1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talking. 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: And we're joined right now by the leader of this team, 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: a man that is entering his eleventh season as the 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Dodger manager. And there's only one other Dodger manager that 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: has won more World Championships than Dave Roberts, and that 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: is the Hall of Famer Walter Alston. Dave, thanks a 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: lot for the time, and hard to believe this is 8 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: your eleventh spring training. 9 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, Dave, it's hard when you put it that way, 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: and it's flown by, and there's been a lot of 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: great memories, moments, and I think the fun part about, 12 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: you know, my job in this spring is I just 13 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 2: have I my coaches, the players have as much enthusiasm 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 2: about showing up to work each day, and that's you know, 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 2: an accomplishment, you know, for everyone, and so something to 16 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: be really proud of. And yeah, twenty twenty five was great, 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: the years prior great, but you know, I'm really excited. 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: I would almost say that I'm more excited about twenty 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: six and in a year I've been with the Dodgers. 20 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it feels like this group and yourself are still 21 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: very hungry after back to back championships. 22 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we are, and I think that, you know, a 23 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 2: lot of people ask me, you know, what's a message 24 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: for a team that's won two in a row, three 25 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: in the last six years, And I think for me, 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 2: it's just continuing to, you know, practice the right way, 27 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: the process, and play hard and try to make everything 28 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: we do matter. And so for me as a coach, 29 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: when I do stand back and I watch us workout 30 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: and the intent behind everything we do, it's buttoned up 31 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: and that's something that's pretty exciting for all of us. 32 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: Dave, I talked to Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts about this. 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: You guys have never shied away from expectations, not from 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: the outside but amongst each other. And when I said 35 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: three pete, they said, you can say that as loud 36 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: as you want, because that's what we want. 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. I agree, And I think that when you're I guess, 38 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: when you are secure in you know your team, team, 39 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: who you are individually, you're not afraid to run from 40 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: expectations because our own expectations should be higher than what 41 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: anyone else could expect. So yeah, but I think, Dave 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: is that we do a good job of understanding what 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: is at stake, but also the most important part of 44 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,399 Speaker 2: it is to kind of focus on the work each day. 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: And you know, like I said many times, you're not 46 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 2: going to win a World Series in February. You're not 47 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: going to win a three peet in February. Your goal 48 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: is to get better each day. And I think our 49 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: guys do as good a job as anyone as you know, 50 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: putting on those blinders and folks on each day. 51 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: You always do everything with a purpose to connect to 52 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: each individual and to connect to the group. You mentioned 53 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: to us at FanFest that you played at the Holy 54 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: Grail Augusta during the offseason, but you also brought Freddie 55 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: Freeman and Mookie Betts. What was that experience like for 56 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,839 Speaker 1: yourself and to have two of your best players come 57 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: with you. 58 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 2: It was actually Will Smith and Mookie and it was great. 59 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 2: And I think for me it's they love the game 60 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: of golf, and you know, we've been in a lot 61 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: of big games together, and I think for me it 62 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: was more of trying to continue to build that relationship 63 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: off the field and build that trust. And I've got 64 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: it with those guys as well as and you mentioned Freddie, 65 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: and so it's Also, you know, we spend so much 66 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: time together on the field, but building relationships away from 67 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: the field just makes it that much stronger. And it 68 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: was a memory that I know all three of us 69 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: remember forever. 70 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, not too many managers have that type of relationship 71 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: to do something like that when you take them out, 72 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: even to a special golf course like that. Do you 73 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: do that with a purpose to maybe get the temperature, 74 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: maybe start to get the message for the season going. 75 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: When you're you know, waiting for your turn or you're 76 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: standing around. 77 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: You know what, it's funny not really pointed conversations about 78 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: you know what we're trying to do, what we've done. 79 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: It's more of, you know, talking about golf. But I 80 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: think it's really getting to know each other away from 81 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: the ball field. And I think, you know, the more 82 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: you spend time with people, you get to kind of 83 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: learn what they value as people, and our interests are 84 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: the way we kind of live our lives and the 85 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,679 Speaker 2: things we value are aligned, and that just bleeds onto 86 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: the baseball field. So it doesn't have to be something 87 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: that we have to manufacture conversations about what we need 88 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: to do. And so I think that's really powerful in itself. 89 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: All right, So I'm going to say something here that 90 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: I feel is somewhat true. Shoe Aotani obviously doesn't speak 91 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: a lot publicly, but neither does Will Smith. The guy 92 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: hits the go ahead home run to clinch the World 93 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: Series in Game seven, we don't hear a lot from him. 94 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: What have you learned about Will Smith that we may 95 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: not know to allow him to be one of, if 96 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: not the most clutch players in baseball? 97 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: You know? What have? What does a public the people 98 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 2: not know? He's an open book, really is. He's very 99 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: simple in his preparation. I think he's a very confident player, 100 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: but a humble player, smart player. I think the main 101 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: thing with Will why he has success in big moments 102 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: is because he plays for the right reasons. You know, 103 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: in the biggest of moments. He's a guy that can 104 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: hit a groundball to move a guy to third base. 105 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: He's a guy that can take a walk in a 106 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: big spot or hit a home run. And Will is 107 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: as good of a team player as I've ever been around. 108 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: He's a very unselfish player. Doesn't answer your question because honestly, 109 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 2: what you see is what you get, and I think 110 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: for me is I like dependable players, and he's as 111 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: dependable as I've been around. 112 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: How much do we not appreciate the fact this guy 113 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: was playing with a broken hand for the majority of 114 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: the postseason and all of a sudden started to get 115 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: the power. His first extra base hit of the postseason 116 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: came in Game one of the World Series. Is he 117 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: one of your toughest guys? And does that go unnoticed 118 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: by the outside, you know, fandom. 119 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think the catching position is a serving position. 120 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: It certainly gets annotice anyway. You know what he's done 121 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: for the pitching staff, I thought he the way he 122 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: navigated the pitching staff this year in the postseason was 123 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: as good of a job behind the plate as I've seen. 124 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 2: And yeah, you know, starting the postseason, we had Ben 125 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: rart Vett catching games to start, certainly in that Philly series, 126 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 2: and for Will to come back off the bench to 127 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: kind of get his hand back to full strength. He 128 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: had a big hit in Philly, a lot of big hits, 129 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: and then then to you know, look out into the 130 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: World Series, catch eighteen innings and catch every inning of 131 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: the World Series is pretty remarkable. And he's never a 132 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: self promoter, never looking for credit and he just wants 133 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: to play to win, so he's certainly under the radar. 134 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: But I but I do know that in this clubhouse, guys, 135 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: you could argue that he's most valuable player we have 136 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: if you kind of bake in the offense and the defense. 137 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: Before I let Dave Robert Scoe. He's doing a lot 138 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: of things at once, all the time managing his relationships 139 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: with Andrew Freeman, the players and the fans, and also 140 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: the Dodger Foundation. When you look back at these previous 141 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: ten years and you look forward, Freddie Freeman keeps talking 142 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: about four more years? How much would you love to 143 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: write out the next four years with Freddie? And have 144 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: the previous ten been everything you thought they would be? 145 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: The previous ten have been everything and more than I 146 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: thought hoped it would be. I do think that it's 147 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: only going to get better because of the relationships that 148 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: we forge are strengthened. I'm excited for Freddie to play 149 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: four more years, and Lord willing it is with the Dodgers. 150 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: For me, I know I've got four years left on 151 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: my contract. I think think that you know, I'm having 152 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 2: as much fun as I've ever had. So we'll see, 153 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: you know, once this one ends, and we win a 154 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: couple more championships, a few more championships. 155 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: How addicting is winning? 156 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 2: It's you know, once you get a taste of it, 157 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 2: you know it is. I think addiction is the right word, 158 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: and obsession, and you know, but I think the thing, Dave, 159 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: is that winning is an addiction and obsession. But the practice, 160 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: the love for it, the process, that's what the great 161 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: ones have an addiction to. And our guys, two of men, 162 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 2: are addicted to getting continuing to get better as ballplayers, and. 163 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: It starts with the skipper, Dave Roberts. Everybody in that 164 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: clubhouse admires the way you lead this team. The people 165 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: behind the scenes feel the same way. And I think 166 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: I speak for everybody in La Dave Roberts is certainly 167 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: the right man for the right time in Dodger history. 168 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: Well, I'm in great company, a lot of good players, 169 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 2: great organizations, surrun by a lot of great people, and 170 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 2: our fan base. Dave, you know, there's nothing like Dodger Nation. 171 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: There really isn't. And there's a reason why players want 172 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 2: to come here and play for the Dodgers, the boys 173 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: in Blues. So we're gonna wrap up spring training where 174 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: we're off to a good start and I just can't 175 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 2: wait for our fan base to, you know, welcome us 176 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 2: when we get ready to start the regular season. 177 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: Thanks for the time, Dave, really appreciate it. 178 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 2: You got it, Dave. 179 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: There he goes Dodger manager Dave Roberts, ready for all 180 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: the expectations that he and his players are not shying 181 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: away from a chance to make history to three peat.