September 30, 2025 • 34 mins
Dodgers President of Baseball Ops, Andrew Friedman, joins us as we continue to walk you up to the start of Dodgers-Reds in the wildcard round.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
All right, we continue on from Dodger Stadium. Fred Rogan,
Rodney Pete getting ready game one of the wild card
Dodgers and Reds. We've been out here since about ten
thirty this morning. Now we are in a really special
situation because they don't even open the gates for the
media until just now, so we've been out here keeping
an eye on everything.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Rodney.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yeah, and the Reds are on the field right now.
They're doing some jugs work with the catchers in the
cage and him blocking balls and things like this. I've
noticed this trend in baseball last couple of years, Fred,
where all the guys come out with bare feet, and
what's that about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I don't know. I mean, you want to get the
feel of it. I understand it.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Don't see that much in football, although there are some
guys that do it, but I've seen it a lot,
especially in the last few years in baseball, where guys
will come out. We had a guy out here running
wind sprints in his bare feet and it's something about
just touching. And you talked about how great the grass is,
so why wouldn't you, right, But that's.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Not the mark of a champion. They're going down you
come out here and bear now, Fred, stop it. You
Dodgers come out in bare feet too. What are you
gonna say about them?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, they understand there's a difference. These guys.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
They're they're just so thrilled to be anywhere that they're
coming out here and there to be out of Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, I mean they have good ribs Montgomery in but
aside from that, and Cincinnati, for years, by the way,
was known as the cleanest city in America.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh m hmm, it isn't that the city where Derry
Springer was the mayor? Exactly right, Jerry Springer was the
mayor of Cincinnati. Wow. How many how many Reds fans
do you think are going to be here today?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Okay, that's fair. I'm gonna say. Should I give you
a number or percentage? Two percentage of the percentage of
the crowd?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Fine? Six percent? Six percent?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Okay out of fifty thousand, six percent. Yeah, so basically
it'll be like there's no Reds fans here, So less
than five thousand people here? Oh yeah, by the way,
and this is shocking. And now we're giving two sets
of tickets away for tomorrow's game this hour. But if
you want to come tonight, and I keep checking there
are tickets available.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Are they dropping or are they getting higher? No, they're dropping. Ooh, dugout.
These are very pricey seats, by the way, no matter what, Yeah,
no matter what it is, those are going to be pricing.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
But dugouts are eight hundred. Oh okay, and you go, well,
that's a lot of money. It really is, except they're
like twenty five hundred dollars. So yeah, those are pretty
good prices. And you can get you can get in
here for forty two bucks.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I saw. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So if you want to come and you don't win
the tickets from us, by the way, Petro, so, no matter,
give the tickets away as well.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
We're giving away all the way up to the game.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
But if you didn't win tickets from us, because our
tickets are for tomorrow, you want to buy them, buy them.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
This is your shot, I'm telling you. You know, Frey,
I'm looking at this and seeing the reds.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
That's bringing back a lot of memory that I've always
been a Dodger fan when I was little because they
grew up in Arizona. Yeah, and that's all we saw Dodgers,
Dodger games. It was just like the Dodgers were the
home team. There was no Diamondbacks when I was growing
up in the seventies. But what I do remember is
those battles that the Dodgers had with the Reds in
the playoffs all back in the day and the mid seventies,
(03:16):
right and the regular the Big Red Machine with Johnny
Bench and George Foster and Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Joe
Morgan and those teams played the Dodgers offen every year,
it felt like, in the playoffs to see who was
going to go to the World Series.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And one of those teams was going to the World Series.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I think it were like four or five years straight
they played each other in the playoffs. But it just
brought back those memories of those teams that just used
to go at it in the playoffs on a regular basis.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So with these two teams tonight, and it's something to
think about. You're in the wild card. It's the best
of three. Anything can happen, right, best of five, you're
more settled. Best of seven, usually the better team wins
best of three. You know, anything could happen, But you
are playing now. If you're not in the Wildcard, you're
(04:03):
getting a week off for the division series winner. If
this one gets the Phillies, winner of the Cubs and
Padres gets the Brewers, So Phillies and Brewers get a
week off. Phillies have been dinged up, just trade churn,
a little more time to get ready, Alec Baum, a
little more time to get ready. But would you rather, Rodney,
would you rather get that week off? Because it's happened
(04:24):
to the Dodgers. They had the week off then they
got beat. Would you rather have the week off or
would you rather gamble on the best of three but
keep playing?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
It really it really depends on what kind of year
you're having and how you finished the season. Fred I
don't think you can say that at the beginning of
the see, oh yeah we want to be in a
wildcard because we're playing hot, or we want to be,
you know, have that week off, all things being equal, Yeah,
you prefer to have some time off to get ready
for it. But if you're playing hot in late September
(05:01):
going into the player you want to keep playing. Yeah,
you want to keep playing. Cleveland wants to keep playing.
Teams like that wants to If you're banged up like Philly,
then yeah, the week off is good for you. We've
seen the Dodgers run away with the West and have
a week off and wait, and then the Diamondbacks got
hot and came and beat the Dodgers, knocked them out.
(05:21):
Same thing happened with the Padres at one point, where
the Padres got hot at the end of the season.
I think for this Dodger team this year, the way
it's been up and down and kind of erratic, but
yet they found themselves in the last two weeks of
the season, I think it's beneficial for them to play
in this, in this wildcard round to keep things going.
They're healthy and so why not. And I mean I
(05:45):
can tell from experience. We and my year last couple
of years in Carolina. One year we went to the
Super Bowl. We got hot at the end of the
season and ended up winning the NFC South and Saint
Louis Cardinals at the time had the number one seed.
They were fourteen and two, and Philadelphia was right behind
them the number two seed. So we beat Dallas in
(06:05):
a wildcard round, then had to go to Saint Louis,
beat them in a divisional round at their place, and
then went and beat Philadelphia in Philly for the NFC
Championship game. So we were the hottest team at the
end of the season, and we benefited by playing it
all the way out, weekend and week out.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
You know, if this wasn't a best of three, I
think everybody would benefit from playing. Be quite honest with you,
I mean, it's scary when it's three games, but it's
better than, as you pointed out some years back, when
it was one game, right, right, I mean that made
that was no sense, no sense. You play one hundred
and sixty two games, it comes down to this one
(06:43):
and it's not Game seven of the World Series, right.
I think if everything was the best of five, you
benefit from playing. You will see I think you will
see some rust with the Phillies, and I think you
will see some rust more so with the Brewers Rodney.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, because they're not used to this. Yeah, that's the team.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I think that we're all waiting to see how they
perform in the playoffs, not having been there having a
season that they had. Now, the intensity level picks up
once you hit the playoffs, and then they're gonna have
time off, right, time off to end up playing the
Cubs or the Padres.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Who are playing right now.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So it it'll be interesting when they when they start
to play, because whoever comes out of that Cubs Padres
series is going to feel pretty good about themselves going
to Milwaukee.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
What's the score in that game? I know they were
up to nothing, you know, it's Padre. Padre's up one
to nothing on one another. Yeah, okay, one nothing in
the fourth.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
All right.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We didn't mention this earlier, and we were talking about
it during the break and it kind of caught our attention.
Anthony Bonda is Banda's not on the postseason roster.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yeah, that's shocked me a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Because as much work he's he's gotten all season long
and been a guy that's been a you know, from
high leverage to extended innings to closing. I mean, he's
been all over the map of the Dodgers out of
the bullpen, and for him not to be on is
a little little strange, a little strange.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I had some people when we you know, the Dodgers,
and we put out the roster, right there are comments
where I was Bandon on not on, and Tanner Scott's on.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
They're both lefties exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
For whatever reason, Tanner. Scott's not going anywhere. He is
not going anywhere. Granted what I said yesterday was wrong
and I and I agree, but he's not going anywhere.
So that leads to this, Okay, what are we gonna
do in the ninth? Yeah, because that's what you have
to start thinking, what are you doing the ninth?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Who is it?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And I'm sure it's a game of matchups. I get that.
I wouldn't be surprised seeing Riku is in there, To
be honest with you, No, I wouldn't either, and wouldn't either.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I mean when he's on, he's he's pretty electric too,
you know, he's uh and I think he's They've given
him enough work second half of the season and Fred
I think he'll be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, so I think you'll see him in there. I
think you'll see Vessia in there. I think in a
leverage situation. Dave Roberts seems to love Rubleski. Yeah, he does,
and he's come through for him.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
So both him and Dryers come through for this team
more so than I think a lot of people expected.
So look, I think that unlike years in the past,
where you knew who was coming out, you know and
even what the last couple years, knew tryning and it
was going to come out of there. Last year was Kopek, right,
(09:35):
Kopek was the guy that coming out of the pen
in the ninth.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
This year, it's going to be playing by ear and
if you have we're not with us.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
When they announced the playoff roster, the one missing name
I think that shocked everyone was Michael Confordo. All year long,
he's been up, he's been down. Root for him when
he hits, then he struggles. And with a right handed
pitcher going to night in Hunter Green, Rodney, you wouldn't
think Conforido would be here.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
As a left handed hitter for this series. Yeah, you
would think, you would think. But I think they went
like I said, I think they went speed Fred. I
think they opted for speed and getting some movement on
the basis as opposed to hoping Conforto can have one
of those good nights because it's been hit or miss
(10:23):
with him all season long and.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
With Justin Dean.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
They did up for the speed and they also opted
four And I think we can all agree to this defense. No,
not that I think we can agree to this. The
happiest man to play for the Dodgers this year. Oh,
without a doubt, Justin Dean was the happiest man on
the roster when he was up here. Nobody smiled more
than Justin Deane. Nobody rooted for guys more than Justin Deane.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Wouldn't you, Fred, look at this place. This is blue
Evan baby, I understand.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
But you sit here and you were watching games and
you look in the dugout and.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
There was this guy. He was so happy.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I mean he was smiling, jumping around, and it's typical Dodgers.
You think to yourself, who is that guy? Where did
that guy come from? It was Justin Dean And now
he's Backack.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
He's on the roster. He's for Justin Dean. Yeah, he's
on the roster. Here's another thing. You know.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
We believe the Dodgers will win the World Series again, Okay, Rodney,
And let's say they do.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
How many rings do they buy?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
They buy more rings than any team that ever wins
the World Series. Think of all the guys that are
on the roster, think of all the guys that have
been here. They give everybody a ring. That must my
seventy rings for players.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yeah, well, and you only have a forty roster and
the employees' staff get ring, so they buy more than
seventy a lot more than seventy.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, I mean our day's got two rings. Okay, now
let me ask you this and you can take us inside.
You can tell us something no one knows. Does he
get the ring ring or just the level down ring,
because there's like five levels of rings.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Put it this way. It's in a safe deposit box.
Oh he gets one, Yeah, he gets one. Oh yeah,
oh yeah, oh my god, Oh that is cool. He
gets them absolutely the real ones. Yeah, they're the safe
deposit box. The box is worth you know, a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Does he even does he even realize? No, he does.
He did.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I mean he loved it when he got it, and
then he threw it in his closet. No, no, wait,
like a week later he had like, al was your ring,
it's my I went in his closet. It was at
the bottom of round his shoes with some some dirty
clothes on top of it. It was like, we gotta
put this in a safety deposit box. So come on there, yeah,
(12:56):
come on, come on. But yeah, you would think, you know,
everybody's dinnerent, right, you would think I'm gonna sport that ring.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
If I go out to dinner, I'm going somewhere, I'm
put that ring on. But he has never actually worn
it out. He'd leaves it in the bottom of the closet.
Do you want to point out?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Now a few Dodger players are come out on the field,
and more of the Reds are out here, and now
there is a woman who works for the Reds.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Walking around with her shoes off. She's in the right field.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
We have no idea who she is or what she
does shagging both, but she's walking around with no shoes on.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And I think she's probably part of the training staff,
right I would. I would imagine, okay, well who was
she training?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Now?
Speaker 1 (13:37):
What is she doing out there? She's on the phone? Okay, well, right,
that's he's on the phone. Her job waiting for people
to come out, and she's gonna I don't know what
she's gonna do. We'll see her job on a daily
basis is to walk around on her phone without her
shoes and just kind of cruise around the outfield. That's
the formula for success. Listen, you kids, you want to
(13:58):
build a team that wins, you send all your players
out barefoot. Let them walk around the outfield for twenty
five minutes. That's that's going to propel them. I'm telling you,
you're not gonna see the Dodgers. I'm looking at the Dodgers.
They got their shoes on.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
There was one guy with his shoes off over there.
We didn't we didn't have to identify them. Well, you
tried to identify it as Andrew Friedman, but we didn't
identify the Dodger that was laying out there with the
shoes off.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
So I will say, guys, I did look it up.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So that the ritual of people walking around on the
grass with no shoes on, apparently it's called grounding or earthing,
the pregame ritual that a lot of players apparently do
before games. Yeah, they say it helps them destress and
feel more connected to the environment and potentially gain a
competitive mental edge.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Why don't they just have a seance or something may Yeah,
what do they do? Everybody has their ritual. Everybody has
their rituals. Fred you know, and that where a lot
of people. I would imagine you take your shoes off
and walk around that grass. It has got to feel soothing,
very soothing to the feet, not to the body.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Because it's perhaps the best surface of Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Nobody argues that.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Nobody argues went back to the old movie of Die
Hard with Bruce Willis. Remember the guy told him take
his shoes off, and when he got to his hotel
room and his curl his toes on the carpet.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, I'm a detailed guy. I remember those movies like that.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
But yeah, he took it off and he was like, Wow,
I get it. I understand. So you know, don't knock
it till you try it, Freddy, Kevin, put your shoes
back on.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
You get comfortable in here.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Fred All right, they said make yourself at home, so
you sign.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yourself at home. I'll tell you who made themselves at
home today. Craig. Craig.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Craig did anything to eat? Yet, No, there's no food. Well,
Craig could go steal some chips. And by the way,
by the way, things have changed a five seventy. You
know the man that hired all of us, Don Martin,
is now a Fox Sports radio Hey, Don, we love Don.
He hired all of us, but you know he had
(16:01):
a bit of an attitude in the suite. I'm not
gonna lie to here, and uh, you know, he would
be the guy that would tell us to avoid eating
the food because it was for the clients.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
You frame that much, not more nicely than Don would
relaying that message to us.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'll just put it that.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Way, Donald, have hell are you doing with that hot dog?
We got to count on these dogs. We got to
make the client fifty I'm sitting here. I don't think
he missed one lion. They got to have at least
two for the clients.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So and he would he would put a seating chart out.
He'd put a seating chart and you better not sit
in one of those seats, you bet, And he would
give you the stink eye.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It was he was not kidding around. So things are
a little looser here in the suite this year.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
So it's you know, if they brought food in here,
we could devour it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
I don't think anybody would catch it.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I don't think anybody would care. No, I don't think
anybody would care. All right, So here's where we're at.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
We're gonna take a break because we expect Andrew Friedman, right, Kevin,
when we come back, he.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Should be here close to it. Yes we are.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I will ask him if he was a guy laying
in the outfield. Okay, I will ask thee.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I'll let you ask him that president of Baseball Operations
for the Dodgers, if he was that guy. Oh, we
gotta give tickets away for tomorrow right now, we do,
come right now. It's a six nine seven two, five seventy.
Who wins for tomorrow? Rodney number seven, Fred Rogan, Rodney
Pete live from the stadium in a five seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Yes, we are live from Dodgers Stadium. It is game day,
Blue Heaven, as I love to call it, as everybody
else does. Congratulations to Josh, you have won the tickets
for tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Well Josh, wait, Josh, good work. All right.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
We're joined now by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman.
So I gotta start with this. I could have made
a mistake if I did. You'll correct me. So we
know you're coming up at one thirty and you're busy today,
but you also have to get the proper frame of mind.
So we're sitting here, we're watching the field, and we
see somebody laying on the other side of the cage
down there. They're laying on their back they're wearing shorts
(18:05):
and a shirt and they're basically Dodger stuff and they're
just sunning themselves and getting mentally prepared.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
I thought that was you, and I said that was
that you will set it out loud and on air, and.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
I wish I had that gear in my playbook.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I don't have it.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
I wish I did.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I need it. Whoever was down there was just soaking
it all in.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
So my life goal is now before a playoff game,
one day, for you to actually see me doing that.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Right now, I don't have it in me, but hopefully
one day.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
With some growth.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Well speak about that, Andrew. How are you on game day,
especially a playoff game day? What is it like for you?
Waking up and you sleep the night before. I know
you have the same butterflies as the players do getting
ready for this game.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
How was it for you?
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Yeah? Definitely anxious.
Speaker 7 (18:50):
You obviously tight turnaround playing this series until we're here
late last night, but it's hard to turn off your
mind and you wake up and you're anxious and you're
watching the clock and it's going in slow emotion. But
we're ready, we're prepared, and now it's just doing everything
we can to get to six o'clock and get off
to a good start here.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
But for you, I mean, you get together the minute
the season's over last year and now we're thinking about
next year, because you don't get to celebrate long in
this business.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 1 (19:19):
You put it together, You've played it out, they've been
observing downs.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
This is it.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
You've waited all year for this, and it will speak
to the performance of the players, docs managing the ability
you guys had to put this roster together.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I mean, this is really it for you now.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Yeah, it's good time. And we talk about it, you know,
all off season, into spring training, into the beginning parts
of the season, through the inevitable kind of ups and
downs that is a major league season.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
All of it is about this moment and now us.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Winning thirteen games and doing everything we can to put
ourselves in the best position to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Speaking of the moment, because we talked about this about
momentum and teams having it going into October, Dodgers have
been on both sides of that, right. They've blown everybody
away in the regular season, had time off and then
run into a hot Diamondbacks team or a hot padres team,
Which would you prefer it or does it matter how
(20:19):
you're playing at the end, And is it good for
this Dodger team to be playing and continue playing through
as supposed to having a bye.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Well, I guess a couple things, and that one is
going into the playoffs, how you're playing. It obviously feels
better to be playing well going in. How much it
actually matters, I think you can debate. You know, you
can look at a lot of teams over the years.
The Phillies who almost had an epic collapse in twenty two.
If it weren't for the extra playoff team, they wouldn't
(20:48):
even made the playoffs that year. Then they get hot
in October and they go to the World Series.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
You know.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
The Rangers almost collapse down the stretch in twenty three,
lose the Division, have to go play in the wild Card,
and then win the World Series because they got hot
in October. So obviously a lot depends on how you
play in October. Some of it's helpful to go in
playing well. Some of it is all right, it's a
new season, start over, fresh mindset. A lot of it
gets at health and the players you have on the field,
(21:16):
obviously and some good fortune.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
So all of that matters.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
But now if you could guarantee me that we win
these two games against the Reds, I will argue that
it's a good thing. We had to play it, but
obviously there's a risk in that, and so we'd prefer
not to. But if you can guarantee that, then I
actually think there's benefit to it.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
All.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Right, let's talk about the roster for the Wildcard series.
We know Clayton Kersha's not on there. We pitched Sunday.
He's really not going to pitch in this series, so
you'll hold him for the Division series.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Why did you do what you did?
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Confordo's not there, Dean is their band band is not there?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Why the decisions you made?
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Yeah, I mean kersh is, you know, I think somewhat obvious.
He was a huge part of getting us where we are.
You know, our bullpen has struggled some down the stretch.
To say it mildly, but it's not a talent issue.
It was a confidence issue. They were wavering in confidence
and execution.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
You really identified that for sure.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
I mean the talent, the stuff is still there, it's
execution and execution gets at confidence and relievers are tightrope
walkers for a living. That's what they do, and so
it's kind of like a field goal kicker, you know,
place kicker in the NFL. They need to have that confidence,
and so now it's on us to kind of figure
out how to ignite it. We saw some good things
(22:38):
down the stretch, but we have she Han and Glass
pitching out of our pen right now. One of the
big disadvantages of playing in a wildcard round is that
you get in if you're fortunate enough to advance, you
get into a division series and your pitching's all out
of whack. You had to use two or three starters
to get through it. Because of the depth of our rotation,
that's not really a cost to us, So depend on
(23:00):
what pitchers we have to use, hopefully to win two
games here. If it takes everyone, then we have Curse
ready to go in game one. If it doesn't, then
we figure out where we're at. But obviously he will
impact us in the DS. We just couldn't run all
of our length options out in a wildcard round and
then wake up if we were fortunate enough to get
through it and say, oh, we have no pitching for
(23:23):
games one and two, so we had to balance out
a little bit. But you know, again, I think with
where our starting pitching is, there's not the same cost
to us as there is to other teams.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
And to that point, I mean you that was the
point of emphasis in the offseason for you guys, right,
I mean, you got through it last year with the
bullpen and it was phenomenal, but it was it was
obviously everyone that we got to get some starting pitching
in here, and it was ups and downs. Guys got
hurt and you didn't. You weren't at full strength. But
this series now October and going forward, like you said,
(23:58):
glassing the pen and in the and then guys that
have started for you all season long.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
This is why you did what you did in the
off season.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
Yeah, I mean I've said this a couple of weeks now.
I think this is far and away the most talented
pitching staff we've ever brought into the playoffs. So obviously
nothing's guaranteed. Last year we accomplished the ultimate wasn't great
for quality of life kind of.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
Managing through all that.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
All's well, that ends well, But this is the deepest,
most talented pitching staff we've ever brought in October.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Okay, So that being said, and we've kicked us around
on the air, and I'm sure you listen to us
all the time to take our suggestions.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Yes, because we actually know what we're talking about.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Right, we call you guys the assistant GMS, So thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I sat there and said that out loud to him to.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
See because we were kicking around. All Right, somebody goes six,
we go to the pen. Can't she in come in
and close the game?
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Go three? And he's a starter, why can't he just
do it? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I think that's on the table. I think there's a
lot of different ways we can go. And the point
there's all of talent out there and so game score, situation,
all that will factor in. But I could definitely see
a scenario where that happens about Sazaki.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Sure he looked good the other night, Yeah, he looked really.
Fred wanted him to go and close the game. I
want him to finish.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yeah, I said, you finished with some success and confidence,
and that's why they took them out.
Speaker 7 (25:19):
Well that and we were trying him on a two
out of three for the first time in his career
as a starting pitcher.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Has never done the relief thing.
Speaker 7 (25:26):
So we just wanted to see a how he got
ready and that two out of three how he recovered
after so we'd have that info.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Andrew, This drives me crazy because I argue with people
all the time. You know about players and you still
got to play the game. Everybody say, oh, Dodger's got
the biggest payroll and they should dominate, they should go
one hundred and sixty two and O and all those things.
What do you say to people, even after you put
together a team and the roster like this, it suggests
that it should be an easy road because you got
(25:56):
the highest payroll.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, it's just this is a different sport. There are
some sports where that can you know, more likely be
the answer. In baseball, there's so much stuff that happens
in the course of a game, and you know, you
watch the game within the game and the flare off
the end of the bat that finds a hole, or
the ball that's stepped on that splits the leftfielder's chest
(26:20):
because he happens to be standing right there. And one
you know, at bat and the way the contact to
the left field couldn't have.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
Been better, But you get you don't get rewarded for it.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
And swinging in a ball six inches off the plate,
getting it off the end of the bat, having it
flare down the right field line with side spin that
you get a double out of, you do get rewarded.
And so those things can happen and compound over a game.
But the point is, for us, it's about investing in
talent and people, and for us, it's about getting the
most out of these players and believing and trusting that
(26:54):
they're going to do everything they can to reward these
incredible fans. And we have an incredible group of guys
that not only are really talented, but really care about winning.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
See, here's the thing, and we kick this around, you
go on and you win the World Series.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
People that don't.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Follow you every day, that don't live it like we
do here in La think, well, of.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Course they did. They have no idea what this team
went through. They don't have.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
The slightest idea of the ups and the downs, and
they just don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And that's what's so funny to me. You follow this,
there were.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Points during the season you're like, oh my god, it
didn't matter how much money you spent, It didn't matter
what you did I mean these guys had to battle
all year long?
Speaker 7 (27:33):
Andrew, Yeah, I mean again baseball of funny sport like this.
But you said to me in spring training there's going
to be an eight week stretch this year where your
offense will be in the bottom five in almost every category.
I see the world in gray. I don't see it
in black and white. I can't see things at zero
one hundred. But I would have said there's a zero
(27:54):
percent chance of that happened, right, and I would have
been wrong. And we had a two month stretch where
our offense was woeful with our guys like it wasn't
like we had a bunch of guys out. And it
just goes to show like things can happen in baseball
over little stretches here and there. But again, all we
can do is make the bet on people and talent
(28:16):
and do everything we can to put them in the
best positions to succeed. More often than not, that works.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
But you also need some good fortune, all right, Michael
Confordo didn't make the roster.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You brought thing up, I would assume for speed.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Is that a tough conversation to have with Confordo, who
battled all year long.
Speaker 5 (28:32):
Yeah, he did.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
He battled all year long, and you know, obviously he scuffled,
but with what a great teammate like. His teammates love him,
and it's hard to scuffle and battle. A lot of
guys kind of retreat and go into a hole. His
teammates absolutely love him because of how much he cares
about winning and doing everything can to be a good teammate.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
It's certainly not easy. I think with Will.
Speaker 7 (28:56):
Smith and the healing that's taken place in him being
able to be, you know, a pinch hitter in a
big spot, it just made it we're being able to
prioritize speed on the bases, finishing a game and the
most optimal defensive configuration just kind of one out force.
But yeah, definitely not easy. It's just important that we're
honest and you know, have empathy in those conversations and
(29:19):
do what we think gives us the best chance to win.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Andrew the last one for me.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
You know, you mentioned the guys kind of you know,
sticking with each other, and you know, just mentioned Michael
Confordo having his ups and downs, and and Mookie obviously
went through his struggles this year, and you know Max
Munsey in and out of the lineup. What does it
say about Doc the staff and what is happening in
that clubhouse that keeps these guys together that don't let
(29:45):
them go or fall too far.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a combination of Doc
his staff, the steadiness, that consistency, that level of preparation,
and also the guys on our roster.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
How much do they care about it.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
You know, we talked about in the off season repeating
is incredibly hard, and part of it is because it's
really difficult to go back when you're the hunted and
to have that same edge, to have that same hunger
to do it once you've done it, It's hard. It's
human nature to just be a little bit less hungry.
(30:22):
And it was one of those things that betting on
this group and just a level of focus about legacy
and it's important to all these guys for this to
be the golden era Dodger baseball and that's a motivating
factor for them in a way that you know, I
think makes us even more confident than than we otherwise
would be.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
We know, what's a crazy day. Thanks for hanging with
us a few minutes. Really appreciate you for having me
on you all right, President, I gotta go back. Yeah,
we'll be watching it. Yeah, man, go do it yea.
Andrew Friedman?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
All right, who wants tickets for tomorrow Knight's game eight
six six, nine eighty seven two five seventy.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
We got a pair. They can be yours.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
Rodney will call her number number seven, Fred Rugan Rodney
Pete Live at the Stadium on AM five seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Oh Yeah from Blue Heaven Live at Dodgers Stadium. Many
thanks to President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman for giving
us his time and insight on the Dodgers this season
and this postseason.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
You know, Rodney, what I always say about the Dodgers
and people, you know, they think you're blowing smoke because
you know, you guys have the games on the station
and stuff. I mean it to be true. If you
ask them a question, they will give you an answer.
Even if you don't like the answer, they will give
you an answer. And that speaks to the kind of
organization they are. Yeah, they don't hold back.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
And whether it's Andrew, we've had Stan casting on, Dave
roberts on, they speak it and they don't give you
the coach speak or the GM speak or you know,
just talking riddles.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
They give you specific answers. So it's a reason why
they're so successful.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
And you know, having him today was great because for
everybody involved in this, the players, Dave Roberts, you have
to understand for Andrew Friedman, he is probably as anxious
and nervous, if not more so, than anyone else because
this is his masterpiece.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
He is the architect of this.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I'm gonna tell you fair, I'll guarantee you he's more
nervous and anxious than the players and Dave Roberts. Maybe
not Dave Roberts, but I'm saying that because the players play,
they can make they can make an impact, they can
control some things what's happening. It's like when you watch
your kids play and you're in the stands and you
love them, you but you can't do anything about what happens, right,
(32:39):
and you put them in a position to be successful
and you're watching them. I remember watching my kids play,
you know, with sports, and I was more nervous for
them watching them than that was when I played. So
I guarantee you he's feeling that because he put this
whole thing together.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I mean at the end of the day and he
can't go hit a home run or he can't anybody out.
He's got to watch right and at the end of
the day, all fingers are pointed at him.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
So for him to come over today was pretty cool
because I don't think I would have talked to two
Indians like us today to be honest with Big for yourself,
that's fair.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Big for your still that is fair. No, yeah, he
even said it right. He couldn't sleep. He's watching the clock.
He got here at eleven. It's like he's playing, but
he can't make an impact directly on the game.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Blake Snell against Hunter Green tonight. Now, Bill, let's go. Yep.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
That's why they signed him. That's why he is here
and is expected. He's got the ball tomorrow Chow Momoto
and if need be Otani will go in Game three three.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Freddy's out there taking short hops already four hours.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Before the game. He's ready. That's what I'm talking about.
He's ready to go. All right, Well, we are done.
That's it for us. We don't get out of the
station very often, and we're glad we came today. Petros
some money are sitting right behind us, so they will
jump on here. Take it to the pregame show with
Tim Ronnie. Thank you back in the studio. I really
appreciate it, Kevin. Great workout here, Craig, good job. What
(34:04):
are you, Craig?
Speaker 2 (34:06):
You know it's big.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
When Dave we shows up, he's here, Internet, Matt is here,
everybody is here.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
So uh oh do we know who won the tickets?
Do we even care? We don't care? Who want him?
Runny Mary Yello won the tickets?
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Of course we care. Yeah, what are you talking about, Kevin?
Don't don't, don't mouth that to me again. Have me
repeat it on the here. Terrible for it? All right, terrible?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Hey, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
The guys are next, and uh game one tonight right
here on a five se
All right, we continue on from Dodger Stadium. Fred Rogan,
Rodney Pete getting ready game one of the wild card
Dodgers and Reds. We've been out here since about ten
thirty this morning. Now we are in a really special
situation because they don't even open the gates for the
media until just now, so we've been out here keeping
an eye on everything.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Rodney.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yeah, and the Reds are on the field right now.
They're doing some jugs work with the catchers in the
cage and him blocking balls and things like this. I've
noticed this trend in baseball last couple of years, Fred,
where all the guys come out with bare feet, and
what's that about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I don't know. I mean, you want to get the
feel of it. I understand it.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Don't see that much in football, although there are some
guys that do it, but I've seen it a lot,
especially in the last few years in baseball, where guys
will come out. We had a guy out here running
wind sprints in his bare feet and it's something about
just touching. And you talked about how great the grass is,
so why wouldn't you, right, But that's.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Not the mark of a champion. They're going down you
come out here and bear now, Fred, stop it. You
Dodgers come out in bare feet too. What are you
gonna say about them?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, they understand there's a difference. These guys.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
They're they're just so thrilled to be anywhere that they're
coming out here and there to be out of Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, I mean they have good ribs Montgomery in but
aside from that, and Cincinnati, for years, by the way,
was known as the cleanest city in America.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh m hmm, it isn't that the city where Derry
Springer was the mayor? Exactly right, Jerry Springer was the
mayor of Cincinnati. Wow. How many how many Reds fans
do you think are going to be here today?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Okay, that's fair. I'm gonna say. Should I give you
a number or percentage? Two percentage of the percentage of
the crowd?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Fine? Six percent? Six percent?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Okay out of fifty thousand, six percent. Yeah, so basically
it'll be like there's no Reds fans here, So less
than five thousand people here? Oh yeah, by the way,
and this is shocking. And now we're giving two sets
of tickets away for tomorrow's game this hour. But if
you want to come tonight, and I keep checking there
are tickets available.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Are they dropping or are they getting higher? No, they're dropping. Ooh, dugout.
These are very pricey seats, by the way, no matter what, Yeah,
no matter what it is, those are going to be pricing.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
But dugouts are eight hundred. Oh okay, and you go, well,
that's a lot of money. It really is, except they're
like twenty five hundred dollars. So yeah, those are pretty
good prices. And you can get you can get in
here for forty two bucks.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I saw. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So if you want to come and you don't win
the tickets from us, by the way, Petro, so, no matter,
give the tickets away as well.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
We're giving away all the way up to the game.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
But if you didn't win tickets from us, because our
tickets are for tomorrow, you want to buy them, buy them.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
This is your shot, I'm telling you. You know, Frey,
I'm looking at this and seeing the reds.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
That's bringing back a lot of memory that I've always
been a Dodger fan when I was little because they
grew up in Arizona. Yeah, and that's all we saw Dodgers,
Dodger games. It was just like the Dodgers were the
home team. There was no Diamondbacks when I was growing
up in the seventies. But what I do remember is
those battles that the Dodgers had with the Reds in
the playoffs all back in the day and the mid seventies,
(03:16):
right and the regular the Big Red Machine with Johnny
Bench and George Foster and Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Joe
Morgan and those teams played the Dodgers offen every year,
it felt like, in the playoffs to see who was
going to go to the World Series.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And one of those teams was going to the World Series.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I think it were like four or five years straight
they played each other in the playoffs. But it just
brought back those memories of those teams that just used
to go at it in the playoffs on a regular basis.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So with these two teams tonight, and it's something to
think about. You're in the wild card. It's the best
of three. Anything can happen, right, best of five, you're
more settled. Best of seven, usually the better team wins
best of three. You know, anything could happen, But you
are playing now. If you're not in the Wildcard, you're
(04:03):
getting a week off for the division series winner. If
this one gets the Phillies, winner of the Cubs and
Padres gets the Brewers, So Phillies and Brewers get a
week off. Phillies have been dinged up, just trade churn,
a little more time to get ready, Alec Baum, a
little more time to get ready. But would you rather, Rodney,
would you rather get that week off? Because it's happened
(04:24):
to the Dodgers. They had the week off then they
got beat. Would you rather have the week off or
would you rather gamble on the best of three but
keep playing?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
It really it really depends on what kind of year
you're having and how you finished the season. Fred I
don't think you can say that at the beginning of
the see, oh yeah we want to be in a
wildcard because we're playing hot, or we want to be,
you know, have that week off, all things being equal, Yeah,
you prefer to have some time off to get ready
for it. But if you're playing hot in late September
(05:01):
going into the player you want to keep playing. Yeah,
you want to keep playing. Cleveland wants to keep playing.
Teams like that wants to If you're banged up like Philly,
then yeah, the week off is good for you. We've
seen the Dodgers run away with the West and have
a week off and wait, and then the Diamondbacks got
hot and came and beat the Dodgers, knocked them out.
(05:21):
Same thing happened with the Padres at one point, where
the Padres got hot at the end of the season.
I think for this Dodger team this year, the way
it's been up and down and kind of erratic, but
yet they found themselves in the last two weeks of
the season, I think it's beneficial for them to play
in this, in this wildcard round to keep things going.
They're healthy and so why not. And I mean I
(05:45):
can tell from experience. We and my year last couple
of years in Carolina. One year we went to the
Super Bowl. We got hot at the end of the
season and ended up winning the NFC South and Saint
Louis Cardinals at the time had the number one seed.
They were fourteen and two, and Philadelphia was right behind
them the number two seed. So we beat Dallas in
(06:05):
a wildcard round, then had to go to Saint Louis,
beat them in a divisional round at their place, and
then went and beat Philadelphia in Philly for the NFC
Championship game. So we were the hottest team at the
end of the season, and we benefited by playing it
all the way out, weekend and week out.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
You know, if this wasn't a best of three, I
think everybody would benefit from playing. Be quite honest with you,
I mean, it's scary when it's three games, but it's
better than, as you pointed out some years back, when
it was one game, right, right, I mean that made
that was no sense, no sense. You play one hundred
and sixty two games, it comes down to this one
(06:43):
and it's not Game seven of the World Series, right.
I think if everything was the best of five, you
benefit from playing. You will see I think you will
see some rust with the Phillies, and I think you
will see some rust more so with the Brewers Rodney.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, because they're not used to this. Yeah, that's the team.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I think that we're all waiting to see how they
perform in the playoffs, not having been there having a
season that they had. Now, the intensity level picks up
once you hit the playoffs, and then they're gonna have
time off, right, time off to end up playing the
Cubs or the Padres.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Who are playing right now.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So it it'll be interesting when they when they start
to play, because whoever comes out of that Cubs Padres
series is going to feel pretty good about themselves going
to Milwaukee.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
What's the score in that game? I know they were
up to nothing, you know, it's Padre. Padre's up one
to nothing on one another. Yeah, okay, one nothing in
the fourth.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
All right.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We didn't mention this earlier, and we were talking about
it during the break and it kind of caught our attention.
Anthony Bonda is Banda's not on the postseason roster.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yeah, that's shocked me a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Because as much work he's he's gotten all season long
and been a guy that's been a you know, from
high leverage to extended innings to closing. I mean, he's
been all over the map of the Dodgers out of
the bullpen, and for him not to be on is
a little little strange, a little strange.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I had some people when we you know, the Dodgers,
and we put out the roster, right there are comments
where I was Bandon on not on, and Tanner Scott's on.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
They're both lefties exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
For whatever reason, Tanner. Scott's not going anywhere. He is
not going anywhere. Granted what I said yesterday was wrong
and I and I agree, but he's not going anywhere.
So that leads to this, Okay, what are we gonna
do in the ninth? Yeah, because that's what you have
to start thinking, what are you doing the ninth?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Who is it?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And I'm sure it's a game of matchups. I get that.
I wouldn't be surprised seeing Riku is in there, To
be honest with you, No, I wouldn't either, and wouldn't either.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I mean when he's on, he's he's pretty electric too,
you know, he's uh and I think he's They've given
him enough work second half of the season and Fred
I think he'll be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, so I think you'll see him in there. I
think you'll see Vessia in there. I think in a
leverage situation. Dave Roberts seems to love Rubleski. Yeah, he does,
and he's come through for him.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
So both him and Dryers come through for this team
more so than I think a lot of people expected.
So look, I think that unlike years in the past,
where you knew who was coming out, you know and
even what the last couple years, knew tryning and it
was going to come out of there. Last year was Kopek, right,
(09:35):
Kopek was the guy that coming out of the pen
in the ninth.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
This year, it's going to be playing by ear and
if you have we're not with us.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
When they announced the playoff roster, the one missing name
I think that shocked everyone was Michael Confordo. All year long,
he's been up, he's been down. Root for him when
he hits, then he struggles. And with a right handed
pitcher going to night in Hunter Green, Rodney, you wouldn't
think Conforido would be here.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
As a left handed hitter for this series. Yeah, you
would think, you would think. But I think they went
like I said, I think they went speed Fred. I
think they opted for speed and getting some movement on
the basis as opposed to hoping Conforto can have one
of those good nights because it's been hit or miss
(10:23):
with him all season long and.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
With Justin Dean.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
They did up for the speed and they also opted
four And I think we can all agree to this defense. No,
not that I think we can agree to this. The
happiest man to play for the Dodgers this year. Oh,
without a doubt, Justin Dean was the happiest man on
the roster when he was up here. Nobody smiled more
than Justin Deane. Nobody rooted for guys more than Justin Deane.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Wouldn't you, Fred, look at this place. This is blue
Evan baby, I understand.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
But you sit here and you were watching games and
you look in the dugout and.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
There was this guy. He was so happy.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I mean he was smiling, jumping around, and it's typical Dodgers.
You think to yourself, who is that guy? Where did
that guy come from? It was Justin Dean And now
he's Backack.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
He's on the roster. He's for Justin Dean. Yeah, he's
on the roster. Here's another thing. You know.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
We believe the Dodgers will win the World Series again, Okay, Rodney,
And let's say they do.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
How many rings do they buy?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
They buy more rings than any team that ever wins
the World Series. Think of all the guys that are
on the roster, think of all the guys that have
been here. They give everybody a ring. That must my
seventy rings for players.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yeah, well, and you only have a forty roster and
the employees' staff get ring, so they buy more than
seventy a lot more than seventy.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, I mean our day's got two rings. Okay, now
let me ask you this and you can take us inside.
You can tell us something no one knows. Does he
get the ring ring or just the level down ring,
because there's like five levels of rings.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Put it this way. It's in a safe deposit box.
Oh he gets one, Yeah, he gets one. Oh yeah,
oh yeah, oh my god, Oh that is cool. He
gets them absolutely the real ones. Yeah, they're the safe
deposit box. The box is worth you know, a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Does he even does he even realize? No, he does.
He did.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I mean he loved it when he got it, and
then he threw it in his closet. No, no, wait,
like a week later he had like, al was your ring,
it's my I went in his closet. It was at
the bottom of round his shoes with some some dirty
clothes on top of it. It was like, we gotta
put this in a safety deposit box. So come on there, yeah,
(12:56):
come on, come on. But yeah, you would think, you know,
everybody's dinnerent, right, you would think I'm gonna sport that ring.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
If I go out to dinner, I'm going somewhere, I'm
put that ring on. But he has never actually worn
it out. He'd leaves it in the bottom of the closet.
Do you want to point out?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Now a few Dodger players are come out on the field,
and more of the Reds are out here, and now
there is a woman who works for the Reds.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Walking around with her shoes off. She's in the right field.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
We have no idea who she is or what she
does shagging both, but she's walking around with no shoes on.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And I think she's probably part of the training staff,
right I would. I would imagine, okay, well who was
she training?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Now?
Speaker 1 (13:37):
What is she doing out there? She's on the phone? Okay, well, right,
that's he's on the phone. Her job waiting for people
to come out, and she's gonna I don't know what
she's gonna do. We'll see her job on a daily
basis is to walk around on her phone without her
shoes and just kind of cruise around the outfield. That's
the formula for success. Listen, you kids, you want to
(13:58):
build a team that wins, you send all your players
out barefoot. Let them walk around the outfield for twenty
five minutes. That's that's going to propel them. I'm telling you,
you're not gonna see the Dodgers. I'm looking at the Dodgers.
They got their shoes on.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
There was one guy with his shoes off over there.
We didn't we didn't have to identify them. Well, you
tried to identify it as Andrew Friedman, but we didn't
identify the Dodger that was laying out there with the
shoes off.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
So I will say, guys, I did look it up.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So that the ritual of people walking around on the
grass with no shoes on, apparently it's called grounding or earthing,
the pregame ritual that a lot of players apparently do
before games. Yeah, they say it helps them destress and
feel more connected to the environment and potentially gain a
competitive mental edge.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Why don't they just have a seance or something may Yeah,
what do they do? Everybody has their ritual. Everybody has
their rituals. Fred you know, and that where a lot
of people. I would imagine you take your shoes off
and walk around that grass. It has got to feel soothing,
very soothing to the feet, not to the body.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Because it's perhaps the best surface of Major League Baseball.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Nobody argues that.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Nobody argues went back to the old movie of Die
Hard with Bruce Willis. Remember the guy told him take
his shoes off, and when he got to his hotel
room and his curl his toes on the carpet.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, I'm a detailed guy. I remember those movies like that.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
But yeah, he took it off and he was like, Wow,
I get it. I understand. So you know, don't knock
it till you try it, Freddy, Kevin, put your shoes
back on.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
You get comfortable in here.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Fred All right, they said make yourself at home, so
you sign.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yourself at home. I'll tell you who made themselves at
home today. Craig. Craig.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Craig did anything to eat? Yet, No, there's no food. Well,
Craig could go steal some chips. And by the way,
by the way, things have changed a five seventy. You
know the man that hired all of us, Don Martin,
is now a Fox Sports radio Hey, Don, we love Don.
He hired all of us, but you know he had
(16:01):
a bit of an attitude in the suite. I'm not
gonna lie to here, and uh, you know, he would
be the guy that would tell us to avoid eating
the food because it was for the clients.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
You frame that much, not more nicely than Don would
relaying that message to us.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'll just put it that.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Way, Donald, have hell are you doing with that hot dog?
We got to count on these dogs. We got to
make the client fifty I'm sitting here. I don't think
he missed one lion. They got to have at least
two for the clients.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So and he would he would put a seating chart out.
He'd put a seating chart and you better not sit
in one of those seats, you bet, And he would
give you the stink eye.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It was he was not kidding around. So things are
a little looser here in the suite this year.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
So it's you know, if they brought food in here,
we could devour it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
I don't think anybody would catch it.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I don't think anybody would care. No, I don't think
anybody would care. All right, So here's where we're at.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
We're gonna take a break because we expect Andrew Friedman, right, Kevin,
when we come back, he.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Should be here close to it. Yes we are.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I will ask him if he was a guy laying
in the outfield. Okay, I will ask thee.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I'll let you ask him that president of Baseball Operations
for the Dodgers, if he was that guy. Oh, we
gotta give tickets away for tomorrow right now, we do,
come right now. It's a six nine seven two, five seventy.
Who wins for tomorrow? Rodney number seven, Fred Rogan, Rodney
Pete live from the stadium in a five seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Yes, we are live from Dodgers Stadium. It is game day,
Blue Heaven, as I love to call it, as everybody
else does. Congratulations to Josh, you have won the tickets
for tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Well Josh, wait, Josh, good work. All right.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
We're joined now by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman.
So I gotta start with this. I could have made
a mistake if I did. You'll correct me. So we
know you're coming up at one thirty and you're busy today,
but you also have to get the proper frame of mind.
So we're sitting here, we're watching the field, and we
see somebody laying on the other side of the cage
down there. They're laying on their back they're wearing shorts
(18:05):
and a shirt and they're basically Dodger stuff and they're
just sunning themselves and getting mentally prepared.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
I thought that was you, and I said that was
that you will set it out loud and on air, and.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
I wish I had that gear in my playbook.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I don't have it.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
I wish I did.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I need it. Whoever was down there was just soaking
it all in.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
So my life goal is now before a playoff game,
one day, for you to actually see me doing that.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Right now, I don't have it in me, but hopefully
one day.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
With some growth.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Well speak about that, Andrew. How are you on game day,
especially a playoff game day? What is it like for you?
Waking up and you sleep the night before. I know
you have the same butterflies as the players do getting
ready for this game.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
How was it for you?
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Yeah? Definitely anxious.
Speaker 7 (18:50):
You obviously tight turnaround playing this series until we're here
late last night, but it's hard to turn off your
mind and you wake up and you're anxious and you're
watching the clock and it's going in slow emotion. But
we're ready, we're prepared, and now it's just doing everything
we can to get to six o'clock and get off
to a good start here.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
But for you, I mean, you get together the minute
the season's over last year and now we're thinking about
next year, because you don't get to celebrate long in
this business.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 1 (19:19):
You put it together, You've played it out, they've been
observing downs.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
This is it.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
You've waited all year for this, and it will speak
to the performance of the players, docs managing the ability
you guys had to put this roster together.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I mean, this is really it for you now.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Yeah, it's good time. And we talk about it, you know,
all off season, into spring training, into the beginning parts
of the season, through the inevitable kind of ups and
downs that is a major league season.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
All of it is about this moment and now us.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Winning thirteen games and doing everything we can to put
ourselves in the best position to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Speaking of the moment, because we talked about this about
momentum and teams having it going into October, Dodgers have
been on both sides of that, right. They've blown everybody
away in the regular season, had time off and then
run into a hot Diamondbacks team or a hot padres team,
Which would you prefer it or does it matter how
(20:19):
you're playing at the end, And is it good for
this Dodger team to be playing and continue playing through
as supposed to having a bye.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Well, I guess a couple things, and that one is
going into the playoffs, how you're playing. It obviously feels
better to be playing well going in. How much it
actually matters, I think you can debate. You know, you
can look at a lot of teams over the years.
The Phillies who almost had an epic collapse in twenty two.
If it weren't for the extra playoff team, they wouldn't
(20:48):
even made the playoffs that year. Then they get hot
in October and they go to the World Series.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
You know.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
The Rangers almost collapse down the stretch in twenty three,
lose the Division, have to go play in the wild Card,
and then win the World Series because they got hot
in October. So obviously a lot depends on how you
play in October. Some of it's helpful to go in
playing well. Some of it is all right, it's a
new season, start over, fresh mindset. A lot of it
gets at health and the players you have on the field,
(21:16):
obviously and some good fortune.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
So all of that matters.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
But now if you could guarantee me that we win
these two games against the Reds, I will argue that
it's a good thing. We had to play it, but
obviously there's a risk in that, and so we'd prefer
not to. But if you can guarantee that, then I
actually think there's benefit to it.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
All.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Right, let's talk about the roster for the Wildcard series.
We know Clayton Kersha's not on there. We pitched Sunday.
He's really not going to pitch in this series, so
you'll hold him for the Division series.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Why did you do what you did?
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Confordo's not there, Dean is their band band is not there?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Why the decisions you made?
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Yeah, I mean kersh is, you know, I think somewhat obvious.
He was a huge part of getting us where we are.
You know, our bullpen has struggled some down the stretch.
To say it mildly, but it's not a talent issue.
It was a confidence issue. They were wavering in confidence
and execution.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
You really identified that for sure.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
I mean the talent, the stuff is still there, it's
execution and execution gets at confidence and relievers are tightrope
walkers for a living. That's what they do, and so
it's kind of like a field goal kicker, you know,
place kicker in the NFL. They need to have that confidence,
and so now it's on us to kind of figure
out how to ignite it. We saw some good things
(22:38):
down the stretch, but we have she Han and Glass
pitching out of our pen right now. One of the
big disadvantages of playing in a wildcard round is that
you get in if you're fortunate enough to advance, you
get into a division series and your pitching's all out
of whack. You had to use two or three starters
to get through it. Because of the depth of our rotation,
that's not really a cost to us, So depend on
(23:00):
what pitchers we have to use, hopefully to win two
games here. If it takes everyone, then we have Curse
ready to go in game one. If it doesn't, then
we figure out where we're at. But obviously he will
impact us in the DS. We just couldn't run all
of our length options out in a wildcard round and
then wake up if we were fortunate enough to get
through it and say, oh, we have no pitching for
(23:23):
games one and two, so we had to balance out
a little bit. But you know, again, I think with
where our starting pitching is, there's not the same cost
to us as there is to other teams.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
And to that point, I mean you that was the
point of emphasis in the offseason for you guys, right,
I mean, you got through it last year with the
bullpen and it was phenomenal, but it was it was
obviously everyone that we got to get some starting pitching
in here, and it was ups and downs. Guys got
hurt and you didn't. You weren't at full strength. But
this series now October and going forward, like you said,
(23:58):
glassing the pen and in the and then guys that
have started for you all season long.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
This is why you did what you did in the
off season.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
Yeah, I mean I've said this a couple of weeks now.
I think this is far and away the most talented
pitching staff we've ever brought into the playoffs. So obviously
nothing's guaranteed. Last year we accomplished the ultimate wasn't great
for quality of life kind of.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
Managing through all that.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
All's well, that ends well, But this is the deepest,
most talented pitching staff we've ever brought in October.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Okay, So that being said, and we've kicked us around
on the air, and I'm sure you listen to us
all the time to take our suggestions.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Yes, because we actually know what we're talking about.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Right, we call you guys the assistant GMS, So thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I sat there and said that out loud to him to.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
See because we were kicking around. All Right, somebody goes six,
we go to the pen. Can't she in come in
and close the game?
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Go three? And he's a starter, why can't he just
do it? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I think that's on the table. I think there's a
lot of different ways we can go. And the point
there's all of talent out there and so game score, situation,
all that will factor in. But I could definitely see
a scenario where that happens about Sazaki.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Sure he looked good the other night, Yeah, he looked really.
Fred wanted him to go and close the game. I
want him to finish.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yeah, I said, you finished with some success and confidence,
and that's why they took them out.
Speaker 7 (25:19):
Well that and we were trying him on a two
out of three for the first time in his career
as a starting pitcher.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Has never done the relief thing.
Speaker 7 (25:26):
So we just wanted to see a how he got
ready and that two out of three how he recovered
after so we'd have that info.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Andrew, This drives me crazy because I argue with people
all the time. You know about players and you still
got to play the game. Everybody say, oh, Dodger's got
the biggest payroll and they should dominate, they should go
one hundred and sixty two and O and all those things.
What do you say to people, even after you put
together a team and the roster like this, it suggests
that it should be an easy road because you got
(25:56):
the highest payroll.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, it's just this is a different sport. There are
some sports where that can you know, more likely be
the answer. In baseball, there's so much stuff that happens
in the course of a game, and you know, you
watch the game within the game and the flare off
the end of the bat that finds a hole, or
the ball that's stepped on that splits the leftfielder's chest
(26:20):
because he happens to be standing right there. And one
you know, at bat and the way the contact to
the left field couldn't have.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
Been better, But you get you don't get rewarded for it.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
And swinging in a ball six inches off the plate,
getting it off the end of the bat, having it
flare down the right field line with side spin that
you get a double out of, you do get rewarded.
And so those things can happen and compound over a game.
But the point is, for us, it's about investing in
talent and people, and for us, it's about getting the
most out of these players and believing and trusting that
(26:54):
they're going to do everything they can to reward these
incredible fans. And we have an incredible group of guys
that not only are really talented, but really care about winning.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
See, here's the thing, and we kick this around, you
go on and you win the World Series.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
People that don't.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Follow you every day, that don't live it like we
do here in La think, well, of.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Course they did. They have no idea what this team
went through. They don't have.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
The slightest idea of the ups and the downs, and
they just don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And that's what's so funny to me. You follow this,
there were.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Points during the season you're like, oh my god, it
didn't matter how much money you spent, It didn't matter
what you did I mean these guys had to battle
all year long?
Speaker 7 (27:33):
Andrew, Yeah, I mean again baseball of funny sport like this.
But you said to me in spring training there's going
to be an eight week stretch this year where your
offense will be in the bottom five in almost every category.
I see the world in gray. I don't see it
in black and white. I can't see things at zero
one hundred. But I would have said there's a zero
(27:54):
percent chance of that happened, right, and I would have
been wrong. And we had a two month stretch where
our offense was woeful with our guys like it wasn't
like we had a bunch of guys out. And it
just goes to show like things can happen in baseball
over little stretches here and there. But again, all we
can do is make the bet on people and talent
(28:16):
and do everything we can to put them in the
best positions to succeed. More often than not, that works.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
But you also need some good fortune, all right, Michael
Confordo didn't make the roster.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You brought thing up, I would assume for speed.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Is that a tough conversation to have with Confordo, who
battled all year long.
Speaker 5 (28:32):
Yeah, he did.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
He battled all year long, and you know, obviously he scuffled,
but with what a great teammate like. His teammates love him,
and it's hard to scuffle and battle. A lot of
guys kind of retreat and go into a hole. His
teammates absolutely love him because of how much he cares
about winning and doing everything can to be a good teammate.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
It's certainly not easy. I think with Will.
Speaker 7 (28:56):
Smith and the healing that's taken place in him being
able to be, you know, a pinch hitter in a
big spot, it just made it we're being able to
prioritize speed on the bases, finishing a game and the
most optimal defensive configuration just kind of one out force.
But yeah, definitely not easy. It's just important that we're
honest and you know, have empathy in those conversations and
(29:19):
do what we think gives us the best chance to win.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Andrew the last one for me.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
You know, you mentioned the guys kind of you know,
sticking with each other, and you know, just mentioned Michael
Confordo having his ups and downs, and and Mookie obviously
went through his struggles this year, and you know Max
Munsey in and out of the lineup. What does it
say about Doc the staff and what is happening in
that clubhouse that keeps these guys together that don't let
(29:45):
them go or fall too far.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a combination of Doc
his staff, the steadiness, that consistency, that level of preparation,
and also the guys on our roster.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
How much do they care about it.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
You know, we talked about in the off season repeating
is incredibly hard, and part of it is because it's
really difficult to go back when you're the hunted and
to have that same edge, to have that same hunger
to do it once you've done it, It's hard. It's
human nature to just be a little bit less hungry.
(30:22):
And it was one of those things that betting on
this group and just a level of focus about legacy
and it's important to all these guys for this to
be the golden era Dodger baseball and that's a motivating
factor for them in a way that you know, I
think makes us even more confident than than we otherwise
would be.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
We know, what's a crazy day. Thanks for hanging with
us a few minutes. Really appreciate you for having me
on you all right, President, I gotta go back. Yeah,
we'll be watching it. Yeah, man, go do it yea.
Andrew Friedman?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
All right, who wants tickets for tomorrow Knight's game eight
six six, nine eighty seven two five seventy.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
We got a pair. They can be yours.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
Rodney will call her number number seven, Fred Rugan Rodney
Pete Live at the Stadium on AM five seventy LA Sports.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Oh Yeah from Blue Heaven Live at Dodgers Stadium. Many
thanks to President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman for giving
us his time and insight on the Dodgers this season
and this postseason.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
You know, Rodney, what I always say about the Dodgers
and people, you know, they think you're blowing smoke because
you know, you guys have the games on the station
and stuff. I mean it to be true. If you
ask them a question, they will give you an answer.
Even if you don't like the answer, they will give
you an answer. And that speaks to the kind of
organization they are. Yeah, they don't hold back.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
And whether it's Andrew, we've had Stan casting on, Dave
roberts on, they speak it and they don't give you
the coach speak or the GM speak or you know,
just talking riddles.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
They give you specific answers. So it's a reason why
they're so successful.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
And you know, having him today was great because for
everybody involved in this, the players, Dave Roberts, you have
to understand for Andrew Friedman, he is probably as anxious
and nervous, if not more so, than anyone else because
this is his masterpiece.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
He is the architect of this.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I'm gonna tell you fair, I'll guarantee you he's more
nervous and anxious than the players and Dave Roberts. Maybe
not Dave Roberts, but I'm saying that because the players play,
they can make they can make an impact, they can
control some things what's happening. It's like when you watch
your kids play and you're in the stands and you
love them, you but you can't do anything about what happens, right,
(32:39):
and you put them in a position to be successful
and you're watching them. I remember watching my kids play,
you know, with sports, and I was more nervous for
them watching them than that was when I played. So
I guarantee you he's feeling that because he put this
whole thing together.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I mean at the end of the day and he
can't go hit a home run or he can't anybody out.
He's got to watch right and at the end of
the day, all fingers are pointed at him.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
So for him to come over today was pretty cool
because I don't think I would have talked to two
Indians like us today to be honest with Big for yourself,
that's fair.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Big for your still that is fair. No, yeah, he
even said it right. He couldn't sleep. He's watching the clock.
He got here at eleven. It's like he's playing, but
he can't make an impact directly on the game.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Blake Snell against Hunter Green tonight. Now, Bill, let's go. Yep.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
That's why they signed him. That's why he is here
and is expected. He's got the ball tomorrow Chow Momoto
and if need be Otani will go in Game three three.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Freddy's out there taking short hops already four hours.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Before the game. He's ready. That's what I'm talking about.
He's ready to go. All right, Well, we are done.
That's it for us. We don't get out of the
station very often, and we're glad we came today. Petros
some money are sitting right behind us, so they will
jump on here. Take it to the pregame show with
Tim Ronnie. Thank you back in the studio. I really
appreciate it, Kevin. Great workout here, Craig, good job. What
(34:04):
are you, Craig?
Speaker 2 (34:06):
You know it's big.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
When Dave we shows up, he's here, Internet, Matt is here,
everybody is here.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
So uh oh do we know who won the tickets?
Do we even care? We don't care? Who want him?
Runny Mary Yello won the tickets?
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Of course we care. Yeah, what are you talking about, Kevin?
Don't don't, don't mouth that to me again. Have me
repeat it on the here. Terrible for it? All right, terrible?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Hey, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
The guys are next, and uh game one tonight right
here on a five se
Roggin And Rodney News
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