1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 2: All right, it's the final game of the opening home 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 2: stand for the Dodgers as they close out this series 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: against the Guardians, and we're joined right now by thirty 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 2: year Major League umpire now working for the umpire and 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball as an umpire observer. That's the one 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: and only great Irish American, Brian Gorman. Brian, thanks a 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: lot for the time. Appreciate it. 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 3: I love being on your show. 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 2: Oh well, you're the right guy to have around Dodgers 11 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 2: Stadium these days. With this new ABS system. What has 12 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 2: been from your standpoint in the umpire standpoint, how has 13 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: it gone? 14 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 3: Well, this is new for everybody. 15 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: The guys I've talked to haven't been many, you know, 16 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: during spring training and the last series in this series. 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: Is that it's a little different. Parameters of the strike 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: zone are a little different because of the new ABS 19 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: system being based on the percentage of the player's height. 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: Now juicy, just the midpoint between the the arm pit 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: and the belt right now, it's the percentage of the height, 22 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: and the umpires don't know how tall each guy is, 23 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: so it's you know, fifty seven point five percent of 24 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: the player's height on the upper end, twenty five percent 25 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: on the lower end. So it's a little difficult. Plus 26 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: it's they used to have a little buffer from in 27 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: and out, like you know, the width of the plate. 28 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: Now it's just the straight seventeen inches. 29 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 3: So so the. 30 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: Strike zone has changed a little bit in that sense 31 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: that the parameters are a little different. That's why you're 32 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 1: seeing some uh, some challenges and pitches missing by zero 33 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: point three inches and things like that. But you know, 34 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: it's technology and you can you got to keep up 35 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: with it. 36 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: Before we get into all that. You know, the umpires, 37 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 2: you talk to them as they come through Dodger Stadium. 38 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: How are they handling all this? 39 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: Well, that was their biggest uh. I wouldn't say complain, 40 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: but that was their biggest worries that the parameters of 41 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: the strike zone have changed. 42 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 3: So they have to adapt to it. 43 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: Eventually they'll get there, but you know, it's it's it's 44 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: difficult to say, you know, fifty seven point five percent 45 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: of your high when you're looking at a guy. You 46 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: know that you have to be a math major figure 47 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: out what the top of the zone is. So so 48 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: that's going to be the adjustment. And you know, life 49 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: full of adjustments when it comes to umpire, and so 50 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: they'll I think they're doing pretty good when when you know, 51 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: there's like five to maybe seven challenges of the game, 52 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: and you get some of them right and some of 53 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: them are just missing by point two point three point one. 54 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: So I think, you know, eventually, you know, come July 55 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: there might be a little change, but who knows. 56 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 2: Brian Gorman, former Major league umpire, is our guest now 57 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: an umpire observer. This is the one point that we 58 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: talked about during the offseason that all of us have 59 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: not wrapped our head around completely. What is the strike 60 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: zone for Freddie Freeman compared to the strike zone for 61 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,679 Speaker 2: Mookie Betts. Is it as exact as they want to 62 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: make us believe. 63 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: Well, based on a player's height is where they're coming 64 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: from the top of zone, bottom of zone. The width 65 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: stays the same for everybody, it's seventeen inches, But the 66 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: taller player will have a high strike zone than the 67 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: shorter player. The strike zone is based on his actual swing, 68 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: so they've taken that into account. But a taller player 69 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: will have a taller strike zone, yes, or a player 70 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: will have a smaller strike zone. 71 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: For example, Freddy Freeman standing straight up, his height is 72 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 2: a lot different than what it is when he's in 73 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: the batter's. 74 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 3: Box, without question. 75 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: And then when these swings had a pitch, a lot 76 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: of guys crouch a little bit lower than other guys. 77 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: But you know they've come up with this percentage, and 78 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: you know they're going to go with it. 79 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, any chance that they tweak as the season goes on. 80 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: They don't like to tweak during the season because that 81 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: changes it as the season goes along. 82 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 3: I think most tweaking will be done in the offseason. 83 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: Okay, Brian Gorman is our guest. Now we've seen the 84 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: first weekend of results of percentages of success. Not surprising 85 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: catchers have had the highest success rate. Did that surprise 86 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: you anything surprise you from the first weekend of the season. 87 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: Not at all. 88 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: Like a home plate umpire almost has the same view 89 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: as the catcher. That's the best few you could possibly 90 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: have with a pitch coming in. Hitters probably have the 91 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: second best view, but they're looking at it from the 92 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: side view, so that's difficult to figure out the outer 93 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: and the upper and the inside pitch. Pitchers probably have 94 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: the worst one because as soon as they release it, 95 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: they think it's a strike. But that's why the success 96 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: rate for catchers have been the best out of the 97 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: three of them. And they're still wrong or right how 98 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: you do it fifty percent of the time. So I 99 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: heard the other fans said, you know, the umpire was 100 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: so horrible, we ran out of the challenges in the 101 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: third ending. I'm like, well, that doesn't make sense because 102 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: he got it right. So that's the reason. 103 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: Why you ran out of challenge. 104 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: Is that's the flip side as well. Right, this may 105 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: prove that umpires are really good at their job. 106 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: Look at the figures. When you see point three percent this, 107 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 1: I mean, nobody's that good. I can't tell the inside 108 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: of the baseball as it's coming at me at eighty 109 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: eight miles an hour, if it just nixed the inside 110 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: of the corner, you know, you'd have to be a 111 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: rocket scientist to figure that out. 112 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 2: Brian Gorman is our guest, former thirty year Major league 113 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: umpire and now an umpire observer. There was some controversy 114 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: in a Twins Orioles game over the weekend. How tough 115 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: is it for the home plate umpire to see the picture, 116 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: actually tap their hat if they're the ones. Because there's 117 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: so much going on. What is the kind of routine 118 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 2: now that every umpire has to keep an eye on 119 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: for the catcher and for the picture and for the 120 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 2: hitter to tap their hat to signal a challenge. 121 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, the guideline is to tap your hat, but also 122 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: give an audio will uh, you know. 123 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 3: I'm challenging it. 124 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 1: Picture's too far away so he can't you know, you 125 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: really can't hear him. But and then the picture kind 126 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 1: of fell up the mound a little bit, you know, 127 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: got his composure, then tapped his hat, So the picture 128 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: is probably the hardest one. You know, batter just easily 129 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: turns around, says you know, I'm challenging catchroll turn around 130 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: and he's right in front of you, so you'll see 131 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: him tap the hat. But they have to do it immediately. 132 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: Everybody's saying two to three seconds, so they have to 133 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: do it immediately after. If they don't do it immediately after, 134 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: you're not going to accept the challenge. They don't want 135 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: guys to looking to dug out and say challenge it. 136 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 1: That's all reason behind that. But pitchers probably the hardest 137 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: one because he's right at the end of his delivery, 138 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: he sees the call, then you kind of have to 139 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: give him a little time to get his composure to 140 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: have his hat, and. 141 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 2: The Dodgers have a team game plan to not allow 142 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: their pictures to challenge. It's all on the catchers, specifically 143 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: Will Smith, who's in there more than not for some 144 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 2: of these reasons. Before I let you go, you're a 145 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,239 Speaker 2: fan of the game, you're a former Major League umpire. 146 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: You've seen the way crowds here at Dodgers Stadium on 147 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 2: this first homestand have reacted to seeing the pitch coming 148 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: in and whether or not it hits the strike zone. 149 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: What has been your reaction to the way fans react. 150 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of interesting because it really adds 151 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: a whole nother lay of strategy involved. I mean, fans 152 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: are gonna get met at the players for challenging, and 153 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: then then they get met at players. 154 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: For not challenging. 155 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: So you know, if you have a situation and the 156 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: first thing nobody on too outs and somebody challenges and 157 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: loses it, you're gonna boom. I mean, you're not gonna 158 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: watch that challenge would be lost because you might need it. 159 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: The seventh any when you know, got a guy on 160 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: second and third and one out. So so it's a 161 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: whole another layer of strategy. And I've already seen you know, 162 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: plans go I can't believe he did he didn't challenge it, 163 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: or I can't believe he did challenge that one. 164 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 3: So it's it's kind of fun in the sense that 165 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 3: there's more strategy, no doubt. 166 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 2: Hey, we're in the Tommy Lasorta part of the press box. 167 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: I love hearing your stories about different managers. Do you 168 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: have one story that sticks out about Tommy Lasorta. While 169 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: you were umpiring, he was one of. 170 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 3: My first ejections. 171 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: He Uh, I was working the plate and uh, he 172 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: did like a few pitches I called, and he looked. 173 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: I looked over to him and he, you know, he 174 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: held up two, and then, you know, a couple of 175 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: pitches later, I looked over, he holds up three, like 176 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: that how many he thinks I missed? 177 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 3: So, you know, I ejected him. 178 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: And then after the game, reading in the paper the 179 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: other day, he said something like, oh, I really liked 180 00:07:58,840 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: his dad. 181 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 3: I'm not too crazy about his son. Belt. 182 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 2: I wonder how Tommy Lasorda would react to the abs Oh. 183 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: He wouldn't He would be having headaches, would he be 184 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: pounding his head so much? 185 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: Brian, thanks a lot for giving us some much needed 186 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: insight on how this is working out with the ABS 187 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 2: the first week of the opening series, and look forward 188 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: to seeing you all season long. So thank you for 189 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: the time being. I like you more than your dad 190 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: or just as much. 191 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: Thank you very much.