WEBVTT - Dodger Talk (5-4-26) 0:00:00.520 --> 0:00:03.000 The quest for the three peat has begne. 0:00:03.080 --> 0:00:06.920 Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won 0:00:07.000 --> 0:00:11.399 three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become 0:00:11.720 --> 0:00:12.560 the fifth. 0:00:12.600 --> 0:00:15.040 This is World Champion Dodger Talk. 0:00:15.120 --> 0:00:17.160 Here we go again, Righero running back to. 0:00:17.079 --> 0:00:19.439 Get in on the show called eight six six, not 0:00:19.600 --> 0:00:22.360 eighty seven two five seven, and be sure to follow 0:00:22.440 --> 0:00:26.560 Dodger Talk wherever you get your podcasts. Here's your host, 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:28.640 David Vasselasing. 0:00:29.480 --> 0:00:32.800 Welcome to Dodger Talk. David vasse with you until nine 0:00:32.880 --> 0:00:36.120 thirty tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports. 0:00:36.520 --> 0:00:39.240 After the Dodgers put up an eighth spot and beat 0:00:39.280 --> 0:00:42.760 the Astros tonight eight to three behind a well pitched 0:00:42.800 --> 0:00:46.760 game from Yoshi Yamamoto, who went six innings tonight, struck 0:00:46.760 --> 0:00:50.879 out eight, allowed just three earned runs. Yamamotos record is 0:00:50.920 --> 0:00:54.240 now three and two. He beats Ryan Weiss, who is 0:00:54.280 --> 0:00:57.960 the second of five pitchers the Astros used tonight in 0:00:58.000 --> 0:01:01.840 a bullpen game. Weiss was charged with six earned runs 0:01:01.880 --> 0:01:05.759 and the Dodgers the National nightmare is over. They hit 0:01:05.800 --> 0:01:09.119 a home run, In fact, they hit two. Alex Freeland 0:01:09.120 --> 0:01:13.160 and Kyle Tucker went deep for the Dodgers tonight. Freeland 0:01:13.280 --> 0:01:16.319 was on base four times. Tonight, he had three hits. 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:19.280 Tucker let off the third inning with a home run 0:01:19.360 --> 0:01:22.440 to right field, and that was good to see. It 0:01:22.560 --> 0:01:25.199 was a fastball on the third pitch of the at bat, 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:28.360 and that's what Tucker does. He doesn't missed fastballs and 0:01:28.440 --> 0:01:31.000 he hits them for home runs like he did in 0:01:31.040 --> 0:01:34.440 that third inning. But we did get breaking news from 0:01:34.560 --> 0:01:37.759 Dave Roberts moments ago. So let's head back to Houston 0:01:37.880 --> 0:01:41.119 right now to hear from the Dodger manager who announced 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:45.960 just moments ago that tomorrow's pitcher show, he Otani will 0:01:46.000 --> 0:01:49.600 only pitch and he will not dh wondering if his 0:01:49.760 --> 0:01:53.280 over seventeen slump has anything to do with it. So 0:01:53.400 --> 0:01:55.400 let's hear from the Dodger manager. 0:01:56.240 --> 0:02:00.080 I thought in that fourth at bat he was starting 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:02.040 to feel something a little bit. I thought it looked better. 0:02:02.080 --> 0:02:04.720 I think he took a walk right there, and then 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:06.080 he had the left you where he flew out to 0:02:06.120 --> 0:02:10.519 center field. So he's working hard. He's out there early today. 0:02:13.000 --> 0:02:14.919 You know, there were some good, some not so good. 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:20.600 Tomorrow he is just going to pitch. I think tomorrow 0:02:20.600 --> 0:02:23.919 we're just gonna you know, I just decided that just 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:27.480 kind of watching him, just give him the opportunity to 0:02:27.520 --> 0:02:30.560 focus on the pitching, uh, you know, rest his body, 0:02:30.600 --> 0:02:33.160 and then you know, we'll we'll figure o who's gonna 0:02:33.160 --> 0:02:34.240 be the designat of tomorrow. 0:02:34.480 --> 0:02:37.080 Same decision to take what during the game as you're 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:37.720 watching him. 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:40.679 Or during the game, during the game, just kind of 0:02:40.680 --> 0:02:43.080 seeing how things are going, and then I just felt that, 0:02:43.440 --> 0:02:45.360 you know, in my mind, just kind of seeing how 0:02:45.400 --> 0:02:47.600 it's playing out. I think it's best for for everyone. 0:02:47.919 --> 0:02:50.160 Is that for you a body language thing or is 0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:53.080 that like a results thing that you're seeing. Definitely not results. 0:02:53.440 --> 0:02:55.440 It's a little bit more body language and just kind 0:02:55.440 --> 0:02:57.640 of watching watching the player. 0:02:58.840 --> 0:03:01.440 If that's a mental off time, I think. 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:01.800 So, yeah. 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:05.920 I think regardless, it's it's still a big toll, you know. 0:03:06.240 --> 0:03:10.280 Anyway that and we've certainly enjoyed the fruits of him 0:03:10.320 --> 0:03:13.000 doing it, which he will continue to at times. But 0:03:14.080 --> 0:03:16.320 you know, I think for me, it's a start by 0:03:16.360 --> 0:03:18.240 start kind of readoact situation. 0:03:19.080 --> 0:03:22.440 All Right, there's Dave Roberts giving his reason on why 0:03:22.919 --> 0:03:25.560 he decided in the middle of the game that show, hey, 0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:28.840 Otani will not be a two way player tomorrow instead, 0:03:28.919 --> 0:03:33.000 for the third time this season, O'tani will only pitch, 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:35.920 and he's been phenomenal. He's coming off winning Pitcher of 0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:38.360 the Month in the month of April with an ERA 0:03:38.520 --> 0:03:43.440 of zero sixty. But Otani is in the longest slump 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:46.800 of his major league career. He has one home run 0:03:46.840 --> 0:03:50.360 in his last eighty four plate appearances, he's oh for 0:03:50.480 --> 0:03:54.880 his last seventeen, and today did something that he rarely does. 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:58.440 If you remember, during the postseason last year, he took 0:03:58.480 --> 0:04:01.440 batting practice on the field because he was in a 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:05.040 little bit of a postseason hitting slump. And after he 0:04:05.080 --> 0:04:09.400 took betting practice the first time during the NLCS, he 0:04:09.480 --> 0:04:11.760 came back and hit three home runs and struck out 0:04:11.760 --> 0:04:15.480 ten Brewers in Game four of the clinching NLCS game 0:04:15.520 --> 0:04:21.560 against Milwaukee. But here's what's concerning shoeo Tani took fifty 0:04:21.640 --> 0:04:27.080 five swings in batting practice earlier today. He's thirty one 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:30.559 years old, He's not twenty seven. That was the last time, 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:33.360 basically twenty seven to twenty eight years old that he 0:04:33.400 --> 0:04:36.640 did both pitching and hitting, and he did it with 0:04:36.680 --> 0:04:40.159 the Angels who were not going anywhere. So there was 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:44.680 a lot less mental physical toll on him. Not to 0:04:44.760 --> 0:04:48.840 mention his season was ending in September, not in November 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:51.800 like it has the last couple of years. Not to 0:04:51.880 --> 0:04:55.080 mention again, I'll repeat this again, he's thirty one years old. 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:59.400 It takes a thirty one year old starting pitcher five 0:04:59.480 --> 0:05:03.880 days to recover for his next start. Trust me, and 0:05:04.040 --> 0:05:07.560 the Dodgers and Otani are trying to do something that's 0:05:07.640 --> 0:05:10.880 never been done before. It seems like every time he's 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:13.360 on the field, he's trying to do something he's never 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:17.080 done before. He's done something already that nobody's done in 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:20.320 modern baseball and b this grade of a four time 0:05:20.560 --> 0:05:24.720 MVP as a pitcher and a hitter. And you know, 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.400 I honestly you go back and listen to those questions 0:05:28.400 --> 0:05:31.640 to Dave Roberts, somebody asked about whether or not it's 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:35.000 mental toll. Yeah, I'm sure there's a mental toll going 0:05:35.040 --> 0:05:37.800 over your last seventeen when you're a fifty home run 0:05:37.920 --> 0:05:40.320 hitter and you only have one home run in your 0:05:40.400 --> 0:05:44.200 last eighty four plate appearances. But to me, the most 0:05:44.360 --> 0:05:48.640 obvious question that has not been asked is whether or 0:05:48.680 --> 0:05:53.919 not Otani is dealing with something physical that is preventing 0:05:54.000 --> 0:05:59.599 him from being a pitcher and a hitter. That's the 0:05:59.680 --> 0:06:03.320 thing standing out to me. How nobody has asked that 0:06:04.000 --> 0:06:07.640 is very interesting, and I actually feel like, you know, 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:11.160 maybe that's a question that needs to be asked if 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:13.760 it isn't by the end of this road trip, certainly 0:06:13.839 --> 0:06:16.760 the first question I would ask Dave Roberts when I 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:20.200 see him on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Tonight's game brought 0:06:20.240 --> 0:06:23.479 to you by Modello Modello the mark of a fighter. 0:06:23.640 --> 0:06:26.960 I mean, Otani's trying to do something that nobody's done before. 0:06:27.440 --> 0:06:30.080 You got a guy like Ben Maller who just rips 0:06:30.160 --> 0:06:35.200 players every night. It takes him at least thirteen hours 0:06:35.240 --> 0:06:38.440 to give his gums a rest to recover for the 0:06:38.480 --> 0:06:42.599 next overnight show that he does. So what Otani's doing 0:06:42.720 --> 0:06:46.000 is a lot more than anybody else has ever tried 0:06:46.040 --> 0:06:49.160 to do in Major League Baseball. But one home run 0:06:49.200 --> 0:06:52.920 in his last eighty four plate appearances and he has 0:06:53.000 --> 0:06:57.159 to start tomorrow. So how much attention can he give 0:06:57.240 --> 0:07:00.680 his hitting the way he gave it today when he's tomorrow. 0:07:00.720 --> 0:07:06.080 It's just impossible. So, you know, thirty one years old, 0:07:06.360 --> 0:07:09.920 and I'm not sure if you realize this, but his father, 0:07:10.560 --> 0:07:13.360 this doesn't happen in the United States, and I'm not 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:19.880 fully one hundred percent understanding. I don't understand fully the 0:07:20.000 --> 0:07:23.040 Japanese culture. I mean, I'm around a lot of Japanese 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:27.440 reporters now two great Japanese players and then Roki Sasaki 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:31.800 who doesn't really talk much. But their culture is a 0:07:31.800 --> 0:07:36.280 culture of respect. And this past offseason, after the Dodgers 0:07:36.600 --> 0:07:40.880 won the back to back World Series championship, his Otani's 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:44.640 father took a page out in the newspaper in Japan 0:07:44.720 --> 0:07:49.480 wrote an open letter to Otani congratulating him and then 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:53.080 encouraging him to give up pitching in the near future 0:07:53.520 --> 0:07:56.200 and maybe pick up an outfielder's glove so he can, 0:07:56.400 --> 0:07:59.320 you know, be able to extend his career being thirty 0:07:59.360 --> 0:08:03.120 one years old. So that's strange and something I've never 0:08:03.160 --> 0:08:07.560 asked Otani about. Limited time with Otani once a week 0:08:07.600 --> 0:08:10.480 when he speaks to the media, so that's not something 0:08:10.800 --> 0:08:13.960 a topic I'm sure he wants to tackle in that 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:17.200 once a week session. Eight six six nine eight seven 0:08:17.280 --> 0:08:20.920 two five seventy is the phone number. Freddie Freeman had 0:08:20.920 --> 0:08:24.240 two hits tonight. He has seven hits in eighteen at 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:28.000 bats on this road trip, after going three for twenty 0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:31.640 five on the last homestand but Freddie Freeman only has 0:08:31.680 --> 0:08:34.440 one extra base hit it was a double yesterday, no 0:08:34.559 --> 0:08:37.840 home runs. And I know Freddy doesn't consider himself a 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:41.560 home run hitter, but I think the Dodgers are going 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:45.559 to have to be content with this version of Freddie Freeman. 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:48.120 But coming out of a three for twenty five slump 0:08:48.480 --> 0:08:50.920 to get seven hits in the first four games of 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:53.959 this road trip, Freddie will take that. The Dodgers will 0:08:54.000 --> 0:08:57.520 take that, and that keeps the line moving for other guys. 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.000 And that's where you know, if Otani's not going to 0:09:00.360 --> 0:09:04.199 be that forty I'm not even gonna say a fifty 0:09:04.280 --> 0:09:07.200 home run guy. If Otani's not going to be a 0:09:07.280 --> 0:09:10.840 thirty or forty home run guy at this rate he's not, 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:16.520 then Kyle Tucker, ta Oskar Hernandez will Smith, Mookie Betts 0:09:16.559 --> 0:09:18.640 when he comes back, they're going to have to pick 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:23.559 up the power slack without Otani leading off and being 0:09:23.600 --> 0:09:26.440 a fifty home run guy. And like I said, not 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:29.120 even fifty. I think at this point the Dodgers would 0:09:29.160 --> 0:09:32.200 take a thirty five home run season from Otani, and 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:35.719 I feel like he would as well. Kyle Tucker hit 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:38.560 a home run tonight on a fastball, and that's what 0:09:38.600 --> 0:09:40.920 he does, and he didn't miss it tonight leading off 0:09:40.960 --> 0:09:43.640 the third inning. Let's go back to Houston to hear 0:09:43.720 --> 0:09:44.880 from the former astro. 0:09:46.280 --> 0:09:48.280 I mean, I loved, you know, being here and playing here, 0:09:48.320 --> 0:09:51.560 and there's a lot of new faces over here or 0:09:51.640 --> 0:09:54.040 over there, but it's always nice coming back and seeing 0:09:54.240 --> 0:09:58.320 seeing some of the guys and reconnecting with him. So 0:09:58.080 --> 0:09:59.680 it's always nice to be back. 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:01.400 For he in the Hall park to come to. 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:03.599 Like when you guys are kind of scuffling as a 0:10:03.640 --> 0:10:07.080 lineup a little bit, I mean, it just depends. I mean, 0:10:07.080 --> 0:10:09.840 if we just continue just keeping our head down, grinding 0:10:09.880 --> 0:10:12.880 and putting up some good at bats, you know, good 0:10:12.880 --> 0:10:14.559 things can happen. So we're just gonna try and keep 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:16.000 doing that no matter where we're playing. 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:18.720 Were you surprised to hear some booze out there tonight 0:10:18.760 --> 0:10:20.440 when you're walking up, I don't know. 0:10:20.520 --> 0:10:23.600 I don't really focus on like crowd noise and stuff. 0:10:23.720 --> 0:10:25.600 Like most of the time I don't hear a whole lot, 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:27.920 so I don't really have a take on. 0:10:27.920 --> 0:10:32.560 It like just with the offense fell like a normal game. 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:34.719 I mean you saying you had a normal game, But 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:36.600 is that a fair take? 0:10:37.920 --> 0:10:38.280 I don't know. 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:42.280 I mean, yeah, I know we haven't hit a homer 0:10:42.280 --> 0:10:46.480 in a while anyone, But so having a couple of 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:51.240 those today was nice. Just good to see, like good contact, 0:10:51.520 --> 0:10:53.720 get up bads, guys, getting the walks and moving guys 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:56.880 over and getting them in was huge. So did a 0:10:56.880 --> 0:10:58.760 really good job at that throughout the game and especially 0:10:58.760 --> 0:11:00.839 at the beginning first half. So I'm just gonna try 0:11:00.840 --> 0:11:02.200 and do that moving forward as well. 0:11:03.320 --> 0:11:07.920 Kind of quality of contact and at bats and approached 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:08.920 the last couple of days, did. 0:11:08.800 --> 0:11:12.520 It feel like it was building towards something like this somewhat? 0:11:12.559 --> 0:11:15.480 I mean I had like a couple good of bats. 0:11:15.520 --> 0:11:18.160 I mean some not really, but I'm just gonna try 0:11:18.200 --> 0:11:20.280 and keep barreling balls and see what happens. 0:11:21.360 --> 0:11:24.439 All right. There is Kyle Tucker who hit a home 0:11:24.520 --> 0:11:26.840 run tonight leading off the third inning, got a bloop 0:11:26.960 --> 0:11:30.480 RBI base hit as well, and the Dodgers beat the 0:11:30.520 --> 0:11:34.559 Astros tonight eight to three. It's significant because the Dodger 0:11:34.640 --> 0:11:37.880 offense finished the home stand losing the last two to 0:11:37.920 --> 0:11:41.440 the Marlins and scoring a combined three runs, and then 0:11:41.760 --> 0:11:46.280 in Saint Louis they did not really do much offensively, 0:11:46.400 --> 0:11:48.640 did not hit a home run in those three games, 0:11:48.679 --> 0:11:51.960 And in those three games at Bush Stadium, the Dodgers 0:11:52.000 --> 0:11:56.040 combined to score only eight runs. Tonight they match it 0:11:56.120 --> 0:11:59.000 with an eight spot in Houston against the Astros and 0:11:59.080 --> 0:12:03.840 basically taking care of business. This offense should ravage that 0:12:04.080 --> 0:12:08.120 Astros pitching staff in the next two games they the 0:12:08.160 --> 0:12:11.760 way they did tonight, There's no excuses not to score 0:12:11.800 --> 0:12:15.600 off this Astro pitching staff. It may not be as talented, 0:12:15.960 --> 0:12:18.920 that's one thing, but the other part is that it's 0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:21.400 worn down. They've had to use their bullpen a lot 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:25.520 the last two weeks of the season, especially and coming 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:29.280 into this series. So no excuses. I don't want to 0:12:29.320 --> 0:12:32.679 hear about anybody feeling under the weather or any of that. 0:12:32.840 --> 0:12:37.320 They should sweep this series in Houston. Celebrate ninety years 0:12:37.360 --> 0:12:40.840 of racing at Santa Anita Park every Friday through Sunday 0:12:41.160 --> 0:12:44.120 with millions and payouts every race day. For our heart 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:48.080 pounding action and a new experience, visit Santa Anita dot 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:51.400 com slash events and oh, by the way, the Dodgers 0:12:51.440 --> 0:12:53.800 have the picture of the month on the mound tomorrow 0:12:54.040 --> 0:12:57.000 and show he Otani, and then the day after to 0:12:57.040 --> 0:13:00.120 close out this series, they got Tyler glass Now, who 0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:02.920 very well could have won it as well. Uh And 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:07.640 if you remember the Dodgers squandered Otan, they had Yamamoto 0:13:07.720 --> 0:13:11.240 Otani Glassnew against the Marlins, and they only won one 0:13:11.280 --> 0:13:13.760 game and lost the last two. So they got to 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.040 make up for that and win these next two because 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:19.000 Otani and glass Now are going to do their job. 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:22.240 Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is 0:13:22.240 --> 0:13:24.800 the phone number. We got the news from Dave Roberts 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.640 because he just made the decision in the middle of 0:13:27.720 --> 0:13:31.720 the game. Otani will only pitch again tomorrow. He will 0:13:31.760 --> 0:13:34.040 not hit. How do you feel about that? Is this 0:13:34.520 --> 0:13:37.560 the new world for the Dodgers and Otani this year? 0:13:37.960 --> 0:13:40.880 Eight six six nine eighty seven two five seventy is 0:13:40.920 --> 0:13:44.000 the phone number. I have a solution for days like 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:47.880 this when we continue on Dodger Talk, David Vasse with 0:13:47.960 --> 0:13:50.679 you until nine thirty right here on a five to 0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:54.800 seventy LA Sports. After the Dodgers beat the Astros eight 0:13:54.840 --> 0:13:57.760 to three. 0:14:02.320 --> 0:14:05.439 On air at AM five seventy online at AM five 0:14:05.559 --> 0:14:09.720 seventy LA sports dot com and available by podcast on 0:14:09.800 --> 0:14:14.160 the iHeartRadio app. This is Dodger Talk with David Bassin. 0:14:15.720 --> 0:14:18.040 Man Tucker Felts went the right field and deep. This 0:14:18.280 --> 0:14:22.800 Paul Packet has got a home run. Kyle Tucker in 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:27.920 a solo shot and it is four to two. Oh 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:34.280 bullet of a line drive the right. King Tuck with 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:37.720 a home run back in the spot where he started 0:14:37.760 --> 0:14:41.440 his major league career Houston. He let off the third 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.160 inning with a home run a solo shot, and the 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:47.360 Dodgers go on to beat the Astros tonight eight to three. 0:14:47.520 --> 0:14:50.880 They hit two home runs. Tonight, Alex Friedland tied the 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:54.040 game with a solo home run in the second inning 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:58.280 as well. Daniel S. Jewelers, they present the home run 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:01.600 forecast for your chance to win a fifty dollars Daniel 0:15:01.680 --> 0:15:06.240 Jeweler's gift card, visit AM five to seventy lasports dot com. 0:15:06.720 --> 0:15:09.360 Use the keyword home run into your name and you 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:13.760 could win Daniel S. Jeweller's own the Dream eight six six, 0:15:14.280 --> 0:15:17.240 nine eighty seven, two five seventy is the phone number. 0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:21.760 All right, let's dive deeper into this o'tani not hitting 0:15:22.200 --> 0:15:26.560 when he's pitching situation, because Dave Roberts broke that news 0:15:27.000 --> 0:15:30.160 after the game in his office, and nobody asked whether 0:15:30.280 --> 0:15:34.160 or not there's some physical limitation with Otani that is 0:15:34.240 --> 0:15:38.680 preventing him from being the hitter that he's normally been 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:44.320 in his entire four time MVP career. I've learned something 0:15:44.360 --> 0:15:47.840 over the years. Now, I'm not very smart, but I 0:15:47.960 --> 0:15:51.760 have paid attention over the years, and I feel like 0:15:51.880 --> 0:15:56.760 I've relayed this to you a few different times. Great 0:15:56.800 --> 0:16:02.640 players don't all of a sudden turn into pumpkins overnight 0:16:03.440 --> 0:16:08.040 unless there is something physically wrong with them or something 0:16:08.080 --> 0:16:11.280 off the field. Nothing off the field going on with 0:16:11.360 --> 0:16:14.880 Otani this time, and even when there was stuff going 0:16:14.920 --> 0:16:19.280 on off the field, he never missed a beat. So 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:22.560 I'm not saying I know anything, but I would love 0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:27.880 to have the opportunity to ask him. Ask Dave Roberts, 0:16:28.320 --> 0:16:32.680 is there something physically preventing you from being the hitter 0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:37.000 that you have been your entire year, your entire career. 0:16:37.920 --> 0:16:40.520 When was the last time you ever saw show Hey 0:16:40.520 --> 0:16:43.840 Otani hit one home run in his last eighty four 0:16:44.080 --> 0:16:48.920 played appearances. Never, I have the answer for you. Never. 0:16:49.200 --> 0:16:52.680 It's never happened in his major league career, and I 0:16:52.680 --> 0:16:55.280 would venture to say it never happened to him in 0:16:55.400 --> 0:17:00.200 Japan either. So that's a red flag for me right there. 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:04.280 And yes, of course it's mental at this stage. Over 0:17:04.480 --> 0:17:08.159 his last seventeen he looks very human at the plate. 0:17:08.640 --> 0:17:12.199 He has poured in so much effort in trying to 0:17:12.240 --> 0:17:15.800 be the best pitcher he can be this year, trying 0:17:15.800 --> 0:17:18.680 to go after that Cy Young Award, and yes, those 0:17:18.720 --> 0:17:22.520 are all factors. But I would love to know whether 0:17:22.680 --> 0:17:28.119 something is physically wrong with Otani. Now I know early BP. 0:17:28.320 --> 0:17:31.960 I just mentioned to you the Japanese media counted how 0:17:32.000 --> 0:17:35.159 many swings he took in early BP today and the 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:40.600 total was fifty five swings. So obviously he's healthy enough 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:44.880 to do that. But here's the thing. Let's say it's 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:48.840 not physical and now it's becoming a snowball at the plate. 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:52.920 He has to start tomorrow. So how is he going 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:58.600 to fix his hitting issues tomorrow? He tried today, and 0:17:59.040 --> 0:18:02.359 I guess is that bad swear a little better. But 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:06.600 here's my thought. Okay, Dave Roberts, you saw something during 0:18:06.600 --> 0:18:09.520 the game that told you, you know what, I'm not 0:18:09.520 --> 0:18:12.800 gonna have him hit tomorrow. What do you think one 0:18:12.880 --> 0:18:15.280 day is gonna do for this guy if he's in 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:19.919 that much of a hole. If I'm the Dodgers, I 0:18:19.960 --> 0:18:23.880 don't play Otani the last game in Houston either it's 0:18:23.960 --> 0:18:28.440 a day game. After he pitches, I'm not letting Otani 0:18:28.560 --> 0:18:34.159 DH the next two games. Just let him reset. Maybe 0:18:34.200 --> 0:18:36.760 on Wednesday during the game he could go into the 0:18:36.800 --> 0:18:40.280 cage with JT. Watkins, who is one of the best 0:18:40.320 --> 0:18:43.840 hitting coaches the Dodgers have, go in the lab in 0:18:43.920 --> 0:18:48.080 Houston with whatever you have and maybe try to figure 0:18:48.200 --> 0:18:52.879 something out there during the game. But playing him Wednesday 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:58.480 is not going to solve anything. Don't play him Wednesday. 0:18:58.640 --> 0:19:02.720 Either day is an off day. He'll have Thursday off. 0:19:02.760 --> 0:19:06.600 He could possibly go into the stadium, maybe look at 0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:10.320 some stuff and maybe take a few swings, but maybe 0:19:10.359 --> 0:19:13.760 not do anything at all, and then come back Friday 0:19:14.160 --> 0:19:17.159 for the beginning of a three game series against the 0:19:17.200 --> 0:19:21.560 best team this side of the Dodgers, in the Atlanta Braves. 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:28.320 That seems extremely sensible. If this is what you're seeing, 0:19:28.440 --> 0:19:32.520 Dave Roberts, that you don't want him to DH tomorrow, 0:19:32.680 --> 0:19:37.280 you want him to focus on pitching, I would say sorry, 0:19:37.359 --> 0:19:40.879 show Hey, this is what's best for you. You're not 0:19:41.440 --> 0:19:44.760 hitting tomorrow, you're pitching. And the last game of the 0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:47.639 series a day game after a night game. Use that 0:19:47.760 --> 0:19:51.359 day for recovery, and use Thursday a true off day 0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:55.880 for recovery. Because remember early in the season, the Dodgers 0:19:55.960 --> 0:20:00.440 were lining up his starts on Wednesdays because they would 0:20:00.480 --> 0:20:03.960 have most Thursdays off like they are this week. So 0:20:04.080 --> 0:20:08.320 I see no reason to have Otani step in the 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:13.480 batter's box again in Houston in these next two games. 0:20:14.320 --> 0:20:17.400 Eight six six none to eight seven two five seventy 0:20:17.440 --> 0:20:22.080 is the phone number. And how about this Tomorrow, I'm 0:20:22.119 --> 0:20:25.720 playing Dalton Rushing at first base and Freddie Freeman's getting 0:20:25.760 --> 0:20:30.359 off his feet and dhing and he's doing it again 0:20:30.600 --> 0:20:35.680 on Wednesday, and then Freddie has Thursday off. Or I'm 0:20:35.880 --> 0:20:41.560 having Dalton Rushing catch Wednesday. Will Smith is my DH 0:20:41.600 --> 0:20:43.919 and Freddie Freeman is at first base. That's what I 0:20:43.920 --> 0:20:47.840 would do tomorrow. Freddy, you're the DH rushing, you're playing 0:20:47.920 --> 0:20:53.120 first base, Wednesday rushing, you're catching Will Smith, you're the DH, 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:56.120 or you're not playing at all. Eight six six none, 0:20:56.160 --> 0:20:58.719 eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. I 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:01.520 feel like I figured that out out for us all 0:21:01.600 --> 0:21:05.639 right here on Dodger Talk eight six six Night seven 0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:08.320 two five seventy, we're going to the bottom of the hour. 0:21:08.760 --> 0:21:11.080 I can solve other problems too, if you need me to, 0:21:11.560 --> 0:21:15.000 not just mine. I mean, I cannot solve my own problems. 0:21:15.320 --> 0:21:18.600 Let's go out to Danny and Claremont. You're on Dodger Talk. 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:19.520 How you doing, Danny? 0:21:21.280 --> 0:21:23.640 I'm doing great. Dave's my first time getting to talk 0:21:23.680 --> 0:21:26.439 to you this year. Thank you for giving me on. 0:21:26.520 --> 0:21:27.199 I appreciate it. 0:21:27.200 --> 0:21:29.720 Did they just put cell towers out there at Claremont? 0:21:29.800 --> 0:21:30.359 Is that why? 0:21:32.080 --> 0:21:32.359 Hey? 0:21:32.640 --> 0:21:36.159 Easy, Dave, we got more to talk about here. You 0:21:36.160 --> 0:21:38.480 don't want to hear it, hear you talking that way about? 0:21:40.240 --> 0:21:41.919 What do you think, Danny? Do you agree with me? 0:21:42.080 --> 0:21:45.679 O Tani should not step in the batter's box the 0:21:45.720 --> 0:21:48.200 next two games? If this is what we heard from 0:21:48.240 --> 0:21:49.400 Dave Roberts. 0:21:51.320 --> 0:21:55.199 Uh, Dave, I strongly agree with you. And when I 0:21:55.240 --> 0:21:57.399 first heard that they were talking about doing this with 0:21:57.560 --> 0:21:59.720 the show Hey, you know, I thought it was a 0:21:59.720 --> 0:22:03.440 great idea. You know, everything that that show Hey does 0:22:04.119 --> 0:22:08.320 is unprecedented territory for the team and for the player 0:22:09.000 --> 0:22:14.200 and taking off anything they can do to mitigate that risk. 0:22:14.720 --> 0:22:17.720 You know, especially if he's gonna be pitching like he 0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:20.200 is this year and pitching at such an exceptional level. 0:22:20.720 --> 0:22:22.320 You know, they're not gonna take him out of rotation. 0:22:22.400 --> 0:22:24.560 They want him, They want him pitching the way he is. 0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:28.520 They got it, They got it, you know, take the 0:22:28.560 --> 0:22:30.760 rest when they can, if that means him sitting down 0:22:30.880 --> 0:22:33.400 these days pitches the days after. Like you're like, you're 0:22:33.400 --> 0:22:36.200 suggesting now, you know, I'm all for it. If he's 0:22:36.200 --> 0:22:37.720 got to go thirty thirty this year and to the 0:22:37.760 --> 0:22:40.000 fifty to fifty, that's just what we gotta live with. 0:22:40.040 --> 0:22:40.240 Man. 0:22:40.720 --> 0:22:43.760 And Okay, here's another question for you, Danny, because this 0:22:43.960 --> 0:22:47.680 is going to be a question that comes up during 0:22:47.720 --> 0:22:51.080 the season. If he doesn't get it going offensively and 0:22:51.160 --> 0:22:53.800 he's all in with the pitching, Who do the Dodgers 0:22:53.840 --> 0:22:57.040 need more Otani the pitcher or Otani they hit her? 0:22:57.160 --> 0:23:00.320 I personally believe they need Otani, they hit her more 0:23:00.359 --> 0:23:01.840 than they need Otani the pitcher. 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:06.400 I think they need him both, Dave. I mean, even 0:23:06.400 --> 0:23:08.320 if you can't say he just won Picture of the 0:23:08.359 --> 0:23:11.600 Month and saw what he did at times last year 0:23:11.720 --> 0:23:13.800 in October as a pitcher. 0:23:14.520 --> 0:23:17.000 Uh, he's still a better hitter on both sides. 0:23:18.480 --> 0:23:21.160