1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker. Now, 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: don't be alarmed when you don't see Freddie Freeman or 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: Mookie Bets or Max Munsey and the Dodgers starting lineup 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: this weekend against the Angels and the Padres. Dave Roberts said, 5 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: there is no injury issues. We have seen those guys 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: out here going back to the beginning of the week 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: taking batting practice, participating in life batting practice as well, 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: but are going to slow play when they get into games. 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: These are veteran guys. Munsey is thirty five, Freddie Freeman 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 1: is thirty six, Mookie Bets is thirty two going on 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,959 Speaker 1: thirty three. They have played back to back World Series Championships, 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: so no need to force these guys into lineups early 13 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: in spring, which means the Dodgers are going to give 14 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: a lot of their young players some opportunities to leave 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: an impression and in the case of Alton Rushing, get 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: a lot of reps behind Will Smith, who is going 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: to leave for the World Baseball Classic as part of 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: Team USA's team, but also get some time at first 19 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: base to give Freddie Freeman days off, and also early 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: on you know, get him off his feet and not 21 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: start into game. So Dalton Rushing is going to have 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: a runway to get a rhythm for his season, and 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: it feels like he has a better understanding of what 24 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: to expect and what is expected of him from the Dodgers. 25 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: Here's our conversation with the very gregarious Dalton Rushing Rush. 26 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: Great to see you, and man, you got a real legit, 27 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: big league locker, a guy that has made, the guy 28 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: that has arrived. 29 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's good to be here. Good to see you, David, 30 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: missed you. I don't like your nipples as much as Kik, 31 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: but it's good to see you and looking forward to 32 00:01:58,840 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 2: another World Series. 33 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: I wore a jacket. A fan came up to me 34 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: asked me about my nipples. I said, hey, I got 35 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: to cover up in the spring. 36 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's cold out here early in the morning, isn't it. David, 37 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: I like that la Weather. 38 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: Oh no, no, Hey, I could definitely feel the vibe 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: the energy from you. You are so excited to get 40 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: this season going. What's it like to have the faith, 41 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: the backup of the organization to believe in what you 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: can do for them this year? 43 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think I think that's the difference. This year. 44 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: I got a feel of what the big moments kind 45 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: of feel like. There at the end of the year, 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: I had a couple of big moments, and being able 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: to know what it feels like in that moment is 48 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: kind of the reason you want to get back out there. 49 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: The grind of a full season, the ups, the downs. 50 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 2: Obviously you look back at last year was a lot 51 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 2: of things that I could look on a downside, But 52 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 2: I personally think that I learned a lot through those 53 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: tough times, wherever stretch it was in the year, And 54 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 2: I think that's what excites me this year is because 55 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: it's one thing throughout my whole career. It's if I 56 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 2: have a down, down month, whatever it is, I bounce 57 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: back really well. 58 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: It wasn't a normal year. I would imagine since high 59 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: school you've played every day, you've been the guy, knowing 60 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,399 Speaker 1: the role, knowing how to prepare yourself for the role. 61 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: Do you feel like it has giving you a head 62 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: start coming into this season. 63 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's given me a head start. And 64 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: I think the other side of that is I'm going 65 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: to be able to show the production at an early time, 66 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: show what I can do the difference I can make 67 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: in the box, and then I think that you kind 68 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: of you push all your chips to the middle of 69 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: the table there. And I've said it in the past, 70 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: I don't care where I play, what my role is, 71 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: as long as I play baseball. And that's I think 72 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: that's what I'm most excited about this year is I 73 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: can really focus on, hey, how many games can this 74 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 2: team win? But also how many games can I get 75 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: on the field and help this team win. 76 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: What did you learn about when you do get those 77 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: opportunities after you know, backing up or getting a spot start, 78 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: what did you learn how to approach your at bats. 79 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: I've learned that situational hitting is your best friend, and 80 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: those those situations, learning how to control the baseball, know 81 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: where to hit the baseball and what situation, and that 82 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: produces runs for your team. And I think if we 83 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: can do that from a one to nine standpoint, it 84 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: doesn't matter if you're an everyday player or if you 85 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: play once a week, then we're gonna win a lot 86 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: of baseball games. So we're gonna have a lot of fun. 87 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: I know you're a catcher at heart, and obviously you 88 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: are a catcher on this ball club, but also we 89 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: talked about this first base maybe in your future to 90 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: get Freddie days off. I don't see a first basement's 91 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: glove in your locker. 92 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: There, it's in there. No, it's I've always wanted to 93 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: keep that in my back pocket, regardless of where I'm at. 94 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: And obviously, due to circumstances this year, if Freddie needs 95 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: a day halfway through the year, if Freddie needs a 96 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: day in the first month, whatever it is, I need 97 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: to be that guy that they can kind of lean 98 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: on to still have a left handed bat in the 99 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: lineup and give Freddie's time off. 100 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: So have you taken any ground balls and work with 101 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: some infielders there yet. 102 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've done some infield work. I try and just 103 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 2: kind of incorporated in the routine as much as possible, 104 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: so it kind of feels second nature and just like, hey, 105 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: give me the glove, I'll go play it. And I 106 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 2: actually had some a lot of experience in college there 107 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: and early on in pro ball, so I've I've kind 108 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: of got a little bit of a background in first base, 109 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: but obviously I want to excel and grow as much 110 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: as possible to be a guy like Freddie, you know, 111 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: it's pretty cool. 112 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: Dalton Rushing is our guest. He has arrived. He's going 113 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 1: to be a big part of the Dodgers three pete 114 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: attempt in twenty twenty six. All right, let's put the 115 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: catcher's gear back on. I've heard so much about Gavin 116 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: Stone and River Ryan. Have you had a chance to 117 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: catch any one of those guys so far? 118 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 2: Early on? Yeah, I've got to catch both. And man, 119 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 2: do we have a lot of pictures. It's not only 120 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: are a lot of pitchers. We have a lot of 121 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: pictures that can pitch for a really long time in 122 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: this game. And I think that's the beauty of what 123 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 2: this organization does. It builds it top to bottom, the 124 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 2: strongest organization in baseball, strongest organization in sports. And yeah, 125 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: they've both they've both looked fantastic. I mean, River explosive stuff, 126 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: he's disgusting, He's around the zone, he establishes the strike 127 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: zone early and it's it's almost everything you could ask 128 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 2: for out of a pitcher. And Gavin as well. I mean, 129 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: Gavin's got three plus pitches and the pitch ability is 130 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: really there. He knows how to control the baseball. He 131 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: knows how to control the game, And I think that's 132 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: what I'm most excited to work with between the two 133 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 2: of them, is their ability to know how to control 134 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: the baseball and really navigate through seven innings. 135 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: What's the difference for you catching bullpens for guys like 136 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: that that are coming back trying to prove that they 137 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: are back, compared to catching a bullpen for a glass 138 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: Now or a Yamamoto. 139 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think these some of these guys coming off injury, 140 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 2: it's our job to one like, really make sure that 141 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 2: one the throws clean, everything's coming out smooth. But at 142 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: the same time, we need to we need to incorporate 143 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: a little bit of the competitive edge. We need to 144 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 2: we need to get these guys filling like they're throwing 145 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 2: in the fifth, sixth, seventh inning of a game in 146 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 2: Dodger Stadium against Diamondbacks the padres Like. We have to 147 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 2: make them feel his game ready with all the nerves 148 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: and everything is possible before the season hits, because obviously 149 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 2: it's going to be a little bit of a different 150 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: fill with fifty thousand there. 151 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: Hey, speaking of edge, you got edge. You got a 152 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: lot of emotion when you play. Have you learned how 153 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: to play with that? And how to control it at 154 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: times when you need to. 155 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think. I think last year I learned quick 156 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: it's you control it as much as you can, but 157 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: you don't lose it. Some of the best players I've 158 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: ever watched, some of the best players that I get 159 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 2: to play with every single day here, they hold this 160 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: internal smoke, this internal heat that they know how to 161 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: use it. They know when to use it and when 162 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: the time is to use it. And I think me 163 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: being the younger guy on the team and being able 164 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: to see the other guys and how they go about 165 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: their business. There's a time and a place to show emotion, 166 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: there's a time and a place to say nothing. And 167 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: I think that's what I'm most excited about this year, 168 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: is to be able to show everyone the maturity and 169 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: be the guy that can run the field from behind 170 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: the play. 171 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: Dalton Russian's got the entire package. First day ever talked 172 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: to him, understood the pitcher catcher relationship. He's got edge, 173 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: he wants to compete, he wants to win, and certainly 174 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: the time is now. Thanks a lot for the time. 175 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: Great to see your smile. 176 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: Perfect, Thanks David. Good to see you