1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream is a completely independent production, and we 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: have finally, at long last, set up a way for 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: you to support that work. Visit Patreon dot com slash 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream. We've got stickers, we've got shirts, and 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: we're working on all kinds of fun news stuff. I'm 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: super excited about this because it's the first time I've 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: set something like this up again. That's patreon dot com 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: slash Dodger Blue Dream. Let's get onto this one. 9 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: Bitch. Time for Dodger. Kirkking Gibson. 10 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 3: Oh my god, Oh my god, you called it. It 11 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 3: hasn't even happened live on TV. I was listening to 12 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 3: the radio. Oh my god, you called it, Richard his 13 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 3: Kirk Gibson moment. 14 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? This is 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: already the best world series ever. It's z hasn't even 16 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: happened on the TV right now, it's about to happen. 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 2: Oh my god, I'm like living in the future. I 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 2: could tell it. Oh my freaking' gosh. 19 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Got baseball can make you feel things, it can make 20 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: you believe in things, and it can blow your mind. 21 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: Already in this world series, I've seen things I wouldn't 22 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: even dare to dream about, except that if you listen 23 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: to this show, you know I kind of did call it. 24 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: Dream That's the ball, right. 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 4: Failed said good Jimmy, make pretty game one of the 26 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 4: World Series. 27 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: How about them Dodgers? What a game on Friday Night 28 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: and another great one on Saturday, and the Boys in 29 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: Blue are up in this best of seven series two 30 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: games to none. 31 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 5: As the Fall Classic travels to New York. 32 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: Freddie Freeman stole the show on Friday Night with a 33 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: home run that will be remembered for as long as 34 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: baseball will be played, and one that means everything to 35 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: me knowing what Freddy has been through this season. It's 36 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: a story of overcoming, a story of persevering, and a 37 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: triumph of a champion. And as we get ready for 38 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: a guaranteed vibe shift as the Dodgers and Yankees travel 39 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: to the Bronx, I want to take a moment to 40 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: bask in the afterglow and look back on the first 41 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: two games of this series. And when we do, there 42 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: is one image Freddie Freeman, his right arm stretched out 43 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: high holding a black painted gloss bat, gleaming in the 44 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: lights of Dodger Stadium like a sword or a torch, 45 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: a statue of liberty pose as his walk off Grand 46 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: Slam home run ball to win Game one of the 47 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: World Series sales into the right field pavilion and Dodger 48 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: Stadium explodes, just like it did at the end of 49 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: Game one of the nineteen eighty eight World Series, except 50 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: I was there, and this is a moment I will 51 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: never ever forget. Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream. I'm Richard Parks. 52 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: The third Today's episode Let Freeman ring my brick Forgot 53 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: the story of Games one and two of the twenty 54 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: twenty four World Series. 55 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 5: Let's Go. I'm so excited. 56 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: I just want to say, I'm so excited to be here. 57 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: I love you very much and so good to be 58 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: here with you for my first World Series. 59 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: I love you. 60 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: Friday night, I went to my first World Series game 61 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: with my sister Elizabeth after this just living on bonus time, 62 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: you know, and it was everything that I could have 63 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: hoped for and much much more. In lieu of a 64 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: ceremonial first pitch, there was a moment of silence for 65 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers icon who died last 66 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: week at the age of sixty three, every time you pitch. 67 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: I knew that this game would be memorable, but I 68 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: couldn't have anticipated that I would be there to witness 69 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: a Game one that will go down in baseball history 70 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers victorious, and the next day I'd happily 71 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: taken the game on my couch and watch the Dodgers 72 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: win again. The Boys in Blue are up two games 73 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: to none as the World Series heads to New York City, 74 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: and it already feels like we've seen so much contributions 75 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: from up and down the lineup. Great starts from Jack 76 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, our Dowgs from the bullpen shutting 77 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: things down, and the Dodgers are just looking like the 78 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: better baseball team. But the story of this series so 79 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: far is this Game one and the extra inning heroics 80 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: of Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. With the stars and 81 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: stripes of old glory waving in the breeze, the Jumbo 82 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: tron flash and image of Freddy's face, blonde hair, crew cut, 83 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: pearly white veneer. He looks like Captain America. But if 84 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: you know what Freddy's been through this season, you know 85 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: he's a real person who this year was tested like 86 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: never before. Freddie's three year old son Max almost died 87 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: this year, and for the last month he's been playing 88 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: through pain with a sprained ankle. But Freddy didn't quit, 89 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: and his son is now on the mend, and he 90 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: found his way back to the team, and thank goodness 91 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: he did. The performance he would put on Friday night 92 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: felt like the climax in the theater play of the 93 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four Dodgers baseball season. Our beloved national pastime 94 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: at its very best, and. 95 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 5: I got to see it. 96 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: The box score for Game one says six to three, 97 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: but for a lot of this game it was way 98 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: closer than that. The Yankees had their ace on the mound, 99 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: Garrett Cole, and he looked very, very good. And you 100 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: all know that my biggest fear going into this series 101 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: was our starting pitching. And I want to give a 102 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: shout out to Burbank's own the Harvard Westlake alum Airwan 103 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: Smoothie make in Jack Flaherty, who ended up going five 104 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: and a third and giving up two runs, but he 105 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: really kept us in this game. It was actually the 106 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: Dodgers who drew first blood. 107 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 5: My fastball spots towards the right fifth quarters. 108 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: So Kik triple to Wright on a ball that Juan 109 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: Soto misplayed, and Will Smith got the job done, lifts 110 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: it to right field, Soto Zoe getting a sack fly 111 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: to right to score Key k come Cernandez. 112 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 5: Here comes Sodo's throw bang back, but he's in safe. 113 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 5: One zero Dodgers. 114 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,679 Speaker 1: But then the Yankees big three, well, actually the big 115 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: two because Aaron Judge, the presumptive American League MVP, he 116 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: hasn't been hitting at all. 117 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 5: Judge miss out swinging for the third tie. 118 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: It was Soto who singled to center to lead off 119 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: the sixth, and then John Carlos Stanton another Notre Dame 120 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: High School. 121 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 4: Golf's one way back there scraping the sky. 122 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 5: They give it a Yankee. 123 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: Side hit, a four hundred and twelve foot moonshot into 124 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: the left field pavilion, and that's what chased Flaherty out 125 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: of the game. Two to one Yanks in the sixth. 126 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: But then in the eighth, all right center. 127 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 6: Field, Soda on the n of the track gets off 128 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 6: the top of the wall. 129 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: Show hey, he got his first World Series hit. Another 130 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: bad play by Sodo, and show he is at third, so. 131 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 5: Way oh Tani tech starred ninety. 132 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: Massive feet and in the next at bat, Mooki drove 133 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: him in with the sackfly. 134 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 5: That's finds it to center field. 135 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 6: It's judge to pull it end, but it's tied, as 136 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 6: Booky Bets drives in and show. 137 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: Hey Tani tie game at Two's a great game, neck 138 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: and neck. Tit for tat. And here's where it gets interesting. 139 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: Let's go to the top of the tenth inning. Blake Trinan, 140 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: one of our most feroci Dowgs, comes in out of 141 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: the bullpen to face Jazz Chisholm Junior, the speedy Yankees 142 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: third baseman, who reaches on a single. 143 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 5: There goes jos no throw from Will Smith. 144 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: Trianon's got a slow movement out of the stretch and 145 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: Jazz Chisholm steals second and third and now stress. 146 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 5: Off the infield. They're gonna have to bring him in 147 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 5: grapa diving stop. Edman can't get it out of his 148 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 5: slave and the Yankees sick to. 149 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: Lead trying and finishes the top of the tenth. But 150 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: now it's three two Yanks last up. The Dodgers gotta 151 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: get it done in the bottom of the tenths or 152 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: the game's over. To lead off the bottom of the tenth, 153 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: Will Smith flies out to right. Then Gavin Lux works 154 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: a walk and Tommy Edmund reaches on an infield single 155 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: on a ball Yankee second basement. Glaber Torres couldn't make 156 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: a play on, which could have gone for two. Edmunds 157 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: on first, and Chris Taylor comes in to pinch run 158 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: for Lux at second. And guess what time it is. 159 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,359 Speaker 1: That's right, it's showtime. 160 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 5: Baby. 161 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: Shohei Otani is announced as the batter, and Yankees manager 162 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: Aaron Boone calls to the bullpen for left handed pitcher 163 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: Nasty Nestor Cortes, who hadn't pitched in a ballgame in 164 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: thirty seven days. Let's dig in on the Nester decision 165 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: because it will prove to be pivotal, and Nessor had. 166 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 6: Not pitched since September eighteenth. 167 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: Why did you like him in that tenth enner? 168 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 7: Just like the matchup? 169 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: A reporter asked Boone about his decision in a postgame interview. 170 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 7: The reality is he's been throwing the ball really well 171 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 7: the last few weeks, as he's gotten ready for this. 172 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 5: I knew with one out. 173 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 7: There would be tough to double up show Hey if 174 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 7: Tim Hill gets him on the ground and then move 175 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 7: him behind him. His tough match up there, So. 176 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: Boone says he liked the matchup. 177 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 5: Lefty on lefty. 178 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: Generally speaking, that's a disadvantage to a handed batter, and 179 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: over the course of his career, Shohey was just two 180 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: for twelve against Nasty Nestor Cortetes. When asked how that 181 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: factored into his decision, Boone said, a little bit. Now 182 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: on the flip side, Nestor hadn't pitched for over a month, 183 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: he was coming off an injury, and here he is 184 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: coming in with two men on and just one out 185 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: with the one run lead in the bottom of the 186 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: tenth inning, with the winning run on base in the 187 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: World Series, to face the greatest baseball player on planet Earth. 188 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: The Yankees had another lefty in their bullpen. His name 189 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: is Tim Hill. The basic difference between Nestor and Hill 190 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: is that Nestor's more likely to get a strikeout. With Hill, 191 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: a hitter is more likely to make contact, and as 192 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: Boone said, show Hay will be tough to double up. 193 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: He's fast, so he's bringing in Nestor to go for 194 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,559 Speaker 1: the strikeout, but not just one strikeout, has to get 195 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: two and Major League Baseball has a three batter minimum rule. 196 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: Any pitcher must face at least three batters before they 197 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 1: can be taken out of a game, the only exception 198 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: being if the inning ends before they do so. Boonie's 199 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: bringing Nasty Nestor in to face sho Hey Otani and 200 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: Mookie Betts and if either of them gets on Freddie 201 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: Freeman the MB three, three of the greatest hitters alive. 202 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: Even a base hit could be a killer. Runners on 203 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: first and second, three to two ballgame. Nasty Nester with 204 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: his doe eyes and his pitch black mustache. The one 205 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: thing that I know about his backstory. He takes the 206 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: subway home from the ballpark after games at Yankee Stadium, 207 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: sho Hey Otani striding. 208 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 5: To the plate. 209 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 7: I don't know if you ever love a matchup against Otani, 210 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 7: but you know, you know, I felt like, yeah, I 211 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 7: felt like Nestor could give a certain shot at show. 212 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: Hay stands in. Nestor gets the sign and the pitch says. 213 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 5: Is lifted the left field. Verdugo runs over and makes 214 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 5: the grab. 215 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 4: Did he hold on? He did? 216 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 6: Alex Verdugo makes the crap he goes out of plate, 217 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 6: but they get Otani on one pitch. 218 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: On a foul ball that goes the opposite way off 219 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: the end of show Hayes bat Yankees left fielder Alex 220 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: Verdugo makes a spectacular running catch, getting clotheslined by the 221 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: low wall in foul territory off of left field and 222 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: spilling over ursover into the stands. This was a majorly 223 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: deflating moment. On one pitch, Nasty Nester had gotten sho 224 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: Hey Otani to pop out, and the Dodgers were down 225 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: to their final out just like that, but because Alex 226 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: Verdugo's momentum carried him over the wall all the way 227 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: into the seats and out of play, a relatively obscure 228 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: baseball rule official Baseball rule five point zero nine A 229 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: one meant that the Dodger runners on first and second 230 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: were awarded an additional ninety feet, meaning now there were 231 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: runners on second and third, the potential tying and go 232 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: ahead runs in scoring position and Mooki Bets coming to 233 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: the plate. 234 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 6: Waved off Aaron Boone in the training stat and somewhat 235 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 6: fittingly here, you know, with all the talk about show. Hey, Ochani, 236 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 6: you now have Mooki Bets come into. 237 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: The plate to the plate and Yankees manager Aaron Boone 238 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: makes his second pivotal decision of the bottom of the 239 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: tenth inning. With first base open, Boonie holds up four 240 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: fingers walking Mookie Betts, himself an MVP incredible hitter who 241 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: happens to be zero for five lifetime against nasty nester. 242 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: But Boonie wanted to set up the force out at 243 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: any base and take his chances lefty against lefty against 244 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: fab five Freddie. 245 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 8: The good news here for Dodgers' Freddie Freeman doesn't necessarily 246 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 8: have to do anything but get a single and jogged 247 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 8: the first but beating something out of the ground will 248 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 8: be limited because of his ankle. 249 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: If you've been following along with this show, you know 250 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: that Freddy is playing hurt. He rolled over his ankle 251 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: running out a ground ball to first base during the 252 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: Dodgers NL West clinching win at home in late September, 253 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: and so this entire postseason, Freddie has been playing through pain. 254 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: He even occasionally spends the night at the ballpark with 255 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: a member of the training staff to keep up with 256 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: the treatments he needs to do just to be able 257 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: to stay in the lineup, and he hasn't played in 258 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: every single game this postseason, even though Freddie is famous 259 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: for playing day in and day out in an age 260 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: where that is a rarity. But if you've been listening 261 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: to this show, you also know this season Freddie made 262 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: an exception for that habit when his three year old 263 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: son Maximus, was stricken by a rare neurological condition called 264 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: Gillam bare sendra. 265 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 5: Freddy Freeman was scratched from the lineup. 266 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: Today he is headed back. Child who had just days 267 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: before been doing front flips, woke up one day with 268 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: a limp and by Monday night he couldn't walk anymore. 269 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 5: We took him everywhere. 270 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: A lot of people are telling us and telling us 271 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: it was transiit cinevitis. Then he was paralyzed at one 272 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: point from the neck down, hospitalized on a ventilator, and 273 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: so Freddie took some time away from the team to 274 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: be at his son's side. 275 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 5: So speaking, one of your kids said later, fighting. 276 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: Max's incredible recovery and Freddy's return to the team was 277 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: one of the most inspiring stories to come out of 278 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four baseball season, the entire team started 279 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: wearing t shirts that read Max Strong, and it was 280 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: also the subject of our episode Freddie's Return. It's been 281 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: said that during the regular season, Freddy's ankle injury would 282 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: have placed him on the il. 283 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 5: For four to eight weeks. 284 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: While a sprained ankle in no way compares to the 285 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: harrowing experience Freddy went through with his son Max. Both 286 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: of these are examples of the grit Freddie Freeman plays with. 287 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: Freddy could have quit baseball this year, and he could 288 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: easily be sitting out this postseason, again against his own wishes. 289 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: He's had to stay out of a couple games, but 290 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: with the World Series on the line, Freddie has found 291 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 1: a way to stay in the lineup. He wants to 292 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: help his team, and as a hobbled Freddie Freeman strolled 293 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: to the plate with the game on the line in 294 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: the bottom of the tenth inning of the World Series 295 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: Game one at Dodger Stadium, it was impossible not to 296 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: think of Game one of the nineteen eighty eight World 297 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: Series when another hobbled, left handed hitting MVP came to 298 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: the plate in the bottom of the ninth in the 299 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: same situation. 300 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 5: And toos coming up. 301 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty eight, the last year that the Dodgers 302 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: won a World Series, that was followed by a parade 303 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: in the streets of Los Angeles, the Dodgers faced the 304 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: Oakland Athletics in Game one at Dodger Stadium. Kurt Gibson, 305 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: who was the National League MVP that year, had hurt 306 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: his leg in the National League Championship Series against the Mets, 307 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: the same franchise that the Dodgers just beat to make 308 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 1: it to the World Series this year. And while he 309 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: was so badly hobbled that he didn't make the start 310 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: that day, Gibson made an appearance in the bottom of 311 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: the ninth inning with two outs as a pinch hitter 312 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: against Ace oakland A's reliever Dennis Eckersley, with Vince Scully 313 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: on the call. With too bad leg, the bad left hamstring, 314 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: and the swollen right knee, and with two out, do 315 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: you talk about a roll of the dice? This is it. 316 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 5: Sach's waiting on deck for the game right now, is 317 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 5: at the bight fly ball in the right veil. She 318 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 5: is gone. 319 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: And he hit the most famous home run in Los 320 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:59,360 Speaker 1: Angeles Dodgers' history, a walk off, game winning blast into 321 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: the right field pavilion that sent the stadium into a 322 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 1: frenzy as Gibson rounded the bases, pumping his fist, laboring 323 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: with a bad limp, and after Gibbey's incredible home run, 324 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: the Dodgers went on to beat the heavily favored Oakland 325 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: A's with the team that also included Fernando Valenzuela. 326 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 3: In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has. 327 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 5: Happened, has happened. 328 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: And so now with all of that context, you can 329 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: see why for weeks I've been hesitantly suggesting to friends that, hey, 330 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers facing the Mets again and the CS 331 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: and a hobbled left handed hitter playing through pain in 332 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: the postseason a team leader, maybe the stage is set 333 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: for Freddie Freeman's Kirk Gibson moment. I even said it 334 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: on an episode of this show, because it's pretty much 335 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: a distillate of what a Dodger blue dream means to me. 336 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 1: I was six years old in nineteen eighty eight, but 337 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: I wasn't at Dodger Stadium, and I wasn't yet following baseball. 338 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: It was very shortly thereafter that I fell so deeply 339 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: in love with the Dodgers and baseball. Just a little 340 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: late to the party. And the only time the Dodgers 341 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: have won the World Series since nineteen eighty eight was 342 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, and because of COVID, the games weren't played 343 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: at Dodger Stadium and La didn't get to celebrate with 344 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: a parade. 345 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 8: Something out in the Brown will be limited because of 346 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 8: his ankle. 347 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 6: Now, the kind of at bat that every kid that 348 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 6: plays baseball dreams of one day having you tell yourself, right, 349 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 6: all right, bottom of the ten bases loaded, World Series. 350 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 5: One run game, Dodgers Yankees. 351 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 6: Reality for Freddie Freeman right here tailor the time run 352 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 6: Edmund the winning rule, Coorts has deliveries, fren hits. 353 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 9: Upot right, things gone, jud made free dangs. 354 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: It felt like a tidal wave of ecstasy had crashed 355 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: into the stadium and swept us away. We're dancing, we're singing, 356 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: we're hugging strangers. 357 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 5: Well, I don't love. 358 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: Bat flips, but this was such a good bat flip. 359 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: He knows it's gone. He raises his bat like the 360 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 1: statue of Liberty and watches the home run ball disappear 361 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: into the right field pavilion and then he just gently 362 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 1: releases his grip and the bat falls to the ground, 363 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: the first ever walk off Grand Slam in World Series history. 364 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: To think of what he's been through this year makes 365 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: it so much more meaningful that it was Freddie who 366 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: won the game for us. It makes you want to 367 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: persevere in the face of whatever your problems are and 368 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: to be a champion the way that man is. I 369 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: love Freddie Freeman, and you know he has it all. 370 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: Even a person like that will run into harrowing challenges 371 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: in his life and it's about how you deal with them. 372 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: He went through all of that and found a way 373 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: to give himself a chance to blow our minds. The 374 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: way that he did that is inspiring. And Kurt Gibson 375 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: hit that home run at eight thirty seven pm, and 376 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: Freddie Freeman hit his home run at eight thirty seven pm. Obviously, 377 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: without trying to jinx anything, it just feels like this 378 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: is our year, and I just feel fortunate that I 379 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: was there. And that vibe continued the next day with 380 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,160 Speaker 1: another great game with a lot of the same themes. 381 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: Freddie hit another home run. He went back to back 382 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 1: with Tao and Tommy Edmond hit one out two a 383 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: stellar outing from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who gave up just one hit, 384 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: a solo home run to Juan Soto, and the Yankees 385 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: had just one hit into the eighth inning on Saturday night. 386 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: And it's not just that we're playing better defense. Nobody 387 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: has questioned a single move by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. 388 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: And the vibes in the city are so high. Every 389 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: time I leave the house, I have multiple conversations about 390 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: the Dodgers with strangers, and the way this feels communal 391 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: in the ballpark and throughout the entire city is a 392 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: reminder that we we all go through stuff and we 393 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: deserved to feel good sometimes. So let's enjoy this, Los Angeles. 394 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,439 Speaker 1: Don't be afraid to let yourself feel good when things 395 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: are going great. Dave Roberts top step wrapping a long 396 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 1: word for word with ice Cube to good day. Come on, 397 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: that's pure la damn right. It was a good day. 398 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: But of course now we're headed for a vibe shift. 399 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: Game three of the World Series kicks off tonight at 400 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: five eight, very specifically Pacific time. But it's not on 401 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: the best Coast. It's in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium, 402 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: and we've got Walker Buehler going up against Clark Schmidt. 403 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: The Yankees lineup hasn't been doing a whole lot, and 404 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: we've shut Aaron Judge down completely, but now they got 405 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: the home field advantage. First time the World Series is 406 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: being played in the Bronx since two thousand and nine, 407 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: and they got the short porch out there where. If 408 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 1: the Yankees lineup gets to Bueller, it's something to watch 409 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 1: out for, because the plan is to pitch a bullpen 410 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: game for Game four, and let me give you a tip, 411 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 1: watch out for the turtleneck Brent Honeywell Junior. If he's 412 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: coming in to eat innings. Hopefully he's able to give 413 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: us some length and save the Dowgs in the bullpen, 414 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: the high leverage guys, because if needed, we're staying in 415 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 1: New York for Game five, which would be played on Thursday. 416 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: A two zero lead sounds commanding, and of course the 417 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: odds are greatly in our favor in this best of 418 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: seven series. But if you know anything about postseason baseball, 419 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 1: you know the momentum can shift like that Dodger Blue 420 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 1: Dream is written and produced by Me Richard Parks. The 421 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: third original music in this episode by William Ryan Fritch, 422 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: Jonathan Snipes the Blasting Company, and by Me. Production assistance 423 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 1: on this episode from Tyler Hill and Elizabeth Parks Kibbie. 424 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Thomas Batty, Eli Horowitz, Caitlin Esh, Jordan Bass, 425 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: and Brian Hidalgo, whose voice you heard at the top 426 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: of the show, sounding as excited as we all felt 427 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: when Freddie hit that one out. If you like Dodger 428 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: Blue Dream, please check us out on Patreon. Go to 429 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: patreon dot com slash Dodger Blue Dream. We've got stickers, 430 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: we've got shirts, and we finally set up a way 431 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: for you to support this independent production. We'll be back 432 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 1: soon with more episodes. Thank you very much for listening. 433 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:42,679 Speaker 1: Let's go Dodgers.