1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream Yamamoto's two coming to Kurt 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: Broken Back Rub, where we are still dreaming about the 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: way the twenty twenty five season ended rumpbacks against the 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: Wall to back to back, the Dodgers cement their dynasty. 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: They win Game seven and extrainings five for the funnel. 6 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: They yoo. 7 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: It's been almost two weeks since the Dodgers won the 8 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: World Series for the second year in a row, and 9 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: this doesn't happen every year outside of the last two years. 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: That is, it's a special time, and us Dodger fans, 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: we are still celebrating. If you're like me. That includes 12 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: watching highlights, reading articles, and soaking up every last detail 13 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: of this incredible series and win, and most especially that 14 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: epic Game seven, which we covered in detail on last 15 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: week's episode Game seven. But today I want to focus 16 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: on a couple things that I wasn't able to get 17 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: to last week. There were so many moments of drama 18 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: in this game, including a benches clearing, not a brawl, 19 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: but a melee at the very least, I can't believe 20 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: that that actually happened. Tensions were so high, and this 21 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: event which unfolded in the fourth inning was just wild 22 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 1: and is super fun to relive and unpack a little 23 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: bit because it actually contains some clues which have to 24 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,919 Speaker 1: do with the way things ultimately turned out in Game seven, 25 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: but as we were watching it unfold in real time, 26 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: we couldn't have known that. And I just love this 27 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: because the closer that I look at Game seven, the 28 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: more beautiful and intricate and nuanced it becomes. And I 29 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: want to share that with you. So today on the show, 30 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna take a close look at what happened in 31 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: the fourth inning of Game seven, and after that, I'm 32 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: gonna do a little roundup of some of my favorite 33 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: things that I've seen from the Dodgers celebrations over the 34 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: past couple weeks and point out some of the best 35 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: stuff that I've learned that I did not know before. 36 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: How about that? Okay, it's a podcast the title Dodger 37 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: Blue Dream. My name Richard Parks, the third but you 38 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: can call me Puddin Just kidding. Don't you ever do that? 39 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: But thanks for tuning in today's episode. Still basking in 40 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: the afterglow of our back to back World Series championship, 41 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: so good. Okay, the melee that unfolded in the fourth 42 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: inning of Game seven of the twenty twenty five World 43 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. 44 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: That's what I'm here to break down today, and I 45 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: want to start with the Andres Jimenez at bat where 46 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: there was the hit by pitch that set everything off. 47 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: All right, are you ready? Let's dig in. Bottom of 48 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: the fourth inning, Game seven, Blue Jays coming up. It's 49 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: the eight and nine hole hitters, and then the top 50 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: of the lineup. It's Ernie Clement, followed by Andres Jimenez 51 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: and then postseason hero and revived former Houston astro George 52 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: Springer in the hole. The score is three to one. 53 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: Blue Jays. Bobashet's three run homer in the bottom of 54 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: the third had chased Dodgers starter sho hey Otani out 55 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: of the game, and the young Dodgers lefty Justin Robleski. 56 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: Robo is in to pitch, and Ernie Clement grounds out 57 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: to shortstop on the first pitch he sees. Now there's 58 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: one out and Andres Jimenez is coming to the plate, 59 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: the nine hole hitter, the weakest hitter in the Blue 60 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: Jays lineup, but this is the fourth inning. It's a 61 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: two run ball game. The Jays have already gotten into 62 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: the Dodgers' bullpen, winner take all game, and you've got 63 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: a very dangerous hitter on deck. Robo does not want 64 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: base runners when he's got George Springer coming up, followed 65 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: by Lucas and then Vladdie and Boba Schett after that. 66 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: You don't want to let Jimenez beat you. Here. Here 67 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: comes the first pitch to Jimenez, a ninety five mile 68 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: per hour fastball up and in causes Jimenez to spin 69 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: back around, twirling his body to the left behind him 70 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: back away from the plate to avoid being hit by 71 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the pitch. You can hear homeplate umpire Jordan Baker say 72 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: look out as the pitch comes up and in, causing 73 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: he Menez to bail out. But it's not the most 74 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: inside pitch we've seen even that day. It's a fastball 75 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,239 Speaker 1: that misses up and in. Pitchers throw inside all the time, 76 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: even intentionally missing the strike zone. The idea is to 77 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: make the hitter wary, preventing them from crowding the plate, 78 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: or to set up a different kind of pitch in 79 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: a different location, making it harder to see in comparison. 80 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: At this moment, the Fox broadcast is doing their in 81 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: game interview with Blue Jays manager John Schneider. They have 82 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: one of their reporters, Ken Rosenthal, conducting the interview on 83 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: camera in the dugout. As the game is going on. 84 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: The broadcast is showing a split screen, and as we 85 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: see him, Inez twirl out of the way and kind 86 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: of bounce up and down on one foot. Reacting to 87 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 1: the brushback pitch, Blue Jays manager John Schneider calls out 88 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,119 Speaker 1: for home plate umpire Jordan Baker, raising his left hand 89 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: and waving at him to get his attention on the plate. 90 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: When he's either at the plate. 91 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: Schneider turns around, ostensibly looking towards a playback screen that 92 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: he has behind him in the dugout. He's trying to 93 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: see if he Menez was hit by the pitch, which 94 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: creates an awkward moment for the interview he's doing. 95 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, Ken, it's like the worst interview ever. 96 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: Then he seems to get confirmation that there was not 97 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: a hit by pitch and says, good good. 98 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: We were just talking about the kind of the time 99 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: in between innings. 100 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: And Schneider continues his in game interview, and the broadcast 101 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: shows the pitch on replay slow motion, this time zoomed in, 102 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: and it really doesn't look like it gets that close 103 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: to Ji Menez, and the twirling and jumping away seems 104 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: a little performative. And then there's a called strike in 105 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: the zone and a foul ball and the count is 106 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: one and two, one out, George Springer on deck. Once again, 107 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: Robo does not want a base runner here, and he's 108 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: got he Menez one in two. That's a pitcher's count, 109 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,239 Speaker 1: a strikeout count, and he Menez is the nine hole hitter, 110 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: the weakest link in the offense. Robo looks in, gets 111 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: his sign, kicks and fires fastball ninety six, puts a 112 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: little something extra on it, and it sails up and 113 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: in out of the zone, up toward he Menez's hands, 114 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: the same place that first pitch went, which. 115 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: Way up the mind. 116 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: He twirls back to his left as if to get 117 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: out of the way of a pitch that would surely 118 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: have hit him otherwise. Jimenez turns to home plate umpire 119 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: Jordan Baker and gestures at him and cocks his head 120 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: to the right like I don't know, and then the 121 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: broadcast cameras cut to John Schneider and the dugout his 122 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: left arm stretched out in front of him, palm out 123 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: like hold it and he's. 124 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: Going to need to check this again as Amenez gets punched. 125 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: Up with him, and then the broadcast shows a replay 126 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: of this last pitch, slow motion zoomed in from the 127 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: center field perspective. As the pitch sails towards him, Jimenez 128 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: jumps up off his tippy toes and catches air. He 129 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: lets go of his bat with his right hand, the 130 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: lower hand, and opens his wrist towards the baseball, almost 131 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: as if to give it a little backhanded slap as 132 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: it flies by, before twisting back around to his left 133 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: and doing his twirl. 134 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: That's pretty close there. Almost looks like he sticks his 135 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 2: hand out tries to make it happen. 136 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: And then they show a slow emotion replay from the 137 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: perspective of the Toronto batter's box facing him in as 138 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: frontally in his stance in profile, and from this angle 139 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: it's really obvious he Menez is trying to make contact 140 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: with the baseball with his right hand a sort of 141 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: soft wristed flick, before then spinning out of the way 142 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: as if he was in danger. According to MLB rules, 143 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: a batter is awarded a hit by pitch even if 144 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: the ball only touches a portion of his uniform or 145 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: protection helmet, shin guard, et cetera. Like many batters, he 146 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: Menez wears some protective gear on his hands, like an 147 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: arm guard that covers his wrist and hand up to 148 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: his knuckles. And everybody knows. If the ball even makes 149 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: the slightest contact with that protective gear, that counts as 150 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: a hit by pitch, and he Menez gets first base. 151 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: But according to the rules, a batter must make an 152 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch in order 153 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 1: to receive first base. Thus the performative twirl that follows 154 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: the wrist flick, Jimenez is trying to get hit by 155 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: the pitch, and then he's acting as if he's trying 156 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: not to get hit by the pitch. This is clearly 157 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: a ploy. How obvious is it? Well, it makes John 158 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: Smoltz and Joe Davis laugh. 159 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 2: Working like a scrappy nine at Andre Semenez too. 160 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 3: Two Now jim Andez straight up throws his padd at 161 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 3: hand at that ball. 162 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: This is John Boy Jimmy O'Brien, who released a video 163 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: breakdown on what happened in this game. 164 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 3: He takes his right hand, which has a pad on it, 165 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 3: off the bat and tries to get hit by it. 166 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 3: It's part of his game. 167 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: If you look up John Boys' video, you can see 168 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: sequence after a sequence of Jumenez trying to get hit 169 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: by baseballs in a similar way. 170 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 3: And a lot of times it's up and inches that 171 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 3: he just starts his swing or throws his hands at. 172 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 1: There's one, two, three, four, or five, six, seven more 173 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: than ten examples that pretty clearly show Jimnez trying to 174 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: get hit by pitch and succeeding some relatively subtle, others 175 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: glaringly obvious. 176 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 3: That is almost a strike, and he puts it. So 177 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 3: watch this, oh boy, the hand comes off the bat 178 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 3: to get hit by. 179 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: It anyway in this bat in Toronto, it doesn't work. 180 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 2: We're going like a scrappy nine. In Andre Semenez two. 181 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: The count is two and two, robo kicks fires and 182 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: the two to two pitch comes at ninety six miles 183 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: per hour in the same spot up and in, except 184 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: this time. 185 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: Too two, So. 186 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: There's no doubt it hit. He Menez right in the 187 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 1: protective padding on his right hand. He got what he wanted, 188 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: and by the rules of the game, he was allowed 189 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: to take first base. You would think that he Menez 190 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: would be happy at this result. He literally just tried 191 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: to get hit in that exact place on the pitch 192 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: before this one. But instead he reacts like this, hey, 193 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: do you and it hits him. 194 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 3: He goes, what the man throw that in the middle? 195 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: This is John Boy, who's famous for his lip reading. 196 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: He Menez drops his bat and turns toward the mound, 197 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 1: shouting at Robleski on his way at the base path, 198 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: what the f and Robleski walks off the mound straight 199 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: toward him and shoots right back, Q. 200 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 3: You, I'm not trying to hit you. 201 00:12:55,600 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: What are you talking about? And then all hell breaks loose. 202 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: The bench is clear. In game seven, the melee ensues, 203 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: guys jumping over the dugout railing, running out onto the infield, 204 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: puffing up their chests, looking tough. 205 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 2: Their looks like he tries to get hit this time, 206 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 2: he didn't have to try. Well, I can promise you this, 207 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 2: He's not trying to hit him. He got mad that 208 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,719 Speaker 2: I hit him. I wasn't trying to hit him. 209 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: Man Robleski talked about what happened in a postgame interview. 210 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 4: It looked like, yeah, he was trying to get hit 211 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 4: and then he got hit and then proceeded to rear 212 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 4: tell me, you know whenever. 213 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: He told me, and I'm not gonna, you know, take 214 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 2: disrespect like that. I'm gonna ask you what your problem is, 215 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: and you know, he said something that start luckamers base 216 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 2: last thing you want to do for Justin o'bleski is 217 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: give a free pass to the nine hit it. He said, 218 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 2: I don't want to give a free pass to you, buddy. 219 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: The ensuing melee, which mostly consists of all the players 220 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: kind of standing around looking tough, maybe a little trash talking, 221 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: some gentle shoving or restraining, mostly of one's own teammates 222 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: if they look like they're getting too hot, weirdly features 223 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: several specific interactions between players who would play integral roles 224 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: in the Dodgers' improbable comeback later on in the game. 225 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: Is there karma in baseball? Closely looking at this footage, 226 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: it almost seems like foreshadowing of what would come later on. 227 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: Let me take you through it first. Max Muncie is 228 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: the one to restrain Justin Robleski. Later in the game, 229 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers trailing four to two, Munsey would hit 230 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: a very crucial solo home run in the eighth inning 231 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: off of a previously unhittable rookie trey Ya Savage that 232 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: would cut the Blue Jays lead to four to three. 233 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: That's the first foreshadowing. The next two have to do 234 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: with Blue Jays manager John Schneider. John Schneider makes physical contact, 235 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: specifically with two other Dodgers players, each of whom will 236 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: play a pivotal role later in the game. Schneider grabs 237 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: Miguel Rojas miggi Row from behind, wrapping his arms around 238 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: him to restrain him. Miggi Row, who in the ninth 239 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: inning would hit the solo home run that tied the 240 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: game at four to four, without which the game ends. 241 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: The Blue Jays win the World Series. Then, with Schneider 242 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: holding miggi Row, Will Smith intervenes on miggi Rowe's behalf 243 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: and Schneider releases miggy Row to kind of give Will 244 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: Smith a little shove. Will Smith, who in the top 245 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: of the eleventh inning hit the solo home run that 246 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: gave the Dodgers the five to four lead that would 247 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: end up being the final score. Miggy Rowe and Will 248 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: Smith won the Dodgers this game and this World Series 249 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: with their respective solo home runs. During this fourth inning skirmish, 250 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: Schneider physically touches both of those men. Coincidence karma. 251 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: The bullpen's empty. 252 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: Seven as one more player who's featured prominently in this 253 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: bench's clearing incident, also deserves attention. Both bullpens run in 254 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: from beyond the fences to join the melee on the 255 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: infield grass. One person in particular stands out. 256 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 3: Jeff Hoffman leading the race. 257 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: Toronto reliever Jeff Hoffman. 258 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: And he starts John with Munsey and Robleski I guessing 259 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 3: just Robert. And he starts John with him saying get 260 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: the back to the bullpen, and then Hoffin starts yelling, 261 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 3: and Kershaw's like, dude, let's chill out, And then you know, 262 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 3: Hoffman is like, you have the ball. 263 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: Numerous reports indicate that Jeff Hoffman was talking the most 264 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: trash of anybody during this benches clearing incident in the 265 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: fourth inning, and Jeff Hoffman was brought in to close 266 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: out the game. For the Blue Jays when they had 267 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: a lead of four to three going into the ninth 268 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: inning and a win probability of more than ninety one percent. 269 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: To bring the first World Series victory to Toronto in 270 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: thirty two years, all Hoffman had to do was get 271 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: three outs instead, Hey, y'all, drill the LP field. 272 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 2: Indeed, Hord go, no way, my gorojas. 273 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: He gave up the game tying home run to Miguel Rojas, 274 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: the Dodgers nine hole hitter, a guy who hadn't gotten 275 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: a hit in a month and hadn't hit a home 276 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: run off of a right handed pitcher all year. 277 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 5: Let Dylan Lee, can you try to verblanze what it 278 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 5: is that's actually happening for you? I mean, we're all 279 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 5: preparing for the celebrations. 280 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: And Hoffman was interviewed in the locker room after the 281 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: loss and his blown save. 282 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean I cost everybody in here a World 283 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 5: Series ring. 284 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: So uh so that's pretty. 285 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 4: And you kind of saw it coming, you know, because 286 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 4: of the hole, like we cleared with them. 287 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: Dodgers relief pitcher Will Klein, himself an unlikely hero in 288 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: Game three of this World Series, was interviewed after all 289 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: was said and done. 290 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 4: And Hoffman was like kind of yelling at you know, 291 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 4: Miggy and and Kirby, and then he was like the 292 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 4: first to walk away, and You're like kind of like 293 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 4: does he have it? You know, like if you're gonna 294 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 4: talk crap and then walk away, it's like uh. And 295 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 4: then so it's kind of inevitable that Migey was gonna 296 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 4: go hit that off him. And then it just shows 297 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 4: it like it doesn't matter what you've done. 298 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: So what is there karma in baseball? I don't know, 299 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: but I kind of found that all interesting, didn't you. 300 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: After a short break, we'll have some fun revisiting a 301 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: few moments from the team's celebrations after their second consecutive 302 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 1: World Series win. Stay with us, Welcome back to the show. God, 303 00:19:55,280 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: everybody's bookie here, sure here, I got ahead. Once the 304 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: season is finally over, after spending half the year watching 305 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: baseball games day in and day out, it's really nice 306 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: when your team wins because you kind of have a 307 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 1: reason to keep following them around and track the celebrations 308 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: that they take part in in the ensuing weeks, which 309 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: of course starts off with the classic champagne soaked locker 310 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: room party. They line the entire locker room with plastic 311 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: and roll in huge tubs of ice filled with Costco 312 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 1: brand champagne and Budweiser. And this one was special because 313 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: we all knew that it was going to be Clayton 314 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: Kershaw's last time ever as a player participating in baseball 315 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: related activities. 316 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 2: Thanks Doc. 317 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: Is an absolute honor to be in this clubhouse with you, guys. 318 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 4: I love every single one of you. 319 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 5: I can't imagine a better way to go out. 320 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: And since the game had ended late and there was 321 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 1: a lot of champagne in Budweiser to drink, it's probably 322 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: good that the team was staying at the Marriott Hotel 323 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: at the Rogers Center, actually in the same enclosed structure 324 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: where they had been playing baseball, so they could crash 325 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: out and get some shut eye before taking the team 326 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: plane back to Lax the following day, November. And this 327 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: was the first day without baseball in a long time, 328 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: and I wasn't ready to let it go, but luckily 329 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: I didn't have to. I could keep watching it unfold 330 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: in the most la way ever. NBC has the Dodgers clocked. 331 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, they landed on the northern complex runway, so we 332 00:21:58,600 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 5: wouldn't have been able to see that. 333 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: I turned on my TV and NBC Los Angeles was 334 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: live streaming the team's returned to LAX in an aerial 335 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: shot from their eye in the sky news helicopter. 336 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 5: So that's the Tom Bradley right there, which is the 337 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 5: International Terminal. 338 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 1: Over a layer of smog diaphanous, the Santa Monica Mountains 339 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: emerged in silhouette as the sky turned a rosy hue 340 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: over the Pacific Ocean. 341 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 5: There's a taxiway there. I think they're on this taxi 342 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 5: with it. 343 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: The Dodgers triumphant return, fittingly timed with a beautiful Los 344 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: Angeles sunset. 345 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 5: Yeah, so there we go. So you see that water 346 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 5: being sprayed. That's pretty cool. That's going to be for 347 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 5: the Dodgers. 348 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 1: Fire crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department had gathered 349 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: to greet the team plane, shooting massive columns of water 350 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: from opposite ends of the tarmac as the Dodgers plane 351 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: taxied down the runway. A water cannon salute to honor 352 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: the returning world champions to their city. 353 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 5: Is the way that they welcome the Dodgers back here 354 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 5: to Los Angeles with a shower from the emergency vehicles. 355 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 5: That's pretty cool. Don't see that very much at all? 356 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: No, you don't because we are in a massive drought. 357 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: But you know, as I said, the most la way imaginable. 358 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 1: It was like a scene out of Chinatown. 359 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 5: Oh there it is Otani. 360 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 2: Of course. 361 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: As the team d planes, a figure emerges in the 362 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: doorway carrying the Commissioner's World Series trophy and starts descending 363 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: the steps down to the tarmac. 364 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 5: O Tani carrying the World Series Trophy? Who else would 365 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 5: have that honor? 366 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: It was actually Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP. 367 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 5: It could be Yamamoto. Yeah, hard to tell him so 368 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 5: far away, but absolutely awesome. 369 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: And he hoists it up above his head with both arms, 370 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: striking a triumphant pose for the cameras. 371 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 5: My son's favorite player on the Dodgers show, Hey o'connie. 372 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: For the next hour plus, the news cameras tracked the 373 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: Dodgers team bus as it took the one oh five 374 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: the Imperial Highway to the ten the Santa Monica Freeway 375 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 1: to the one ten the Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first 376 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: freeway established in the Western United States. All right, They're 377 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: the Dodgers going through downtown. As the sky grew dark, 378 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: the headlights of LA's crammed roadways shown like diamonds and Ruby's. 379 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: This was better than a Michael Mann movie watching the 380 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: Boys in Blue return as back to back champions were Dodger. 381 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 2: A third. 382 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: Champions celebration. There's key k He's got his shirt off 383 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: on the street. The next day, we attended a rally 384 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: celebration at Dodger Stadium and saw a parade throughout the 385 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: streets of Los Angeles. Let's go celebrating here Dodger Stadium. 386 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 1: Point twenty five went back to back MOBOs. 387 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:27,640 Speaker 2: Let's go, I'm already, I'm ready to get another ring. 388 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: The night after that, the Dodgers had a private celebration 389 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: at Mookie BET's house, and in a video shared on 390 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: TikTok by Mooki, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman can be 391 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: seen executing a timeless dance move perfectly the worm. The 392 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: clip has gone viral in Dodger Land. When I first 393 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: saw it, I thought it was AI. Last night was 394 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: all love, Mooki wrote in his cash on TikTok, Freddy 395 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: was moving. This is more impressive than both of his 396 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: World series walk offs. One fan commented, and it's been 397 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: so fun to watch the boys cut loose a little 398 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: and celebrate their big win. And if you haven't seen it, 399 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: you should definitely check it out. Yeah, we needed here 400 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 1: it is. Freddy has been known for his dance moves 401 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 1: for some time now in Dodgerland. It was a video 402 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 1: of Freddy at the Blue Diamond Gala in twenty twenty 403 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: three when Usher was performing that led to the iconic 404 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: extra base hit celebration that the team still does to 405 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,920 Speaker 1: this day with the car wash hands waving in the air. 406 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: This year, Freddie busted out the worm and now that 407 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: the team is talking about going for a three peat 408 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty six, we can only hope that Freddie 409 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: has a few more moves in him for when we're 410 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 1: celebrating around this time next year moonwalk Maybe I don't know, 411 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: but now that I mention it, going back to back 412 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: to back would be out of this world, hey now. 413 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream is written and produced by me Richard Parks, 414 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: the third This episode was story edited by Caitlin Esh. 415 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: Original music in this episode by William Ryan Fritch, Jonathan Snipes, 416 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 1: Boyd Pro, The Blasting Company, and by Me. My co 417 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:54,439 Speaker 1: host is Chef wes Avila. Please take a moment to 418 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: rate and review this show however you can. It really helps. 419 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,920 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream is produced in partnership with iheart's My 420 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: Cultura podcast network. For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the 421 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 422 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: favorite shows.