November 6, 2025 • 36 mins
Dylan Hernandez hops on to talk about the Dodgers' grit in winning the World Series and what the future will look like as they head into the winter meetings. Its Lit features the return of Paul DePodesta, a new Padres manager and Russell Westbrook making history.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, we continue on Fred Rogan, Rodney Pete on
a five seventy LA Sports just a two hour program
for us today and coming up later on in the hour,
Kevin will be along to get us caught up on
everything that has happened while we have been on the
air with its Lift. But now let's get back to
the Dodgers. Welcome on our friend Dylan Hernandez of The Times,
(00:20):
and Dylan, thanks for jumping on.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Oh, thank you so much for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Okay, well it's all said, it's all done. The Dodgers
have done it again. It was a long road, but
now we start looking forward to next year. And when
you look forward to next year, you have to make decisions.
You believe you bring everybody back.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, I think you kind of have to, you know,
because it's not just you know, well you know everybody
in terms of like all the key contributors, right, I
don't think you know, you don't bring Kirby As back,
you don't bring micro Contorno back. Miguel Rojas is a
free agent obviously, you know, with all the things he did,
I think you got to bring him back, and I
think you got to bring Key Jay Hernandez back, you know,
(00:58):
and so he's also free agent, you know, And because
I think you also, you know, I think they're you know,
there are two sides of this, you know. One obviously
is what these guys mean to the city now right.
These guys are all like on first name, you know,
it's not nickname basis is you know, basies with the
with the city, uh, you know. And I think also
just as players, you know, you win something like that,
(01:19):
you play big part in it. You deserve a chance
to defend that title, you know. And so you know,
there's always a trade deadline, right, I mean, if the team,
the team is getting older, you know, that is a
that is a serious concern. But you know, if it
proves to be unsustainable, there's always a trade deadline where
you can you know, mix the roster up again.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, hey, Dylan, you know, going back to the World Series,
because it was it was fascinating. A lot of people
are calling it the best World Series they've ever seen.
It certainly was compelling from a Dodger standpoint. How do
you feel because I've been discussing this still with people.
As I mentioned to you off air, I'm having withdrawals
(01:58):
because I'm still fascinated by the whole playoffs in the
Dodgers run. But people are saying that did just win
it or did Torontald give it away?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think they want it, you know. I mean there's
so many just kind of big plays, and I think
when you kind of look back at this too, you know,
I think I think what fans remember our moments, right,
and you look at this World Series and the number
of moments that it produced, you know, frankly for both sides.
I just think it was just kind of great from
that standpoint, you know. I think people are going to remember,
(02:32):
you know, where they were when you know, Keik Hernandez,
you know, doubled off that guy at second base, you know,
to end game six. I think people remember where they
were when Miguel Rojas, you know, hit the home run
in the bottom of the or the top of the
knife to tie it in game seven. And people remember
where they were when you know, Will Smith hit the
you know, go ahead home run in the eleventh of
Game seven. I think people remember where they were when
(02:54):
you have a mooto came out you have to come
out of the bullpen in Game seven, so you know
to me that those are kind of the things that
really like laugh, you know, and I think just kind
of the just a pure number of moments that this
World series created. Yeah, it's kind of hard hard to
argue that, you know, we've seen a better World series. Uh,
you know, at least in the last couple of decades.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Uh, Is this the best Dodger team ever? Don't.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh, you know, I'm not. Obviously. You know, the bullpen
was kind of problematic, right, you know, I mean, the
Yamamoto's heroics and you know glass Now pitching out of
the pen. You know, uh, you know, Otani starting on
short rests. All these things became necessary, you know because
of that bullpen. Uh. You know, they did have that
Game three performance where kind of everybody you know, uh
(03:43):
came through.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know that the pen does kind of give me
a little bit of pause with this. Obviously, this team
was kind of able to kind of get through that.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
You know, if this Dodger team goes against the Dodger
team of last year, you know, are they necessarily better?
I'm not really so sure, you know, to be honest,
Like I think, you know, if they play ten series,
maybe they split them right, But again I think, you know,
I think people will remember this Dodgers team the most,
probably though because again just kind of what I said earlier,
(04:14):
just the number of moments that these guys created.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Okay, switch in a little bit, Gears, and you're talking about,
you know, best Dodger team ever? To stack him up
against last year's team, Not so sure because the bullpen
was great, yet the starting pitching wasn't that great. But
when you look at this team and going forward, because
you touched on it already a little bit, about what
(04:39):
do you do in terms of keeping the team together
when you look going forward and free agency? Do they
make a big splash? Do they get the Kyle Tucker?
And I the heard some people talking about Bulbis yet
as well? Or I don't see Bregman happening to the
Dodgers anytime soon because he's one of those astro players.
But in terms of Tucker, do they make a serious
run at him? And what about Schooble?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, Tucker is more of a due diligence type guy, right,
I mean I'm not sure you kind of push all
your chips into the middle of the table for him,
you know that said?
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Right?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I mean one great thing the Dodgers do do is
like check in with everybody and they say, hey, you
know what if everything kind of falls apart for you,
you know, we're here as a backup plan for you, right,
and we might not give you the years or the
aav that you want. But you know that's how they
ended up getting Freddie Freeman, right. I mean, they they
let Freeman kind of do his thing with the Braves.
You know, the Braves decided to move on, and the
(05:32):
Dodgers were kind of right there. So you know, my
guess is with Tucker will probably be more along those lines.
You know, I don't think that there is. Yeah, if
there is going to be kind of anybody that you
kind of go after, maybe is a schoobl You know,
now they're going to have to be kind of be
sure that this is the guy they want to commit
to long term. I'm sure you know that they'll have
some right, They'll they'll be kind of checking into like
his medical history because he is a guy that's had
(05:55):
major surgery before. So you know, you kind of have
to kind of decide if it's a guy we want
to go to long term or not. You know that said,
I mean I think their rotation is good enough frankly
that they don't need school, you know. I mean I
think if again, if he's available for the right price,
I can see them pouncing on him. But you know,
this particular free agent class I don't really view as
like having Okay, this guy's going to kind of you know, change, right,
(06:19):
you know, the complexion of the team. I don't think
you kind of have any of those guys. But yeah,
you know, it is just concerning the fact that I think,
you know, next year, right, Freddy Freeman, by the time
the World Series comes around, he'll be thirty seven, assuming
they bring back Rohaks, he'll be thirty seven.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
You know, Bett is getting up there. I think he'll
be like thirty four thirty five next year. And even
Otani's getting a little bit older, right, And you know,
we saw, you know, in one of the Japanese papers,
Otani's own father kind of wrote him an open letter
after they won the World Series, and you know, he
was even kind of looking ahead to the day he
couldn't play both ways, right, just kind of physically because
of the age. Obviously, we're seeing that taking a bigger
(06:53):
toll on Otani Yeah, so at some point they're going
to have to kind of figure out how to kind
of move on from here. And what's what's really difficult,
you know, is that as many as you know, high
regarded prospects as they have, you know, it's kind of
not just good enough to just be like a nice
prospect if you're on the Dodgers, but you've got to
be good enough to be able to kind of step
in and start and contribute for a team that's hoping
(07:15):
to win a World Series like right away, you know.
And I know some people kind of are doing you know,
some revisionist history and looking back at Michael Bush and saying, hey,
they made a mistake by letting this guy go. Well,
it took Michael Bush a few years to become the
Michael Bush of today, right And the Dodgers, because again,
they were going after World Series every year, they don't
have the luxury to kind of like wait around for
(07:36):
a few years for a guy to kind of become
that all star type player. And that's where they're kind
of stuck right now, I think, right is that like
they did, you know, this is a team built on
free agency. There are a lot of guys that are
going to be getting older together, and it is kind
of a question of, okay, how do you get younger?
Right when when Edrew Friedman and you know, back then,
right as far Han Diety first came in, you know,
(07:57):
they traded kind of Matt Camp. They were kind of
able to you know, And in today's you know, roster,
that would be maybe a guy like Mooky BET's getting
sent out or something. Right, But I think that the
rest of the industry has kind of caught up to
the way what the Dodgers are doing, and a lot
of them are copying what the Dodgers are doing, so
it becomes harder to move contracts now and so, you know.
(08:18):
And then on top of that, also it's like, you know,
he's Mooky now, right, He's not Mooki Bett anymore. He's
Mooky in Llen. He's the one main guy. People will
not be happy if you trade Mooky Bets, you know,
And so they have all these kind of things to
deal with at once, you know. I know, on one hand,
I think it's it's really kind of a testament to
the success that they've had, that these players have become
so beloved in the city. You got to give him
(08:39):
a lot of credit for that, but I think kind
of turning the page is going to be a very
difficult and perhaps even painful process for them.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, in that day inevitably comes at some point. But
do you think Dylan with the team as constructed without
any major wholesale change you start off, I mentioned you
got you got to bring Monthly back, to bring real
house back, to bring these guys kik, do you think
that the Dodgers as constructed can get two more World
(09:07):
Series ring rings?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You know, I think, right, I think I think the
age had something to do with the inconsistency on offense
throughout this season, you know, I think, you know, I
think we heard Mookie Betts talk at one point of
the year about how things that he was doing before,
you know, don't work for him anymore. Right, Maybe it's
kind of the decline in bat speed or something, you know,
(09:30):
And when you have again multiple guys calca Hernandez is
getting older.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Obviously, Freddie Freeman's got this very nice short stroke that's
going to age relatively well. But if you look at
the way he just kind of moves in general, he
doesn't move like he used to when he first got here, right,
so you know, maybe he ages a little bit better,
but even he's kind of declining a little bit. I
think we're going to start seeing this with Otani. It
might be kind of tough, you know, because one of
the things too, is like it's one thing to have
(09:57):
a team that can go, you know, play great for
like a month and kind of get through a playoffs.
That's kind of one thing. But the regular season does
affect the playoffs, and we really saw that this year
in terms of they had to go through the wildcard round. Right,
they did not have home field advantage they did, right,
the toll of that six month season, which they did
not do great throughout, did affect them in the postseason. Now,
(10:21):
obviously they were good enough right now, you know to
overcome those obstacles. So you do wonder in a year
when everybody's a year older, will they still be able
to overcome those you know, again, they had the starting
pitching to do it. You know, I wouldn't bet against
them necessarily next year, but I'm not really sure. I'm
like wagering my house either.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Well, here's the deal. You're not trading anybody, right, I mean,
Mookie's not going anywhere. Frond He's not going anywhere. As
you pointed out, you're not trading anybody. So you have Mounsi, Rojas,
the Confordos spot and maybe some relief spots and the KEYK,
Munsey Rojas, Confordo, KEYK Munkie. The club has the option
for ten million bucks. So I'm not Andrew Friedman, but
(11:04):
I'm thinking they're going to pick that up. But that'll
be it for Muncie. You have Rojas key K in
the Conforto spot. If that's the case, and you do
need to get younger, why wouldn't you say, Okay, Mickey,
thank you, we'll put you on the staff somewhere, help
you become a manager down the road. Key K, appreciate it.
We'll pick you up in September when we really need you,
(11:25):
and they fill the Conforto spot with somebody younger, see
if they go out in the market in the free agency.
I am just of the opinion, maybe it's me, Dylan,
you do not give anybody like another nine year contract.
They're too long, and now they're going to see the
results of that because all their guys are getting older.
So if it's Monsey, KEYK and Rojas and you want
(11:45):
to get younger because Kim's on the bench, why wouldn't
you pull the trigger?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Now?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
You know, I hit to use the word sentimentality because
it kind of makes it sound like, right, they're they're like,
you know, not useful as player anymore. Because I do
think they are right, they did make all those plays
in October. I'm not really sure, you know, you're bringing
a twenty five year old guy that they necessarily kind
of have the the know how to make the place
that those guys made. You know, I do think that again,
(12:15):
you know, you as an organization, you do kind of
want to be one of those teams. So part of
being a destination team is that, like you reward guys
for winning, you reward guys for performance. You know, And
if I think kind of right, if each individual guy,
I think if they if it wasn't a collective thing,
each individual guy, you would want to reward, right, And
(12:35):
I think, you know, you look at a team across
town that I think does a great job of that
is like the Rams, right, you know, it's a little
bit different, but it's you know, the guys in rookie contracts,
you know, when they're performing well of those things. The
Rams do a really good job of rewarding those guys.
You know, maybe right they might trade them afterwards, but
they've at least that paved them and kind of like,
you know, they thank you for doing this. And I
(12:56):
think that because of that, they're known as a class
organization throughout the NFL, and it's made did the Rams
of Destination franchise, you know, And I think that the
Dodgers obviously kind of have that going right now. Yeah, again,
it's tough man again, I I you know again, I mean,
I don't know how you don't bring back Miguel Rojas
after some of those plays that he made, right throwing
the guy out at home, you know, in game seven,
(13:16):
I mean the game could have been over right there, right,
you know again, keiy Ky Hernandez doubling that guy off
in game six. These to me are like really really
tough calls, you know, And it's one of those I
don't know, you know, I think it kind of comes
down to, like what you think the purpose of a
team is. If it's just like about winning, right and
just purely winning, yeah, sure you can move on, you know,
(13:40):
you know, probably like globally, and I'm sorry to kind
of go into sport them not everybody's familiar with necessarily,
but like Real Madrid in Spain, right, the soccer team
that is like a black and white You know, the
moment you're not the best player in the world that
your positioned, they are getting rid of you. And it's
kind of understood. They won't get rid of anybody. They
don't care, you know, and everybody knows that that those
(14:00):
are kind of the rules and that's the kind of
team they are. And you know, if you sign with that,
you understand that the moment that I start slipping, I'm god,
everybody kind of understands what that is, you know. I
do think that with the Dodgers, though, there is you know,
they're kind of trying to kind of figure out that
line right about being doing enough to kind of stay
ahead to win, while you know, kind of maintaining a
certain family type vibe to it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
The fact that they kept Clayton Kershaw around, you know
that they let him retire a Dodger, right, The fact
that you know, until this past year, the fact that
they had Chris Taylor around for as long as they did, right,
I mean, these are ways that you kind of reward
guys that perform for you, and I do think that
by doing that it does create like a better organizational culture,
you know. So again I don't think there's an easy
(14:43):
solution for this thing, you know. And look, I will
say this, like, if they get old next year, they
bring everybody back they get old, I will not criticize
them for having made that decision because I do think
you know, the you know these teams are, you know,
their civic institutions, and the fact that, like the people
of LA love these players as much as they do.
(15:05):
I think that in itself is not a bad reason
to bring guys back. I know that this is about
sports and this is about competition, but it's also about
you know, your connection to these teams, and sometimes these
players represent that. And so again I don't have a problem,
you know, if they bring everybody back, and frankly, I
would probably be more along those lines that you just
(15:25):
kind of be like, hey, you know what, let's just
you know, kind of look at this extremely cold, partedly,
very rationally and just kind of move on.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, And it's not like they, you know, two years
ago they were playing at that level. They just finished
up a World series which they were playing at a
high level. Kyk became was Kik again. In October, you
mentioned Miguel Rojas. How do you how do you let
a guy like that go? When he made play after
play after play for you in October and you're tell
me that much is going to change when March rolls around. Uh,
(15:56):
it just doesn't feel that way. And also Dylan organization
or not like some of the other ones out there,
that they win a championship and they feel good, Okay,
we're good for the next five years. We don't have
to we don't have to worry about it. The Dodgers,
it feels like they become hungrier after each win, like
they they spent very little time talking about the championship
(16:18):
and then more time talking about three peat than anything else,
which is really, actually, you know, from a fan standpoints, refreshing,
because we've seen other franchises like Boston or Chicago or
other ones out there that win a title and all
of a sudden they ship everybody out and they're not
relevant for five six years.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, And I think, you know what's really kind of exciting.
I think if you look at the Dodgers and what
I was really impressed by you know, in October was
you know the stunning pitchers right that we talked about
so much. All of them kind of evolved, right, you know.
Blake Snell was always known as this guy with great
stuff that just couldn't pitch deep in the games. Excuse me,
(17:00):
you know, and he learned how to pitch more efficiently.
You know, he credited you know, the time we spend
in San Francisco and Logan Webb and teaching him how
to kind of pitch to contact, you know, and we
saw him right pitch deep into some games here in October.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
You know Tyler Glass, now, who was you know, kind
of considered a little bit mentally fragile, if we're gonna
be honest, you know, kids stepped up, had a great start,
was even able to kind of pitch out of the
bullpen and do so effectively. Uh, you know, and obviously
you know, kind of the big one is you know
U Yamamoto, who just kind of has seemed to taking
it to like a whole different level now, you know.
(17:36):
And if I you know, if he's healthy next year,
you know, I mean he you know, I mean I'm
convinced that there wasn't another pitcher in baseball, you know,
the Paul Schimes, the Terrys schools included that could have
done what he did in this World Series. I think
he's gonna take another huge step forward next year again,
provided that he's healthy.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
You know, I would argue O Tani like his breaking
stuff looks better than it did before. So maybe you
know kind of the games that they're going to get
from their starting pitching, you know, I guess that would
be kind of my hope, right if I'm the team,
is that maybe you know that if we have that
dominant of staff and we can keep them relatively healthy,
you know that maybe that could kind of overcome whatever
(18:16):
decline that the experience offensively.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right, Joan, thanks for coming on, Thanks for the insight,
and thanks for the terrific coverage all year long.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
No, thank you so much for having me on.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Tomorrow afternoon at three, relive the memories of World Series
Games seven. Is your Dodgers become back to back World champs?
Listen to the game at am five seventy. LA Sports
on the iHeartRadio app is presented in part by Bank
of America, the official bank of the LA Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
We will get you caught up on everything that has
happened this morning and since we've been on the air.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Make AM five seventy LA Sports a preset before you
plug in your poone presets, and the iHeartRadio app now
available with Apple car Play Android Auto, just another easy
way to listen to LA's best sports talk.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Oh, Freddy, it's a throwback Thursday.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Come on now, Ronnie came with a little Morris Day
and the time and cool and that's what we call you, Freddy.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
You just cool. See ool, Freddy, That's what I go.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
All right tomorrow after you do it? Did three relive
the memories of World Series games. Seven year Dodgers become
back to back World Series champs. Listen to the game
on A and five to seventy LA Sports and on
the iHeartRadio app, presented in part by Budweiser. This's buds
for you, Okay, Kevin, Let's get everybody caught up.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Kiss lift stories lighting up their sports headbox.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
So we just discussed earlier that Max Muntzi had his
ten million dollar team option picked up by the Dodgers.
Someone else who went a club option, and someone who's
in our thoughts and prayers. Obviously, as Alex Vessia has
been away from the team for the last couple of
weeks dealing with a personal matter. The team did pick
up his three and a half million dollar club option
for year, so he's going to be back in the
mix too. So glad to have Alex back in the
mix along with Max, and of course he's still in
(20:05):
our thoughts and prayers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, they had to pick up Max, they really didn't. Yeah,
they and they had to pick up Vessie up. And
for Alex, all we can say is we hope he's
doing well. I think that's the only way to put it, Rodney.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, and none of us can understand unless you've actually
been through what he's gone through, and you know, just
goes to show you kind of organization the Dodgers are.
As much as they absolutely needed him, he was, you know,
the most consistent guy in that bullpen, and they didn't
(20:42):
even put it in his hands.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Fred. Let understand.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
They just made sure that he went and took care
of his family and was there for his family, did
not give him the option of deciding whether he wanted
to be a part of.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
The roster or not.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
It was no, take care of your family. Take care
of your family. Some things are bigger than baseball. Some
things are bigger than sports, and they allowed him to
do that. And I'm so happy that they picked up
his option because he has been the last three years
for the Dodgers, one of the most consistent guys and
one of the guys that they all lean on and
(21:18):
just goes to show you what he means to this organization.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
We do have other news around the nl West that
came out today, probably about fifteen minutes or so ago.
The Colorado Rockies named a new president of baseball operations.
It's a name that Dodger fans are familiar with, and
if you're a Dodger fan, you might be happy about
the fact that this guy's back in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
That is Paul de Podesta. That's right, Yes, Paul.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
De Podesta, who has been with the Cleveland Browns as
an analytic maven for the last ten years.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
I believe it's been and.
Speaker 6 (21:48):
They've been fifty six to ninety nine since his tenure
with the Browns organization, by the way, but he is
now back in baseball. Remember he was played his character
was played by Jonah Hill. And the Moneyball movie that
came out some years ago. Yes, one of Billy beans
right hand men, Lieutenant's behind the whole Moneyball craze. He
is now back in Major League Baseball and he is
a president of Baseball ops for the Colorado Rockies.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Was wasn't he before Net COLLETTI?
Speaker 7 (22:11):
Here he was?
Speaker 6 (22:12):
He was right before Net that was. That was Frank
McCort's first hire was him as general manager.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Boy, they're going old school, Kevin. They're going way back
to pull Deep Podesta back into it. I thought you
were gonna say Farnhaan zinety or somebody like that.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Nope, Nope.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
As far as I know, Farhan is still back with
the Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
In a role.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Far Hun back with the Dodgers in a role He yes, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Well what is what did the Browns do when Deep
Podesta was doing whatever it was he was doing there?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Well, as I mentioned, fifty five and ninety six was
their record with him in the front office.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Granted he was in the GM.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
He was an analytic whiz whatever that's supposed to mean.
And that certainly turned a lot of Dodger fans off
because well he fit Frank McCourt's narrative because Frank didn't
want to spend a lot of money in Deep Podesta,
Canadam Oakland. So this is that's how they tried to
strategize and build a content. Every time I think Apolgi Podesta,
I just think of the Hesop Choy chance at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
And it tells me this is where we've gotten to.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
This is a franchise of Roy Campanella and Duke Snyder
and players like that.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
And I'm hearing he sob CHOI.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
That's exactly how they said it too. It was just
that rhythm. All right, Well, Colorado, obviously we know what
they're doing. We know the business model they're working under now,
and they're gonna go in. That model is don't spend
a lot of money. That that model is Tampa Bay,
(23:38):
that model is Pittsburgh. That model is any team that
is not spending the Marlins.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
That's the model.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Now, you can you can thrive in that model, but
you have to spend on infrastructure there.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
I mean you can be good.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
You can in one year here and one year there.
If you can't thrive, fry would not be a word
that I would use for that model. You can be efficient,
you can you know, every three to five years be
in the conversation, but no consistency. I wouldn't say thrive
(24:21):
in that model as a description of the way they
do things at some point.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
That's right, Rodney, that's fair. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
So while the Rockies hired their new president of baseball operations,
the Padres hired their new manager. Not Albert Pooholz, who
was rumored to be one of the front runners a
couple of weeks ago. It is actually gonna be Craig Staman.
You ask who is Craig Stamon.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
I know that name.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Yeah, former major league pitcher, just retired a couple of
years ago. As a matter of fact, he's been a
player development guy for the Padres this past year and
now has been elevated to the managerial role, signed a
three year deal.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Player development means he knows the system, he knows the players.
He's coming from inside, and there's something to be said
about that.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Now.
Speaker 7 (25:04):
That is also what a J.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Proller said in the statement, by the way, that he
knows he's been a presence in the organization and he
knows the infrastructure, and that's part of the reason why
they hired him.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
I get that he knows, he knows how we do things.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yea, he knows how we operate, and he'll work within
the system and and look, to be honest, that system
hitten pretty good for the Padres they've.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Been in it.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Just uh, I just I don't know if that's when
I'm looking at it from outside end. Is that what
the Padres need? You know, A system person, a guy.
It feels like they need somebody that's like, uh, you
know that works within the system, but also knows outside
the system, that also knows also knows just the emotions
(25:53):
and and raw eye test situations, like a Dusty Baker
the way Dave Roberts is now like like a.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
Why don't you go back out and get Bruce Bochie again? Bochie,
like a Boci you would have been on the top
of my list if illower them.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Bocie who just you know, he understands the way the
game is played and worked today, but also knows his
gut and understands from a baseball perspective, there's certain things
that don't fit under the analytic model. So it just
felt like that that's what the padres needed.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
But who knows. Who knows this may work out.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
Now, maybe you guys did or didn't know.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
But Russell Westbrook, you're still playing in the NBA and
he's playing for the Sacramento Kings. Yes, maybe you guys
know where didn't You may not be sure, Fred, I'm
just just letting the people know out there. He played
last night against the against the Golden State Warriors. There
was a mass unit for both teams. There's a bunch
of who's who between the two teams. But he did
pick up the two hundred and fourth triple double of
(26:51):
his career. And he also said after the game, humbly speaking,
I'm the best rebounding guard ever. Now, if you look
at theistic statistics as of what he is, Rodney, you're right.
Last night he's a past Jason Kidd for most rebounds
by a guard. I know he's still playing, but he's
clearly on the back of nine in his eighteenth year.
I guess what is Russell Westbrook's legacy as a player
(27:13):
For you guys, he was the stats obviously.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
No, you know what it is.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Every night he played hard every night, gave it everything
he had, and that to me is not a bad
legacy to have.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah, I think as time goes on, people are gonna
forget about the isolated incidents that he's had over his
career and you know, the run ends that he's had
and look at the totality of his career and really
respect the guy that has you know, been there and
(27:49):
played and like you said, Fred, there's got to be
something for a guy every single night that gave it
everything he had, never took a night off, and was
going one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Every time he stepped on the court.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
There's a respect level I think all guys in the NBA,
and not just the NBA, but all sports have for
a guy like that that plays the game only one way,
and that is to play hard every time I step
on the court, because that exemplifies a respect for the game.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
And where you are.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Now, Rodney, maybe you've experienced this before, you know, playing
for teams that they've been struggling and they want to
shake things.
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Up a little bit.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
So according to a report, the Miami Dolphins are removing
the Papa Shot game that they have at their facility
because they're not winning, they've been struggling, and too much
funds being had right now we're not being serious enough,
so we got to take out the Papa shot Rodney,
does the does something like that make a difference if
a team is struggling, you're not playing well. We got
to take all the fun stuff out of the facility
(28:52):
and really focus on football.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Does that really make a difference.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
That means there's a bigger problem. That's what that means.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And I'm from what I understand, they took out the
ping pong tables. Yes, maybe a week ago, a week
or so ago, and it was encouraged by two of yes,
which were the reports by the quarterback of the Dolphins.
Encouraged the front office or the coaching staff and the
equipment guys to take out the ping pong tables and
(29:18):
pool tables in the in the locker room because guys
were distracted or maybe not taking things seriously enough. No,
you got bigger problems. You got bigger problems. Every team needs,
you know, just to release something to kind of take
your mind off of a little bit. And having those
things in the locker room. Whether I remember even back
(29:39):
when I played, there were video games, there was a
there was a video game room set up for guys
to take on downtimes in between practices or right after
lunch where you had a little bit of a downtime,
the guy just wanted to just do something different before
they went out for a two and a half hour
practice brind So that that just to me, it speaks
volumes about where Miami he is in terms of YO
(30:04):
not knowing where to turn to get this whole thing
turned around.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Look, I think that taking out games is not going
to make a difference at all.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
How much did we talk yesterday about culture.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
The Dodger culture and culture is something that takes a
while to build, but if you build it properly, it sustains,
and they have a lack of culture when you get
to a point where you're going, I got the problem.
I don't want everybody taking fifteen minute recesses or take
the games out of here, because that's not going to work.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
You're not focused enough.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
There are way way bigger problems, and that is somebody
that is desperate throwing darts at a board. By the way,
unless it's the owner throwing those darts, who's ever throwing
them is not going to be there next year anyway,
because there's no way if your solution into the problem
is this, then you have no solution.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
I will say this reminds me of a story I
believe Winki Kennedy told me this some years ago. It
was Rich Gannon's first year with the Raiders and they
had lost a couple of games and Rich walked in
and a couple of guys were having too much fun.
So Rich actually physically went in and turned over the
poll table himself. He didn't even ask the front office
to take it out. Yeah, and you and are Rodney.
Rich is a pretty high, strong, intense guy. So I
believe the story, and apparently it worked. The team turned
(31:26):
around and we're better, and that was the best Raiders
run they've had in thirty years.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Was when Rich was the quarterback, so.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
That was the reason.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
But but yeah, Rich was definitely a high strung guy
that wanted to.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Do things a certain way, and certain things rubbed him
the wrong way. I do remember they were TV.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
I've been on teams where you know, during in between
practices or in the lounge area, and most teams in
the locker room have lounge areas where you know ESPN
would be on or or the TV would be on,
and you know a couple guys that no more, no
more sports networks on. So it became, you know, soap
(32:07):
operas became the norm for.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Lunch, solid rates. Yeah, no sports channels or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
And actually it did work a little bit, and you
got to know everybody in general city with the young one.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Get to know everybody in general city exactly for there
you go.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
That's what's sliding up the headlines tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
That three relive the memories of World Series Game seven,
the Dodgers become back to back world champs. Listen to
the game on A five seventy LA Sports and on
the iHeartRadio app presented in part by a m PM.
Too much good stuff and we are back to wrap
it up.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Hello Rogan and Rodney listener. Did you know AM five
seventy LA Sports has a wide range of LA sports podcasts,
shows like Petros in Money. We are streaming Matt Dodger
Talk with David.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Vasse, the Dodger Podcast of Record.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Clipper Talk Without a Musk, follow us all and many more.
Just go to A five seventy LA Sports on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Ah, Yes, a Throwback Thursday, Freddy on a Throwback Thursday.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Man, we're running back.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
These a world series, games that just keep popping up,
can't get away from it, can't stop watching it?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
What in it? Just an iconic series that you know.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
I'm just glad that we at AM five seventy get
to be a real intimate part of it and get
to cover the games like we get to cover the games,
and for these last couple of years, and especially this year,
it just feels like we're in the midst of something
really truly special.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I agree with you on that on all accounts. And
I'll say this and earlier we talked about the fact
that the club is getting older, and at what point
do you say, Okay, everybody's a little long in the
tooth here, you know, when you get to diminishing returns.
My feelings sitting here and I will feel the same
way at the beginning of spring training next year. The
Dodgers are not there yet. They are not to the
(34:14):
point of diminishing returns. I thought Dellan Rnandez made a
really good point. It's a long season, and as guys
get older, completing that season becomes harder. And once you
complete the season, then you need a fresh tank of
gas for the playoffs, and that becomes harder as well.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
I think this team is fine.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I think this team will win it again next year
and then we'll worry about the future after that.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
Yeah, I do too, especially when you think about the pitching.
You know.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
What the Dodgers went through this year and last year,
and you know, I'm not gonna go into my Dave
roberts cheerleader mode, but you know the way they approached
last year postseason and having to rely on the bullpen
and and the starting pitching was not what it was
this year, and and so it was a difficult challenge
because you got to use guys for one inning here,
(35:11):
for two outs here and two outs there, and it
was just a tough navigation for Dave Robertson and Mark
Pryor in the pitching and all all of the coaching staff.
And then this year at flip flop, where starting pitching
was the was the strength of this team. And I
think for the last couple of years they have not
(35:34):
played to their strength.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
They have not played to the best of their ability.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
Yet they are back to back champions, which makes it
to me as we start talking about the offseason, and
you know, all the hot stove comments and shows that
are going on, that the Dodgers have not played their
best baseball with the talent and which we see on
paper over the last couple of years, but they've got
back to back titles. Imagine if everything is working the
(36:01):
way it should work on paper, which rarely does, but
think about the way this team is constructed. They should,
they should dominate and win over one hundred games every
single year. And they've got a lot of these guys
that are the core, which we ran through earlier in
the show, Locked Up, Fred, locked Up for the next
(36:21):
two to three years.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Amen to all of that, very well, said Ronnie. Thank
you for today, great work, Kevin, outstanding is always and
we are back tomorrow for a three hour show. So
Rodney talked to you, then right home.
All right, we continue on Fred Rogan, Rodney Pete on
a five seventy LA Sports just a two hour program
for us today and coming up later on in the hour,
Kevin will be along to get us caught up on
everything that has happened while we have been on the
air with its Lift. But now let's get back to
the Dodgers. Welcome on our friend Dylan Hernandez of The Times,
(00:20):
and Dylan, thanks for jumping on.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Oh, thank you so much for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Okay, well it's all said, it's all done. The Dodgers
have done it again. It was a long road, but
now we start looking forward to next year. And when
you look forward to next year, you have to make decisions.
You believe you bring everybody back.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, I think you kind of have to, you know,
because it's not just you know, well you know everybody
in terms of like all the key contributors, right, I
don't think you know, you don't bring Kirby As back,
you don't bring micro Contorno back. Miguel Rojas is a
free agent obviously, you know, with all the things he did,
I think you got to bring him back, and I
think you got to bring Key Jay Hernandez back, you know,
(00:58):
and so he's also free agent, you know, And because
I think you also, you know, I think they're you know,
there are two sides of this, you know. One obviously
is what these guys mean to the city now right.
These guys are all like on first name, you know,
it's not nickname basis is you know, basies with the
with the city, uh, you know. And I think also
just as players, you know, you win something like that,
(01:19):
you play big part in it. You deserve a chance
to defend that title, you know. And so you know,
there's always a trade deadline, right, I mean, if the team,
the team is getting older, you know, that is a
that is a serious concern. But you know, if it
proves to be unsustainable, there's always a trade deadline where
you can you know, mix the roster up again.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, hey, Dylan, you know, going back to the World Series,
because it was it was fascinating. A lot of people
are calling it the best World Series they've ever seen.
It certainly was compelling from a Dodger standpoint. How do
you feel because I've been discussing this still with people.
As I mentioned to you off air, I'm having withdrawals
(01:58):
because I'm still fascinated by the whole playoffs in the
Dodgers run. But people are saying that did just win
it or did Torontald give it away?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think they want it, you know. I mean there's
so many just kind of big plays, and I think
when you kind of look back at this too, you know,
I think I think what fans remember our moments, right,
and you look at this World Series and the number
of moments that it produced, you know, frankly for both sides.
I just think it was just kind of great from
that standpoint, you know. I think people are going to remember,
(02:32):
you know, where they were when you know, Keik Hernandez,
you know, doubled off that guy at second base, you know,
to end game six. I think people remember where they
were when Miguel Rojas, you know, hit the home run
in the bottom of the or the top of the
knife to tie it in game seven. And people remember
where they were when you know, Will Smith hit the
you know, go ahead home run in the eleventh of
Game seven. I think people remember where they were when
(02:54):
you have a mooto came out you have to come
out of the bullpen in Game seven, so you know
to me that those are kind of the things that
really like laugh, you know, and I think just kind
of the just a pure number of moments that this
World series created. Yeah, it's kind of hard hard to
argue that, you know, we've seen a better World series. Uh,
you know, at least in the last couple of decades.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Uh, Is this the best Dodger team ever? Don't.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh, you know, I'm not. Obviously. You know, the bullpen
was kind of problematic, right, you know, I mean, the
Yamamoto's heroics and you know glass Now pitching out of
the pen. You know, uh, you know, Otani starting on
short rests. All these things became necessary, you know because
of that bullpen. Uh. You know, they did have that
Game three performance where kind of everybody you know, uh
(03:43):
came through.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know that the pen does kind of give me
a little bit of pause with this. Obviously, this team
was kind of able to kind of get through that.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
You know, if this Dodger team goes against the Dodger
team of last year, you know, are they necessarily better?
I'm not really so sure, you know, to be honest,
Like I think, you know, if they play ten series,
maybe they split them right, But again I think, you know,
I think people will remember this Dodgers team the most,
probably though because again just kind of what I said earlier,
(04:14):
just the number of moments that these guys created.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Okay, switch in a little bit, Gears, and you're talking about,
you know, best Dodger team ever? To stack him up
against last year's team, Not so sure because the bullpen
was great, yet the starting pitching wasn't that great. But
when you look at this team and going forward, because
you touched on it already a little bit, about what
(04:39):
do you do in terms of keeping the team together
when you look going forward and free agency? Do they
make a big splash? Do they get the Kyle Tucker?
And I the heard some people talking about Bulbis yet
as well? Or I don't see Bregman happening to the
Dodgers anytime soon because he's one of those astro players.
But in terms of Tucker, do they make a serious
run at him? And what about Schooble?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, Tucker is more of a due diligence type guy, right,
I mean I'm not sure you kind of push all
your chips into the middle of the table for him,
you know that said?
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Right?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I mean one great thing the Dodgers do do is
like check in with everybody and they say, hey, you
know what if everything kind of falls apart for you,
you know, we're here as a backup plan for you, right,
and we might not give you the years or the
aav that you want. But you know that's how they
ended up getting Freddie Freeman, right. I mean, they they
let Freeman kind of do his thing with the Braves.
You know, the Braves decided to move on, and the
(05:32):
Dodgers were kind of right there. So you know, my
guess is with Tucker will probably be more along those lines.
You know, I don't think that there is. Yeah, if
there is going to be kind of anybody that you
kind of go after, maybe is a schoobl You know,
now they're going to have to be kind of be
sure that this is the guy they want to commit
to long term. I'm sure you know that they'll have
some right, They'll they'll be kind of checking into like
his medical history because he is a guy that's had
(05:55):
major surgery before. So you know, you kind of have
to kind of decide if it's a guy we want
to go to long term or not. You know that said,
I mean I think their rotation is good enough frankly
that they don't need school, you know. I mean I
think if again, if he's available for the right price,
I can see them pouncing on him. But you know,
this particular free agent class I don't really view as
like having Okay, this guy's going to kind of you know, change, right,
(06:19):
you know, the complexion of the team. I don't think
you kind of have any of those guys. But yeah,
you know, it is just concerning the fact that I think,
you know, next year, right, Freddy Freeman, by the time
the World Series comes around, he'll be thirty seven, assuming
they bring back Rohaks, he'll be thirty seven.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
You know, Bett is getting up there. I think he'll
be like thirty four thirty five next year. And even
Otani's getting a little bit older, right, And you know,
we saw, you know, in one of the Japanese papers,
Otani's own father kind of wrote him an open letter
after they won the World Series, and you know, he
was even kind of looking ahead to the day he
couldn't play both ways, right, just kind of physically because
of the age. Obviously, we're seeing that taking a bigger
(06:53):
toll on Otani Yeah, so at some point they're going
to have to kind of figure out how to kind
of move on from here. And what's what's really difficult,
you know, is that as many as you know, high
regarded prospects as they have, you know, it's kind of
not just good enough to just be like a nice
prospect if you're on the Dodgers, but you've got to
be good enough to be able to kind of step
in and start and contribute for a team that's hoping
(07:15):
to win a World Series like right away, you know.
And I know some people kind of are doing you know,
some revisionist history and looking back at Michael Bush and saying, hey,
they made a mistake by letting this guy go. Well,
it took Michael Bush a few years to become the
Michael Bush of today, right And the Dodgers, because again,
they were going after World Series every year, they don't
have the luxury to kind of like wait around for
(07:36):
a few years for a guy to kind of become
that all star type player. And that's where they're kind
of stuck right now, I think, right is that like
they did, you know, this is a team built on
free agency. There are a lot of guys that are
going to be getting older together, and it is kind
of a question of, okay, how do you get younger?
Right when when Edrew Friedman and you know, back then,
right as far Han Diety first came in, you know,
(07:57):
they traded kind of Matt Camp. They were kind of
able to you know, And in today's you know, roster,
that would be maybe a guy like Mooky BET's getting
sent out or something. Right, But I think that the
rest of the industry has kind of caught up to
the way what the Dodgers are doing, and a lot
of them are copying what the Dodgers are doing, so
it becomes harder to move contracts now and so, you know.
(08:18):
And then on top of that, also it's like, you know,
he's Mooky now, right, He's not Mooki Bett anymore. He's
Mooky in Llen. He's the one main guy. People will
not be happy if you trade Mooky Bets, you know,
And so they have all these kind of things to
deal with at once, you know. I know, on one hand,
I think it's it's really kind of a testament to
the success that they've had, that these players have become
so beloved in the city. You got to give him
(08:39):
a lot of credit for that, but I think kind
of turning the page is going to be a very
difficult and perhaps even painful process for them.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, in that day inevitably comes at some point. But
do you think Dylan with the team as constructed without
any major wholesale change you start off, I mentioned you
got you got to bring Monthly back, to bring real
house back, to bring these guys kik, do you think
that the Dodgers as constructed can get two more World
(09:07):
Series ring rings?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
You know, I think, right, I think I think the
age had something to do with the inconsistency on offense
throughout this season, you know, I think, you know, I
think we heard Mookie Betts talk at one point of
the year about how things that he was doing before,
you know, don't work for him anymore. Right, Maybe it's
kind of the decline in bat speed or something, you know,
(09:30):
And when you have again multiple guys calca Hernandez is
getting older.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Obviously, Freddie Freeman's got this very nice short stroke that's
going to age relatively well. But if you look at
the way he just kind of moves in general, he
doesn't move like he used to when he first got here, right,
so you know, maybe he ages a little bit better,
but even he's kind of declining a little bit. I
think we're going to start seeing this with Otani. It
might be kind of tough, you know, because one of
the things too, is like it's one thing to have
(09:57):
a team that can go, you know, play great for
like a month and kind of get through a playoffs.
That's kind of one thing. But the regular season does
affect the playoffs, and we really saw that this year
in terms of they had to go through the wildcard round. Right,
they did not have home field advantage they did, right,
the toll of that six month season, which they did
not do great throughout, did affect them in the postseason. Now,
(10:21):
obviously they were good enough right now, you know to
overcome those obstacles. So you do wonder in a year
when everybody's a year older, will they still be able
to overcome those you know, again, they had the starting
pitching to do it. You know, I wouldn't bet against
them necessarily next year, but I'm not really sure. I'm
like wagering my house either.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Well, here's the deal. You're not trading anybody, right, I mean,
Mookie's not going anywhere. Frond He's not going anywhere. As
you pointed out, you're not trading anybody. So you have Mounsi, Rojas,
the Confordos spot and maybe some relief spots and the KEYK,
Munsey Rojas, Confordo, KEYK Munkie. The club has the option
for ten million bucks. So I'm not Andrew Friedman, but
(11:04):
I'm thinking they're going to pick that up. But that'll
be it for Muncie. You have Rojas key K in
the Conforto spot. If that's the case, and you do
need to get younger, why wouldn't you say, Okay, Mickey,
thank you, we'll put you on the staff somewhere, help
you become a manager down the road. Key K, appreciate it.
We'll pick you up in September when we really need you,
(11:25):
and they fill the Conforto spot with somebody younger, see
if they go out in the market in the free agency.
I am just of the opinion, maybe it's me, Dylan,
you do not give anybody like another nine year contract.
They're too long, and now they're going to see the
results of that because all their guys are getting older.
So if it's Monsey, KEYK and Rojas and you want
(11:45):
to get younger because Kim's on the bench, why wouldn't
you pull the trigger?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Now?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
You know, I hit to use the word sentimentality because
it kind of makes it sound like, right, they're they're like,
you know, not useful as player anymore. Because I do
think they are right, they did make all those plays
in October. I'm not really sure, you know, you're bringing
a twenty five year old guy that they necessarily kind
of have the the know how to make the place
that those guys made. You know, I do think that again,
(12:15):
you know, you as an organization, you do kind of
want to be one of those teams. So part of
being a destination team is that, like you reward guys
for winning, you reward guys for performance. You know, And
if I think kind of right, if each individual guy,
I think if they if it wasn't a collective thing,
each individual guy, you would want to reward, right, And
(12:35):
I think, you know, you look at a team across
town that I think does a great job of that
is like the Rams, right, you know, it's a little
bit different, but it's you know, the guys in rookie contracts,
you know, when they're performing well of those things. The
Rams do a really good job of rewarding those guys.
You know, maybe right they might trade them afterwards, but
they've at least that paved them and kind of like,
you know, they thank you for doing this. And I
(12:56):
think that because of that, they're known as a class
organization throughout the NFL, and it's made did the Rams
of Destination franchise, you know, And I think that the
Dodgers obviously kind of have that going right now. Yeah, again,
it's tough man again, I I you know again, I mean,
I don't know how you don't bring back Miguel Rojas
after some of those plays that he made, right throwing
the guy out at home, you know, in game seven,
(13:16):
I mean the game could have been over right there, right,
you know again, keiy Ky Hernandez doubling that guy off
in game six. These to me are like really really
tough calls, you know, And it's one of those I
don't know, you know, I think it kind of comes
down to, like what you think the purpose of a
team is. If it's just like about winning, right and
just purely winning, yeah, sure you can move on, you know,
(13:40):
you know, probably like globally, and I'm sorry to kind
of go into sport them not everybody's familiar with necessarily,
but like Real Madrid in Spain, right, the soccer team
that is like a black and white You know, the
moment you're not the best player in the world that
your positioned, they are getting rid of you. And it's
kind of understood. They won't get rid of anybody. They
don't care, you know, and everybody knows that that those
(14:00):
are kind of the rules and that's the kind of
team they are. And you know, if you sign with that,
you understand that the moment that I start slipping, I'm god,
everybody kind of understands what that is, you know. I
do think that with the Dodgers, though, there is you know,
they're kind of trying to kind of figure out that
line right about being doing enough to kind of stay
ahead to win, while you know, kind of maintaining a
certain family type vibe to it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
The fact that they kept Clayton Kershaw around, you know
that they let him retire a Dodger, right, The fact
that you know, until this past year, the fact that
they had Chris Taylor around for as long as they did, right,
I mean, these are ways that you kind of reward
guys that perform for you, and I do think that
by doing that it does create like a better organizational culture,
you know. So again I don't think there's an easy
(14:43):
solution for this thing, you know. And look, I will
say this, like, if they get old next year, they
bring everybody back they get old, I will not criticize
them for having made that decision because I do think
you know, the you know these teams are, you know,
their civic institutions, and the fact that, like the people
of LA love these players as much as they do.
(15:05):
I think that in itself is not a bad reason
to bring guys back. I know that this is about
sports and this is about competition, but it's also about
you know, your connection to these teams, and sometimes these
players represent that. And so again I don't have a problem,
you know, if they bring everybody back, and frankly, I
would probably be more along those lines that you just
(15:25):
kind of be like, hey, you know what, let's just
you know, kind of look at this extremely cold, partedly,
very rationally and just kind of move on.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, And it's not like they, you know, two years
ago they were playing at that level. They just finished
up a World series which they were playing at a
high level. Kyk became was Kik again. In October, you
mentioned Miguel Rojas. How do you how do you let
a guy like that go? When he made play after
play after play for you in October and you're tell
me that much is going to change when March rolls around. Uh,
(15:56):
it just doesn't feel that way. And also Dylan organization
or not like some of the other ones out there,
that they win a championship and they feel good, Okay,
we're good for the next five years. We don't have
to we don't have to worry about it. The Dodgers,
it feels like they become hungrier after each win, like
they they spent very little time talking about the championship
(16:18):
and then more time talking about three peat than anything else,
which is really, actually, you know, from a fan standpoints, refreshing,
because we've seen other franchises like Boston or Chicago or
other ones out there that win a title and all
of a sudden they ship everybody out and they're not
relevant for five six years.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, And I think, you know what's really kind of exciting.
I think if you look at the Dodgers and what
I was really impressed by you know, in October was
you know the stunning pitchers right that we talked about
so much. All of them kind of evolved, right, you know.
Blake Snell was always known as this guy with great
stuff that just couldn't pitch deep in the games. Excuse me,
(17:00):
you know, and he learned how to pitch more efficiently.
You know, he credited you know, the time we spend
in San Francisco and Logan Webb and teaching him how
to kind of pitch to contact, you know, and we
saw him right pitch deep into some games here in October.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
You know Tyler Glass, now, who was you know, kind
of considered a little bit mentally fragile, if we're gonna
be honest, you know, kids stepped up, had a great start,
was even able to kind of pitch out of the
bullpen and do so effectively. Uh, you know, and obviously
you know, kind of the big one is you know
U Yamamoto, who just kind of has seemed to taking
it to like a whole different level now, you know.
(17:36):
And if I you know, if he's healthy next year,
you know, I mean he you know, I mean I'm
convinced that there wasn't another pitcher in baseball, you know,
the Paul Schimes, the Terrys schools included that could have
done what he did in this World Series. I think
he's gonna take another huge step forward next year again,
provided that he's healthy.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
You know, I would argue O Tani like his breaking
stuff looks better than it did before. So maybe you
know kind of the games that they're going to get
from their starting pitching, you know, I guess that would
be kind of my hope, right if I'm the team,
is that maybe you know that if we have that
dominant of staff and we can keep them relatively healthy,
you know that maybe that could kind of overcome whatever
(18:16):
decline that the experience offensively.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right, Joan, thanks for coming on, Thanks for the insight,
and thanks for the terrific coverage all year long.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
No, thank you so much for having me on.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Tomorrow afternoon at three, relive the memories of World Series
Games seven. Is your Dodgers become back to back World champs?
Listen to the game at am five seventy. LA Sports
on the iHeartRadio app is presented in part by Bank
of America, the official bank of the LA Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
We will get you caught up on everything that has
happened this morning and since we've been on the air.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Make AM five seventy LA Sports a preset before you
plug in your poone presets, and the iHeartRadio app now
available with Apple car Play Android Auto, just another easy
way to listen to LA's best sports talk.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Oh, Freddy, it's a throwback Thursday.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Come on now, Ronnie came with a little Morris Day
and the time and cool and that's what we call you, Freddy.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
You just cool. See ool, Freddy, That's what I go.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
All right tomorrow after you do it? Did three relive
the memories of World Series games. Seven year Dodgers become
back to back World Series champs. Listen to the game
on A and five to seventy LA Sports and on
the iHeartRadio app, presented in part by Budweiser. This's buds
for you, Okay, Kevin, Let's get everybody caught up.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Kiss lift stories lighting up their sports headbox.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
So we just discussed earlier that Max Muntzi had his
ten million dollar team option picked up by the Dodgers.
Someone else who went a club option, and someone who's
in our thoughts and prayers. Obviously, as Alex Vessia has
been away from the team for the last couple of
weeks dealing with a personal matter. The team did pick
up his three and a half million dollar club option
for year, so he's going to be back in the
mix too. So glad to have Alex back in the
mix along with Max, and of course he's still in
(20:05):
our thoughts and prayers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, they had to pick up Max, they really didn't. Yeah,
they and they had to pick up Vessie up. And
for Alex, all we can say is we hope he's
doing well. I think that's the only way to put it, Rodney.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, and none of us can understand unless you've actually
been through what he's gone through, and you know, just
goes to show you kind of organization the Dodgers are.
As much as they absolutely needed him, he was, you know,
the most consistent guy in that bullpen, and they didn't
(20:42):
even put it in his hands.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Fred. Let understand.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
They just made sure that he went and took care
of his family and was there for his family, did
not give him the option of deciding whether he wanted
to be a part of.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
The roster or not.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
It was no, take care of your family. Take care
of your family. Some things are bigger than baseball. Some
things are bigger than sports, and they allowed him to
do that. And I'm so happy that they picked up
his option because he has been the last three years
for the Dodgers, one of the most consistent guys and
one of the guys that they all lean on and
(21:18):
just goes to show you what he means to this organization.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
We do have other news around the nl West that
came out today, probably about fifteen minutes or so ago.
The Colorado Rockies named a new president of baseball operations.
It's a name that Dodger fans are familiar with, and
if you're a Dodger fan, you might be happy about
the fact that this guy's back in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
That is Paul de Podesta. That's right, Yes, Paul.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
De Podesta, who has been with the Cleveland Browns as
an analytic maven for the last ten years.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
I believe it's been and.
Speaker 6 (21:48):
They've been fifty six to ninety nine since his tenure
with the Browns organization, by the way, but he is
now back in baseball. Remember he was played his character
was played by Jonah Hill. And the Moneyball movie that
came out some years ago. Yes, one of Billy beans
right hand men, Lieutenant's behind the whole Moneyball craze. He
is now back in Major League Baseball and he is
a president of Baseball ops for the Colorado Rockies.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Was wasn't he before Net COLLETTI?
Speaker 7 (22:11):
Here he was?
Speaker 6 (22:12):
He was right before Net that was. That was Frank
McCort's first hire was him as general manager.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Boy, they're going old school, Kevin. They're going way back
to pull Deep Podesta back into it. I thought you
were gonna say Farnhaan zinety or somebody like that.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Nope, Nope.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
As far as I know, Farhan is still back with
the Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
In a role.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Far Hun back with the Dodgers in a role He yes, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Well what is what did the Browns do when Deep
Podesta was doing whatever it was he was doing there?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Well, as I mentioned, fifty five and ninety six was
their record with him in the front office.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Granted he was in the GM.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
He was an analytic whiz whatever that's supposed to mean.
And that certainly turned a lot of Dodger fans off
because well he fit Frank McCourt's narrative because Frank didn't
want to spend a lot of money in Deep Podesta,
Canadam Oakland. So this is that's how they tried to
strategize and build a content. Every time I think Apolgi Podesta,
I just think of the Hesop Choy chance at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
And it tells me this is where we've gotten to.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
This is a franchise of Roy Campanella and Duke Snyder
and players like that.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
And I'm hearing he sob CHOI.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
That's exactly how they said it too. It was just
that rhythm. All right, Well, Colorado, obviously we know what
they're doing. We know the business model they're working under now,
and they're gonna go in. That model is don't spend
a lot of money. That that model is Tampa Bay,
(23:38):
that model is Pittsburgh. That model is any team that
is not spending the Marlins.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
That's the model.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Now, you can you can thrive in that model, but
you have to spend on infrastructure there.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
I mean you can be good.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
You can in one year here and one year there.
If you can't thrive, fry would not be a word
that I would use for that model. You can be efficient,
you can you know, every three to five years be
in the conversation, but no consistency. I wouldn't say thrive
(24:21):
in that model as a description of the way they
do things at some point.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
That's right, Rodney, that's fair. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
So while the Rockies hired their new president of baseball operations,
the Padres hired their new manager. Not Albert Pooholz, who
was rumored to be one of the front runners a
couple of weeks ago. It is actually gonna be Craig Staman.
You ask who is Craig Stamon.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
I know that name.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Yeah, former major league pitcher, just retired a couple of
years ago. As a matter of fact, he's been a
player development guy for the Padres this past year and
now has been elevated to the managerial role, signed a
three year deal.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Player development means he knows the system, he knows the players.
He's coming from inside, and there's something to be said
about that.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Now.
Speaker 7 (25:04):
That is also what a J.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Proller said in the statement, by the way, that he
knows he's been a presence in the organization and he
knows the infrastructure, and that's part of the reason why
they hired him.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
I get that he knows, he knows how we do things.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yea, he knows how we operate, and he'll work within
the system and and look, to be honest, that system
hitten pretty good for the Padres they've.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
Been in it.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Just uh, I just I don't know if that's when
I'm looking at it from outside end. Is that what
the Padres need? You know, A system person, a guy.
It feels like they need somebody that's like, uh, you
know that works within the system, but also knows outside
the system, that also knows also knows just the emotions
(25:53):
and and raw eye test situations, like a Dusty Baker
the way Dave Roberts is now like like a.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
Why don't you go back out and get Bruce Bochie again? Bochie,
like a Boci you would have been on the top
of my list if illower them.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Bocie who just you know, he understands the way the
game is played and worked today, but also knows his
gut and understands from a baseball perspective, there's certain things
that don't fit under the analytic model. So it just
felt like that that's what the padres needed.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
But who knows. Who knows this may work out.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
Now, maybe you guys did or didn't know.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
But Russell Westbrook, you're still playing in the NBA and
he's playing for the Sacramento Kings. Yes, maybe you guys
know where didn't You may not be sure, Fred, I'm
just just letting the people know out there. He played
last night against the against the Golden State Warriors. There
was a mass unit for both teams. There's a bunch
of who's who between the two teams. But he did
pick up the two hundred and fourth triple double of
(26:51):
his career. And he also said after the game, humbly speaking,
I'm the best rebounding guard ever. Now, if you look
at theistic statistics as of what he is, Rodney, you're right.
Last night he's a past Jason Kidd for most rebounds
by a guard. I know he's still playing, but he's
clearly on the back of nine in his eighteenth year.
I guess what is Russell Westbrook's legacy as a player
(27:13):
For you guys, he was the stats obviously.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
No, you know what it is.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Every night he played hard every night, gave it everything
he had, and that to me is not a bad
legacy to have.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah, I think as time goes on, people are gonna
forget about the isolated incidents that he's had over his
career and you know, the run ends that he's had
and look at the totality of his career and really
respect the guy that has you know, been there and
(27:49):
played and like you said, Fred, there's got to be
something for a guy every single night that gave it
everything he had, never took a night off, and was
going one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Every time he stepped on the court.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
There's a respect level I think all guys in the NBA,
and not just the NBA, but all sports have for
a guy like that that plays the game only one way,
and that is to play hard every time I step
on the court, because that exemplifies a respect for the game.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
And where you are.
Speaker 6 (28:25):
Now, Rodney, maybe you've experienced this before, you know, playing
for teams that they've been struggling and they want to
shake things.
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Up a little bit.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
So according to a report, the Miami Dolphins are removing
the Papa Shot game that they have at their facility
because they're not winning, they've been struggling, and too much
funds being had right now we're not being serious enough,
so we got to take out the Papa shot Rodney,
does the does something like that make a difference if
a team is struggling, you're not playing well. We got
to take all the fun stuff out of the facility
(28:52):
and really focus on football.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Does that really make a difference.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
That means there's a bigger problem. That's what that means.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And I'm from what I understand, they took out the
ping pong tables. Yes, maybe a week ago, a week
or so ago, and it was encouraged by two of yes,
which were the reports by the quarterback of the Dolphins.
Encouraged the front office or the coaching staff and the
equipment guys to take out the ping pong tables and
(29:18):
pool tables in the in the locker room because guys
were distracted or maybe not taking things seriously enough. No,
you got bigger problems. You got bigger problems. Every team needs,
you know, just to release something to kind of take
your mind off of a little bit. And having those
things in the locker room. Whether I remember even back
(29:39):
when I played, there were video games, there was a
there was a video game room set up for guys
to take on downtimes in between practices or right after
lunch where you had a little bit of a downtime,
the guy just wanted to just do something different before
they went out for a two and a half hour
practice brind So that that just to me, it speaks
volumes about where Miami he is in terms of YO
(30:04):
not knowing where to turn to get this whole thing
turned around.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Look, I think that taking out games is not going
to make a difference at all.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
How much did we talk yesterday about culture.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
The Dodger culture and culture is something that takes a
while to build, but if you build it properly, it sustains,
and they have a lack of culture when you get
to a point where you're going, I got the problem.
I don't want everybody taking fifteen minute recesses or take
the games out of here, because that's not going to work.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
You're not focused enough.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
There are way way bigger problems, and that is somebody
that is desperate throwing darts at a board. By the way,
unless it's the owner throwing those darts, who's ever throwing
them is not going to be there next year anyway,
because there's no way if your solution into the problem
is this, then you have no solution.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
I will say this reminds me of a story I
believe Winki Kennedy told me this some years ago. It
was Rich Gannon's first year with the Raiders and they
had lost a couple of games and Rich walked in
and a couple of guys were having too much fun.
So Rich actually physically went in and turned over the
poll table himself. He didn't even ask the front office
to take it out. Yeah, and you and are Rodney.
Rich is a pretty high, strong, intense guy. So I
believe the story, and apparently it worked. The team turned
(31:26):
around and we're better, and that was the best Raiders
run they've had in thirty years.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Was when Rich was the quarterback, so.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
That was the reason.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
But but yeah, Rich was definitely a high strung guy
that wanted to.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Do things a certain way, and certain things rubbed him
the wrong way. I do remember they were TV.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
I've been on teams where you know, during in between
practices or in the lounge area, and most teams in
the locker room have lounge areas where you know ESPN
would be on or or the TV would be on,
and you know a couple guys that no more, no
more sports networks on. So it became, you know, soap
(32:07):
operas became the norm for.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Lunch, solid rates. Yeah, no sports channels or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
And actually it did work a little bit, and you
got to know everybody in general city with the young one.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Get to know everybody in general city exactly for there
you go.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
That's what's sliding up the headlines tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
That three relive the memories of World Series Game seven,
the Dodgers become back to back world champs. Listen to
the game on A five seventy LA Sports and on
the iHeartRadio app presented in part by a m PM.
Too much good stuff and we are back to wrap
it up.
Speaker 5 (32:46):
Hello Rogan and Rodney listener. Did you know AM five
seventy LA Sports has a wide range of LA sports podcasts,
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Talk with David.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Vasse, the Dodger Podcast of Record.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
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Just go to A five seventy LA Sports on the
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Speaker 3 (33:10):
Ah, Yes, a Throwback Thursday, Freddy on a Throwback Thursday.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Man, we're running back.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
These a world series, games that just keep popping up,
can't get away from it, can't stop watching it?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
What in it? Just an iconic series that you know.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
I'm just glad that we at AM five seventy get
to be a real intimate part of it and get
to cover the games like we get to cover the games,
and for these last couple of years, and especially this year,
it just feels like we're in the midst of something
really truly special.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I agree with you on that on all accounts. And
I'll say this and earlier we talked about the fact
that the club is getting older, and at what point
do you say, Okay, everybody's a little long in the
tooth here, you know, when you get to diminishing returns.
My feelings sitting here and I will feel the same
way at the beginning of spring training next year. The
Dodgers are not there yet. They are not to the
(34:14):
point of diminishing returns. I thought Dellan Rnandez made a
really good point. It's a long season, and as guys
get older, completing that season becomes harder. And once you
complete the season, then you need a fresh tank of
gas for the playoffs, and that becomes harder as well.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
I think this team is fine.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I think this team will win it again next year
and then we'll worry about the future after that.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
Yeah, I do too, especially when you think about the pitching.
You know.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
What the Dodgers went through this year and last year,
and you know, I'm not gonna go into my Dave
roberts cheerleader mode, but you know the way they approached
last year postseason and having to rely on the bullpen
and and the starting pitching was not what it was
this year, and and so it was a difficult challenge
because you got to use guys for one inning here,
(35:11):
for two outs here and two outs there, and it
was just a tough navigation for Dave Robertson and Mark
Pryor in the pitching and all all of the coaching staff.
And then this year at flip flop, where starting pitching
was the was the strength of this team. And I
think for the last couple of years they have not
(35:34):
played to their strength.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
They have not played to the best of their ability.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
Yet they are back to back champions, which makes it
to me as we start talking about the offseason, and
you know, all the hot stove comments and shows that
are going on, that the Dodgers have not played their
best baseball with the talent and which we see on
paper over the last couple of years, but they've got
back to back titles. Imagine if everything is working the
(36:01):
way it should work on paper, which rarely does, but
think about the way this team is constructed. They should,
they should dominate and win over one hundred games every
single year. And they've got a lot of these guys
that are the core, which we ran through earlier in
the show, Locked Up, Fred, locked Up for the next
(36:21):
two to three years.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Amen to all of that, very well, said Ronnie. Thank
you for today, great work, Kevin, outstanding is always and
we are back tomorrow for a three hour show. So
Rodney talked to you, then right home.
Roggin And Rodney News
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