WEBVTT - Spring Training Dodger Talk (2-27-26) 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:03.720 The quest for the three peat has begun. Only four 0:00:03.760 --> 0:00:08.520 teams in Major League Baseball history have won three consecutive titles. 0:00:08.960 --> 0:00:12.320 The Dodgers are the favorites to become the fifth. 0:00:12.320 --> 0:00:14.800 Fith a Spring training Dodger. 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:15.840 Talk, here we go again. 0:00:15.880 --> 0:00:19.840 We'rega running Back hosted by Dodgers at Cider David Basset. 0:00:19.880 --> 0:00:22.239 How three peat in New Mexican in on the. 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:25.640 Show called eight six six nine eighty seven two five seven, 0:00:25.760 --> 0:00:28.440 And be sure to follow Dodger Talk wherever you catch 0:00:28.480 --> 0:00:32.040 your podcasts. Here's your host, David Basse. 0:00:34.200 --> 0:00:37.559 Welcome to Dodger Talk. David Vasse with you until eight 0:00:37.560 --> 0:00:40.440 o'clock tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports. 0:00:40.479 --> 0:00:45.520 And we're coming to you from Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, 0:00:45.640 --> 0:00:49.400 the home of the San Francisco Giants. And of course, 0:00:49.520 --> 0:00:54.040 the Dodgers lose their first Spring training game too, the Giants, 0:00:54.560 --> 0:00:57.440 twelve to four, the final score. The Dodgers have been 0:00:57.520 --> 0:01:00.600 rolling to this point. The majority of these games had 0:01:00.640 --> 0:01:05.319 been without their regular lineup, and today there were not 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:09.679 many regulars in this lineup for the Dodgers. There is 0:01:09.720 --> 0:01:13.640 not one player that the Dodgers started in today's game 0:01:14.240 --> 0:01:17.600 that will be in their opening day lineup unless something 0:01:17.720 --> 0:01:26.280 catastrophic happens. Alex Frielan Santiago, Espinal Dalton Rushing, Nick Senzel. 0:01:26.959 --> 0:01:29.839 Stop me if you've heard of these guys, Ryan Ward, 0:01:29.880 --> 0:01:33.120 I know Tim never was really excited. Ryan Ward was 0:01:33.120 --> 0:01:36.319 in the starting lineup today for the simulcast, So not 0:01:36.400 --> 0:01:38.600 putting a lot of stock in this game. In fact, 0:01:38.959 --> 0:01:42.319 the only thing that mattered in this game today was 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:47.000 Yoshi Yamamoto pitching three easonings, not walking a single batter 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:50.480 while he was in there, and recorded four strikeouts before 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:55.080 leaving for Tokyo to join Team Japan in the World 0:01:55.120 --> 0:01:58.200 Baseball Classics. So we'll get to that in a moment. Also, 0:01:58.760 --> 0:02:02.240 i'll fill you in on the photos that are circulating 0:02:02.440 --> 0:02:08.480 on Reddit of Mookie Betts holding sense YadA on his shoulders. 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:10.520 We'll get to that in a moment. But coming up 0:02:10.919 --> 0:02:14.520 in fifteen minutes, you'll hear my one on one conversation 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:19.480 with three time World Series manager Dave Roberts coming off 0:02:19.560 --> 0:02:24.680 back to back championships to finally get your validation. It 0:02:24.720 --> 0:02:28.120 only took back to back World Series championships for you 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:31.440 to appreciate Dave Roberts. So we'll get to Dave coming 0:02:31.520 --> 0:02:35.320 up in fifteen minutes, and then the centerpiece of our show. 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:40.320 I am thrilled to be reunited with my guy, America's 0:02:40.440 --> 0:02:44.520 DH JD. Martinez, who is coming up at the bottom 0:02:44.600 --> 0:02:48.840 of the hour. JD. Martinez spent just one season with 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:52.480 the Dodgers, but it was a great season, a productive 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:57.120 season for him, thirty three home runs, one hundred RBIs, 0:02:57.200 --> 0:03:02.000 and was part of franchise record setting quartet that drove 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:06.359 in one hundred runs in the same season. JD. Martinez, 0:03:06.480 --> 0:03:10.240 Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Max Munsey all drove in 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:13.640 one hundred runs back in twenty twenty three, the year 0:03:13.760 --> 0:03:19.040 before Otani. So in some ways JD. Martinez got wally 0:03:19.120 --> 0:03:23.120 pipped by show Hey Otani because if the Dodgers strike 0:03:23.200 --> 0:03:27.840 out on signing Otani, JD. Martinez is probably back for 0:03:27.919 --> 0:03:30.840 a second year with the Dodgers. But instead it was 0:03:30.919 --> 0:03:35.080 Otani who transformed the franchise and the landscape of baseball 0:03:35.560 --> 0:03:38.400 by signing the contract that he did. And here he 0:03:38.560 --> 0:03:41.360 is two for two as far as championships go. But 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:44.960 we're gonna rewind it with JD. Martinez we'll fill you 0:03:45.000 --> 0:03:47.480 in on what he's doing with his life right now. 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:51.120 You know, Andre Ethier the other day at Camelback Ranch, 0:03:51.520 --> 0:03:54.720 instead of just saying goodbye, great seeing you, Dave, he 0:03:54.840 --> 0:03:57.880 told me good luck with your life. That's the way 0:03:57.920 --> 0:04:01.200 he said goodbye to me. So we'll see JD. Martinez 0:04:01.640 --> 0:04:05.040 is having luck with his life and will find out 0:04:05.120 --> 0:04:07.880 just how much he did help Mooki Betts last year 0:04:07.960 --> 0:04:11.680 because JD and Mooki connected when the team was in Tampa. 0:04:12.120 --> 0:04:17.040 That seemed to change Mooki season to a place where 0:04:17.160 --> 0:04:20.520 it hadn't been all season long and into the postseason. 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:24.640 So looking forward to JD. Martinez joining us in the 0:04:24.680 --> 0:04:28.200 next segment. Now today, Yamamoto pitched three things like I 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:31.080 mentioned in a twelve to four loss. After he came 0:04:31.120 --> 0:04:34.520 out of the game, things really went sideways on the 0:04:34.560 --> 0:04:37.279 rest of the pitchers that came in, and really no 0:04:37.360 --> 0:04:40.040 one of significance that you would know of other than 0:04:40.080 --> 0:04:43.520 Aguado Enriquez, who did not pitch that great in relief. 0:04:43.600 --> 0:04:48.520 But Yamamoto more importantly pitched really well, came out of 0:04:48.560 --> 0:04:52.120 it healthy, and says he's in a good spot physically 0:04:52.320 --> 0:04:56.159 and mentally as he travels to Tokyo. Yes, right now, 0:04:56.200 --> 0:05:00.200 he is traveling to Tokyo, Japan to join the World 0:05:00.200 --> 0:05:05.120 Baseball Classic team. He's scheduled to land in Tokyo tomorrow 0:05:05.320 --> 0:05:10.560 at five am. So the Dodgers, he acknowledged, and himself 0:05:10.680 --> 0:05:15.080 have had conversations about what the guardrails should look like 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:18.159 and what he should be keeping in mind during the 0:05:18.160 --> 0:05:23.000 World Baseball Classic. But as Andrew Friedman told us last week, 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.839 it's going to be hard to contain the adrenaline that 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:30.320 is going to be pumping in these World Baseball Classic games, 0:05:30.440 --> 0:05:34.640 especially as they come out of the first pool. And look, 0:05:34.760 --> 0:05:38.000 Japan's playing Taiwan in the first game, and we're hearing 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:40.479 Yamamoto is going to pitch that first game. So I 0:05:40.520 --> 0:05:45.080 would I would hope Team Japan's manager would just allow 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:49.360 Yamamoto to go four innings in that first start. I mean, 0:05:50.000 --> 0:05:53.160 I feel like Japan should be able to handle Taiwan 0:05:53.279 --> 0:05:57.400 without pushing Yamamoto to the limits. So that's where it 0:05:57.480 --> 0:06:01.080 stands with Yamamoto. And as far as photos that are 0:06:01.080 --> 0:06:05.760 circulating on Reddit, a fan took a picture as Mooki 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:11.239 Vets had sense YadA, Yamamoto's trainer on his shoulders doing 0:06:11.320 --> 0:06:16.400 some sense YadA exercises right beyond the old Mary's pit, 0:06:17.520 --> 0:06:22.159 in between the weight room, clubhouse and the batting cage facility. 0:06:22.720 --> 0:06:25.359 I asked Moki about it today, and you know, he 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:28.920 didn't give me too many details. He basically said, it's 0:06:29.320 --> 0:06:32.279 pretty much too complicated to explain to me what the 0:06:32.320 --> 0:06:35.480 purpose of that was. So, I mean, obviously, Muki has 0:06:35.520 --> 0:06:37.280 known me for a few years, so he knows I'm 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:40.080 not that bright. So I don't think I could process 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:43.480 sense YadA on his shoulders and how that's going to help. 0:06:43.839 --> 0:06:48.359 But not only was Muki photographed with sense YadA on 0:06:48.440 --> 0:06:52.599 his shoulders the other day, but he also was throwing 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:58.000 Yamamoto's javelins, the javelin routine that Yamamoto has had going 0:06:58.040 --> 0:07:00.800 back to Japan in between starts and what he has 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:04.159 brought over in between starts here with the Dodgers. So 0:07:05.839 --> 0:07:09.320 Mookie basically is trying to find any way to get better. 0:07:09.400 --> 0:07:12.400 I think it's a positive that he's curious enough to 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:17.320 see a guy as far as stature goes same in stature, 0:07:17.360 --> 0:07:20.720 give or take an inch or two, and the demands 0:07:20.760 --> 0:07:26.040 of playing shortstop, how to increase the strength and flexibility 0:07:26.160 --> 0:07:28.600 of his lower half. And what he did tell me 0:07:29.160 --> 0:07:32.240 is what that comes down to his core and lower half, 0:07:32.640 --> 0:07:35.640 how to be able to be more connected to the ground. 0:07:35.840 --> 0:07:38.560 And look, even if he can get one percent better, 0:07:39.080 --> 0:07:41.000 I think you have to give him credit that he's 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:45.160 interested enough to try to learn something new and see 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:47.560 how it works for him. He said he's going to 0:07:47.560 --> 0:07:50.360 continue to throw the javelins before he goes out there 0:07:50.360 --> 0:07:53.000 for infield work. He obviously is not going to be 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:56.320 able to put sense YadA on his shoulders tomorrow because 0:07:56.720 --> 0:08:00.680 since YadA will be leaving tomorrow to join Ya in 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:05.480 the World Baseball Classics. So that's somewhat of the story 0:08:05.560 --> 0:08:07.640 behind the photos that you may or may not have 0:08:07.720 --> 0:08:10.840 seen on Reddit. I had heard about this. Will Smith 0:08:10.880 --> 0:08:15.120 actually asked Yamamoto's translator Hero a couple of days ago 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:18.000 while I was sitting there and asked him like, what 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:22.040 was that all about? And Hero didn't have many answers either. 0:08:22.480 --> 0:08:25.880 So maybe as the spring goes along, Mooki will open 0:08:25.960 --> 0:08:29.440 up more about what exactly is the goal of all that. 0:08:29.560 --> 0:08:32.760 But basically what it is is to be more connected 0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:36.079 to the ground, help him be a better shortstop, because 0:08:36.080 --> 0:08:38.480 we all have heard him say his goal is to 0:08:38.520 --> 0:08:41.439 win the goal Glove this year. And Muki has come 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:45.719 into camp bigger and stronger than he was a year 0:08:45.760 --> 0:08:50.400 ago at this time, and I am seeing resemblances to 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:54.319 the spring of twenty twenty, his first with the Dodgers, 0:08:54.360 --> 0:08:57.440 getting to the facility on a day to day basis, early, 0:08:57.920 --> 0:09:00.760 getting out there to do some work before the team meeting, 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:04.040 and then going back out for more work. And look, 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:08.320 he has four World Series rings. I'm sure you know 0:09:08.400 --> 0:09:11.680 you heard Kobe always talk about chasing Shaq and Jordan. 0:09:12.320 --> 0:09:14.719 I'm sure Mookie Bets would love to have as many 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:18.679 World Series rings as Derek Jeter. Eight six six nine 0:09:18.760 --> 0:09:21.880 eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. David 0:09:21.960 --> 0:09:27.400 vassay with you from Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dodger Talk. 0:09:27.840 --> 0:09:31.160 I'm not gonna have too many opportunities for phone calls tonight. 0:09:31.240 --> 0:09:34.880 It's a pretty interview heavy show tonight, so we won't 0:09:35.040 --> 0:09:36.800 be able to get to too many calls. But you 0:09:36.840 --> 0:09:41.120 can send me a tweet at the Real Underscore dv now. 0:09:41.280 --> 0:09:45.640 Earlier today, the reporters asked Dave Roberts about Blake Snell 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:48.640 and where he's at and somebody asked whether or not 0:09:48.920 --> 0:09:52.440 he's ruled out for Opening Day, that may be the 0:09:52.480 --> 0:09:56.960 most obvious answer in spring training, and the obvious answer 0:09:57.200 --> 0:09:59.760 is no, How is he going to be ready for 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:03.000 opening Day when he just started throwing off flat round 0:10:03.040 --> 0:10:06.000 when he got to spring training. He hasn't even thrown 0:10:06.040 --> 0:10:09.160 off a bullpen mound. He's the two time Cy Young 0:10:09.160 --> 0:10:13.960 Award winner and the Dodgers need him. And in this culture, 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:18.040 with those players that are trying to threepeat, there's a 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:22.080 lot of accountability between each other and if you're behind, 0:10:22.920 --> 0:10:25.320 guys are gonna look at you sideways, no matter what 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:28.840 the reason is. And look Snell's throwing. He told me 0:10:28.840 --> 0:10:32.120 his shoulders feeling fine right now. But basically he's at 0:10:32.120 --> 0:10:36.160 the point where a pitcher should be in December. So 0:10:37.320 --> 0:10:40.280 we'll find out how spring goes along, how all of 0:10:40.280 --> 0:10:43.280 that's going. But really the biggest test for Snell, the 0:10:43.320 --> 0:10:46.440 next big, big test, is not throwing one hundred and 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:49.720 twenty feet off a flat round, but actually getting on 0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:53.440 the mound and throwing a bullpen session. That's when the 0:10:53.480 --> 0:10:56.600 Dodgers will have a greater idea about where he's at. 0:10:56.880 --> 0:11:00.360 And I have maintained over under on Snell pitch in 0:11:00.400 --> 0:11:04.080 a game this year is single demio And basically the 0:11:04.120 --> 0:11:08.040 Dodgers signed Blake Snell to be ready in the second 0:11:08.120 --> 0:11:11.920 half of seasons and be ready for the postseason the 0:11:11.920 --> 0:11:15.600 way he delivered last year, no secrets about it. When 0:11:15.600 --> 0:11:18.439 he does pitch a full season, he's the best left 0:11:18.440 --> 0:11:23.520 hander in the game. That's evidence by him winning evident 0:11:23.600 --> 0:11:27.480 by him winning two Cy Young Awards. But that's been 0:11:27.520 --> 0:11:30.800 the challenge. He's a twenty star pitcher. But what the 0:11:30.840 --> 0:11:33.800 Dodgers have lacked in years past is having that guy 0:11:34.360 --> 0:11:37.440 that can carry them through October and pitch that way 0:11:37.520 --> 0:11:41.000 and be healthy. Well, they got two now, Yamamoto and 0:11:41.080 --> 0:11:44.199 Blake Snell, who were the big one to two starting 0:11:44.240 --> 0:11:47.640 combination for the Dodgers against the Phillies and Brewers. And 0:11:48.000 --> 0:11:53.000 obviously what Yamamoto did in Toronto is legendary stuff. All right. 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:56.760 When we continue from Scottsdale Stadium, we will hear from 0:11:56.800 --> 0:12:01.640 the skipper, Dave Roberts, entering his eleventh season as the manager. 0:12:02.000 --> 0:12:05.120 He has been to five World Series. He has won three, 0:12:05.280 --> 0:12:10.079 including back to back championships. Dave Roberts is coming up next. JD. 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:13.360 Martinez at the bottom of the hour right here on 0:12:13.440 --> 0:12:17.800 AM five to seventy LA Sports. AM five seventy LA Sports, 0:12:18.120 --> 0:12:21.199 and we're joined right now by the leader of this team, 0:12:21.280 --> 0:12:24.560 a man that is entering his eleventh season as the 0:12:24.640 --> 0:12:28.400 Dodger manager. And there's only one other Dodger manager that 0:12:28.440 --> 0:12:32.160 has won more World Championships than Dave Roberts, and that 0:12:32.360 --> 0:12:35.880 is the Hall of Famer Walter Alston. Dave, thanks a 0:12:35.880 --> 0:12:37.960 lot for the time, and hard to believe this is 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:39.400 your eleventh spring training. 0:12:39.960 --> 0:12:43.200 Yeah, Dave, it's hard when you put it that way, 0:12:43.240 --> 0:12:45.800 and it's flown by, and there's been a lot of 0:12:46.200 --> 0:12:49.640 great memories, moments, and I think the fun part about, 0:12:49.760 --> 0:12:51.720 you know, my job in this spring is I just 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:55.880 have I my coaches, the players have as much enthusiasm 0:12:56.400 --> 0:12:59.600 about showing up to work each day, and that's you know, 0:12:59.800 --> 0:13:04.320 an accomplishment, you know, for everyone, and so something to 0:13:04.320 --> 0:13:07.240 be really proud of. And yeah, twenty twenty five was great, 0:13:07.280 --> 0:13:10.640 the years prior great, but you know, I'm really excited. 0:13:10.679 --> 0:13:12.720 I would almost say that I'm more excited about twenty 0:13:12.760 --> 0:13:15.440 six than in a year I've been with the Dodgers. 0:13:15.520 --> 0:13:18.800 Yeah, it feels like this group and yourself are still 0:13:19.000 --> 0:13:21.400 very hungry after back to back championships. 0:13:21.480 --> 0:13:22.920 Yeah, we are, and I think that, you know, a 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:25.480 lot of people ask me, you know, what's a message 0:13:25.480 --> 0:13:27.320 for a team that's won two in a row, three 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:28.960 in the last six years, And I think for me, 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:32.920 it's just continuing to, you know, practice the right way 0:13:32.920 --> 0:13:36.560 of the process and play hard and try to make 0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:39.720 everything we do matter. And so for me as a coach, 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:42.200 when I do stand back and I watch us workout 0:13:42.240 --> 0:13:45.280 and the intent behind everything we do, it's buttoned up 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:47.360 and that's something that's pretty exciting for all of us. 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:50.679 Dave, I talked to Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts about this. 0:13:51.240 --> 0:13:55.240 You guys have never shied away from expectations, not from 0:13:55.280 --> 0:13:58.720 the outside but amongst each other. And when I said 0:13:58.800 --> 0:14:01.360 three pete, they said, you can say that as loud 0:14:01.400 --> 0:14:04.240 as you want, because that's what we want. Yeah. 0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:07.240 I agree, And I think that when you're I guess, 0:14:07.280 --> 0:14:11.200 when you are secure in you know your team, who 0:14:11.280 --> 0:14:15.520 you are individually, you're not afraid to run from expectations 0:14:15.559 --> 0:14:18.640 because our own expectations should be higher than what anyone 0:14:18.679 --> 0:14:21.720 else could expect. So yeah, but I think Dave is 0:14:21.760 --> 0:14:23.800 that we do a good job of understanding what is 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:27.600 at stake, but also the most important part of it 0:14:27.640 --> 0:14:30.080 is to kind of focus on the work each day. 0:14:30.280 --> 0:14:32.320 And you know, like I said many times, you're not 0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:34.760 going to win a World Series in February. You're not 0:14:34.800 --> 0:14:38.360 going to win a three peet in February. Your goal 0:14:38.440 --> 0:14:39.880 is to get better each day. And I think our 0:14:39.920 --> 0:14:42.080 guys do as good a job as anyone as you know, 0:14:42.120 --> 0:14:44.400 putting on those blinders and folks on each day. 0:14:44.640 --> 0:14:47.520 You always do everything with a purpose to connect to 0:14:47.600 --> 0:14:51.680 each individual and to connect to the group. You mentioned 0:14:51.680 --> 0:14:55.160 to us at FanFest that you played at the Holy 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:59.080 Grail Augusta during the offseason, but you also brought Freddie 0:14:59.120 --> 0:15:02.880 Freeman and move Cooky Betts. What was that experience like 0:15:03.000 --> 0:15:06.280 for yourself and to have two of your best players 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:06.920 come with you. 0:15:07.120 --> 0:15:11.480 It was actually Will Smith and Mookie and it was great. 0:15:11.680 --> 0:15:13.720 And I think for me it's they love the game 0:15:13.720 --> 0:15:15.760 of golf, and you know, we've been in a lot 0:15:15.800 --> 0:15:18.640 of big games together, and I think for me it 0:15:18.720 --> 0:15:22.200 was more of trying to continue to build that relationship 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.320 off the field and build that trust. And I got 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:27.360 it with those guys as well. As and you mentioned 0:15:27.360 --> 0:15:29.920 Freddy and so it's also you know, we spend so 0:15:29.960 --> 0:15:32.800 much time together on the field, but building relationships away 0:15:32.840 --> 0:15:35.240 from the field just makes it that much stronger. And 0:15:35.280 --> 0:15:37.040 it was a memory that I know all three of 0:15:37.080 --> 0:15:37.920 us remember forever. 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:41.280 Yeah, not too many managers have that type of relationship 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:44.560 to do something like that when you take them out, 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:48.280 even to a special golf course like that. Do you 0:15:48.400 --> 0:15:50.920 do that with a purpose to maybe get the temperature, 0:15:51.000 --> 0:15:53.720 maybe start to get the message for the season going. 0:15:53.840 --> 0:15:56.000 When you're you know, waiting for your turn or you're 0:15:56.000 --> 0:15:57.080 standing around. 0:15:57.240 --> 0:16:02.040 You know what, it's funny not really pointed conversations about 0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:04.600 you know what we're trying to do, what we've done. 0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:07.960 It's more of you know, talking about golf. But I 0:16:07.960 --> 0:16:10.160 think it's really getting to know each other away from 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:12.960 the ball field. And I think, you know, the more 0:16:13.160 --> 0:16:15.680 you spend time with people, you get to kind of 0:16:15.840 --> 0:16:21.040 learn what they value as people, and our interests are 0:16:21.040 --> 0:16:23.160 are the way we kind of live our lives and 0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:27.080 the things we value are aligned, and that just bleeds 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:29.320 onto the baseball field. So it doesn't have to be 0:16:29.400 --> 0:16:33.600 something that we have to manufacture conversations about what we 0:16:33.720 --> 0:16:36.560 need to do, and so I think that's really powerful 0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:37.160 in itself. 0:16:37.400 --> 0:16:40.240 All Right, So I'm gonna say something here that I 0:16:40.240 --> 0:16:43.440 feel is somewhat true. Show Aotani obviously doesn't speak a 0:16:43.440 --> 0:16:47.160 lot publicly, but neither does Will Smith. The guy hits 0:16:47.240 --> 0:16:49.840 the go ahead home run to clinch the World Series 0:16:49.880 --> 0:16:52.760 in Game seven, we don't hear a lot from him. 0:16:53.360 --> 0:16:56.840 What have you learned about Will Smith that we may 0:16:56.880 --> 0:16:59.960 not know to allow him to be one of, if 0:17:00.120 --> 0:17:03.000 not the most clutch players in baseball? 0:17:04.240 --> 0:17:08.520 You know, have what is a public the people not know? 0:17:09.680 --> 0:17:13.000 He's an open book. He really is. He's very simple 0:17:13.040 --> 0:17:19.399 in his preparation. I think he's a very confident player, 0:17:19.440 --> 0:17:22.680 but a humble player, smart player. I think the main 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:26.800 thing with Will why he has success in big moments 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:30.719 is because he plays for the right reasons, you know, 0:17:30.800 --> 0:17:33.240 in the biggest of moments. He's a guy that can 0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:35.680 hit a groundball to move a guy to third base. 0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:37.359 He's a guy that can take a walk in a 0:17:37.400 --> 0:17:41.239 big spot or hit a home run. And Will is 0:17:41.520 --> 0:17:44.280 as good of a team player as I've ever been around. 0:17:44.280 --> 0:17:48.720 He's a very unselfish player. Doesn't answer your question because honestly, 0:17:49.600 --> 0:17:51.200 what you see is what you get. And I think 0:17:51.240 --> 0:17:54.240 for me is I like dependable players, and he's as 0:17:54.240 --> 0:17:55.520 dependable as I've been around. 0:17:55.600 --> 0:17:58.120 How much do we not appreciate the fact this guy 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:02.040 was playing with a broken hand for the majority of 0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:05.000 the postseason and all of a sudden started to get 0:18:05.000 --> 0:18:08.040 the power. His first extra base hit of the postseason 0:18:08.160 --> 0:18:11.560 came in Game one of the World Series. Is he 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:15.560 one of your toughest guys? And does that go unnoticed 0:18:15.600 --> 0:18:18.560 by the outside, you know, fandom. 0:18:18.600 --> 0:18:21.440 Well, I think the catching position is a servant position. 0:18:21.560 --> 0:18:25.359 It certainly gets a notice anyway. You know what he's 0:18:25.400 --> 0:18:28.480 done for the pitching staff. I thought he the way 0:18:28.520 --> 0:18:32.119 he navigated the pitching staff this year and the postseason 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:34.520 was as good of a job behind the plate as 0:18:34.560 --> 0:18:37.720 I've seen. And yeah, you know, starting the postseason we 0:18:37.760 --> 0:18:40.480 had Ben rart Vett catching games to start, certainly in 0:18:40.480 --> 0:18:43.520 that Philly series and for Will to come back off 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:47.280 the bench to kind of get his hand back to 0:18:47.320 --> 0:18:49.560 full strength. He had a big hit in Philly, a 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:51.439 lot of big hits, and then then to you know, 0:18:51.560 --> 0:18:54.040 look out into the World Series. Catch eighteen innings and 0:18:54.080 --> 0:18:58.520 catch every inning of the World Series is pretty remarkable. 0:18:58.600 --> 0:19:02.359 And he's never a self promoter, never looking for credit, 0:19:02.880 --> 0:19:05.000 and he just wants to play to win. So he's 0:19:05.000 --> 0:19:07.280 certainly under the radar. But I do know that in 0:19:07.320 --> 0:19:10.920 this clubhouse, guys, you could argue that he's the most 0:19:11.000 --> 0:19:13.159 valuable player we have if you kind of bake in 0:19:13.600 --> 0:19:14.920 the offense and the defense. 0:19:15.160 --> 0:19:18.000 Before I let Dave Robert Scoe. He's doing a lot 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:23.000 of things at once, all the time managing his relationships 0:19:23.040 --> 0:19:26.320 with Andrew Freeman, the players, and the fans, and also 0:19:26.400 --> 0:19:31.840 the Dodger Foundation. When you look back at these previous 0:19:31.920 --> 0:19:35.679 ten years and you look forward Freddie Freeman keeps talking 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:38.960 about four more years, how much would you love to 0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:41.720 ride out the next four years with Freddie? And have 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:44.240 the previous ten been everything you thought they would be? 0:19:46.040 --> 0:19:49.360 The previous ten have been everything and more than I 0:19:49.440 --> 0:19:53.600 thought hoped you would be. I do think that it's 0:19:53.640 --> 0:19:56.320 only going to get better because of the relationships that 0:19:56.400 --> 0:20:02.400 we forge are strengthened. Excited for Freddie to play four 0:20:02.440 --> 0:20:05.520 more years, and Lord willing it is with the Dodgers. 0:20:06.320 --> 0:20:08.840 For me, I know I've got four years left on 0:20:08.880 --> 0:20:12.600 my contract. I think that you know, I'm having as 0:20:12.640 --> 0:20:15.320 much fun as I've ever had, so we'll see, you know, 0:20:15.400 --> 0:20:17.639 once this one ends and we win a couple more championships, 0:20:17.640 --> 0:20:18.720 a few more championships. 0:20:18.760 --> 0:20:20.000 How addicting is winning? 0:20:20.760 --> 0:20:23.320 It's you know, once you get a taste of it, 0:20:23.440 --> 0:20:27.040 you know it is. I think addiction is the right word. 0:20:27.520 --> 0:20:30.480 And obsession, and you know, but I think the thing, Dave, 0:20:30.600 --> 0:20:36.520 is that winning is an addiction and obsession. But the practice, 0:20:36.640 --> 0:20:40.280 the love for it, the process, that's what the great 0:20:40.320 --> 0:20:44.560 ones have an addiction to. And our guys, two of men, 0:20:44.680 --> 0:20:49.439 are addicted to getting continuing to get better as ballplayers. 0:20:48.840 --> 0:20:52.600 And it starts with the skipper, Dave Roberts. Everybody in 0:20:52.640 --> 0:20:56.040 that clubhouse admires the way you lead this team. The 0:20:56.080 --> 0:20:58.679 people behind the scenes feel the same way. And I 0:20:58.680 --> 0:21:01.720 think I speak for everybody in it. Dave Roberts is 0:21:01.720 --> 0:21:04.840 certainly the right man for the right time in Dodger history. 0:21:05.080 --> 0:21:07.840 Well, I'm in great company, a lot of good players, 0:21:08.200 --> 0:21:10.760 great organizations run by a lot of great people, and 0:21:11.160 --> 0:21:14.360 our fan base. Dave, you know, there's nothing like Dodger Nation. 0:21:14.440 --> 0:21:17.080 There really isn't. There's a reason why players want to 0:21:17.119 --> 0:21:20.119 come here and play for the Dodgers, the boys in Blues. 0:21:20.160 --> 0:21:22.640 So we're going to wrap up spring training where we're 0:21:22.640 --> 0:21:25.080 off to a good start, and I just can't wait 0:21:25.119 --> 0:21:28.159 for our fan base to, you know, welcome us when 0:21:28.200 --> 0:21:30.399 we get ready to start the regular season. 0:21:30.640 --> 0:21:32.560 Thanks for the time, Dave really appreciated. 0:21:32.680 --> 0:21:33.240 You got it, Dave. 0:21:33.440 --> 0:21:37.560 There he goes Dodger manager Dave Roberts, ready for all 0:21:37.640 --> 0:21:42.240 the expectations that he and his players are not shying 0:21:42.280 --> 0:21:45.560 away from a chance to make history to three peat. 0:21:45.840 --> 0:21:48.840 There's only been one team in my lifetime that has 0:21:48.920 --> 0:21:52.520 won three straight World Series championships. That was the Yankees, 0:21:52.560 --> 0:21:54.920 and I think only Bill Plunkin and Steve Brenner were 0:21:54.960 --> 0:21:58.000 alive when the A's three peted in the mid seventies. 0:21:58.080 --> 0:22:00.480 Rick Monday too. So there's a a lot of you 0:22:00.560 --> 0:22:04.280 that have never seen a Dodger team, or any major 0:22:04.359 --> 0:22:08.560 league team three pat So this is their opportunity. They're 0:22:08.600 --> 0:22:12.119 not shying away from it. When we continue on Dodger 0:22:12.200 --> 0:22:17.920 Talk from Scottsdale Stadium, America's dh JD. Martinez is going 0:22:17.960 --> 0:22:20.600 to join us next right here on AM five to 0:22:20.640 --> 0:22:25.080 seventy LA Sports, NAM five to seventy LA Sports, and 0:22:25.119 --> 0:22:28.160 I am really excited to have our next guest join 0:22:28.280 --> 0:22:31.000 us for the first time over the phone for the 0:22:31.040 --> 0:22:35.280 first time technically on Dodger Talk. He was a recurring 0:22:35.359 --> 0:22:40.160 guest on the pregame show. He only spent one year 0:22:40.240 --> 0:22:44.200 with the Dodgers, but it was a fantastic year. He 0:22:44.359 --> 0:22:48.760 was part of the first quartet in Dodger history to 0:22:48.920 --> 0:22:52.080 drive in one hundred runs in the same season. That 0:22:52.280 --> 0:22:55.520 was back in twenty twenty three when he hit thirty 0:22:55.600 --> 0:22:59.240 three home runs and drove in one hundred and three 0:22:59.359 --> 0:23:02.840 runs for the Dodgers. And we had a special handshake. 0:23:03.000 --> 0:23:06.520 We connected over me breaking my wrist on the Milwaukee 0:23:06.600 --> 0:23:09.960 slide in spring training and from that point on, the 0:23:10.040 --> 0:23:13.879