WEBVTT - Dalton Rushing (9-1-26) 

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<v Speaker 1>And now, an exclusive interview with David Basset for Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, we're back home. The Dodgers' nine-game homestand.

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<v Speaker 3>And what a way to kick it off than talking

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<v Speaker 3>to my guy, Dalton Rushing, who is active again.

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<v Speaker 2>And certainly a guy that we have.

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<v Speaker 3>A relationship that crosses the lines because we're in the

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<v Speaker 3>same fantasy football league. And you know who Daddy is

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<v Speaker 3>in fantasy football, Rushing. It's not you. It's the guy

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<v Speaker 3>you're talking to right here.

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<v Speaker 1>No, no. You're not going to win this year, Bass.

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<v Speaker 1>It's not even going to be close.

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<v Speaker 2>So what do you think? Are you impressed by the

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<v Speaker 2>league so far and last night's draft?

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<v Speaker 1>All I have to say is I hope neighbors haunt

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<v Speaker 1>you like you did me last year. So I'm going

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<v Speaker 1>to leave it at that. But I like my team.

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<v Speaker 1>I like your team, but I like my team better.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay. Why do you think your team's so good?

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I just plan for the long run. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't plan for just week one. I plan for all 16,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, 15, sorry. Um, yeah, no, I, I plan

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<v Speaker 1>for the long run. I think my team's going to

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<v Speaker 1>hold up.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey rushing. Can you paint the picture? Cause it was

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<v Speaker 2>an online draft.

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<v Speaker 3>I picture you on your fancy leather couch somewhere in

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<v Speaker 3>your penthouse in Los Angeles drafting. Where, where were you

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<v Speaker 3>drafting last night?

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<v Speaker 1>Not in a penthouse. Um, it's drafting my living room.

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<v Speaker 1>I was, uh, watching Spider-Man and, uh, drafting at the

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<v Speaker 1>same time. I wouldn't recommend it guys. Uh, Yeah, I

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<v Speaker 1>wasn't pleased with my team at first, but ESPN gave

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<v Speaker 1>it an A, so we're going to ride it out.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, that's the curse. You don't want a good

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<v Speaker 2>grade in the draft.

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<v Speaker 1>No, you don't, but it could go either way. We'll see.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, so you're back active. Let's talk baseball.

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<v Speaker 3>From what I understand, you're limited to pinch hitting duties,

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<v Speaker 3>and there's 25 games to go before October, so this

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<v Speaker 3>is somewhat of a dry run.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I guess the restriction's new, but not really a

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<v Speaker 1>different role. I guess you could say I kind of

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<v Speaker 1>played this role a little bit last year, early on, especially. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>so I'm familiar with it in a way. Uh, but

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<v Speaker 1>at the same time, yeah, it was, uh, good news.

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<v Speaker 1>Found out yesterday and, uh, yeah, it was chomping at

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<v Speaker 1>the bit. I was, uh, very excited. Got a few

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<v Speaker 1>live abouts today. I've been hitting traject a lot and, um,

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<v Speaker 1>here we go.

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<v Speaker 3>Was there any doubt that you wouldn't be able to

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<v Speaker 3>do this today or in September?

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<v Speaker 1>In my eyes or my head? No. Um, sure there

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<v Speaker 1>was throughout the org a little bit, but, uh, No,

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<v Speaker 1>I've felt pretty confident, obviously, on the hitting side, but

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<v Speaker 1>I feel even more confident on the catching side again.

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<v Speaker 1>His throwing's obviously progressed a little bit.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, you're throwing?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I've been throwing. I haven't started.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, how far do you throw?

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<v Speaker 1>Strictly 90 to 100 feet right now, but it feels

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<v Speaker 1>really good. It's in a really good spot, and I

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<v Speaker 1>think it's going to progress really well down the stretch.

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<v Speaker 3>Since you've been through this role where you've only been

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<v Speaker 3>coming off the bench, You've got to find a routine,

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<v Speaker 3>I would imagine, considering being the dominant everyday guy that

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<v Speaker 3>you were.

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<v Speaker 2>How do you find that new routine?

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<v Speaker 1>I think you've got to challenge yourself a little bit

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<v Speaker 1>in the cages. You're not getting challenged every day, so

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<v Speaker 1>it's a little different. You have to find a way

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<v Speaker 1>to challenge yourself when you get on trajectory. Find a

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<v Speaker 1>way to challenge yourself on machine, whatever the case may be.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think from there, it's just really take the abap. It's...

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<v Speaker 1>something you've obviously done, and it's no different than a

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<v Speaker 1>month ago when I was in the lineup.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, compete.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, just go up there and compete, do your job,

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<v Speaker 1>and obviously coming off the bench, you're coming in crucial spots,

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<v Speaker 1>help the team win, help the team score runs, and

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's what excites me most.

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<v Speaker 3>Dalton Rushing is our guest as the Dodgers get ready

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<v Speaker 3>for this nine-game homestand.

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<v Speaker 2>25 games to.

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<v Speaker 3>Go in this regular season.

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<v Speaker 2>When you look back... At your season, what a boost

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<v Speaker 2>you gave the Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't want to tell you your stats because you're

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<v Speaker 3>still playing, but obviously.

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<v Speaker 2>You were dominating and were a threat.

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<v Speaker 3>When you look at what you've learned, how much do

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<v Speaker 3>you take with you forward of this season?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, like you said, this season's not over. We've got

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<v Speaker 1>25 left in the regular season and obviously another 15

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<v Speaker 1>or so in the postseason. I think the main thing

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<v Speaker 1>is just keep my head down. Let's finish these last

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<v Speaker 1>25 strong. from the way I can help this team win. And, uh,

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<v Speaker 1>then from there, we, we build a plan for October

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<v Speaker 1>and we build a plan on what my role is

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<v Speaker 1>going to be and how I can help the team there. So, uh,

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<v Speaker 1>right now we're focused on the next 25. Let's win

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<v Speaker 1>the division, win the pennant and, uh, get the highest

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<v Speaker 1>seat possible.

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<v Speaker 2>Love it.

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<v Speaker 3>Before I let you go, Dalton rushing, you were out

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<v Speaker 3>here early live BP against Edwin Diaz. Was he sugar

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<v Speaker 3>or was he something else? Did the slider look like

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<v Speaker 3>sugar today?

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<v Speaker 1>He was sugar today. He looked good. Um, he, uh,

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<v Speaker 1>He looks really good right now, obviously, getting to see

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<v Speaker 1>everything firsthand in the box. I think it's going to

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<v Speaker 1>help Will and I both, just calling pitches from here

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<v Speaker 1>on out. A couple tweaks here and there, and, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I think he's back to his normal form. Love it.

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<v Speaker 2>I love the optimism. Great to have Dalton rushing back

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<v Speaker 2>in the lineup, on the bench, a threat. He's throwing.

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<v Speaker 3>I might catch one day just to get him ready

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<v Speaker 3>for the next step. Thanks a lot for the time,

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<v Speaker 3>and I'll see you online in fantasy football rushing.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks, Vas. Make a trade here soon.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay.