy and you're the odd man
out when it comes to the playoffs, but we're gonna
use you out of the bullpen. And I'm telling you
that kid, with every single pitch he gained more and
more confidence and he was lights out and pitching like
he was a ten year vet.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It was.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
It was very, very impressive to see what he did
against that lineup and that game and with all of
that on the line, very very impressive.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
All right, now, let's talk about Sho Hao Tony. You
might not want to hear this. I'm sure it will
change because he is the Otani right now. He has
a liability. Is the leadoff hitter. He has a liability. Yes,
I'm saying Otani is a liability. What is he in
(13:17):
the playoffs? One for seventeen?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I don't know if that I I don't know his numbers,
but it ain't much better than that for sure. Yeah,
he's struggling. If you're gonna lead off, there's things you
know first off. Obviously, everybody has loved him leading off
and opening up the game with a home run, and
he's done that several times. But if you're not going
(13:42):
to at least work the count, get on base, if
you're not getting hits, you gotta find a way to
get on bass. And he's striking out so much and
he's chasing so much that he is, as you mentioned,
he's a non factor in that leadoff spot, because that's
what you need a leadoff guy to do, is you know,
(14:04):
of course you want the home run, but if not,
you want him on base. Got to get him on
base to get it going, to get it started. So
Mookie and Freddie and Taoskar and those guys behind him,
Will Smith, you know, he's they've got a runner on
base when they come up. And he has not done
any of those things.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
And he completely lost right now at the plate. He
did the same thing last year in the playoffs. Think back,
flash back, chase this bad though, not this bad though, yeah,
I remember it was he was struggling, but not this bad, Fred,
But he chased. And that's what everybody said.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
He's chasing, He's chasing, and I think he said, but
Rodney I think you said last year at this time,
take a pitch, walk, take a couple of pitches, just
take just get your rhythm back.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Because he's not helping. There, if we're being really honest,
and everybody loves to see him pitch, and he's Otani
and he's the best, he's all of those things, he's
not helping. A non factor is a nice way of
putting a liability. You cannot have your leader struggle him down,
move him to move him back the second and let
(15:18):
Mookie lead on. Yeah, maybe that's and I think it
comes down to this. So we don't know if it's
the Cubs or the Brewers. We'll find that out tomorrow.
So let's say you keep it the exact same way
game one of the next series, and let's say he struggles,
then you make the move. You have to make the move.
(15:40):
You can't continue like this. Every yet bat is so precious.
Now runs are at a premium. Your leadoff guys got
to get on happen it goes. How did you know?
That's that's sports and that's baseball? Hot? Is it? You know?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Momentum or your thoughts flip so quickly it was, Man,
they're getting ready to turn over the lineup to old Tani.
We just need to get one guy on and Otani's
gonna come up.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
He's in a hole.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
And now your thought is you just hope he doesn't
strike out, you know, because he is chasing and that
anticipation of the top of the order is not what
it was because he is struggling so much. So yeah,
I think that maybe just just a little change, a
(16:32):
subtle change of moving him from first to second Mike
might do him some good. Now, do you think that
even though he doesn't pitch every game, Fred, do you
think the fact that he's pitching now has a lot
of people want to chime in and because everybody's got
the answer that that is a factor or that is
the reason why he's struggling at the plate, because he's
(16:53):
also in the back of his mind is thinking about
pitching every you know, third game.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That I don't know. I mean, I know in the
past when he pitched for the Angels, he hit that.
I do know. So I don't know if that's what
it is or not, But I have to tell you
right now, and I don't want to be struck down
by lightning here right now. They need him to hit
right now. That he has to hit, don't worry about
(17:21):
the pitching later. You can go snell Yamamoto. You can
go snell Yamamoto Glass. Now, Ohtani, we'll move him down
in the pitching rotation. Now move him down. He's got
to hit, you move him down, move him down. So
(17:44):
you do think his pitching is effecting his hitting? I
don't know, but what I'm saying is he's got to
hit more than he's got to pitch right now. He's
got to hit more than he's got to pitch right now.
So if anybody thinks slightest possibility, only in a must
(18:11):
situation would you pitch him.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So you do, you take that off the table. So
you're going snell yea, I'm a modo glass now. And
if you can keep that going and it works out,
You're not thinking about Otani as a fourth starter. You're
thinking if it need if need be, then he can pick.
But just go back to focusing on hitting. No, I'm saying,
let him be the fourth starter. Let him be the
(18:35):
fourth starter. I don't know how the math works out,
the difference of being the fourth starter of being the
third starter, been the second starter. I mean if he's
in the rotation as a starter, he's still thinking about pitching.
So what difference does it make.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Well, he can think about pitching four games into the
series Game one, he can worry about hitting. He can
worry about pitching four games into the series, then pitch
in a best of seven. Then you go. But I
would not. Right now, He's got to hit. That's the key.
(19:15):
He's got a hit, period, that's it. So that's what
I would do. No one listens to me, and I'm
not saying I know anything, but that's what I would do,
because this ain't getting it done. Nobody else would still
be in the leadoff spot hitting like he is right now.
Nobody and in this city if that was going on,
(19:40):
if that was Mookie Rodney, if that was Mooky, people
would be calling for his head, because they did call
for his head when he wasn't hitting.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, move him back to right field, move him out
of that spot, move him way down in the order. Yeah,
you heard all of that when it was Mookie.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
So but yeah, but the you know, the issue obviously
is that in a moment's notice, Game one, he could
hit three home runs and be right back in the groove.
Again sure, So he's that kind of guy, and that's
the beauty of the Dodgers. They had that kind of
depth that Otani can struggle and quite frankly, Freddy Freeman
is struggling yep as well, you know, and Mookie's been
(20:27):
really the consistent one of those you know, the quote
big three. But the other two guys, you know, now
Freddie not as bad as Otani, but but both those
guys are struggling. But that goes to show you the
depth of the Dodgers that they can withstand that, whereas
the Phillies can't withstand those guys going three for whatever
they went and still win ball games.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
All Right, we got a ton of to talk about
on this today, and we're going to take your calls
next hour, Kevin said. People started calling in immediately. All Right,
your calls next hour and we'll take a lot of them.
Don't worry. We got a lot to talk about here
when we come back. Jack Harris at the Times joins us.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Hello, Rogan and Rodney listener, did you know AM five
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Talk with David Vasse, The Dodger Podcast of Record, Clipper
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(21:28):
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's right, it's Friday, and we don't care because we
own to the nl ce Us Rodney, bat Fred Rogan
on a big, big, big Friday show today, three hours
all the way through.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
All right, let's welcome on our buddy, Jack Harris of
the La Times. Jack, how are you today?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I'm doing good. How are you guys?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Uh? Doing great? Okay? Your and I read what you wrote.
I thought you summed it up perfect. I want to
know your initial reaction to what you saw last night
as the game ended, the final play.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I think I like brought my hands to my face
and my mouth was a gape because it was just
it was just such a stunning, just such a stunning scene,
especially sitting up in the press box like most people,
you know, you see the ball go back to the mound,
and even though Orian Kirkering bobbled it a little bit
after it hit off his foot, and Andy pint Has
(22:32):
is only halfway up the first base line, and that
is I mean, maybe not a completely certain amount, but
a good throw gets them pretty easily. And to see
him just in that moment freeze, panics, short wire, whatever,
and throw home and the ball go to the netting.
You know, it's just for what I thought was a
(22:53):
really well played series between two really talented teams, to
have it end in that way, uh, was just stunning.
And you know, even for me, like I gave myself
five seconds to just be shocked by it before I
had to quickly, you know, start writing about what happened.
But but that was you know, I think the reaction
(23:15):
most people had is, you know, in that kind of moment,
to see a guy, you know, just make that kind
of mistake is stunning.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Dave Roberts even has said it was it was brutal
to watch, as happy as he was with what the
result of the play was so a good one for
the Dodgers. I mean, look, they did a lot of
little things to build that inning and put the Phillies
in that spot where they had to make a play
a crushing way for not just this Philly season, but
maybe this era of that team. When you look at
(23:44):
all the free agents that they're going to have this
offseason for all of that to end. But again, I
when you look at this series, the Dodgers in those
moments were just a little bit better than the Phillies
and games won two and four, and that's why they
they're in the NLCS. Now.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I just you hated
to see a game end like that. You'd much rather
have it be a basehead or even if it was
a tight play at the plate or something like that.
But to have it in like that was tough. After
watching what we saw. I mean, it was two heavyweights
going at it Jack, and I was, I want to
(24:25):
say shocked, but I was so impressed with Tyler Glasnow's
performance yesterday. I thought he was every bit of what
and why the Dodgers signed him a couple of years ago,
because he looked like the ace and it felt for
a minute there he was like the forgotten guy Jack.
But he came and delivered yesterday in a big way. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I Mean, the things that were really impressive to me
about the outing is, first off, he had to deal
with a little bit of stress, and then first inning,
after Kyle Schwarber doubles, he buckles down there and then
from that point of his velocity was playing up. His
command was really really good. And I think when you
look at this series overall, the Dodgers starters, especially against
(25:08):
those those three hitters at the top of the Phillies lineup,
their ability to paint the edges of the strike zone
with velocity to then set up their secondary stuff was
so key when you look at their ability to limit
those guys throughout the series. And yeah, for Tyler Glas, now,
somebody who hadn't made a real start in nineteen days,
who obviously you know, has had kind of a rocky
(25:32):
start to his Dodgers' career these last couple of years,
with some really good moments, but also a lot of
injuries and a lot of moments that kind of lead
the scratching your head. And so for him to go
inning for inning, zero for zero with Christopher Sanchez, to
not get rattled by that moment, even though the Dodgers'
offense were struggling and one mistake could have swung that
(25:52):
entire game, that's a really good sign for the Dodgers,
especially moving forward, because you know, he might not have
pitched a lot leading up to yesterday, but from this
point on in the postseason. You know he's going to
be a key part of their rotation as you get
into these longer series as you need guys to keep
giving you innings to cover for the bullpen, and for
them to get that out of him, to have a
(26:14):
you know, that kind of performance from what is effectively
their number four starter speaks to why the Dodgers are
in this position, why they've been able to turn their
season around down the stretch, and why you know, for
him personally, like you said, that's that game right there,
is why the Dodgers went out and got him a
couple off seasons ago. And even though it has not
gone perfectly so far in La, the fact he was
(26:35):
able to deliver six scoreless innings and help keep them
in that game to get them to the NLCS, it's
just another reflection of kind of where he is at
and just a reminder of the talent that this roster has.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
On the topic of pitching, Jack Sazaki goes three innings
last night that you know, I didn't know how long
they'd let him go.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I was thankful they let him go as long as
they did, and I had to let him pitch another
four innings because I was loving watching him. Uh did
they have concerns or talk about it afterwards about he
went too long or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Now, I mean, Dave Roberts said he was planning to
use him for only two innings initially, but you know,
he threw what eight pitches and that first inning he
threw in the eighth. The second one was also efficient.
He is a starting pitcher by trade, and while he's
not super stretched out at the moment, you know, Dave
Roberts felt confident, especially in that spot and seeing how
(27:31):
well Sosaki was pitching, how locked in he looked, that
you know, he could get a third ending out of him,
and that ended up being really big because then you know,
it saved him from having ughes alex Vezia until the
eleventh when he had some more favorable matchups. Obviously, Blake
Trinan was going to be the next guy up because
he was warming in the bottom of the eleventh to
pitch to twelve, that would have been a bit of
(27:51):
a roll the dice, considering how Trenton's looked for much
of this season. So they don't win that game yesterday
without Tyler glasnow, but they definitely don't want it without
Roki Sazaki going out there and not just throwing three
scoreless innings, but three perfect innings in which he retired
all nine batters allow him to get, you know, an
extra ding of work and to kind of keep that
(28:12):
momentum going after the Dodgers got the game tied up
in the bottom of the seventh.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Yeah, And what's what's impressive about that is he he's
he's so he's still very very young. And early part
of the season, obviously we know he was dealing with
some injuries, had to go on IL and then you know,
make some rehab starts and coming back. But before that,
when he was struggling, Jack, he looked, we said it
on our show, it's like a deer in the headlights
(28:38):
a little bit. And then to see his transformation now
where he is the most confident kid on the on
the on the on the field when he's out on
the mound is really remarkable.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Do you you think.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
The Dodgers as the season kind of progressed and they
saw where you know, his struggles and and and as
he said he was in but really didn't want to
tell anybody and it showed, but then got himself together.
But you think it was in the plans for the
Dodgers as the season went on, It's like, this is
our secret weapon and we're gonna we're gonna utilize him
(29:13):
to that effect. Or was it that they just they
threw him out there hoping that he would have some success.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
They definitely were not looking at him as a secret
weapon to be their closer in the postseason. A lot
of people are on the team. That's that's part of
why this transformation we've seen from him is so amazing, because, yes,
by the end of the season, his shoulder was healthy.
That's probably the biggest difference and his year is that,
(29:43):
you know, he just physically got to a place where
he could build strength and get his throwback where he
wanted and then obviously have the velocity and the movement
with the splitter on top of all that. But you know,
by the end of the year, all he had really
done was make one good minor league rehab start and
then a couple of urging outings out of the bullpen,
And when the Dodgers brought him back up, it was
(30:03):
still very uncertain if he would be on the postseason roster,
what kind of role he was going to serve and honestly,
even going into the playoffs, you know, he had pitched
well in those two games at the end of the
regular season, but it was still a little unclear, like, Okay,
is he going to get ninth innings? Is he going
to be used in some lower leverage situations? And I
think even the team was still trying to figure out
exactly what they wanted to get out of him. But
(30:25):
you know, you look at that wild Card series with
how much other relievers struggled. You know, by the time
he came into that second game against the Reds, you know,
it was almost as if everybody else had been eliminated
from closing yr role contention. And he comes in and
has a really strong outing that night, the crowds channing
his name, and I think, you've just seen a pitcher who,
(30:47):
you know, kind of stumbled into this opportunity where they
needed him in such a big spot, but has embraced it,
has shown a lot of confidence and has not looked
intimidated at all. I thought yesterday, you know, as he's
going through at Philly's lineup, strikes out one guy, he's
kind of staring back towards the plate, like you can
just feel that he's really enjoying this moment. He's embracing this,
(31:09):
and it's kind of put you know, it's the way
this season has played out for where he's at now
is kind of good in some ways, because you know,
it's this is like house money for him, it's house
money for the Dodgers, and I think you're seeing a
guy who's happy to be back on the mound, but
really happy that he's able to pitch the way he
wants to on this kind of stage.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
All right, So one thing that's not so happy is
Otani's hitting because it's basically, and I said this earlier.
I don't know if you'll agree. I know he's Otani
right now in the leadoffs, but he's a liability. He's
not doing anybody any good. Jack.
Speaker 4 (31:47):
Yeah, I mean, this was a very discouraging series, especially
when you know, coming into the playoffs. Dave Roberts's point
with o'connie is he cannot approach the postseason like he's
got to do everything. He's got to stay disciplined in
his approach at the plate, he's got to stay disciplined
(32:08):
in the strike zone. He's got to swing at the
right pitches and if teams aren't going to give him
the right pitches, then he's got to let the other
guys behind him, you know, take advantage of that and
just get on base. And he heeded the opposite of
that this series. You know, you saw him in these
two games against Christopher Sanchez trying to chase these inside
sinkers that even if he hit, he's probably not going
(32:28):
to do much with. Then try to cover the outside
part of the plate. It's a really hard thing to do.
Shows probably he's just trying to do too much. Then
he's taking these called third strikes and I think you
know the stat it's not even the one for fourteen
or whatever he had in the series. It's the fact
that he only had you know, two walks, one of
them being intentional yesterday, and then that came back to
(32:51):
bite the Phillies by loading the bases in that seventh inning.
And that's the thing. It's like, if teams are going
to pitch him as carefully as they are. Look, the
Phillies had a good game plan against them. They were
able to throw a lot of left handers against them.
I think somebody like Chris Sanchez in particular, is a
tough matchup because Otani does like to hunt those inside fastballs.
But when you got a guy throw a ninety seven
mile an hour sinkers that tail off of the plate
(33:13):
on the inside. Part again because those are tough pitches
to hit, but you know, to not be able to
settle down a little bit, have a better approach. Understand, Okay,
they're going to pitch me carefully. Let me try to
work caments a little bit deeper. Let me see if
I can either get ahead or take a walk or
get on base. That's the part that moving forward, I
(33:35):
think is going to be as important as if he
can run into a couple home runs, because yeah, like
you said, if he's going up there and making four
or five outs a game from the leadoff spot, that
makes like a lot tougher on this Dodgers lineup. So
I think I think you just saw a guy that
was probably trying to do a little bit too much.
The good news is it did not come back to
(33:56):
cost the Dodgers. They still did enough to get through
this series, and the team's hope is going to be
that he can take maybe a little bit of a reset,
get dialed back into you know, a more disciplined approach, because,
as Dave Roberts puts it, when he's swinging at the
right pitches, he's unstoppable. But this series he didn't do that,
and that's why you saw the struggles he had.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Okay, so do you move him?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Do you move him down and replace them, but Mooki
at the leadoff spot and maybe give him a break
and hit him second.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
Yeah, I mean probably not. He you know, he's still
your best hitter and one bad series doesn't change that.
You still want him getting that extra at that every
time he comes up. And by having him in the
leadoff spot, you know, you go back and look at
Game one. Teams still respect him. And so in Game one,
the Phillies bring on Matt Strom their left hand or
(34:50):
out of the bullpen to face him in that seventh inning,
and though Otani made it out there, it did set
up favorable matchups behind him, eventually leading to taoscar and anders
go ahead home run. So you know, just the presence
and the threat he has in that spot specifically still
has benefit for the Dodgers. I would also be stunned
if we see him go one for fourteen again with
(35:12):
seven strikeouts for whatever it was in the CENTLDS, and
moving him might only exasperate the issue. You know, if
you're trying to get him to just kind of take
a breath, settle down, get back to who he is,
that might be an overreaction. So I wouldn't anticipate anything
like that. I think it just comes down to, you know,
he's got to be better at the plate, and as
the Dodgers move forward in the postseason, you know they're
(35:33):
going to need him because you could, you can maybe
survive one round with a bad show Heyo Tani, but
it's going to become it's really hard to envision them
going all the way and winning the World Series if
he continues to produce at that kind of level.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
See, Jack, that's why you are who you are. You're kind,
you're considerate, your passion, full of passion. I, on the
other hand, say get him out of the leadoff spot.
So see there's the difference between the two of us.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Well, you know, maybe maybe three or four more games
like this and I'll come around on that. But you
know this, this is a guy who in my last
postseason he had some some up and down moments, and
I think ultimately, you know, I know that numbers didn't
jump off the page, but up until he had that
shoulder injury, was still having a pretty nice October. So
you know, all it takes is one swing. Even even
(36:19):
Philly's manager Rob Thompson before Game four, you know, he
was asked like, hey, what are you guys doing so
well against Otwani? Like what are you seeing out of him?
And he just shut down the conversation completely, like this
is the most dangerous center on the planet. One at
back can change everything. So I'm happy with the way
we're pitching him, but I'm not going to make a
big deal out of it because that's the kind of
(36:41):
reputation he has around the league. So again, I think
that the Dodgers trust in him is going to be
high enough that they can leave him in that spot
and figure that things.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Will turn all right, Jack, before we let you go
a tougher matchup Cubs or Brewers for the Dodgers going forward.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
Yeah, I think Milwaukee, Uh, you know, the pitching is
better and deeper with that team. I think the lineup
presents some interesting challenges with just how good they are
at making contact and getting on base and putting pressure
on a pitching staff. At the same time, you know,
in the postseason, home runs really do matter, and they
(37:21):
don't hit many home runs, and a team like the
Cubs can slug, especially if you're looking at what Michael
Bush is doing right now, some of the other threats
they have in that lineup. But I think the Brewers,
you know, they just if if, like if, especially in
a long series that's going to require the Dodgers' bullpen
to probably play a little bit bigger of a role
(37:41):
than it has to this point. You could you could
see how a lineup full of tough outs that aren't
going to chase pitches, that are going to force you
to executing the strike zone could be tough. Obviously, they
went six and zero against the Dodgers this year because
of how good their pitching was and because they were
able to kind of grind down Dodgers pitching. So I
(38:02):
think that's the matchup you'd want to avoid. But to me,
at this stage, like the Phillies were the biggest threat.
That was the team that could really match the Dodgers
and star power and talent, and moving forward, it's really
about the Dodgers and if the rotation keeps pitching well,
and if the lineup can continue to take overall good
team at bats and build innings and then get some
(38:24):
pop when they need it, and if the bullpen can
avoid any big mistakes. If the Dodgers play well, they
should win a World Series kind of regardless of who
they played.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
From this point, agreed, Jack, Thanks, have a great weekend.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
All right, thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
Next hour, Ned Colletti, the man of the Big Chair,
is going to jump on the show. Also next hour,
we will take your calls, and when we come back,
we're gonna there'll be a test on Saturday. Who will pass?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Make AM five Sports a preset before you plug in
your phone. Presets in the iHeartRadio app now available with
Apple CarPlay and Android autom just another easy way to
listen to LA's best sports talk.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
The Noon Delight is Gone, Gone Gone by David Ghetta,
the star DJ producer, recruited Teddy swims and Tones and
as a featured artist on this track that dropped last night.
In an interview, Getta said there were a little bit
(39:36):
of magic mixing swims and Tones and their musical styles together,
and that both artists have the most amazing, soulful voices
on the planet right now.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Again.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Today's Afternoon Delight is Gone, Gone Gone by David Ghetta
featuring Teddy Swims and Tones and I Afternoon Delight is
brought to you by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, a premier
of Palm Springs Gaming Destination. Right now call her number
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(40:15):
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Speaker 1 (40:24):
Let's go. Well, here it is.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
This is the one, uh, we've kind of been waiting
for if you're a USC fan, and uh, you know,
we would love to have gone into this game undefeated
two weeks ago, as USC was on a bye last
week after losing to Illinois and in the last moments
of that game, it would have been great to be
undefeated going into this game against Michigan at the Coliseum.
(40:51):
But uh, there's still a lot of excitement about this
game because Michigan comes to town. Obviously that true of Michigan.
The tradition of USC going way back, way way way back,
all those Rose Bowls played against each other, all the matchups.
You still feel it. So it's going to be electric
in the coliseum on Saturday, Fred, Oh please look, here's
(41:16):
the bottom line. It's going to be electric.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Please what do you mean? Oh? Please?
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Look, I'm giving USC a lot more. It sold out
three months ago. Well, of course they want to see Michigan.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
I'm easy. I am giving USC a lot more credit
than I have in the past few years. I have
and you've heard me do that, and I've done it
because to me, they look like a team now that
can't compete in the Big Ten. They look like that
kind of team, and I don't want to go into well,
they only lost my two points. A loss is a
loss to me. They look legit this year. To me,
(41:48):
they look like they could win it. Seriously, they do.
I love their quarterback, I love their physicality. I like them.
That being said, I think this is a big cast
against a physical team, and I hope they perform.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Well, why do we keep saying that physical? I don't
know if they can be. Who plays physical football anymore?
It is throwing the ball forty times a game. Is
Ohio State running down people's roads? No Ohio State throws
the ball more than anybody.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
They're not. They're not. It's a myth. This is not.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
This is not nineteen, you know, seventy five, where you
know Archie Griffin is running the ball forty times a game.
This is this is twenty twenty five. And oh, you
know what, I got rereading the football and you're throwing
it all over the place. It's all of that, you know,
seventy five, You know what. I'm I'm sick of that.
(42:48):
I'm sick of that. So if they beat Illinois, are
they all of a sudden they're a physical team?
Speaker 1 (42:53):
No? Can you can you agree on? Can you agree
to this? Just tell me if you can agree to this.
Do they look better this year than they did last year? Absolutely? Okay,
you can agree to that, right? And can you agree
to this when you watch them this year, they do
not look like they are going to be physically overmatched
(43:14):
at any point? Can you agree to that? Absolutely? Okay?
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Okay, I don't think they were physically overmatched last year.
To me, they looked like they were a team. You're
falling into the trap of what of just the narrative? Oh,
Big ten is big physical football and the pack is
Oregon is as physical as anybody you know out in
(43:43):
the West. The pack that they just throw the ball
all over the place and that they don't play physical football.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Is Oregon big, true, organ is big, Right, is Michigan big?
Oregon is big and fast. Right. I'm not saying they're
not fast. I'm okay.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Last year, everybody's like praising Penn State. It's Penn State
physical team. What about Ucla who just manhandled Penn State.
Penn State is out, They're getting relegated after that.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
Yeah, yeah, you didn't say that. You didn't say that
before they played u C.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
L A. It was, Oh, Ucla is gonna get manhandled
because big bad Penn State has in the been in
the Big Ten. They're East coach team and they're gonna
be more physical.
Speaker 1 (44:29):
No, No, it's individual teams. Now, it's not.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
It's not you can't just throw it out there and
say that's the style of play in the Big Ten.
They're physical, they're this and that more so than the
team's out west. Is there a style of teams out West?
They're they're faster and and and so that that's the difference.
You're gonna go with speed or you're gonna go with
sage and strength. It used to be that way, but
not anymore.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Is there a style of playing the SEC?
Speaker 2 (44:57):
No, no, No.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
To be Alabama.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
Yeah, used to be a team that just run it
down your throat and they were busy than physical.
Speaker 3 (45:09):
No.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
No, Alabama throws it as much as anybody ole Miss
Lane Kiffin, remember same Lane Kiffin that was out of yere.
He's running the same offense. So they're gonna throw it
fifty times forty times a game. Georgia's throwing the ball
all over the place. Georgia may be of the SEC,
may be the one that still really plays physical football,
(45:32):
and they really try to really try to beat you
up front with their size and their strength and run
the football. But other than that, these teams, the style
of play in college and in the pros is not
just to line up and run the ball down your
throat or defensive line can just stuff you. It is
(45:53):
you better be able to run, you better be able
to catch, you be able to be able to throw
the football. Otherwise you're not gonna be able to compete.
So it's not just just because they're in the Big
Ten that they're more physical. If if sc scores five
more points, against two different teams last year, meaning Penn
State and Notre Dame. You wouldn't have You wouldn't even
(46:15):
be saying that they had nothing to do with physicality.
Damn it, you had to have the damn it, you
had to go there. I did, well, we come back.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
The man in the Big Chair, Ned Coletti joins the
show
All right, here we go, Fred Rogan and Rodney Pete
on a five seventy l A sports And like I
always uh like, I always like to say, Rodney.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Never a doubt, never a doubt, Never an easy, easy,
easy win.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Fred, that couldn't have been any easier last night, exactly
as it was scripted. Never a worry, no reason to sweat,
nothing to be concerned about, nothing to see here. They
gonna take it. They're gonna take them easy. Fred.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
That's what you said, and that's what happened. Man, You're
a spot on buddy. Everybody should listen to you and
run out to their broker, run out to fan duel,
run out to draft kings, run out to whatever. MGM Betton,
just bet on thread because he's all ways right. Jeesus, Fred,
don't say that the next series. Please don't just don't
(00:52):
do that, because when you say I'll be honest like that,
the opposite happens.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm probably I'm gonna
fel very confident, but I'm probably gonna water down what
I say being honest, probably water it down a little bit.
That might be a good idea, because that last night. Yeah,
that could have gone either way. Yes, it could have.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And when you really think about it, you know, I
know people were flying high after the first two wins
in Philly, but those games could have gone either way.
Those games, you know, think about it. First one, Dodgers
are down until Tail hits a three run home run.
Otherwise they lose Game one. And then you know, even
though as much as they thought they had it in
(01:38):
hand in Game two, it got dicey because of the bullpen.
Every one of these games except for the really the
third one where the Phillies blew out, the Dodgers could
have gone either way. And thank god it happened a way,
because I don't think anybody. I know, the fans, you know,
players are gonna play, they're just gonna deal with it.
(01:59):
But I know the Dodgers that don't play, and the
FED did not want the team to go back to
Philly for Game five.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It really was, as people suggested, a battle of two Titans,
the two best teams in the playoffs. Now we said
going in and of course I said, oh yeah, well
that'll be the World Series. The Dodgers win that and
they win the whole thing. I'm gonna water it down
a little bit, So I'm not just gonna keep going
with that, but they are gonna win the whole thing.
(02:30):
But those games were tight, and the Phillies were good.
And if you have a soul as a human being,
a soul, now you might be soulless, but if you
have a soul, you had to feel for Orion kirker
Ring after last night, you had to feel for him.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
A lot of folks that didn't have that don't have
souls in for it, because there are a lot of
folks that didn't care.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Hell with kirk Wing, Hell with the Phillies. Good good
on you, that's what you get.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I mean, there was a lot of no sympathy folks
out there last night after the Dodgers won that game,
and how they won that game. He didn't care. He
really didn't care. It was he should have made the play.
Oh he's a bum.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I can only imagine what's happening in Philly right now.
I felt so badly for him because look at it.
I mean, here's the ball, he picks it up. We
all know the.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Plays the first pace. If he throws the first Paez
is going to be out by seven feet. We all
know the play in that situation, it's the first base,
especially when you gobble it, especially if you especially especially
if you bobble it immediately you go to first base
and you know, to hear him talk about it, you know,
you think, oh, it's right back to me.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I got time, it's easy play, I'm close to home.
I just flick it to him. But first of all,
at on that play, you don't necessarily know what kind
of jump, what kind of lead that right which is
which Kim was on third base, the fastest Dodger. You
don't know what kind of leader jump he gets from
third base. You know, you know that the batter, the
(04:09):
hitter's got to start from the box, so you know
what kind of timing it is. You don't know that
that runner in third base could be halfway down the
line as soon as that ball's hit, and even if
you feeled it clean, it was gonna be a close
plate going to the plate. So yeah, that's why you know,
from the time you're a little leaguer, every good manager
(04:30):
a coach should tell you, will tell you, hey, know
where you're going with the ball before it's hit. Know
what you're gonna do before it's hit To you if
it's hit to you, what are you.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Going to do?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And so you play it out in your mind. And
I think he did have an idea, but once he
bobbled it, I think he just panicked and tried to
flick at home and obviously made a bad throw.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, he had a mental mistake. He freaked out. He
freaked out. And to show you how stunned everybody was,
if you happen to be watching on TV, did you
see the reaction from the Dodger dug out, especially Dave Roberts.
They cut to the Dodger dug out. Dave Roberts was
in amazement and he was amazed at what had happened.
(05:13):
He was smiling.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He I mean, it was just unbridled enthusiasm and genuine
and authentic. He was stunned about what happened. And then
if you saw them run on the field, Freddie Freeman,
if you saw his face, it was shock.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean it was joyful, but it was shock. How
in God's name that happened like that?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, as a player, when you fight like that for
eleven innings and he's back and forth and the pitching
has been incredible, the defense was incredible. I mean, you
gotta give it up. I mean, Trey Turner made some
unbelievable plays, and even our boy tail in right field
made some great plays out there. You know, probably probably
could have been team plays normally, but he made them
(06:02):
look adventurous and he made them good plays in right field.
But yeah, you don't expect it to end that way.
And when it did, it was like, what just happened?
What just happened? And I will I'll say this too.
I'm not I'm not always a fan of Nick Castellanos.
I wasn't a fan of his. I just you know,
(06:24):
some of his actions and attitude and all that kind
of stuff. Wasn't a big fan of his. But yesterday
I'm a fan of his because during all of the commotion,
all of the jubilation from the Dodgers and them, you know,
whenever somebody, you know hits the walk off, you know,
once you score, everybody runs to the guy that hit
the ball, and the Dodgers were sprinting towards Andy Pajs
(06:47):
at first base and congratulating him. And then you look
up and there was a there was an overhead shot
of the whole scene, and as the Dodger players were
running there. There were the Philly players that were just
in defeat, walking off the field and sad hanging their heads,
and some of them pissed and some of them like
what just happened as well. And Castlanos made a bee
(07:11):
line right for Kirkering on the pitcher's mound, because if
you remember he he did that, and then he bent
over and stood there for you know, a good five seconds.
And uh, of course Rio moved to a walked out
and gave him a hug. And but you could see
Castellanos just sprint from right field, not to the dugout,
(07:31):
not anywhere else, but spent right to the pictures mound
to uh to give him a big hug. So to me,
that spoke volumes because in that moment, you know, he
felt like he just wished he could dig a hole
and climb into it and uh, but he had to
take it. But to see his teammates, especially Costellanos, go
right to him and console him was big for me.
(07:54):
And I appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And during that sequence that you point out, there was
such a classic shot. And ABC used to do a
show called Wide World of Sports, The Thriller, Victory and
the Agony of defeat. And it was in that moment
they had the real high camera. Well, Rodney, you saw that,
but they also had a lower camera and it showed
the Dodgers sprinting from the dugout. And this will be
(08:19):
a shot I guarantee you that will be saved forever.
The shot of kirkering on the mound, bent over, hands
on his knees, looking down, not moving, and the Dodger
sprinting past him, joyful, full of emotion, excited, running past him.
(08:44):
That shot. If you work in television production, that shot
gives you chills because it was raw and authentic, and
it was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,
and it was just pour trade perfectly, one lonely soul
bent over, hands on knees, head down in disbelief over
(09:07):
what had just happened, while the other group of people
is celebrating his misfortune. I thought that was chilling. I'm
just a TV guy and I thought, Wow, whoever whoever
got that shot wins an award because that was spectacular.
Let's talk about to Tory right, it told the story. Yeah,
(09:29):
let's talk about Tyler Glass. Now. Well, suddenly, now this
guy's got to pitch every game. You know, he'd been
the forgotten soul. He was not. Yeah, if we gotta
go that many games, you'll get to pitch. Well, good lord,
did he pitch.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
He wasn't good, Fred, He was great. He was fantastic.
He was the reason they signed him last year. He
was every bit of the talented six foot seven whatever
he is, flamethrower he was. He had attitude, he had confidence,
(10:06):
he was hitting his spots, and he got out of jams.
I mean, he was as good as it gets. And
like you said, he was the forgotten guy in that rotation.
It was like, if the series goes long enough, or
you know, some one of our starters gets in trouble,
then we can bring him out of the pen. Or
if we need an arm and we have to go
(10:27):
back to whatever, we'll glass. Nile's the afterthought. But man, man,
and you said this the other day, on any other team,
he is absolutely, without questioning, your number two, and on
a lot of those teams, he's the number one guy.
He's your ace, and he looked like it last night.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Yeah, he was the guy Dodger's number four guy. And man,
did he pitch twelve? Give him credit? Also, let's give
credit Taroki Sazaki. Now that's what we expected. Of course,
was sitting there going, well, hell send him out there again.
Just if the game was twenty innings, then he'll go
like nine of them. It's fine with me. He went
(11:10):
three innings, three good innings. That that could prove to
be his return. Is sort of like the Dodgers traded
for a closer at the trade deadline, except he's already
here and he's never closed. Oh man, yeah, that's scary too.
(11:34):
And he went three innings. I give Dave Roberts a
lot of credit. He let him go.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Rodney, Yeah, where's that poem? Where's that poem? Whoever's getting
the prayers? That was the prayer. It was a prayer Jesus. Yeah,
let's not bring that up again. But anyway, yeah, no,
to let him go in that moment one to one,
you know, he was an afterthought, and you know a
lot of folks were saying, hey, well, just Sazaki just
(12:04):
doesn't have it this year. Fred, Let's just get him
ready for next year and you know, help just build
him up and work on his mechanics, work on certain things,
and he'll be he'll be a big pivotal part of
the team next year. No Dodgers had this in mind
for him while he was in rehab, while he was
on the il. This is how we're gonna utilize you
(12:25):
because our starters are healthy and you're the odd man
out when it comes to the playoffs, but we're gonna
use you out of the bullpen. And I'm telling you
that kid, with every single pitch he gained more and
more confidence and he was lights out and pitching like
he was a ten year vet.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It was.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
It was very, very impressive to see what he did
against that lineup and that game and with all of
that on the line, very very impressive.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
All right, now, let's talk about Sho Hao Tony. You
might not want to hear this. I'm sure it will
change because he is the Otani right now. He has
a liability. Is the leadoff hitter. He has a liability. Yes,
I'm saying Otani is a liability. What is he in
(13:17):
the playoffs? One for seventeen?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I don't know if that I I don't know his numbers,
but it ain't much better than that for sure. Yeah,
he's struggling. If you're gonna lead off, there's things you
know first off. Obviously, everybody has loved him leading off
and opening up the game with a home run, and
he's done that several times. But if you're not going
(13:42):
to at least work the count, get on base, if
you're not getting hits, you gotta find a way to
get on bass. And he's striking out so much and
he's chasing so much that he is, as you mentioned,
he's a non factor in that leadoff spot, because that's
what you need a leadoff guy to do, is you know,
(14:04):
of course you want the home run, but if not,
you want him on base. Got to get him on
base to get it going, to get it started. So
Mookie and Freddie and Taoskar and those guys behind him,
Will Smith, you know, he's they've got a runner on
base when they come up. And he has not done
any of those things.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
And he completely lost right now at the plate. He
did the same thing last year in the playoffs. Think back,
flash back, chase this bad though, not this bad though, yeah,
I remember it was he was struggling, but not this bad, Fred,
But he chased. And that's what everybody said.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
He's chasing, He's chasing, and I think he said, but
Rodney I think you said last year at this time,
take a pitch, walk, take a couple of pitches, just
take just get your rhythm back.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Because he's not helping. There, if we're being really honest,
and everybody loves to see him pitch, and he's Otani
and he's the best, he's all of those things, he's
not helping. A non factor is a nice way of
putting a liability. You cannot have your leader struggle him down,
move him to move him back the second and let
(15:18):
Mookie lead on. Yeah, maybe that's and I think it
comes down to this. So we don't know if it's
the Cubs or the Brewers. We'll find that out tomorrow.
So let's say you keep it the exact same way
game one of the next series, and let's say he struggles,
then you make the move. You have to make the move.
(15:40):
You can't continue like this. Every yet bat is so precious.
Now runs are at a premium. Your leadoff guys got
to get on happen it goes. How did you know?
That's that's sports and that's baseball? Hot? Is it? You know?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Momentum or your thoughts flip so quickly it was, Man,
they're getting ready to turn over the lineup to old Tani.
We just need to get one guy on and Otani's
gonna come up.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
He's in a hole.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
And now your thought is you just hope he doesn't
strike out, you know, because he is chasing and that
anticipation of the top of the order is not what
it was because he is struggling so much. So yeah,
I think that maybe just just a little change, a
(16:32):
subtle change of moving him from first to second Mike
might do him some good. Now, do you think that
even though he doesn't pitch every game, Fred, do you
think the fact that he's pitching now has a lot
of people want to chime in and because everybody's got
the answer that that is a factor or that is
the reason why he's struggling at the plate, because he's
(16:53):
also in the back of his mind is thinking about
pitching every you know, third game.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That I don't know. I mean, I know in the
past when he pitched for the Angels, he hit that.
I do know. So I don't know if that's what
it is or not, But I have to tell you
right now, and I don't want to be struck down
by lightning here right now. They need him to hit
right now. That he has to hit, don't worry about
(17:21):
the pitching later. You can go snell Yamamoto. You can
go snell Yamamoto Glass. Now, Ohtani, we'll move him down
in the pitching rotation. Now move him down. He's got
to hit, you move him down, move him down. So
(17:44):
you do think his pitching is effecting his hitting? I
don't know, but what I'm saying is he's got to
hit more than he's got to pitch right now. He's
got to hit more than he's got to pitch right now.
So if anybody thinks slightest possibility, only in a must
(18:11):
situation would you pitch him.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So you do, you take that off the table. So
you're going snell yea, I'm a modo glass now. And
if you can keep that going and it works out,
You're not thinking about Otani as a fourth starter. You're
thinking if it need if need be, then he can pick.
But just go back to focusing on hitting. No, I'm saying,
let him be the fourth starter. Let him be the
(18:35):
fourth starter. I don't know how the math works out,
the difference of being the fourth starter of being the
third starter, been the second starter. I mean if he's
in the rotation as a starter, he's still thinking about pitching.
So what difference does it make.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Well, he can think about pitching four games into the
series Game one, he can worry about hitting. He can
worry about pitching four games into the series, then pitch
in a best of seven. Then you go. But I
would not. Right now, He's got to hit. That's the key.
(19:15):
He's got a hit, period, that's it. So that's what
I would do. No one listens to me, and I'm
not saying I know anything, but that's what I would do,
because this ain't getting it done. Nobody else would still
be in the leadoff spot hitting like he is right now.
Nobody and in this city if that was going on,
(19:40):
if that was Mookie Rodney, if that was Mooky, people
would be calling for his head, because they did call
for his head when he wasn't hitting.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, move him back to right field, move him out
of that spot, move him way down in the order. Yeah,
you heard all of that when it was Mookie.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
So but yeah, but the you know, the issue obviously
is that in a moment's notice, Game one, he could
hit three home runs and be right back in the groove.
Again sure, So he's that kind of guy, and that's
the beauty of the Dodgers. They had that kind of
depth that Otani can struggle and quite frankly, Freddy Freeman
is struggling yep as well, you know, and Mookie's been
(20:27):
really the consistent one of those you know, the quote
big three. But the other two guys, you know, now
Freddie not as bad as Otani, but but both those
guys are struggling. But that goes to show you the
depth of the Dodgers that they can withstand that, whereas
the Phillies can't withstand those guys going three for whatever
they went and still win ball games.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
All Right, we got a ton of to talk about
on this today, and we're going to take your calls
next hour, Kevin said. People started calling in immediately. All Right,
your calls next hour and we'll take a lot of them.
Don't worry. We got a lot to talk about here
when we come back. Jack Harris at the Times joins us.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Hello, Rogan and Rodney listener, did you know AM five
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Talk with David Vasse, The Dodger Podcast of Record, Clipper
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(21:28):
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's right, it's Friday, and we don't care because we
own to the nl ce Us Rodney, bat Fred Rogan
on a big, big, big Friday show today, three hours
all the way through.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
All right, let's welcome on our buddy, Jack Harris of
the La Times. Jack, how are you today?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I'm doing good. How are you guys?
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Uh? Doing great? Okay? Your and I read what you wrote.
I thought you summed it up perfect. I want to
know your initial reaction to what you saw last night
as the game ended, the final play.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I think I like brought my hands to my face
and my mouth was a gape because it was just
it was just such a stunning, just such a stunning scene,
especially sitting up in the press box like most people,
you know, you see the ball go back to the mound,
and even though Orian Kirkering bobbled it a little bit
after it hit off his foot, and Andy pint Has
(22:32):
is only halfway up the first base line, and that
is I mean, maybe not a completely certain amount, but
a good throw gets them pretty easily. And to see
him just in that moment freeze, panics, short wire, whatever,
and throw home and the ball go to the netting.
You know, it's just for what I thought was a
(22:53):
really well played series between two really talented teams, to
have it end in that way, uh, was just stunning.
And you know, even for me, like I gave myself
five seconds to just be shocked by it before I
had to quickly, you know, start writing about what happened.
But but that was you know, I think the reaction
(23:15):
most people had is, you know, in that kind of moment,
to see a guy, you know, just make that kind
of mistake is stunning.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Dave Roberts even has said it was it was brutal
to watch, as happy as he was with what the
result of the play was so a good one for
the Dodgers. I mean, look, they did a lot of
little things to build that inning and put the Phillies
in that spot where they had to make a play
a crushing way for not just this Philly season, but
maybe this era of that team. When you look at
(23:44):
all the free agents that they're going to have this
offseason for all of that to end. But again, I
when you look at this series, the Dodgers in those
moments were just a little bit better than the Phillies
and games won two and four, and that's why they
they're in the NLCS. Now.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I just you hated
to see a game end like that. You'd much rather
have it be a basehead or even if it was
a tight play at the plate or something like that.
But to have it in like that was tough. After
watching what we saw. I mean, it was two heavyweights
going at it Jack, and I was, I want to
(24:25):
say shocked, but I was so impressed with Tyler Glasnow's
performance yesterday. I thought he was every bit of what
and why the Dodgers signed him a couple of years ago,
because he looked like the ace and it felt for
a minute there he was like the forgotten guy Jack.
But he came and delivered yesterday in a big way. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I Mean, the things that were really impressive to me
about the outing is, first off, he had to deal
with a little bit of stress, and then first inning,
after Kyle Schwarber doubles, he buckles down there and then
from that point of his velocity was playing up. His
command was really really good. And I think when you
look at this series overall, the Dodgers starters, especially against
(25:08):
those those three hitters at the top of the Phillies lineup,
their ability to paint the edges of the strike zone
with velocity to then set up their secondary stuff was
so key when you look at their ability to limit
those guys throughout the series. And yeah, for Tyler Glas, now,
somebody who hadn't made a real start in nineteen days,
who obviously you know, has had kind of a rocky
(25:32):
start to his Dodgers' career these last couple of years,
with some really good moments, but also a lot of
injuries and a lot of moments that kind of lead
the scratching your head. And so for him to go
inning for inning, zero for zero with Christopher Sanchez, to
not get rattled by that moment, even though the Dodgers'
offense were struggling and one mistake could have swung that
(25:52):
entire game, that's a really good sign for the Dodgers,
especially moving forward, because you know, he might not have
pitched a lot leading up to yesterday, but from this
point on in the postseason. You know he's going to
be a key part of their rotation as you get
into these longer series as you need guys to keep
giving you innings to cover for the bullpen, and for
them to get that out of him, to have a
(26:14):
you know, that kind of performance from what is effectively
their number four starter speaks to why the Dodgers are
in this position, why they've been able to turn their
season around down the stretch, and why you know, for
him personally, like you said, that's that game right there,
is why the Dodgers went out and got him a
couple off seasons ago. And even though it has not
gone perfectly so far in La, the fact he was
(26:35):
able to deliver six scoreless innings and help keep them
in that game to get them to the NLCS, it's
just another reflection of kind of where he is at
and just a reminder of the talent that this roster has.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
On the topic of pitching, Jack Sazaki goes three innings
last night that you know, I didn't know how long
they'd let him go.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I was thankful they let him go as long as
they did, and I had to let him pitch another
four innings because I was loving watching him. Uh did
they have concerns or talk about it afterwards about he
went too long or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Now, I mean, Dave Roberts said he was planning to
use him for only two innings initially, but you know,
he threw what eight pitches and that first inning he
threw in the eighth. The second one was also efficient.
He is a starting pitcher by trade, and while he's
not super stretched out at the moment, you know, Dave
Roberts felt confident, especially in that spot and seeing how
(27:31):
well Sosaki was pitching, how locked in he looked, that
you know, he could get a third ending out of him,
and that ended up being really big because then you know,
it saved him from having ughes alex Vezia until the
eleventh when he had some more favorable matchups. Obviously, Blake
Trinan was going to be the next guy up because
he was warming in the bottom of the eleventh to
pitch to twelve, that would have been a bit of
(27:51):
a roll the dice, considering how Trenton's looked for much
of this season. So they don't win that game yesterday
without Tyler glasnow, but they definitely don't want it without
Roki Sazaki going out there and not just throwing three
scoreless innings, but three perfect innings in which he retired
all nine batters allow him to get, you know, an
extra ding of work and to kind of keep that
(28:12):
momentum going after the Dodgers got the game tied up
in the bottom of the seventh.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Yeah, And what's what's impressive about that is he he's
he's so he's still very very young. And early part
of the season, obviously we know he was dealing with
some injuries, had to go on IL and then you know,
make some rehab starts and coming back. But before that,
when he was struggling, Jack, he looked, we said it
on our show, it's like a deer in the headlights
(28:38):
a little bit. And then to see his transformation now
where he is the most confident kid on the on
the on the on the field when he's out on
the mound is really remarkable.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Do you you think.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
The Dodgers as the season kind of progressed and they
saw where you know, his struggles and and and as
he said he was in but really didn't want to
tell anybody and it showed, but then got himself together.
But you think it was in the plans for the
Dodgers as the season went on, It's like, this is
our secret weapon and we're gonna we're gonna utilize him
(29:13):
to that effect. Or was it that they just they
threw him out there hoping that he would have some success.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
They definitely were not looking at him as a secret
weapon to be their closer in the postseason. A lot
of people are on the team. That's that's part of
why this transformation we've seen from him is so amazing, because, yes,
by the end of the season, his shoulder was healthy.
That's probably the biggest difference and his year is that,
(29:43):
you know, he just physically got to a place where
he could build strength and get his throwback where he
wanted and then obviously have the velocity and the movement
with the splitter on top of all that. But you know,
by the end of the year, all he had really
done was make one good minor league rehab start and
then a couple of urging outings out of the bullpen,
And when the Dodgers brought him back up, it was
(30:03):
still very uncertain if he would be on the postseason roster,
what kind of role he was going to serve and honestly,
even going into the playoffs, you know, he had pitched
well in those two games at the end of the
regular season, but it was still a little unclear, like, Okay,
is he going to get ninth innings? Is he going
to be used in some lower leverage situations? And I
think even the team was still trying to figure out
exactly what they wanted to get out of him. But
(30:25):
you know, you look at that wild Card series with
how much other relievers struggled. You know, by the time
he came into that second game against the Reds, you know,
it was almost as if everybody else had been eliminated
from closing yr role contention. And he comes in and
has a really strong outing that night, the crowds channing
his name, and I think, you've just seen a pitcher who,
(30:47):
you know, kind of stumbled into this opportunity where they
needed him in such a big spot, but has embraced it,
has shown a lot of confidence and has not looked
intimidated at all. I thought yesterday, you know, as he's
going through at Philly's lineup, strikes out one guy, he's
kind of staring back towards the plate, like you can
just feel that he's really enjoying this moment. He's embracing this,
(31:09):
and it's kind of put you know, it's the way
this season has played out for where he's at now
is kind of good in some ways, because you know,
it's this is like house money for him, it's house
money for the Dodgers, and I think you're seeing a
guy who's happy to be back on the mound, but
really happy that he's able to pitch the way he
wants to on this kind of stage.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
All right, So one thing that's not so happy is
Otani's hitting because it's basically, and I said this earlier.
I don't know if you'll agree. I know he's Otani
right now in the leadoffs, but he's a liability. He's
not doing anybody any good. Jack.
Speaker 4 (31:47):
Yeah, I mean, this was a very discouraging series, especially
when you know, coming into the playoffs. Dave Roberts's point
with o'connie is he cannot approach the postseason like he's
got to do everything. He's got to stay disciplined in
his approach at the plate, he's got to stay disciplined
(32:08):
in the strike zone. He's got to swing at the
right pitches and if teams aren't going to give him
the right pitches, then he's got to let the other
guys behind him, you know, take advantage of that and
just get on base. And he heeded the opposite of
that this series. You know, you saw him in these
two games against Christopher Sanchez trying to chase these inside
sinkers that even if he hit, he's probably not going
(32:28):
to do much with. Then try to cover the outside
part of the plate. It's a really hard thing to do.
Shows probably he's just trying to do too much. Then
he's taking these called third strikes and I think you
know the stat it's not even the one for fourteen
or whatever he had in the series. It's the fact
that he only had you know, two walks, one of
them being intentional yesterday, and then that came back to
(32:51):
bite the Phillies by loading the bases in that seventh inning.
And that's the thing. It's like, if teams are going
to pitch him as carefully as they are. Look, the
Phillies had a good game plan against them. They were
able to throw a lot of left handers against them.
I think somebody like Chris Sanchez in particular, is a
tough matchup because Otani does like to hunt those inside fastballs.
But when you got a guy throw a ninety seven
mile an hour sinkers that tail off of the plate
(33:13):
on the inside. Part again because those are tough pitches
to hit, but you know, to not be able to
settle down a little bit, have a better approach. Understand, Okay,
they're going to pitch me carefully. Let me try to
work caments a little bit deeper. Let me see if
I can either get ahead or take a walk or
get on base. That's the part that moving forward, I
(33:35):
think is going to be as important as if he
can run into a couple home runs, because yeah, like
you said, if he's going up there and making four
or five outs a game from the leadoff spot, that
makes like a lot tougher on this Dodgers lineup. So
I think I think you just saw a guy that
was probably trying to do a little bit too much.
The good news is it did not come back to
(33:56):
cost the Dodgers. They still did enough to get through
this series, and the team's hope is going to be
that he can take maybe a little bit of a reset,
get dialed back into you know, a more disciplined approach, because,
as Dave Roberts puts it, when he's swinging at the
right pitches, he's unstoppable. But this series he didn't do that,
and that's why you saw the struggles he had.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Okay, so do you move him?
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Do you move him down and replace them, but Mooki
at the leadoff spot and maybe give him a break
and hit him second.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
Yeah, I mean probably not. He you know, he's still
your best hitter and one bad series doesn't change that.
You still want him getting that extra at that every
time he comes up. And by having him in the
leadoff spot, you know, you go back and look at
Game one. Teams still respect him. And so in Game one,
the Phillies bring on Matt Strom their left hand or
(34:50):
out of the bullpen to face him in that seventh inning,
and though Otani made it out there, it did set
up favorable matchups behind him, eventually leading to taoscar and anders
go ahead home run. So you know, just the presence
and the threat he has in that spot specifically still
has benefit for the Dodgers. I would also be stunned
if we see him go one for fourteen again with
(35:12):
seven strikeouts for whatever it was in the CENTLDS, and
moving him might only exasperate the issue. You know, if
you're trying to get him to just kind of take
a breath, settle down, get back to who he is,
that might be an overreaction. So I wouldn't anticipate anything
like that. I think it just comes down to, you know,
he's got to be better at the plate, and as
the Dodgers move forward in the postseason, you know they're
(35:33):
going to need him because you could, you can maybe
survive one round with a bad show Heyo Tani, but
it's going to become it's really hard to envision them
going all the way and winning the World Series if
he continues to produce at that kind of level.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
See, Jack, that's why you are who you are. You're kind,
you're considerate, your passion, full of passion. I, on the
other hand, say get him out of the leadoff spot.
So see there's the difference between the two of us.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Well, you know, maybe maybe three or four more games
like this and I'll come around on that. But you
know this, this is a guy who in my last
postseason he had some some up and down moments, and
I think ultimately, you know, I know that numbers didn't
jump off the page, but up until he had that
shoulder injury, was still having a pretty nice October. So
you know, all it takes is one swing. Even even
(36:19):
Philly's manager Rob Thompson before Game four, you know, he
was asked like, hey, what are you guys doing so
well against Otwani? Like what are you seeing out of him?
And he just shut down the conversation completely, like this
is the most dangerous center on the planet. One at
back can change everything. So I'm happy with the way
we're pitching him, but I'm not going to make a
big deal out of it because that's the kind of
(36:41):
reputation he has around the league. So again, I think
that the Dodgers trust in him is going to be
high enough that they can leave him in that spot
and figure that things.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Will turn all right, Jack, before we let you go
a tougher matchup Cubs or Brewers for the Dodgers going forward.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
Yeah, I think Milwaukee, Uh, you know, the pitching is
better and deeper with that team. I think the lineup
presents some interesting challenges with just how good they are
at making contact and getting on base and putting pressure
on a pitching staff. At the same time, you know,
in the postseason, home runs really do matter, and they
(37:21):
don't hit many home runs, and a team like the
Cubs can slug, especially if you're looking at what Michael
Bush is doing right now, some of the other threats
they have in that lineup. But I think the Brewers,
you know, they just if if, like if, especially in
a long series that's going to require the Dodgers' bullpen
to probably play a little bit bigger of a role
(37:41):
than it has to this point. You could you could
see how a lineup full of tough outs that aren't
going to chase pitches, that are going to force you
to executing the strike zone could be tough. Obviously, they
went six and zero against the Dodgers this year because
of how good their pitching was and because they were
able to kind of grind down Dodgers pitching. So I
(38:02):
think that's the matchup you'd want to avoid. But to me,
at this stage, like the Phillies were the biggest threat.
That was the team that could really match the Dodgers
and star power and talent, and moving forward, it's really
about the Dodgers and if the rotation keeps pitching well,
and if the lineup can continue to take overall good
team at bats and build innings and then get some
(38:24):
pop when they need it, and if the bullpen can
avoid any big mistakes. If the Dodgers play well, they
should win a World Series kind of regardless of who
they played.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
From this point, agreed, Jack, Thanks, have a great weekend.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
All right, thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
Next hour, Ned Colletti, the man of the Big Chair,
is going to jump on the show. Also next hour,
we will take your calls, and when we come back,
we're gonna there'll be a test on Saturday. Who will pass?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Make AM five Sports a preset before you plug in
your phone. Presets in the iHeartRadio app now available with
Apple CarPlay and Android autom just another easy way to
listen to LA's best sports talk.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
The Noon Delight is Gone, Gone Gone by David Ghetta,
the star DJ producer, recruited Teddy swims and Tones and
as a featured artist on this track that dropped last night.
In an interview, Getta said there were a little bit
(39:36):
of magic mixing swims and Tones and their musical styles together,
and that both artists have the most amazing, soulful voices
on the planet right now.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Again.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Today's Afternoon Delight is Gone, Gone Gone by David Ghetta
featuring Teddy Swims and Tones and I Afternoon Delight is
brought to you by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, a premier
of Palm Springs Gaming Destination. Right now call her number
six to eight sixty six nine eight seven two five
seventy we'll win a two night say at the hotel,
(40:15):
dinner for two at Palm and golf for two at
Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
Let's go. Well, here it is.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
This is the one, uh, we've kind of been waiting
for if you're a USC fan, and uh, you know,
we would love to have gone into this game undefeated
two weeks ago, as USC was on a bye last
week after losing to Illinois and in the last moments
of that game, it would have been great to be
undefeated going into this game against Michigan at the Coliseum.
(40:51):
But uh, there's still a lot of excitement about this
game because Michigan comes to town. Obviously that true of Michigan.
The tradition of USC going way back, way way way back,
all those Rose Bowls played against each other, all the matchups.
You still feel it. So it's going to be electric
in the coliseum on Saturday, Fred, Oh please look, here's
(41:16):
the bottom line. It's going to be electric.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Please what do you mean? Oh? Please?
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Look, I'm giving USC a lot more. It sold out
three months ago. Well, of course they want to see Michigan.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
I'm easy. I am giving USC a lot more credit
than I have in the past few years. I have
and you've heard me do that, and I've done it
because to me, they look like a team now that
can't compete in the Big Ten. They look like that
kind of team, and I don't want to go into well,
they only lost my two points. A loss is a
loss to me. They look legit this year. To me,
(41:48):
they look like they could win it. Seriously, they do.
I love their quarterback, I love their physicality. I like them.
That being said, I think this is a big cast
against a physical team, and I hope they perform.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Well, why do we keep saying that physical? I don't
know if they can be. Who plays physical football anymore?
It is throwing the ball forty times a game. Is
Ohio State running down people's roads? No Ohio State throws
the ball more than anybody.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
They're not. They're not. It's a myth. This is not.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
This is not nineteen, you know, seventy five, where you
know Archie Griffin is running the ball forty times a game.
This is this is twenty twenty five. And oh, you
know what, I got rereading the football and you're throwing
it all over the place. It's all of that, you know,
seventy five, You know what. I'm I'm sick of that.
(42:48):
I'm sick of that. So if they beat Illinois, are
they all of a sudden they're a physical team?
Speaker 1 (42:53):
No? Can you can you agree on? Can you agree
to this? Just tell me if you can agree to this.
Do they look better this year than they did last year? Absolutely? Okay,
you can agree to that, right? And can you agree
to this when you watch them this year, they do
not look like they are going to be physically overmatched
(43:14):
at any point? Can you agree to that? Absolutely? Okay?
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Okay, I don't think they were physically overmatched last year.
To me, they looked like they were a team. You're
falling into the trap of what of just the narrative? Oh,
Big ten is big physical football and the pack is
Oregon is as physical as anybody you know out in
(43:43):
the West. The pack that they just throw the ball
all over the place and that they don't play physical football.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Is Oregon big, true, organ is big, Right, is Michigan big?
Oregon is big and fast. Right. I'm not saying they're
not fast. I'm okay.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Last year, everybody's like praising Penn State. It's Penn State
physical team. What about Ucla who just manhandled Penn State.
Penn State is out, They're getting relegated after that.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
Yeah, yeah, you didn't say that. You didn't say that
before they played u C.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
L A. It was, Oh, Ucla is gonna get manhandled
because big bad Penn State has in the been in
the Big Ten. They're East coach team and they're gonna
be more physical.
Speaker 1 (44:29):
No, No, it's individual teams. Now, it's not.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
It's not you can't just throw it out there and
say that's the style of play in the Big Ten.
They're physical, they're this and that more so than the
team's out west. Is there a style of teams out West?
They're they're faster and and and so that that's the difference.
You're gonna go with speed or you're gonna go with
sage and strength. It used to be that way, but
not anymore.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Is there a style of playing the SEC?
Speaker 2 (44:57):
No, no, No.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
To be Alabama.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
Yeah, used to be a team that just run it
down your throat and they were busy than physical.
Speaker 3 (45:09):
No.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
No, Alabama throws it as much as anybody ole Miss
Lane Kiffin, remember same Lane Kiffin that was out of yere.
He's running the same offense. So they're gonna throw it
fifty times forty times a game. Georgia's throwing the ball
all over the place. Georgia may be of the SEC,
may be the one that still really plays physical football,
(45:32):
and they really try to really try to beat you
up front with their size and their strength and run
the football. But other than that, these teams, the style
of play in college and in the pros is not
just to line up and run the ball down your
throat or defensive line can just stuff you. It is
(45:53):
you better be able to run, you better be able
to catch, you be able to be able to throw
the football. Otherwise you're not gonna be able to compete.
So it's not just just because they're in the Big
Ten that they're more physical. If if sc scores five
more points, against two different teams last year, meaning Penn
State and Notre Dame. You wouldn't have You wouldn't even
(46:15):
be saying that they had nothing to do with physicality.
Damn it, you had to have the damn it, you
had to go there. I did, well, we come back.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
The man in the Big Chair, Ned Coletti joins the
show
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