1 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Hello, my dreamers, it is I your humble host, Richard Parks. 2 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: It's Friday, February twentieth. Spring training is fully underway at 3 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers facility in Arizona, and tomorrow, February 4 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: twenty first, some version of the Dodgers ball club will 5 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: be playing their first Cactus League game quote unquote on 6 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: the road, meaning not at the ballpark that the Dodgers 7 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: specifically use for their workouts in spring training games out 8 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: there in Arizona, but at a different one nearby. There's 9 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: sort of a cluster of them in the Phoenix area 10 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: against some version of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 11 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: And so baseball is back. It's not the regular season yet. 12 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: It's spring training. But in a way that's even more 13 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: exciting because it's spring. That's a special time, not just 14 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: for baseball but for life. I always think about how 15 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: the Romans started their calendar year in springtime. The word 16 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: march itself is derived, I believe, and I could be 17 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: very wrong about this, from the notion of Roman soldiers 18 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: gathering and marching off into the world to conquer. Whether 19 00:01:54,600 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: ancient warriorship and conquest and genocide is is your thing 20 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: or not, you'll probably agree. It's an exciting time of year, 21 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: pregnant with possibility, alive with anticipation. We are officially entering 22 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: Pisces season. That means my birthday is coming up. If 23 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: you want to get me something, I think that the Dodgers' 24 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: new design for the spring training hat is pretty fetch. 25 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: Got the big D in white with the pink cactus 26 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: flower and green cactus against that Dodger blue backdrop on 27 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: the cap and the white brim. I'm a size seven 28 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: and three eighths, I think. 29 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: Anyway, to all. 30 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: My fellow fish, this is our time because we are 31 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: all about the excitement, the anticipation, the novelty that is 32 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: so pervasive this time of year. 33 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 2: We love it. 34 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: And as a writer or a person who loves narrative, 35 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: and you do, if you're listening to this, and if 36 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: you follow baseball, it's a story and from that lens, 37 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: spring is the blank page. Proverbially speaking, we are beginning 38 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: to write the preface to the chapter in the Dodgers 39 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: book about the twenty twenty six baseball season and the 40 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: team's quest for a three peat, a third consecutive World 41 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: Series title. Spring training games will run through the month 42 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: of March, and this year con committantly, the World Baseball 43 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: Classic will take place. The Dodgers will even have an 44 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: exhibition game against a team from the WBC, and of 45 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: course there are various Dodgers participating in the World Baseball Classic, 46 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: which is held every four years only and is super 47 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: fun to watch your favorite players duke it out playing 48 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: for their home countries. It's going to be a special 49 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: spring and already there's a lot to be excited about. 50 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: A lot of the boys showed up. 51 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: Early to spring training, which is exciting to know that 52 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: their hearts are in it and they're putting in that 53 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: extra effort. We're going to talk about it and we're 54 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: going to dig into some of the things that I'm 55 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: looking at so far in this very young twenty twenty 56 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: six Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training after a short break, 57 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,799 Speaker 1: So thank you for tuning in to Dodger Blue Dream. 58 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Richard Parks. Today's episode Spring has sprung. 59 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: Stay tuned. 60 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 3: We play for something bigger than ourselves. 61 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the show. 62 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: We're talking about spring training today and one of the 63 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: biggest events that kicks off spring training every year is 64 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: the manager's clubhouse speech to the team. 65 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: Dave Roberts addressed. 66 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: The team on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, and 67 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: while the speech had some of the kind of raw, 68 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: raw tone that you'd expect, it also comes across as 69 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: kind of business as usual, which is very on brand 70 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: for this version of the Dodgers, this emergent Dodgers' dynasty 71 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: that is now poised to win its third consecutive championship should. 72 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: Things go our way this year. 73 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: So in this segment, let's focus on that speech first 74 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: with some preamble from me giving context, and then we'll 75 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: listen to the speech. 76 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: First. 77 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: Up the preamble, I know some listeners to this show 78 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: are relatively new to baseball fandom, and even if you're not, 79 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: you might have questions about the role of a manager 80 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: on a baseball team filled with professionals and superstars. Managers 81 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 1: are ostensibly the leaders of these baseball teams. They're hired 82 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: by the organization and they run things from day to day. 83 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: They draw up the lineup, they decide who's going to play, 84 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: where they play, who's pitching. 85 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: When the pitcher comes. 86 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: Out of the ball game, the manager is making all 87 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: of the baseball decisions, and really that authority is his 88 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: and his alone. Are also kind of the public face 89 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: of the team. It's almost as if the president was 90 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: his own press secretary. They talked to the media after 91 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: wins and after losses every single day, answering questions about 92 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: the decisions that they've made. To a large extent, what 93 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: comes out of Dave Roberts's mouth is what becomes the 94 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: prevailing narrative about the team. So the manager has a 95 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: lot of power, but being the face of the team 96 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: also means being the face of any questionable decisions the 97 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: team makes and kind of holding the bag in the 98 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: event of a team loss. 99 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: And Dave Roberts certainly. 100 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: Has been the object of a lot of criticism over 101 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: the years from Dodger fans, which is typical of baseball fans, 102 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: always looking for a scapegoat. And while those voices have 103 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: quieted somewhat over the past couple years of consecutive championships, 104 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: Dave Roberts still has as his detractors. Even if fans 105 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: aren't being directly critical of a manager, they often tend 106 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: to minimize his role. Some might say, anybody you could 107 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: manage this team to a World Series title, But I 108 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: don't think that there's any way that the Dodgers would 109 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: have had the seasons that they've had and the postseasons 110 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: that they've had without Dave Roberts. In addition to the 111 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: baseball stuff, a manager sets the tone for the entire team, 112 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: and in fact, if you watch the Dodgers team, the players, 113 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 1: and the organization as a whole, I think you'll start 114 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: to pick up on this kind of business like approach 115 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: to baseball that I alluded to earlier, and which I 116 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: believe you'll hear in the speech that Dave Roberts gave 117 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: earlier this week. Watching this Dodgers team closely, you might 118 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: be surprised at just how business like they appear to 119 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: be in their countenance. Example, after a big win or 120 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: after a big loss, there's clearly an attempt to maintain 121 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: an even keel, where some of the highs and lows 122 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: and extremes of emotion that maybe US fans go through 123 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: on a near day to day basis over the course 124 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: of the six month long season are more muted in 125 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: the minds of the players and the organization. Overall, there's 126 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: a compartmentalizing that the Dodgers seem particularly good at and 127 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: a focus on discipline and routine over the marathon of 128 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: such a long season. You can't get too high, and 129 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: you can't get too low lest you risk losing perspective 130 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: or worse, burning out. This annual speech is kind of 131 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: like a bit of a state of the Union, and 132 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: you know, feels very much like that huddle before the 133 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: team goes off to do battle in the trenches of 134 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: the ballpark around America. And in this speech you can 135 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: hear the sort of philosophical tenants that have led this 136 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: team to these historic victories, the mission statement of this organization, 137 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: which comes from the top, like from President of Baseball 138 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: Operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes, doc his 139 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: coaching staff, veterans and clubhouse leaders like the Freddie Freeman's, 140 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: the Miguel Rojas's sho Hey mooki, and all the way 141 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: down through the youngsters who are playing in the minor 142 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: leagues who might dream of maybe having a cup of 143 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: coffee in the big leagues this year and playing a 144 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: small part in what hopefully will be a third straight 145 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: championship winning season. All right, enough preamble, Let's listen in 146 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: to Dave Roberts' clubhouse address to the Los Angeles DOT 147 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: team earlier this week at Cammelback Ranch. It's about five 148 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: and a half minutes long. 149 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 3: Starting now, we play for something bigger than ourselves. And 150 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 3: it's like, that's something that you guys all got to 151 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 3: wrap your heads around, because in this world, in this day, 152 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 3: it's always about self promotion, yourselves. But if you can 153 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: play for your teammates and play for something bigger, what 154 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 3: do I tell you, Miggy, the game honors you. Where's 155 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: Miguel at the game honors you? You guys got to 156 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 3: believe that you're the best option in every moment, in 157 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 3: the biggest of moments. When you're a Dodger. People want 158 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 3: to take us down, they want to beat us. And 159 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 3: I said it earlier, is it's a game seven. So 160 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 3: I think that we've got to look ahead and say 161 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 3: that this is going to be harder than it's ever been, 162 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: and we got to work even harder. And so my 163 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 3: ask as a team, as an organization is to push 164 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,559 Speaker 3: ourselves even more. We already got the talent. I don't 165 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 3: think there's any more talent. There isn't any more talent 166 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 3: in a major league clubhouse than in this room. Guys. 167 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 3: We got to be prepared to play through October. And 168 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 3: it's not easy. It's not easy. It takes a lot 169 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 3: of discipline, a lot of hard work, and it takes trust. 170 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: The challenge is for each and every one of you guys, 171 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 3: to put yourselves in a state to be prepared when 172 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 3: the opportunity presents itself. I told the pictures this the 173 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 3: other day. I said, there's something about an athlete that 174 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 3: you have to believe that you're better than you are. 175 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 3: Love it, you have to. But the great ones can 176 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 3: also look really honestly with themselves and go, you know what, 177 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 3: I'm afraid I need to get better at this. I 178 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 3: need to get better at that. How can I be 179 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 3: that guy when the biggest spot when you're down to 180 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,079 Speaker 3: run and one out and you're there to take a 181 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 3: good at bat, and the world changes when you hit 182 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: a homer, or the balls hit to you in left 183 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 3: field in Game six and you cheat in because you're 184 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 3: looking for a flare, you get the ball, you double 185 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 3: a guy up, you throw a ball and we pick 186 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 3: it to make it to get a double play, to 187 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 3: win Game six, or to be summoned out of the 188 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 3: bullpen to get a big out and get the out. 189 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 3: Those are things that we've lived them. I was talking 190 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 3: to Justin Sua, Justin Sua with the works alongside Brent, 191 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 3: and he gave me this good analogy. Greyhounds. Greyhounds race right, 192 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 3: and so when you're the Dodgers, you're like a greyhound, 193 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: and so the greyhounds see like a rabbit. And so 194 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 3: the greyhounds once the rabbit goes, the greyhounds are chasing 195 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 3: the rabbit. They're not worried about who's to the side. 196 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: So it's kind of like us. We're the greyhound and 197 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 3: all we're doing is going forward. We're hunting. We use 198 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,599 Speaker 3: that analogy last year. People are coming after us, but 199 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 3: we're gonna be the hunter. We're gonna keep hunting, keep hunting. 200 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 3: And our eyes when eyes are to the side, you're 201 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 3: looking to hide. When you're looking this way, when our 202 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 3: eyes are in front, we're looking to hunt. So we've 203 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 3: got to keep looking forward, keep looking forward. And it's 204 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 3: not easy, guys. I'm challenging guys right now because it's 205 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 3: not easy to take six hundred at bats to work 206 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: a day after a night game. And so I think 207 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 3: for me is like, let's just keep raising the standard 208 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 3: and keep our eyes forward. Let's get better every single day. 209 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: We got a long road, but I expect the same 210 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 3: effort every single day. And smart players. Smart players, guys 211 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: know the importance of locking in. Stand focused. If you 212 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 3: can't focus for twenty minutes right now, there's no in 213 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 3: hell you're gonna focus for nine innings one sixty two 214 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 3: plus winning eleven games in October. No way. You gotta 215 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 3: be able to focus. Lock in. Some people it's hard. 216 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 3: Some people it's easy. How are you gonna focus on 217 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 3: a twenty eight pitch bullpen A guy gets a big 218 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 3: hit to then focus again and make a pitch to 219 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 3: throw strike one, get a ground ball. You gotta be 220 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 3: able to focus, challenge yourselves. It's not easy. It's not easy. 221 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 3: But this is a separator from the Dodgers. Put your skin, 222 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 3: heads down and let's go through October. Every single day. 223 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 3: Stay hungry, stay obsessed, let's get after it. Put those 224 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 3: blinders on, all right, guys, Thank you very much for listening. 225 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 3: I'm very, very grateful for every single one of you. Guys. 226 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 3: No one better in the organization, in baseball, in sport, 227 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 3: so we're very lucky to wear this uniform, guys, and 228 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 3: so I wish everyone the best and let's have a 229 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 3: great year. And this is our journey, our trek to 230 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: a three p kyk. All right, let's do it. All right, guys, 231 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 3: have a great day. Thank you very much. 232 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: There it was Dave roberts annual spring training address to 233 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: the Dodgers Clubhouse. We'll be back with more spring training 234 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: coverage after the break. Welcome back to the show. 235 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 2: All right. 236 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: If I had to pick one thing that has happened 237 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 1: so far, it's spring training to be excited about, it's 238 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: got to be show Hay pitching, throwing gas. His fastball 239 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: reached ninety eight miles per hour during a live batting 240 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 1: practice earlier this week, and this is really good to see. 241 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: Dave Roberts told the media that Shohy himself has a 242 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: personal goal to be in the Cy Young conversation this year, 243 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: which is insane coming off of two straight MVPs and 244 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: two straight World Series championships in his first two years 245 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: on the Dodgers. But twenty twenty six will be sho 246 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: Hay's first year as a Dodger at full health as 247 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: a two way player. He pitched in fourteen games last 248 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: season and looked great, but he's still in the process 249 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: of ramping back up from his Tommy John surgery that 250 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: he underwent just after signing with the Dodgers over the 251 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: winter of twenty three into twenty four and which kept 252 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: him off the mound in the twenty twenty four season. 253 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: Shohe has six pitches and so if his fastball is 254 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: hitting triple digits, which it seems very likely that it 255 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: will get there very soon, that just makes him such 256 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: a nasty pitcher. 257 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 2: It's crazy to. 258 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: Think that he could be that good on the mound 259 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: consistently because of everything that he does at the plate, 260 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: but he can be, and all indications are indicating that 261 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 1: he will be. 262 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 2: This is just the beginning. 263 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: We'll see what happens, but as per usual, expect the 264 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: unexpected with Shohy, who, in spite of already exceeding all expectations, 265 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: has designs to get even better this year and help 266 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 1: carry his team to a third straight title. Show Hey 267 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: will be playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, 268 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: and we are told that he will not be pitching. 269 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: At least that's the plan, and it was certainly the 270 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: highlight of the last World Baseball Classic to see show 271 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: Hay on the mound against his then teammate and fellow 272 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: superstar Mike Trout with Trout representing Team USA and show 273 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: Hey representing Team Japan in the final and deciding game 274 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: of the WBC, and show Hey struck him out. That 275 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: was the most cinematic, iconic moment of that World Baseball Classic, 276 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: without a doubt, and so we love it, we want 277 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: more of it, and it's possible that show Hey could 278 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: make an appearance on the mound for Team Japan. But 279 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: as a Dodger fan, we got to keep our eyes 280 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: on the prize. We want that third straight title, and 281 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: so so we do not want our baby boy risking 282 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: injury in this extra curricular activity that takes place just 283 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: before the start of the regular season. But yeah, let's 284 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: see what Showhy can do in his first full season 285 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: at full health as a two way player in a 286 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. In the meantime, it will be 287 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: Shohees countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for the Dodgers 288 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: tomorrow in that first official spring training game. I suggest 289 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: you tune in while these games technically quote don't mean anything. 290 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: It's a really fun different look at these players and 291 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: how they get ready for their season. And it's also 292 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: a chance to see a lot of the young guys 293 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: in the Dodgers farm system. 294 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 2: Zaire Hope, house Way de Palla. I'm probably getting that 295 00:20:59,480 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 2: name wrong. 296 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: There are a few others and their names that you hear, 297 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: but these are games where you get to see them 298 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: in the mix with all the Dodgers you know and love. 299 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: Spring has sprung, Baseball is back. DBD is here for 300 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: you and thank you for tuning in to Dodger Blue Dream. Hey, 301 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: if you like the show, please pass it on to 302 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: a friend, or give it a five star rating on 303 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,239 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or however you listen, write a review that 304 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: really helps. I'm Richard Parks, your host slash producer. My 305 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: co host is chef Wesley Avula. Original music in this 306 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: episode by Jonathan Snipes and William Ryan Fritch. Dodger Blue 307 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: Dream is produced in partnership with Iheart's Michael Tura podcast Network. 308 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 309 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 310 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 2: See you soon.