1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker. 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Dodger Talk We are on until eight 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: o'clock tonight here on a five seventy LA Sports. And 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: Andrew Friedman has made it back from Orlando today the 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: introductory press conference with Edwin Diaz and Andrew. 6 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: Edwin Abby a work ethic and he really wants to win. 7 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: You saw it today, We've seen it over the years 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: with his willingness to come in in the fourth inning, 9 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: fifth inning, sixth inning to try to you know, when 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: we were beating the Mets last year in the CS, 11 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: he would come in early to try to stop the bleeding, 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: just to give them a chance to come back. And 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 2: last weekend of the year this year against the Marlins, 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 2: that Sunday game, which was a must win for them, 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: coming in in the fourth, just the selflessness to win. 16 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 2: And it fits in so well with so many of 17 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: our guys. So the talent fits really well. The human 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: what kind of worker he is, how much he cares 19 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: also works fits really well. 20 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: Did you believe you had a very good chance of 21 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: signing das. 22 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: You know, obviously he was top of our list coming 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: into the off season, but just thought the chances were 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: pretty remote, so it didn't spend a ton of time 25 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: other than express interest. We have a lot of interests, 26 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: so we kind of kept in touch with them, but 27 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: all the while just thinking, hey, the likelihood of this 28 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: is pretty low. Then when the Mets signed Devin Williams 29 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 2: five minutes later, I called the agent and and there 30 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: was more of an opening than I had since before, 31 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: which gave us some encouragement, but still felt like it's unlikely, 32 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: so putting an offer that night or maybe the next night, 33 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: and then don't really hear anything until that Saturday, right 34 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: before the Winter meetings, and they give us some feedback, 35 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: and so we started talking Sunday into Monday, and still 36 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: all along I'm like, I just you know, it's gonna 37 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: be hard for him to cut the cord with New York. 38 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 2: Can't see New York letting them go. But through the 39 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: conversations Monday night, late Monday night into Tuesday morning, felt 40 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: like the chances were actually way better than I was 41 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: giving credit for. And then we got into how do 42 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 2: we close this deal mode? And fortunately we're able to 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: push it across. 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: At this point, you've built back to back world series championships. 45 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: You're going for a three pete at this point in 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: your position. When you're signing players and them deciding whether 47 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: or not they are going to sign with the Dodgers, 48 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: like Diaz, doesn't it say something about the player that 49 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: they want in on this And conversely for players that 50 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: shy away from it, doesn't it say something about them? 51 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there's a real, you know, kind of 52 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: selection bias that we get some insights into guys that 53 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: we haven't had before as players. Because there's a lot 54 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: that comes with it, and you have fifty plus thousand 55 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: people every night, you feel that responsibility. There's the highest 56 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: of expectations, and so it's not for everybody, and the 57 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: people who it's not we'd rather not sign and so 58 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 2: hopefully we're able to kind of sift through that. But 59 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: I think a lot of it also is that in 60 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: our conversations with guys this winner, it's conveying how hungry 61 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: we are to do it again, because I think there 62 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: would be some concern of Okay, they've won. No, okay, 63 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: they've won twice in a row. Does that mean they're 64 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: going to put their feet up and hope for the best. 65 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: So it's conveying and making sure to sell that point 66 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: of just how committed we are to doing everything we 67 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: can to win again in twenty twenty six. 68 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: What do you believe is next for you this offseason? 69 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: Do you want to add more as far as trying 70 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: to help your position player group? What do you see 71 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: in the near future. 72 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think adding a bat would be great, and 73 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: it would just take some pressure off some of our 74 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 2: younger guys. That being said, things happen over the course 75 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: of the season and getting our younger guys sim at 76 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: bats is going to be really important. Things play out 77 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: in that way. But I think just building out the 78 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,119 Speaker 2: depth more, adding a really interesting kind of position player 79 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: that fits into our group really well is very high 80 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: on the list. 81 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: How much do you look at some of your guys 82 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: that have put so much of their body through it 83 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: the last couple of years and are starting to get 84 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 1: to their mid thirties and late thirties. How much is 85 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: that on the forefront of your mind to try to 86 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: supplement with some younger guys. 87 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think there's looking at it in 88 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: a couple different ways. I mean, if you're just focused 89 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: on twenty twenty six, I'm not that worried about it. 90 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: It's so important to us who we sign a long 91 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: term deal with in that we know that we are 92 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: going to get everything out of that player. So they're 93 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 2: gonna work really hard over the winner. They're gonna compete 94 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: and they're gonna lay it out on the line to 95 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: try to win. And we've got a whole clubhouse of 96 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: guys that are playing for each other, they're playing for 97 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: this city, that are playing for their legacy, that are 98 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: playing to create a dynasty. And it is really hard 99 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: to win back to back and it takes that mentality 100 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: to do it, and that mentality is still really strong. 101 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: So for us, it's about adding guys that can add 102 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: to that. But the core in the group we have 103 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: in place, we feel like is really strong. 104 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: I'm glad you brought that up because Max Munsey, Hey, 105 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: you might have a future in this business. Hey, how 106 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: how have you celebrated since the end of the World Series. 107 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: I haven't seen you since the parade? Has there been 108 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: much of a victory lap Brand and Drew Friedman? Did 109 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: your wife throw you a party at the house? I mean, 110 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: what's going on? 111 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 2: The celebration? The parade itself was incredible, just both years. 112 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: That day is so fulfilling and incredibly impactful, and it 113 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 2: really is, like it sounds cheesy, but it's like fuel 114 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: to get back there. It really is. That's how special 115 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: that day is. The energy, the joy, you can feel it, 116 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 2: and it's something that really is fuel to do everything 117 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: we can to get back to it. But we got 118 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: to celebrate by turning around and going to the gm ME, 119 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: and you know, no real time for us on our end, 120 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: and other teams head start preparing for the winner, you know, 121 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: but I can't complain much because our goal is to 122 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: have the least amount of time to prepare. So we've 123 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 2: been playing catch up and just trying to make sure 124 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 2: that we're not missing opportunities, and so it's been right 125 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 2: back at it now. I would love to knock out 126 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 2: a few of the things that we'd like to and 127 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 2: have a little break going into spring training, but we'll see. 128 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: We always ask the question about what keeps players hungry. 129 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: You've had an incredible career, You've accomplished more things than 130 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: some have. After being out of the game for ten 131 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: years now, back to back World Series championships, how do 132 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: you stay hungry and do you ever feel like I've 133 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: done it all. Do I need a new challenge? 134 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: No? I mean, I think for us winning is so 135 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: incredibly difficult, it's so fulfilling, and we feel an immense 136 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: pressure from our fans. What they pour into us is 137 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: unprecedented and clearing four million this year. The passion that 138 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: this city has for this team makes us feel a 139 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 2: great sense of responsibility to return it and to be 140 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: as good as we can possibly be. And we've talked 141 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: about this a lot, but that goal and it's hard 142 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: when you're mired in it to have appreciation. But for 143 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 2: us to look back after I get fired, things change whatever, 144 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: to look back and say that was a golden era 145 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: of Dodgers baseball. And so that is a very real 146 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 2: motivating factor for us, is you know, nineteen eighty eight 147 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty was a long time and to do 148 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: everything we can to keep pouring in and keep this 149 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: momentum going and hopefully add you know, more and more 150 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 2: up there and have to clear out room for the banners. 151 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: But I think just the sense of responsibility we have 152 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: is a very real driving factor. 153 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: All right, So that's good news for Dodger fans. Andrew 154 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: Friedman's not going anywhere. But if you're a Dodger fan, 155 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: you're likely a Laker fan. And there was the news 156 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: that you're helping out the Lakers a little bit. So 157 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: what's the role, what's the balance for you between these 158 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: two incredible franchises. 159 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I've got a pretty full time job 160 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 2: as is. I think it's more we're all under you know, 161 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 2: Mark Walters TWG umbrella, and it's about helping one another 162 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: and as things are coming up and we can be 163 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: a resource for one another. It's not often that you're 164 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 2: able to do that and kind of lean on other 165 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: teams and other sports. You know, there's sharing of information 166 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 2: of how we do our scouting process or how they do, 167 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: or how we've set up certain systems or them. You know, 168 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: have spent some real time with you know, Rob and 169 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 2: his team, and you know they've done a great job, 170 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: gotten off to a great start. But I think it's 171 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: more just us all being a resource for one another 172 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: and you know, helping anything that's kind of under that 173 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: TWG umbrella to be as good as it can be. 174 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 1: So the Lakers are basically your side hustle. Hey, thanks 175 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: a lot for the time. It's great catching up up 176 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: with you and look forward to doing this a few 177 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: more times during the off season because you're always you're 178 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: always big game hunting, So we'll see you soon. 179 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: You as well, And I'm just glad because I was 180 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 2: concerned that after you landed the Brian Cranston interview that 181 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: you wouldn't slum it with me anymore. So I'm just 182 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: happy that you're still slumming it. 183 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: Have you heard Cranston's trade ideas like this guy's plugged 184 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: into your minor league system all the way in London. 185 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: That's great. I haven't heard it yet, but I did 186 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 2: see a couple of fans point out that his knowledge 187 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 2: of some of our deeper minor league guys was impressive. 188 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: And you heard about Elizabeth Olsen having a little bit 189 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: of a crush on me as well. 190 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: I mean, she's only a human, all right. 191 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: I'll take that. Thanks a lot for the time, great 192 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 1: to see you, and happy holidays. 193 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: And to you. Thanks Dave.