WEBVTT - Dodger Talk (9-7-26) 0:00:00.650 --> 0:00:03.170 The quest for the three-peat has begun. 0:00:03.390 --> 0:00:07.360 Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won 0:00:07.480 --> 0:00:12.200 three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become 0:00:12.480 --> 0:00:13.280 the fifth. 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:15.960 This is World Champion Dodger Talk. 0:00:16.040 --> 0:00:17.900 Here we go again. We're getting ready to run it back. 0:00:17.940 --> 0:00:22.890 To get in on the show, call 866-987-2578. And be 0:00:22.950 --> 0:00:26.330 sure to follow Dodger Talk wherever you get your podcasts. 0:00:27.130 --> 0:00:29.750 Here's your host, David Vasang. 0:00:32.070 --> 0:00:33.269 Welcome to Dodger Talk. 0:00:33.390 --> 0:00:37.409 David Vasse with you live from Uniqlo Field at Dodger 0:00:37.470 --> 0:00:40.610 Stadium after the Dodgers win their fifth in a row 0:00:41.010 --> 0:00:44.659 by beating the Reds 6-3 in the first meeting between 0:00:44.720 --> 0:00:47.979 these two teams. Hard to believe they have not played 0:00:48.040 --> 0:00:50.800 each other until now with only a couple of weeks 0:00:50.900 --> 0:00:53.980 left in the regular season. But the Dodgers beat the 0:00:54.020 --> 0:00:59.000 Reds tonight 6-3, and we're very thankful that Chase Burns 0:00:59.160 --> 0:01:02.770 now has a cap on the number of innings that 0:01:02.800 --> 0:01:06.210 he will pitch in any given start. And that was 0:01:06.290 --> 0:01:10.289 just three perfect innings tonight. Yeah, Chase Burns, the all-star, 0:01:10.370 --> 0:01:12.670 the best pitcher the Reds have, one of the best 0:01:12.870 --> 0:01:16.819 young arms in Major League Baseball because the Reds are 0:01:16.860 --> 0:01:21.920 now 19-and-a-half games back in last place in the NL Central. 0:01:22.480 --> 0:01:25.370 The Reds figure, why are we going to push this 0:01:25.490 --> 0:01:28.670 guy where we're not really going anywhere? Let's save those 0:01:28.770 --> 0:01:34.399 bullets for the future. So tonight, despite him going three perfect, 0:01:34.440 --> 0:01:36.540 they took him out of the game and the Dodgers 0:01:36.580 --> 0:01:40.459 were very happy about that. Emmitt Sheehan tonight wins his 0:01:40.560 --> 0:01:44.750 first game since June 28th. And how about Evan Phillips, 0:01:44.990 --> 0:01:49.250 one of the OG bullpen dogs, getting his first save 0:01:49.390 --> 0:01:54.110 since last May. Evan Phillips, the long road back after 0:01:54.170 --> 0:01:58.360 having Big time arm surgery. He comes back and is 0:01:58.420 --> 0:02:01.960 starting to look more like Evan Phillips. I know the 0:02:02.020 --> 0:02:04.540 last out of the game was a ride to the 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:07.240 deepest part of the ballpark, but hey, he kept it 0:02:07.400 --> 0:02:12.320 in and the Dodgers win 6-3. Alex Vessia had a 0:02:12.400 --> 0:02:15.430 huge strikeout in the sixth inning with two outs. Can't 0:02:15.470 --> 0:02:19.130 talk about it enough. Another one of the OG bullpen dogs. 0:02:19.530 --> 0:02:23.190 He is able to strike out J.J. Blede after inheriting 0:02:23.250 --> 0:02:26.540 the bases loaded. And Emmitt Sheehan gave him a huge 0:02:26.600 --> 0:02:28.980 hug in the dugout. You got to love seeing that 0:02:29.440 --> 0:02:32.770 after striking out Bleday to save the game at that 0:02:32.850 --> 0:02:35.650 point in time and to allow Sheehan to be able 0:02:35.730 --> 0:02:38.470 to be eligible for the win, which he got tonight. 0:02:38.770 --> 0:02:41.329 He's now five and eight on the season after recording 0:02:41.330 --> 0:02:45.090 10 strikeouts in five and two thirds innings. So very 0:02:45.130 --> 0:02:47.710 happy for Emmitt, who put in a lot of work 0:02:47.750 --> 0:02:49.030 at Oklahoma. 0:02:48.510 --> 0:02:49.549 City to get better. 0:02:49.570 --> 0:02:53.179 And certainly you're starting to see the results of that. 0:02:53.220 --> 0:02:56.020 He didn't go down there. to feel sorry for himself. 0:02:56.100 --> 0:02:58.919 He won PCL Pitcher of the Month, and he came 0:02:58.980 --> 0:03:01.889 back tonight and struck out 10 reds. The only blemish 0:03:02.490 --> 0:03:05.049 on his night was a solo home run to Eli 0:03:05.090 --> 0:03:08.049 De La Cruz in the first inning, so kudos. to 0:03:08.169 --> 0:03:13.950 Emmett Sheehan 866-987-2570 is the phone number Dodgers have won 0:03:14.090 --> 0:03:16.900 five in a row now and in case you missed 0:03:17.000 --> 0:03:20.460 it the Braves were shut out by Jesus Lizardo and 0:03:20.500 --> 0:03:25.320 the Phillies today Lizardo pitched a two-hit complete game shutout 0:03:25.650 --> 0:03:28.870 to beat Atlanta one to nothing so the Dodgers now 0:03:29.230 --> 0:03:31.570 Have a two-game lead on the Braves for the number 0:03:31.630 --> 0:03:34.820 two seed. And don't look now. The Dodgers are only 0:03:35.020 --> 0:03:37.820 one game back of the Brewers for the number one 0:03:38.000 --> 0:03:39.830 overall seed in the National League. 0:03:39.890 --> 0:03:40.070 So. 0:03:40.530 --> 0:03:42.990 All of a sudden now, that's not so far out 0:03:43.050 --> 0:03:46.970 of contention. But in my opinion, I know the players 0:03:47.350 --> 0:03:49.250 and the guys in the dugout are not going to 0:03:49.310 --> 0:03:52.510 try to pick and choose wins. But for me, I 0:03:52.570 --> 0:03:56.780 feel like the number two seed bracket is an easier 0:03:56.900 --> 0:04:00.240 path to the World Series than the number one seed 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:05.460 because Atlanta would be hosting either the Padres or Diamondbacks 0:04:05.940 --> 0:04:09.260 in a wildcard series. And whoever wins that one is 0:04:09.280 --> 0:04:11.160 going to have to come all the way to the 0:04:11.200 --> 0:04:15.120 West Coast after using two of their best pitchers. So 0:04:15.700 --> 0:04:19.900 I kind of like that bracket more than whoever wins 0:04:20.839 --> 0:04:24.500 the number one seed and has to play the winner 0:04:24.580 --> 0:04:31.020 of a Cubs wildcard series. So Cubs-Phillies wildcard series. If 0:04:31.100 --> 0:04:32.520 I had to pick one, it would be the number 0:04:32.560 --> 0:04:33.000 two seed. 0:04:33.020 --> 0:04:33.700 But nonetheless. 0:04:34.130 --> 0:04:37.280 That's where things stand with the Dodgers, the Brewers, and 0:04:37.320 --> 0:04:41.520 the Braves. And the Dodgers now, to clinch the NL West, 0:04:41.620 --> 0:04:44.800 their magic number is at 8. There's a very good 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:48.489 chance they clinch the NL West in Cincinnati next week. 0:04:48.510 --> 0:04:54.930 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Before we get to Shohei Otani, 0:04:55.010 --> 0:04:58.000 because we basically have breaking news in the middle of 0:04:58.040 --> 0:05:01.169 the show as Otani... revealed that he is going to 0:05:01.250 --> 0:05:04.350 table pitching for the rest of the year and focus 0:05:04.550 --> 0:05:07.250 on hitting, which is something we all agree with. 0:05:07.730 --> 0:05:08.710 Before we get to. 0:05:08.650 --> 0:05:13.530 That, Teoscar Hernandez hit another home run tonight, a three-run 0:05:13.630 --> 0:05:17.030 home run to blow this game open. Teoscar now in 0:05:17.070 --> 0:05:21.469 his last eight games is hitting 448, two home runs, 0:05:21.970 --> 0:05:26.350 and 11 RBIs. I warn you time and time again, 0:05:26.690 --> 0:05:29.650 don't get on the roller coaster of with a guy 0:05:29.710 --> 0:05:34.830 that has the local credibility and resume like a Teoscar Hernandez. 0:05:34.950 --> 0:05:37.130 I know he's not Mookie Betts. I know he's not 0:05:37.190 --> 0:05:41.070 Freddie Freeman. I know he's not Shohei Otani. But without 0:05:41.130 --> 0:05:44.730 Teoscar Hernandez, I got news for you. The Dodgers don't 0:05:44.770 --> 0:05:48.670 win 2024, and they certainly may not even get out 0:05:48.710 --> 0:05:53.130 of the NLDS last year if not for Teoscar Hernandez's 0:05:53.470 --> 0:05:57.030 big go-ahead three-run home run off of Matt Strom. That's 0:05:57.089 --> 0:06:00.450 the reason why I have been a big-time defender of 0:06:00.490 --> 0:06:03.380 Teoscar Hernandez. We have seen it with our own eyes 0:06:03.650 --> 0:06:06.520 what this guy can do when it matters the most. 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:09.000 And all of a sudden now, as we're getting down 0:06:09.040 --> 0:06:13.600 to the final 20-something games of the season, Teoscar Hernandez 0:06:13.700 --> 0:06:16.539 is getting ready for the time that he shines the 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:21.600 most in October. You can't spell October without Teo. And 0:06:21.660 --> 0:06:25.460 that's the reason why we had a caller what, oh, coincidentally, 0:06:25.620 --> 0:06:28.660 eight games ago, that called in to try to pile 0:06:28.839 --> 0:06:30.159 on to Oscar Hernandez. 0:06:30.480 --> 0:06:33.150 That's right. I keep the receipts as well. 0:06:34.310 --> 0:06:34.830 Hey, Dave. 0:06:35.470 --> 0:06:38.870 Hey, thanks for not sugarcoating anything that's going on. 0:06:39.930 --> 0:06:45.500 I appreciate that. You know, as a team, we've had 0:06:45.540 --> 0:06:50.219 some really bad at-bats, you know, the last couple months. 0:06:50.560 --> 0:06:52.159 And we used to be a team that would grind 0:06:52.220 --> 0:06:57.990 it out, make the pitchers pitch. But in particular, I mean, Teoscar. 0:06:58.050 --> 0:07:00.830 Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute. 0:07:00.870 --> 0:07:01.970 Hey, wait a minute, Dean. 0:07:02.410 --> 0:07:05.640 I'm tired of the piling on Teoscar Hernandez. He has 0:07:05.700 --> 0:07:08.640 shown some life here in the last six games. 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:10.180 So, I mean, I. 0:07:11.660 --> 0:07:14.980 Don't know why Teoscar Hernandez is the number one punching 0:07:15.020 --> 0:07:17.550 bag when people want to point to why this offense 0:07:17.610 --> 0:07:21.530 isn't going right. Kyle Tucker hasn't performed all season long. 0:07:21.590 --> 0:07:25.600 Mookie Betts is actually starting to look like Mookie Betts again. So, 0:07:25.820 --> 0:07:28.220 I mean, I'm going to stop you when anybody wants 0:07:28.260 --> 0:07:30.100 to pile on to Oscar Hernandez. 0:07:30.770 --> 0:07:31.270 That's right. 0:07:31.510 --> 0:07:34.110 I'm pumping the brakes on Dean and everybody else. And 0:07:34.150 --> 0:07:36.170 I got the receipts. Do I have to go back 0:07:36.570 --> 0:07:38.360 even further? Do you want me to pull out the 0:07:38.390 --> 0:07:42.540 receipts on more of you? Teoscar Hernandez is a big 0:07:42.640 --> 0:07:45.760 part of what the Dodgers do. Yes, he was not 0:07:45.800 --> 0:07:49.240 playing his best after returning from the IL with six 0:07:49.340 --> 0:07:52.690 weeks with the hamstring strain. But before that, he was 0:07:52.750 --> 0:07:55.990 hitting 320. So, you know, I think we all have 0:07:56.030 --> 0:07:58.580 to take a step back and realize that When you're 0:07:58.620 --> 0:08:02.130 going after somebody that has built the credit with you, 0:08:02.270 --> 0:08:06.310 winning back-to-back championships, you got to give them a little 0:08:06.370 --> 0:08:07.690 bit longer of a leash. 0:08:07.770 --> 0:08:10.170 Now, Kyle Tucker, you don't know him. 0:08:10.230 --> 0:08:12.770 You don't care what he did in Houston or Chicago, 0:08:12.850 --> 0:08:15.290 nor do I. He hasn't had a very good year, 0:08:15.350 --> 0:08:19.190 but somehow it always seems to come back to Teoscar Hernandez. 0:08:19.650 --> 0:08:22.380 And by the way, that phone call was six games 0:08:22.500 --> 0:08:27.550 before this eight-game hot streak by Teoscar Hernandez. Tonight's game 0:08:27.590 --> 0:08:31.280 brought to you by Modelo. Modelo, the mark of a fighter. 0:08:31.700 --> 0:08:34.080 All right, we got the receipts out of the way. 0:08:34.100 --> 0:08:38.459 Now to Shohei Otani, who said moments ago, about a 0:08:38.500 --> 0:08:42.069 half hour ago, to the media, you heard it live 0:08:42.130 --> 0:08:44.410 on Sportsnet LA and right here on 570 LA Sports, 0:08:44.470 --> 0:08:48.860 that He is putting pitching to the side for the 0:08:48.910 --> 0:08:51.600 rest of this year to focus on hitting and to 0:08:51.660 --> 0:08:54.120 be as healthy as he can to stay on the 0:08:54.220 --> 0:08:58.720 field and not compromise that by trying to push the pitching. 0:08:59.300 --> 0:09:05.100 Very wise decision by Shohei Otani. And look, his two-way 0:09:05.179 --> 0:09:09.660 player identity is not gone away. It's just been put 0:09:09.700 --> 0:09:11.970 to the side for the rest of this year because 0:09:12.470 --> 0:09:14.170 his body was not holding. 0:09:13.970 --> 0:09:14.750 Up at 32 years old. 0:09:15.929 --> 0:09:21.780 The left knee, the right bicep, elbow, neck area. And 0:09:22.000 --> 0:09:24.900 I got news for you. Shohei Otani is not the 0:09:24.980 --> 0:09:28.939 only player that's not 100% or won't be 100% until 0:09:29.260 --> 0:09:33.450 the offseason. But this guy made 14 starts this year. 0:09:33.910 --> 0:09:36.350 He was trying to continue to try to come back 0:09:36.429 --> 0:09:39.610 and pitch while he's playing every day. That'll take a 0:09:39.670 --> 0:09:43.410 toll on you, especially when the reason why you're not 0:09:43.480 --> 0:09:46.810 pitching is is because of the injuries to your left 0:09:46.870 --> 0:09:50.080 knee and feeling something in your right bicep, elbow, and 0:09:50.120 --> 0:09:54.500 now neck area. I don't know if the four games 0:09:54.700 --> 0:09:56.790 off is going to make a huge difference, but I 0:09:56.870 --> 0:09:59.830 do know not picking up a baseball and trying to 0:09:59.850 --> 0:10:03.160 throw bullpen sessions is going to help a lot more. 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:06.380 I could tell you that. Tonight, he didn't look like 0:10:06.420 --> 0:10:07.160 himself again. 0:10:07.720 --> 0:10:11.210 I didn't see Otani really look like Otani at the 0:10:11.250 --> 0:10:14.650 plate tonight. And it's not just because of the results. 0:10:15.010 --> 0:10:17.429 But I could tell you what will help more than 0:10:17.470 --> 0:10:20.120 just four days off is the fact that he's not 0:10:20.160 --> 0:10:24.760 going to try to long toss, pitch, and throw bullpen sessions. 0:10:25.360 --> 0:10:27.770 I think we all realize it was a great plan. 0:10:27.990 --> 0:10:30.610 I was all in for that plan. But the reality 0:10:30.770 --> 0:10:34.950 is Otani's body betrayed him at 32 years old. And 0:10:34.990 --> 0:10:37.569 I think we all can understand that. Now, what does 0:10:37.630 --> 0:10:38.890 it mean for him next year? 0:10:39.630 --> 0:10:40.010 I don't know. 0:10:40.270 --> 0:10:43.190 Maybe he may try it again. I would imagine he would. 0:10:43.750 --> 0:10:46.230 But for the rest of this year, it's a prudent 0:10:46.270 --> 0:10:49.910 decision to put the pitching to the side and try 0:10:49.950 --> 0:10:53.240 to stay healthy as much as he can and be 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:56.040 the best hitter he can the rest of the year. 0:10:56.059 --> 0:10:59.280 Here's what Dave Roberts had to say before the game 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:02.820 and hinted at basically what Otani would eventually tell us 0:11:03.340 --> 0:11:04.380 after tonight's game. 0:11:05.000 --> 0:11:09.070 That means that it's not dead, but we're not. throwing 0:11:09.309 --> 0:11:12.530 um we have no timetable for when he's going to 0:11:12.570 --> 0:11:13.729 pick up a baseball. 0:11:15.050 --> 0:11:17.050 Given the time frame where we are on the season 0:11:17.360 --> 0:11:18.870 why do we just not say. 0:11:18.700 --> 0:11:23.340 It's dead um i'm choosing not to say it's dead. 0:11:24.740 --> 0:11:27.880 Dave roberts chose not to say that but otani basically 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:31.939 did after the game and otani has not spoken publicly 0:11:32.200 --> 0:11:34.600 in three weeks in fact the last time he spoke 0:11:34.660 --> 0:11:37.240 publicly was when he talked to us on the field 0:11:37.300 --> 0:11:40.949 at chorus field after hitting or driving in a run 0:11:41.030 --> 0:11:43.590 and hitting his 30th home run of the year, in fact, 0:11:43.950 --> 0:11:47.150 that night at Coors Field. So he hasn't spoken publicly 0:11:47.850 --> 0:11:49.870 in three weeks since we spoke to him on the 0:11:49.970 --> 0:11:53.030 field in Denver after hitting that 30th home run. And 0:11:53.090 --> 0:11:58.319 ever since then, obviously, the physical problems, the injuries have 0:11:58.360 --> 0:12:01.360 been affecting him at the plate because he just hasn't 0:12:01.400 --> 0:12:03.780 looked the same. And I got news for you, too. 0:12:04.230 --> 0:12:07.140 The way Tommy Edmonds sparked the Dodgers lineup as the 0:12:07.210 --> 0:12:11.070 leadoff hitter the last four games, if Otani is not 0:12:11.190 --> 0:12:15.550 at 100%, and if Otani can't be that guy at 0:12:15.590 --> 0:12:19.910 the top of the lineup, if he can give you, what, 60%, 70% 0:12:19.910 --> 0:12:23.229 the rest of the year, shouldn't the Dodgers consider moving 0:12:23.330 --> 0:12:26.850 Otani down in the order? I'm not talking about 6th 0:12:26.929 --> 0:12:30.250 or 7th in the order. But shouldn't they consider having 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:32.670 him hit third or fourth in the lineup if he's 0:12:33.030 --> 0:12:36.670 not 100% or close to it as far as being 0:12:36.710 --> 0:12:40.349 the guy that he has been his entire career? Shouldn't 0:12:40.390 --> 0:12:44.050 the Dodgers consider having Tommy Edmond be that leadoff hitter 0:12:44.110 --> 0:12:45.370 to get things going again? 0:12:45.490 --> 0:12:45.790 And look. 0:12:46.230 --> 0:12:48.610 If you have Otani hit fourth, he's leading off the 0:12:48.670 --> 0:12:51.589 second inning. And if he does come up to the plate, 0:12:51.750 --> 0:12:55.200 maybe there's a better chance of runners being on base 0:12:55.260 --> 0:12:58.280 because the bottom of the order really hasn't been doing 0:12:58.300 --> 0:13:01.959 that much this season in that department to get guys 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:05.319 on base for him. So I think those are some 0:13:05.340 --> 0:13:08.260 of the questions still that need to be answered between 0:13:08.300 --> 0:13:09.559 now and the end of the season. 0:13:09.980 --> 0:13:12.500 Can Otani be the guy at the top of the order? 0:13:13.070 --> 0:13:16.189 And should the Dodgers consider Tommy Edmond as their leadoff 0:13:16.230 --> 0:13:22.770 hitter going into October? 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Dodgers 0:13:22.809 --> 0:13:26.189 beat the Reds 6-3. When we continue, we'll check in 0:13:26.230 --> 0:13:29.440 with Jose Mota. We'll get his thoughts on Otani putting 0:13:29.500 --> 0:13:32.439 pitching to the side and focusing on hitting. And what 0:13:32.460 --> 0:13:35.460 he saw tonight from the bullpen dogs and from Emmitt 0:13:35.540 --> 0:13:38.240 Sheehan as the Dodgers beat the Reds 6-3 on 570 0:13:38.240 --> 0:13:48.870 LA Sports. Hey, it's Teosca Hernandez. 0:13:49.470 --> 0:13:50.890 This is Dodger Stock. 0:13:51.290 --> 0:13:55.190 You hear every game on AM 570 or streaming on 0:13:55.210 --> 0:13:56.470 the iHeartRadio app. 0:13:57.070 --> 0:13:59.530 Williamson. The 1-0 pitch. 0:14:00.130 --> 0:14:03.920 Hernandez laces it. Left field. 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:12.850 Gone into the Dodger pen. The Teo laser show rolls on. 0:14:15.670 --> 0:14:21.200 Absolutely tattooed a three-run blast into the Dodger bullpen to 0:14:21.240 --> 0:14:21.670 make it 5-1. 0:14:25.040 --> 0:14:29.200 Teoscar Hernandez with a three-run home run for the Dodgers 0:14:29.260 --> 0:14:31.800 in the bottom of the sixth inning to help them 0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:36.730 beat the Reds tonight 6-3. Teoscar Hernandez against the Reds 0:14:36.790 --> 0:14:40.980 in his career. Only 20 games played, but he's hitting. 0:14:40.750 --> 0:14:44.410 324 with three home runs and nine RBIs. 0:14:44.570 --> 0:14:46.090 And after he was a free agent. 0:14:46.450 --> 0:14:49.870 Going into the 25 season, the Reds were very interested 0:14:49.930 --> 0:14:53.700 in signing Teoscar Hernandez. And you can understand why. He 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:58.140 punishes them every time he plays against the Reds. Daniels 0:14:58.200 --> 0:15:01.400 Jewelers presents the home run forecast. For your chance to 0:15:01.420 --> 0:15:07.310 win a $ 50 Daniels Jewelers gift card, visit am570lasports. com. Use 0:15:07.350 --> 0:15:10.470 the keyword home run. Enter your name. You could win. 0:15:10.830 --> 0:15:12.970 Daniels Jewelers own the dream. 0:15:14.170 --> 0:15:17.850 It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota. 0:15:18.950 --> 0:15:22.470 There were a lot of doubters on Teoscar Hernandez this year, 0:15:22.510 --> 0:15:26.250 Jose Mota. It feels like, once again, he's proving the 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:27.130 critics wrong. 0:15:28.000 --> 0:15:30.880 Well, Teoscar also needed to prove himself right by saying that, 0:15:31.100 --> 0:15:33.080 you know, I don't belong batting in the number seven, 0:15:33.120 --> 0:15:36.740 number eight spot. which actually it was almost earned, by 0:15:36.760 --> 0:15:39.600 the way, he was performing or not performing. But for Terrell, 0:15:39.640 --> 0:15:41.680 I'm glad that he kind of just took things in 0:15:41.700 --> 0:15:43.520 stride and said, okay, what do I need to do? 0:15:43.560 --> 0:15:46.150 Which is, as a veteran player, you know what Shoy 0:15:46.170 --> 0:15:48.610 was talking about? Experience shows you a whole lot about 0:15:48.650 --> 0:15:50.730 what you should be doing at this point in the season, Dave. 0:15:51.430 --> 0:15:55.900 And Terrell knows that it's not just about The names 0:15:55.990 --> 0:15:59.010 above him, let's say, Shohei and Freeman, it's about him 0:15:59.050 --> 0:16:01.810 being himself and being able to have that big bat, 0:16:01.930 --> 0:16:05.130 the big right-handed bat they need to be productive. It's 0:16:05.170 --> 0:16:07.390 come down to two things, as he was telling me. 0:16:08.170 --> 0:16:11.510 Being on time with that leg down and using two 0:16:11.550 --> 0:16:14.870 hands to finish off the swing. With all this, the 0:16:14.910 --> 0:16:19.640 residual is, and the result is, Dave, better pitches to 0:16:19.720 --> 0:16:22.600 swing at. He's not wailing at pitches anymore. He's got balance. 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:24.640 You know, even when he struck out in that second 0:16:24.680 --> 0:16:27.140 inning against a very tough Chase Burns, I go, you 0:16:27.160 --> 0:16:28.580 know what, Taylor's going to have a good game. And 0:16:28.620 --> 0:16:31.490 I had a feeling that Burns or not, he was 0:16:31.530 --> 0:16:33.510 just seeing the ball well and going to put good passes. 0:16:34.030 --> 0:16:35.610 And I'm glad that there was a time in which 0:16:35.850 --> 0:16:39.840 finally we see again, Dave, a chance to open up 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:41.960 the game. And it happens with one swing, which really 0:16:41.980 --> 0:16:43.540 has been missing for the Dodgers for the last month 0:16:43.580 --> 0:16:43.860 and a half. 0:16:44.470 --> 0:16:47.090 It was great to see not only the offense start 0:16:47.130 --> 0:16:49.570 to come alive when they needed to, but how about 0:16:49.770 --> 0:16:54.220 coincidentally or coinciding with the fact that the bullpen now 0:16:54.670 --> 0:16:56.820 is starting to pitch better and the guys they need 0:16:56.860 --> 0:16:59.340 to pitch better. I love seeing Vessia get out of 0:16:59.380 --> 0:17:02.340 that bases loaded jam with a strikeout and to see 0:17:02.440 --> 0:17:06.300 Evan Phillips kind of look more like Evan Phillips is 0:17:06.359 --> 0:17:08.520 certainly promising for the Dodgers. 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:11.659 It is 18 games to go, and Evan Phillips is 0:17:11.740 --> 0:17:14.369 now finding that groove. Again, another guy that says, I'm 0:17:14.410 --> 0:17:15.590 not going to be left out. I don't want to 0:17:15.609 --> 0:17:17.730 be in the conversation after I'm going to be in 0:17:17.750 --> 0:17:21.290 that roster and after the postseason. But the save today 0:17:21.330 --> 0:17:22.770 goes to Alex Vesey. I mean, it's one of those 0:17:22.790 --> 0:17:25.350 games where you save in the sixth inning. That could 0:17:25.369 --> 0:17:28.300 have gone the other way. Cincinnati hits a lot of 0:17:28.320 --> 0:17:29.840 home runs. They pin a lot of home runs to 0:17:29.859 --> 0:17:33.790 score runs. They did it again today. But without taking 0:17:33.830 --> 0:17:36.810 any credit away from Phillips, Alex Vestia, once again, your 0:17:36.890 --> 0:17:40.770 go-to guy, Dave, in these situations for years, gets it done, 0:17:40.970 --> 0:17:43.090 attacking the zone. He is not as predictable as he 0:17:43.130 --> 0:17:45.780 was at one point with fastballs and fastballs up in 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:47.159 the zone. He can go out there and make the 0:17:47.180 --> 0:17:50.660 changeups lighter and put you away with a breakable on lefties, 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:52.980 not only away but also in the inner half, which 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:55.859 is what happened there against Boudet. So good for the 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:57.840 bullpen to get himself straightened out. And when you're not 0:17:57.880 --> 0:18:00.280 scoring a lot of runs, especially– You know, home or road, 0:18:00.320 --> 0:18:02.400 it doesn't matter. You want your bullpen to at least 0:18:02.640 --> 0:18:05.580 give the offense a chance, and so far, later in games, 0:18:05.760 --> 0:18:07.629 they're allowing that to happen, and it's happening. 0:18:08.170 --> 0:18:11.129 Jose Mota is joining us after the Dodgers beat the 0:18:11.190 --> 0:18:14.369 Reds 6-3 to win their fifth in a row. Shohei 0:18:14.450 --> 0:18:17.070 Otani was back in the starting lineup tonight. He was 0:18:17.109 --> 0:18:21.170 hitless 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts, Jose. What 0:18:21.210 --> 0:18:24.280 did you see as far as his swing tonight, and 0:18:24.300 --> 0:18:27.060 do you feel like he's healthier than he was five 0:18:27.119 --> 0:18:27.700 games ago? 0:18:29.540 --> 0:18:32.030 He might be healthier, more rested. I didn't see anything different. 0:18:33.050 --> 0:18:35.430 That tells me that he's out there swimming with a 0:18:35.430 --> 0:18:38.490 lot of confidence. I can blame it on the lack 0:18:38.550 --> 0:18:41.710 of playing time, but I'm not. He just looked to 0:18:41.750 --> 0:18:45.200 me a little tentative. The pitch selection has been okay. 0:18:45.500 --> 0:18:48.220 He did work a walk, but it just didn't seem. 0:18:48.260 --> 0:18:50.840 Even that fly ball left field where Shoya usually kind 0:18:50.900 --> 0:18:53.100 of pops the ball and has his backside going through 0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:55.810 the ball, it was more like a poke, like a 0:18:55.850 --> 0:18:58.470 two-strike swing going the other way in his first at-bat. 0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:02.300 Hopefully he'll find it. If not, the walks need to 0:19:02.340 --> 0:19:04.899 be there. But, you know, if it continues to be 0:19:04.940 --> 0:19:07.780 like this, it'll be not a bad idea just moving 0:19:07.800 --> 0:19:10.320 down a little bit more. Just as I mentioned last night, Dave, 0:19:10.420 --> 0:19:12.340 along to watch a game when it goes too fast 0:19:12.380 --> 0:19:15.330 for you. I don't care who you are, man. Reggie 0:19:15.369 --> 0:19:17.830 Jackson or Babe Ruth or Mark McGuire or Sammy Sosa. 0:19:17.869 --> 0:19:20.229 You got to allow the game just to slow down 0:19:20.250 --> 0:19:22.570 a little bit more. Shohei is human. We know that. 0:19:23.109 --> 0:19:24.730 And I think right now he's not at his best 0:19:24.770 --> 0:19:27.310 because he's just not– he doesn't look confident to me, 0:19:27.369 --> 0:19:30.200 which is something really telling to say about Shohei Otani. 0:19:30.800 --> 0:19:33.659 Did you believe that he looked limited tonight physically, and 0:19:33.700 --> 0:19:35.859 did that play into him not being confident? 0:19:36.800 --> 0:19:39.020 I think– I just didn't see him like with a 0:19:39.080 --> 0:19:41.710 big flowing swing that we usually see. He did take 0:19:41.710 --> 0:19:43.850 some big swings, but if you look at swings in 0:19:43.850 --> 0:19:47.330 the pitch locations, it's like totally disconnected. you know disconnected 0:19:47.970 --> 0:19:49.609 and that's why i think right now where things are 0:19:49.630 --> 0:19:51.970 not on time with him and again when we talk 0:19:51.990 --> 0:19:54.869 about posture that has nothing to do with posture we 0:19:54.890 --> 0:19:57.710 can throw posture away we can throw balance away he 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:00.459 is just not at a point where i think he 0:20:00.500 --> 0:20:03.340 is mentally and physically in tune to say i'm going 0:20:03.359 --> 0:20:05.020 to make the decision i have an idea as to 0:20:05.060 --> 0:20:07.320 what to do with this guy it's almost like he 0:20:07.359 --> 0:20:10.720 doesn't want to get beat and sometimes when he I 0:20:10.740 --> 0:20:12.560 prefer to see him get beat a little bit more 0:20:12.580 --> 0:20:16.439 on pitches than to not because he's so strong that 0:20:16.460 --> 0:20:17.619 he could be a little bit late and hit the 0:20:17.640 --> 0:20:20.020 ball out of ballpark, center field, left field. But right now, 0:20:20.030 --> 0:20:21.870 it's like he does not want to get beat. And that, 0:20:21.910 --> 0:20:24.470 to me, comes with the uncomfortable feeling he has in 0:20:24.490 --> 0:20:25.070 that biceps. 0:20:26.050 --> 0:20:28.270 All right, Jose. Thanks a lot for checking in. We'll 0:20:28.310 --> 0:20:29.820 see where this goes with Otani. 0:20:29.859 --> 0:20:33.600 It is so fascinating to see how he compensates for 0:20:34.070 --> 0:20:36.910 You know, the right side and the left knee not 0:20:36.950 --> 0:20:39.609 being 100%, and, you know, part of it is he 0:20:39.650 --> 0:20:42.470 doesn't really speak publicly that often, so we don't get 0:20:42.510 --> 0:20:43.469 to know what he's thinking. 0:20:43.530 --> 0:20:44.870 But tonight we got a little peek. 0:20:45.670 --> 0:20:47.530 One of those days he's going to go 4-4-4, and 0:20:47.550 --> 0:20:48.490 he's going to shut us all up. 0:20:49.030 --> 0:20:50.840 I hope so. I hope so, Jose. 0:20:51.630 --> 0:20:51.960 All right. 0:20:52.619 --> 0:20:53.400 All right, there he goes. 0:20:53.440 --> 0:20:57.520 Jose Mota, part of the Dodgers Spanish radio broadcast, checking in. 0:20:58.040 --> 0:21:00.850 on Dodger Talk once again. The tarp is on the 0:21:00.880 --> 0:21:04.310 field here at Dodger Stadium. Jordan Lorenz and his grounds crew, 0:21:04.410 --> 0:21:08.050 not sure what Tropical Storm Marie might do, so they 0:21:08.070 --> 0:21:10.490 were prepared and put the tarp on the field. Good 0:21:10.530 --> 0:21:14.980 thing my beautiful blue Ionic 9 from Downey Hyundai can 0:21:15.020 --> 0:21:17.980