1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: This is off season Dodger Talk. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 2: Get in on the show by calling eight sixty six 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 2: seven hashtag Dodger Talk and now your host, David Bassey. 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 3: We are not in Siritos. No, we are not at 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 3: a BJS in Siritos. We are at the Sportsnet LA 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 3: studios where I just finished access Sportsnet Dodgers and we 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 3: were joined by three time, three time World Series champion 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 3: Max Muncy, and we will share part of that conversation 9 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 3: with you coming up at seven point fifteen at the 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 3: bottom of the hour, we are going to be joined 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 3: by the PCL Pacific Coast League. For those that don't know, 12 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 3: the Pacific Coast League Player of the Year and now 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 3: added to the Dodgers' forty man roster, Ryan Ward. Yes, 14 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: that Ryan Ward. And the reason why we're having Ryan 15 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 3: on the show is because I don't want to harbor 16 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 3: this type of resentment to a guy I don't even know, 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 3: to a guy that had a great season. And the 18 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 3: reason why I harbored minimal amount of resentment towards Ryan 19 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:22,919 Speaker 3: Ward is the fact that probably from I don't know, July, 20 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 3: after the All Star break until maybe even the Wildcard series, 21 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 3: somebody called the show somebody at the stadium would ask 22 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 3: me about him. One of the broadcasters would ask me, 23 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 3: why aren't they calling this guy up? Why is he 24 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: not up here? Why is Michael Conforto in left field? 25 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 3: And quite honestly, I didn't have a great answer, but 26 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 3: all I could relay is the fact that the Dodgers 27 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 3: were sticking with Conforto. Well, Confordo's gone and Ryan Ward 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 3: now on the forty man roster. And now Ryan Ward 29 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 3: is going to be on the show tonight, and we'll 30 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 3: see what Ryan Ward is all about on the show 31 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 3: tonight as a personality, as a guy that we're going 32 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 3: to get to know. And we'll see how much of 33 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 3: an opportunity Ryan Ward gets this season. A lot of 34 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 3: it is contingent on you know who the Dodgers are 35 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 3: able to either trade for or sign this offseason to 36 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 3: help upgrade not only their outfield defense but also their offense. 37 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 3: Their offense was not very good the second half of 38 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 3: the season. They scored almost twenty five less runs in 39 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 3: the postseason this year than what they did when they 40 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 3: beat the Yankees and went through the postseason last year 41 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty four. So Andrew Friedman is very aware 42 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 3: of the fact that their offense wasn't very good the 43 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: second half of last year, and he wants to make 44 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 3: it better, and there are a few guys on the 45 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 3: free agent market that can help him make it better. 46 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 3: There are opportunities on the trade market that could help 47 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: him make it better. So the Dodgers are not done adding, 48 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 3: but there's no rush because there are a number of 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 3: different ways the Dodgers can pivot now. I've been a 50 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 3: big advocate for the Dodgers to sign Bo Bishett, but 51 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: it seems like the Phillies now are the team that 52 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 3: are emerging as the front runners to sign Bishett. The Phillies, 53 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: in case you missed it, hired former Dodger manager and 54 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: more recently, former Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattinglee to 55 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: be their bench coach, and from what we can gather 56 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 3: out of Toronto is that Bo Boshett and Don Mattinglee 57 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 3: had a very tight relationship and that may have played 58 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 3: into why the Phillies hired Don Mattinglee, among other reasons, 59 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 3: to be their bench coach. Now and Bob Bashett is 60 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 3: scheduled to have either a video call or an in 61 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: person call with the Phillies coming up next week. According 62 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 3: to John Hayman, his camp is looking for three hundred 63 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 3: million dollars. I don't know if that's true or not, 64 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 3: but Phillies players are reportedly texting Bashett encouraging him to 65 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 3: sign with them. And the Phillies are a very left 66 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 3: handed oriented team, so they could use a really good 67 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 3: right handed hitter like Bo Bashett, who is only twenty 68 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 3: eight years old and already in his career, has led 69 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: the league in hits two different times. And that's why 70 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 3: I'm a big fan of Bobashett. I think the Dodgers 71 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: had some level of interest in Bobashett. It may still do, 72 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 3: but it feels like the Dodgers are focusing on the 73 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 3: outfield and we hear so much about Kyle Tucker. Look, 74 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 3: Bobashett isn't going back to Toronto, so the chances are 75 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 3: very high the Blue Jays are zeroing in and closing 76 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 3: in on a deal for Kyle Tucker. Now we've heard, 77 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 3: and I've told you this before, that the Dodgers have 78 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 3: this saying amongst their front office people that Andrew Friedman 79 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 3: coined is hanging around the backboard in case a guy 80 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: like Freddie Freeman doesn't re sign with his team, or 81 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 3: a guy like Mookie Bets becomes available in a trade 82 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 3: among others. So if Kyle Tucker and the Blue Jays 83 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 3: can't come up with a significant number, maybe Kyle Tucker 84 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: does settle for a three or four year deal. If 85 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 3: that was the case, I feel like the Dodgers would 86 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: be definitely interested, and that's the reason why you're hearing 87 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 3: their name. But it seems like the Blue Jays are 88 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: going to sign him. We haven't mentioned Cody Bellinger in 89 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 3: a while on this show, and I feel like a 90 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,559 Speaker 3: reunion from what I can gather, a reunion with Cody 91 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 3: Bellinger is still not out of the question. 92 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 2: Now. 93 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: The Yankees really need Cody Bellinger to come back, but 94 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 3: the Yankees are a mess now. According to a few 95 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 3: different reports, Scott Boris is seeking a seven year deal 96 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 3: from the Yankees for Cody Bellinger at an annual average 97 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 3: salary of thirty million dollars. So that would be seven years, 98 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 3: two hundred and ten million dollars. I don't see the 99 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: Dodgers doing that. Maybe the Yankees are desperate enough to 100 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 3: do that, but I could see the Dodgers saying, okay, 101 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 3: thirty million dollars a year for Cody Bellinger, how about 102 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 3: three years, how about four years? Things are being equal? 103 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 3: If the Yankees are not going six or seven years 104 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 3: or even five years, why wouldn't Cody Bellinger want to 105 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 3: come back? And I can understand, and I've mentioned this 106 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 3: the sentiment of let's turn the page on those Dodgers. 107 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 3: Let's turn the page and move on. From Justin Turner, 108 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: from Kenley Jansen, from Corey Seeger, from Cody Bellinger. I 109 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 3: can understand that the Dodgers have won back to back 110 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 3: World Series championships without those players. But Cody Bellinger is 111 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 3: still only thirty years old, and he was a really 112 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 3: popular player here. He won the MVP and talking to Cody, 113 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 3: keeping in touch with Cody, he's become a way more 114 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 3: mature player in person since he left the Dodgers after 115 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: what the twenty two season, And let's not forget Cody 116 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: Bellinger came up with a lot of big hits for 117 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 3: the Dodgers in the postseason. They don't advance to the 118 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: NLCS in twenty twenty one if Cody Bellinger doesn't come 119 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: up with a huge hitting game five of the NLDS 120 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 3: in San Francisco, to name one, of many. How about 121 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty postseason catches home runs. I mean, he 122 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 3: wasn't the same for a while after hitting that huge 123 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 3: home run in the NLCS and Keik Hernandez giving him 124 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 3: a shoal forearm shoulder shiver. It seems like he has 125 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 3: He hasn't returned to the player before that, but he's 126 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 3: become a better player and he knows himself a lot 127 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 3: better than he did when we last saw him in 128 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 3: a Dodger uniform. So one way or the other, whether 129 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 3: it's Kyle Tucker, whether it's Cody Bellinger, whether it's making 130 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 3: a trade for a Brendan Donovan or a Lars Noubar, 131 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 3: Andrew Friedman is going to upgrade the offense. And he 132 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 3: still has a lot of options on the board of 133 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 3: outfielders to name just a handful that are out there 134 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 3: that are still available and huge impact players. So there there, 135 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 3: it's incredible to say this on January eighth, one eight day. 136 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 3: I'm celebrating Yamamoto one eight day, by the way, but 137 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 3: on January eighth, and we are just a little over 138 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 3: a month from when the Dodgers report to camp, Kyle 139 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 3: Tucker Cody Bellinger are still on the board. Lars new 140 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 3: Bar and Brendan Donovan have not been traded, so to 141 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 3: put it lightly, there are still as many options on 142 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 3: January eighth as there were on December first, So the 143 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 3: Dodgers are not feeling the urgency. Now there is a 144 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,359 Speaker 3: player of interest that did not come to an arbitration 145 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 3: agreement with his team. We'll let you know who that is. 146 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: We'll let you know how far apart the two sides 147 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 3: are and how that may change the dynamic of his 148 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 3: availability in the trade market. We got Max Munsey coming 149 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 3: up next, and at the bottom of the hour, Ryan 150 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 3: Ward David vass live from the Sports net LA studios 151 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 3: with you until eight o'clock tonight right here, seventy LA Sports. 152 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: David Vassa with you until eight o'clock tonight here on 153 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 3: a five to seventy LA Sports. Thanks to the folks 154 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 3: here at sports net LA for inviting me back for 155 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 3: access sports Net Dodgers, and thanks to them for allowing 156 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: me to squat in one of the offices here to 157 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 3: host Dodger Talk until eight o'clock. Coming up at the 158 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 3: bottom of the hour, Pacific Coast League MVP and Dodger 159 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 3: nerd Cult legend Ryan Ward is going to join us 160 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 3: and can't wait to meet Ryan Ward. Can't wait to 161 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 3: talk to him coming up at the bottom of the hour. 162 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: You know, I mentioned this on Petro some money. I 163 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: went back to my alma mater last night, Notre Dame 164 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 3: High School in Sherman Oaks. It wasn't as bougie when 165 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 3: I graduated there in nineteen ninety four, but still a 166 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: grade school, A great place to send your kids if 167 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 3: you can. But I went back because my cousin who's 168 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 3: like my sister, her son now is a grown man 169 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: and teaches there and is an assistant basketball coach for 170 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 3: the varsity team. So I decided to go back there 171 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 3: support the school, support him, and they embarrassed me. They 172 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: blew a sixteen point lead going into the fourth quarter 173 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 3: and lost by a point to Loyola. But that's a 174 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 3: that's not the highlight of the day. I actually saw 175 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 3: my old dean of boys at the school, and he 176 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: turns out to be now the president of Notre Dame 177 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 3: High School, Rob Thomas. No, not that Rob Thomas. Mister 178 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 3: Thomas is now the president of Notre Dame High School. 179 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 3: And I always try to stander the radar, and I said, hey, 180 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 3: I remember you. You were the Diana Boys when I 181 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 3: went to school here. He's like, yeah, when'd you graduate? 182 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 3: What's your name? David Vasse ninety four? I listened to 183 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 3: the show, Well there we go. So high school ever 184 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 3: needs me because of you know, their president, Rob Thomas, 185 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 3: I would be there for them. Great guy, a man 186 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 3: of strength and dignity and class, Rob Thomas. All Right. 187 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 3: I mentioned that Trek scooble Well. I did not say 188 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 3: his name, but I mentioned a player did not come 189 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: to an agreement as many players did for to avoid arbitration. 190 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: Scott Boris, Scott Trek Scougbell's agent exchanged a number of 191 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 3: thirty two million dollars with the Tigers. The Tigers came 192 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: back with nineteen million dollars. That's a big disparity, right there. 193 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 3: Not Usually a gap like that does not happen in 194 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: arbitration trying to avoid arbitration. Just in case you're wondering, 195 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: the record for a pitcher in these type of situations 196 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 3: was David Price back in twenty fifteen, who got nineteen 197 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 3: point seven five million dollars. So the Tigers, you know, 198 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 3: ten eleven years later, want to pay Trek's Scouble less 199 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: than what David Price got for being, you know, equally 200 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 3: as good of a pitcher at that time, maybe less 201 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 3: than twenty fifteen. That's a thirteen million dollar cap gap 202 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 3: between the Tigers and Schoolball right now. 203 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not. 204 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 3: Gonna say this is going to trigger anything to change 205 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 3: significantly as far as the Tigers trading Schooble. But if 206 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: they do go into an arbitration hearing and what happens 207 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: there is the team basically tears down the player to 208 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 3: try to get the arbiter to side with them to 209 00:13:55,280 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 3: pay the player less. That can get very contentious. And 210 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 3: that's the reason why Andrew Freeman for the most part, 211 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 3: has avoided arbitration hearings with the majority of his players 212 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 3: outside of War one or two, going back to his 213 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 3: days with the Rays. So I'll say this, if the 214 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 3: Tigers and school Bowl go into arbitration and the Tigers 215 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 3: are going to try to poke holes in Tarrek's Schoolbull's 216 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: game to try to bring him down to closer to 217 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: their offer of nineteen million dollars, I can assure you 218 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 3: number one, Trek Scuble will not re sign with the 219 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 3: Tigers when he becomes a free agent and the chances 220 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 3: of him being traded go up significantly. Now, I don't 221 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 3: think it's going to get there, because they have until 222 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 3: the end of the month to try to compromise on 223 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 3: a number. But certainly Scott Boris, this is an indicator 224 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: of Scott Boris asking for thirty eighty two million dollars 225 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 3: to avoid arbitration and the Tigers submitting nineteen million dollars 226 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 3: that Scott bores not only is trying to set a 227 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 3: record in arbitration, but I can assure you Scott bores 228 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 3: Is trying is going to try to set a new 229 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 3: record to top the contract of Garrett Cole and Yoshi 230 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 3: Yamamoto for Schooble in free agency. That's what all this 231 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: signals to me, more than Schooble all of a sudden 232 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 3: being traded to the Dodgers, the Mets or anywhere else. 233 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 3: That's what it tells me. Eight six six nine eighty 234 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 3: seven two five seventy is the phone number. Would you 235 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 3: want a reunion with Cody Bellinger? I've laid it all 236 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 3: out for you. Would you want a reunion with Cody Bellinger? 237 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 3: Or are you of the thinking that the Dodger should 238 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 3: just turn the page from those group of players that 239 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 3: Lefia free agency or, in Bals case, the Dodgers decided 240 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 3: not to tender uh back in twenty twenty two. Where 241 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 3: do you stand? Are you open to a Bellinger reunion 242 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 3: or do you believe it's time for the Dodgers to 243 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: move on and find somebody else. I'm of the mindset 244 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:20,359 Speaker 3: that Cody Bellinger should be back in a Dodger uniform 245 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: if it makes sense. Four year deal. I'm all in 246 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 3: four years at thirty million dollars, I'm all in bring 247 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: him back. He could play all three outfield positions. He's 248 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 3: a playoff player, he knows the culture of the Dodgers. 249 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 3: He's a great guy. The players would love to have 250 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: him back. And if you're talking about giving Freddie Freeman 251 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 3: more days off at first base, who better than Cody 252 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 3: Bellinger to give him those days off? Eight six six nine, 253 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 3: eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Cody 254 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 3: Bellinger was part of the twenty twenty World Series championship 255 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 3: that was Max Munsey's first three World Series championships. Max Munsey, 256 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 3: a three time World Series champion, part of the dodgers 257 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 3: first ever back to back World Series Championship team joined 258 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 3: us on Sportsnet LA, myself, Jerry Harriston Junior, and Kirsten Watson, 259 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 3: And here's part of our conversation. And I asked Muncie, 260 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: how difficult was it to repeat as champions? Now that 261 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 3: you've had some time to exhale and celebrate, how difficult 262 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 3: is it to repeat as world champions? 263 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, it's it's something that you can't really 264 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 4: discuss in like a short segment, like there needs to 265 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 4: be a long talk about it one day. But you know, 266 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 4: as I mentioned, the off seasons get short, and that's 267 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 4: what you want. But when your off season is so short, 268 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 4: you don't have, you know, the full time to recover. 269 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 4: Most guys when when the off season comes, they'll take 270 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 4: you know, anywhere from like two weeks to a full 271 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 4: month off before when they get back into training. 272 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: And for us, we don't have that time. 273 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 4: You know, you have to get right back into training, 274 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 4: and so your body is not getting a full time 275 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 4: to recover. 276 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: And you know. 277 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 4: That's where with the long season you start seeing some 278 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 4: of the guys break down a little bit. There's just 279 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 4: not enough time to recover, and you know, there's not 280 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 4: really anything you can do about that. We're trying to 281 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 4: be smarter about how we're managing guys and you know, 282 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 4: workloads and that kind of stuff. But at the end 283 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 4: of the day, you have to get recovery. And you know, 284 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 4: for us, when in that that that first World Series, 285 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 4: you know, we started in Korea and then you win 286 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 4: the first World Series, and then we start in Japan 287 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 4: and win another World Series. 288 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: So you're talking about, you know, our season was already longer. 289 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 4: Than anyone else, just as you know, as it was 290 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 4: just starting overseas, and then we went to the World 291 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 4: Series and you know, so that's back to back years 292 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 4: of having just the longest season possible. It takes a 293 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 4: toll on everybody, and that's why it's so hard to 294 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 4: go out there and keep winning. And that's why you 295 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 4: saw a lot of the dips, you know, as this 296 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 4: season went on. It's just it's tough. It's tough to 297 00:18:59,560 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 4: keep that. 298 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 5: You know, Max, you spoke on Superman, who we all 299 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 5: know he was probably the greatest player to ever play 300 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 5: this game in Shoyo Tani, and you got a couple 301 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 5: other superstars like obviously Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman. But when 302 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,360 Speaker 5: you speak on and you're a star in your own right, 303 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 5: but when you speak on the other guys, because it 304 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 5: took everybody last year and really the year before, but 305 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:23,719 Speaker 5: especially last year, it took everybody to win that World Series. 306 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's really cool for me to, like, you know, 307 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 4: the small times I've had to reflect on it, it's 308 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 4: really cool to look back and just realize, we don't 309 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,959 Speaker 4: win that World Series without every single person that participated 310 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 4: in it. You know, every single guy on the roster 311 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 4: played a key part in winning that World Series. It 312 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 4: wasn't just one guy taken over, you know, the World 313 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 4: Series and past Freddy kind of took over for us, 314 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 4: and this year it was literally every single guy played 315 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 4: at least one role throughout the entire postseason. And you know, 316 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 4: you could just name a guy on the roster and 317 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 4: you can say, oh, that guy made a play. You 318 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 4: look at just Dean in center field with you know, 319 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 4: the ball that got stuck. You look at Will Klein, 320 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 4: who was in Arizona for every series prior to the 321 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 4: World Series. You know, Tommy making defensive plays, Mookie doing 322 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 4: what he did Ashore and then having a big hit 323 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 4: in Game six and. 324 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: Seven for US, and. 325 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 4: You know, every single guy played a role to where 326 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 4: if we didn't have any one of those guys, we 327 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 4: don't win. And that's a really cool thing for me 328 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 4: to look back and just realize how much of a 329 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 4: team effort it was. 330 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 3: Wait a minute, you just said that you've only taken 331 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 3: small parts of your off season to reflect on the 332 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 3: World Championship, something that hasn't been done in twenty years. 333 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 3: To repeat, what have you been doing? One see that 334 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 3: you're so busy that you can't reflect. Max, feel free 335 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 3: to yell at him. Yell at him. 336 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: Don't worry. He gets yelled at all the time. 337 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 2: He knows it. 338 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: I've been I've been busy, man. We got we got 339 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: maybe number three popping out any day here. 340 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 2: You know. 341 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 4: I've been trying to train and get get you know, 342 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 4: get ready for the season, and you know, the holidays, 343 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 4: it's it's a whirlwind. 344 00:20:58,240 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 3: Man. 345 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 4: Like I said, I feel like we've only had like 346 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 4: a week off from when the end of the season happened. 347 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 4: And you know, it's already it's already January and we're 348 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 4: going to be in Arizona before you know it. So 349 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 4: it's ah, you don't really have time to just sit 350 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 4: around and you know, just gloat about it. 351 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: You have to. You have to start getting ready and 352 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: prepare for the next season because it comes quick. 353 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 6: Maxally formulas you always have a quick one for you. 354 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,239 Speaker 6: We all happen to know. There were some tattoos that 355 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 6: of course made the way around the world. If you 356 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 6: guys go back to back to back, are you committing 357 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 6: to getting a tattoo as well? 358 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: No, I'm not gonna catch that. I don't I don't 359 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: do needles. I can't do it. 360 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 4: So you know, there might be some other guys that 361 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 4: will commit to it, but I'm not going to commit 362 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 4: to that. 363 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: You will not see me on that table with my 364 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: pants down. 365 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 3: I'll promise you that I can able the procedure for you, Max, 366 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 3: if you need me to. 367 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 4: Oh, if you're there, you definitely will not see me. 368 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,479 Speaker 4: You know, if you're there to day, I probably will 369 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 4: be at the party. Let's be honest, Max, We thank 370 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 4: you as always. 371 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 6: We can't wait to see you here shortly what only 372 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 6: a month, Not that we're counting down or anything, so 373 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 6: enjoy the rest of your off season. We're wishing the 374 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 6: best to you and Kelly. Hopefully baby number three is 375 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 6: here soon. 376 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 3: So thank you. 377 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: As always us Rutch. Of course, love you, Dave. You know, 378 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 1: I give you crap all the time. You're the man. 379 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 3: Muncie there he is, Max Munzie. I love you too, Moncie. 380 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 3: And Max is in La his wife Kelly, who's a 381 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 3: great woman, getting ready to deliver their third child, and 382 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 3: their great parents, great people. And you know, during this offseason, 383 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 3: I've gotten more questions about whether or not Max Munsey 384 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:39,239 Speaker 3: hates me or not. He does not hate me, And 385 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 3: that's the beautiful part about it. We want you to 386 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 3: believe he hates me. He has taken the torch from 387 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 3: Andre Ethier with the insults, and nobody can figure out 388 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: whether or not Munsey's being serious and is disdained for me, 389 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 3: or hate if you want to use a stronger word, 390 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 3: or whether or not he's just fooling around. Well, I'd 391 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 3: like to believe he's just messing around. And you know, 392 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 3: maybe some days there is some you know, basically not 393 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 3: feeling great towards me days. You know, I feel like 394 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 3: there's some days of resentment towards me, no doubt, but 395 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 3: Munsey and I find a way to coexist, and he's 396 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 3: a great guy. And without his home run in game seven, 397 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 3: and Jerry even asked him this in the interview. It's 398 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 3: one of the most overlooked home runs of Game seven. 399 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 3: If Munsey doesn't pull the Dodgers within one run, there 400 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 3: is no ninth inning, there is no Will Smith, there 401 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 3: is no epic Game seven finished. So Max Munsey's home 402 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 3: run and Game seven is just as important as any 403 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 3: other home run in that game, because without it, the 404 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: climb was going to be almost impossible to come back 405 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 3: down to your last six or nine outs eight six 406 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 3: six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. 407 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,959 Speaker 3: Like I mentioned, the door is still open for a 408 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 3: reunion with Cody Bellinger. Do you want a reunion with 409 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 3: Cody Bellinger or do you believe it's time to move on. 410 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 3: We'll get into that and more, but coming up next 411 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 3: we will check in with Ryan Ward. Yes, that Ryan 412 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 3: Ward that you called in about every single night during 413 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 3: the summer. When is Ryan Ward going to be called up? 414 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 3: How can the Dodgers keep Ryan Ward down? Well, you're 415 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 3: gonna hear from that Ryan Ward next on Dodger Talk 416 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 3: right here on a five to seventy. LA Sports. Thank 417 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 3: you to Max Muncy for joining us on Access Sportsnet. 418 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 3: Dodgers on Sportsnet LA. They already have posted the interview 419 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 3: on their Instagram page so you could check out the 420 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 3: full conversation with three times World Serio. He's champion Max Moncy. 421 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 3: But you know, we got Dodger Talk for you until 422 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 3: eight o'clock and our next show is going to be 423 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 3: next Tuesday night. We're on next Tuesday and Thursday next week. 424 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 3: And it's gonna be a fun road up to spring 425 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 3: training because not only are the Dodgers bringing back so 426 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 3: many of the core players from their back to back 427 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 3: World Series championships, but have talked about giving some of 428 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 3: their young players opportunities to earn spots roster spots during 429 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 3: the season to contribute to a three peat run. And 430 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 3: one of those men is going to join us right now. 431 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 3: He was born and will Chester, Massachusetts and now is 432 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 3: living in Millbury, Massachusetts. Maybe he's neighbors with Milton's own 433 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 3: Rich Hill. But he was the PCL Player of the Year, 434 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 3: and like Eric Carros and Mike Piazza have won that 435 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 3: award in the past. As Dodger farm hands, he hit 436 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,479 Speaker 3: thirty six home runs drove in one hundred and twenty 437 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 3: two runs for the OKC comments and had a unique 438 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 3: disposition on this show last year where somebody asked me 439 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 3: every day for three months about him, and that is 440 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: the one and only Ryan Ward. Ryan, Welcome to Dodger 441 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,400 Speaker 3: Talk and great to have you on a show that 442 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 3: so many were calling and asking about you last year. 443 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Hi, guys, I'm happy to be here. Thank you 444 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:39,919 Speaker 2: for having me. I'm excited for this. 445 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm excited too. I mean I feel like I 446 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 3: know you already with the way everybody's been pumping you 447 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 3: up to me. What was last year like for you 448 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 3: to have that type of season at Triple. 449 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 2: A, Yeah, it was. I mean, it was a fun year. 450 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 2: We had a great team too, So it was just 451 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 2: a lot lot of swing changes and approach decision decisions 452 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 2: that I made like during the offseason and really committed 453 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 2: to during the year. So being able to see it 454 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 2: all pay off and see the right results was really 455 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: cool for me, and then just just continuing to try 456 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 2: and build on it. 457 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: Your season actually started with Team USA the Premiere sixteen 458 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 3: where they were playing in Japan, and your manager was 459 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 3: Mike Soosha. One of your coaches was Dino Ebel, who's 460 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 3: the Dodgers third base coach. How much did that experience 461 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 3: help you get ready for the season and the one 462 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 3: that you had, the big, you know, coming out party 463 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 3: that you had in Oklahoma City. 464 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think incredibly. I mean those guys, that whole staff, 465 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 2: including them, like the baseball knowledge was insane, so so 466 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 2: being able to pick their brains and talk about things, 467 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 2: whether you're on the field or not, like watching something 468 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 2: happen and kind of learning from them seeing the way 469 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: they see the game was huge and I tried to 470 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: take advantage of it as most as much as I could. 471 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 3: How much did Rich Hill try to buddy up to 472 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 3: you being from Massachusetts and try to brow out that 473 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 3: you guys are Bostonians. 474 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 2: That was one of the first things we talked about, 475 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: and then we became pretty close throughout that tournament, and 476 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 2: we've actually been on a couple flights together, whether it's 477 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 2: coming home for All Star Break or heading back out, 478 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 2: so we've been able to kind of stay in touch 479 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,439 Speaker 2: and it's been awesome. 480 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 3: Ryan Ward is joining us, Yes that Ryan Ward is 481 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,479 Speaker 3: joining us on Dodger Talk. You can follow him on 482 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 3: Instagram our Ward oh twelve on Instagram and really get 483 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 3: to know him through social media. Get to know him 484 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 3: right here on Dodger Talk, and you will get to 485 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 3: know him during this upcoming season because he is going 486 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 3: to be in big league camp. You are on the 487 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 3: forty man roster. Did you believe the Dodgers were going 488 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 3: to add you to the forty man roster or did 489 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 3: you believe that they were going to you were going 490 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 3: to move on and get an opportunity with another team. 491 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 3: What were your feelings after the season. 492 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 2: You know, I really wasn't sure what was going to happen, 493 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 2: especially with the Dodgers. I mean, they make so many 494 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 2: moves you never really know what's going to happen. So, 495 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: you know, I was kind of just sitting there on 496 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 2: that last day of kind of just sweating it out, 497 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 2: wondering which way it was gonna happen, what was gonna happen, 498 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 2: which way it was going to go. And I eventually 499 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 2: got the call that they aded me, and I was excited. 500 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 2: I mean, forty man Dodger or forty man roster for 501 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 2: the LA Dodgers is no little thing. So I'm excited 502 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 2: to get back out there and get on the field 503 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 2: and just continue playing and having fun. 504 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 3: You know, I don't know how you felt Ryan, But 505 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 3: I'll let you in on something. You may have heard 506 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 3: me say this when you were on hold, but literally 507 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 3: every day for the last three months of the season, 508 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 3: as you were exploding and having your tremendous year, I 509 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: literally got a phone call on this show, or somebody 510 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 3: would stop me at the stadium, or even some broadcaster 511 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 3: would ask me. Every single day I had a Ryan 512 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 3: Ward streak going where somebody would ask me about Ryan 513 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 3: Ward and why he wasn't called up to the Dodgers. 514 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 3: I'm sure you got that more than I did. How 515 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 3: did you handle all that? 516 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I was getting I was getting a 517 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 2: lot of dms from people, you know, asking why I'm 518 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 2: not up there and all this stuff. But you know, 519 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 2: it was It's a tough spot because, like I can't 520 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 2: control any of that stuff, so so me thinking about 521 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: it and pondering it is something I try not to do. 522 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: Obviously I think about it all the time, but I 523 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: try not to like sit there and think about it 524 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 2: twenty four to seven. You know, just just focus on 525 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 2: My big saying is control what I can control, and 526 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 2: that's going out every night and doing my best. You know, 527 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 2: can't can't control moves that are being made or decisions 528 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 2: being made. I can control how I prepare for the game, 529 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 2: how I play game, and that's kind of where I 530 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 2: direct all of my focus. 531 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 3: Do you use it as fuel for motivation? Do you 532 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 3: play with a chip on your shoulder because you still 533 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 3: haven't got that call yet? 534 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I feel like I've always played with 535 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: a chip on my shoulder. It's just something that you know, 536 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 2: gets the fire lit underneath me and just pushes me 537 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 2: to be better every day. And I just try to 538 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 2: go out there and carry that chip around and leave 539 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 2: it all out there every night, whether it's the preparation 540 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 2: before the game, the play during the game, looking at 541 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 2: stuff the next day about the game before and trying 542 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 2: to make changes, and you know, just continuing to build. 543 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 2: So I'm always trying to find ways to be better 544 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,320 Speaker 2: and push myself to be better. 545 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 3: Since you are from Boston, obviously a crazy sports town, 546 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 3: especially for the Red Sox when you were growing up, 547 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 3: did you have a favorite player on the Red Sox 548 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 3: or on another team who who inspired Ryan Ward to 549 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 3: want to become a professional baseball player. 550 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, obviously Red Sox fan. Growing up. I 551 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: was a big big Dave Artis fan, just because I 552 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: was I was a lefty. He was the lefty power guy, 553 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 2: like it was. David Ortiz was like like he was 554 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 2: an icon around here. So David Ortiz for sure, it 555 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 2: was my favorite Red Sox growing up. I mean I 556 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 2: watched him all the time. And yeah, I'd say David 557 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 2: Ortiz for sure. 558 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 3: Were you old enough to remember Dave Roberts stealing that 559 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 3: base in two thousand and. 560 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 2: Four, Well, yeah, I've watched that thirty for thirty documentary 561 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 2: one hundred times, you know, like lest four or five 562 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 2: times in a row and then they shit and the 563 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 2: homer all of it. 564 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 3: Have you have you spoken to Dave Roberts? I know 565 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 3: you haven't been in big league camp. Have you had 566 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 3: many interactions with him? 567 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 2: Uh? Yeah, I've been in I've been in big league 568 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 2: camp for I think the past two years. 569 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 3: That's right. I apologize. I must have introduced myself to you. 570 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, no, no, no, yeah, but. 571 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 3: Sorry, Alex Friedland and Gavin Stone try to dominate my time. 572 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 3: I forget you know. 573 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's fair, that's definitely fair. So yeah, we've had 574 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 2: a couple of conversations like during spring training for sure, 575 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 2: here and there, But no that's never came up, so 576 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure will at some point, but just hasn't yet. 577 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 3: Ryan Ward is our guest. He was the Pacific Coast 578 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 3: League Player of the Year in twenty twenty five. Looking 579 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 3: to make a big impact for the Dodgers in twenty 580 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 3: twenty six, and I'm sure this has got to be 581 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 3: a huge step closer to you realizing your dream. Ryan. 582 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:50,120 Speaker 3: With the Dodgers outfield situation in flux, especially in left field, 583 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 3: you got to feel optimistic that this is going to 584 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 3: be the year that you get an opportunity. 585 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean especially kind of like you said, being 586 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: put on the forty man like gives you a real shot. 587 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,160 Speaker 2: Granted they can do it during the year with all 588 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 2: those news and everything, but being on it already is huge. 589 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 2: And you know, like trying to get my body into 590 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 2: the best spot it can be strength wise, getting all 591 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 2: my recovery done and get my swing right in, you know, 592 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 2: just trying to show up with my foot on the 593 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 2: pedal all the way to the floor and then just 594 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 2: give it everything I got and leave it out there. 595 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 2: But trying to have fun with it too, you know. 596 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,080 Speaker 2: I mean, you can't go in there and then just 597 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 2: play under pressure from myself day after day. It's because 598 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 2: it's that's going to hurt me. So just trying to 599 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 2: have fun with it, enjoy it and learn from all 600 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 2: those guys and talk to the guys. And I kind 601 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 2: of liked earlier I said, picked their brains about certain things, 602 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 2: and you know, just improve and chase my dream every day. 603 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:46,040 Speaker 3: No doubt, you must be doing something right. Ryan Ward 604 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 3: to hit thirty six home runs for Oklahoma City last year. 605 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,920 Speaker 3: Before I let you go, I got to ask you this, 606 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 3: since you were part of the organization last year. Where 607 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 3: were you watching number one, the eighteen game when Freddy 608 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,479 Speaker 3: hit the walk off home run? And number two? Where 609 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 3: were you watching Game seven of the World Series? 610 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, the eighteen inning game. I was at home, and 611 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:15,000 Speaker 2: I was having flashbacks too because the before I got 612 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 2: dropped about dollars, they played the Red Sox and had 613 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 2: like that seventeen eighteen inning playoffs. Yeah, so I was 614 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 2: having flashbacks to that while I was watching it. But 615 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,799 Speaker 2: Game seven, I was actually at my buddy's house. There 616 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 2: was a group of us all sitting there watching the game. 617 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 2: So it was a really cool environment to be able 618 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 2: to watch it. I mean, that was one of the 619 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 2: craziest game sevens I think I've ever seen in my 620 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:39,319 Speaker 2: life any sport. So we able to watch it with 621 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 2: some of the guys and have something to celebrate with them. 622 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 2: Was pretty cool, was. 623 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 3: That In you're talking about some of the guys that 624 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 3: you were teammates with at Oklahoma City? 625 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 2: Well, were we were. I was with friends from home 626 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 2: back in Massachusetts, but a lot of us from the 627 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 2: OKC team or in a group message and we're all 628 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 2: texting throughout all the games and everything. So it was 629 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 2: cool to be able to like integrate my OKAC friends 630 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:05,959 Speaker 2: and my friends from home, and everyone's kind of rooting 631 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:07,479 Speaker 2: for the same thing. So it was pretty cool. 632 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,640 Speaker 3: How invested did you feel watching the Dodgers in the 633 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 3: World Series. 634 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 2: I felt pretty invested. I mean a lot of the 635 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 2: guys I've played with because of their either down in 636 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:22,239 Speaker 2: rehab or during spring training or I was down in 637 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,000 Speaker 2: a stay hot camp for all the series up until 638 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,759 Speaker 2: the World Series, so I was there staying ready in 639 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 2: case something happened. So I was pretty invested in what 640 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 2: was going on with them. 641 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 3: Did you see this coming with Roki Sasaki when he was, 642 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,320 Speaker 3: you know, making his way back at Oklahoma City before 643 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:43,399 Speaker 3: he came back in September and did what he did 644 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 3: in the postseason. 645 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 2: When he really got going and kind of got his 646 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,359 Speaker 2: strength back. And it was in a role down in Okay. See, 647 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 2: I mean, nobody was touching him. He was he was 648 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:59,440 Speaker 2: throwing strikes, he was town zone. He's throwing hard. His 649 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 2: split was unbelievable, and I was just kind of like, 650 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,359 Speaker 2: we're all kind of stitting there like, oh, like, oh, 651 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:07,000 Speaker 2: I think he's ready. I think he's ready to go 652 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:08,839 Speaker 2: back up there. It was really fun to watch while 653 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 2: he was down there. 654 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:14,360 Speaker 3: That's so great, great perspective from a guy that everybody 655 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,919 Speaker 3: wants to see make his major league debut this year 656 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:20,920 Speaker 3: with the Dodgers, and that is Ryan Ward. Thanks a 657 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 3: lot for the time, Ryan. Can't wait to see you 658 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,000 Speaker 3: again in big league camp like I have the last 659 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 3: couple of years, and I'll I'll box out Stone and 660 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:32,399 Speaker 3: Freedland and say, hey, we need some alone time here, 661 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 3: all right, let me focus on this guy from Boston. 662 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 2: That sounds good to me. Thank you for having me on. 663 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 2: I appreciate it, No, my pleasure. 664 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:42,360 Speaker 3: Thank you for the time, and we'll see you in 665 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 3: a month. 666 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll see in a few weeks. 667 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:48,800 Speaker 3: All right, there he goes, Ryan Ward. Are you happy 668 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,880 Speaker 3: I got Ryan Ward on the show for you? See? 669 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,520 Speaker 3: This show is for you. And Ryan Ward made his 670 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 3: Dodger Talk debut tonight. You can follow him on Instagram 671 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:03,839 Speaker 3: at r Ward oh twelve. Great guy And yes, I 672 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 3: have seen him in big league camp. He had to 673 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 3: remind me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Everybody was getting me 674 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 3: so flooded with why isn't he up in the big 675 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 3: leagues last year? And look, there were other factors in play, 676 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:25,240 Speaker 3: and the Dodgers were a really talented team. Conforto teased 677 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:28,279 Speaker 3: them a few different times like he was coming out 678 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 3: of his slump, but it never really materialized. Conforto was 679 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:37,239 Speaker 3: a very popular and positive teammate as well. And if 680 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,320 Speaker 3: you called up Ryan Ward, you're basically just saying goodbye 681 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:44,400 Speaker 3: to Michael Conforto and the bet that you made on 682 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:48,720 Speaker 3: him for seventeen million dollars. So that was part of 683 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,440 Speaker 3: the factor. I mean, this is not high school baseball. 684 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:55,280 Speaker 3: There is business at play, there are contracts at play, 685 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:59,120 Speaker 3: there's a resume of track record, all those things. But 686 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 3: you know, at the end of the day, the Dodgers 687 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:06,160 Speaker 3: gave Michael Conforto every opportunity to come out of his 688 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 3: season long slump, and he never did, and they left 689 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:13,120 Speaker 3: him off the postseason roster. And I feel like that's 690 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:19,080 Speaker 3: another area that will have a residual positive effect as 691 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:23,960 Speaker 3: Andrew Friedman goes through this off season to add to 692 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:29,000 Speaker 3: the Dodgers' offense, whether it's in the outfield, probably the 693 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:34,799 Speaker 3: outfield and the infield is getting the Dodgers more options 694 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,759 Speaker 3: off the bench. His son Kim, he may be part 695 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,799 Speaker 3: of this equation. Justin Dean was on the bench for 696 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:47,920 Speaker 3: the Dodgers and certainly was a defensive replacement. But if 697 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 3: you told me last year in spring training that those 698 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:53,720 Speaker 3: two guys were going to be on the Dodgers World 699 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:57,120 Speaker 3: Series roster, I would have laughed at you. I would 700 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,759 Speaker 3: not have believed it. And I think that's part of 701 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:04,200 Speaker 3: what the Dodgers are looking at as well, to strengthen 702 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,919 Speaker 3: their bench and to give Dave Roberts more options than 703 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 3: he had at the end of last season. And that's 704 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:15,319 Speaker 3: why it's kind of comical when people I never even 705 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:18,960 Speaker 3: heard this, but I guess there were some second guessers 706 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:22,319 Speaker 3: out there saying Dave Roberts should have pinch hit for 707 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,640 Speaker 3: Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning before he eventually obviously 708 00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 3: hit that game tying home run with two outs or 709 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 3: one out in the ninth inning. But who was Dave 710 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:36,760 Speaker 3: Roberts going to go to. Was he going to pinch 711 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:41,200 Speaker 3: it Kim for Rojas? I wouldn't have done that. Was 712 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:43,440 Speaker 3: he going to pinch it justin Dean? He may have 713 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 3: been out of the game by then. He had no 714 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:50,360 Speaker 3: other options, no better options than allowing Miguel Rojas to 715 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:54,040 Speaker 3: hit in that situation in the ninth inning of Game seven. 716 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:58,120 Speaker 3: So that's something that the Dodgers have had such a 717 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,919 Speaker 3: big strength of having the depth to be strong one 718 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:06,719 Speaker 3: through twenty six, have a great, strong bench, whether it 719 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,320 Speaker 3: was Chris Taylor when he was going good, Jock Peterson, 720 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:14,480 Speaker 3: Keik Hernandez, those type of guys that the Dodgers did 721 00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:19,319 Speaker 3: not really have as options last year. Whether it's injuries 722 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 3: or just poor production, they just didn't have those options 723 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,759 Speaker 3: at the end of last year. And let's let's make 724 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:31,120 Speaker 3: it clear the Dodgers the last two or three years 725 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 3: have more have had more of a set everyday lineup 726 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,120 Speaker 3: than they did the previous five or six years. They 727 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:42,000 Speaker 3: are not platooning in different positions because they got guys 728 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,839 Speaker 3: that get hit lefties and righties. And oh, by the way, 729 00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:48,960 Speaker 3: speaking of lefties and righties, if you're worried that the 730 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 3: Dodgers have too many lefties and they should stay away 731 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 3: from Cody Bellinger, well, he has continued a trend that 732 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 3: he started with the Dodgers of hitting left handed pitching. 733 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:07,279 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter if you're a lefty or righty if 734 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:11,000 Speaker 3: you can hit left handed pitching. And that's something that 735 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,359 Speaker 3: Cody Bellinger has continued to do. In fact, last year, 736 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:20,520 Speaker 3: Cody Bellinger hit three point fifty three against lefties and 737 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:25,799 Speaker 3: his OPS was over a thousand against lefties. His OPS 738 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:29,560 Speaker 3: against right handed pitchers was just seven forty one, and 739 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 3: he only hit two forty four against righty's last year. 740 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:37,480 Speaker 3: So when you're talking about stacking a lineup of trying 741 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 3: to find somebody that can hit behind Otani, especially when 742 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:47,120 Speaker 3: the opponent brings in a left handed reliever to face 743 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:53,640 Speaker 3: Otani specifically and pitch around Otani, Cody Bellinger is a 744 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:57,839 Speaker 3: dangerous guy to have hit behind Otani because of how 745 00:42:57,920 --> 00:43:02,160 Speaker 3: good he has been against left handed pitching. So you 746 00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:07,160 Speaker 3: could have a lineup of Otani, Bellinger, and Freeman in 747 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,640 Speaker 3: your first three, and say, wait a minute, what you're 748 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 3: stacking three lefties. It doesn't matter when you have three 749 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:17,600 Speaker 3: lefties that can hit lefties better than some right handed 750 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:24,240 Speaker 3: hitters can hit lefties. Otani hits lefties, Bellinger certainly hits lefties, 751 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:28,120 Speaker 3: and so does Freddy Freeman. So that doesn't concern me 752 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:31,520 Speaker 3: at all. Eight six six nine eight seven two five 753 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:35,200 Speaker 3: seventy is the phone number. I bet you didn't realize 754 00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:41,520 Speaker 3: that Cody Bellinger last year has continued to mash against 755 00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:45,920 Speaker 3: left handed pitching. He hit three point fifty three, he 756 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:51,200 Speaker 3: slug six' oh one against left handed pitching last. Year that's. 757 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:58,239 Speaker 3: Remarkable I'm i'm convincing myself even more that bringing Back 758 00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:05,040 Speaker 3: Cody bellinger is more right than. Ever and if you 759 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:09,080 Speaker 3: ask me right, now IF i had to pick a, 760 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:14,520 Speaker 3: player whether it Be Kyle tucker Versus Cody, bellinger, LOOK 761 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:17,920 Speaker 3: i Know Kyle tucker is a really talented baseball, player 762 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:21,040 Speaker 3: BUT i would Take Cody. BELLINGER i would Take Cody 763 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:25,920 Speaker 3: bellinger because of the, versatility the guy that has played 764 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:28,919 Speaker 3: big in the, postseason And tucker was a big part 765 00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:33,279 Speaker 3: of The astros run in, nineteen no doubt about. It 766 00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:37,840 Speaker 3: but you, Know tucker has played in The World. Series 767 00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:40,759 Speaker 3: he has been a good playoff. Performer but it just 768 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:44,840 Speaker 3: seems like all signs are pointing To tucker going back 769 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:49,799 Speaker 3: to or going To, toronto especially now with the reports 770 00:44:49,840 --> 00:44:53,720 Speaker 3: that The phillies And Bo bischett conversations are really heating, 771 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:57,360 Speaker 3: up With bishett scheduled to meet with them and the 772 00:44:57,400 --> 00:45:03,040 Speaker 3: relationship he has With Don. Matte so, yeah it's, uh 773 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:07,879 Speaker 3: it seems Like tucker's going To. Toronto it really. Does 774 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:11,280 Speaker 3: and The dodgers have the door open for A bellinger 775 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:15,839 Speaker 3: reunion if if the years make. Sense eight six six, 776 00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:19,720 Speaker 3: nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone. Number 777 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:22,839 Speaker 3: as we are getting closer to the top of the, 778 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:26,560 Speaker 3: hour our next show is going to Be tuesday night 779 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:31,200 Speaker 3: and then next Week thursday as. Well so that'll do 780 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 3: it for us tonight On Dodger. Talk in case you 781 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:36,120 Speaker 3: missed any of the, show you can find it on 782 00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 3: The iHeartRadio app and that's where you can listen and 783 00:45:40,080 --> 00:45:43,560 Speaker 3: stream Live iHeartRadio. App make us your number one pre. 784 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:48,040 Speaker 3: Set we will keep you updated on all The Free agent. 785 00:45:48,160 --> 00:45:53,040 Speaker 3: News as guys Like, Bishett tucker And Bellinger frembervaldez have 786 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 3: not been. Signed Ron Hare Suarez Ranger suarez has not 787 00:45:57,080 --> 00:45:59,839 Speaker 3: been signed. Either so there's a lot of guys still 788 00:45:59,840 --> 00:46:03,560 Speaker 3: on the market that we're there when free agency, open 789 00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:07,120 Speaker 3: and The dodgers and every other team out there has 790 00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:10,880 Speaker 3: a lot of options still at their. Disposal and The 791 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:13,160 Speaker 3: dodgers are in a great spot because they have the 792 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:16,640 Speaker 3: best player on the. Planet they've, got you, know two 793 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:19,920 Speaker 3: Other hall Of famers in their lineup And Freddie freeman 794 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:23,200 Speaker 3: And Mookie. Betts i'm a firm Believer Mookie betts is 795 00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:27,680 Speaker 3: going to have a big comeback season next. Year Anti 796 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:30,520 Speaker 3: Oscar hernandez is going to have a big comeback season 797 00:46:30,560 --> 00:46:33,480 Speaker 3: next year to, help you, know bring The dodger offense 798 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:36,400 Speaker 3: back to where it was the first half a last. 799 00:46:36,440 --> 00:46:40,400 Speaker 3: Season All, right we'll keep the hot stove going Next tuesday, 800 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:44,160 Speaker 3: night coming up Next Fox Sports. Radio thanks again To 801 00:46:44,239 --> 00:46:47,040 Speaker 3: Ryan ward And Max munsey for joining. Us we will 802 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:49,600 Speaker 3: talk to you Next. Tuesday see you