WEBVTT - Spring Training Dodger Talk (3-12-26) 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:02.800 The quest for the three peat has begun. 0:00:03.000 --> 0:00:06.880 Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won 0:00:06.960 --> 0:00:11.360 three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become 0:00:11.680 --> 0:00:12.280 the fifth. 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.800 A Spring training Dodger Talk, here we go again. 0:00:15.880 --> 0:00:16.959 We're got to running. 0:00:16.680 --> 0:00:20.919 Back hosted by Dodgers in Cider David base three Peat 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:23.320 in the Mexican in on the show called eight six 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:26.360 six nine eighty seven two five seven, And be sure 0:00:26.400 --> 0:00:29.400 to follow Dodger Talk wherever you catch your podcasts. 0:00:29.720 --> 0:00:32.120 Here's your host, David Basset. 0:00:33.640 --> 0:00:38.160 We are live at camel Back Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. 0:00:38.640 --> 0:00:42.320 David Basse with you until eight o'clock tonight here on 0:00:42.360 --> 0:00:45.720 AM five to seventy LA Sports. And this is a 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:51.440 very unique Dodger Talk because the Dodgers are playing right now, 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:54.200 right in front of us. It's a sellout crowd here 0:00:54.240 --> 0:00:58.040 at Camelback Ranch. The Dodgers are leading the Reds four 0:00:58.080 --> 0:01:01.000 to three. In the bottom of the third inning, Taoscar 0:01:01.120 --> 0:01:04.840 Hernandez is at the plate. He already had an RBI 0:01:04.959 --> 0:01:08.000 double in the first inning, part of a four run 0:01:08.120 --> 0:01:11.280 first inning for the Dodgers, and coming to the plate 0:01:11.360 --> 0:01:13.720 right now is Freddy Freeman. I'm going to prove to 0:01:13.760 --> 0:01:16.800 you that the Dodgers are playing right now. We're gonna 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:20.640 pod up Rick Monday and Tim Neverett on Sports and 0:01:20.640 --> 0:01:23.200 at LA just to hear this at bat of the 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:26.119 great Freddy Freeman, who already drove in a run during 0:01:26.160 --> 0:01:27.520 that four run first inning. 0:01:27.800 --> 0:01:29.760 On the run, makes the throw to get to Oscar 0:01:31.920 --> 0:01:32.520 one man out. 0:01:32.560 --> 0:01:42.720 Freddy Freeman will come up fready with an RBI base 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:44.160 hitting a run score in the first. 0:01:45.560 --> 0:01:48.320 So I mentioned Oscar in a fastball slugging percentage, I'm 0:01:48.320 --> 0:01:52.200 a Freddy Freeman on non fast balls last year eighth 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:54.560 best slugging percentage almost five hundred. 0:01:57.040 --> 0:01:58.480 That's a sinker there and files it. 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:02.520 Back when you've seen pitchers also tend to figure out okay, 0:02:02.920 --> 0:02:05.480 Freeman's has stated over and over he likes to hit 0:02:05.520 --> 0:02:07.200 the ball to left center field. That's kind of his 0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:11.040 his thought process. They go, oh, sneak one, buying inside 0:02:11.200 --> 0:02:13.680 that Freddy is fast enough and quick enough, strong. 0:02:13.520 --> 0:02:17.160 Enough to handle that one Kerr ball is swinging a miss. 0:02:18.960 --> 0:02:22.240 They're talking really about one of the elite players. 0:02:24.240 --> 0:02:26.639 Mentioned numbers a little bit earlier on Freeman. 0:02:31.360 --> 0:02:33.440 How the breaking ball this dat Freddy takes it for 0:02:33.600 --> 0:02:44.440 ball one one and two to Freeman. There's a one 0:02:44.560 --> 0:02:49.680 two from Nicklodolo. That's two and two. 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:50.800 The catcher is. 0:02:50.880 --> 0:02:55.079 Challenging the call of ball. Tyler Stevenson didn't like that one. 0:02:57.880 --> 0:03:02.639 We might have a point here. I was well on 0:03:02.720 --> 0:03:07.520 the strike zone. Cincinnati has one challenge remaining. Freddy is out. 0:03:07.600 --> 0:03:08.760 It was a fast all right. 0:03:08.960 --> 0:03:12.840 That was anti climactic right there, Freddie Freeman striking out. 0:03:12.919 --> 0:03:16.200 He did challenge it. The ABS is in play, so 0:03:16.440 --> 0:03:19.959 you got a taste of how quickly that will happen, 0:03:20.320 --> 0:03:22.600 even in a major league game. And just in case 0:03:22.639 --> 0:03:25.359 you're not aware of the rules that are in play, Yes, 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:28.960 there is an automated strike zone. Yes, each team can 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:33.360 challenge twice. They have two challenges. If they're correct, they 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:37.320 keep it. If they're wrong, they lose one. And if 0:03:37.360 --> 0:03:40.560 it goes extra innings, you do get an extra challenge 0:03:40.640 --> 0:03:43.960 in case you've lost both of them during the course 0:03:44.040 --> 0:03:46.800 of the game. And as Matt money Smith pointed out 0:03:46.960 --> 0:03:50.240 the other day, the Dodgers are near the bottom as 0:03:50.360 --> 0:03:54.800 far as percentage of getting it correct as hitters and 0:03:55.360 --> 0:04:00.240 as the pitcher catcher combination. So Freddie Freeman strikes out 0:04:00.360 --> 0:04:04.480 looking thanks to the automated strike zone. But right now 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:07.600 the Dodgers are leading the Reds four to three. This 0:04:07.920 --> 0:04:11.920 really isn't any headline or news making type of game, 0:04:12.520 --> 0:04:14.960 outside of the fact the Dodgers do have a lot 0:04:15.040 --> 0:04:18.120 of the regulars in the lineup tonight, but they started 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:22.080 Cole Irvin, who may he's on the bubble for making 0:04:22.200 --> 0:04:25.000 the team because he can give the Dodgers some innings. 0:04:25.480 --> 0:04:29.120 So he's on the bubble for making the team because 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:33.159 of the injuries to Gavin Stone and Blake Snell. Gavin 0:04:33.200 --> 0:04:36.520 Stone actually told me earlier today he's gonna be throwing 0:04:36.640 --> 0:04:39.800 this weekend at some point, so that's good news for 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:42.880 him as well as shoulder is starting to feel better. 0:04:43.440 --> 0:04:46.000 This is Dodger Talk. We're with you until eight o'clock 0:04:46.040 --> 0:04:49.279 tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports Phone 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.039 lines are open at eight six six, nine eighty seven 0:04:52.200 --> 0:04:55.520 two five seventy. In case you missed our show, our 0:04:55.760 --> 0:04:59.080 only other show this week this past Tuesday, you can 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:02.040 find it on the Heart radio app. Rick Monday and 0:05:02.360 --> 0:05:06.719 former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr joined us and we'll share 0:05:06.760 --> 0:05:10.280 with you the story that Derek Carr shared with us. Oh, 0:05:10.520 --> 0:05:15.200 Max Mounsey, Yes, you did two run home run for 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:18.800 Max Munsey to right field. He is having a great 0:05:18.920 --> 0:05:21.560 spring A two run home run by Max Munsey, that 0:05:21.720 --> 0:05:24.840 funky Monsey. I'm not gonna give you a home run call. 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:27.480 That's all I got for you, Max Munsey. A two 0:05:27.600 --> 0:05:29.800 run home run in spring training is not gonna get 0:05:29.839 --> 0:05:32.680 me out of my seats, but certainly great to see 0:05:32.800 --> 0:05:35.760 him having a really good spring training. The work he 0:05:35.839 --> 0:05:39.600 put in during the offseason has certainly translated early on 0:05:39.800 --> 0:05:43.080 in camp. So the Dodgers, and it's against a real pitcher. 0:05:43.200 --> 0:05:46.760 The Dodgers have scored six runs off of Nick Lodolo 0:05:47.040 --> 0:05:50.680 out of I guess Laverne, California, Damien. I believe he 0:05:50.760 --> 0:05:53.640 went to high school out there. But like I said, 0:05:54.279 --> 0:05:56.479 in case you missed the story that Derek Carr shared 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:59.440 with us on how he got the second base bag 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:02.760 of Game six of the World Series in Toronto in 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:05.440 his home office, we'll share that with you a little 0:06:05.440 --> 0:06:10.120 bit later. Also, keyk Hernandez is back at Dodger camp 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:14.320 after cheering on Team Puerto Rico. He'll be headed back 0:06:15.360 --> 0:06:17.680 out in the next couple of days to cheer them 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:22.200 on in the quarterfinals. So you'll hear from Key Hernandez 0:06:22.279 --> 0:06:25.800 and his thoughts about the Dodgers and the three peat 0:06:26.200 --> 0:06:28.599 that is in front of them. And we're taking your 0:06:28.640 --> 0:06:31.400 phone calls at eight sixty six, nine eighty seven, two 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:35.239 five seventy. I do have an update on Blake Snell. 0:06:35.440 --> 0:06:37.800 There's a lot of updates on some pitchers today. It 0:06:37.920 --> 0:06:42.320 was pretty active on the backfields. Blake Snell through his 0:06:42.600 --> 0:06:47.640 second bullpen session this week. The reason why that significant 0:06:47.800 --> 0:06:51.080 is the shoulder is not giving him any more problems. 0:06:51.120 --> 0:06:55.280 It's just a matter now of him continuing to build up. 0:06:55.880 --> 0:06:59.880 And he felt good about where he's at right now. 0:07:00.200 --> 0:07:04.080 He's obviously happy he's pain free, and he said he 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:06.640 started to feel pain free in that shoulder a couple 0:07:06.720 --> 0:07:09.960 of weeks before camp. But the reality is, and Dave 0:07:10.080 --> 0:07:14.440 Roberts said as much, Blake Snell is doing something like 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:17.360 he did today that a pitcher does a week or 0:07:17.440 --> 0:07:21.800 two before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. So 0:07:21.960 --> 0:07:26.160 he's at least seven weeks away from pitching in a 0:07:26.240 --> 0:07:29.480 major league game. And he was asked when he hopes 0:07:29.560 --> 0:07:32.240 to pitch in a major league game, and he said 0:07:32.320 --> 0:07:35.920 by the end of April. That seems a little aggressive. 0:07:36.080 --> 0:07:38.640 The Dodgers are not going to rush him and allow 0:07:38.760 --> 0:07:43.240 him to skip steps just to come back sooner rather 0:07:43.400 --> 0:07:46.960 than later. There's no difference for the Dodgers for Blake 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:49.760 Snell to come back the last week of April or 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:53.600 the last week of May. That's the reality of how 0:07:53.760 --> 0:07:56.520 deep this pitching staff is and how they can absorb 0:07:57.080 --> 0:08:01.720 the first month and a half without Blake Snell. I 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:04.200 got news for you. I went to Rangers camp earlier 0:08:04.240 --> 0:08:06.880 today because of this night game. I had nothing to do, 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:09.160 so I wanted to go to another camp, and I thought, 0:08:09.520 --> 0:08:12.080 why not go to a camp where a former Dodgers 0:08:12.200 --> 0:08:15.680 the manager. And there's two former Dodgers that are in 0:08:15.800 --> 0:08:19.120 the starting lineup in Corey Seeger and Jock Peterson. And 0:08:19.280 --> 0:08:22.080 I got news for you. You know, the Dodgers can 0:08:22.160 --> 0:08:25.960 do things that the Rangers can't, then virtually every other 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:29.840 team in baseball can't do. And that's not rush a 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:33.800 two time Cy Young Award winner in Blake Snell. If 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:36.920 the Rangers did not have Jacob de Grom again to 0:08:37.000 --> 0:08:39.600 start the year or Jack Lyder to start the year, 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:44.480 they'd be in a heap of trouble. The Padres, they 0:08:44.600 --> 0:08:48.240 resigned Michael King, they brought in Walker Buehler. There's a 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:50.640 lot of teams out there that on the surface, you 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:53.360 may say, yeah, that's a pretty good starting five, but 0:08:53.600 --> 0:08:57.440 do they have what it takes to withstand the Riggers 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:01.080 of covering close to two one thousand innings in one 0:09:01.160 --> 0:09:04.240 hundred and sixty two games. That's what the Dodgers have, 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:07.880 And I guess that's I'm not gonna say the Dodgers 0:09:08.000 --> 0:09:11.000 don't need Blakesnell, because they do need Blakesnell to be 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:15.640 back in May sometimes considering you know, where their rotation 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:17.760 is and how they're trying to manage innings for not 0:09:17.880 --> 0:09:22.600 only Snell but everybody else in this rotation. But even 0:09:22.720 --> 0:09:26.679 with Gavin Stone having a setback with his shoulder, the 0:09:26.800 --> 0:09:31.599 Dodgers still have Emmit Sheian. They still have Otani Yamamoto, 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:36.079 Tyler Glass now and a valuable pitcher and Justin Robleski. 0:09:36.280 --> 0:09:40.040 You know, I plan to ask Justin tomorrow about just 0:09:40.240 --> 0:09:43.319 where he's at this spring and whether or not he's still, 0:09:43.880 --> 0:09:46.600 you know, going to be the swingman for this team 0:09:46.800 --> 0:09:48.800 or is he going to be in the starting rotation. 0:09:49.320 --> 0:09:54.920 He's a very valuable piece to the Dodgers. Now, everybody 0:09:55.000 --> 0:09:59.360 wants to know where is the Dodgers' vulnerability this team, 0:09:59.440 --> 0:10:01.559 And we'll get in to this coming up at the 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:04.160 bottom of the hour. I got news for you. This 0:10:04.320 --> 0:10:08.120 team is better than it was a year ago. But 0:10:08.280 --> 0:10:11.840 if you had to ask me if there is a vulnerability, 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:16.120 I would say it would be a right handed high 0:10:16.240 --> 0:10:21.520 leverage reliever in the sixth or seventh inning, because right 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:25.160 now there's a lot of questions surrounding thirty seven year 0:10:25.200 --> 0:10:29.119 old Blake trining They were counting on Bruce dark Grederol 0:10:29.320 --> 0:10:33.760 after missing basically the last two years, to be part 0:10:34.000 --> 0:10:38.719 of the right handed high leverage relief spot. And I 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:41.720 know that Dodgers have Edwin Diaz, but he's the closer 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:45.760 who's gonna get many Machado out and Fernando Tatiss out 0:10:45.800 --> 0:10:48.360 in the sixth or seventh inning. It's not gonna be 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:51.360 Edwin Diaz. They need him to close out the game. 0:10:52.080 --> 0:10:54.960 And they have really good left handed relievers with Vesia 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:59.280 Dreyer and Tanner Scott, But where are the right handed 0:11:00.640 --> 0:11:04.640 high leverage relievers? Who is that Without Bruce star Graderol 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:09.120 and Blake Trinan. I would say it's been mixed results 0:11:09.200 --> 0:11:12.920 this spring. He's thirty seven years old. Let's not forget 0:11:13.000 --> 0:11:16.400 that Kyle Hurt. He could be part of the equation. 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:19.920 Brock Stewart is part of the equation, but he's not 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:23.400 gonna be ready for the first probably three weeks of 0:11:23.520 --> 0:11:27.920 the season. The Dodgers will hopefully get Evan Phillips back 0:11:28.040 --> 0:11:30.839 the second half of the season, but I'm talking about 0:11:30.880 --> 0:11:34.360 the first half of the season at Gardo Enriquez. Is 0:11:34.440 --> 0:11:37.160 he really ready for that? I'm not sure he is. 0:11:37.880 --> 0:11:40.439 I guess we're gonna find out together. But if you 0:11:40.559 --> 0:11:45.080 had to ask what is the one vulnerability, it would 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:49.000 be that who is the other right handed high leverage 0:11:49.080 --> 0:11:52.559 reliever the Dodgers are going to be counting on. I 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:55.960 I'm pulling for Blake Trinan. I would love to see 0:11:56.080 --> 0:11:59.880 him have a bounce back year from last year after 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:02.719 or just how much he meant to the twenty four 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:06.480 Dodgers and winning that championship. I would love to see 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:09.800 him bounce back and have a great twenty six. And 0:12:10.400 --> 0:12:12.120 I don't know if he wants to keep pitching or not, 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:16.240 but sometimes the game and your arm decides that He's 0:12:16.320 --> 0:12:18.640 thirty seven years old with a lot of miles on it. 0:12:19.240 --> 0:12:21.959 Eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is 0:12:22.040 --> 0:12:27.400 the phone number when we continue live from camel Back Ranching, Glendale, Arizona. 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:30.880 We are going to get into the Dodgers involved in 0:12:30.960 --> 0:12:33.839 the World Baseball Classic, and I really haven't talked about, 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:38.719 you know, the the stuff going on, I guess with 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:44.719 Team USA and not knowing that they are or not advancing. 0:12:44.840 --> 0:12:47.679 They are now thanks to net Coletti's Team Italy. But 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:50.640 we'll get into the World Baseball Classic and we'll get 0:12:50.720 --> 0:12:55.800 into the sobering reality for the rest of Major League 0:12:55.840 --> 0:12:59.880 Baseball that the Dodgers are better than they were a 0:13:00.160 --> 0:13:03.400 year ago. Hard to believe. Eight six six nine eight 0:13:03.520 --> 0:13:06.679 seven two five seventy is the phone number David Vassay 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:10.480 live at camel Back Ranch where the Dodgers are leading 0:13:10.559 --> 0:13:13.840 the Reds six to three in the fourth inning. Don't 0:13:13.880 --> 0:13:16.719 go anywhere. We might tap in to Rick Monday and 0:13:16.840 --> 0:13:20.480 Tim Nevertt again right here on AM five seventy LA Sports. 0:13:21.160 --> 0:13:23.920 We are with you until eight o'clock tonight, right here 0:13:24.000 --> 0:13:27.320 on AM five to seventy LA Sports as Dodger Talk 0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:32.679 rolls on under the lights at camel Back Branch in Glendale, Arizona, 0:13:32.720 --> 0:13:36.240 where the Dodgers are leading the Reds six to three 0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:39.079 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:42.440 I was talking about who's going to be the Dodgers 0:13:42.559 --> 0:13:45.640 high leverage right handed reliever before they give the ball 0:13:45.720 --> 0:13:49.679 to Edwin dis I mentioned Kyle Hurt. Kyle Hurt just 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:54.240 pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out Spencer Steer and 0:13:54.440 --> 0:13:56.800 Ellie d la Cruz to end the top of the 0:13:56.920 --> 0:14:01.240 fourth on a ninety eight fastball out of USC. He's 0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:04.360 a local SoCal kid. I'm pulling for him. He had 0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:08.120 shoulder surgery a couple of years ago. He's back and 0:14:08.400 --> 0:14:11.679 he certainly is going to be pitching innings for the 0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:14.640 Dodgers out of the bullpen at some point in time. 0:14:14.840 --> 0:14:18.400 It could be to start the season while Brock Stewart 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:21.880 is on the il to start the year. You know, 0:14:21.960 --> 0:14:25.880 I forgot about Game three World Series hero Will Kline. 0:14:26.280 --> 0:14:28.440 Let's see if Will Klein can find the magic too. 0:14:28.560 --> 0:14:31.120 So he's in the mix. But Kyle Hurt making me 0:14:31.240 --> 0:14:34.160 look good right on cue pitching a scoreless top of 0:14:34.240 --> 0:14:37.880 the fourth inning here at Camelback Ranch and striking out 0:14:38.200 --> 0:14:42.440 the great Ellie de La Cruz on a ninety eight fastball. Hey, 0:14:42.720 --> 0:14:45.960 Tuesday night, we didn't have time for phone calls. Tonight 0:14:46.080 --> 0:14:48.960 we have time for phone calls. So we're only two 0:14:49.040 --> 0:14:53.120 weeks away from opening day. That's right, We're only two 0:14:53.200 --> 0:14:56.520 weeks away from opening day and the Dodgers are only 0:14:56.600 --> 0:15:00.680 going to be here in Arizona for another week before 0:15:00.760 --> 0:15:06.080 the Freeway Series starts a week from Saturday. So, uh, 0:15:06.280 --> 0:15:09.240 now's the time. Eight six six nine eight seven two 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:12.880 five seventy is the phone number, And now's to time 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:17.760 to go see my guy Sam at Downy Hunday. That's right, 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:20.760 my guy Sam is waiting for you. It's a party there. 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:24.400 It's not like a boring car dealership where you go 0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:27.960 in it's so sterile. No, this guy's got Strobe lights on. 0:15:28.480 --> 0:15:31.800 He's got flat screen TVs in the back of the 0:15:31.920 --> 0:15:36.560 showroom cars. That's the reason why Hyundai Downey or Downy 0:15:36.680 --> 0:15:39.720 Hunday was voted number one dealer of the Year for 0:15:39.880 --> 0:15:44.200 North America by the Hyundai Motor Company. Sam doesn't mess around. 0:15:44.360 --> 0:15:47.800 He's a great guy. Awarded twenty twenty five Board of 0:15:48.040 --> 0:15:51.840 Excellence by Hyundai Motor Company. I mean, this guy is 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:56.440 as decorated as the Dodgers. They're going for the repeat, 0:15:56.520 --> 0:15:59.720 the three peat like the Dodgers are. And with Downy Hunday, 0:15:59.840 --> 0:16:03.880 it all about the experience. I got to experience it firsthand. 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:07.440 I'm all in with Downy Hunday. You should be too, 0:16:07.560 --> 0:16:10.560 So go see my guy Sam. Tell him David Vasse 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.800 sent you, okay, and while you're waiting for him, enjoy 0:16:14.920 --> 0:16:18.600 the scenes. There's a lot of scenes there at Downy Hunday. 0:16:19.120 --> 0:16:22.320 Eight six six, nine eighty seven, two five seventy is 0:16:22.440 --> 0:16:26.360 the phone number. All right, my guy, not only Sam 0:16:26.560 --> 0:16:31.160 at Hyundai Downy, but Yoshinobo Yamamoto. He is going to 0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:36.240 pitch against Venezuela for Team Japan this Saturday. He's going 0:16:36.320 --> 0:16:38.680 to be stretched out as he usually is during this 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:42.880 time period. If he was here pitching in the Cactus League, 0:16:42.920 --> 0:16:46.040 he would be getting stretched out to the fourth fifth 0:16:46.120 --> 0:16:49.000 inning of games like Tyler Glass now was in his 0:16:49.160 --> 0:16:52.680 last start. So that's what's going to happen on Saturday 0:16:52.880 --> 0:16:57.360 against Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. I got 0:16:57.400 --> 0:17:01.000 good news for you if you're a Dodger fan. It's 0:17:01.040 --> 0:17:04.000 gonna be the last time that Yamamoto pitches for Team 0:17:04.080 --> 0:17:08.000 Japan in this World Baseball Classic. He's not going to 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:11.359 pitch again for Team Japan, win or lose after this 0:17:11.600 --> 0:17:15.840 Venezuela start. But don't expect to see him back at 0:17:15.920 --> 0:17:20.000 Camelback Ranch on Sunday. Because of his dedication and how 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:23.880 much the World Baseball Classic means to him and Japan, 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:26.680 He's gonna stay there. He's gonna stay with the team 0:17:26.840 --> 0:17:31.320 through Miami until they're eliminated. If they're eliminated or they 0:17:31.400 --> 0:17:33.600 get to the championship game, he's gonna be there until 0:17:33.680 --> 0:17:36.320 the end whenever that is for Team Japan. But he's 0:17:36.440 --> 0:17:40.880 not going to pitch after Saturday. That was made clear 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:43.800 to me. Eight six, six, nine eighty seven, two five 0:17:43.920 --> 0:17:45.120 seventy is the phone number. 0:17:45.240 --> 0:17:45.359 Now. 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:47.960 I feel like in the last twenty four to forty 0:17:47.960 --> 0:17:51.920 eight hours, my guy, Mark de Rosa has been you know, 0:17:52.480 --> 0:17:58.200 bloodied by every sports talk talking head out there. I'm 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:01.640 not gonna pile on and kick him while he's down. 0:18:03.000 --> 0:18:04.960 The reason why I say is my guy is because 0:18:05.000 --> 0:18:07.200 he has treated me really well when I've been a 0:18:07.280 --> 0:18:11.920 guest on MLB Central. I mean, he and Lauren Shahadi 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:14.840 and Roflow allowed me to stay on the set before 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:17.960 Game seven of the World Series as the Blue Jays 0:18:18.040 --> 0:18:21.400 manager John Schneider came over on the set. So I'm 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:25.879 not gonna completely bury Mark de Rosa. But part of 0:18:26.080 --> 0:18:29.879 the reason I can't buy all the way into the 0:18:29.920 --> 0:18:33.720 World Baseball Classic. And look, I've been labeled as a 0:18:33.800 --> 0:18:37.760 hater anti World Baseball Classic. I'm really not. I can 0:18:37.840 --> 0:18:42.440 appreciate the games. I can appreciate certain fan bases loving it. 0:18:42.680 --> 0:18:45.320 I can appreciate a guy like kek Hernandez who has 0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:47.919 so much pride for Puerto Rico and wants to perform 0:18:48.000 --> 0:18:50.840 for them, wants them to do well. Obviously he's hurt 0:18:50.920 --> 0:18:53.320 he can't play, but certainly has a lot of pride 0:18:53.400 --> 0:18:57.040 for his island. I can appreciate all of that. But 0:18:57.200 --> 0:19:00.720 if you're trying to tell me this is a true 0:19:01.160 --> 0:19:06.960 competitive tournament, that's why I can't buy all the way in. 0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:10.320 And you're telling me that they have the best of 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:13.680 the best for Team USA. But they have an inexperienced 0:19:13.800 --> 0:19:20.280 manager managing this collection of stars, and DeRosa is a 0:19:20.320 --> 0:19:24.720 great guy. He's a very likable guy that can bring 0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:30.600 twenty six guys together quickly. But you're telling me Bruce 0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:35.000 Bouchie or Dusty Baker who's managing for Nicaragua somehow. I mean, 0:19:35.040 --> 0:19:37.119 I know he has that background in his family, but 0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:42.200 Dusty's a proud American as well. You're telling me Mike Zoshia, 0:19:42.800 --> 0:19:46.200 I mean, that's my biggest gripe. USA Baseball has Mike 0:19:46.320 --> 0:19:50.159 Sosia manage virtually every other tournament for them, but not 0:19:50.359 --> 0:19:54.760 this one. And the reason is it's cross promotion. Mark 0:19:54.840 --> 0:20:01.399 DeRosa is on the best morning show baseball half MLB Central, 0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:06.560 hands down, probably the best morning show on television during 0:20:06.600 --> 0:20:10.080 the baseball season, So it's cross promotion. It's put on 0:20:10.680 --> 0:20:14.280 by Major League Baseball. Another reason why I can't buy 0:20:14.440 --> 0:20:17.840 all the way into the World Baseball Classic is Trek 0:20:17.920 --> 0:20:21.639 Schouoble makes one start and leaves, and look, I understand it. 0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:25.359 I agree with that decision, but it's not the best 0:20:25.400 --> 0:20:31.000 of the best pitching wise. And here's another thing that 0:20:31.119 --> 0:20:35.440 stood out to me. USA and Japan because of the 0:20:35.520 --> 0:20:39.960 way USA played and pool play was on collision for 0:20:41.760 --> 0:20:46.399 a Japan USA semi finals. But oh wait a minute, 0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:50.000 you got to read the fine print, right Check it out. 0:20:50.960 --> 0:20:54.920 Check out the fine print at the bottom from the 0:20:55.119 --> 0:21:00.200 very beginning Major League Baseball has wanted the USA and 0:21:00.359 --> 0:21:04.760 Japan to be in the finals against each other. But 0:21:05.440 --> 0:21:08.560 lo and behold if you check out the bracket. If 0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:12.399 the US advances to the quarterfinals in Houston, their match 0:21:12.680 --> 0:21:14.800 not a game. I thought baseball was a game, not 0:21:14.920 --> 0:21:18.679 a match. That's tennis. Their match will be played on Friday, 0:21:18.760 --> 0:21:22.160 March thirteenth, regardless of where they finish first or second 0:21:22.200 --> 0:21:25.440 in Pool B. That's fine. If Japan advances to the 0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:28.840 quarterfinals in Miami, their match will be played on Saturday, 0:21:28.920 --> 0:21:33.200 March fourteenth. The reason why is because they don't want 0:21:33.320 --> 0:21:37.000 these two teams playing each other in the semi finals. 0:21:37.440 --> 0:21:40.720 They want it lined up for them to play in 0:21:40.840 --> 0:21:45.960 the finals. So I'm sure you believe that wrestling is 0:21:46.080 --> 0:21:49.680 real too. If you believed that the World Baseball Classic 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:56.920 was a true competition, it is. Nothing is you know, 0:21:57.080 --> 0:22:00.040 pre determined before those two games. But when you do, 0:22:00.080 --> 0:22:03.480 you see that fine print that is trying to bring 0:22:03.600 --> 0:22:08.280 together US and Japan for the biggest ratings, the biggest 0:22:08.320 --> 0:22:13.000 tickets in Miami. Come on, That's the reason why I 0:22:13.160 --> 0:22:17.280 can't buy all the way in like some other people. 0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:20.200 I just can't. And I feel like the more it 0:22:20.280 --> 0:22:23.960 goes on, it gets more exposed for that. It's a 0:22:24.200 --> 0:22:29.840 made for TV event, somewhat gimmicky, somewhat gimmicky. The Olympics 0:22:29.920 --> 0:22:31.879 is where it's at. You're not gonna have any of 0:22:31.960 --> 0:22:36.000 that going on to try to get US and Japan 0:22:36.160 --> 0:22:39.200 in the gold medal game. But look, we can all 0:22:39.560 --> 0:22:41.840 enjoy it for what it is. Can we all agree 0:22:42.200 --> 0:22:46.720 on that it's fun and it's great camaraderie, it's great 0:22:46.800 --> 0:22:50.720 representation of country. It's awesome in that respect. But don't 0:22:50.720 --> 0:22:53.440 try to tell me this is not a made for 0:22:53.600 --> 0:22:57.080 TV scripted event. Eight six six nine, eight seven two 0:22:57.200 --> 0:22:59.920 five seventy is the phone number. We have three lines open, 0:23:00.000 --> 0:23:02.440 and we are live at camel Back Ranch as the 0:23:02.560 --> 0:23:06.200 Dodgers and Reds are playing under the lights tonight and 0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:09.399 the Dodgers are leading the red six to three in 0:23:09.520 --> 0:23:11.399 the top of the fifth inning. Actually the top of 0:23:11.440 --> 0:23:14.000 the fifth just ended. Let's go out to the phones. 0:23:14.200 --> 0:23:17.600 Mike in Hollywood. You're on Dodger Talk. How you doing, Mike? 0:23:18.920 --> 0:23:19.560 I'm good, Dave. 0:23:19.640 --> 0:23:19.960 What's up? 0:23:20.000 --> 0:23:21.160 How are you howards Arizona? 0:23:21.240 --> 0:23:21.600 Is it hot? 0:23:22.280 --> 0:23:22.399 Oh? 0:23:22.480 --> 0:23:22.920 Yeah, I was. 0:23:23.200 --> 0:23:25.239 The heat has been turned up this week. And if 0:23:25.280 --> 0:23:28.200 you're coming out here. Be ready for temperatures close to 0:23:28.359 --> 0:23:29.240 one hundred degrees. 0:23:30.400 --> 0:23:33.480 Oh, I wish I could make it. Listen, David, I 0:23:33.520 --> 0:23:35.240 want to do it. Check in with you about Mookie. 0:23:35.640 --> 0:23:38.800 You know, last two seasons, we've had some down offensive years. 0:23:39.000 --> 0:23:42.040 You know, he's been injured, he's been ill, he had 0:23:42.080 --> 0:23:44.680 some personal family tragedy. Working on being really one of 0:23:44.720 --> 0:23:46.000 the best shortstops. 0:23:45.520 --> 0:23:46.080 In the majors. 0:23:46.520 --> 0:23:48.119 And I heard at the beginning of spring that he 0:23:48.160 --> 0:23:50.280 felt like he was, you know, going to have some 0:23:50.440 --> 0:23:52.240 kind of return to form, that he was feeling the 0:23:52.320 --> 0:23:53.760 best spring in a long time. 0:23:54.600 --> 0:23:55.280 Where's he at. 0:23:55.600 --> 0:23:58.320 What are you thinking for Mookie season? Offensively, I'm expecting 0:23:58.359 --> 0:24:00.639 great things from him. It's shortstop again. But wanted to 0:24:00.640 --> 0:24:02.320