1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talk. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: We are joined right now by one of my favorite people, 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: a man that made himself known to Major League baseball, 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: making his major league debut so many first last year 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: for Dalton Rushing. Can't wait for his sophomore season with 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: the Dodgers and he will have a new teammate and 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker. Dalton Rushing, Welcome to Dodger Talk. 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: How you doing. I'm doing good. 9 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: Good to hear from you that, Hey, this was great timing. 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: We set this up a while ago, and it's the 11 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: night that Kyle Tucker signs with the Dodgers. I wasn't 12 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: expecting that. 13 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 2: Almost like you knew something. 14 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: Man, how much I don't know. How much do you 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: guys talk about these things amongst each other, about whether 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: or not a guy like Tucker may sign with you 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: or is it just something that you sit back and 18 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: watch and wait and see. 19 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's I think it's kind of cool 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 2: to just watch it unfold. Obviously, free agency for any 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 2: players an exciting time, also hectic, but yeah, I mean 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: it pops up tonight and you see it. You want 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 2: to be surprised. But at the same time, it's every 24 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: team tries to win a World Series every year, and 25 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 2: Dodgers are willing to do whatever. 26 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: What was it like for you last year being part 27 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: of this team that obviously has a World Series on 28 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: their minds when they report to spring training. For you 29 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: to get the call in the middle of the season 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: and to have big hits for this team and to 31 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: be there, you know, for and be a big part 32 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: of it. What was it like your first full season? 33 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: It was good. Overall. The main goal with any team 34 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: you ever played for it that level is going to 35 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: win a World Series, and so on that side, very successful. 36 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: It was an unbelievable group, I think, I would say 37 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: obviously from looking in beforehand, you get to play with 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: some of the best players in baseball still, and I 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: think that itself is a huge privilege for young guys, 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: especially your rookie year, to see the things that I saw, 41 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: learn the things that I did with like I said, 42 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:21,239 Speaker 2: the guys surrounding me. 43 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Dalton Rushing is joining us tonight on Dodger Talk and Dalton, 44 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: just thinking back to your season, People ask me all 45 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: the time about my favorite moment of the year of 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: the World Series. But if somebody were to ask me 47 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: about my favorite Dalton rushing moment of the season last 48 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: year was your game in San Diego where you had 49 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: a huge home run against the Padres on that day 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: game to kind of remind the Padres that you guys 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: are still here and at that time the race was 52 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: really close. When you think back to your season last year, 53 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: is that one of the games one of the moments 54 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: that sticks out to you? 55 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say that was for sure. I wouldn't 56 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: say the highlight. Obviously, you win the World Series, that's 57 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: your highlight. But for me, it was kind of a 58 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: moment of things weren't going my way for a little bit, 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: and so you kind of you fill your team around 60 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: you support you, and you do something like that. But 61 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: like you said, it was a big game for that 62 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: time of the year. But I just I was glad 63 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: that I was able to help the team win on 64 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: that Sunday day game and allow us to do the 65 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: things that we did later in the year. 66 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: Regardless, when did you start to settle into the season 67 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: once you got called up. 68 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like the guys did a really good 69 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: job of making you feel pretty at home early on. 70 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: It doesn't really feel as I guess uptied as people 71 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: would think from the outside. As far as being a 72 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: rookie on a team like that, I think it's the 73 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: Dodgers just do a good job of surrounding you with 74 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: good people, good resources, and comes with that as some 75 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: of the best players in the world. So yeah, it's 76 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: it wasn't too bad to kind of like feel like 77 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: I was a part of the guys very soon if 78 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 2: you guys took me under their wing and just kind 79 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 2: of allowed me to learn as much as I could 80 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: for being in the position and playing the role that 81 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: I played. 82 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: Dalton Rushing is our guest on Dodger Talk. It's the 83 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: night that the Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker to a four 84 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: year contract, and you know, going back all the way 85 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: back to November, Brandon Gomes was talking about how the 86 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: Dodgers wanted to get you more at bats this upcoming season. 87 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: He even mentioned the possibility of you getting some reps 88 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: in the outfield. I guess that's over with now, Dalton's 89 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: psych Kyle Tucker, did you ever did you ever pick 90 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: up your outfield glove again this offseason? 91 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've just kind of tried to go at this 92 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 3: offseason with the attack plan of basically being available for 93 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 3: whatever options that I can play, and playing a little 94 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 3: bit of left field that I played in twenty four 95 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 3: gave me the idea that I think I could do 96 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 3: it at a decent level at least being a catcher. 97 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: So I've kind of prepared my body for any outcome 98 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: or whatever they may need out of me. 99 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: You seem pretty comfortable at first base last year. How 100 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: did that happen so seamlessly? 101 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: Yeah? It was so. I played a lot of first 102 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: base in college. I actually played majority first base my 103 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 2: first two years in college before the final season in 104 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 2: twenty two, so I had a little experience there obviously, 105 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: never at this level. I had played a handful of 106 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: games throughout the miners there, so it wasn't completely foreign, 107 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: but they for sure kind of pushed me on that 108 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: side of the ball, just trying to stay as clean 109 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: as possible. 110 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: Do you feel pretty comfortable at first space. 111 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course. I mean it's like I said, I've 112 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: played at plenty so I have the I guess you 113 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 2: could say I have the trust in myself over there 114 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: to go over there whenever they ask and play a 115 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: pretty good first base. But with that being said, I 116 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: think first base is really just a repetition thing. So 117 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: that's something that I kind of have to be ahead 118 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 2: of myself as far as like keeping myself busy even 119 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 2: when I'm not over there. 120 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: This spring training is going to be a great opportunity 121 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: with the World Baseball Classic and Will Smith playing for 122 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: Team USA, that means there's a lot of opportunities for 123 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: Dalton Rushing to not have Will Smith, you know, taking 124 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: up the normal Will Smith playing time. Has that entered 125 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: your mind that this spring training you're really going to 126 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to get into the rhythm of the season. 127 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I honestly just I'm showing up to spring training 128 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: expecting both of us to get what we need to 129 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: be ready, obviously him being pushed at a little quicker pace. 130 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: But at the same time, whenever they ask, that's what 131 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: I want to do. And like I said earlier, that's 132 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: kind of the attack that I've taken into the off season, 133 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: just being able to prepare for any outcome. And with 134 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: that being said, whether they want me to catch a 135 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: ton in spring training, whatever it may be, I want 136 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: to make sure that I'm ready for it. Hey. 137 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: The one thing that I'll always remember about Dalton Rushing 138 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: three years ago. If that was maybe two or three 139 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: years ago, your first big league camp, I was. I 140 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: was so impressed about your understanding and emphasis on the 141 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: picture catcher relationship. You don't hear too many young ca 142 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: ac talk about it the way you did. You had 143 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: such a great understanding about how every picture is different. 144 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: You got to speak to them differently to really connect 145 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: with them. When did you really understand the value of 146 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: the picture catcher relationship. 147 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: I feel like it's kind of It's been important in 148 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: the game obviously forever, but I guess you would say 149 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: pro ball. I kind of get into pro ball obviously. 150 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: You see your college players like a good bit, but 151 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: pro ball, you see these guys every single day, day 152 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 2: in day out. You know their routines, you know their tendencies, 153 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 2: things like that, and so the better being their catcher, 154 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: you understand those guys. It just makes it easier for 155 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: you two to click and build the trust within each other. 156 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: I think trust is the biggest word there, and the 157 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: more you trust each other, the better the execution is better. 158 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 2: The execution is more success you have. 159 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: What was it like having your lockers so close to 160 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw. Two really good pictures, but 161 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: two really different guys. 162 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: Yeah you liked that corner, didn't You've asked? 163 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 1: I loved it you Snell and uh and Kershaw and 164 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: Snell's one hundred pair of sneakers and honey Boom boots. 165 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: That was a great corner. 166 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was. It was a good corner. But like 167 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: I said earlier that those two being some of the 168 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: guys that kind of helped me settle in I think 169 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: played a big role of just being able to see 170 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: the two different personalities in the two and obviously the 171 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 2: success that they both had at this level. So yeah, 172 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 2: it was a huge opportunity. And who knows, maybe you'll 173 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 2: get that same corner next year. 174 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: Hey, wherever you are is the corner I'm going to 175 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: be in. Rushing you don't forget that. 176 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: I hear you that, I hear. 177 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: About Velcrow dogs. I'm like a velcro reporter. Have you 178 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: have you had any withdrawals not being around me every day? 179 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, uh, has it been weird not 180 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: seeing me every days? 181 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: It's weird not pouring beer on your face anymore. We 182 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: had about a month's stretch of being able to do 183 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 2: that and that was that brought joy to me. 184 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: I can't wait to do it again. Yeah, you guys, 185 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: I mean even before Kyle Tuck. Kyle Tucker's along for 186 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: the ride. You guys are the core is back for 187 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: the three p and Kyle Tucker is along for the ride. 188 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: Don't forget it, man, all right, if you need me 189 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: in Arizona to help you get ready for spring training, 190 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: let me know. I'm always available. 191 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: We'll see if you got good bt that. 192 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 1: Okay, sounds good. Hey, thanks a lot for doing this 193 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: and look forward to seeing you February thirteenth when pitchers 194 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: and catchers report. And make sure you put in a 195 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: good word with Kyle Tucker with me all right? For me? 196 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: Oh oh well, I'll make sure he knows you are 197 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 2: all right as I appreciate you. 198 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: I appreciate you. Dalton Rushing, thanks a lot for the time.