1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker. 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: The Freeway series has shifted scenes to Dodgers Stadium and 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: a man that made himself feel at home in Anaheim 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: like he has all spring long. Is my guy, James Tibbs, 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: the third, A proud Florida State seminole. 6 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 2: La loves him now, thanks a lot for. 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 3: The time, Tibbs absolutely, thanks for having me. 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: Hey, over spring training, you got the greatest compliment from 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: a former Dodger. His name was Andre Ethier, and you 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: know what he said, James Tibbs has Ethier type of edge. 11 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 3: Cool. Yeah, that's really cool. That's that means a lot. 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 3: It's a huge compliment come from him. I love it. 13 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: How much does edge play into you performing? 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I just I just try to keep 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 4: the chip on my shoulder little bit, just play like 16 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 4: you know, I don't I haven't. 17 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 3: I don't deserve anything. I got to earn it all. 18 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 4: I mean at the end of the day, like every 19 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 4: day's a new day and trying to, you know, come 20 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 4: out there and give him my best and see what happens. 21 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: James, we talked at the beginning of spring training. You 22 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: hadn't played a single game, but it seemed like you 23 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: had an awareness of who you were. 24 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: What do you make of the results you got this spring? 25 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's just you know, a testament to 26 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 4: the process and continue to put in work and find 27 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 4: ways to get better each and every day. And you know, 28 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 4: I didn't have any expectation coming in the spring. Just 29 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 4: come out here and compete and see what happens. And 30 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 4: you know, try to get as comfortable as I can 31 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 4: around the guys and get to know them, get to 32 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 4: learn from them, and so the success on the field 33 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 4: is just a plus. 34 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: I know, this is professional sports, it's not little league. 35 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: You don't need somebody to say, hey, great job. But 36 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: have you gotten feedback from Dave Roberts or the Dodgers 37 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:31,919 Speaker 1: this spring? 38 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 3: Yeah? I just keep doing what you're doing. 39 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 4: I mean, we love what you do and and we 40 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 4: love how you compete and you play hard, and yeah, 41 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 4: for me, that's that's all I can control. 42 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 3: So trying to control the control bills. 43 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 4: And continuing to show I can do that and progress 44 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 4: and wait and in places that I need to progress, 45 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 4: and just continue to do what I do. 46 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: It feels like you and her heart have been together 47 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: since day one. What's it like to be in the 48 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: same lineup every spring game, to have lockers next to 49 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: each other. You always need that guy to push the other. 50 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's great. 51 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 4: I mean, he's in a fantastic human being and a 52 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 4: great guy, and he's been a good friend and a 53 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 4: good brother to me, as you know, coming over here 54 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 4: from Boston and just loved it and enjoyed it and 55 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: we kind of helped each other out and push each other. 56 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 4: So it's been a great process. 57 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: Has that been the specialness of this spring and just 58 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: being with him? 59 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: How much do you guys push each other? 60 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, we pushed the other every day. I mean, I 61 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 4: think both of us are trying to compete. We're both 62 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 4: trying to get better, and you know, it's almost like 63 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 4: we're just trying to out play each other a little 64 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 4: bit of each and every day. 65 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: So it's it's a lot. It's a fun, you know, 66 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: little rivalry in a great way, and we. 67 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 4: Just, you know, we both push each other, and I 68 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 4: think at the end of the day, that's, you know, 69 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 4: all you can ask for. And so to have him 70 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 4: and just to watch how he how he does his 71 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 4: business every day, it's been really cool to watch. So 72 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 4: I'm so proud of him and proud to be alongside him, 73 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 4: and you know, I can't wait to see him, you 74 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 4: know this year. 75 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: What about some of the salties of being in the 76 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: same outfield with him? You know each other, so, well, 77 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: what's the communication like between you two? 78 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty good. 79 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, we kind of have an idea 80 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 4: what we're doing, idea, you know what we can cover 81 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 4: and what we can't cover, and just continue to work together. 82 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 4: And you know, we kind of kind of just know 83 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 4: what each other are trying to do and what we 84 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 4: want to do, and so it helps for sure. 85 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: It helps chemistry and then the ability to track down. 86 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 2: Five balls every RBI you love. 87 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: But how sweet has it been this spring where you're 88 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: driving in Zach Gerhart and you see him motoring around 89 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: from first to third, from first to home. How sweet 90 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: is that that he's scoring on some of your extra 91 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: base hits. 92 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's awesome. 93 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 4: I think the longer I haven't a bat, the more 94 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 4: more likely he's in scoring positions. 95 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: So it's been fun. I've enjoyed it. 96 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: Hey, James, obviously, Cactus League is special. Wearing the Dodger 97 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: uniform special. But to be at a big league stadium 98 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: last night in Anaheim, forty five thousand fans were there. 99 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: What was it like for you to be on that stage? 100 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's cool. 101 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, I remember going to an Angels 102 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 4: game when I was eight years old, right, and sitting 103 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 4: with my dad and hanging out and hoping one dad'd be. 104 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: In that place. And so same thing goes for. 105 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 4: Here being in a Dodger stadium. You know, I was 106 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 4: here to you know, when I was eight. So it's 107 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 4: just a surreal experience. And as a guy that you know, 108 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 4: grew up loving baseball and wanted to be in baseball, 109 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: just to be a part of this is a dream 110 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 4: come true for me. 111 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: So you're saying a Georgia kid found his way to 112 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: Dodger Stadium eight years old. 113 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 3: It was a trip. 114 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 4: My dad and I played a trip and uh, you know, 115 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 4: he gave us a couple couple of ages and said, hey, 116 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 4: come out, you know what trip do you want to 117 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 4: do for this and this and this? And so did 118 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 4: a New York trip and did a uh, did an 119 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 4: LA trip. So I went to San Diego, went to Anaheim, 120 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 4: and went to LA and it was a fantastic experience 121 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 4: to be out here. 122 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: All right, age me who was on the Dodgers when 123 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: eight year old TIBs was here. 124 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: Matt Camp, Andre Thier, Clint Kershaw. Oh yeah, you know. 125 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 4: Actually we saw the Padres play the Giants and Barry 126 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 4: Zito pitch in his last year. So that's kind of 127 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: a cool memory of mine. But other than that, I 128 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 4: can't remember too well. 129 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: So that must have been a great experience to have 130 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,239 Speaker 1: Ethier not only compliment you what he said, but actually 131 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: work with you for a week out there and the 132 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: other outfielders. 133 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was great. 134 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 4: I mean absolutely, I you know, growing up watching baseball 135 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 4: and just being a fan of baseball, it was fun 136 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 4: to watch and at the end of the day, like 137 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 4: you know, you you hope to be that guy one day, right, 138 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 4: And so for me to experience that firsthand and get 139 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 4: to talk to them and you know, pick their brains 140 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 4: as well as. 141 00:04:58,480 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 3: You know, just knowing that, you know, I grew up 142 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: a this cool experience. 143 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: I identify with guys like youtubs. I broadcast with a chip 144 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: on my shoulder. I got edge every night on Dodger Talk. 145 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, I just try to go about the same 146 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 3: way every day, all. 147 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: Right, thanks a lot for the time. Congratulations, appreciate it. 148 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 3: Thank you.