WEBVTT - 260314 Rocco Baldelli Full Interview for PODCAST

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<v Speaker 1>And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 2>It's the Dodgers and Rangers, a split squad game today

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<v Speaker 2>here in Arizona, and we're joined right now by a

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<v Speaker 2>man that has a great connection to Andrew Friedman, going

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<v Speaker 2>back to his playing days with the Tampa Bay Race,

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<v Speaker 2>fresh from managing with the Twins, and now the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>are very fortunate to have Rocco Baldelli and his beautiful

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<v Speaker 2>bald head part of their front office. Rocko, thanks a

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<v Speaker 2>lot for the time and great to have you in

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<v Speaker 2>Dodger Blue.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you. That might be the greatest intro that I've

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<v Speaker 1>ever had in my entire life. But no, it's wonderful

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<v Speaker 1>to be here. It's a It's been a fantastic spring

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<v Speaker 1>training and being here with the new group has been

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<v Speaker 1>really eye opening and pretty awesome for me. Right now.

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<v Speaker 2>What's it like for you to see these group of

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<v Speaker 2>players coming off back to back championships seemingly ready to

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<v Speaker 2>go day one is spring training?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, The one thing that I noticed really early with

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<v Speaker 1>this group was the level of focus and intensity and

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<v Speaker 1>desire coming off of two World Series. You know, it's

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<v Speaker 1>not like, you know, everyone's coming in without those world series.

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<v Speaker 1>Those world series have been have been one great moments experienced,

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<v Speaker 1>but still coming in with that really exceptional high level focus, ready,

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<v Speaker 1>ready to roll, ready to work every single day, ready

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<v Speaker 1>to get better every single day, and you can see

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<v Speaker 1>why so many of these players have had the success

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<v Speaker 1>that they've had.

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<v Speaker 2>I see you floating around camp. Have you kind of

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<v Speaker 2>gravitated towards one group of players or just trying to

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<v Speaker 2>zone in on what they do to prepare for not

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<v Speaker 2>only each day here but for the season.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, most of my time has been spent with the

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<v Speaker 1>outfield group, and specifically a lot of the young outfielders,

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of the guys that are that haven't yet

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<v Speaker 1>made their debut, a lot of the guys that are

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<v Speaker 1>at the Double A and Triple A level, and there's

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<v Speaker 1>a there's an extensive list of very talented young men here.

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<v Speaker 1>Probably one of the the depthiest groups of outfielders that

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<v Speaker 1>I've ever ever seen prospect wise in one organization. So

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<v Speaker 1>that spent that's taken up a lot of my time.

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<v Speaker 1>It's been very enjoyable working with this group, but I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't want to get to spread out watching too many

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<v Speaker 1>different things. I mean, getting a view of the organization

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<v Speaker 1>as a whole has been important. I mean, it's a

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<v Speaker 1>new place for me, so it's going to take a

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<v Speaker 1>little time. But as far as when I'm stepping on

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<v Speaker 1>the field, most of my attention and my eyes are

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<v Speaker 1>set on those young outfielders.

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<v Speaker 2>Is it a stretch to say the Dodgers have potentially

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<v Speaker 2>six young outfielders that could be major leaguers in the

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<v Speaker 2>next year or two.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean in the next year or two, probably, So

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<v Speaker 1>I would say that the list is even much longer

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<v Speaker 1>than that when you extend it down into some of

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<v Speaker 1>the younger players. There are guys that are appearing in

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<v Speaker 1>major league camp that are doing really a heck of

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<v Speaker 1>a job up and down the ladder. Not all of

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<v Speaker 1>them are even at the Triple A and Double A levels,

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<v Speaker 1>But yeah, normal you don't see a half dozen guys,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, you start I could, I could start naming

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<v Speaker 1>a bunch of names here, but like you're gonna end up,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, missing guys too. But in major league camp,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, you had Tibbs and aar Hard and those

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<v Speaker 1>guys did a really nice job. And Ward has had

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<v Speaker 1>some some some real success at the minor league levels

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<v Speaker 1>and put up a lot of UH, some really good

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<v Speaker 1>numbers KG, Kendell, George and Depaula and and Zyer Hope

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<v Speaker 1>and the list is UH is good and long, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know what, You're gonna need all those guys at

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<v Speaker 1>different points in time. UH, and you just gotta wait

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<v Speaker 1>and see how they develop. But the talent is there, Rocco.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm glad you brought up James Tibbs because the Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>acquired him last year. He's been traded twice before even

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<v Speaker 2>making his major league debut, but he's been in a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of Cactus League games, putting him on the radar

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<v Speaker 2>for fans that are watching and listening. What stands out

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<v Speaker 2>to you the most that makes you believe he can

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<v Speaker 2>impact the Dodgers this season.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I think that one of the first things that

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<v Speaker 1>you notice around him is he's a very intense guy

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<v Speaker 1>and he wants to do good. He shows up ready

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<v Speaker 1>to work every day, which is a great trait for

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<v Speaker 1>any young player. But when he steps on the field

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<v Speaker 1>and he starts playing, you can see that he has

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<v Speaker 1>a good advanced approach at the plate, which stands out

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<v Speaker 1>and you know he's not you know, it's not like

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<v Speaker 1>He's standing six foot five and two hundred and forty pounds,

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<v Speaker 1>but he hits the ball hard, He sees the ball

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<v Speaker 1>really good. He's just a lot of great traits that

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<v Speaker 1>you would want and a good young hitter, and he

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<v Speaker 1>shows a lot of those virtually every game where he

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<v Speaker 1>steps out there on the field. He looks like a

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<v Speaker 1>guy who knows what he's doing in the batter's box.

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<v Speaker 1>So that's a great place to start for a young guy.

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<v Speaker 1>He had a lot of success once he came over

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<v Speaker 1>to the Dodgers in the minor leagues last year, and

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<v Speaker 1>now he's really jumping off of that this spring and

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<v Speaker 1>continuing his success.

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<v Speaker 2>This is your genre of baseball. You might agree or

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<v Speaker 2>disagree with this, but when I shook his hand, I

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<v Speaker 2>was thinking, who does he remind me of? And it

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<v Speaker 2>struck me a day later. Casey Kotchman, who played for

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<v Speaker 2>the Angels, different position, but he had some real meat hooks,

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<v Speaker 2>and James Tibbs seems to have those meat hooks.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, he's got he's got some strength in those hands.

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<v Speaker 1>He's got some strength in those hands. I've played with

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<v Speaker 1>Cotch two and Cotch is an awesome dude and had

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<v Speaker 1>a good career. I haven't seen him in a while.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not sure he's at these days, but I'm sure

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<v Speaker 1>he's doing fine. But yeah, Timsy has had a good

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<v Speaker 1>start to the spring. He's been playing a decent amount

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<v Speaker 1>of first base. He's also pretty solid contributor on the

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<v Speaker 1>corner outfield spots. And I think he's he just needs

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<v Speaker 1>to go play. He just needs to settle in when

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<v Speaker 1>the season hits, you know, obviously most likely going to

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<v Speaker 1>the minor leagues, you know, unless something happens, I think

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<v Speaker 1>in major league camp. But I think, you know, just

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<v Speaker 1>being ready to show up every day and be prepared

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<v Speaker 1>for whenever his name's called, and his name could be

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<v Speaker 1>called soon. I'm sure.

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<v Speaker 2>Rocco Baldelli is our guest. He's a specialist assistant to

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<v Speaker 2>Andrew Freeman, part of the Dodgers front office now. And

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<v Speaker 2>you know, Andrew Freeman has built something special that everybody

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<v Speaker 2>around the league is very envious of. Can you give

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<v Speaker 2>us some insight on what the Dodgers have now under

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<v Speaker 2>Andrew compared to what he was like and what he

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<v Speaker 2>built in Tampa Bay with you.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I'd like to say he's changed a whole lot,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, you know, get on him a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit for that, but now he's the he's the same guy.

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<v Speaker 1>Exceptionally brilliant and talented, of course, but he's he likes

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<v Speaker 1>to laugh, he's he likes to get in there with

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<v Speaker 1>all the people that work with him. Uh, he has

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<v Speaker 1>great relationships. Everywhere you look, and and every organization he's

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<v Speaker 1>ever worked with, people always they're they warmed to him,

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<v Speaker 1>and they they they love working with him and for him.

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<v Speaker 1>So you know, that's not totally normal probably you know

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<v Speaker 1>everywhere in the game or everywhere in sports where you look,

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<v Speaker 1>but he creates just an exceptional in ironment for the

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<v Speaker 1>people that show up here every day, both the players

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<v Speaker 1>and the staff. So you know, I've known Andrew since

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<v Speaker 1>the beginnings of his time in professional baseball, and I

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<v Speaker 1>feel very lucky to be working with him once again.

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<v Speaker 2>Everybody tried to put him in this bucket being with

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<v Speaker 2>Tampa Bay and trying to do more with less. How

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<v Speaker 2>unique is it for him to be able to do

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<v Speaker 2>what he did in Tampa but then now have the

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<v Speaker 2>resources at his fingertips to build what he's have now,

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<v Speaker 2>what he's built now with the Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I think one thing to note is like Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>had to get very creative in Tampa Bay when he

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<v Speaker 1>was there. Now he just gets creative in different ways.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know he has a mind that's always going

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<v Speaker 1>to be searching for something new or more effective or different.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know what he's built here. I mean when

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<v Speaker 1>I first showed up, he I've only been here a

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<v Speaker 1>short time, but you know, I realized this is a

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<v Speaker 1>this is an immense this is a massive operation here

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<v Speaker 1>in LA and it's not what I've been used to

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<v Speaker 1>because I've worked with smaller market clubs in my career.

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<v Speaker 1>But the way that it functions together is extremely impressive.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't lose that that personal touch and that really

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<v Speaker 1>you know, pointed, very good, you know, well thought out

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<v Speaker 1>programming that you get when you have a smaller group.

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<v Speaker 1>It operates the same way, except that it is a

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<v Speaker 1>bigger group here and everyone works together very well. It's

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<v Speaker 1>very well coordinated, it's very well organized, and to me,

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<v Speaker 1>it almost felt like a college campus atmosphere when I

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<v Speaker 1>showed up here for spring training, you know, which isn't

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<v Speaker 1>necessarily the field that you get in most camps.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, that's a great compliment, Rocco. Before I let you go.

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<v Speaker 2>Joe Madden told me once that Andrew is not only

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<v Speaker 2>great at what he does building the infrastructure and using analytics,

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<v Speaker 2>but he is a really good baseball man now a

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<v Speaker 2>great baseball scout. Have you seen that transformation?

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<v Speaker 1>Truthfully, I think that was always in Andrew because Andrew

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<v Speaker 1>was Andrew played. You know, Andrew you know, was a

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<v Speaker 1>member of the two lane baseball team back in the day,

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<v Speaker 1>and I always thought he was like the last guy

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<v Speaker 1>on the roster, very possible, very possible. No one can

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<v Speaker 1>verify it, so there's no way to really there's no way.

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<v Speaker 2>To really know.

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<v Speaker 1>But no, you know, he has a background in the game.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, he didn't just show up and you know

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<v Speaker 1>pick up baseball. I mean that it's something that he

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<v Speaker 1>has a long history with. And I think he has

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<v Speaker 1>a great appreciation for melding all parts of this game

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<v Speaker 1>in the best possible ways. And he knows that you

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<v Speaker 1>need you know, exceptional you know, an exceptional plan or

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<v Speaker 1>you know, really good information. But he he he really

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<v Speaker 1>compliments that with bringing in the right people and people

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<v Speaker 1>that he trusts and people that he wants opinions from.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, everywhere you look here, there's really really

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<v Speaker 1>really awesome, talented people in every department, and he the

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<v Speaker 1>way they come together, though, is the key, and the

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<v Speaker 1>way he utilizes everyone is always going to be the key,

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<v Speaker 1>and he's the best at that.

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<v Speaker 2>All Right, before I let you go, I'm gonna tap

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<v Speaker 2>into some Andrew Friedman sense of humor here for Rocco Baldelli.

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<v Speaker 2>When I was driving in today to Camelback Ranch, I

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<v Speaker 2>saw a bald headed dude in a Dodger hoodie with

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<v Speaker 2>a beard double over as he was trying to run

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<v Speaker 2>the whole ranch. Was that Rocco Baldelli?

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<v Speaker 1>It was?

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<v Speaker 2>And it's all I have.

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<v Speaker 1>It's all I've got, and I got nothing more to give.

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<v Speaker 1>But yeah, you're lucky I didn't take a picture for Andrew.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what, he would use that picture forever. It

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<v Speaker 1>would go rate in that that file that he keeps

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<v Speaker 1>on everyone, and he'd have a good picture. Now, I

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<v Speaker 1>was absolutely gassed out here, But you got to do something.

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<v Speaker 1>You got to get out there and keep moving.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, I'm I can only say that to a certain

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<v Speaker 2>extent since you can see I'm a skinny, fat guy,

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<v Speaker 2>So I can only go so far on you same

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<v Speaker 2>saying that's that you can talk into the same thing.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey Rocco, thanks a lot for joining us. It's great

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<v Speaker 2>to share you with Dodger fans. You have so much

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<v Speaker 2>to offer the game and the Dodgers are lucky to

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<v Speaker 2>have you in the organization. So thank you for the time.

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<v Speaker 1>That's truly a pleasure to be here. Thank you.