1 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: Ed time for Dodger Ball. What's the date. 2 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: It's Thursday, April tenth, twenty twenty six. What's this show? 3 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: It's Dodger Blue Dream. Who am I am? I Richard Parks? 4 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: I sure hope so, folks. It's a baseball podcast in 5 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, Dodgers Baseball podcast in specific. And it's not 6 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: just about runs and hits and errors and barrel percentages. 7 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 2: It's about what happens on the field and off and 8 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: how it affects the people involved, the players, but also 9 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: this fan and Rodgers fans in general. Not that I 10 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: speak for all of them, but I do speak for 11 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: some most in many cases. And I want to start 12 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: off by saying that this past week we have to 13 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 2: acknowledge the vibes were mixed as the Dodgers took two 14 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: out of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays in 15 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 2: the t DOT at the Rogers Center, an enclosed ballpark, 16 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: fortunately because the weather was dreary and cold up there 17 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: north of the border. 18 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 1: But that's not why we care. It's because this. 19 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 2: Was a rematch of the twenty twenty five World Series. Indeed, 20 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: the Rogers Center was the very scene of the Dodgers 21 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: thrilling Game seven come back victory, during which you'll surely 22 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: remember Dodgers veteran backup shortstop and clubhouse leader Miguel Rojas 23 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: hit what I called the most important home run in Dodgers' 24 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: postseason history, because it kept the Dodgers in that decisive game. 25 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: When they otherwise would have lost. 26 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: We were down to our last two outs, and meggi 27 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 2: Row was a hero. Cosmically, miggi Row was back in 28 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: the spotlight this past week, unexpectedly stepping into the lineup 29 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: to replace an injured Mookie Betts. 30 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: We'll tell you why. 31 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 2: Just the fact that Meggirow was there is a display 32 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: of heroism of its own kind. We will also take 33 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: a little look at this World Series rematch, and we'll 34 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: talk about a kind of obscure rule violation that resulted 35 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 2: in a classic baseball manager blow up with the Blue 36 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: Jays skipper John Schneider. 37 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: Getting tossed out of the game. 38 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: That's what's on deck for this week's episode, so please 39 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 2: stay with us if that's your type of thing. It's 40 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: totally optional. I know you only have so much time. 41 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:31,119 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening, and now a short break. Welcome back 42 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: to the show. Today's episode is presented, as it so 43 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: often is, in three parts. First up, the strength of 44 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: a team leader and the heart of a winning ball club. 45 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: One of the things you think about with ballplayers is 46 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: just how much time they spend away from their families 47 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: and loved ones. You know, Baseball season last six seven months. 48 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: The Dodgers there in the postseason pretty much every year, 49 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: so that's an extra month. On top of that, they's 50 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: spring training, and fifty percent of that time is spent 51 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: on the road. Eighty one of the one hundred and 52 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: sixty two games are played on the road, and with 53 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: the Dodgers being on their first road trip of the year, 54 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 2: it was a little bit of a topic already this week, 55 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: I think Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was quoted talking about 56 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: how this is a chance for the guys to bond 57 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: focus on baseball, you know, away from the hooplah of 58 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: Opening Day and Opening week and away from their families. 59 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: So Miguel Rojas is playing his final season in the 60 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: major leagues. He said that he's on a one year deal. 61 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 2: He signed it in the offseason to come back to 62 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: the Dodgers for this last year, knowing that it will 63 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: be his last and so he's traveling to these places 64 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 2: for the last time, and Toronto must have a special 65 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: place for him because that's where he hit the most 66 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: significant home run of his career by far in Game 67 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: seven of the World Series, paving the way for the 68 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: Dodgers to bring home their second consecutive World Series title. 69 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: But when the Dodgers embarked on this road trip, Miggi 70 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: Roe didn't even know that he was going to be playing. 71 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: As he was last year, Miggy is in a backup 72 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 2: shortstop slash infielder position. MVP Mookie Betts is starting it 73 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: short and Miggi's there to mentor him and back him 74 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: up when needed. But then before the Dodgers even got 75 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 2: to Toronto, during the first series of this road trip 76 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 2: in DC against the Nationals, Moki was taken out of 77 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: the game unexpectedly with lower back pain and then after 78 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: an MRI we found out that he has a strained oblique. 79 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: He was listed as. 80 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 2: Day to day, aren't we all, as Vin Scully would say, 81 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: and eventually placed on the ten day IL. So that's 82 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 2: how Meggi Roe came to be starting at shortstop against Toronto, 83 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: and Miggi Row had been announced in the Dodgers lineup 84 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: for the game on Tuesday, the second game of the series, 85 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: but then by the time the game started he had 86 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: been scratched and we didn't know why. Miggi Row is 87 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: from Venezuela, That's where his entire family is, and even 88 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: while traveling around the States in Canada playing baseball games, 89 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: he always stays in touch. Miggi Roe's career in baseball 90 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: was the collective dream of the Rojas family. They gave 91 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 2: up everything in their life for me to be a 92 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: baseball player. Migi Rowe told the La Times, this is 93 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: what they wanted me to do, and so naturally, Toronto 94 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: being the scene of Miggy Roe's historic home run in 95 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: the World Series last year, it doesn't seem like a 96 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 2: stretch to assume that the Big Smoke holds a special 97 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 2: place for the entire Rojas family. And given that this 98 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: is Meggi Roe's last season and there are no additional 99 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: regular season series scheduled for the Dodgers in Toronto, the 100 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: twist that meggi Row would be in the starting lineup 101 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: for the series due to Mookie Bett's injury made these 102 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: games appointment viewing. On Tuesday, Miggi Row had been in 103 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: touch with his dad earlier in the afternoon, and his 104 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: dad had sent him a photo of himself with Dodger's 105 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: gear on, saying that he was looking forward to watching 106 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: his son play from the Rojas family home in Venezuela. 107 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: As Miggi Roe was getting ready for the game, about 108 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: forty minutes before first pitch, he got a call from 109 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: a family member, and then when he didn't pick it up, 110 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: he got a text saying that his father was being 111 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 2: rushed to the hospital. Just hours after the last phone 112 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: conversation between father and son, Miguel Rojas s Mickey, as 113 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: he was known, died after a heart attack en route 114 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: to the hospital. Meggie Rowe posted to Instagram the following 115 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: day in Spanish, this is a translation from Google. With 116 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: immense sorrow on behalf of the entire Rojas family, I 117 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: must inform everyone who had the opportunity to know and 118 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: share time with my dear father that he has passed 119 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: away suddenly. May God welcome him into his glory and 120 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: may he rest in peace. We found out later that 121 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: Meggi Roe still wanted to play on Tuesday, but Dodgers 122 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: manager Dave Roberts and first baseman Freddie Freeman talked him 123 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 2: out of it as migi Roe fielded calls from family 124 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 2: and friends of his fathers from the hotel on Tuesday. 125 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: On the broadcast, Steven Nelson mentioned something about how in 126 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: the clubhouse that day the team set a prayer for 127 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: the Rojas family. There was no way for meggi Row 128 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: to get back to Venezuela in time to be of 129 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 2: any help, and due to the complications of trying to 130 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: get there from Canada. Ultimately, miggi Road decided not to 131 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: try to go back for a funeral, which would happen 132 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: the next day, as his customary in Venezuela, and though 133 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: he took Tuesday's game off, meggi Road decided that he 134 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: would play on Wednesday. I decided to stay and do 135 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: what my father would like me to do. Meggi Row 136 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 2: was quoted as saying, in the athletic, which is play baseball. 137 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: They gave up everything in their life for me to 138 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: be a baseball player. This is what they want me 139 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 2: to do. He did his typical pregame routine, infield drills, 140 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: batting practice. When fans asked him for an audi, he 141 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: signed autographs and in typical Miggi Row Show fashion. He 142 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: wore a pair of custom cleats that he had made 143 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: for the series. The guy loved sneakers. His Instagram handle 144 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: is Miggi's Locker, and we saw him make some great 145 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 2: plays in the infield, throwing out the lead runner at third. 146 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: He made a nice throat at first on a close play. 147 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: There's nothing like watching Miggi Row play defense. He is amazing. 148 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: And there were further displays of solidarity from his teammates, 149 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 2: many of whom had the initials m R written on 150 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 2: the side of their caps in honor of Miguel Sr, 151 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: including Shohei Otani, who was starting on the mound that day. 152 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 2: The two have a special relationship. Miggi Row was contemplating 153 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: retiring after last season, and sho Hey knew this when 154 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: miggi Row hit that Game seven home run, after which 155 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: Show went up to him and said, Miggie, you can't 156 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 2: retire next year. You're gonna play with me for ten 157 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 2: more years. And I say, Show, Hey, I'm old and 158 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: I don't know if I can play for ten more years. 159 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 2: Miggi Rowe was quoted as saying, but I'll play with 160 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 2: you next year for sure. And so that's how we 161 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 2: ended up with Miggi Rojas taking the field the day 162 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 2: after his father's passing this past Wednesday, and we watched 163 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 2: Miggie playing his hardest, getting his uniform dirty and also 164 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 2: saying little prayers to himself in silence, crossing himself. Miggi 165 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 2: rowe led off in the seventh inning and he ended 166 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: up coming around to score on a Will Smith single 167 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 2: and he slid head first into home and you could 168 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: see him grimace in pain as he did. And it 169 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 2: turns out that Blue Jays catcher Tyler Hyneman had inadvertently 170 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 2: stepped on him with his metal spikes. But then as 171 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 2: the inning turned over, there he was jogging back out 172 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: to his position of shortstop doing his warm ups. That 173 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 2: run had given the Dodgers a three to one lead 174 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: after being behind for most of the game and for 175 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: the first time through the series. But the lead didn't 176 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: last and we dropped the last game of the series, 177 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 2: ultimately winning two out of three in this World Series rematch. 178 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: Our hearts go out to Miguel Rojas and his family. 179 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 2: We'll be back with the rest of the show after 180 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 2: a short break. 181 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the show. 182 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: The first couple games of this series against the Blue Jays, 183 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 2: Canada's team was playing so poorly. I was feeling a 184 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 2: little sorry for the team after reaching such heights and 185 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 2: coming within mer outs of winning the World Series more 186 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 2: than once last season, only to have their hopes dashed 187 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 2: by migy Roe, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Will Smith and the Gang. 188 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: The twenty twenty six Blue Jays team was not looking great. 189 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: Their injury list seemed to be growing by the minute. 190 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 2: Kirk was out Barger I so many of the faces 191 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 2: from last year's World Series. 192 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 1: Of course, Boba. 193 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: Shet nothing but a memory in Toronto at this point, 194 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: having taken his free agency elsewhere, headed to Baltimore for 195 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 2: a big bag. The phrase World Series hangover may not 196 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 2: be familiar to contemporary Dodger fans, but in Toronto they 197 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 2: seemed to be nursing a pretty bad one, and by 198 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 2: the time Tuesday's game had rolled around, the Jays were 199 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: writing a five game losing streak and the Dodgers had 200 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 2: outscored the Jays fourteen to two in a bonafide route 201 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: in Monday's series opener, and an explosion of offense from 202 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: the boys in Blue after their relatively slow start collectively 203 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: at the plate. In the ninth inning of that first game, 204 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 2: the score was so lopsided that the rules allowed for 205 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: players to pitch, and Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts decided to 206 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 2: save his bullpen. And who did he send into pitch 207 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 2: none other than Migol Rojas, the hero from Game seven 208 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: of the twenty twenty five World Series, at the scene 209 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 2: of the crime, dancing on their graves, which, whether it 210 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: was intentional or not, must have stung a little extra 211 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 2: hard for Toronto fans and for the Blue Jays players themselves, 212 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 2: whose collective pride, no doubt, was taken a little beating 213 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 2: the other dugout. The Blue Jays team morale must have 214 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: been languishing, and it was tense. You could see it 215 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: on the faces of the players. The pot was at 216 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: a rolling boil and it felt like the lid was 217 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 2: about to blow right off. All that was required was 218 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 2: an extra little spark. Luckily for the Jays, they had 219 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: their big boy Ace on the mound, Kevin Gaussman, with 220 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: his signature unique delivery, always shifting his weight, kind of 221 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 2: toe tapping, bouncing from leg to leg, almost looks like 222 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 2: he has a twitch or a neurological problem. Big tall guy, 223 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 2: great mix of pitches, beard, long hair, nice flow. All 224 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 2: these things combined makes him tough to hit. And he 225 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 2: was pitching a good game. Gusman was against the hot 226 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: Dodgers offense. He'd only allowed two runs and it was 227 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 2: the top of the fifth, but we had Yoshinobu Yamamoto 228 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: on the mound, and Yama was dealing per usual, and 229 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: he'd held the Jas to a goose egg, just a 230 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 2: two run lead, but it feels like more than that 231 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 2: when Yama is on, And of course the Blue Jays 232 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: have bad memories of this guy from last year's World Series, 233 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: of which Yamamoto was named the MVP for his stellar 234 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: pitching performance, allowing just to earn runs over seventeen and 235 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: two thirds innings. Anyway, so it's two zero, top of 236 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: the fifth inning, nobody out and hissan Kim is at 237 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: first base, Alex Frieland at the plate. 238 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: Goussman tows the rubber. 239 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 2: He does his little rocking back and fourth thing, tippy 240 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 2: tappy toe one time, tippy tappy toe, two time, rocky 241 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 2: backy fourth e tippy tappy toe three time, and then 242 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: he kicks and fires, and no sooner it does the 243 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 2: ball hit the catcher's mitt does homeplate Umpire Dan Murzelle 244 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 2: throw up his arms in protest, moving his hands together 245 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 2: and then away from each other as if trying to 246 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: pry open elevator doors, which means, of course. 247 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: Black is called on Gossman balk, meaning the pitch is 248 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: a ball and the runner is awarded a. 249 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 2: Base's been called for his fair share of these through 250 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 2: the years. That's his eleventh career ball. To the naked eye, 251 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: it was Goussman's normal signature rocking back and forth delivery, 252 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 2: but homeplate umpire Dan Murzell saw something else. When a 253 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: runner is on base, a pitcher must come set, settling 254 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 2: motionless for a moment before delivering to the plate. Murzell 255 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 2: was saying that Goussman just went straight from rocking into 256 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 2: throwing the pitch, which. 257 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: Is not allowed. 258 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 2: That's a balk, and that means that the Dodgers have 259 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 2: another runner in scoring position with nobody out and the 260 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 2: lineup turning over, and the hard luck blue Jays are 261 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 2: at an even greater disadvantage. And it's also just a 262 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: little embarrassing out of the Blue Jays dugout comes manager 263 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 2: John Schneider to argue on behalf of his pitcher and 264 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: his team. So you're not really allowed to argue with 265 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: umpires in baseball. Recently, MLB has started incorporating a challenge system, 266 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 2: but separate of that and historically including an instance of aucs, 267 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: there's no arguing with a call. Once it's made, it's made. 268 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 2: You can't take it back. You can get into serious 269 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 2: trouble if you do argue. And in these charge environments, 270 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: with fifty thousand fans in a stadium looking on, plus 271 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 2: the world on television, the testosterones flowing manhood is often 272 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: being called into question, and the umpire in this case 273 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 2: always has a singular, single advantage in terms of the 274 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 2: power dynamic. He can throw anybody out of the ballpark, 275 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 2: and arguing a call like this is grounds for such 276 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 2: an ejection. But there are still reasons to argue, especially 277 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: for a manager. It's kind of a manager's job in 278 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 2: addition to making the calls about when pitchers come in 279 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: and out in who's batting where this is part of 280 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 2: the gig to advocate for your players because you don't 281 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 2: want your players thrown out. That overcomplicates things in obvious 282 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 2: ways both for the game and it can have implications 283 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 2: for other games that these umpires are going to work 284 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: with these teams. The manager is supposed to get out 285 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 2: in front of these things to make any point that 286 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: seems like it needs to be made on behalf of 287 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 2: his players. As with the media, the manager is there 288 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 2: to protect his players, and a toxically masculine argument on 289 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: the world stage like this on live television is a 290 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: display of bravado that could inspire a team, say one 291 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: that isn't playing to its full potential, to get off 292 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 2: its collective took us and make something happen. And it's 293 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: usually after an ejection happens that a manager will really 294 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 2: let an umpire have it to get his money's worth, 295 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 2: as the saying goes. So, with all of that in 296 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: mind and the BAK having just been called by homeplate 297 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: umpire Dan Murzell, here comes Blue Jays manager John Schneider, 298 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 2: wearing a sleeveless hoodie over a workout T shirt, which 299 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 2: is the style of the times well trimmed beard. He 300 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: likes to drink beer, and it's not like he's just 301 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 2: sauntering towards homeplate umpire Dan Murzell. He's marching as if 302 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: to war, and by the time he'd reached the dirt 303 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: around home Plate, Snyder's skin was a rosiate hue, and 304 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 2: it starts out cordial enough. He puts his hands behind 305 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: his back, leans in to discuss with Mrzell his decision, 306 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: pointing at his fellow umpires out on the diamond. He 307 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 2: didn't say anything. He didn't seem to think it was 308 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 2: a balk that. 309 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: Type of thing. 310 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 2: All while Marzell is taking the time to explain now 311 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 2: he's got to come set on the rubber. He asks 312 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,239 Speaker 2: to be still before he delivers the pitch, and the 313 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 2: broadcast cameras are cutting back to a slow motion replay, 314 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 2: so we don't really know in the moment how the 315 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 2: dynamic is shifting until the audio tells the tails John 316 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: Schneider just got thrown out, and the camera's cut back 317 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 2: and Schneider's cap is off, and his skin has gone 318 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: from ros it to beat red. 319 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 1: Big neck. 320 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 2: The hair on top is about as long as the beard, 321 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 2: and the stuff in the middle is shaved down real close, 322 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 2: so you can see a lot of the red skin, 323 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 2: and it's got the little dimple in the back of 324 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: the skull and he is all up in Dan Marzell's grill. 325 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 2: They cut to a more frontal close up and he's 326 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: pointing and he's puffing at his chest and the lips 327 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 2: are shiny and the teeth are gnashy, and the finger 328 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 2: comes out and he's pointing, and Marzell's kind of taking it, 329 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 2: but standing his ground and saying, now, I said the 330 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 2: right thing. 331 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: And the red. 332 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: Beat is exploding with rage, repelling projectiles of spittle, scattershot, 333 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 2: definitely sharing droplets, saying flim flam flicker, flacker, flam flabber, 334 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: flibberty gibbit. You know, bad words, the kind real men 335 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: say when they're right about something and they know that 336 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 2: they're being punished, but they know that they're the bigger man, 337 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 2: which is important, almost as important as baseball itself. And 338 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 2: once Snyder has finally felt that he's laid waste to 339 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: this helpless gazelle, he turns to head back to his hovel, 340 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 2: and the Blue Jays fans rise to their feet a 341 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 2: standing ovation as Schneider wipes the spittle off of his beard, 342 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 2: as if to say, look what you made me do. 343 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 2: If Snyder's aim was to light a fire, under his 344 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: team to wake them from their offensive slumber, to inspire 345 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 2: them to victory with this public display of bravado. 346 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: It did not work. Not that day. 347 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 2: At least, the Blue Jays took their sixth consecutive loss. 348 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 2: The Dodgers clinched the series victory Losing your cool over 349 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: a ticki Tac call in early April. I guess that's 350 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 2: the Blue Jay way. Judging by the weather, it's still 351 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 2: kind of winter up there north of the border. Maybe 352 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 2: it's a way to keep warm. And I guess to 353 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 2: sum it all up, what this story means the Great 354 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five World Series rematch. Bottom line, the red 355 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 2: beat showed his fire, the pot boiled over, but ultimately 356 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: the beat was overcooked. The beat was beaten, and the 357 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 2: Dodgers ate that beat walking away with the wind that 358 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 2: day and in that series, the Blue Jays may be angry, 359 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 2: but the Dodgers are simply inevitable. 360 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: Folks. I'm running out of thoughts and words. 361 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: This music cue is going to come to an end 362 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 2: in a little bit here, and at that point it's 363 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 2: okay with you. 364 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: Let's just call this an episode. 365 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 2: I do want to add one last thing, on a 366 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: serious note, In addition to the tragic loss of Miguel 367 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 2: Rojas's father, Mickey Miguel Rojas Senior, this week we also 368 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 2: lost an iconic. 369 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: Dodger, Davey Lopes, a. 370 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 2: Key member of the famous Dodgers infield of the late 371 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 2: seventies and early eighties with Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and 372 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 2: Ron Say. Davey Lopes was an all Star. He was 373 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 2: a part of that nineteen eighty one World Series championship 374 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 2: team and is perhaps the most iconic Los Angeles Dodgers' 375 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 2: leadoff hitter, known for his speed, but more importantly his 376 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 2: smarts on the bass paths. He excelled at the art 377 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: of stealing and base running, and Rank's second enfranchise history 378 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 2: with four hundred and eighteen stolen bases. Those teams were 379 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 2: just before my time in LA, but they loom large 380 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 2: and the name Davy Lopes means a lot to a 381 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: lot of people here in LA. Davey Lopes passed away 382 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 2: earlier this week at the age of eighty due to 383 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 2: complications from Parkinson's Rest in peace. 384 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: Davy Lopes. 385 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 2: Dodger Blue Dream is written and produced by me Richard Parks. 386 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 2: My co host is Chef Wesley Avula. Original music in 387 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 2: this episode by William Ryan Fritch, Jonathan Snipes, and The 388 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 2: Blasting Company. Special thanks to Caitlin Esh and Elizabeth Parks Kibbi. 389 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 2: Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever 390 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 2: you can if you like the show that will help 391 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 2: us out. Dodger Blue Dream is produced in partnership with 392 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 2: Iheart'smichaeltura podcast Network. For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the 393 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 2: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 394 00:27:33,520 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 2: favorite shows