WEBVTT - Alex Call (4-21-26) 0:00:00.360 --> 0:00:04.840 And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker. 0:00:06.760 --> 0:00:09.720 The Dodgers are in San Francisco and we're joined right 0:00:09.760 --> 0:00:14.960 now by today's starting center fielder. No, not Andy pae Has, 0:00:15.040 --> 0:00:16.799 but the versatile Alex Call. 0:00:17.079 --> 0:00:19.480 Thanks a lot for the time, appreciate it always. 0:00:19.520 --> 0:00:22.320 They always great to have Alison Chains in the background 0:00:22.320 --> 0:00:23.720 when we're doing this interview too. 0:00:23.960 --> 0:00:24.400 And why not. 0:00:25.760 --> 0:00:29.040 Hey, the first seven games of the season, you did 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:32.640 not get a single at bat, but Dave Roberts has started. 0:00:32.320 --> 0:00:34.120 To incorporate you more and more. 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:36.839 How did you look at the first week of the 0:00:36.880 --> 0:00:38.479 season and how did you stay ready? 0:00:38.920 --> 0:00:40.440 Yeah, well, of course you want to play. 0:00:40.840 --> 0:00:43.560 I love to play baseball, you know, and praise God, 0:00:43.600 --> 0:00:46.280 I'm blessed the opportunity to play the game. 0:00:46.120 --> 0:00:46.600 That I love. 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:49.280 And also beyond you know, the one of the best 0:00:49.280 --> 0:00:52.360 teams ever. So you know, I I know I'm a 0:00:52.400 --> 0:00:55.520 great player. I know that I am capable of playing 0:00:55.960 --> 0:00:58.120 in the major leagues. Uh, you know, even on a 0:00:58.240 --> 0:00:59.480 on a on a daily basis. 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:00.000 I believe that. 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:02.320 But this is where I'm at right now, and I 0:01:02.640 --> 0:01:05.480 couldn't be happier to be here and in the role 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:08.520 that I'm in doing whatever Doc needs me, whatever the 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:11.479 Dodgers need me to do, whether it's just being ready 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:14.240 every night to come in or to give guys a 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:16.520 blow or whatever. 0:01:16.160 --> 0:01:16.520 It may be. 0:01:16.720 --> 0:01:19.680 You know, I'm just extremely grateful to be here and 0:01:20.360 --> 0:01:23.640 to be playing Major league baseball. And yeah, it's all 0:01:23.640 --> 0:01:27.319 about being ready. I mean, it's the name of the game. 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:30.119 You have to make sure that you're ready to perform 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:33.280 whatever your name is called. Because this is Major Leaue baseball. 0:01:33.280 --> 0:01:36.080 Everybody wants your spot. You know, everybody would die to 0:01:36.120 --> 0:01:39.280 be in the position that I'm in, and so, you know, 0:01:39.400 --> 0:01:41.960 just remembering that and just making sure that I'm focused 0:01:42.000 --> 0:01:45.119 and prepared to be the best Major League Baseball player 0:01:45.160 --> 0:01:46.880 that I can be on a nightly basis, whether I'm 0:01:46.880 --> 0:01:49.440 in the lineup or not. Is the mindset to. 0:01:49.400 --> 0:01:51.880 Be able to perform when you are called upon? 0:01:52.680 --> 0:01:55.680 Does it have to be a certain level of embracing 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:56.320 this role. 0:01:57.040 --> 0:01:59.320 If you don't embrace this role, can you excel? 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:00.280 Yeah? 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:03.520 I mean it's you know, it's interesting because it's like, yeah, 0:02:03.520 --> 0:02:04.960 obviously you want to play every. 0:02:04.840 --> 0:02:06.760 Day like it to everybody's goal. Everybody wants to. 0:02:06.800 --> 0:02:08.560 Play every day, be an All Star, win a World 0:02:08.639 --> 0:02:11.280 Series like whatever. Like for me right now, this is 0:02:11.400 --> 0:02:14.200 what I've been given and we're not what you're given. 0:02:14.880 --> 0:02:16.640 Just do it and execute it to the best of 0:02:16.639 --> 0:02:17.200 your ability. 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:20.480 And so all that comes in with just like understanding 0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:24.320 the innate like pressure that there is with playing major 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:26.679 League baseball. Like I just said, like every little kid 0:02:26.720 --> 0:02:29.000 wants to take my job. They want to be where 0:02:29.040 --> 0:02:31.320 I'm at, playing the game that I love, that they love. 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:34.679 So there's only so many spots, though, and if I 0:02:34.720 --> 0:02:36.840 want to hold onto that spot, it doesn't matter whether 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:38.799 I get to play every day or whether I get 0:02:38.800 --> 0:02:41.840 to play it once a week. Like, you've got to 0:02:41.880 --> 0:02:43.720 go out there and perform and show that you are 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:46.000 a major league baseball player, that you're an asset for 0:02:46.040 --> 0:02:48.280 the team and that you make the team better and 0:02:48.320 --> 0:02:50.440 that you you know, do the thing little things the 0:02:50.520 --> 0:02:54.240 right way. So that's my focus and that's my mindset 0:02:54.280 --> 0:02:54.720 every day. 0:02:54.840 --> 0:02:57.840 How much of a badge of honor is it when 0:02:58.160 --> 0:03:01.440 Dave Roberts calls upon Alex call, you know you're going 0:03:01.480 --> 0:03:05.119 to get a quality at bat. That picture knows he's 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:07.160 not going to get a three pitch at bat when 0:03:07.200 --> 0:03:08.440 he's facing Alex Call. 0:03:09.000 --> 0:03:10.080 Yeah, I mean. 0:03:10.120 --> 0:03:13.680 It's I think why they they went out and got me. 0:03:14.120 --> 0:03:15.760 You know, they said they wanted guys that are just 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:16.760 going to grind the pitcher. 0:03:16.800 --> 0:03:17.480 You know, I think. 0:03:17.360 --> 0:03:22.320 About my first at bat the other day in Colorado, 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:26.560 you know against Lorenzen was a you know, three to two, 0:03:27.560 --> 0:03:28.840 you know, seven to eight pitch. 0:03:28.680 --> 0:03:31.639 At bat with two outs, nobody on base, two. 0:03:31.480 --> 0:03:33.440 Outs, nobody on base, and the I think the second inning, 0:03:33.960 --> 0:03:35.600 you know, grind it out, had a good at bat, 0:03:35.640 --> 0:03:38.640 took some good swings, you know, ended up putting the 0:03:38.680 --> 0:03:41.839 ball in play to right field. You know, that wasn't 0:03:41.880 --> 0:03:44.480 super significant, but it's just like that's a great at bat, 0:03:44.600 --> 0:03:47.440 Like that's a that's exactly. I just made him a 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:49.520 little bit more tired and made him have to exert 0:03:49.520 --> 0:03:51.480 a little bit more energy. And then the next inning, 0:03:51.520 --> 0:03:53.360 sure enough, we we go out there and put runs 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:55.720 up on the board. And you know that doesn't happen 0:03:55.720 --> 0:03:58.320 every time. But it's just like that mindset of of. 0:03:58.640 --> 0:04:02.320 Of making the picture and grind it out. But also 0:04:02.360 --> 0:04:02.840 I'm ready to. 0:04:02.880 --> 0:04:04.360 Hit, you know, so like if I get a cookie, 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:06.080 if I get it, I'm looking for a first pitch, 0:04:06.400 --> 0:04:08.280 you know, like it all goes into it so like 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:11.360 I'm ready to hit, you know, especially with kind of 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:13.360 the more aggressive mindset that I've had this year. 0:04:13.600 --> 0:04:15.960 I'm ready to hit, but I'm only gonna hit my pitch. 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:18.760 And uh so that's the bottom line, and that's kind 0:04:18.800 --> 0:04:19.719 of how I go about it. 0:04:19.800 --> 0:04:22.400 What do you mean having a more aggressive mindset this year? 0:04:22.720 --> 0:04:25.359 Yeah, I think when you look at Alex called the 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:29.000 baseball player, uh, you know, you're getting basically one of 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:33.120 the best two strike hitters in baseball. And I that 0:04:33.320 --> 0:04:36.320 is something that I work on, I train on. You know, 0:04:36.360 --> 0:04:39.320 two strike is the worst average count for everybody, but 0:04:39.480 --> 0:04:44.080 for me, I'm I take I'm comfortable there. I'm comfortable there. 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:45.480 I know that I can put the bat on the ball. 0:04:45.520 --> 0:04:46.839 I know what I can put the ball in play, 0:04:47.080 --> 0:04:50.440 and so when you do that, there's just a comfort 0:04:50.520 --> 0:04:54.080 level with that. So that's ultimately you know what you're getting. 0:04:53.880 --> 0:04:54.680 Without it's called but. 0:04:56.240 --> 0:04:59.680 The first couple pitches, the oh count, the two oh count, 0:04:59.680 --> 0:05:02.839 the one account, the three to one count, that is 0:05:02.880 --> 0:05:06.480 where I believe as the Dodgers came to me and 0:05:06.560 --> 0:05:09.680 I as I look at myself from last year, that's like, hey, 0:05:09.720 --> 0:05:11.719 we can improve there, Like we can improve there, like 0:05:11.760 --> 0:05:13.839 that's a time for you to sit on that heater 0:05:14.160 --> 0:05:16.080 and take a great swing at it, like be ready 0:05:16.160 --> 0:05:18.839 for it, be ready to rip it. And if you 0:05:18.880 --> 0:05:21.240 can just do that and you know, add a little 0:05:21.240 --> 0:05:24.640 bit more slug to your profile, well that just improves 0:05:24.760 --> 0:05:27.400 my value as a player, my value for the team, 0:05:27.880 --> 0:05:31.440 and just you know, helps helps in any way possible. 0:05:31.480 --> 0:05:33.320 So when you look at like what do I do 0:05:33.400 --> 0:05:36.000 best and where can we improve, we identified like if 0:05:36.000 --> 0:05:38.200 I can be just a little bit more aggressive on 0:05:38.320 --> 0:05:42.120 pitches that I can handle, expect them, expect to drive them, 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:45.200 then there's opportunity for me to have more production, which 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:46.480 is good for the for everybody. 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:49.240 And that's a mindset, right you have to go up 0:05:49.279 --> 0:05:52.279 to the plate with that type of preparation exactly. 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:55.760 It's that type of preparation, the approach with that, and 0:05:55.760 --> 0:05:58.640 then also the staff and the team being on the 0:05:58.640 --> 0:06:00.719 same page, like, hey, this is what Alex is trying 0:06:00.720 --> 0:06:02.880 to do, this is where he's trying to improve. We 0:06:02.960 --> 0:06:05.000 worked on that through spring training and the results are 0:06:05.000 --> 0:06:07.960 pretty solid. So we're taking it into the season and 0:06:08.360 --> 0:06:11.440 I've had the aggressive mindset to be ready on pitch one. 0:06:12.080 --> 0:06:15.000 That doesn't mean that I you know, take a week 0:06:15.120 --> 0:06:17.479 swing like no, I'm trying to get my best swing off. 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:20.000 And you know, at the same time, if I end 0:06:20.120 --> 0:06:22.359 up chasing a pitch or if, like you know, it 0:06:22.400 --> 0:06:24.520 doesn't look great, well, who cares because I'm still the 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:26.640 best two strike hit or there is is how I 0:06:26.680 --> 0:06:30.120 think in my head, and so that's just kind of 0:06:30.160 --> 0:06:32.680 building myself as a player in a way to help 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:36.080 our team get better. If every individual can get better, 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:38.920 then therefore the team gets better by default. 0:06:39.279 --> 0:06:42.600 Alex calls our guest in front of first pitch Dodgers Giants, 0:06:42.600 --> 0:06:45.320 Game one of this three game series. Alex is starting 0:06:45.360 --> 0:06:47.560 in center field. You're a great guy to ask this 0:06:47.680 --> 0:06:51.599 question too, because yesterday you're hitting second behind Shoeyotani at 0:06:51.640 --> 0:06:54.840 Corus Field, and then today and some other days you're 0:06:54.880 --> 0:06:58.120 hitting more towards the middle third, bottom third of the order. 0:06:58.440 --> 0:07:01.960 Do you believe that every spot in the lineup has 0:07:02.000 --> 0:07:05.080 a certain responsibility or do you believe you just have 0:07:05.160 --> 0:07:07.640 to be everything that you describe. 0:07:07.880 --> 0:07:08.920 Yeah, it's a good question. 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:12.040 At the end of the day, my objective is to 0:07:12.040 --> 0:07:15.200 get to first base. Like the name's baseball, you got 0:07:15.200 --> 0:07:17.720 to get on base. So however I can get on base. However, 0:07:17.800 --> 0:07:19.600 I can take a good at bat. It's kind of 0:07:19.600 --> 0:07:23.360 my mindset. Yeah, there's some other intricacies and nuances to 0:07:23.360 --> 0:07:26.520 where you hit in the order, but for the most part, 0:07:26.720 --> 0:07:28.600 the objective is just gonna stay the same and get 0:07:28.600 --> 0:07:29.200 on first base. 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:29.480 Now. 0:07:29.960 --> 0:07:33.560 In a unique situation like yesterday when rushing was up 0:07:34.000 --> 0:07:37.920 with one out and runners on second and third, nobody 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:41.920 was on first, I was thinking in my head, I'm 0:07:41.920 --> 0:07:44.960 in the hole right now, but if Rushing gets out here, 0:07:45.240 --> 0:07:48.200 they are walking show hey to pitch to me, And 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:54.400 so like being ready for that is really important because 0:07:54.600 --> 0:07:56.120 it can happen really quick. It's like, oh, all of 0:07:56.160 --> 0:07:58.040 a sudden, I'm in the hole. Well now I'm not 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:00.280 on deck. I'm up because they're putting in right on, 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:01.840 so I don't have any time to get ready. So, 0:08:02.000 --> 0:08:05.960 like yesterday, I switched my mindset to Okay, I'm preparing 0:08:05.960 --> 0:08:08.320 for this situation to go out. If Rushing gets out 0:08:08.400 --> 0:08:10.360 right here, they're walking show hey. So I'm on deck 0:08:10.440 --> 0:08:12.560 right now and I'm getting ready to walk up to 0:08:12.600 --> 0:08:15.560 the plate. And it sounds very small, but like the 0:08:16.880 --> 0:08:20.840 psychology of that is something that's unique and doesn't happen 0:08:20.920 --> 0:08:24.040 a lot. So it actually just having that extra three 0:08:24.160 --> 0:08:27.400 four five seconds of realization of prep actually puts you 0:08:27.400 --> 0:08:30.560 in a better, more prepared mindset. And then I was 0:08:30.600 --> 0:08:31.880 able to do that and have a good at bat 0:08:32.000 --> 0:08:34.439 yesterday and get the walk walk a guy in. 0:08:34.559 --> 0:08:37.079 Yeah, hey, that's amazing because some of the best hitters 0:08:37.120 --> 0:08:40.200 have said, you're at bat doesn't start when you're in 0:08:40.200 --> 0:08:42.920 the batter's box or even on the on deck circle. 0:08:43.000 --> 0:08:46.280 It starts in the dugout. It sounds like you've already 0:08:46.360 --> 0:08:47.800 won that game. Yeah. 0:08:48.000 --> 0:08:52.400 No, definitely, from understanding what the pitcher's doing, what he's throwing, 0:08:52.600 --> 0:08:55.040 how he's going to try to attack us, to seeing 0:08:55.840 --> 0:08:58.120 he is, you know, where's he throwing, what's his stuff 0:08:58.200 --> 0:09:01.640 that day. But then even your mindset in the hole 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:04.800 is different when it's on deck, and so there's. 0:09:04.600 --> 0:09:06.040 Just a whole bevy of. 0:09:05.960 --> 0:09:08.360 Things that go into it, and you know, everything is 0:09:08.440 --> 0:09:11.080 very important and it all contributes to having the best 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:12.720 chance at success when you're up at the plate. 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:17.239 I know you were loving and embracing hitting behind Otani yesterday. 0:09:17.640 --> 0:09:19.520 Did you get the lineup card by chance? 0:09:19.720 --> 0:09:19.920 Yeah? 0:09:19.960 --> 0:09:22.360 I told Alex to say give me that lineup card, 0:09:22.640 --> 0:09:24.319 and so you said, yeah, when we get to LA, 0:09:24.360 --> 0:09:25.360 I'll put it in your locker. 0:09:25.559 --> 0:09:27.800 So yeah, I mean, what are you gonna say? 0:09:27.880 --> 0:09:30.360 Hitting behind Showho Tani at the top of the Dodgers 0:09:30.400 --> 0:09:34.120 lineup on the greatest team ever, it's like there's Alex 0:09:34.160 --> 0:09:36.000 call you know, same thing when I was in Game 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:38.360 five of the World Series starting lineup last year. It's 0:09:38.400 --> 0:09:41.520 just like just ultimate praise God moments. So grateful and 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:42.640 super fun. 0:09:43.000 --> 0:09:44.360 Hey, fun to watch you play. 0:09:44.400 --> 0:09:47.440 We'll have fun watching you play center field tonight here 0:09:47.520 --> 0:09:51.120 at Oracle Park. They call it now another phone company. 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:53.720 Thanks a lot, Thanks a lot for the time, Alex, 0:09:53.800 --> 0:09:56.439 and awesome talking baseball with you. I think you've opened 0:09:56.520 --> 0:09:57.839 up a lot of our eyes. 0:09:58.040 --> 0:09:59.440 Yeah, thank you to appreciate it.