1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Hello, Dodger Blue Dreamers. Thank you for tuning in once again. 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: Before we kick into high gear, a quick bit of 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: housekeeping if you don't mind, Have you ever wanted to 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: call into the show, ask a question, maybe hear your 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: voice on a future episode. Well, we set up a 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: number for just that purpose. Go on, stop what you're doing, 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: put the dishes down, pull the car over, get out 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: a pen and a piece of paper, and jot this down. 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: Three two three eight one three sixty six three four. 10 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: That's three two three eighty one thirty six sixty three four, 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: which is how we like to say it here at DBDHQ. 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: What type of message should you leave, Well, that's entirely 13 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: up to you. Throw out an idea for a storyline 14 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: you'd like to hear covered on the show. Ask me 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: a question about baseball or about life. Record your hopes 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: and yes, your bluest Dodger dreams. And if you leave 17 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: me your snail mail address on the voicemail, I'll put 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: a Dodger Blue Dream four by four inch sticker in 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: the mail just for you, and I'll broadcast your address 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: and name and social Security number on this show. Just kidding, 21 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: I'll leave that part out all right, enough chin wagon 22 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: for me. Let's get onto the main event, which is 23 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: me talking about Dodger baseball. 24 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: Itch time for Dodger base. 25 00:01:46,080 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: Enjoy the show, everybody. 26 00:01:58,800 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 3: All right? 27 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: Are we ready? 28 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 4: All right? 29 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: Three? 30 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: Two one? 31 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream, a documentary podcast about the 32 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Dodgers twenty twenty four baseball season, made in 33 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: real time as the season unfolds. I'm Richard Parks. I'm 34 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: a writer, podcaster, and die hard Dodger fan, born and 35 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: raised in Los Angeles, and I was drafted number two 36 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: overall in my little league. Today on the show, the 37 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: first installment in a three part series about this so 38 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: called MV three, the three Most Valuable Player Award winners 39 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: batting at the top of the Dodgers lineup. 40 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: Well, zund Zen, how you doing good to see y'all, 41 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 3: it's ready. 42 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 2: We'll say hi, Jo, Hey, Mookie. 43 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: Mookie Betts show, Hey Otani and Freddie Freeman. Together they 44 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,679 Speaker 1: are a historic baseball triumvirate. 45 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: Who leads at home runs this year. 46 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: To have even one of these superstars on your team 47 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: would be a boon for any franchise who leads an average, 48 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: who hits the highest this year, the Dodgers have all three. 49 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 5: With the three of you in the lineup, do you 50 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 5: guys understand impact as a fan? 51 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: Rarely in baseball history have we seen anything even remotely 52 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: like this. And to understand where this season is headed, 53 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: you have to pay close attention to these three men. 54 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: Now that the season is sufficiently underway, it's a good 55 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: time to take stock of their individual storylines as they 56 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: relate to the Dodgers' quest to win the twenty twenty 57 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: four World Series title. 58 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: So what about the order? 59 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 5: What do you think is best? 60 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 3: We don't care. 61 00:03:54,600 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: Okay, then we start at the beginning with our leadoff hitter, Bets. 62 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 5: It is what it is. 63 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: Today's episode Mookie's fest Ookay, At this stage of your career, 64 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: what motivates you? 65 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 6: What fuels you? 66 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 7: Just a drive within myself just to be great. 67 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: I want to be a legend in the game. 68 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 8: Free win, high fly ball, deep cleft center field. 69 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 4: Here it is gone, Mooky Bets, woky beats, key bats. 70 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 7: In every every game is going to be the other 71 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 7: team's World Series. 72 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 9: I mean, it is what it is. 73 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: Mookie Bets, the dodgers dapper and diminutive leadoff man, is 74 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: a two time World Series Champion. He's won six Silver 75 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: Slugger Awards, six Gold Gloves, and the coveted Most Valuable 76 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: Player Award. He has made six All Star Game appearing 77 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: since he is in the thirty thirty club, and his 78 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: twelve year, three hundred and sixty five million dollar contract 79 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: is one of the most lucrative deals in baseball history. 80 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: Mookie is well on his way to the Hall of Fame. 81 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: He's already done just about everything you can do in baseball. 82 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: But that's not all. They say that he is good 83 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: at everything, like his first love bowling. 84 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: By his count, he's bold at least thirty perfect games. 85 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: Bromoki is good at everything. 86 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 10: This guy was MVPN then goals and bowls like a 87 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 10: perfect score. 88 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: Ping pong he wins Clayton Kershaw's annual ping pong tournament, 89 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: and at five feet nine inches he can dunk. 90 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 11: There's nothing this guy can't do well. 91 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: He's your hitty talent. 92 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 11: That's a great question. I would say, probably doing a rub. 93 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: Excuse, So what would need to pick in this blue 94 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 2: outvin a lot. 95 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: He is known for his fashion sense. 96 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: It's like a lot, but you know, the Podora always 97 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: has a coming to play. Shout out to my peep 98 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: with that help. 99 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: Thank you guys. 100 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: And he recently started a production company releasing a documentary 101 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: about Jackie Robinson, and he hosts his own podcast. 102 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 7: All Right, guys, welcome back to season two of On Base. 103 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: On Base with Mooky Betts, which is very good and 104 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: this year earned him an Emmy nomination. Congratulations Mooki from 105 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: a fellow podcaster, Game Recognize Game. I want to be great, 106 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: Mooki told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic before the season started. 107 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: I want to be a legend in the game. And 108 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: now Mooki is putting himself to the test like never before, 109 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: leaving the comfortable confines of his regular position of right field, 110 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: a position Muki has ruled at for a full decade 111 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: in the major leagues to play shortstop for the first 112 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: time ever at the professional level. Shortstop the most important 113 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: and difficult position on the baseball diamond. 114 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 8: Sharp girl ball Bets gets there from shadow center field. 115 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: Dugout by Freeman, this is a story about Mooky's pursuit 116 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: of excellence, Muky's quest to reach beyond the implausible and 117 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: achieve the impossible. That's a Vin Scully reference. 118 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 12: We don't care hair hair. 119 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: Mooki switched to shortstop poses one of the most fundamental 120 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: and important questions for the Los Angeles Dodgers twenty twenty 121 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: four baseball season. What is Mooky's best Even a completely 122 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: average season at shortstop would be a historic accomplishment. 123 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: Let's talk Bookie Betts and do some digging in and 124 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: let's start with this. This is crazy. This is not 125 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: done in the history of baseball. 126 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 13: Mookie Bets, a superior fielding outfielder, is going into his 127 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 13: age thirty one season as he moves to the second 128 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 13: most difficult defensive position. 129 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: On the field behind catcher. 130 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: Here Muki is at the peak of his powers, but 131 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: nearing the end of his peak, swimming against the stream. 132 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 13: Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Youngt moved from shortstop to 133 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 13: the outfield when he was twenty nine. Hall of Fame 134 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 13: shortstop Ernie Banks moved from shortstop to first base when 135 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 13: he was thirty one. You don't move to shortstop as 136 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 13: you get older, you move away from it. 137 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 1: From another player with the accolades Muki has, with the 138 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: contract he has, would never dream of making a position 139 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: change at this point in his career. Muki is risking 140 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: in he's risking embarrassment, He's risking his Hall of Fame career. 141 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: The danger with the move, Rosenthal wrote, is that bets 142 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: his defense at short will be mediocre. Mediocrity is not 143 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: the stuff of legend. And during a year when the 144 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: expectations for the Los Angeles Dodgers are at an all 145 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: time high, I mean. 146 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 4: It is what it is. 147 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: Pride goes before the fall, and Mooki's infielder's glove may 148 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: be like the wings of Icarus. 149 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 2: And I think the Dodgers will regret this. 150 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: I played shortstop in little league and I was drafted 151 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: number two overall. I say it in the show open 152 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: because it's a chance to say it, but now I 153 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: have a reason to underline it because it illustrates something 154 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: that is important to this story. If you are a 155 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: talented baseball player, when you're a kid, you play shortstop. 156 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: It's where they put all of the best little kid 157 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: players because it's the hardest and most important position. Sharp 158 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: girl ball. You get more balls hit to you, quicker, 159 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: they do more different things. Unpredictably, they come to you 160 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: more often than they come to anyone else, and you 161 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: have to contort your body around at the crack of 162 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: a bat and respond within a second to make a play. 163 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: Best good stires there. And then you have to throw 164 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: to first some shadow center field accurately while doing whatever 165 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: acrobatic contortion your body just did in order to get 166 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: the ball in the first place, dug out by freeman man. 167 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 1: You back up other positions, You take relays, you turn 168 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: double plays with other guys sliding into your feet as 169 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: you receive a ball and turn on a pin to 170 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: throw it first. And so all the best baseball players 171 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: in all of the little leagues in the entire world 172 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: played shortstop. And if you're good enough at this, I 173 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: wasn't by the way, you keep doing it. And then 174 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,599 Speaker 1: a tiny handful of those continued to other levels like 175 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: high school and travel ball. A tiny amount of those 176 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: started playing professionally. A tiny amount of those got drafted 177 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: to a major league team. A tiny amount of those 178 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: went on to the miners and rose all the way 179 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 1: up through rookie ball to single A to double A 180 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: to triple A. People spend lifetimes in the minor leagues, 181 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: and they got to the major leagues and they made 182 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: the team. And of all of those people, a tiny 183 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: handful of them are good enough to play starting shortstop 184 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: every day for one of the thirty Major league teams. 185 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 10: Mookie Betsen is a tremendous play the stabbing potion with 186 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 10: the glove, the spin and then the throw. 187 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: And because it's such a hard defensive position, you're not 188 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: necessarily expected to also be a great offensive player. The 189 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 1: shortstop position is just that important. This is why the 190 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: shorts is the captain of the infield. A player that 191 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: commands a lot of respect from his teammates. Think Derek Jeter, 192 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: Cal Ripken, Junior, Honus Wagner, and maybe, just maybe Mookie 193 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: bets But Mookie is not a shortstop. He is a 194 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 1: right fielder. He just decided at the very beginning of 195 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: this season that he's going to play shortstop this year. 196 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: That's his path to greatness. That's the stuff of legend. 197 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: And just where did he get a crazy idea like that? 198 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: Let's trace it back all the way from the very beginning. 199 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 2: Is it a nickname or is it his actual name? 200 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 14: His actual name is Marcus Marcus Okay. 201 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: This is Muki's mother, Diana Benedict. The night she gave 202 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: birth to Mookie, she had been bowling. There's a basketball 203 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: game on at the hospital. The Atlanta Hawks were playing 204 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: October seventh, nineteen ninety two. 205 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 14: Mookie Blaylock played basketball for Atlanta. I was looking for 206 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 14: the initials MLB. 207 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: MLB like major League Baseball. You know, Miki play like. 208 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 14: I was having a phenomenal game, and I thought, that's 209 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 14: different than name. You know, you don't hear that often. Yeah, 210 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 14: my middle name is Lynn and last name Betts. Okay, 211 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 14: MLB baseball. 212 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: I just tied this together. 213 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 14: Yeah, MLB. My child's gonna be an MLB player. And 214 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 14: I tried to instill that in him. And you know, 215 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 14: from the time that he could talk, everything was ball. 216 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 14: Anything was ball, ball ball, Wow, everything was a game. 217 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 14: One of the things that we did we had we 218 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 14: take the trash cans and water paper and we throw 219 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 14: it in the paper in the trash can, just you know, 220 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 14: to see if we could make the goals or whatever. 221 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: Made up games. 222 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 9: You know. 223 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 14: You know, we didn't have a lot of money when 224 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 14: we were little, so just it doesn't take a lot 225 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 14: of money for kids to have fun and to spend 226 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 14: time with him. Yeah, and so that's that's what we did. 227 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 14: We would just make up games. 228 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: And he always played to win. 229 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 2: Was he naturally competitive. 230 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 14: Oh absolutely, you get that from me, and so you know, 231 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 14: why play it if you can't win. We play marbles, 232 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 14: I'm trying to win. Yeah, you know, whatever we play, 233 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 14: we were trying to win. Very competitiveness. My whole family. 234 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, you kind of grew up like that. Tell me 235 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: a little bit more about how you grew up. You 236 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 2: grew up Kentucky on a farm. 237 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 14: Right, we play marbles. I'm trying to win ball, ball, 238 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 14: ball ball. My chow's gonna be an MLB player. 239 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: Look at a photo of Mookie and his mom when 240 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: he was a kid. They've got the exact same smile. 241 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: Bets was just a tiny kid growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, 242 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: wanting to play every sport possible, according to an article 243 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: on MLB dot com, especially baseball because of his size. 244 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: How however, every little league team in his area turned 245 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: down Bets. Some said it was because they were holding 246 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: roster spots for other kids. Others just outright told his 247 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: mother that Bets was too small to play baseball. I 248 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: first learned about this during the Dodgers broadcast on Sunday, 249 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: May fourteenth, twenty twenty three. Mother's Day. Mookie was at 250 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: the plate, and his mom was just behind him in 251 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: the stands, cheering him on. Here's Joe Davis with the call. 252 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 8: When Mookie first wanted to play baseball, he couldn't find 253 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 8: a team because all the other coaches thought that he 254 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 8: was too little. Lifts has got a center field rusham 255 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 8: on the move, and the little man's got big Pop's 256 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 8: run home run. 257 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 4: Diana's boy on Mother's Day makes it too nuffy, hey, 258 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 4: and she's here today football, So Mom Diana and coach Diana. 259 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 4: Because when no teams would take go to Mookie, she said, 260 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 4: you know what to heck with them? Nobody stopped my boy. 261 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: By the time Muki was in high school, he was 262 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: a four sport athlete. He could throw ninety six, bowl 263 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: a perfect game, and dunk basketballs. Before he grew to 264 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: his full height of five foot nine, he beat me 265 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: in ping pong. While talking on the phone with his girlfriend, 266 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: one of Muki's basketball coaches said, the boy is good 267 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: at everything. Would you like to guess what position Muki 268 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: played when he was playing baseball, Ding ding ding shortstop. 269 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: He also pitched when needed. That's how we know he 270 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: threw ninety six, But he was a shortstop. You know 271 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: the best player. During his senior year season he hit 272 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: five oh nine, but bowling was his first love and 273 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: he wanted to play basketball. He committed to the University 274 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: of Tennessee, who said they wanted him to play both 275 00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: baseball and basketball. But then Marcus Bett selected at one 276 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: seventy two by Boston Red Sox. Read the headline and 277 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: Overthemonster dot com. He was their fifth round pick. You 278 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: never know with players selected in the draft, especially after 279 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: the first two rounds, according to the blog post, but 280 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: this seems like a solid bet on a quality athlete 281 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: who may turn into a baseball player. His signing bonus 282 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: was seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars fresh out of 283 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: high school eighteen years old. Obviously, the organization believed in 284 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: his talent, but did they believe that he would be 285 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: a shortstop. I'm not sure. It's quite common for an 286 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: organization to move a player from whatever position he was 287 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: drafted at to something different in the minor leagues, and 288 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: this was the case with Mookie, who, by the time 289 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: he made his major league debut had been turned into 290 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 1: a right fielder, and a great one. 291 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 2: That's the other way two four place out. 292 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: That's turn to use the throne of the plant the 293 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: twn he got bets. 294 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 2: Leaves, it makes the cash. 295 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 8: That's a broken bat flair down behind the right. 296 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: And Poky strow right on the money. 297 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 8: Ho ho Mookie Bets going back in front of the 298 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 8: monstering leaves and makes the catch. 299 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: Six gold gloves, an amazing throwing arm, momentum, shifting plays 300 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: in the outfield during the World Series for both the 301 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: Red Sox and the Dodgers, and of course, codigious offensive. 302 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 12: Output all the while. How good was Spooky last year 303 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 12: for this team? He led him in Holmer's RBI's walks, 304 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 12: slugging ops ops plus bets. 305 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 2: That one is into left field, out and flying around. 306 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 2: Here's the throw from a soak car not in time, RBI. 307 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 2: Mookie bets bets. 308 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: Mookie owned right field all the way straight up until 309 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: just before the start of this season, the most anticipated 310 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: season in Dodgers history, when it was announced that Mookie 311 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: Betts would be moving positions, but not to shortstop to 312 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: second base. What yeah, I know. 313 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 12: Mookie Bett says that he'd really like to play second 314 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 12: a lot more than he did. 315 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 11: Is he your starting second basement or is MOOKI your 316 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 11: starting right fielder. 317 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: Back in December, at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, the 318 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: gathering of all thirty MLB teams and agents looking to 319 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: make deals, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts appeared on MLB Network 320 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: to announce Mookie would be changing positions. 321 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 9: I think that it's pretty safe to say that number 322 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 9: fifty Mookie Bets are going to be our everyday second basemen. 323 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: In in the splashy announcement, Dave Roberts at a Nashville hotel, 324 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: appearing on live television. The organization was underlining this change. 325 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: It came with a prepackaged explanation. 326 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 9: When you're talking about putting together roster and someone who 327 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 9: can be so offensive at second base, you can get 328 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 9: more games out of him if he is playing second base, 329 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 9: and obviously with the signing of Jason Hayward to put 330 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 9: him out there in right. 331 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: Field, Jason Hayward would play right field against right handed 332 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: starters and Mooki was going to play second. 333 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 9: It just makes our club better. So now when you 334 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 9: get a happy Mookie Bets, a guy that can post 335 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 9: and play one hundred and sixty games, it makes the 336 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 9: Dodgers much better. So it's pretty much a no brainer brainer. 337 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: And there's a narrative about Muki that's a little bit 338 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: insidious that you should know about, which is that Mooki 339 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: is so good at so many things, and he's done 340 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,639 Speaker 1: so much in baseball and won every award multiple times 341 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: that at this point in his career it's always a 342 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: game of how do you keep Mooky engaged? And the 343 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: announcement that Mooky was moving to second for the twenty 344 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: twenty four season fit that narrative. Moki even half joking 345 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: he was taught talking about the move already, saying that 346 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 1: he preferred the shorter run back to the dugout from 347 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: the position. And also second base was familiar to Muki 348 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: because he had played it in the minor leagues back 349 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: when he was still a teenager, just after he was 350 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: drafted by the Red Sox, when it was discovered that 351 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: Mookie Betts couldn't quite hack it at shortstop at the 352 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: professional level. Yeah, I know, at least that's what the 353 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: research kind of indicates. Let's take a brief sojourn back 354 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: in time to just after Mooki was drafted on August 355 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: twenty sixth, twenty eleven. Mooki made his professional debut in 356 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: Rookie Bowl. He went two for four at the plate 357 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: that day and stole a base, But at shortstop he 358 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: had six total chances and made just one put out, 359 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: and he was credited with three errors in a single game. 360 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: This was the beginning of the end of young Mooki 361 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: playing shortstop in Fall Instructional League. That year, Muki, who 362 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: was still just eighteen, started working at second base, a 363 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: much easier position to field. The balls come at you 364 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: less often, the throws are shorter, and traditionally, second base 365 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: is reserved for a player with greater offensive abilities. The 366 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: following year, in twenty twelve, in Low A Ball, Mooki 367 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: started just twelve games at shortstop and fifty eight games 368 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 1: at second. He committed six errors while playing shortstop, including 369 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: three in his final game at the position before he 370 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: was transitioned to second for good. Mooki was a second baseman, 371 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: but the Red Sox had just signed Dustin Pedroia to 372 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: a big contract extension. That's why they moved Muki to 373 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: right field to give him a path to the major 374 00:22:54,600 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: league team, which brings us back to this offseason Mookie Bets. 375 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: A happy Mookie Bets, Mooki wanted to play second base 376 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: this year. Personal goals for this season. 377 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 7: The only thing I really care about is really trying 378 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 7: to win a go glove a second base. 379 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: So what happened that between the announcement that he would 380 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: be moving to second and the start of the season, 381 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: Mooki ended up moving to shortstop. Today is Gavin. 382 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 3: Lucks Kenosha Stocks number nine, Gavin Lux. 383 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,360 Speaker 1: Growing up in Wisconsin, Gavin Lux was like a lot 384 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: of us, a shortstop in his little league who dreamed 385 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: of one day playing in the Show. His uncle had 386 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: played in the minor leagues, and young Gavin was very good. 387 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 10: Lucks has the advanced instincts in all phases of the game. 388 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 10: He has worked to eliminate a hitch in his left 389 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 10: handed stroke, which has enough bat speed and leverage to 390 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 10: produce fifteen homers per year. 391 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: By the time he was finishing high school, it was 392 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 1: becoming clear that he would be drafted. 393 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 10: After previously seeming destined for second base, US now should 394 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 10: be able to remain at shortstop. 395 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: Javin Lux was the Dodgers' number one draft pick in 396 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, and here in LA we've been hearing about 397 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 1: him ever since. His signing bonus was two point three 398 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 1: one million dollars. Unlike Mooki, Lux was not moved off 399 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: of shortstop when he went pro. In fact, he was 400 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,479 Speaker 1: groomed to play the position for years in the Dodgers system. 401 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: He was intended as the organization's homegrown heir to Corey Seger, 402 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: a shortstop and a left handed hitter who could swing 403 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: the bat. But with Seger still under team control, and 404 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: then a trade that sent Trey Turner to the Dodgers 405 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: for a bit, Lux's opportunity to play everyday shortstop on 406 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 1: the major league club was delayed longer than anticipated, but 407 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: it was always something that was meant to happen one 408 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: day for this young player. The organization believed in him 409 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: that much. Finally, in twenty twenty three, after seven years 410 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers organization, this long delayed dream was to 411 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: become a reality. Gavin Lux was going to play shortstop 412 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: every day for the Dodgers at long last. 413 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 14: But specifically with the shift in playing shortstop, how does 414 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 14: that work specifically for your position? 415 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 11: The biggest thing is just youve got to be able 416 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 11: to get off the ball now, like the second basement 417 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 11: is not going to be on the shortstop side of 418 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 11: second base, so you got more ground to cover, so 419 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 11: you got to make sure you're getting off the ball. 420 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: And I think the Dodgers hyped Lux's long awaited debut 421 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 1: with a slate of preseason press and I personally can 422 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 1: remember being super excited about this. We'd been waiting for 423 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: this to happen for seven years, and now finally we 424 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: were going to get to see Gavin Lux play everyday 425 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: shortstop in the major leagues. And it's hard not to 426 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 1: root for Gavin Lux, the big eyed miss Western kid 427 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: who'd just been waiting for his shot. And then he 428 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:07,360 Speaker 1: showed up to spring training looking great, super cut, more 429 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: muscular than a few months before. In the left handed 430 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: Jose Lopez deals ground bowl down to third. But then 431 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: during a spring training game in February twenty twenty three, 432 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: the double play it lucks is grabbing his right knee, 433 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: a horrible injury. 434 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 15: He's still in some discomfort that is. 435 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: Concerning his knee buckle, his leg moving almost in two 436 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: directions simultaneously. They're bringing a card in to get him. 437 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's not able to put any weight on the 438 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 2: right leg at all. 439 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: Torn ACL that means surgery and he's out for at 440 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: least a season. 441 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think it's like an eight month recovery. Gavin 442 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 6: is obviously crushed. 443 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: The following day, Lux gave an emotional inner from the 444 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: Dodgers spring training clubhouse. 445 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:05,400 Speaker 11: I think every baseball player's dream is to play shortstop 446 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 11: for the Los Angeles. 447 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Dodgers, So yeah, I think that's one of 448 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: the hardest parts. Luckily, the Dodgers had just signed Miguel Rojas, 449 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: a premier defensive shortstop who excels at the most difficult 450 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: position on the field, but is a career below average hitter. 451 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: The plan was for Rojas to play backup, but he 452 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: stepped in to play everyday shortstop for the twenty twenty 453 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: three season. The team provided regular updates on Lux's rehab 454 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 1: progress as a full year passes, which brings us back 455 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: to this past offseason. Mookie had been announced as the 456 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: everyday second basement and Lux was finally again about to 457 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: get his shot at playing every day shortstop for the 458 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: LA Dodgers. Then, as spring training got under way earlier 459 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: this year in Arizona. 460 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 2: He hits it to Lux and Luks babbles it and 461 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: it goes as it airs. 462 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: That's a rude team play. For a big league shortstop. 463 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 1: Lux was having trouble with this throwing arm. He was 464 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,719 Speaker 1: able to make the throw, people thought he had the yips. 465 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,919 Speaker 15: There's reports surfacing that Dodger shorts up Gavin Lux may 466 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 15: have the yips as he's struggling to make throws across 467 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:26,399 Speaker 15: the diamond in spring training. 468 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: The sports phenomenon known as the yips is basically a 469 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: sudden and inexplicable loss of the ability to perform fundamental tasks. 470 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: There can be neurological reasons for this, and more often 471 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: than not, psychological reasons. But the team believed in Lux's bat, 472 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: and they wanted to make good on a promise and 473 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: an investment they'd made so many years before. And the 474 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: throws from second are much shorter and easier to make, 475 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: and the season is about to start. The team was 476 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: to board a plane for South Korea in just a 477 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: little over a week, and so the organization's top officials 478 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Dodgers' manager 479 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: Dave Roberts, among them, devised a plan they called a 480 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: meeting with their superstar leadoff hitter. 481 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 9: It's something that. 482 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 6: The entire organization feels is the right thing to do 483 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 6: to give us the best chance to prevent runs and 484 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 6: to win baseball games. 485 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: Something unheard of, something that had never been done before 486 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: in the history of baseball. It had never even been attempted. 487 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: My question is for the Dodgers, what are you doing? 488 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: Could Mookie make the switch from second to shortstop, the 489 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: one thing in a long life of athletic excellence that 490 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: he has not excelled at. It would take work, hours 491 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: of work each day. Was risky, Lauren, I think this 492 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 1: is a big ask. Yeah, So if anyone in the 493 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 1: game can do it, it's him. For the good of 494 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: the team. 495 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 2: I think shortstops are born, not made. 496 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: It barely made any sense, But isn't that the stuff 497 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: legends are made of. I think so. 498 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 7: When I was named the shortstop, that was super special 499 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 7: to me, Like I hadn't played shortstop and knowing that 500 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 7: I was going to play shortstop every day since I 501 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 7: was eighteen. 502 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 1: This is Mookie talking on an episode of his podcast 503 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: On Base with Mookie Betts. He recorded this episode during 504 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: spring training this year, just after it was announced that 505 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: he would be the Dodgers every day starting shortstop. 506 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 7: You know, I'm thirty one. That's a long that's a 507 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 7: long time to not play everyday shortstop. 508 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 5: And so I'm you know, this is a dream come true. 509 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 5: That was actually that was probably one of the coolest 510 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 5: moments of my life, knowing that, Man, I get to 511 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 5: do it again, you know, I get I get to 512 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 5: do what I did back when I was eighteen years old. 513 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 1: In this episode, Mookie is talking to Dansby Swanson, the 514 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: everyday shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, one of the best 515 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: shortstops in Major League Baseball. 516 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 11: I mean, like being a shortstop, it's just like the position. Yeah, 517 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 11: you know what I'm saying, Like it is the position, 518 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 11: and there's so much pride associated with that. And there's 519 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 11: so much like great history surrounding shortstops throughout the history 520 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 11: of ARCANEA. A. Rod in Seattle obviously, Derek in New York, 521 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 11: and Nomar in Boston. Okay, like Ernie Banks, Hanat Swagner, 522 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 11: Louis Parricio, Like you start naming all the dudes that played, 523 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 11: you start understanding like the pride that is associated with 524 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 11: playing shortstop. 525 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 7: To your point, it is the deposition, right, and you 526 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,080 Speaker 7: know a lot of pressure is on you. You're the 527 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 7: shortstop like, you're really the best if and you're out here. 528 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 11: You like the center of the You're the center. Old great, 529 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 11: Mookie's not take a freaking all start. 530 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 2: No no, no, no, I would like to either. 531 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 3: I just thought about them. 532 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 11: But get off the show. 533 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 14: No no, no, no, no, no no no. 534 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 11: Nobody vote for him this year. Okay, he's a utility guy, 535 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 11: all right. 536 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: So that's how we ended up with Mookie Betts playing 537 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: shortstop this year. And now a couple months into the season, 538 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: how's it been going. Well? Mooki's offensive start to this 539 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: season was nothing short of historic. At the end of April, 540 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: Mookie's slash line was three sixty eight four seventy seven 541 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 1: six point twenty four. He had six home runs, eight 542 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: stolen bases, and his ops was one dot, one zero one. 543 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: With shohe and Freddy off to relatively slow starts, I mean, 544 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 1: for them, Mooki was carrying the team's offense and helping 545 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: the team get off to a first place start. Mooki 546 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 1: reached base seventy two times before May first, and that 547 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 1: was more than any other player ever in the history 548 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: of Major League Baseball. And in terms of the other 549 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: side of the ball, he was playing a good shortstop, 550 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: which makes those offensive stats all the more mind boggling, 551 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: and the whole experiment seemed to be working out. You'd 552 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: see Lux and Mooky turning double plays. Lux was getting 553 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 1: his at bats, if not setting the world on fire himself, 554 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 1: and some of Muki's throws to first were a bit 555 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: up the line, and he didn't pull off every single 556 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: play flawlessly, but he was doing the job playing shortstop 557 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: and certainly not embarrassing himself or hurting the team in 558 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 1: any measurable way that I could discern. And he was 559 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: working very hard. Pretty much every day. On the radio 560 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: or TV broadcast, you'll hear about Muki going out early 561 00:33:58,120 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: to the ballpark. 562 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 7: I'm out here hours and hours, I mean, taking two 563 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 7: hundred three hundred ground balls. 564 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: A day, working for three or four hours with third 565 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 1: base coach Dino Ebel, and under the tutelage of Miguel Rojas, 566 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: who is an incredible defensive shortstop and is a huge 567 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: piece of how this whole thing is working out as 568 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: well as it is. Migey Row would sometimes be a 569 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: late in the game defensive replacement for Moki, or he 570 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:27,800 Speaker 1: would play third or even second if needed, so MOOKI 571 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,800 Speaker 1: was helping the team, and the team was helping Mooky. 572 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 1: He was deservedly named the National League's Player of the 573 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:38,879 Speaker 1: Month for April. Hey, Richard, how's it going, Hi, Ben? 574 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: It's good. Thank you for taking the time. I appreciate 575 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,320 Speaker 1: it very much. In mid May, I reached out to 576 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 1: Ben Lindberg, a writer for The Ringer and the host 577 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:51,439 Speaker 1: of the podcast Effectively Wild, to help me assess more 578 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 1: specifically how Mooky was doing at shortstop. 579 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 3: Based on every metric you could consult, he is either 580 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 3: above average or one of the best shortstops in baseball 581 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 3: thus far. If you go by defensive runs saved, he's 582 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 3: close to the top of the leaderboard. If you go 583 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 3: by the stat cast based out's above average, he's above average. 584 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 3: If you go by baseball prospectuses defensive runs prevented, he's also. 585 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:20,920 Speaker 2: Toward the top of the shortstop leaderboard. 586 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 3: So all systems go seemingly and I think the numbers 587 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 3: are backed up by the way that the Dodgers are 588 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 3: handling him now, where they've given him votes of confidence 589 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 3: and Dave Roberts has said that he's been surprised by 590 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 3: how good Mookie has been, that he's exceeded his expectations. 591 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,320 Speaker 3: Andrew Friedman said that he expects him to remain the 592 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,840 Speaker 3: long term shortstop, that he thinks he will be in 593 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 3: above average shortstop, and they've started handling him differently where 594 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 3: I don't think he's played an inning anywhere other than 595 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,800 Speaker 3: shortstop since late April. So he was bouncing back and 596 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,919 Speaker 3: forth a bit, Miguel Rojas was getting starts at short 597 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 3: and sometimes Rojas was coming in as a defensive replacement 598 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 3: in the late innings, And now it seems like the 599 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 3: Dodgers have completely handled handed the position over to Muki. 600 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 3: So it seems that they are quite confident that he 601 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 3: is their guy and that he's doing a good job 602 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 3: over there. 603 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 1: Has Muki been perfect at shortstop? Far from it? 604 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 3: And Mooki's made four errors I think as we speak, 605 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 3: all throwing errors. It doesn't seem like he's been a 606 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:34,399 Speaker 3: little yeah, like the throws are yeah, Freddy's work over there, right, 607 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 3: Roberts said as much. I mean, that's just, you know, 608 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 3: he's not used to making the throw from that angle, so, 609 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:43,320 Speaker 3: especially given that he was moving back and forth between 610 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:47,240 Speaker 3: short and second for a while, that could have screwed 611 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:50,200 Speaker 3: him up. But again it seems like just the more 612 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 3: reps he gets, it seems like he's improved already from 613 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 3: his initial trial at the position last year. So give 614 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 3: him more time and one would think that he will 615 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 3: only get better. He'll get those movements and that muscle 616 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 3: memory down. So it's impressive. I think that he has 617 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 3: really learned on the job the way that he has. 618 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 3: And the Dodgers have championship aspirations, realistic ones, and yet 619 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 3: they see him quite confident going forward with Mooki as 620 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:22,439 Speaker 3: their guy. 621 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: So has this furthered Mooki's quest to become a legend 622 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:29,560 Speaker 1: in the game. I think he could retire today and 623 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I don't doubt 624 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: that he would be, But of course he wants to 625 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 1: climb the ranks and be an inner circle Hall of 626 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,439 Speaker 1: Famer and one of the all time greats. Very few 627 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: precedents for this sort of move. You could go with 628 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,560 Speaker 1: the analogy like not even in baseball, like in a 629 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: different industry maybe, like like is there something analogous? 630 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:53,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I don't know. There's certainly multi talented 631 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 3: entertainers and performers. He's kind of like it's like a baseball. 632 00:37:57,719 --> 00:37:59,080 Speaker 3: He got what he's doing right. 633 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 1: In the last month or so since this conversation, Mooki's 634 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 1: defense seemed to have plateaued, but he started slumping at 635 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 1: the plate. And as I write these words on June eleventh, 636 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,239 Speaker 1: the La Times is publishing a piece taking a hard 637 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:19,680 Speaker 1: look at Mooky's playing shortstop this year. Is Mookie Bets 638 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:24,440 Speaker 1: at Shortstop? A sustainable solution for the Dodgers? Reads the headline. 639 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 1: The piece by La Times staffer Jack Harris cites learning 640 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,760 Speaker 1: curves and growing pains quote including a team high nine 641 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:39,320 Speaker 1: errors and poor nine fifty seven fielding percentage, third worst 642 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 1: among twenty four qualified MLB shortstops, and it picks up 643 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 1: on an emerging narrative. We've been hearing more and more 644 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 1: about all the work that's going into shortstop, the physical 645 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:56,800 Speaker 1: and mental toll. Is it detracting from Mooki's game? Maybe, 646 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 1: But every season has its up and downs. Even the 647 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 1: best players always struggle. The greatest test of all may 648 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:10,360 Speaker 1: come at the trade deadline. Will the Dodgers trade for 649 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: another shortstop? Will this experiment come to an end? Or 650 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: will Mooki hold on at the position and make good 651 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:21,279 Speaker 1: on a promise that surely would solidify him as a 652 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 1: baseball legend. So you don't think they'll trade for a 653 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: shortstop at the deadline. 654 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 3: I don't unless they decide that it would be I 655 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 3: don't think they would trade for a shortstop because they're 656 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 3: displeased with Mookie Betts's performance at shortstop. It's possible that 657 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,839 Speaker 3: the best solution to improve the team overall might end 658 00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:46,800 Speaker 3: up being a shortstop. Maybe a short stop is available 659 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:48,720 Speaker 3: and they could go get a good shortstop. 660 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: But the rumor mill is churning. 661 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 15: You guys mentioned two names in this segment that the 662 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:56,120 Speaker 15: Dodgers probably would like to have Willi to domas a shortstop. 663 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:58,239 Speaker 15: Boba Shit, the Blue Jays shortstop. 664 00:39:58,520 --> 00:39:59,800 Speaker 1: You get it, a shortstop, you move Mo. 665 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 15: And then Gavin looks is out of the equation because 666 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 15: he hasn't hit at all this season. 667 00:40:05,239 --> 00:40:08,080 Speaker 1: And we'll see what happens as the season goes on. 668 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:11,160 Speaker 15: They could end up with Miguel Rojas a short and 669 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:13,400 Speaker 15: Mookie at second. They could end up with Mookie at 670 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:15,400 Speaker 15: short and still play Gavin lucks. 671 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 1: But that is where they're like, So what is Mookie's 672 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:31,000 Speaker 1: best Maybe we've already gotten to see it. Maybe the 673 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:34,319 Speaker 1: mere fact that he's attempted. This should be enough. 674 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,440 Speaker 3: Everyone has a ceiling, and even the best players, at 675 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:44,319 Speaker 3: some point, whether it's age or injury, they eventually meet 676 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:47,720 Speaker 3: their match. But I have always been fascinated by players 677 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:50,719 Speaker 3: who reach the highest level, the pinnacle of their ultra 678 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:53,840 Speaker 3: competitive propression, and then show that they have a higher 679 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:57,520 Speaker 3: gear even than that. Yeah, very few of us are 680 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:00,880 Speaker 3: as capable as Mookie pets, but does give you some 681 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 3: hope that, hey, if Mookie can discover a new skill 682 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 3: or master a new skill, maybe we can too. 683 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:19,280 Speaker 1: That's exactly Yeah, it's inspiring. Dodger Blue Dream is written 684 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:23,920 Speaker 1: and produced by Me Richard Parks. This episode was story 685 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 1: edited by Caitlin Esh. Original music in this episode by 686 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:33,120 Speaker 1: me and by William Ryan Fritch and The Blasting Company 687 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 1: and Tiny Star. Thank you Will Fritch and Joshua Kaufman 688 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:43,960 Speaker 1: for your contributions. Please check out these musicians. Special thanks 689 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:47,560 Speaker 1: to Ben Lindbergh for his time. I highly recommend Ben's 690 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:54,680 Speaker 1: podcast Effectively Wild. It's charming, nerdy, savvy culture vulture, but 691 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:58,960 Speaker 1: in a baseball way and fun. I'm gonna plug our 692 00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:03,319 Speaker 1: new phone number one more time three two three eight 693 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 1: one three six six three four. I really hope to 694 00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:10,640 Speaker 1: hear from you there. This could be a great way 695 00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:13,600 Speaker 1: for me to figure out what you all are interested 696 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:17,399 Speaker 1: in hearing on this show. If voicemail is not your thing, 697 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:20,840 Speaker 1: maybe leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or however 698 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:23,960 Speaker 1: you can, or share something about the show on social media. 699 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:27,880 Speaker 1: I'd appreciate your spreading the word. This is a one 700 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:33,799 Speaker 1: hundred percent independent DIY labor of love. With your help, 701 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:36,480 Speaker 1: maybe it will find its way in this crazy world. 702 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:40,279 Speaker 1: In the second part of our three part series on 703 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:44,560 Speaker 1: the MV three, we'll be focusing on show Hey, o Tani. 704 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,200 Speaker 1: You've heard plenty about Show Hey on this show in 705 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:49,759 Speaker 1: the first three episodes, but that was all off the 706 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:52,400 Speaker 1: field stuff. I'd like to take a look at this 707 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:55,759 Speaker 1: guy as a baseball player next and probably throw in 708 00:42:55,840 --> 00:42:59,320 Speaker 1: some stuff about, you know, his new haircut, things like that. 709 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:02,800 Speaker 1: The third part will be about Freddie Freeman. If you 710 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:06,120 Speaker 1: have questions or ideas about these two men, call up 711 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:09,799 Speaker 1: the hotline leave me a message. Okay, that's it. That's 712 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:14,759 Speaker 1: all there is. Adios, Blue Dreamers, see you next time. 713 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:17,320 Speaker 15: Look