WEBVTT - Spring Training Dodger Talk (2-17-26) 0:00:00.560 --> 0:00:02.880 The quest for the three peat has begun. 0:00:03.080 --> 0:00:06.960 Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won 0:00:07.000 --> 0:00:11.440 three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become 0:00:11.760 --> 0:00:12.680 the fifth. 0:00:12.360 --> 0:00:14.800 Face a spring training Dodger Talk. 0:00:15.120 --> 0:00:17.000 Here we go again. We're here, we runner. 0:00:16.760 --> 0:00:21.079 Back, hosted by Dodger saint signer David Bassi. Threepeat in 0:00:21.160 --> 0:00:23.800 the Mexican in on the show called eight six six, 0:00:23.920 --> 0:00:26.520 not eighty seven two five seven, and be sure to 0:00:26.600 --> 0:00:30.720 follow Dodger Talk wherever you catch your podcasts. Here's your host, 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:32.280 David Basset. 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:39.440 We are live night two at Camelback Ranching, Glendale, Arizona. 0:00:39.479 --> 0:00:43.320 Thank you for joining us for another great Dodger Talk 0:00:43.400 --> 0:00:46.000 show we have planned for you. Coming up at the 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:50.920 bottom of the hour, Max Monsey will join us after 0:00:51.400 --> 0:00:54.640 signing a two year extension. We'll hear from Muncie, who 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:59.640 is now the longest active tenured Dodger on this squad 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:03.640 after so many guys have departed that have meant a 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:06.880 lot to this team for you know, whether it's signing 0:01:06.959 --> 0:01:11.399 elsewhere or retiring like Kershaw. I know keyk Hernandez is back, 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:14.840 but remember he had a little interruption going to the 0:01:14.840 --> 0:01:17.560 Red Sox and then coming back to the Dodgers. So 0:01:18.160 --> 0:01:21.760 it's Max Muncy who is the longest active tenured player 0:01:22.200 --> 0:01:26.240 on this team, and keyk Hernandez is the only Dodger 0:01:26.280 --> 0:01:29.160 player on this team that has played in all of 0:01:29.200 --> 0:01:33.600 the World Series that Dave Roberts has managed twenty seventeen, 0:01:33.760 --> 0:01:37.120 twenty eighteen, twenty twenty and of course the back to 0:01:37.200 --> 0:01:40.760 back World Series championship. So Max Munsey will join us 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:43.720 at the bottom of the hour, and yes, I will 0:01:43.760 --> 0:01:47.240 have to ask him why I was so top of 0:01:47.319 --> 0:01:51.040 mind when the social media team was asking him about 0:01:51.120 --> 0:01:55.600 who could not do pushups. It's who's on the team Moncy. 0:01:56.360 --> 0:02:00.480 But I appreciate him keeping my career alive as far 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:03.520 as sights and sounds here at camel Back Ranch. And 0:02:03.560 --> 0:02:06.080 by the way, we do have phone lines open. We 0:02:06.160 --> 0:02:08.919 are taking your phone calls at eight sixty six nine, 0:02:09.000 --> 0:02:12.720 eight seven two five seventy. You will hear from Andrew 0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:17.160 Friedman throughout the show tonight. Andrew Friedman spoke to us 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:20.080 after the workouts were over with, and there were a 0:02:20.120 --> 0:02:24.040 few different topics that we talked to him about, including 0:02:24.560 --> 0:02:29.800 who are the next wave of young outfielders to be 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:34.320 part of this Dodger ball club. Also, Andrew Freeman responded 0:02:34.760 --> 0:02:38.280 to the praise heaped on him and the Dodgers by 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:42.919 Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and also a rival GM. 0:02:43.080 --> 0:02:46.200 So you'll hear from Andrew Freeman about that. In our 0:02:46.240 --> 0:02:49.520 next segment. You'll hear from Andrew Freeman about the top 0:02:49.639 --> 0:02:54.520 outfield prospects towards the bottom of the hour, and in 0:02:54.680 --> 0:02:57.400 just a moment, you'll hear what Andrew Freeman had to 0:02:57.400 --> 0:03:01.160 say about Otani and Yamamoto and what the plan is 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:03.920 for them as they go to the World Baseball Classic. 0:03:04.360 --> 0:03:09.680 But Taoscar Hernandez and Mookie Betts are in camp first 0:03:09.680 --> 0:03:13.480 official full squad workout. Both those guys have a lot 0:03:13.560 --> 0:03:17.400 to prove and a bounce back type year. Mookie Bets 0:03:17.400 --> 0:03:21.400 had his worst offensive season in the big leagues last year. 0:03:21.760 --> 0:03:24.880 Tai Oscar Hernandez had a rough ride in right field 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:29.720 and it affected his health and his offense. Taascar Hernandez, 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:33.040 I've been telling you all off season, is my pick 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:36.600 to come back and silence all the critics. The people 0:03:36.640 --> 0:03:40.960 that were calling in about Tioscar Hernandez all season long 0:03:41.320 --> 0:03:43.680 are going to be calling in and doing what you 0:03:43.800 --> 0:03:48.040 did when I stood behind Max Munsey. Because there's a resume, 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:53.320 and now everybody loves Max Muncy. Everybody realizes what Max 0:03:53.400 --> 0:03:58.920 Munsey means to the Dodger order. Taoscar Hernandez two years 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:03.640 ago had a great season for the Dodgers, playing left field, 0:04:04.040 --> 0:04:07.680 hit thirty three home runs, drove in ninety nine runs. 0:04:08.120 --> 0:04:11.320 He is, in his own words, the best shape of 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:14.480 his career. He has reshaped his body to be more 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:18.360 agile and to be able to be a better outfielder. 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:22.599 Here's what ta Oscar Hernandez told me earlier today about 0:04:22.680 --> 0:04:27.279 the motivation to put in the work weeks after winning 0:04:27.360 --> 0:04:28.960 the World Series in Toronto. 0:04:29.920 --> 0:04:33.600 It just the fact that I was missing. I miss 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:37.560 twenty something games. I think it was because of the injury. 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.479 I don't want to these games. I don't like to 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:42.960 mix these games. I like to be on the field 0:04:43.600 --> 0:04:46.600 and for me to stay healthy this year, it's one 0:04:46.640 --> 0:04:49.159 of my goals, and just trying to be there for 0:04:49.200 --> 0:04:54.039 the team and trying to get to the playoff first 0:04:54.040 --> 0:04:57.479 and then chase another championship. Yeah, yeah, you know, I 0:04:57.480 --> 0:05:02.800 think for every position player, getting a Gold Glove is 0:05:03.480 --> 0:05:08.560 one of the goal for any player in my career, 0:05:08.800 --> 0:05:14.240 I have the silver Slugger. I got some of some 0:05:14.279 --> 0:05:17.159 of that, I got a dreams. Now you know, I 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:19.600 got some really good seasons and the big leagues, and 0:05:20.440 --> 0:05:25.560 I wanted to get especially now that you know it's 0:05:26.000 --> 0:05:29.440 it's hard to say of two or three years more 0:05:29.520 --> 0:05:30.480 for me in my career. 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:32.440 I wanted to go. 0:05:32.480 --> 0:05:36.000 Home having one of those gold glove. Been working really 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:39.000 hard for it, and let's see what happens this year. 0:05:40.440 --> 0:05:43.320 Love it, Love the smile of ta Oscar Hernandez, Love 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:46.919 his spirit. He means a lot to this Dodger team, 0:05:47.480 --> 0:05:51.760 and look him coming into camp in great shape sends 0:05:51.800 --> 0:05:54.880 a message to not only the rest of the league, 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:58.360 but more importantly his teammates that he is ready to 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:01.359 come back for a fresh twenty twenty six and have 0:06:01.520 --> 0:06:05.240 the work ethic to help this team three peat. So 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:09.640 ta Oscar Hernandez is feeling good. He is motivated and 0:06:09.839 --> 0:06:13.000 certainly wants to prove a lot of people wrong. And 0:06:13.040 --> 0:06:15.719 when you hear him say when I go home in 0:06:15.760 --> 0:06:18.640 two or three year as well, he is thirty three 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:22.560 years old, so three years from now he's thirty six. 0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:26.520 Not too many forty year old position players, let alone 0:06:26.600 --> 0:06:31.520 outfielders playing in Major League Baseball these days, another thirty 0:06:31.520 --> 0:06:34.119 three year old. He's thirty two right now, but we'll 0:06:34.160 --> 0:06:37.720 turn thirty three during the season that had his worst 0:06:37.720 --> 0:06:41.599 offensive season and what many believe is going to be 0:06:41.680 --> 0:06:46.280 a Hall of Fame career. Mookie Betts certainly knows how 0:06:46.279 --> 0:06:50.040 to get ready for the season, a more normal type 0:06:50.080 --> 0:06:53.520 of spring training, knowing that he is going to be 0:06:53.600 --> 0:06:57.240 the everyday shortstop, having a full year under his belt. 0:06:57.520 --> 0:07:01.320 But the reality is Mooky had the lowest batting average 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:04.599 of his career, the lowest on base percentage of his career, 0:07:04.920 --> 0:07:08.479 the lowest slugging percentage of his career, which means the 0:07:08.520 --> 0:07:13.960 lowest ops of his career. When the Dodgers extended Mookie 0:07:14.000 --> 0:07:17.520 Bets after trading for him, many people believe that the 0:07:17.600 --> 0:07:20.600 contract was not going to age well. But it doesn't 0:07:20.640 --> 0:07:23.920 sound like Mooki Bets is ready to concede any of 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:26.640 that when we spoke to him earlier today. 0:07:27.040 --> 0:07:32.440 Haven't gotten any game actions, so we'll see if we'll 0:07:32.480 --> 0:07:33.360 see if anything worked. 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:34.640 But really just kind of getting. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:37.440 Back to the basics, I mean, just doing understanding what 0:07:37.480 --> 0:07:39.360 I do best and trying to hone in on that like, 0:07:39.360 --> 0:07:40.800 I haven't had a regular spring. 0:07:40.520 --> 0:07:42.360 Of four years, three or four years. 0:07:43.280 --> 0:07:45.920 Maybe since I've been a Todger, so this will be 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:47.040 maybe the first one. 0:07:46.880 --> 0:07:48.960 And so I don't really know how. 0:07:48.440 --> 0:07:49.240 It's going to work out. 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:51.880 I just know that being thirty three now I don't 0:07:51.920 --> 0:07:54.200 have to hurry up and get here and be ready 0:07:54.200 --> 0:07:56.720 to play from day one, so I can just kind 0:07:56.720 --> 0:07:57.320 of embrace that. 0:07:59.360 --> 0:08:01.840 Yeah, I guess you think about it. When Mooki Bets 0:08:01.880 --> 0:08:04.000 got here in twenty twenty, all of a sudden, the 0:08:04.040 --> 0:08:07.360 pandemic hit in the middle of spring training, and then 0:08:07.400 --> 0:08:09.800 in twenty twenty one we were still kind of coming 0:08:09.920 --> 0:08:12.880 out of it. And when you look back two years ago, 0:08:13.280 --> 0:08:16.400 he wasn't expecting to be the Dodgers shortstop, but it 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:20.560 was evident Gavin Lux couldn't handle that position. So as 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:23.480 the Dodgers were getting to getting ready to board the 0:08:23.520 --> 0:08:26.520 plane to South Korea, they asked him to be the 0:08:26.560 --> 0:08:29.920 everyday shortstop. And for the first time in three years, 0:08:30.320 --> 0:08:33.600 the Dodgers are going to have Opening Day in North 0:08:33.600 --> 0:08:38.400 America and specifically in Los Angeles, rather than being in 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:43.240 South Korea or Tokyo, Japan. So Mooki Bets had a 0:08:43.320 --> 0:08:47.040 rough start to last year, because remember he flew to Tokyo, 0:08:47.400 --> 0:08:51.000 got really sick, lost somewhere between fifteen and twenty pounds, 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:53.640 and it felt like he was playing catch up the 0:08:53.679 --> 0:08:56.280 rest of the year and never could find his swing. 0:08:56.960 --> 0:09:02.319 And being this my fifteenth year covering the Dodgers, I've 0:09:02.400 --> 0:09:06.679 learned from former Dodgers how every year is unique, and 0:09:06.720 --> 0:09:10.960 that's what makes the great ones really special when they 0:09:11.040 --> 0:09:14.720 can do it year after year, guys like Freddie Freeman 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:18.720 and Mookie Bets. But every year is unique. That was 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:23.679 last year. The circumstances were completely different than what they 0:09:23.720 --> 0:09:27.400 are this year for Mookie Bets. So let's see if 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:31.360 he can prove that last year was just an off year, 0:09:32.160 --> 0:09:34.400 because I feel like this is going to be somewhat 0:09:34.400 --> 0:09:37.720 of a tell season. Is this the beginning of Mookie 0:09:37.720 --> 0:09:40.520 Bets kind of plateauing and being in the twilight of 0:09:40.559 --> 0:09:45.480 his career, being entering his age thirty three season, or 0:09:46.640 --> 0:09:49.800 is this going to be the season that Mookie Betts says, Hey, 0:09:50.120 --> 0:09:54.520 pump the brakes, I'm not going anywhere. I've got a 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:56.680 lot left in the tank, and don't try to tell 0:09:56.720 --> 0:10:01.079 me I'm on the down side of my career. Six seven, 0:10:01.160 --> 0:10:03.640 two five seventy is the phone number. Are you a 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:07.960 believer in Mookie Bets? It feels like Dodger fans want 0:10:08.000 --> 0:10:10.480 to believe, they want to go all in with Mookie Bets, 0:10:10.880 --> 0:10:15.800 but for whatever reason, sometimes you're not buying all in. 0:10:16.160 --> 0:10:21.680 And I feel like Mookie Bets is about winning every 0:10:21.920 --> 0:10:24.600 parade that the Dodgers have had since he's been here, 0:10:25.040 --> 0:10:28.040 And basically the Dodgers all they've done since Mookie Bets 0:10:28.080 --> 0:10:32.480 has gotten here is when championships. He's won three World 0:10:32.600 --> 0:10:37.440 Series since twenty twenty. But I really do believe ta 0:10:37.559 --> 0:10:40.959 Oscar Hernandez and Mooki Bets are going to have big 0:10:41.000 --> 0:10:44.199 bounce back years. I might be an optimist, I might 0:10:44.240 --> 0:10:46.680 be a romantic. I may want to believe in these 0:10:46.720 --> 0:10:50.480 two guys, but resume means a lot to me, just 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:53.480 like resume means a lot to me. Meant a lot 0:10:53.520 --> 0:10:57.240 to me when I was standing firm when so many 0:10:57.320 --> 0:11:01.000 of you were jumping off the Max Monthsy bandwagon, and 0:11:01.040 --> 0:11:05.240 then you saw what life was like without Munci, with 0:11:05.360 --> 0:11:10.080 Mooki Bets having a down year and Tioscar Hernandez looking 0:11:10.160 --> 0:11:13.520 like the Taioscar Hernandez from three years ago in Seattle, 0:11:13.559 --> 0:11:16.080 but I feel like this year is going to resemble 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:20.760 twenty twenty four for both Mooki Bets and Tioscar Hernandez 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:24.040 eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is 0:11:24.080 --> 0:11:28.240 the phone number. Also kind of looming around Dodger camp 0:11:28.320 --> 0:11:32.319 is the World Baseball Classic because two of the Dodgers' 0:11:32.320 --> 0:11:38.320 best players, Shohei Otani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are headed to 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:42.080 play for Team Japan, and that is huge national pride. 0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:44.439 It means a lot to the country that these two 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:49.600 guys are going to be playing. Luckily, Otan has conceded 0:11:49.640 --> 0:11:53.360 that he will only hit, but Yamamoto has been termed 0:11:53.440 --> 0:11:58.320 as Japan's ace by their manager, and Yamamoto and Otani 0:11:58.440 --> 0:12:03.559 came into camp ready not only for the three peat season, 0:12:03.720 --> 0:12:07.000 but also to try to win the World Baseball Classic 0:12:07.080 --> 0:12:11.800 again for Team Japan. Today, Otani and Yamamoto both faced 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:16.120 hitters for the second time this spring. Yamamoto pitched two 0:12:16.240 --> 0:12:20.640 innings and earlier today, Dave Roberts said that he expects 0:12:20.720 --> 0:12:24.480 Yamamoto to make a start before he leaves for the 0:12:24.480 --> 0:12:28.280 World Baseball Classic, which means he may be on track 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:31.040 to pitch on Saturday, considering that he just pitched two 0:12:31.080 --> 0:12:34.600 innings today. Otani is not going to pitch in a 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:38.280 Cactus League game, but Andrew Friedman said he is hoping 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.640 to get Otani into a Freeway Series game when he 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:46.320 returns from the World Baseball Classic as a pitcher. Speaking 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:49.080 of Andrew Freeman, I told you we would hear from 0:12:49.120 --> 0:12:52.040 Friedman on a number of different topics. I asked him 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:55.160 whether or not he has had a conversation with either 0:12:55.240 --> 0:12:59.320 one or both of his Japanese superstars to be mindful 0:12:59.800 --> 0:13:03.839 that it's not just about Team Japan, it's about the Dodgers. 0:13:04.080 --> 0:13:07.200 Not really, because I know them and I know that 0:13:07.320 --> 0:13:14.000 once you know the first pitch and Samurai Japan against Taiwan, 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:16.800 I just know the level of intensity that they will have, 0:13:18.480 --> 0:13:22.360 and so it's more just making sure the work up 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:25.280 to this point that we're putting them in the best 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:29.559 positions to go take on that kind of intense atmosphere. 0:13:30.600 --> 0:13:34.440 And then obviously the build up with Yoshinobu and where 0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:36.360 he's at pitch count wise, what we're able to get 0:13:36.400 --> 0:13:38.559 him to here will help inform a little bit of 0:13:38.920 --> 0:13:42.959 you know, what that workload looks like. But so it's 0:13:42.960 --> 0:13:47.000 more about just the work going in. It is impossible 0:13:47.040 --> 0:13:49.320 to tell those guys to dial it back in any way, 0:13:49.640 --> 0:13:52.760 and nor would I do that. We've talked to Samurai Japan, 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:54.320 We've talked to Show. 0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:54.560 Hey. 0:13:55.120 --> 0:13:56.120 I think everyone. 0:13:55.880 --> 0:14:00.960 Understands understands that he's not going to no matter what 0:14:01.120 --> 0:14:05.040 the circumstances are, which is a huge relief if you're 0:14:05.080 --> 0:14:08.600 a Dodger fan, and for Yamamoto, you just hope that 0:14:08.720 --> 0:14:12.160 whatever preparation and the strength that he's put on in 0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:15.560 his legs during the off season to be ready for 0:14:15.760 --> 0:14:19.040 not only the long haul and pitching into October again 0:14:19.080 --> 0:14:23.600 for a third straight year, but also understand that, yes, 0:14:24.160 --> 0:14:28.880 the Dodgers respect his dedication to his country, but also 0:14:29.600 --> 0:14:32.760 know your body and if you're not feeling like you 0:14:32.800 --> 0:14:36.760 can go deep into a game, maybe don't go deep 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.600 into a game. That's that's all you can hope for 0:14:39.640 --> 0:14:42.800 at this point. Eight six six nine eight seven two 0:14:42.880 --> 0:14:45.360 five seventy is the phone number. We're gonna take a 0:14:45.400 --> 0:14:47.800 time out here on Dodger Talk. When we come back. 0:14:48.440 --> 0:14:51.800 More from Andrew Freeman. He'll respond to what Bryce Harper 0:14:51.840 --> 0:14:55.240 and Minnie Machado and Jerry Depoto had to say. And 0:14:55.440 --> 0:14:58.240 also we will get to your phone calls at eight 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:02.120 six six nine, eight seven two. We have two lines 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:05.440 open right now. I'm live at camel Back Ranch, boots 0:15:05.480 --> 0:15:08.320 on the ground. Whatever you're wondering about your back to 0:15:08.360 --> 0:15:12.080 back champions, I may I actually do have the answer, 0:15:12.200 --> 0:15:14.840 So call in eight six six nine eighty seven two 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:18.960 five seventy Dodger Talk until eight o'clock right here on 0:15:19.040 --> 0:15:23.040 AM five to seventy LA Sports. We are live from 0:15:23.160 --> 0:15:26.880 camel Back Ranch in Glendale, Arizona today the first full 0:15:26.920 --> 0:15:30.960 squad workout for your back to back World Series champion Dodgers. 0:15:31.360 --> 0:15:34.320 Dodger Talk tonight with you until eight o'clock. Coming up 0:15:34.320 --> 0:15:37.760 in ten minutes, you'll hear our conversation with Max Munsey, 0:15:38.160 --> 0:15:41.160 who signed a two year extension with the Dodgers and 0:15:41.240 --> 0:15:44.320 many are saying left some money on the table to 0:15:44.440 --> 0:15:48.000 return to the Dodgers. So you'll hear from Max Munsey 0:15:48.240 --> 0:15:50.800 and what he had to say about that and the 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:55.040 attention that is getting, and also him calling me out 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:58.520 wanting push ups. By the way, the push up things 0:15:58.560 --> 0:16:02.880 started back when Andre Ethier and Justin Turner and ken 0:16:02.960 --> 0:16:06.840 Lee Jansen were here. They were the Ogs that included 0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:10.359 me in so many different ways. I mean, Adrian Gonzalez 0:16:10.400 --> 0:16:13.000 and Justin Turner would have me play catch to warm 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:17.760 them up before drills back in twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen, 0:16:18.360 --> 0:16:21.560 and they called me into the weight room around that 0:16:21.680 --> 0:16:26.240 time period eighth year and Justin Turner to do push 0:16:26.320 --> 0:16:28.320 ups in front of the rest of the team. And 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:30.920 I think Monthsy heard about that. It could have been 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:33.160 again in twenty eighteen when months he was here. But 0:16:33.720 --> 0:16:37.680 that's where it comes from the og Dodgers that certainly 0:16:38.360 --> 0:16:42.440 would include me in a lot of different, different weird 0:16:42.480 --> 0:16:46.760 ways to boost morale during a long spring training. So 0:16:46.800 --> 0:16:50.120 we'll get to all that with Max Munsey in ten minutes. 0:16:50.240 --> 0:16:52.800 I want to remind you that our first broadcast, the 0:16:52.840 --> 0:16:56.800 first Dodger game of this Cactus League, is this Saturday 0:16:57.480 --> 0:17:01.120 against the Angels at Tempe Arizona. Our coverage begins at 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:05.199 twelve thirty, first pitch at one ten. And also on 0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:08.680 to remind you that our only other show this week 0:17:08.800 --> 0:17:10.879 is Tomorrow night and we are going to have a 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:13.200 lot of interviews, So if you want to get your 0:17:13.240 --> 0:17:16.680 phone calls in, if you have some opinions about whether 0:17:16.800 --> 0:17:20.639 or not the world Baseball Classic should put Otani and 0:17:20.760 --> 0:17:25.000 Yamamoto at risk and other players and pitchers. I mean, 0:17:25.320 --> 0:17:28.359 Patrick Sandoval off Team Mexico was never the same, but 0:17:28.840 --> 0:17:32.480 look Yamamoto team Japan. It's a whole different story. There's 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:36.359 a lot of pride that goes into pitching for Team Japan, 0:17:36.400 --> 0:17:39.520 whether it's the Olympics or the World Baseball Classic. I 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:43.919 completely respect Yamamoto wanting to pitch for Team Japan, but 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:47.000 I just hope that he has his own guardrails and 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:51.760 doesn't compromise not only the short term but the long 0:17:51.840 --> 0:17:56.800 term for the Dodgers and trying to repeat because he 0:17:56.920 --> 0:17:58.560 was such a big part of it and will be 0:17:58.720 --> 0:18:02.719 this season. So that's my only hesitation with all this. 0:18:03.400 --> 0:18:04.199 But I. 0:18:05.840 --> 0:18:08.960 Have no issues with the World Baseball Classic. I just 0:18:09.000 --> 0:18:13.000 don't believe that there should be more emphasis on the 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:15.920 World Baseball Classic by a player, no matter how much 0:18:16.040 --> 0:18:19.520 national pride they have, than their major league team who 0:18:19.600 --> 0:18:23.760 is paying them. And there are big fan bases here 0:18:24.240 --> 0:18:29.040 in Major League Baseball that care about it. So that's 0:18:29.800 --> 0:18:33.040 that's the quandary, right, That's the catch twenty two of 0:18:33.080 --> 0:18:35.800 the World Baseball Classic. But I have no issues. I 0:18:35.800 --> 0:18:39.119 have come to peace with Yamamoto pitching in the World 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:42.800 Baseball Classic. I just want him to have his own guardrails. 0:18:43.080 --> 0:18:45.919 Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:49.240 the phone number. Edwin Diaz is going to be pitching 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:51.919 for Puerto Rico. Will Smith is going to split catching 0:18:52.000 --> 0:18:55.960 duties with Cal Rawley for Team USA, and of course 0:18:56.040 --> 0:18:58.960 Clayton Kershaw will be making his way back to Arizona 0:18:59.040 --> 0:19:03.280 here shortly to train with Team ussay his last dance 0:19:03.760 --> 0:19:07.560 to be part of the World Baseball Classic. Now, last 0:19:07.680 --> 0:19:10.840 night we had shared with you what Bryce Harper and 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:13.720 Minny Machado had to say over the weekend when it 0:19:13.800 --> 0:19:16.680 came to the Dodgers and what they have built again 0:19:16.800 --> 0:19:21.960 and built upon this offseason. Well, it hasn't stopped with players. 0:19:22.280 --> 0:19:28.399 Even rival gms are showering Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers 0:19:28.400 --> 0:19:33.240 with a lot of praise, including Jerry Depoto, the GM 0:19:33.359 --> 0:19:37.879 of the Seattle Mariners, was on our sister station KJR 0:19:37.920 --> 0:19:40.760 and was asked about the Dodgers and whether or not 0:19:40.840 --> 0:19:43.080 they are good or bad for baseball. 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:46.439 What is your response to the statement the Dodgers are 0:19:46.520 --> 0:19:50.360 ruining baseball. I just think they're awesome. You know, and 0:19:50.920 --> 0:19:54.800 where they're deep, they have stars everywhere. They've done it. 0:19:54.960 --> 0:19:58.400 Generally speaking, they're good at scouting, they're good at player development, 0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:00.680 they're good at roster building. You know, I I I 0:20:01.400 --> 0:20:04.240 get it. You know, it's a Their payroll is considerably 0:20:04.320 --> 0:20:06.879 higher than than just about anybody else in the league. 0:20:06.960 --> 0:20:09.960 And you know, and and very much higher than the 0:20:10.080 --> 0:20:12.680 teams that are outside the top three or four. I 0:20:13.400 --> 0:20:16.520 say that, and it's it's hard to be to take 0:20:16.600 --> 0:20:19.600 shots at what they've built. And you know, and and 0:20:19.680 --> 0:20:22.160 the people I think they're smart. They've done a good job. 0:20:22.280 --> 0:20:24.719 They take advantage of the resources they have and the 0:20:24.720 --> 0:20:27.040 market they work in, and and and they do what 0:20:27.080 --> 0:20:29.480 they do. You know, I say that. There's always been 0:20:29.520 --> 0:20:32.320 teams like the Dodgers. You know, in our baseball lives, 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:36.040 there's been dominant teams. Sometimes they're big market teams, sometimes 0:20:36.040 --> 0:20:38.840 they're they're not, but they don't always win the World Series. 0:20:38.880 --> 0:20:41.720 And you know, it's a it's part of being consistent 0:20:41.840 --> 0:20:45.000 over time and showing up and just banging down the door. 0:20:45.359 --> 0:20:47.919 We feel like we have the ability with the roster 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:50.760 we have to go toe to toe with anybody, regardless 0:20:50.800 --> 0:20:52.959 of the size of their payroll or how many stars 0:20:52.960 --> 0:20:53.359 they sign. 0:20:54.800 --> 0:20:59.119 Hey, that's a great attitude from a guy that you know, 0:20:59.320 --> 0:21:02.919 I have not agreed with a lot. In fact, that 0:21:03.040 --> 0:21:05.320 might be the first time I have ever agreed with 0:21:05.400 --> 0:21:08.680 Jerry Depoto. And I'm sure you weren't expecting to hear 0:21:08.760 --> 0:21:12.560 that from the Seattle Mariners GM, but they were this 0:21:12.800 --> 0:21:15.919 close to playing the Dodgers in the World Series, and 0:21:15.960 --> 0:21:19.480 they certainly are a contender in the American League again, 0:21:19.680 --> 0:21:23.080 So that was refreshing to hear from Jerry Depoto, a 0:21:23.160 --> 0:21:26.840 guy that I have not agreed on ninety nine point 0:21:26.920 --> 0:21:29.320 nine percent of the things that he has done he 0:21:29.400 --> 0:21:33.359 has said, but that one I certainly agree with. And 0:21:33.400 --> 0:21:37.080 it was refreshing to hear from a guy that is 0:21:37.160 --> 0:21:42.240 in a competitive spot, as Andrew Friedman, not afraid to say, hey, 0:21:42.320 --> 0:21:46.359 what he's doing, what they're doing is impressive. And I 0:21:46.440 --> 0:21:49.040 had a chance to ask Andrew Friedman whether or not 0:21:49.160 --> 0:21:53.080 he had heard what Bryce Harper and Manny Machado had 0:21:53.119 --> 0:21:56.520 to say as far as the praise of the Dodgers 0:21:56.680 --> 0:22:00.320 and them doubling down by signing the best outfielder and 0:22:00.440 --> 0:22:05.320 the best closer this offseason. Here's what Andrew Freeman's response 0:22:05.960 --> 0:22:10.480 was to Manny Machado and Bryce Harper's compliments. 0:22:10.119 --> 0:22:12.440 Most importantly, where our own guys don't want to leave, 0:22:12.920 --> 0:22:16.080 but where players from other teams are looking longingly like, oh, 0:22:16.119 --> 0:22:18.280 I want to be on the Dodgers. That's our goal 0:22:18.640 --> 0:22:20.960 because we feel like if we're able to retain our 0:22:21.000 --> 0:22:24.000 really talented players, if we're able to get really talented 0:22:24.000 --> 0:22:26.919 players from other teams, that obviously will help in our 0:22:27.000 --> 0:22:31.280 ultimate quest to win World Series. So that's not just winning, 0:22:31.320 --> 0:22:34.680 it's also how players are treated, how families are treated, 0:22:34.960 --> 0:22:37.879 and so I think it's all encompassing for it to 0:22:37.920 --> 0:22:40.520 be a destination spot. So hearing those guys say those 0:22:40.520 --> 0:22:44.879 things to me is a real compliment to all of 0:22:44.920 --> 0:22:48.120 the people who pour themselves into it here of trying 0:22:48.119 --> 0:22:51.360 to create a destination spot in La. 0:22:52.040 --> 0:22:54.359 I think Andrew Freeman heard the same thing I heard. 0:22:54.400 --> 0:22:58.440 It sounded like Bryce Harper was opining that he wishes 0:22:58.520 --> 0:23:01.840 he was a Dodger. I don't think there's a spot 0:23:01.880 --> 0:23:03.800 for Bryce Harper. He's a first baseman. 0:23:03.840 --> 0:23:04.000 Now. 0:23:04.080 --> 0:23:07.479 The Dodgers have Freddie Freeman, but he was very close 0:23:07.560 --> 0:23:11.919 to taking the Kyle Tucker type short term contract and 0:23:12.000 --> 0:23:14.879 a higher salary, but chose to go with the Phillies 0:23:15.200 --> 0:23:17.520 and a long term deal. I like that word that 0:23:17.560 --> 0:23:21.399 he used, longing for the Dodgers. Yeah, there are a 0:23:21.440 --> 0:23:23.159 lot of guys I wish they were part of this, 0:23:23.320 --> 0:23:27.800 but Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz had the option and 0:23:27.840 --> 0:23:31.520 they signed it. Edwin Diaz leaving the Mets and Kyle 0:23:31.600 --> 0:23:34.720 Tucker turning down a ten year contract from the Blue 0:23:34.800 --> 0:23:37.480 Jays to sign a shorter term deal with the back 0:23:37.480 --> 0:23:41.480 to back World Series champion Dodgers. Eight six six seven 0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:44.520 two five seventy is the phone number. Phone lines are 0:23:44.520 --> 0:23:47.639 starting to fill up. Let's go out to Lakewood Art. 0:23:47.920 --> 0:23:50.719