1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Hey, friends, if you like what we're doing here on 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: the show, I have a request. Help me spread the word, 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: share the show as a friend, post about it on 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: social media, and take a moment to rate and review. 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: This really makes a difference and I need your help. 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 2: It time for. 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 3: God your base. 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 4: Mad Time residents have been forced to evacuate as the 10 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 4: line fire in San Bernardino Calvey continues to growl with. 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 5: The record break and keep wave, causing power problems across 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 5: southern California. 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 6: Harrison former President Trump will be facing off in Philadelphia tonight. 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 6: They're going to be debating at a pivotal time with 15 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 6: Justin We used to go until the elections. 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: Quest September tenth, twenty twenty four, Hi. With the temperature 17 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: dipping below triple digits for the first time all week, 18 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: a cool breeze wafted through Chavez Ravine. The San Gabriel 19 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: Mountains shone bright, backgrounded in the distance by massive smoke clouds, 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: chrome and pink from the nearby fires. It was Guatemalan 21 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium, and the vibes were high, 22 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: because they always are at the ballpark, a welcome escape 23 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: from the anxieties of present day life. But there was 24 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: extra excitement for Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs 25 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: because we were going to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch. CBS 26 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: can This season, our starting pitching has been a constant 27 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: source of anxiety for Dodger fans. Our staff has been 28 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: plagued by injuries and uncertainties all season long. You cannot 29 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: go deep in the postseason without a great starting rotation, 30 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: and now October is just around the corner. Yams was 31 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: supposed to be our golden boy, but after a solid 32 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: start to his season, he'd been out now for more 33 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: than three months with a rotator cuff injury, and in 34 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: Yamamoto's absence, things have gone from bad to worse. We 35 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: can't win the World Series without his help. What would 36 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 1: he be capable of in his first start against major 37 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: league hitting since before the summer solstice. Would his fastball 38 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: have speed, would his splitter deceive? Would his curve fall 39 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: off the table or would it linger too long in 40 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: the strike zone only to be walloped into the pavilion 41 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: by one of the Cubby's sluggers. This start was a 42 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: test good or bad? I knew that I had to 43 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: be there in person to witness Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream. 44 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: I'm Richard Parks, Third Today episode. Yo Yo Yamamoto. 45 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 2: This MLB off season free agency is going to be 46 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: dominated by Yoshi Nobu Yamamoto. 47 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: When it was announced that Yamamoto would be making the 48 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: jump from Nippon Professional Baseball, the Major League equivalent in Japan, 49 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: to the US this past off season, Yama was coming 50 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: off of one of the most impressive three year stints 51 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: in the history of pitching. 52 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 7: Yamamoto is the ace of the ORX Buffaloes. What are you? 53 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: He had won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award 54 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: three times, he had won the A. G. Sawimora Award, 55 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: the equivalent of the saim Award, three times, and he 56 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: had won the Triple Crown three times, meaning he had 57 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: led his league in wins, strikeouts, and e r A 58 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,840 Speaker 1: three times. He is also a World champion and a 59 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: Gold medalist. Throw in a couple of no hitters for 60 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: good measure, and Yamamoto had done all of this by 61 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: the tender age of twenty five. That's insane. In the 62 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: face of these accomplishments, there is no other player or 63 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: person to compare him to, and given his youth, it's 64 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: conceivable that the best is still yet to come. We're 65 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: talking easily the most hyped up Japanese prospect since Shoho Tani. Naturally, 66 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: every Major league team was interested in yamamoto contract, and 67 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: his free agency had much of the same buzz of 68 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: his countrymen's Sho Hey otanis. I've never seen a free 69 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: agency like Otani's. 70 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 7: There's never been someone who's so committed to not telling us. 71 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: I say both of these figures were mysterious for Shohy 72 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: and his representatives. Secrecy was a negotiating tactic. For Yamamoto. 73 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: We just hadn't seen this guy much. 74 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 5: Winner of this game takes Who'll Be and advances to 75 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 5: the quarterfinals. 76 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: We had seen him pitch during the World Baseball Classic 77 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three, another game, another Japanese phenom, and 78 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: the first thing that stood out to me about him 79 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: was his modest stature. 80 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 4: Five one hundred and seventy pounds. 81 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: My goodness, most prolific strikeout pitcher in PB. 82 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 5: Janelly cannot hold up. That's three and strike out number 83 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 5: one for Yamato, and he has a peculiar delivery. 84 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 7: One thing that'll jump out at you. When watching Yamamoto 85 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 7: is unique pitching mechanics. You can see Yamamoto throws out 86 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 7: of a slidestep in lieu of a big leglift in 87 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 7: his wind. 88 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: Up, starting with his hands at the letters of his uniform, 89 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: and then with a relatively subtle lead kick, he kind 90 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: of twists and coils his body back to then propel 91 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 1: his weight forward off the mound. 92 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 7: He said he ditched his leglift because he felt like 93 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 7: he was getting stuck and instead now focuses on his 94 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 7: weight transfer and in the end there's no weight left 95 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 7: on his back leg. He models his mechanics after javelin 96 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 7: throwers mechanics. 97 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: It's different than what the hitters used to do. 98 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 5: So from a timing from standpoint is I mean it 99 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 5: throws it. 100 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: Off and watching him pitch, he immediately struck me as 101 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: an impish menace. 102 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 5: Two two froze Glenn Dinning two strikeouts in the first 103 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 5: inning for Yamamogo retired this first six he's faced tonight, 104 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 5: Yamamoto strikes out wind Row. He's got two k's in every. 105 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 4: Inning, eight total. 106 00:06:58,760 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 3: William Dolan. 107 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: His pitches have crazy movement and there are a lot 108 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: of them, a four seam fastball that explodes with late life, 109 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: as if it run over one of those turbocharging speed 110 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: strips on Mario Kart, a splitter that tumbles off the 111 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: table just before it crosses the plate like a train 112 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: running off the tracks. And a slow, sweeping curveball that 113 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: bends like a rubber band. Throwing a two seam fastball 114 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: plus a cutter for good measure, and Yamamoto's arsenal is 115 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: two to three times that of the typical major league pitcher. 116 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: Watching him pitch, it's hard not to think of the 117 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: Japanese concept of shokunu. He is a craftsman on the 118 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: highest level, an artisan on the mound, with a modest, minimal, 119 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: sui generous style you just don't see in American pitchers. 120 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 5: One strike away, that's three and that's four winds for 121 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:03,239 Speaker 5: Japan and pool by the top team in their pool 122 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 5: the twenty twenty three World Baseball Classic. 123 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: After I'd seen him pitch, my mind was set. I 124 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: wanted him. 125 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 8: Ad Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is going to be one of 126 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 8: the highest paid free agents this offseason. 127 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 7: There's not really at a specified geographic location that he 128 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 7: reportedly favors. 129 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: With Shohy Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the story of the offseason 130 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: this year. Where would these players sign and for how 131 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: much money? It was the source of constant speculation and 132 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: conversation in the baseball world all winter long, and then 133 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: on December eleventh. 134 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 7: Oh Tani makes his decision known on his Instagram page. 135 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: After the Dodgers signed show Hey, we were all of 136 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: course elated, but the money show Hey was getting was insane. 137 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: At seven hunhundred million dollars, it was the largest contract 138 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: in sports history, and it ended up being about two 139 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: hundred million more than anybody had initially thought it would be. 140 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: And even a team like the Dodgers has somewhat limited resources. 141 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: And in the meantime, Yamamoto was linked to so many 142 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: other teams. He was in New York meeting with the Mets, 143 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: he was in Chicago meeting with the Cubs, he was 144 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: in San Francisco, and of course the Yankees were in 145 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: on it. It just didn't seem likely that, especially after 146 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: getting show heyed, we'd be able to sign Yama Moto 147 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: as well. I was tempering my desires thinking during those 148 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: weeks in mid December, I need to work on letting go. 149 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: You can't get everything in life. But then on the 150 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: third day of Christmas, December twenty seventh, we got it done. 151 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 5: We got the deal done. 152 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 3: Looking good. 153 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 6: Not even baseball season, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are 154 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 6: making a big splash for the second time this month. 155 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: Three French hens and one historic baseball talent from Japan. 156 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 2: There's a new evil empire. 157 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 5: It seems like the Dodgers are trying to just take 158 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 5: over the baseball world right now. 159 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: Yamamoto came at a steep price, however. 160 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 6: According to multiple reports, the team has agreed to a 161 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 6: twelve year, three hundred and twenty five million dollar contract 162 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 6: with prize Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yawamoto. 163 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: The most lucrative contract ever awarded to a pitcher in 164 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball history. Twelve years, three hundred and twenty 165 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: five million smack arows for a twenty five year old 166 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: who had yet to throw a single pitch in the 167 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: major leagues. And so the Dodgers free agency tally on 168 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: just these two coveted Japanese free agents alone skyrocketed well 169 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: north of one billion dollars. With a please join me 170 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 1: and officially introducing number eighteen, Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Los 171 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: Angeles Dodgers. Of course, knowing that I would be doing 172 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: this podcast episode the following September, I tuned in for 173 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: Yoshinobu Yamamoto's introductory press conference, and immediately I liked his vibe. 174 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: There was the strong fashion choice a blue checked three 175 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: piece plaid suit, a pretty baller looking wristwatch. And conversely 176 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: to the somewhat shy, retreating and reticent shohe who had 177 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: been introduced just weeks before, Yamamoto was smiling wide, soaking 178 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: up the limelight in Los Angeles. 179 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 7: I am beyond ecstatic to become a member of. 180 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: This historic franchise. And he had even prepared a statement 181 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 1: to read in English to pictures always hands my new home. 182 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: And Yoshinobu tapped off his day by doing some shopping 183 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: at the Dodger's merch store at the stadium and then 184 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: posted a video of himself holding up two big bags 185 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: stuffed full of gear. In a day, he had won 186 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: our hearts. Our goal is just to have yoshinow would 187 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: be the best version of Yoshinobu all year, and especially 188 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: when we get to October. Over the course of spring training, 189 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: Yoshinobu became one of my favorite people to watch. In 190 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: addition to his unconventional mechanics, there were these unusual workout routines. 191 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: This was briefly mentioned earlier, but Yoshinobu trains as a 192 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: javelin thrower, and so before his starts you see him 193 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: out on the field launching a javelin across the green. 194 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: These clips became popular online with Dodger fans, but obviously 195 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: Yamamoto was not here to become an Instagram sensation or 196 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: a track and field guy. He was here to help 197 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: us win baseball games. And with Tyler glassnow to be 198 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: the ace of the Dodgers' pitching staff, glassnow had signed 199 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: a five year, one hundred and thirty six million dollar 200 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: extension in the offseason, and so along with Glass, Yams 201 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: was expected to carry the pitching staff throughout this season 202 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: throughout the entire decade. Historically, Japanese pitchers have a bit 203 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 1: of trouble making the leap to Major League play for 204 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: a few reasons. First, there's the burden of the workload. 205 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: Japanese starters pitch every sixth day. But here in the 206 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: US rotations turnover every five days. American pitchers tend to 207 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: throw at much higher velocities too, and generally the job 208 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: of pitching in Major League baseball is more physically demanding 209 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: than it is in Nippon professional baseball. Major League pitchers 210 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: also tend to throw fewer pits as a result of this. 211 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: It's just a different style of play, and that's not all. 212 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: There's also the baseball itself. The ball we used here 213 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: in the US is slightly bigger than the one used 214 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:16,559 Speaker 1: in Japan, and Japan's ball also has some tackiness intentionally 215 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: added to the surface ahead of time, which helps with 216 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: grips and adding movement to pitches. And last, there is 217 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: the hitting style and skill level difference. Some say that 218 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: the japan League is equivalent to Triple A Baseball in 219 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:35,239 Speaker 1: the US. Major League hitters are accustomed to hitting higher velocities, 220 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: and they generate a lot more power and hit more 221 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: home runs generally speaking than Japanese hitters. They tend to 222 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: be bigger and stronger, and so Japanese baseball on the 223 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: whole focuses on what's known as small ball, with more 224 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: emphasis on moving guys over contact hitting and less focus 225 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: on the home run than there is here in the States. 226 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: So a Japanese pitcher coming to the major leagues has 227 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: a different set of things to worry about and certainly 228 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: would have to learn how to adjust his approach in 229 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: order to get guys out, which meant that in spite 230 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: of all that hype, Yamamoto was not a sure thing. 231 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: And that is stripped and that one is down and 232 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: it's gonna get all the way. 233 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 3: To the wall. 234 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: And during his first start, on just the second game 235 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: of the season during the Soul Series, Yamamoto got shell 236 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: and a triple for crowned Worth. 237 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 4: This one's going to challenge Munsi fair. 238 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: Ball and I want to smoke to right heywhere it is. 239 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 3: Not gonna get it. 240 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 4: Yamamoto gives up another. 241 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: One, a single. 242 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 4: It is five to nother thing is cap Gusano comes in. 243 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: But after that first start, Yamamoto settled into major league 244 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: life quickly and seamlessly, becoming one of the game's top starters. 245 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: And with Tyler glasnow carrying the Dodgers pitching. 246 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 3: Staff, he struck him out as a curve falls off 247 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 3: to the corner, A fastball strikes Lay strikes him oh 248 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 3: with a fastball in a curve ball to get him 249 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 3: out of the gym again. 250 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: Travel back through this rivalry and it's eleven World Series. 251 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 3: Take a ride to the Bronx. 252 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: When the Dodgers faced off against the Yankees in June 253 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: in New York, Yamamoto had a chance to prove himself 254 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: on a big stage. Now he's made twelve starts. They've 255 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: been pretty good ones. Oh, the last eleven have been outstanding. 256 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 7: Only six and one with a two six. 257 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 4: Ears swings and misses on that slide piece from Yamamoto. 258 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: It's a strikeout to end the first for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 259 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 3: How right that fastball has some life today he's been 260 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 3: averaging around ninety six ninety seven foot. 261 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: Player swinging a miss bifold piece. Four strikeout already or Yamamoto. 262 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: Yamamoto threw the fastest pitch of his MLB career that 263 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: day in the Bronx. He struck out seven, allowed just 264 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: two hits, and used one hundred and six pitch is 265 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: to shut out a lineup that included Aaron Judge. Through 266 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: seven innings. 267 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 5: Rounds went the second base handled my luck slip defense 268 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 5: for one. 269 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: O the first two as a harbinger for what Yamamoto 270 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: would be doing for the rest of the season and 271 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: as a precedent for a postseason start under the bright 272 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: lights of October. This was as good as one could 273 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: hope for. You could just see it. Dodgers manager Dave 274 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: Roberts said, he felt it, he knew we needed it, 275 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: and it brought out the best in him. But then 276 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: after the best start of his major league career, we 277 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: got the bad news. Yams was hurt rotator cuff injury. 278 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 3: When he got injured, he was devastating, absolutely devastating. 279 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 2: We just picked him up. 280 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: He was out for three months half the season, and 281 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: in that time, over the course of June, July and August, 282 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 1: our starting pitching situation went from bad to worse. We 283 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: really haven't had many dependable guys over the course of 284 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, and given that Yamamoto was signed as 285 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: a premier starter with all of the expectations for longevity 286 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: and clutch performance that come with that, his absence was 287 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: constantly felt and Dodger fans got down in the dumps 288 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 1: about it. 289 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,640 Speaker 3: A lot of haters are talking you overpaid and blah 290 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 3: blah blah, and Wusi Wu and I heard from Wes 291 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 3: about this one. Yeah, so that sucked. Not having him 292 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 3: around for three months was really difficult, especially with the culmination. 293 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: Of you know, all these other guys getting injured and 294 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: all these other. 295 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 5: Guys tanking and not being so good, and you know, 296 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 5: expecting more from guys like Fueler and Bobby Miller. 297 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 8: And it's taking them a really long time to get 298 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 8: it together. 299 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 3: It's frustrating. 300 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 4: It's frustrating. 301 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: As August turned to September, the reality sank in that 302 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: if Yams didn't return strong, there is no way for 303 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: the Dodgers to make a deep postseason run. The Dodgers 304 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: are in a very tight race to win the NL West, 305 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: and generally speaking, it's good to go into the postseason 306 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: with at least three solid looking starters. Our trade deadline 307 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: pickup Jack Flaherty looks capable of holding down one of 308 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: those spots, but as to who will join him in 309 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: those second and third spots, it's still at this point 310 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: totally uncertain. After Monday, there are only twelve games left 311 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: in the regular season, during which time we'd hope to 312 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: see these two more pitchers step up and prove themselves. 313 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: We were all holding out hope that Tyler Glasnow would 314 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: return after being on the il since early August, but 315 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: on Saturday it was announced that his season was likely over. 316 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: Gavin Stone, who had been our rock, has also fallen 317 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: to an arm injury in his rookie year, and we 318 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: don't know when he'll return. Clayton Kershaw has turf toe 319 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: a bone spur in his left foot, and Landon Nak 320 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: another rookie who was emerging as an unlikely candidate for 321 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: the top of the rotation, had his worst start of 322 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: the year against the Braves on Friday, giving up six runs. 323 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think with Yoshinobu, he's back pitching 324 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: in a major league game on independent race. I expect 325 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: his mind to be in that compete mode. I don't 326 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 2: think anyone knows where his stuff is going to be 327 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 2: as far as commanding of the fastball of the secondary. 328 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 2: I'm betting on the fact that the lights are on 329 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: and he's going to go out there and show well. 330 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: The organization set modest expectations for Yamamoto's first start back 331 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: fifty sixty pitches at the most, and at the very 332 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: most four innings of work. He wasn't built up yet. 333 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: He wasn't physically ready to give it his all or 334 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: to max out the way that he had in New 335 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: York in June. As I settled into my seat on 336 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: Tuesday night, gazing up at Yamamoto's forty foot tall face 337 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: projected on the JumboTron above the right field pavilion, I 338 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: moled over my own expectations. 339 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 6: Me. 340 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: I just didn't want to see anything heartbreaking happen. No injuries, please, 341 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: And I didn't want to see him get shelved. 342 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 4: He in half climbs in. Yamamoto threw his wine, and 343 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 4: off we go with a fastball at ninety seven, crisply 344 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 4: to the outside corners. Strike one. 345 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: But then Yamamoto was very sharp. 346 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 4: There's the car man, then the splitter downstairs, one and 347 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 4: two on half. 348 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: His three most important pitches, the four seemer, the splitter, 349 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: and the curveball were all working well for him that night. 350 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 4: Strikes south the side. 351 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 1: It is first jend in forty months. There's this thing 352 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: in Dodger Land. If the Dodgers' pitching staff combines to 353 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: get seven strikeouts the next day, everybody is entitled to 354 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: free jumbo jacks Jack in the boxes version of a 355 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: Big Mac at area jack in the boxes with the 356 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: purchase of a large drink. Sometimes it takes several pitchers 357 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: to combine to get to jumbo jacks. Sometimes the Dodgers' 358 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: staff doesn't get to jumbo jacks at all. But on Tuesday, 359 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: even given the modest expectations for his first start back, 360 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: Yamamoto got us jumbo jacks himself in just his third 361 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 1: inning of work. In all, he got through those four 362 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: innings cleanly. It was the very maximum of what the 363 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: team had hoped he'd do in his first start back. 364 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 1: Did we win the game? No, Things got messy for 365 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: other reasons, but a starting pitcher can only do so much. 366 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 1: We'll see how Yams fares during his non start, which 367 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: is on Monday against the Atlanta Braves. They have a 368 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: lineup of mashers, so it will be another test. In 369 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: our next episode, we'll take a closer look at the 370 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: story of Walker Buehler, a proven postseason starting pitcher who's 371 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: helped the Dodgers win championships in the past, who is 372 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: attempting a comeback after a second major elbow surgery. How 373 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: will this billion dollar team look if we don't make 374 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: it all the way already? The cries on social media 375 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: for manager Dave Roberts Head have been getting loud. In 376 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: the meantime, Let's hope that Yamamoto can continue to be 377 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: strong in his remaining regular season starts. There's nothing I'd 378 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: like more than to see this guy take us all 379 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: the way. Dodger Blue Dream is written and produced by 380 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: me Richard Parks, the third. This episode was story edited 381 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: by Jordan Bass and Caitlin Esh with production assistants from 382 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: Tyler Hill. Original music in this episode by Jonathan Snipes, 383 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: William Ryan Fritch, The Blasting Company, and by me. If 384 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: you like the show, please help me spread the word. 385 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: With your help, we've made it past our modest goal 386 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 1: of one hundred ratings on Apple Podcasts. But let's not 387 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: stop there. Let's take over the world. Thank you for 388 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: your support and thanks for listening.