1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: And to be able to go to Japan and be 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: involved in that and be in a spot where arguably 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: the best player in the world is of Japanese ancestry. 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: Over the course of my career, the course of my life, 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: my own personal history has been tremendously moving to me. 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 2: All Right, we're talking to the Dodger Senior director of 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 2: Team Travel, Scott Akasaki, joining us right now. Very excited 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: for this conversation as we love to go outside, just 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 2: the player manager conversation. Scott, awesome to have you on. 10 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for the time. How you doing 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 2: and if you can just give us a little intro, 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: like we're sitting in a circle with everyone, like, Hi, 13 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:39,639 Speaker 2: my name's Scott. This is what I do. 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: Well, Thanks guys. My name is Scott Okasaki. I'm the 15 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: Dodger Senior director of Team Travel. I've been doing this 16 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: for about two decades now and having a lot of 17 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: fun still. 18 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 3: Scott, Now, are you wearing a quarters? Because? Sorry? Are 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 3: you wearing a quarter? 20 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 4: Is it because you said you're gonna wear something sexy 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 4: on the show? 22 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: Is that? 23 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 3: Yeah? Because that's it. 24 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: I thought about I thought about wearing something like nice, 25 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: but then I had to represent you know, the squad 26 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 1: over here, right I can't I can't forget my camera. 27 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: But there it is right there, you know, So. 28 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I see, I see how it is. I mean, 29 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 4: that's so so it's just it's very GM director of 30 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 4: travel type of attire. 31 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 3: But that's okay, Yes, you look great. 32 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: I got after this. 33 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 4: So you know, okay, I haven't seen you since twenty fourteen. 34 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 4: And that's where we're going to start. When you were 35 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 4: the you were the director of whatever that trip was 36 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 4: that we took to Japan with all the MLB all 37 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 4: stars and me. 38 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 3: But how much has travel and just the like just 39 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 3: the effort that. 40 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 4: You have to put in changed in that ten years 41 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 4: Now we're going the eleventh year. What are some of 42 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 4: like the most significant things that have changed for dudes 43 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 4: getting on the bus and go into a game, because 44 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 4: it's way more than that. 45 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: Well yeah, I mean I think a lot has changed 46 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: really in the past five six years. You know, the 47 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: the the performance aspect of it, the rest, you know, 48 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: all the science that has come in. You know, it's 49 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: not just about launch angle and all of that. And know, 50 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: we measure sleep and we measure you know, recovery and 51 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: so all of that comes into everything, the way we travel, 52 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: the beds we sleep in, so it's all interconnected. 53 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 5: I want to ask you this once the schedule comes 54 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 5: out for the new year. My my question you would 55 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 5: be is that when you first start getting after it 56 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 5: with hotels trying to figure out where everything goes or 57 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 5: do you have like kind of an inkling beforehand, because 58 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 5: this is a lot of work. You got to understand 59 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 5: what hotels, the guys are going to, making sure they're happy, flights, 60 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 5: all this kind of stuff. So when do you really 61 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 5: start getting after it? Season ends, World Series ends? Are 62 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 5: you getting after it right away or you just got 63 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 5: away for the schedule to come out. 64 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 1: No, that's too late, todd Uh. You know, the schedule 65 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: comes out for us in about May or June, depends 66 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: on the year, but generally around that time. So we 67 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: all the travel directors around the country are starting to 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: put pieces in place around that time, and it's an 69 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: ongoing conversation with the various hotels. You know, Like one 70 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: of the things that I was explaining to somebody yesterday was, 71 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: you know, how can we stay at this hotel over 72 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: here and not this place over here? Well, it's because 73 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: the Dodgers have been in a fortunate situation to be 74 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: in the postseason every year, So the hotel that takes 75 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 1: us during the season has to be able to take 76 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: us in October two. 77 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 4: All right, So o'tani has I mean he brings his 78 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 4: own bed cover and his own personal pillows. Have you started, 79 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 4: since now this is his second year playing for the Dodgers, 80 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 4: have you started to find hotels that have what he 81 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: needs or what he wants, or what certain players want 82 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 4: and then he doesn't have to bring that on his 83 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 4: own or is he still packing a bed everywhere he goes? 84 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: Well, I cannot confirm or deny what we do for 85 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Shoho Tani. So I'm gonna just leave that at that. 86 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: Okay, Okay, that's fair. That's fair. 87 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 4: Then I'll then I'll ask this, Are the players in general, 88 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 4: not Shoo Tani? Are the players in general now more 89 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 4: or less needy than they were in twenty fourteen when 90 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 4: all we ever really got was an envelope and hopefully 91 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 4: it was the bed that you know, wasn't the pillow 92 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 4: top bed where our back would be wretched in the middle. 93 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: Of the night, you know, Kratzy, that's a that's a 94 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: tough question because I would. I would say that the players, 95 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,239 Speaker 1: and rightly so, are the center of this game, right 96 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: and especially with a team like the Dodgers, with all 97 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: the superstars that we have, they are the ones that 98 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:59,679 Speaker 1: everybody should be taking care of. So you know, maybe 99 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: that wasn't thought of in the when I first started 100 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: this position as as it is now, but it's right, 101 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: you know, like the players come first, and we can't 102 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: forget that. You know, we have these jobs because of them, 103 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: and you know, and it's not necessarily needy or whatever, 104 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: but you know, they're they're the They're the front and 105 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: center part of our game. 106 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 5: I want to ask this question. I think this is 107 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 5: a fun one. I want to say. I would say, 108 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 5: what irks you more? What gets you? Like all when 109 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 5: a player calls like, I'm going to go two different 110 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 5: scenarios here, I wrote them both down, So what irks 111 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 5: you more? Like an hour before the game, hey man, 112 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 5: I need six more tickets from a player or the 113 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 5: guy that says, hey, I'm flying home at three pm 114 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 5: the day, I'll he's like, I got to make different plans. 115 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 5: Can you find me another one later on at night? 116 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: You know, Todd, I'm going to take the politically correct 117 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: answer and say that all of it is not bothersome, 118 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, to beyond. I think we're I've been in 119 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: this game long enough to be able to and I 120 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: think all of the travel directors, once they have, you know, 121 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: some time under their belt, is to be able to 122 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: anticipate the last minute ask understanding that you know, things 123 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: come up all the time, and you know the guys 124 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: are focused on their games, and then that's the important part, right, 125 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: So I don't mind at all. You know, we try 126 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: to get ahead of it as much as we can. 127 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: But sometimes, you know, stuff happens right in our daily lives, 128 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: right we forget, you know, as parents, things for our kids, 129 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: and we're like, oh dude, I forgot about this, but 130 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: you know, we have to scramble and we have to 131 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: deal with it. So you know, that's just a part 132 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: of That's just a part of life. So we understand. 133 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: For the card collectors out there, you got to check 134 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: out Arena Club. I've got to share room. AJS got 135 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 2: a showroom and it's become a place where you can 136 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: basically do everything digitally and physically in the hobby. 137 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 6: Absolutely can get cards, so great them for they come 138 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 6: in the plastic if you want to physically get them 139 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 6: so they don't show up like this card that's all 140 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 6: bent that Scott for some reason decided incary. They show 141 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 6: up nice, like the exact same card. Look how perfect 142 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 6: this one is. That's how Arena club sends them to you. 143 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 6: They'll leave it in case them for you so they 144 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 6: don't get messed up in transit. So Arena Club's your 145 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 6: one stop shop for any baseball card, football card, any 146 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 6: card needs that you might have. 147 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: And you should check out slab packs. You can rip 148 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: a pack for hundreds of dollars or less and hit 149 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: on a card that's worth tens of thousands of dollars. 150 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: I'll take those odds right now. You can get twenty 151 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: percent off your first slab pack or your first card 152 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 2: purchase by going to Arena club dot com slash foul. 153 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: That's code foul. Once you get there Arena club dot 154 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 2: com slash foul, codefoul. 155 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 4: How much is the time that you leave? I know 156 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 4: you talked about the sleep specialists, but like we just 157 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 4: had a situation where a team played a game at 158 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 4: six twenty nine and the CBA said you weren't allowed 159 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 4: to play a game. 160 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 3: After six point thirty. 161 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 4: How much of that goes into your planning in the 162 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 4: sense of, hey, we don't want our team because you're 163 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 4: on the west coast going east even if it's not 164 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 4: all the way to the East coast, and then waking 165 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 4: up twelve out or getting there twelve hours before the game. 166 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 4: How much does that go into the Dodger's view of winning. 167 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 3: Baseball games and keeping their players healthy. 168 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, all of that is really important. We sit around 169 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: and we talk about it. It's debated a lot, and 170 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if there's a right answer, you know, 171 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: because you do things one way, and you know, you know, 172 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: our situation, humble Bragg coming up is is whatever we've 173 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: decided has worked in the past as far as making 174 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: the playoffs are concerned. So I don't know if we 175 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: have the answer. We certainly discuss it, and it's debated. 176 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, what time you travel, 177 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: where you stay, how you get there, what amount of 178 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: sleep you have? Good players win good games, and good 179 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: health wins good games. I mean good health wins games. 180 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 5: Yeah, no doubt about it. So my first question is 181 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 5: it might I don't know if some answer you are 182 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 5: you bilingualed, do you know other languages as well. 183 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I I grew up speaking well, actually I didn't 184 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: grow up speaking, but Japanese is second my second language. 185 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 5: Yes, okay, great, So the reason I'm asking that, so 186 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 5: you guys go to Japan and you play your games 187 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 5: out there, Mookie Bets gets sick. Right, So now luckily 188 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 5: you speak both the lang you speak Japanese as well, 189 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 5: so you know, one time or two you must not 190 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 5: have you know, known the language. But at the same time, 191 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 5: what in that kind of situation, you know, you got 192 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 5: to be on your toes ready to go. So what 193 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,599 Speaker 5: what's the next steps for him? Like, there's got to 194 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 5: be some sort of movement, right. 195 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: Right, So you know, MLB has a really good team 196 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: in place. You know, they're prepared for this, right MLB 197 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: sets up the games, you know, we're we're also because 198 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: we have Shohei and Yoshinobu and Roki, we have a 199 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: team of Japanese you know, bilinguals a lot, and so 200 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: that being the case, not just me, My Japanese is 201 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: probably you know, you know, I'm I'm third generation Japanese 202 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: American and we have native Japanese speakers on our staff, 203 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: and so they're able to help in Mooki situation or 204 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: anybody situation with it with any type of request. So 205 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: very fortunate in that respect. But yeah, the Japan trip 206 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: was absolutely awesome. 207 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 3: All Right, we need your expertise now, Okay, as. 208 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 4: Players, I know the game is over to getaway day, 209 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 4: I throw all my stuff into the bag, do my interview, 210 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 4: My bag goes, bang out the clubbies at a visiting 211 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 4: place or the home place, push my bags to the truck, 212 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 4: and then get on the plane. 213 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 3: Plane lands, blah blah blah. We go to the airport. 214 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 4: Give us the director of team travel schedule from start 215 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 4: of game on getaway day to putting your head on 216 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 4: the pillow, and how many people are on the plane 217 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 4: with you, guys that you have to take care of 218 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 4: this entire group. 219 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: Well, every team is different. The Dodgers roll big. We're 220 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: about in the mid nineties. As far as our traveling 221 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: party is concerned. We've actually went to a two plane model, 222 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 1: which is the first in professional sports. So we have 223 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: a player plane and we have a staff plane. That's 224 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: a little bit complicated because you have two different sets 225 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: of luggage, two sets of equipment, so you have to 226 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: be very organized. But the start of the game. We 227 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: have a very good crew as far as equipment staff 228 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 1: is concerned. Everything is highly organized, so we have things 229 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: going in two different directions. We are in communication with 230 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: the hotel as well as far as you know, making 231 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: sure things are everybody's treated the same, but you know, 232 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: things are a little different for the players and. 233 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 3: The staff. 234 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: Depending on what time we Our distance of travel is 235 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: what time I go to bed, you know, so it's 236 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: it's it's a lot, but you know it's what I 237 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: signed up for, and you know, I still enjoy doing it. 238 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 4: One time we went from Anaheim, I got called up 239 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 4: played one was that one game in Anaheim we flew 240 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 4: to Tampa for an off day. So I flew across 241 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 4: the country to Tampa. They left my suitcase in the 242 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 4: hotel or at the at the whatever the truck. It 243 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 4: never got on the truck. So we got to Tampa 244 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 4: with two bus or with two planes, with set essentially 245 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 4: two separate traveling parties. Has have you lost more luggage 246 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 4: or have you forgotten more luggage or has. 247 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 3: It gone to the wrong hotel? 248 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,839 Speaker 4: And how long did that take to like completely iron 249 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 4: out when you guys went to two planes, which is 250 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 4: phenomenal to me. That is so big league, but it's 251 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 4: also a league big league number of people that you're 252 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 4: flying around too. 253 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, so knock on wood, it hasn't happened yet. I mean, 254 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: you just have to be in front of it and 255 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: stay organized, Cratzy, you know. So you know, my guess 256 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: is that it's gonna happen at some point, and we 257 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: just have to read and react, you know, do. 258 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 4: Other because other players sometimes look at Dodger players and 259 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 4: they go, oh man, they have all this nice stuff. 260 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 4: Other players look at the Yankee players and oh man, 261 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 4: the Yankees all this stuff. Do other directors of travel 262 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 4: look at Scott Akasaki and go. 263 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 3: Man, you get all the nice stuff? This is so cool? 264 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 4: You get two planes? Or do they look at you 265 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 4: and go, I don't know. All I work for the Marlins. Like, 266 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 4: we don't even have air conditioning on our plane, so 267 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 4: I don't have to do nearly as much as you. 268 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: You know, I don't know, Cratzy. I think that you'd 269 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: have to ask them. But you know, I think any 270 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: person on another team would say, would I rather manage 271 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: two planes or I rather manage one plane? 272 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: You know? 273 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: And I think like the answer is pretty clear, you know, 274 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: like one is more simpler than two. 275 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 4: All Right, people look at players and they go, well, 276 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 4: how do I become a big league player? How do 277 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 4: we become a major league baseball player? How do you 278 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 4: become a major league director of travel? 279 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: You know, I don't think there's a recipe or a 280 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: way to do it per se. You know, I just 281 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: think getting into sports whatever way you could possibly do it, 282 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: and then just being right place, right time, showing organization, 283 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: showing the ability to communicate, showing the ability to be 284 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: able to talk to different people, whether it's people in 285 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: the front office or players or coaches. And yeah, like, 286 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: like I said, there's there's no recipe, but I think 287 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: hard work, organization, those are sort of the hallmarks of 288 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: this position, and h interpersonal skills and just you know, 289 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: being able to to do the to do the job 290 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: on a on a daily and yearly basis. It's it's 291 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: not easy, right, no doubt. 292 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 4: I mean, you're you're getting after it, and don't forget 293 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 4: people Scott has a family too. But what I want 294 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 4: to ask you, because people don't people forget that stuff 295 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 4: like oh he's a big leaguer, Well he's also a 296 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 4: human being. Who has kids and he's gone. It's not 297 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 4: like he puts everybody on the plane and goes, good luck, guys, 298 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 4: see you when you get back in LA. But what 299 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 4: I want to know is how nice is that ring? 300 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 4: How much did you enjoy? I know you have some 301 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 4: National League Championship rings. How nice is that World Series ring? 302 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: Well, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about, crassy, 303 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: you know, but actually this is this is that. That 304 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: was the twenty twenty ring, which I carry with me. 305 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: The twenty twenty four ring is locked in a safe 306 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: in LA. But yeah, it's nice, right, Like you talk 307 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: about my family, you talk about you know, the rings, 308 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: you talk about the Japan trip. I really haven't. I 309 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: really have accomplished all that I've wanted to in this game, 310 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: and I feel really fulfilled from a work aspect, and 311 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: I wanted to take a minute. You know, there was this, 312 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: there was a time in our nation's history when Japanese 313 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: Americans weren't treated in the right way. And to be 314 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: able to be in an era and to serve a 315 00:16:56,560 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: team that has Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valley Zuela, Sandi 316 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: kofek Shoheo Tani Chanho Park, Hideo Nomo pioneers in this game, 317 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: and to be able to go to Japan and be 318 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: involved in that and be in a spot where arguably 319 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: the best player in the world is of Japanese ancestry. 320 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: Over the course of my career, the course of my life, 321 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: my own personal history has been tremendously moving to me, 322 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: and you know, to the good. And to have my 323 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: family see that, and to be able to share with 324 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: my own kids that, you know, at a certain point 325 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: during World War two, bad stuff happened to Japanese Americans. 326 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: But now to be able to have my boys in 327 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: the clubhouse and see role models people who look like them, 328 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: and for them to understand and that they can do 329 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: whatever it is, you know, they want whatever the sky's 330 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: the limit in terms of what is possible. And I 331 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: think that's the great thing about this game, that's a 332 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: great thing about this country. That's a great thing about 333 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: my job right now, you know. And I really do 334 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 1: this job for them, and so it's an important piece 335 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: of how I stay motivated on a daily basis, because 336 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: you know, to be honest, you know, I do miss 337 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: out on all of those family things that a normal 338 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: nine to five Monday through Friday, Father Misses. 339 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 2: That's very powerful, and I can tell you, I mean, 340 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 2: I was in Japan several months ago, and the connection 341 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: right now that Baseball brings to obviously baseball fans in 342 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 2: America and to baseball fans in Japan is it's really special. 343 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 2: It's incredible, right, Like I had an extra special time 344 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: being able to talk about obviously what I do and 345 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 2: everybody being a fan of Show Hey and or of 346 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 2: major League Baseball. So my last one for you is, 347 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 2: of course you're on a team that has, like you mentioned, 348 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 2: the arguably best player in the sport. You've got Roku Sosaki, 349 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 2: new to the party, Yamamoto now in his second season. 350 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: How special is it to have those guys around? And 351 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 2: obviously I know you're not going to speak for them, 352 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: but is there anything you can give us about either 353 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 2: the connection that you have to them or whether it's 354 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 2: their appreciation for being here and being part of the organization. 355 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: People just want, like any info because you know, they 356 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 2: don't do a ton of interviews obviously, right They've got 357 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 2: a lot going on. I think more of the interviews 358 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 2: of course with with Japanese media, which I'm sure there 359 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 2: is a whole nother to do. There's so many of 360 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 2: them following the team around. But you know, what can 361 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: you give us just to give a little intel on 362 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 2: how those guys are to work with? 363 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, obviously there's the language barrier, right, and 364 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: so being able to speak Japanese to them on a 365 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: daily basis is a special thing because I don't have 366 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: to go through an interpreter. But I can tell you 367 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: and and and all the fans about each of those guys. 368 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: They are so great in terms of people. And I 369 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: know that's a boring answer, but they are so good 370 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: to my kids, They're so good to me, and it's 371 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: genuine and what you might see on TV or is 372 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: they are as nice of people as can be. And 373 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: you know what that goes for, Like all the Dodger players, right, 374 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: so you know, Kik Hernandez, Tai Oscar Hernandez, right, Mookie Betz, 375 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: Freddie Freeman, these are all great people, Alex Vessia, you know, 376 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: like Tanner, Scott, Evan Phillips. These are guys are all 377 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: superhuman beings. Anthony Bott, I don't know, I want to 378 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: name off the whole roster because I don't want anybody 379 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: to feel left out. But everybody is genuinely nice, you know, 380 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: So not just like Roki or Yoshinovu or showhey, but 381 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: it's everybody on the roster, you know. And everybody in 382 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: the roster is a human being at the end of 383 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 1: the day, right, And so that I think is often 384 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: lost in wins and losses and world championships and strikeouts, 385 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: is like human beings, right. This game is more about 386 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: human beings than potentially any other sport. And if there's 387 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: one thing I could impart upon, sort of like the 388 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: back of the curtain stuff, is how these men are gentlemen, 389 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: you know, their class acts. 390 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 3: Scott. 391 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 4: That's gonna make people mad because people want to hate 392 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 4: the Dodgers. And now that you've said that Dodgers players 393 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 4: are really good dudes, Oh wait a minute, clubhouse culture matters, Scott. 394 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 3: That's right, It does matter in winning. Oh, thank you. 395 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: You know, you know. And and and it starts it starts 396 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 1: at the top, right, It starts with with Andrew Friedman, 397 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: Brandon Gomes, our ownership, Stan Casten uh. And then of 398 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: course you know I'm not having said his name, but 399 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: Dave Roberts, right, like, you know, Dave Roberts sets the 400 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:25,640 Speaker 1: tone for for everything right and and so without Dave, 401 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: you know that clubhouse culture doesn't continue to operate on 402 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: a daily basis. You can't just throw good players in 403 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: a room and say win. Right. There has to be 404 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 1: a glue, and Dave makes that happen. 405 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 4: Scott, I thank you for coming on here because we've 406 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 4: been trying to get somebody in your position that like, 407 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 4: it's not it's not it's not heard and seen enough 408 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 4: because the glue is throughout the players, coaches, the staff, 409 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 4: because it doesn't happen without you guys. So Scott Akas, 410 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 4: thank you very much for coming on the show today. 411 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,719 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, and I really appreciate the opportunity. 412 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 3: Eric. 413 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: This has been great. So happy to come on any 414 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: time in the future if if, if time and schedule 415 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: is allow, he Todd. I want to do something my 416 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: dad taught at Rutgers when he first started. Yeah, so 417 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: like one thousand years ago, when my dad first got 418 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: his PhD in math, he taught at Rutgers. I know 419 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: you're a big Rutger supporter. 420 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, there's listen, there's always a Jersey connection, Rutgers connection, Scott, 421 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 5: the same thing yeah, we love, we love ru baby. 422 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 5: I know there's always a connection. 423 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 4: We appreciate that I didn't go to I mean, Todd 424 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 4: didn't go to class, so don't don't even it didn't matter. 425 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 4: He doesn't know that there was classes. He played baseball. 426 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 5: Okay, come on now, come on there, hey, major and ball, fine, 427 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 5: can work out Major in communication. Yeah, I still got 428 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 5: to get my degree, but I'm gonna work. 429 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: He's using it now. 430 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 3: There you go. 431 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 2: Well, Scott, this was awesome. Just be careful. There is 432 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 2: actually something pretty pretty bling bling ish on your your hand, 433 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 2: on your hand, just be careful. 434 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: I don't really know, you know, I gotta go busting, 435 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: you know. Hey, man, I wear this to the store, 436 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: right and and I, uh, you know, go to the market. 437 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: I go to the market and uh, you know, Trader 438 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: Joe's back home or you know, I guess now the 439 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: place to go to is Arawan, right. So yeah, it's uh, 440 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: it's something to be proud of. 441 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is special. 442 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: So thank you so much again, Scott, and enjoy the 443 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: weekend and we'll we'll catch up with you again at 444 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 2: some point. 445 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 1: Okay, thank you very much, have a have a great day.