WEBVTT - Rain Delay Dodger Talk (8-30-26) 

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<v Speaker 1>The quest for the three-peat has begun.

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<v Speaker 2>Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won

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<v Speaker 2>three consecutive titles.

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<v Speaker 1>The Dodgers are the favorites to become the fifth. This

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<v Speaker 1>is World Champion Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 3>Here we go again.

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<v Speaker 4>We're getting ready to run it back.

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<v Speaker 1>To get in on the show, call 866-987-2570. And be

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<v Speaker 1>sure to follow Dodger Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

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<v Speaker 1>And now your host... Here's Tim Cates.

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<v Speaker 5>Oh, rain, rain, go away.

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<v Speaker 2>Come back another day as the Dodgers and Tigers. are

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<v Speaker 2>in a rain delay at Comerica Park in Detroit. Welcome

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<v Speaker 2>to Rain Delay Dodger Talk here on AM570 LA Sports.

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<v Speaker 2>Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app as the Dodgers trying

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<v Speaker 2>to get out of the Motor City and get back

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<v Speaker 2>home to reset and start a nine game homestand on

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<v Speaker 2>Tuesday when they welcome the St.

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<v Speaker 5>Louis Cardinals to town.

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<v Speaker 2>But before that, they got to finish off this road

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<v Speaker 2>trip in Man, what a disastrous road trip it has

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<v Speaker 2>been for this Dodgers team. There's no ifs, ands, or

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<v Speaker 2>buts about it. This Dodgers team is struggling offensively, getting

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<v Speaker 2>swept in Atlanta. Certainly when you run into a buzzsaw

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<v Speaker 2>like Chris Sale on Thursday, nobody's going to have good

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<v Speaker 2>offensive nights. And collectively, the Dodgers didn't, even though they

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<v Speaker 2>had opportunities. against Chris Sale in that complete game shutout.

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<v Speaker 2>But the Dodgers in the first two games of this

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<v Speaker 2>series in Detroit have struggled still offensively. Yesterday, more opportunities

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<v Speaker 2>left out on the base pass. Friday night, more opportunities

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<v Speaker 2>left out there with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>that we know and love the last couple of years

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<v Speaker 2>have been built on slug, good defense, and good pitching.

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<v Speaker 2>And in that slug, that means they're hitting the ball

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<v Speaker 2>in the gaps, they're producing runs with runners in scoring position,

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<v Speaker 2>and they're hitting home runs.

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<v Speaker 5>And Steven Nelson brought up a great step.

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<v Speaker 2>The Dodgers, one home run in their last 229 at-bats.

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't realize the drought that this Dodgers offense had

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<v Speaker 2>with the long ball recently. One home run in the

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<v Speaker 2>last 229 at-bats, and it's come from Tommy Edmond? I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>Freddie Freeman hasn't hit a home run since they were

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<v Speaker 2>popping off fireworks on the 4th of July at Dodger Stadium.

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<v Speaker 2>Max Muncy has not had a home run in a while.

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<v Speaker 2>This Dodgers team has not seen much offensive production from

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<v Speaker 2>Teoscar Hernandez. Certainly, the struggles of Kyle Tucker are real.

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<v Speaker 2>But this is a team built on slug. David Vasse

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<v Speaker 2>and I mentioned it and talked about it in the

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<v Speaker 2>pregame show just a little while ago. This isn't a

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<v Speaker 2>team that's all of a sudden going to change their identity,

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<v Speaker 2>who they are. I mean, I've gotten so many tweets.

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<v Speaker 2>Everywhere I went yesterday, I had people ask me, well,

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<v Speaker 2>why don't this team play more small ball? Why can't

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<v Speaker 2>this team bunt him? Why don't this team put the

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<v Speaker 2>runners in motion more? Well, you are what you are

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<v Speaker 2>over the course of a season. And the last few

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<v Speaker 2>off seasons, that's all the conversation has been, especially in

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<v Speaker 2>September when the teams have struggled like the Dodgers have.

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<v Speaker 2>And certainly they've struggled now the second half of the

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<v Speaker 2>season here at 26.

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<v Speaker 5>But why don't the Dodgers change who they are? Why

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<v Speaker 5>don't they change their identity?

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<v Speaker 2>Why don't they start buttoning? Well, you're going to ask

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<v Speaker 2>Kyle Tucker to start button. You're going to ask to

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<v Speaker 2>Oscar Hernandez to start button. When you get to October,

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<v Speaker 2>you're not asking these guys to bump because they're a

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<v Speaker 2>team built on slug to Oscar Hernandez is three run

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<v Speaker 2>home run against the Phillies last year in the post season.

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<v Speaker 2>Not because he bunny and the guy over and he's,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, a hit and run or run a hit.

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<v Speaker 5>Bless you.

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<v Speaker 2>This is not what this team bless you. Colin, he

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<v Speaker 2>sneezing in our studio here. Now we're all going to

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<v Speaker 2>get sick. I hope not. Um, This is a team

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<v Speaker 2>built on home run. This is a team built on slug.

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<v Speaker 2>And the Dodgers need to get back to it. And

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<v Speaker 2>when you run into good pitching, like Chris Sale the

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<v Speaker 2>other day, it's going to happen. You're going to have

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<v Speaker 2>a low-scoring game. When you get to October, certainly runs

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<v Speaker 2>are at a premium. But you've got to drive in

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<v Speaker 2>runs when they're sitting there on base. When you've got

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<v Speaker 2>in Atlanta the other day, and this is a prime

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<v Speaker 2>example against the Braves, when Shohei Otani in the ninth

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<v Speaker 2>inning has a leadoff triple, And you cannot bring him in.

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<v Speaker 2>You've got the greatest player on earth, the unicorn, right

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<v Speaker 2>in front of you standing on third base, and the

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<v Speaker 2>Dodgers could not drive him in in the ninth inning

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<v Speaker 2>the other day in Atlanta. That right there is the

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<v Speaker 2>prime example of what is wrong with this offense right now.

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<v Speaker 5>And how did they get out of it?

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<v Speaker 6>866-987-2570.

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<v Speaker 2>How does a Dodgers team that is built on slug,

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<v Speaker 2>that is built on driving the ball into the gap zone,

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<v Speaker 2>How do they get out of this offensive slump that

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<v Speaker 2>they're in?

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<v Speaker 5>How do they just flip the switch, so to speak,

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<v Speaker 5>in September? 866-987-2570.

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<v Speaker 2>It's Rain Delay Dodger Talk here on AM570 LA Sports.

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<v Speaker 2>Dave Roberts talked about it. We'll get to that in

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<v Speaker 2>a second. He's trying to figure it out. There's only

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<v Speaker 2>so much you can do to manipulate the lineup. on

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<v Speaker 2>a daily basis to try to jumpstart an offense. There's

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<v Speaker 2>so many different ways you can move guys around in

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<v Speaker 2>the lineup to try to figure out the right combination.

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<v Speaker 2>And Dave Roberts has done that. I mean, think about

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<v Speaker 2>the different spots that Kyle Tucker has hit in this lineup.

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<v Speaker 2>Think about the different spots that Teoscar Hernandez has hit

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<v Speaker 2>in this lineup. Now, Tommy Edmund, I mean, you talk

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<v Speaker 2>about the ultimate Swiss Army knife, and the Dodgers have

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<v Speaker 2>had a lot of good ones, including Mr. Kike Hernandez,

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<v Speaker 2>Chris Taylor, guys that can play multiple positions, but also

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<v Speaker 2>hit in different spots in the lineup. And in Tommy

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<v Speaker 2>Edmund's case, I call him the super utility knife. Because

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<v Speaker 2>he gets a switch hitter. And he can bat on

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<v Speaker 2>both sides of the plate. But Tommy Edmund has hit

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<v Speaker 2>in multiple spots in this lineup. Heck, Max Muncy has

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<v Speaker 2>dipped up and down in this Dodgers lineup. So Dave

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<v Speaker 2>Roberts has tried as best.

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<v Speaker 5>As he can to change up the lineup.

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<v Speaker 2>To switch the mojo around, I guess is the best

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<v Speaker 2>way to describe it.

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<v Speaker 5>To see if they can get a spark.

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<v Speaker 2>From somebody, somebody's in a lineup to get this offense going.

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<v Speaker 2>And for whatever reason, the second half of the season,

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<v Speaker 2>the Dodgers just haven't been able to do that. The

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<v Speaker 2>Dodgers against teams over 500. This is a number that

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<v Speaker 2>just constantly gets talked about. The Dodgers record against teams

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<v Speaker 2>over 500 is now at 33 and 36.

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<v Speaker 6>Not good.

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<v Speaker 2>The Braves and the Brewers, Both teams well over 500

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<v Speaker 2>against teams that are 500 on their schedule. The Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>are three games under 500.

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<v Speaker 5>All right. So what changes now? How do you improve

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<v Speaker 5>that number?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, the Dodgers don't have a lot of opportunities to

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<v Speaker 2>improve that. And I think that's the one thing I

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<v Speaker 2>look at is how do you get out of this

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<v Speaker 2>offensive slump? I think September is the right month for

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<v Speaker 2>the Dodgers to get out of this. And I say

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<v Speaker 2>this for this reason, the schedule. The schedule lines up

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<v Speaker 2>really nice for this Dodgers team. If they're struggling against

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<v Speaker 2>teams over 500, if they're struggling against good pitching, and

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<v Speaker 2>they're going to see it in October, I get that.

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<v Speaker 2>But in order for this Dodgers team to get right

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<v Speaker 2>before October, I think the schedule lines up perfectly for

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<v Speaker 2>them to get right. with only one series in the

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<v Speaker 2>entire month of September, three games set against the San

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<v Speaker 2>Diego Padres, the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, against a team

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<v Speaker 2>right now that's over 500.

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<v Speaker 5>The Miami Marlins.

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<v Speaker 2>Are flirting right around 500. As we speak today, they're

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<v Speaker 2>a 500 team, but they're floating right around 500 on

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<v Speaker 2>whatever day it happens to be. But the Dodgers get

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<v Speaker 2>the Cardinals, the Nationals, the Reds, the Marlins, the Reds again,

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<v Speaker 2>San Francisco, San Diego, San Francisco. Only the Padres in

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<v Speaker 2>that three-game series is a team that is over 500.

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<v Speaker 2>That is a perfect setup for this Dodgers team collectively

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<v Speaker 2>and individually for players like Teoscar Hernandez, Kyle Tucker, and

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<v Speaker 2>this Dodgers offense to get right. We've got Get Right

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<v Speaker 2>series that we talked about a couple weeks ago. Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>facing the Rockies after losing three or four to the Brewers. Dodgers,

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<v Speaker 2>what do they do? They get right, sweeping the Colorado

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<v Speaker 2>Rockies in Denver. Then they continue to get right against

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<v Speaker 2>a Pittsburgh Pirates team winning all three games at the Ravine.

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<v Speaker 2>This is going to be a get right month, I think,

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<v Speaker 2>for the Dodgers. And in stacking up wins.

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<v Speaker 5>I think we're going to see this offense turn around.

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<v Speaker 5>That's my hope.

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<v Speaker 2>And then going into October, whether it's the wildcard round

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<v Speaker 2>or the DS, this Dodgers team should be clicking. 866-987-2570

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<v Speaker 2>is the number. 866-987-2570 on this rain-delayed Dodger talk. Tim

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<v Speaker 2>Cates with you as we now have official start time.

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<v Speaker 5>For the Dodgers and Tigers.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're expecting to hear first pitch, hear Rick Monday

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<v Speaker 2>and Steven Nelson talking about this Dodger game. Final game

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<v Speaker 2>of this series in Detroit. Well, we're in a rain delay.

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<v Speaker 2>And as I speak, the tarp has been taken off

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<v Speaker 2>the field. I see blue skies thanks to Sportsnet LA.

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<v Speaker 2>And we will have a first pitch of 1135 a.m.

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<v Speaker 2>Pacific 135 Eastern in Detroit. Is that right? No, 2.35 Eastern.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's do the math a little bit better than that, Tim.

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<v Speaker 5>11.35 a.m.

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<v Speaker 2>Pacific, first pitch, Dodgers and the Tigers. So it'll be

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<v Speaker 2>just under a one-hour rain delay when it's all said

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<v Speaker 2>and done.

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<v Speaker 5>But you know what that means?

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<v Speaker 2>We got time to take your phone calls right here

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<v Speaker 2>on Dodger Talk.

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<v Speaker 5>866-987-2570.

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<v Speaker 2>And before we do, let's hear from the manager, Dave Roberts.

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<v Speaker 2>This is the skipper yesterday after the Dodgers 2-1 loss

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<v Speaker 2>to the Tigers. They get walked off in the ninth inning.

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<v Speaker 2>Kenley Jansen picks up the win against his former team.

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<v Speaker 2>Blake Snell pitched really well for... five plus innings yesterday

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<v Speaker 2>and did not get the decision, but let's hear from

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<v Speaker 2>the manager, Dave Roberts, as we alluded to, he's tried

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of things to shake up this roster and

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<v Speaker 2>this lineup on a daily basis. Let's hear from a very,

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<v Speaker 2>very confused manager, Dave Roberts on what to do.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know what's missing. Um, yeah, you know, we're,

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<v Speaker 3>we're today. We had, you know, one opportunity, one real opportunity. Um,

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<v Speaker 3>obviously get the big hit from freddie uh to tie

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<v Speaker 3>the game and then uh you know he had a

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<v Speaker 3>basis loaded situation and then uh you know pitcher induced

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<v Speaker 3>a double play ball gets out of that um you

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<v Speaker 3>know outside of that we really didn't threaten so uh

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<v Speaker 3>you know right now it's been going on for quite

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<v Speaker 3>some time obviously and so uh you know just being

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<v Speaker 3>able to you know, put crooked numbers up and, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>not play these one run games where, you know, every

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<v Speaker 3>margin is so fine. Um, yeah, I mean, I know

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<v Speaker 3>the work is there. I know the will's there. Um,

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<v Speaker 3>I know the talent's there, but it's just, yeah, we

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<v Speaker 3>just haven't, you know, put it together in quite some

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<v Speaker 3>time consistently. I think that for me, I'm just, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>right now, you know, personally speaking, I'm just trying to

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<v Speaker 3>figure out solutions. Um, Just trying to figure out, we're

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<v Speaker 3>all frustrated. We know we should be better. But again,

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<v Speaker 3>now it's more of like, what are we going to

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<v Speaker 3>do about it? And so that's kind of where my

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<v Speaker 3>head is at. And I do know coming down on

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<v Speaker 3>guys when I know guys are putting in the effort

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<v Speaker 3>isn't the answer. And then you got to figure out,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, is it a process thing? Is it an

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<v Speaker 3>approach thing? Is it a focus thing? Those are things

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<v Speaker 3>that I'm trying to figure out collectively, individually. Yeah, that's

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<v Speaker 3>kind of what I'm thinking.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, there's the manager, Dave Roberts, and I feel him.

0:12:18.620 --> 0:12:22.080
<v Speaker 2>He is searching right now. He is looking for answers.

0:12:22.240 --> 0:12:25.540
<v Speaker 2>And I love his comment there about, I can't come

0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:29.800
<v Speaker 2>down on these guys, meaning yell, you know, pull a

0:12:29.840 --> 0:12:33.660
<v Speaker 2>Tommy Lasorda, pull an old school manager move where you

0:12:33.900 --> 0:12:35.230
<v Speaker 2>really lay into your.

0:12:35.150 --> 0:12:36.970
<v Speaker 5>Guys because maybe the effort's not there.

0:12:37.550 --> 0:12:38.350
<v Speaker 1>That's not the case.

0:12:39.150 --> 0:12:41.230
<v Speaker 2>And how do you, as you said, come down on

0:12:41.270 --> 0:12:45.920
<v Speaker 2>an individual or a team that That is grinding. That

0:12:45.980 --> 0:12:48.400
<v Speaker 2>is trying to figure it out. That's putting in the

0:12:48.460 --> 0:12:52.020
<v Speaker 2>work on a daily basis, but just not seeing the results.

0:12:52.720 --> 0:12:56.600
<v Speaker 2>So he's scratching his head just like Dodger fans are

0:12:56.640 --> 0:12:59.880
<v Speaker 2>scratching their head. What is the solution? I think the

0:12:59.940 --> 0:13:03.060
<v Speaker 2>biggest solution is the schedule. And they're able to get

0:13:03.140 --> 0:13:05.280
<v Speaker 2>right in the month of September. And I mentioned picking

0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:09.380
<v Speaker 2>up wins. but also individually getting right, and maybe the

0:13:09.440 --> 0:13:13.059
<v Speaker 2>numbers start to creep up, the approach is better, the

0:13:13.100 --> 0:13:16.820
<v Speaker 2>results are better, and you feel better going into October

0:13:17.020 --> 0:13:19.560
<v Speaker 2>as a hitter or as a pitcher or as a reliever,

0:13:19.920 --> 0:13:22.850
<v Speaker 2>whatever your job is as a Dodger player. That's the

0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:25.150
<v Speaker 2>hope at this point, the final month of the season,

0:13:25.429 --> 0:13:28.270
<v Speaker 2>but also by stacking wins against teams that aren't even

0:13:28.309 --> 0:13:31.590
<v Speaker 2>over 500 in which you've really dominated those teams. You

0:13:31.670 --> 0:13:34.010
<v Speaker 2>also maybe get back in this race here and can

0:13:34.050 --> 0:13:38.250
<v Speaker 2>get some separation or maybe leapfrog the Milwaukee Brewers, who've

0:13:38.270 --> 0:13:41.069
<v Speaker 2>got a tough September schedule coming up. Because right now,

0:13:41.150 --> 0:13:43.850
<v Speaker 2>as we speak, again, the Brewers are the best team

0:13:43.890 --> 0:13:46.969
<v Speaker 2>in baseball. Milwaukee is the number one seed in the

0:13:47.030 --> 0:13:49.770
<v Speaker 2>National League. And the top two seeds get a bye

0:13:49.850 --> 0:13:52.110
<v Speaker 2>and not have to play in the wildcard round. Well,

0:13:52.330 --> 0:13:55.470
<v Speaker 2>right now, the Dodgers and Braves have an identical record.

0:13:56.260 --> 0:13:58.680
<v Speaker 2>And if the season were to end today, the Braves

0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:00.830
<v Speaker 2>would be the number two seed because they own these

0:14:00.900 --> 0:14:04.510
<v Speaker 2>season series. So the Dodgers have to make sure they're

0:14:04.530 --> 0:14:07.390
<v Speaker 2>ahead of Atlanta and they can certainly catch the Braves.

0:14:07.410 --> 0:14:08.170
<v Speaker 5>They're only four games.

0:14:08.570 --> 0:14:11.190
<v Speaker 2>The Milwaukee Brewers who are four games back for the

0:14:11.230 --> 0:14:14.510
<v Speaker 2>number one spot a month to do it. It could happen.

0:14:15.130 --> 0:14:17.230
<v Speaker 2>But I think most importantly, this Dodgers team needs to

0:14:17.270 --> 0:14:19.570
<v Speaker 2>get right. individually and collectively.

0:14:19.630 --> 0:14:22.680
<v Speaker 5>All right. Terry in Ventura. Welcome to rain delay.

0:14:22.700 --> 0:14:25.580
<v Speaker 2>Dodger talk as we now are about 34 minutes away

0:14:25.620 --> 0:14:29.120
<v Speaker 2>from first pitch. They will start at 1135 from Comerica

0:14:29.160 --> 0:14:30.520
<v Speaker 2>park with Tyler glass.

0:14:30.570 --> 0:14:31.870
<v Speaker 5>Now in front of her of all days on the mound.

0:14:31.890 --> 0:14:32.610
<v Speaker 5>How are you doing, Terry?

0:14:32.630 --> 0:14:32.990
<v Speaker 7>Welcome.

0:14:34.750 --> 0:14:36.790
<v Speaker 6>Thank you for taking my call. First of all, I'm

0:14:36.830 --> 0:14:39.730
<v Speaker 6>a long time Dodger fan. Second of all, Dave Roberts

0:14:39.810 --> 0:14:43.130
<v Speaker 6>is a great manager, but of all people, I mean,

0:14:43.410 --> 0:14:46.190
<v Speaker 6>small balls answer when they had Otani on third with

0:14:46.250 --> 0:14:46.630
<v Speaker 6>no outs.

0:14:47.050 --> 0:14:47.450
<v Speaker 8>Hello.

0:14:47.490 --> 0:14:50.050
<v Speaker 6>It doesn't mean Freddie Freeman has to bunt, but Beth

0:14:50.100 --> 0:14:52.520
<v Speaker 6>could have bunted. Anybody could have bunted him in and get,

0:14:52.580 --> 0:14:55.540
<v Speaker 6>get the run. That's number one. Number two, we got

0:14:55.560 --> 0:14:57.300
<v Speaker 6>to play hit and run. We got, we all, all

0:14:57.360 --> 0:15:00.220
<v Speaker 6>our guys do is hit singles other than Muncie. Teoscar

0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:03.490
<v Speaker 6>Hernandez swings at pitches at his eye level. He stopped hitting.

0:15:03.530 --> 0:15:06.430
<v Speaker 6>We don't hit home runs anymore because Paz is out, blah, blah, blah.

0:15:06.890 --> 0:15:08.910
<v Speaker 6>So we got to play small ball, hit and run,

0:15:08.970 --> 0:15:11.130
<v Speaker 6>steal bases, and bunt when a guy's on third.

0:15:11.410 --> 0:15:12.250
<v Speaker 8>That's the answer.

0:15:12.590 --> 0:15:15.250
<v Speaker 6>And Dave Roberts, as great a manager as he is,

0:15:15.770 --> 0:15:17.770
<v Speaker 6>that was the way he was as a player. So

0:15:18.190 --> 0:15:20.770
<v Speaker 6>I'm kind of surprised that he's not doing that. I

0:15:20.820 --> 0:15:23.360
<v Speaker 6>know it's impossible to criticize Dave Roberts because he's a

0:15:23.500 --> 0:15:26.040
<v Speaker 6>great guy and a great manager. What's your take on

0:15:26.080 --> 0:15:26.560
<v Speaker 6>my thoughts?

0:15:26.740 --> 0:15:28.080
<v Speaker 5>I appreciate the phone call, Terry.

0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:31.620
<v Speaker 2>Just because Dave Roberts was one style player doesn't mean

0:15:31.760 --> 0:15:34.160
<v Speaker 2>that's the style of team he's going to manage. We

0:15:34.200 --> 0:15:36.980
<v Speaker 2>manage in a different era of baseball now. Dave Roberts

0:15:37.000 --> 0:15:40.040
<v Speaker 2>certainly has a team that's built differently. So I don't

0:15:40.060 --> 0:15:42.780
<v Speaker 2>put this on Dave Roberts at all. He does not

0:15:42.920 --> 0:15:46.200
<v Speaker 2>build the team. The front office builds the team. He

0:15:46.300 --> 0:15:49.100
<v Speaker 2>manages the team. And at the major league level, Dave

0:15:49.140 --> 0:15:52.860
<v Speaker 2>Roberts has done nothing. arguably the best job the last

0:15:52.940 --> 0:15:55.840
<v Speaker 2>decade plus and managing on and off the field and

0:15:55.880 --> 0:15:58.310
<v Speaker 2>I say that because managing is more than just putting

0:15:58.330 --> 0:16:00.090
<v Speaker 2>up a lineup card and having a feel for the

0:16:00.130 --> 0:16:03.670
<v Speaker 2>game over nine innings managing a team is managing egos

0:16:03.990 --> 0:16:07.810
<v Speaker 2>managing personalities manage a clubhouse and Dave Roberts to a

0:16:07.850 --> 0:16:10.890
<v Speaker 2>man all you hear is how great of a job

0:16:10.950 --> 0:16:14.520
<v Speaker 2>he does former players current players will all tell you

0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:18.250
<v Speaker 2>that 8, 6, 6, 9, 8, 7, 2, 5, 70

0:16:18.250 --> 0:16:21.730
<v Speaker 2>Allen in silver Lake. Welcome to rain delayed Dodger talk

0:16:21.770 --> 0:16:23.930
<v Speaker 2>is this game will get underway in about 30 minutes

0:16:23.950 --> 0:16:24.470
<v Speaker 2>from Detroit.

0:16:24.490 --> 0:16:25.430
<v Speaker 5>How you doing there, Alan?

0:16:27.050 --> 0:16:29.150
<v Speaker 4>I'm good, but I'm annoyed at you. You know, you've

0:16:29.170 --> 0:16:32.060
<v Speaker 4>got your priorities mixed up. The only thing you said

0:16:32.100 --> 0:16:34.380
<v Speaker 4>that is true is that it's good that they can

0:16:34.880 --> 0:16:39.020
<v Speaker 4>probably avoid a first round by because they have this

0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:42.370
<v Speaker 4>cakewalk schedule. But as far as getting right, these are

0:16:42.390 --> 0:16:46.510
<v Speaker 4>major league players. You're telling me that facing crappy pitching

0:16:47.150 --> 0:16:50.330
<v Speaker 4>and batting practice level garbage is going to actually prep

0:16:50.350 --> 0:16:53.170
<v Speaker 4>these guys? What happens if they win all these series

0:16:53.190 --> 0:16:55.340
<v Speaker 4>but they lose to San Diego and we see the truth?

0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:59.460
<v Speaker 4>I'd much rather they face nothing but hard stuff and

0:16:59.480 --> 0:17:01.360
<v Speaker 4>figure out how to win because they're not going to

0:17:01.400 --> 0:17:02.780
<v Speaker 4>see reality.

0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:03.200
<v Speaker 8>In this month.

0:17:03.280 --> 0:17:03.800
<v Speaker 1>They're not.

0:17:04.300 --> 0:17:06.080
<v Speaker 4>And, you know, the reality is they have to take

0:17:06.140 --> 0:17:08.790
<v Speaker 4>a risk. They're taking a risk now. Gambling with these

0:17:08.869 --> 0:17:11.940
<v Speaker 4>older players are going to come around. We all know

0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:12.950
<v Speaker 4>the real risk they.

0:17:12.869 --> 0:17:13.430
<v Speaker 8>Need to take.

0:17:13.470 --> 0:17:17.030
<v Speaker 4>The real gamble is getting young now. early in the month,

0:17:17.190 --> 0:17:19.210
<v Speaker 4>not later. This team does not.

0:17:19.770 --> 0:17:22.090
<v Speaker 2>What's your solution then, Al? What's your solution? How do

0:17:22.109 --> 0:17:24.369
<v Speaker 2>you get young when you can only add two guys

0:17:24.410 --> 0:17:27.669
<v Speaker 2>to this roster? And you can't add 40 guys like

0:17:27.690 --> 0:17:28.969
<v Speaker 2>you used to in the day and just let all

0:17:29.010 --> 0:17:32.250
<v Speaker 2>the young dudes come up and play. Josue, DePaula, Tibbs,

0:17:32.390 --> 0:17:35.209
<v Speaker 2>all these guys sitting in AA and AAA that are

0:17:35.230 --> 0:17:38.470
<v Speaker 2>highly tied up prospects aren't coming up and playing in September.

0:17:38.950 --> 0:17:41.280
<v Speaker 2>So what is your answer then? You have this lineup.

0:17:41.300 --> 0:17:43.490
<v Speaker 2>You have an older lineup. You've got an expensive lineup.

0:17:43.760 --> 0:17:45.420
<v Speaker 2>These are the guys that you're going to go with.

0:17:46.930 --> 0:17:48.670
<v Speaker 4>Forget, no, forget about expensive.

0:17:48.790 --> 0:17:49.030
<v Speaker 9>Okay.

0:17:49.050 --> 0:17:49.870
<v Speaker 4>You have two spots.

0:17:50.010 --> 0:17:52.450
<v Speaker 8>Use the two spots. Two will make a big difference.

0:17:52.850 --> 0:17:55.030
<v Speaker 8>Teoscar is not going to start hitting fastballs.

0:17:55.510 --> 0:17:58.270
<v Speaker 1>He's not, it's just not going to happen.

0:17:58.369 --> 0:17:59.050
<v Speaker 6>So admit it.

0:18:00.090 --> 0:18:00.290
<v Speaker 1>All right.

0:18:00.330 --> 0:18:01.470
<v Speaker 5>Now I appreciate the phone call.

0:18:01.650 --> 0:18:03.100
<v Speaker 2>I think the answer, we got to take a break

0:18:03.130 --> 0:18:04.760
<v Speaker 2>and we'll come back and get more into this again.

0:18:04.780 --> 0:18:07.399
<v Speaker 2>First pitch is coming up in 30 minutes from Detroit

0:18:07.440 --> 0:18:08.220
<v Speaker 2>at Comerica park.

0:18:08.260 --> 0:18:10.119
<v Speaker 5>The tarp is off the field. We're in rain delay.

0:18:10.160 --> 0:18:12.680
<v Speaker 2>Dodger talk right now on AM five 70 LA sports

0:18:12.760 --> 0:18:13.320
<v Speaker 2>live everywhere.

0:18:13.340 --> 0:18:14.859
<v Speaker 5>Of course, on the I heart radio app.

0:18:15.359 --> 0:18:19.310
<v Speaker 2>Um, I am with you on bringing up one young player,

0:18:19.810 --> 0:18:21.910
<v Speaker 2>and that is James Tibbs III. And we'll get into

0:18:21.950 --> 0:18:23.530
<v Speaker 2>that when we come back after this because we've got

0:18:23.550 --> 0:18:25.490
<v Speaker 2>to take a quick timeout. I'm with you on that.

0:18:25.530 --> 0:18:28.909
<v Speaker 2>But outside of Tibbs, they're adding another arm, and it's

0:18:28.930 --> 0:18:31.109
<v Speaker 2>going to be Sheehan. It's going to be Robleski. It's

0:18:31.130 --> 0:18:33.290
<v Speaker 2>going to be somebody like that that's going to come

0:18:33.350 --> 0:18:35.510
<v Speaker 2>up and add depth to the pitching staff of this

0:18:35.550 --> 0:18:39.910
<v Speaker 2>Dodgers team. They're not bringing up multiple position players. There's

0:18:39.970 --> 0:18:42.010
<v Speaker 2>also a roster move that's got to be made with

0:18:42.430 --> 0:18:44.959
<v Speaker 2>Will Smith coming back. So more on that. We'll take

0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:47.660
<v Speaker 2>your phone calls when we come back.

0:18:47.680 --> 0:18:48.000
<v Speaker 5>866-987-2570.

0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:50.700
<v Speaker 2>It's Rain Delay Dodger Talk with Tim Cates here on

0:18:50.720 --> 0:18:53.300
<v Speaker 2>this Sunday as the Dodgers and Tigers wait it out,

0:18:53.420 --> 0:18:56.190
<v Speaker 2>and we'll have first pitch coming up at 1135. From

0:18:56.210 --> 0:18:59.690
<v Speaker 2>Bervaldez and Tyler Glass now, the pitching matchup right here

0:18:59.730 --> 0:19:00.350
<v Speaker 2>on AM570 LA Sports.

0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:06.550
<v Speaker 6>Hey, it's Miguel Rojas.

0:19:06.990 --> 0:19:12.020
<v Speaker 10>This is Dodger Talk, AM 570 LA Sports, your home

0:19:12.200 --> 0:19:12.820
<v Speaker 10>of the Dodgers.

0:19:16.510 --> 0:19:20.369
<v Speaker 2>Rain-delayed Dodger talk continues on this Sunday. Yeah, you look up,

0:19:20.390 --> 0:19:23.060
<v Speaker 2>you see some clouds in the sky here in Southern California.

0:19:23.119 --> 0:19:25.260
<v Speaker 2>It's hot, still a little humid, even though it's supposed

0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:27.840
<v Speaker 2>to cool off this week. But Dodgers in Detroit, where

0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:31.220
<v Speaker 2>the rain has passed through. Seeing blue skies at Comerica

0:19:31.260 --> 0:19:33.660
<v Speaker 2>Park in the Motor City. Tarp is off the field.

0:19:33.960 --> 0:19:35.869
<v Speaker 2>Grounds crew is working on it as we speak. And

0:19:35.890 --> 0:19:38.890
<v Speaker 2>we have a first pitch coming up at 1135. So

0:19:38.930 --> 0:19:40.750
<v Speaker 2>we'll get it back out to Steven Nelson and Rick

0:19:40.750 --> 0:19:42.860
<v Speaker 2>Monday coming up. at the bottom of the hour. But

0:19:42.859 --> 0:19:45.870
<v Speaker 2>time for your phone calls at 8, 6, 6, 9, 8, 7, 2, 5, 7,

0:19:45.869 --> 0:19:48.970
<v Speaker 2>real quick. Allen and Silver Lake was very passionate about

0:19:49.010 --> 0:19:50.990
<v Speaker 2>the fact that bring up the young guys and let

0:19:51.030 --> 0:19:53.649
<v Speaker 2>them help figure out this Dodger team in September and

0:19:53.690 --> 0:19:55.869
<v Speaker 2>get through the woes. And if the, if the veteran

0:19:55.890 --> 0:19:59.890
<v Speaker 2>guys like Teosca Hernandez aren't producing, then bring up somebody else. Again,

0:20:00.100 --> 0:20:02.600
<v Speaker 2>you're limited in roster spots and doing that, but also

0:20:02.940 --> 0:20:07.300
<v Speaker 2>keep in mind, this is a $ 400 million roster built

0:20:07.359 --> 0:20:10.109
<v Speaker 2>around guys that are paid a lot of money, to

0:20:10.170 --> 0:20:13.630
<v Speaker 2>produce and have produced and have won back-to-back world series championships.

0:20:13.950 --> 0:20:16.750
<v Speaker 2>You're telling me the answer to your problems and the

0:20:16.790 --> 0:20:20.450
<v Speaker 2>Dodgers problems is a 21 year old and a 23

0:20:20.450 --> 0:20:22.929
<v Speaker 2>year old who have never had one at bat in

0:20:22.950 --> 0:20:24.960
<v Speaker 2>the major leagues. And you're going to ask them to

0:20:25.020 --> 0:20:27.459
<v Speaker 2>come up in September to save the day.

0:20:28.660 --> 0:20:31.139
<v Speaker 5>Not going to happen. It's just doesn't make any sense.

0:20:31.619 --> 0:20:33.700
<v Speaker 2>You ride with the guys who have gotten you here

0:20:33.760 --> 0:20:35.760
<v Speaker 2>and won back-to-back world series championships.

0:20:36.140 --> 0:20:36.659
<v Speaker 5>I get it.

0:20:36.800 --> 0:20:39.390
<v Speaker 2>The older they get production starts to come down.

0:20:40.070 --> 0:20:43.210
<v Speaker 5>Part of it. I understand it. Teoscar Hernandez struggling.

0:20:43.630 --> 0:20:46.760
<v Speaker 2>So with that being said, James Tibbs III could be

0:20:46.800 --> 0:20:51.100
<v Speaker 2>the answer one time as far as one player being

0:20:51.140 --> 0:20:54.780
<v Speaker 2>called up. And I say that because he's an older player.

0:20:54.820 --> 0:20:55.020
<v Speaker 1>He's 23.

0:20:55.020 --> 0:20:58.560
<v Speaker 2>He's a college guy. He's produced the last two years

0:20:58.600 --> 0:21:01.440
<v Speaker 2>in the minor leagues. He's in AAA all this year.

0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:04.990
<v Speaker 2>He's knocking on the door. It's hard to argue about

0:21:05.030 --> 0:21:08.210
<v Speaker 2>what he's done at the AAA level at almost 500 at-bats.

0:21:08.590 --> 0:21:11.750
<v Speaker 2>He's hit 27 home runs, almost 100 ribbies, hitting near

0:21:11.750 --> 0:21:16.450
<v Speaker 2>300 and 965 OPS. And he can play multiple positions.

0:21:16.570 --> 0:21:19.109
<v Speaker 2>And I think that's important for this reason. When the

0:21:19.170 --> 0:21:22.609
<v Speaker 2>rosters expand on Tuesday. The Dodgers can add two spots.

0:21:22.630 --> 0:21:23.750
<v Speaker 2>It's going to be a pitcher and it can be

0:21:23.770 --> 0:21:26.449
<v Speaker 2>a position player. Now, keep in mind, Will Smith is

0:21:26.510 --> 0:21:28.929
<v Speaker 2>coming off the injured list. David Vassey mentioned that earlier.

0:21:29.290 --> 0:21:31.190
<v Speaker 2>So the Dodgers have to make a decision on Ben

0:21:31.230 --> 0:21:32.460
<v Speaker 2>Rortvedt or Hunter Ferduscia.

0:21:32.800 --> 0:21:34.360
<v Speaker 5>Which one stays? Which one goes?

0:21:35.830 --> 0:21:39.310
<v Speaker 2>Hunter Vodusha is probably going to stay. That means Ben

0:21:39.350 --> 0:21:42.389
<v Speaker 2>Rortvat is the odd man out when Will Smith returns.

0:21:42.690 --> 0:21:42.990
<v Speaker 5>Okay.

0:21:43.320 --> 0:21:45.920
<v Speaker 2>Still have two catchers. You can bring up a position player.

0:21:46.300 --> 0:21:50.040
<v Speaker 2>David Vasay hinted at Dalton rushing. Doesn't feel like Dalton

0:21:50.080 --> 0:21:53.820
<v Speaker 2>rushing is ready right now to come back. But when

0:21:53.900 --> 0:21:56.040
<v Speaker 2>Dalton rushing is good to come back and be a

0:21:56.080 --> 0:21:57.720
<v Speaker 2>hitter only, because it doesn't feel like he's going to

0:21:57.740 --> 0:21:58.140
<v Speaker 2>catch here.

0:21:58.160 --> 0:21:58.800
<v Speaker 6>Okay.

0:21:58.840 --> 0:22:01.919
<v Speaker 2>That's just the reality folks. Let's, let's, let's put all

0:22:01.940 --> 0:22:05.800
<v Speaker 2>the cards on the table here. Uh, Dalton Rushing's a

0:22:05.859 --> 0:22:08.119
<v Speaker 2>hitter only, a pinch hitter. He's not going to DH

0:22:08.260 --> 0:22:11.000
<v Speaker 2>because you've got Shohei Otani there. So are you going

0:22:11.020 --> 0:22:13.199
<v Speaker 2>to have Dalton Rushing take up a spot off the

0:22:13.240 --> 0:22:17.139
<v Speaker 2>bench as one of those expanded roster spots, or do

0:22:17.180 --> 0:22:20.180
<v Speaker 2>you give that expanded roster spot to another left-handed power

0:22:20.200 --> 0:22:21.980
<v Speaker 2>hitter in James Tibbs III?

0:22:22.400 --> 0:22:23.540
<v Speaker 5>If it's between.

0:22:23.250 --> 0:22:26.910
<v Speaker 2>Dalton Rushing, the hitter only, in the month of September,

0:22:27.490 --> 0:22:28.460
<v Speaker 2>or James Tibbs III.

0:22:30.080 --> 0:22:33.240
<v Speaker 2>The left-handed hitter, but can play first base, can play

0:22:33.300 --> 0:22:37.359
<v Speaker 2>right field, and folks, the last three days, James Tibbs

0:22:37.400 --> 0:22:40.700
<v Speaker 2>III has been playing left field in AAA Oklahoma City.

0:22:41.680 --> 0:22:45.580
<v Speaker 2>He's got more starts in right, DH, and first base,

0:22:45.920 --> 0:22:48.820
<v Speaker 2>but he's got now double-digit starts in left field, and

0:22:48.840 --> 0:22:50.880
<v Speaker 2>if you look at what he's done the last few days,

0:22:51.950 --> 0:22:56.090
<v Speaker 2>he's been playing left field. Teoscar Hernandez is struggling in

0:22:56.130 --> 0:23:01.219
<v Speaker 2>left field. James Tibbs III, Could be that guy. I

0:23:01.280 --> 0:23:05.200
<v Speaker 2>think if you're going to make a roster expansion here

0:23:05.359 --> 0:23:09.869
<v Speaker 2>on Tuesday and add a position player, Tibbs is the guy.

0:23:10.530 --> 0:23:13.930
<v Speaker 2>Because to him and Dalton Rushing, Rushing can only hit.

0:23:14.090 --> 0:23:16.889
<v Speaker 2>He can't catch for you. I love Dalton Rushing. I

0:23:16.930 --> 0:23:19.490
<v Speaker 2>love everything about his makeup. But at this point in

0:23:19.510 --> 0:23:22.920
<v Speaker 2>the season, reality is he's just a left-handed bat.

0:23:23.260 --> 0:23:23.710
<v Speaker 5>That's it.

0:23:24.420 --> 0:23:28.530
<v Speaker 2>Tibbs can play multiple positions for you, including left field

0:23:28.869 --> 0:23:31.869
<v Speaker 2>for a certain struggling veteran left fielder by the name

0:23:31.910 --> 0:23:35.370
<v Speaker 2>of Teoscar Hernandez, and he's also a left-handed bat.

0:23:35.430 --> 0:23:37.340
<v Speaker 5>Certainly, he hasn't played the major league level.

0:23:37.400 --> 0:23:38.720
<v Speaker 2>We don't know how he's going to do when he

0:23:38.740 --> 0:23:41.709
<v Speaker 2>gets up, if he gets up, but If you're going

0:23:41.730 --> 0:23:43.669
<v Speaker 2>to have to choose between adult and rushing and if

0:23:43.710 --> 0:23:45.889
<v Speaker 2>it's the James Tibbs III, I just explain why I

0:23:45.930 --> 0:23:48.520
<v Speaker 2>go with James Tibbs III if that's the direction they

0:23:48.540 --> 0:23:51.160
<v Speaker 2>go to when you can expand the roster on Tuesday

0:23:51.420 --> 0:23:54.500
<v Speaker 2>by two spots. The old days of having 30 dudes

0:23:54.540 --> 0:23:57.240
<v Speaker 2>sitting in a dugout and your entire 40-man roster is

0:23:57.380 --> 0:24:00.080
<v Speaker 2>up at the big leagues and you got extra lockers

0:24:00.140 --> 0:24:02.980
<v Speaker 2>everywhere like spring training. It's just not the case anymore.

0:24:03.520 --> 0:24:06.040
<v Speaker 2>Just not the case. All right.

0:24:06.280 --> 0:24:08.919
<v Speaker 5>Jack in Austin, Texas. Thanks for being patient. Welcome to

0:24:08.960 --> 0:24:10.030
<v Speaker 5>Dodger Talk. Jack, how you doing?

0:24:11.830 --> 0:24:12.770
<v Speaker 11>Doing well, doing well.

0:24:12.790 --> 0:24:13.369
<v Speaker 8>Yeah.

0:24:13.710 --> 0:24:15.449
<v Speaker 11>I got a couple of things. One is shout out

0:24:15.470 --> 0:24:18.730
<v Speaker 11>to Steven Nelson for, for trying not to jinx it

0:24:18.750 --> 0:24:20.760
<v Speaker 11>today with the rain, but you know, he couldn't hold

0:24:20.800 --> 0:24:24.200
<v Speaker 11>off Mo from jinxing it. So there's that. The other

0:24:24.220 --> 0:24:27.440
<v Speaker 11>thing is, you know, Mookie looking good at the plate

0:24:27.600 --> 0:24:29.520
<v Speaker 11>is really exciting to me.

0:24:29.540 --> 0:24:31.700
<v Speaker 1>I think he's just.

0:24:31.600 --> 0:24:34.300
<v Speaker 11>Looked like comfortable. He looks like he's seeing pitches and

0:24:34.320 --> 0:24:37.050
<v Speaker 11>the prospect of seeing him have sort of like a,

0:24:38.170 --> 0:24:40.050
<v Speaker 11>you know, being the guy in the post season is

0:24:40.070 --> 0:24:41.910
<v Speaker 11>really exciting. Cause I feel like we haven't really seen

0:24:41.930 --> 0:24:44.480
<v Speaker 11>that since the 2020 world series. And he's kind of

0:24:44.520 --> 0:24:47.200
<v Speaker 11>just been, you know, had weird seasons the last couple

0:24:47.220 --> 0:24:51.260
<v Speaker 11>of years and him looking comfortable. The idea of seeing

0:24:51.280 --> 0:24:52.840
<v Speaker 11>that in the post season, especially if they went on

0:24:52.900 --> 0:24:55.680
<v Speaker 11>a run is, is really cool. And then, you know,

0:24:56.010 --> 0:25:01.910
<v Speaker 11>this team, I just feel like they have earned our patience, trust, respect. Like,

0:25:01.950 --> 0:25:03.230
<v Speaker 11>I don't know what else they could have done in

0:25:03.270 --> 0:25:08.030
<v Speaker 11>the last decade, but to earn having slumps. And maybe

0:25:08.050 --> 0:25:09.510
<v Speaker 11>you have a slump in June, maybe you have a

0:25:09.530 --> 0:25:12.580
<v Speaker 11>slump in September, whatever it is, but what other fan

0:25:12.619 --> 0:25:16.220
<v Speaker 11>bases wouldn't give to have an eight-game lead in August,

0:25:16.420 --> 0:25:19.460
<v Speaker 11>in September, and to pretty much know that you're punching

0:25:19.480 --> 0:25:21.980
<v Speaker 11>your ticket to the postseason, even if you're having a slump.

0:25:22.680 --> 0:25:28.410
<v Speaker 11>I just think Roberts, Friedman, the sort of leadership, the

0:25:28.530 --> 0:25:31.710
<v Speaker 11>veteran guys on the team, they really earned our patience.

0:25:31.790 --> 0:25:35.690
<v Speaker 11>And they might get punched out In the wild card

0:25:35.710 --> 0:25:39.540
<v Speaker 11>or the division round, and that's baseball. You can't look

0:25:39.600 --> 0:25:41.640
<v Speaker 11>at this slump in September and say, well, they should

0:25:41.680 --> 0:25:44.600
<v Speaker 11>have done X, Y, Z. Because like you said, they're

0:25:44.619 --> 0:25:49.300
<v Speaker 11>not going to replace this roster with... unproven guys and

0:25:49.320 --> 0:25:51.159
<v Speaker 11>then throw them out there in October and expect it

0:25:51.200 --> 0:25:51.719
<v Speaker 11>to work out.

0:25:51.920 --> 0:25:52.300
<v Speaker 1>Exactly.

0:25:52.359 --> 0:25:52.580
<v Speaker 8>Jack.

0:25:52.660 --> 0:25:54.640
<v Speaker 5>Well said my friend. Well said.

0:25:54.780 --> 0:25:57.320
<v Speaker 2>I appreciate the phone call and thanks for checking in

0:25:57.359 --> 0:25:58.440
<v Speaker 2>here on Dodger talk.

0:25:58.540 --> 0:26:01.260
<v Speaker 5>Well said by Jack. He's absolutely right. These guys have

0:26:01.359 --> 0:26:01.740
<v Speaker 5>earned it.

0:26:02.140 --> 0:26:04.580
<v Speaker 2>And if they're going through a slump, you got the, the,

0:26:04.640 --> 0:26:06.960
<v Speaker 2>the right for these guys to figure it out. And

0:26:07.200 --> 0:26:09.580
<v Speaker 2>I think you got time to figure it out. And again,

0:26:09.619 --> 0:26:12.459
<v Speaker 2>the schedule will allow them to figure it out and

0:26:12.520 --> 0:26:14.580
<v Speaker 2>get right. And I know for some of you, it's

0:26:14.619 --> 0:26:17.200
<v Speaker 2>hard to, you know, to fathom that, but also keep

0:26:17.240 --> 0:26:20.070
<v Speaker 2>in mind, Wouldn't you rather than go through a rut

0:26:20.130 --> 0:26:23.930
<v Speaker 2>here over a month or so in the summer rather

0:26:23.970 --> 0:26:27.119
<v Speaker 2>than the last two weeks of September into October? I mean,

0:26:27.140 --> 0:26:29.600
<v Speaker 2>it's all about hitting your stride at the right time.

0:26:30.100 --> 0:26:32.300
<v Speaker 2>In horse racing, it's all about that. Imagine this is

0:26:32.340 --> 0:26:34.720
<v Speaker 2>a horse race, Dodger fans. If you come out of

0:26:34.770 --> 0:26:38.890
<v Speaker 2>the gate and you're in first... and you're exuding all

0:26:38.910 --> 0:26:42.000
<v Speaker 2>your energy, and you're feeling good about yourself, so you

0:26:42.040 --> 0:26:44.120
<v Speaker 2>get to the first turn, and you're still in the lead.

0:26:44.140 --> 0:26:45.760
<v Speaker 2>You get to the second turn, and all of a sudden,

0:26:45.780 --> 0:26:47.429
<v Speaker 2>you're neck and neck with a couple of other horses

0:26:47.810 --> 0:26:49.510
<v Speaker 2>on the backstretch, and all of a sudden, you're still

0:26:49.550 --> 0:26:51.750
<v Speaker 2>out in front, but you're losing your wind, and you

0:26:51.790 --> 0:26:53.969
<v Speaker 2>go through a little bit of a rut. Then you

0:26:53.990 --> 0:26:58.130
<v Speaker 2>get overtaken on the third turn, and next thing you know,

0:26:58.190 --> 0:27:00.609
<v Speaker 2>you're in second or third or fourth, and you're struggling

0:27:00.650 --> 0:27:03.210
<v Speaker 2>to get to the front, and down the stretch they come,

0:27:03.250 --> 0:27:05.850
<v Speaker 2>and you've got no energy left, and you're not playing

0:27:05.869 --> 0:27:08.230
<v Speaker 2>your best or you're riding your best at that time.

0:27:08.030 --> 0:27:10.650
<v Speaker 5>If it were a horse race. That's the equivalent of this.

0:27:10.930 --> 0:27:12.350
<v Speaker 5>Get it out of your system now.

0:27:13.170 --> 0:27:16.390
<v Speaker 2>Get these bad at-bats out of the way and get

0:27:16.470 --> 0:27:19.070
<v Speaker 2>ready for a stretch run in which you start feeling good.

0:27:19.090 --> 0:27:22.540
<v Speaker 2>When I say get right month of September, folks... Getting

0:27:22.619 --> 0:27:24.440
<v Speaker 2>right is feeling good at the plate. How often do

0:27:24.480 --> 0:27:26.740
<v Speaker 2>you hear Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts and these guys

0:27:26.800 --> 0:27:27.280
<v Speaker 2>talk about it?

0:27:27.500 --> 0:27:28.920
<v Speaker 5>Hey, they go three for four. What do you think?

0:27:29.119 --> 0:27:31.830
<v Speaker 5>What changed today, Freddie? Well, not much. Still doing the

0:27:31.869 --> 0:27:32.350
<v Speaker 5>same thing.

0:27:32.369 --> 0:27:34.670
<v Speaker 2>You know, yesterday I was 0 for 4, three punch outs,

0:27:34.730 --> 0:27:36.590
<v Speaker 2>but did the same thing at the plate today.

0:27:36.630 --> 0:27:38.090
<v Speaker 5>You know, I just kind of keep trying to mimic this,

0:27:38.150 --> 0:27:41.390
<v Speaker 5>I guess. It's all about repetition. It's all about getting.

0:27:41.210 --> 0:27:43.649
<v Speaker 2>Into a groove at the plate and feeling good and

0:27:43.670 --> 0:27:45.750
<v Speaker 2>mechanics be feeling good at the plate. And if you

0:27:45.790 --> 0:27:47.690
<v Speaker 2>can get all these guys kind of doing it at

0:27:47.730 --> 0:27:50.109
<v Speaker 2>the same time or a multiple guys getting right at

0:27:50.130 --> 0:27:53.080
<v Speaker 2>the same time, this Dodgers team is going to win games, folks.

0:27:53.230 --> 0:27:55.060
<v Speaker 2>They are, and they're going to get back on track.

0:27:55.580 --> 0:27:57.720
<v Speaker 2>And the answer is not a 23 year old and

0:27:57.740 --> 0:28:00.139
<v Speaker 2>a 21 year old who have never sniffed the major

0:28:00.180 --> 0:28:04.260
<v Speaker 2>leagues before. to play in September to carry you into October.

0:28:04.320 --> 0:28:07.639
<v Speaker 2>That's just not the right answer. If you're the Padres

0:28:07.680 --> 0:28:10.139
<v Speaker 2>and you need a boost, maybe that's what you're doing.

0:28:10.600 --> 0:28:13.490
<v Speaker 2>If you're another team that's out of it, that's what

0:28:13.530 --> 0:28:16.689
<v Speaker 2>you're doing. Look into the future. But this team is

0:28:16.770 --> 0:28:19.430
<v Speaker 2>paid too much. There's too much invested in this team.

0:28:19.750 --> 0:28:23.390
<v Speaker 2>And I'm not sitting down a $ 60 million right fielder

0:28:23.770 --> 0:28:26.600
<v Speaker 2>who is the highest paid player in baseball this year

0:28:28.140 --> 0:28:31.370
<v Speaker 2>for a 21-year-old right fielder. just because he's a highly

0:28:31.410 --> 0:28:32.170
<v Speaker 2>touted prospect.

0:28:32.750 --> 0:28:33.419
<v Speaker 5>I can't do it.

0:28:34.290 --> 0:28:36.770
<v Speaker 2>I cannot do it. Jeremy in Atlanta, welcome to Rain

0:28:36.790 --> 0:28:38.710
<v Speaker 2>Delay Dodger Talk as we get ready for first pitch

0:28:38.990 --> 0:28:40.750
<v Speaker 2>coming up in about 22 minutes.

0:28:40.770 --> 0:28:41.390
<v Speaker 5>How you doing, Jeremy?

0:28:43.370 --> 0:28:43.469
<v Speaker 8>Good.

0:28:43.530 --> 0:28:43.990
<v Speaker 6>How are you?

0:28:45.110 --> 0:28:46.890
<v Speaker 5>I'm doing good. The rain is going away. We're going

0:28:46.910 --> 0:28:48.190
<v Speaker 5>to get some baseball in here finally.

0:28:50.320 --> 0:28:50.740
<v Speaker 8>Yeah.

0:28:52.540 --> 0:28:55.840
<v Speaker 6>Listen, I totally agree.

0:28:56.140 --> 0:28:58.840
<v Speaker 9>Young starters is not the answer.

0:28:59.680 --> 0:29:03.210
<v Speaker 7>However, What I don't agree with is.

0:29:03.270 --> 0:29:05.910
<v Speaker 9>Not bunching guys in when the situation calls for it

0:29:06.290 --> 0:29:12.720
<v Speaker 9>or taking— or the example of the first Braves game, taking

0:29:13.960 --> 0:29:22.210
<v Speaker 9>one of your most offensive-producing hitters out because it's a

0:29:22.910 --> 0:29:24.710
<v Speaker 9>left-handed pitcher coming out of the bullpen.

0:29:25.570 --> 0:29:29.710
<v Speaker 7>The— When Dave Roberts.

0:29:29.450 --> 0:29:32.200
<v Speaker 9>Pulled for Dusha to put in, I forget who it was,

0:29:32.200 --> 0:29:33.890
<v Speaker 9>game one of the Braves game.

0:29:35.030 --> 0:29:37.260
<v Speaker 5>Of the Braves series.

0:29:37.670 --> 0:29:41.620
<v Speaker 9>That was what shot our offense out, or shot our

0:29:41.740 --> 0:29:46.580
<v Speaker 9>offense in the foot. And you can't, I get what

0:29:46.660 --> 0:29:52.100
<v Speaker 9>numbers say, but when you money ball games like this,

0:29:52.260 --> 0:29:54.700
<v Speaker 9>you are more than likely going to lose.

0:29:56.430 --> 0:29:58.370
<v Speaker 2>I appreciate it, Jeremy. I appreciate it. Thank you for

0:29:58.390 --> 0:30:01.930
<v Speaker 2>checking in. I appreciate the phone call. Small ball and

0:30:01.950 --> 0:30:05.430
<v Speaker 2>the Dodgers is just something they don't do. And to

0:30:05.750 --> 0:30:08.520
<v Speaker 2>wish it into existence, it's not going to happen at

0:30:08.560 --> 0:30:10.220
<v Speaker 2>this point in the season. It's not going to happen

0:30:10.280 --> 0:30:13.680
<v Speaker 2>the way the roster is built. Now, in a situation

0:30:13.820 --> 0:30:17.920
<v Speaker 2>like the other night in Atlanta, where Freddie Freeman comes

0:30:18.040 --> 0:30:21.700
<v Speaker 2>up after Shohei Otani leads off the ninth inning against Iglesias, who,

0:30:21.720 --> 0:30:25.800
<v Speaker 2>by the way, is their closer in Atlanta, and Otani

0:30:25.840 --> 0:30:28.290
<v Speaker 2>hits a triple off the wall and left and Freddie

0:30:28.330 --> 0:30:31.670
<v Speaker 2>Freeman comes up and Freddie Freeman strikes out on a changeup.

0:30:32.250 --> 0:30:32.510
<v Speaker 8>Okay.

0:30:32.650 --> 0:30:34.530
<v Speaker 2>I'm sure Freddie Freeman wasn't trying to hit the ball

0:30:34.550 --> 0:30:37.600
<v Speaker 2>out of the ballpark or a strikeout. I'm pretty sure

0:30:37.680 --> 0:30:39.540
<v Speaker 2>he wasn't going up there thing. How many pitches can

0:30:39.580 --> 0:30:41.160
<v Speaker 2>I swing at and go back to the dugout as

0:30:41.180 --> 0:30:44.100
<v Speaker 2>fast as possible? He is the guy who we can

0:30:44.120 --> 0:30:45.920
<v Speaker 2>rely on. I mean, the last two days he's driven

0:30:45.940 --> 0:30:48.270
<v Speaker 2>and runs late for this Dodgers team. So he's got

0:30:48.310 --> 0:30:51.770
<v Speaker 2>a knack for doing it. He struck out. You tip

0:30:51.790 --> 0:30:55.230
<v Speaker 2>your cap to Iglesias. Mookie Betts is ground out. Again,

0:30:55.850 --> 0:30:58.570
<v Speaker 2>probably not the greatest at bat in the world. Max

0:30:58.630 --> 0:31:02.290
<v Speaker 2>Muncy intentionally walked. Tommy Ebbin flies out to end the game. Again,

0:31:03.030 --> 0:31:04.810
<v Speaker 2>not great situational hitting.

0:31:05.170 --> 0:31:06.250
<v Speaker 5>Got to be better than that.

0:31:06.550 --> 0:31:08.110
<v Speaker 2>But you also have to tip your cap to the

0:31:08.190 --> 0:31:10.910
<v Speaker 2>closer the Atlanta Braves in game one of that series.

0:31:11.350 --> 0:31:11.870
<v Speaker 5>But you're right.

0:31:12.490 --> 0:31:16.690
<v Speaker 2>Maybe in that situation, one time against the Atlanta Braves,

0:31:17.500 --> 0:31:20.100
<v Speaker 2>They could change the philosophy.

0:31:20.540 --> 0:31:22.840
<v Speaker 5>But to change it over the course of a.

0:31:22.940 --> 0:31:26.160
<v Speaker 2>Season or a series or the rest of this season,

0:31:26.740 --> 0:31:27.920
<v Speaker 2>that is just not going to happen.

0:31:27.950 --> 0:31:28.210
<v Speaker 11>866-987-2570.

0:31:28.650 --> 0:31:32.270
<v Speaker 2>Dodgers baseball brought to you by Modelo. Modelo, the mark

0:31:32.510 --> 0:31:35.550
<v Speaker 2>of a fighter. Again, when you get to October, situations

0:31:35.610 --> 0:31:37.690
<v Speaker 2>are different. You do need to get every run you

0:31:37.730 --> 0:31:40.760
<v Speaker 2>can because they're premium. But it's not like they're completely

0:31:40.820 --> 0:31:43.240
<v Speaker 2>changing their game. I mean, again, I go back to

0:31:43.260 --> 0:31:45.640
<v Speaker 2>the tasker three run home run in Philadelphia last year

0:31:45.660 --> 0:31:48.300
<v Speaker 2>in the playoffs. Dodgers live and died on the slug.

0:31:48.980 --> 0:31:49.880
<v Speaker 5>Just what it is.

0:31:50.700 --> 0:31:52.860
<v Speaker 2>And they do it against bad pitching and they do

0:31:52.900 --> 0:31:56.660
<v Speaker 2>it against good pitching. Theo in Chicago. I love all

0:31:56.680 --> 0:31:59.850
<v Speaker 2>these calls outside of Southern California. We've been to Atlanta.

0:31:59.870 --> 0:32:02.110
<v Speaker 2>We've been to Austin, Texas. Now we're in Chicago.

0:32:02.150 --> 0:32:02.770
<v Speaker 5>Theo, how you doing?

0:32:04.570 --> 0:32:04.890
<v Speaker 8>I'm well.

0:32:04.930 --> 0:32:05.350
<v Speaker 1>How are you?

0:32:05.570 --> 0:32:07.489
<v Speaker 2>I'm doing all right. Getting ready for first pitch, which

0:32:07.530 --> 0:32:09.970
<v Speaker 2>is now about 15 minutes away in Detroit.

0:32:11.250 --> 0:32:13.630
<v Speaker 7>Well, thanks for taking my call. I just wanted to

0:32:13.670 --> 0:32:16.810
<v Speaker 7>point out that when I hear Dave Roberts, the clip

0:32:16.850 --> 0:32:19.370
<v Speaker 7>you played about 10 or so minutes ago, I don't

0:32:19.410 --> 0:32:21.490
<v Speaker 7>hear someone who thinks that things are just going to

0:32:21.530 --> 0:32:24.760
<v Speaker 7>be okay. He seems frustrated. He seems a little bit befuddled.

0:32:25.450 --> 0:32:27.960
<v Speaker 7>And I hear the same thing when I hear the broadcasters,

0:32:28.260 --> 0:32:32.400
<v Speaker 7>whether it's Nelson, whether it's Monday. So I think fans

0:32:32.440 --> 0:32:34.340
<v Speaker 7>have a right to be a little bit frustrated. And

0:32:34.380 --> 0:32:37.020
<v Speaker 7>maybe small ball is not the option, is not the

0:32:37.080 --> 0:32:40.280
<v Speaker 7>right approach here, given the roster. But I think maybe

0:32:40.420 --> 0:32:43.040
<v Speaker 7>riding the ship a little bit with some situational hitting,

0:32:43.080 --> 0:32:47.070
<v Speaker 7>with some situational baseball will help get things right. I

0:32:47.110 --> 0:32:50.930
<v Speaker 7>think things will be okay eventually. It's just the funk

0:32:51.070 --> 0:32:54.430
<v Speaker 7>is way too long, and it's very unusual. And I

0:32:54.470 --> 0:32:57.150
<v Speaker 7>think if you have Dodger fans not calling in and

0:32:57.170 --> 0:33:01.910
<v Speaker 7>being frustrated, I would be concerned that Dodger Nation is

0:33:02.010 --> 0:33:04.350
<v Speaker 7>not right. And so I don't think the right approach

0:33:04.430 --> 0:33:07.490
<v Speaker 7>is getting mad at callers. I think callers have a right.

0:33:07.520 --> 0:33:08.260
<v Speaker 2>They're passionate.

0:33:08.280 --> 0:33:11.540
<v Speaker 7>They love this team. So I think that there has

0:33:11.560 --> 0:33:15.060
<v Speaker 7>to be some solution other than let's just go out

0:33:15.100 --> 0:33:16.979
<v Speaker 7>there and try to hit it out of the park

0:33:17.080 --> 0:33:20.100
<v Speaker 7>or do whatever. I look at Shohei. He seems completely

0:33:20.160 --> 0:33:21.880
<v Speaker 7>out of sorts. I don't know what's going on with him.

0:33:22.520 --> 0:33:24.120
<v Speaker 7>I see the same thing from a lot of other

0:33:24.160 --> 0:33:27.940
<v Speaker 7>players that traditionally haven't been in a slump this long.

0:33:28.080 --> 0:33:29.870
<v Speaker 7>So I don't know. I don't know what the solution is,

0:33:29.920 --> 0:33:33.590
<v Speaker 7>but I don't think avoiding small ball or trying to

0:33:33.630 --> 0:33:35.130
<v Speaker 7>do something different is wrong.

0:33:35.150 --> 0:33:35.990
<v Speaker 1>All right.

0:33:36.010 --> 0:33:38.370
<v Speaker 2>I appreciate the phone call Theo, you know, in a

0:33:38.410 --> 0:33:40.730
<v Speaker 2>situation like the game in the ninth inning against Atlanta,

0:33:41.310 --> 0:33:43.550
<v Speaker 2>the approach does have to be different and you got

0:33:43.570 --> 0:33:44.970
<v Speaker 2>to go out there and you have to figure out

0:33:45.040 --> 0:33:47.100
<v Speaker 2>some way to put the ball in the outfield, drive

0:33:47.120 --> 0:33:49.460
<v Speaker 2>the ball, the right side, get show. Hey, and yeah,

0:33:49.680 --> 0:33:53.060
<v Speaker 2>that's situational baseball, but, but the Dodgers aren't a bunting team,

0:33:53.120 --> 0:33:54.980
<v Speaker 2>so to speak. That's my point I'm bringing up. They're

0:33:55.000 --> 0:33:56.959
<v Speaker 2>still going to rely on the slug, but yes, you

0:33:56.980 --> 0:34:00.350
<v Speaker 2>can get into a situation and do something different. It

0:34:00.390 --> 0:34:02.830
<v Speaker 2>doesn't mean you become that team, and I think that's

0:34:03.030 --> 0:34:04.850
<v Speaker 2>my point I'm trying to make. Dodgers baseball brought to

0:34:04.870 --> 0:34:07.450
<v Speaker 2>you by Daniels Jewelers, which presents the home run forecast.

0:34:07.490 --> 0:34:10.070
<v Speaker 2>Dodger fans, for your chance to win a $ 50 Daniels

0:34:10.090 --> 0:34:14.120
<v Speaker 2>Jewelers gift card, just go to AM570LASports. com with the keyword HOMERUN.

0:34:14.540 --> 0:34:17.060
<v Speaker 2>Just enter your name, and you could win Daniels Jewelers'

0:34:17.680 --> 0:34:18.640
<v Speaker 2>Own the Dream.

0:34:18.820 --> 0:34:19.460
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, I love it.

0:34:19.540 --> 0:34:21.500
<v Speaker 2>I love the fact that Dodger fans are not happy.

0:34:21.560 --> 0:34:26.000
<v Speaker 2>I'm not happy either. My friend group, my family group,

0:34:26.020 --> 0:34:30.040
<v Speaker 2>they're all Dodger fans. Everybody's frustrated. Everybody's asking me for answers.

0:34:30.120 --> 0:34:31.920
<v Speaker 2>I don't got the answers. I'm looking to Dave Roberts

0:34:31.960 --> 0:34:35.670
<v Speaker 2>for answers. And that's what's interesting because Dave Roberts doesn't

0:34:35.710 --> 0:34:36.790
<v Speaker 2>have the answers right now.

0:34:37.310 --> 0:34:39.050
<v Speaker 5>And he's tried all these.

0:34:38.930 --> 0:34:41.730
<v Speaker 2>Different things to shake things up with this Dodgers team

0:34:42.010 --> 0:34:45.029
<v Speaker 2>with the roster he has and the roster that has

0:34:45.070 --> 0:34:47.950
<v Speaker 2>been built to be this juggernaut that is the Los

0:34:48.010 --> 0:34:50.380
<v Speaker 2>Angeles Dodgers. And a couple of callers are brought up

0:34:50.390 --> 0:34:52.259
<v Speaker 2>the fact that, yeah, this is a Dodgers team that

0:34:52.320 --> 0:34:53.310
<v Speaker 2>is still nine games up.

0:34:53.620 --> 0:34:55.660
<v Speaker 5>In the NL West. This is still a Dodgers team.

0:34:55.680 --> 0:34:58.980
<v Speaker 2>That's got, you know, top two record in baseball tied

0:34:59.000 --> 0:35:02.260
<v Speaker 2>with the Atlanta Braves four games back from the Milwaukee Brewers.

0:35:02.320 --> 0:35:03.419
<v Speaker 5>So it's not like a team.

0:35:03.440 --> 0:35:08.239
<v Speaker 2>That's three games over 500 and in danger of not

0:35:08.280 --> 0:35:09.399
<v Speaker 2>making the postseason.

0:35:09.580 --> 0:35:10.779
<v Speaker 5>That's not the case at all.

0:35:10.900 --> 0:35:13.900
<v Speaker 2>So I think this is a Dodgers team again coming

0:35:13.940 --> 0:35:17.860
<v Speaker 2>home getting right in the month of September individually guys

0:35:17.900 --> 0:35:19.860
<v Speaker 2>can get back on track. That's what you want to

0:35:19.900 --> 0:35:23.879
<v Speaker 2>see is this team getting back on track collectively And again,

0:35:23.920 --> 0:35:27.540
<v Speaker 2>with the roster expanding on Tuesday, it'll be interesting to

0:35:27.580 --> 0:35:29.840
<v Speaker 2>see what they do with those two roster spots, a

0:35:29.880 --> 0:35:34.160
<v Speaker 2>pitcher and a position player. I personally think Tibbs is

0:35:34.180 --> 0:35:36.379
<v Speaker 2>the answer for that. If you're going to ask me,

0:35:36.480 --> 0:35:38.359
<v Speaker 2>if you're going to make a roster move and bring

0:35:38.400 --> 0:35:41.120
<v Speaker 2>back Will Smith off the injured list, that means most

0:35:41.180 --> 0:35:43.370
<v Speaker 2>likely it's either Rortvat or Ferduscio is going to be

0:35:43.390 --> 0:35:45.109
<v Speaker 2>the odd man out. You can still bring up another

0:35:45.130 --> 0:35:49.270
<v Speaker 2>position player. Tibbs can play multiple positions. He's a left-handed bat,

0:35:49.750 --> 0:35:51.549
<v Speaker 2>and maybe he's a guy you can plug in and

0:35:52.020 --> 0:35:53.680
<v Speaker 2>Maybe he's a guy at the seven or eight spot

0:35:53.700 --> 0:35:56.620
<v Speaker 2>in the lineup that can provide a spark. Let's go

0:35:56.680 --> 0:35:59.670
<v Speaker 2>out to Dave in Toluca Lake, just around the corner

0:35:59.710 --> 0:36:02.169
<v Speaker 2>here from our Burbank studios. Dave, welcome to Dodger Talk

0:36:02.210 --> 0:36:03.890
<v Speaker 2>as we are about 10 minutes away from first pitch.

0:36:05.190 --> 0:36:13.049
<v Speaker 8>Hey, Tim. Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic. Got a few solutions here. Okay, great.

0:36:13.550 --> 0:36:16.650
<v Speaker 8>Knowing that we just can't flip a switch, right? But

0:36:16.790 --> 0:36:19.270
<v Speaker 8>number one, I think a lot of people need to realize,

0:36:19.310 --> 0:36:21.489
<v Speaker 8>in my opinion, and feel free to disagree with me,

0:36:22.180 --> 0:36:26.250
<v Speaker 8>hitting is much easier to fix than pitching. If we

0:36:26.310 --> 0:36:29.350
<v Speaker 8>look back last year, everyone was completely out of sorts

0:36:29.390 --> 0:36:31.270
<v Speaker 8>because our pitching was struggling.

0:36:31.489 --> 0:36:31.830
<v Speaker 11>Okay.

0:36:32.170 --> 0:36:34.489
<v Speaker 8>So what do we need to do? First of all,

0:36:34.510 --> 0:36:37.680
<v Speaker 8>I think the good Dodger teams that we've seen over

0:36:37.719 --> 0:36:41.280
<v Speaker 8>the years, we're always great at grinding out at best.

0:36:41.620 --> 0:36:44.299
<v Speaker 8>If you recall, even these guys that were having great

0:36:44.340 --> 0:36:47.969
<v Speaker 8>games against us, they'd be 70, 80 pitches into the

0:36:48.050 --> 0:36:52.310
<v Speaker 8>fifth or 16th. Guys are free swinging too much. We

0:36:52.330 --> 0:36:55.489
<v Speaker 8>need to take some pitches. And my suggestion would be

0:36:55.730 --> 0:36:59.310
<v Speaker 8>let's put Tommy Edmonds at leadoff. Let's move Shohei back

0:36:59.350 --> 0:37:02.770
<v Speaker 8>a couple spots. We need more speed, more contact hitting.

0:37:03.130 --> 0:37:04.489
<v Speaker 8>If you look at the guys that have been getting

0:37:04.570 --> 0:37:08.090
<v Speaker 8>punched out, it's because they've got a head in the count. They're,

0:37:08.469 --> 0:37:12.850
<v Speaker 8>you know, up 2-1 or 3-1 or whatever. And then

0:37:12.890 --> 0:37:16.799
<v Speaker 8>they start taking swings. We need contact ball. And I'm

0:37:16.840 --> 0:37:18.090
<v Speaker 8>not saying play small ball.

0:37:18.140 --> 0:37:18.279
<v Speaker 6>Yeah.

0:37:18.590 --> 0:37:21.140
<v Speaker 8>But, you know, we need to at least square up

0:37:21.200 --> 0:37:23.660
<v Speaker 8>a little bit and pull it back and make these

0:37:23.719 --> 0:37:26.120
<v Speaker 8>guys think maybe we need to adjust. Maybe we need

0:37:26.140 --> 0:37:28.810
<v Speaker 8>to take a few steps in. Move these guys around.

0:37:28.870 --> 0:37:33.070
<v Speaker 8>Don't let them get comfortable. I just feel like everybody

0:37:33.130 --> 0:37:36.700
<v Speaker 8>needs just to step their game up. And contrary to

0:37:36.719 --> 0:37:38.799
<v Speaker 8>what a lot of people think, you just can't send

0:37:38.840 --> 0:37:41.640
<v Speaker 8>people down. You have to DFA them. You can't get

0:37:41.680 --> 0:37:44.800
<v Speaker 8>these veterans that are on contracts. You can't send anybody

0:37:44.840 --> 0:37:48.020
<v Speaker 8>down with the exception of young players to the minors

0:37:48.060 --> 0:37:49.200
<v Speaker 8>like a lot of people think.

0:37:49.219 --> 0:37:52.440
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm with you, Dave. I like the solutions, and

0:37:52.460 --> 0:37:54.160
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to build on that. I appreciate the phone call.

0:37:54.560 --> 0:37:56.140
<v Speaker 2>I think you hit something on the head there. Tommy

0:37:56.219 --> 0:37:59.759
<v Speaker 2>Edmond in the leadoff spot, I love that. a guy

0:37:59.780 --> 0:38:02.549
<v Speaker 2>who's going to take pitches, Otani maybe drops down into

0:38:02.590 --> 0:38:04.270
<v Speaker 2>the three or four spots. Colin E was just saying

0:38:04.310 --> 0:38:07.310
<v Speaker 2>off air, let him see some at-bats, maybe with runners on.

0:38:07.730 --> 0:38:10.110
<v Speaker 2>If you can get Edmund or Freeman on, maybe Otani

0:38:10.130 --> 0:38:12.230
<v Speaker 2>in the three or four spot, seeing traffic on the

0:38:12.270 --> 0:38:14.509
<v Speaker 2>base pass, putting some pressure on the pitcher, force him

0:38:14.530 --> 0:38:17.750
<v Speaker 2>to throw strikes. I mean, as a leadoff guy, Shohei Otani,

0:38:18.090 --> 0:38:22.480
<v Speaker 2>we love him. But at this point right now, He

0:38:22.560 --> 0:38:24.720
<v Speaker 2>is swinging a lot of first pitches of the game

0:38:25.200 --> 0:38:28.590
<v Speaker 2>and not producing and not getting on. And certainly he

0:38:28.890 --> 0:38:30.469
<v Speaker 2>is still the greatest player of all time. And you

0:38:30.489 --> 0:38:31.750
<v Speaker 2>want to have that bat up there as many times

0:38:31.790 --> 0:38:34.410
<v Speaker 2>as possible. But I think that's not a bad idea.

0:38:34.510 --> 0:38:37.049
<v Speaker 2>Tommy Eminew can grind out at bats, you know, six

0:38:37.090 --> 0:38:38.709
<v Speaker 2>or seven pitch at bat to start off a game.

0:38:38.989 --> 0:38:40.850
<v Speaker 2>Let's see some pitches from the starting pitcher rather than

0:38:40.890 --> 0:38:42.509
<v Speaker 2>just one pitch, one swing, one out.

0:38:43.050 --> 0:38:45.239
<v Speaker 5>From Shohei Otani. I'm not opposed to that.

0:38:45.600 --> 0:38:47.420
<v Speaker 2>Max Muncy is also a guy who takes a lot

0:38:47.460 --> 0:38:50.219
<v Speaker 2>of pitches and can grind down a pitcher. You're absolutely right, Dave,

0:38:50.260 --> 0:38:52.380
<v Speaker 2>and I appreciate that. This is a team that was

0:38:52.500 --> 0:38:54.820
<v Speaker 2>so good, and that's part of their MO was grinding

0:38:54.840 --> 0:38:56.920
<v Speaker 2>it out at starter. Let's get to that bullpen as

0:38:57.040 --> 0:38:57.779
<v Speaker 2>fast as we can.

0:38:58.040 --> 0:39:00.200
<v Speaker 5>How do we do it? Get that pitch count up.

0:39:00.840 --> 0:39:03.319
<v Speaker 2>Let's get to 80 pitches in four-plus innings and get

0:39:03.360 --> 0:39:05.319
<v Speaker 2>to the bullpen for the second half of a game.

0:39:05.680 --> 0:39:08.700
<v Speaker 2>That's what they did so well, passing the baton, so

0:39:08.739 --> 0:39:12.359
<v Speaker 2>to speak. You know, having quality at bats. They've gotten

0:39:12.400 --> 0:39:14.340
<v Speaker 2>away from that, and that's just part of the equation

0:39:14.380 --> 0:39:17.049
<v Speaker 2>that this Dodger team was so successful at doing that

0:39:17.070 --> 0:39:17.950
<v Speaker 2>they've gotten away from.

0:39:18.140 --> 0:39:19.510
<v Speaker 5>Izzy in Anaheim.

0:39:19.790 --> 0:39:20.730
<v Speaker 1>Oh, boy, Izzy.

0:39:20.850 --> 0:39:22.630
<v Speaker 5>I can't imagine you're too happy on this Sunday.

0:39:22.650 --> 0:39:25.170
<v Speaker 7>Not really.

0:39:25.330 --> 0:39:28.790
<v Speaker 10>I was really frustrated yesterday. You know what, guys? I

0:39:28.870 --> 0:39:31.800
<v Speaker 10>learned something about this season.

0:39:31.900 --> 0:39:32.580
<v Speaker 5>Okay, what'd you learn?

0:39:32.600 --> 0:39:40.160
<v Speaker 10>I don't think... I think that trying to win another championship,

0:39:40.760 --> 0:39:42.920
<v Speaker 10>this is going to be the third time in a

0:39:42.960 --> 0:39:47.680
<v Speaker 10>row if they get it. They've been working hard the

0:39:47.719 --> 0:39:51.830
<v Speaker 10>last three years. The body is just not... Don't forget

0:39:51.850 --> 0:39:57.009
<v Speaker 10>that they even went to Tokyo and China. Yeah, the

0:39:57.050 --> 0:39:59.629
<v Speaker 10>last three years, they had to take a toll on

0:39:59.650 --> 0:40:00.250
<v Speaker 10>your body.

0:40:00.330 --> 0:40:03.029
<v Speaker 5>No doubt, Izzy. No doubt. I appreciate it, Izzy.

0:40:03.130 --> 0:40:09.170
<v Speaker 10>I think this is probably going to be an 87-win team. 87-win?

0:40:09.190 --> 0:40:10.969
<v Speaker 5>They're at 81 right now, Izzy.

0:40:11.390 --> 0:40:13.330
<v Speaker 2>I appreciate it. Six more wins the rest of the

0:40:13.370 --> 0:40:14.350
<v Speaker 2>season in this schedule?

0:40:14.710 --> 0:40:15.770
<v Speaker 5>No way. No way.

0:40:16.030 --> 0:40:19.340
<v Speaker 2>Just keep this in mind, Dodger fans. Winning three in

0:40:19.380 --> 0:40:21.700
<v Speaker 2>a row is hard. Nobody said this was going to

0:40:21.739 --> 0:40:24.799
<v Speaker 2>be easy. Yeah, they're running away with the division over

0:40:24.860 --> 0:40:27.700
<v Speaker 2>San Diego and Arizona. Nine games up going into the

0:40:27.739 --> 0:40:29.960
<v Speaker 2>final month of the season. But nobody said this was

0:40:29.980 --> 0:40:32.799
<v Speaker 2>going to be easy. There's adversity, there's struggles, and they're

0:40:32.820 --> 0:40:35.170
<v Speaker 2>in the midst of right now. But there's not saying

0:40:35.190 --> 0:40:37.390
<v Speaker 2>that they can't turn this ship around the final month,

0:40:37.730 --> 0:40:39.950
<v Speaker 2>get right, get back on track for.

0:40:39.850 --> 0:40:41.270
<v Speaker 5>A third World Series championship.

0:40:41.310 --> 0:40:44.750
<v Speaker 2>First pitch from Detroit is coming up next with Stephen

0:40:44.770 --> 0:40:45.759
<v Speaker 2>Nelson and Rick Munday.

0:40:46.580 --> 0:40:50.299
<v Speaker 5>Enjoy, everybody. It's the rubber game. Dodgers-Tigers next.