00:00:00
Speaker 1: The quest for the three-peat has begun.
00:00:03
Speaker 2: Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become the fifth.
00:00:13
Speaker 1: This is World Champion Dodger Talk.
00:00:15
Speaker 2: Here we go again.
00:00:16
Speaker 3: We're getting ready to.
00:00:17
Speaker 4: Run it back.
00:00:17
Speaker 1: To get in on the show, call 866-987-2570. And be sure to follow Dodger Talk wherever you get your podcasts. Here's your host, David Bassett.
00:00:31
Speaker 2: Welcome to Dodger Talk. David Basset live at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium after the Dodgers defeat the Giants 8-2 in their first home game. Officially the 2026 NL West champions. Yesterday the Dodgers clinching the NL West championship. Tonight They come back home and begin the final regular season homestand with a win over the Giants 8-2. We're with you until 11.30 tonight. Phone lines are open at 866-987-2570. Jose Mota will join us at the top of the hour. And then in the 11 o'clock hour, we will share with you our conversation, our celebratory conversation tonight. with the man that has put this team together again, winning another division championship, going for the three-peat, and that's Andrew Friedman. We also had a chance to catch up with now Giants coach Ron Washington, who has seen a lot of baseball in his life, and we got his take on whether or not the Dodgers can do something no other National League team has ever done in baseball history before. And that's to three, Pete. And we'll close out the show celebrating our guy, Nomar Garcia-Para, and the 20th anniversary of the 4-plus-1 game that the Dodgers remembered tonight. You know, so much has happened in the last 15 years. I thought it was really, really courteous of the Dodgers to celebrate that regular season game in a season that really wasn't that fantastic. That game was 20 years ago. And Nomar was at the center of all of it. So we'll share part of our conversation with Nomar about that four plus one game. But tonight, there was a lot that happened that has postseason implications. I have to, you know, just have a mea culpa right here. Corrections and retractions. I was so in on Tommy Edmund. I was blinded by the fact that Mookie Betts in his last 25 games now is hitting 333. I was so blinded by Tommy Edmund that I completely forgot how good Mookie Betts is. as a leadoff hitter. That is where he made his bones. That is where he has controlled games from the East Coast to the West Coast. And he reminded all of us how good he can still be out of that leadoff spot as he led off the bottom of the first inning. With his 32nd or 33rd leadoff home run as a Dodger, the 52nd leadoff home run of his career, Mookie Betts has the fourth most leadoff home runs in baseball history. Trailing only Craig Biggio, Alfonso Soriano, George Springer, and Ricky Henderson. That's the company he's in. And tonight we all got reminded how good Mookie Betts still is and how he has turned his season around. He does not get enough credit for the way he turned his season around. First 90 games, Mookie Betts was only hitting. 232 with 15 home runs. Like I mentioned, his last 25 games, including tonight, he's now hitting. 333 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. If for some reason the Dodgers have to turn elsewhere other than Shohei Otani in the postseason to be their leadoff hitter, how could I forget Mookie Betts? He's the guy. He's the guy that should lead off for the Dodgers, especially since he has turned his season around. So If for whatever reason, Otani cannot go, even in the NLDS, I'm not saying that's the case. Dave Roberts saying Otani is pain-free these days, but until we see him in a game, you still have to think about other options at the top of your lineup, and right now, Mookie Betts has reminded us all that he still has a lot to give and certainly can be that guy for the Dodgers to be the leadoff hitter. And I remember in 2020 when the Dodgers were playing in their first season with Mookie was that 60 game shortened season. They were doing some wacky stuff, having Corey Seager and Max Muncy lead off. And I remember Mookie saying he went into the office to have a conversation with Dave Roberts and Andrew Freeman about the fact how he feels he can control the game like a point guard when he's the leadoff hitter. And that was when he was at the peak of his powers, 2020. But at 33 years old, Mookie Betts reminded us how he can still be that veteran point guard that can control the game out of the leadoff spot for the Dodgers tonight. And certainly it was refreshing to see. And I guess I have to say I'm sorry, Mookie. I'm sorry I doubted you. I'm sorry I forgot about you. But you are far from over, obviously.
00:05:40
Speaker 5: I mean.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: A lot of guys would have gave up on their season, but that's what separates the great ones from the not very good ones. The not very good ones would have gave up on their season. But this guy is headed to the Hall of Fame. He doesn't want to be embarrassed. He doesn't want to have a 220. in front of his name he has a 254 respectable average now his OPS now is up to 766 when it was in the 600s the first 90 games of the year so for him now to turn his season around and do what he did tonight I know it was the Giants I know they're not very good but you got to play who's in front of you and Mookie has been playing everybody that's in front of him so have the Dodgers and And you've got to believe that the confidence that he and Kyle Tucker have at this point, no matter who they're facing, they can carry it over. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. How about JDP, Josue DePaula? Fans were very aware this was his first home game. Fans were very aware when he got his first hit in his second at-bat tonight, and they were even more aware when he drove in his first run at Dodger Stadium with that go-ahead RBI double, scoring Kyle Tucker, who led off the sixth inning with a walk. Josue DePaula. certainly making a case that he may belong on a playoff roster, whether he's the 25th or 26th guy, he gives you a really good at bat and he doesn't swing outside of the strike zone. And when you're coming off the bench, that's the type of guy you want. Plus he has the speed. So I, you know, if it's up to me right now, you know, when you talk about a playoff roster and, Josue DiPaola would be part of it. And I'm not saying he's going to start over tail or Tucker, but you never know. where the playoff series is going to take you. At the very least, he could be a pinch runner for you and give you a good at bat off the bench. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. On the pitching side tonight, I've been singing the praises of Chris Bubich, and he pitched really well in his first major league game since May in Cincinnati a couple of days ago. And tonight he followed it up with a scoreless seventh inning. So I'm very high on Chris Bubich and what he could do for the Dodgers on a postseason bullpen roster. Edwin Diaz, I mean, this was ideal for the Dodgers to blow this game open in the eighth inning to bring him in in a low leverage situation. Dave Roberts cut off my question yesterday. Uh, today other reporters were trying to cut me off and talk over me, but yesterday Dave Roberts was reading my mind and I asked him what role, and then he just cut me off and said, low leverage. I believe in meritocracy. Well, that's a lot different than the way the Dodgers played it the first time. They just threw Edwin Diaz into safe situations. This seems like it'll at least lend itself to see what you got, because it's not about the final eight games of the regular season. It's about seeing what he's got. Does his slider play? Is his fastball where it needs to be? Can you trust that going into the postseason? All those questions need to be answered when In the last eight games, because, you know, I'm not a believer that those answers would be solved in scrimmages during the five-game layoff. And speaking of all that, the Dodgers have a four-game lead in the loss column over the Braves for that number two seed. They're two games back of the Brewers. for the number one seed but the Braves own the tiebreaker on the Dodgers so they have to finish one game better so essentially right now they have a three game lead on the Braves for that number two seed and the National League wildcard picture has gotten incredibly interesting because the Padres all of a sudden are the hottest team in the National League they now have created a three-way tie with the Cubs and the Phillies for the top wildcard spot. We all thought it was a foregone conclusion it was going to be Cubs, Phillies, Padres in that order. Well all of a sudden now the Padres have caught while the Phillies have a tough schedule and are scuffling, and the Padres come to Dodger Stadium next Tuesday still fighting for a better wildcard seed that would avoid them going to Atlanta to start a wildcard series, it would seem like, if things hold up the way they are. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Giants tonight 8-2, hit four home runs in that eighth inning. And don't look now. Kyle Tucker has certainly changed his season around, hitting. 306 with six home runs in the month of September. Let's go out to my hometown, Woodland Hills. Robert, lead us off on Dodger Talk. How you doing, Robert?
00:10:59
Speaker 6: I'm doing very well.
00:11:00
Speaker 7: Thank you for being a real source of basketball.
00:11:05
Speaker 5: Baseball knowledge for me.
00:11:06
Speaker 3: First time caller, you can tell.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: I know my hoops, Robert.
00:11:09
Speaker 7: MHD has been pitching, pitched well in his two appearances after coming back from AAA. Is there going to be a spot for him on the postseason roster?
00:11:22
Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say he's on my bubble.
00:11:24
Speaker 8: Definitely.
00:11:24
Speaker 2: Definitely. He's pitched really well since going back down to Oklahoma City and coming back up. The reason why he was sent back down is because the Dodgers needed some fresh arms on that road trip, and thankfully they had him for what was unforeseen, Blake Snell coming out after one inning in his start in Cincinnati. So I could see Sheehan coming up by the end of this homestand and making a start because I don't see Snell taking his next turn on this homestand. I think the chances are him pitching at the earliest a week from Saturday. And like I said yesterday, I would be in the bucket of, Snell, you don't need to pitch the rest of the regular season. Get that left groin where it needs to be. But I also understand what Dave Roberts was talking about. You don't want to have him have a 15, 10-day layoff before he pitches in the postseason. But yeah, to answer your question, Sheehan certainly is in the conversation to be part of the bullpen. If not in the first round, because it's only a five game series, definitely in a seven game series.
00:12:32
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:12:32
Speaker 7: Thank you very much.
00:12:32
Speaker 5: Thanks for the insight.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:12:34
Speaker 2: Robert, thank you for the phone call.
00:12:36
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Remember in a best of five series, you don't necessarily need to keep 13 pitchers. You can go with the extra position player because it's a shorter series. Let's go out to Sacramento. Hey, Kurt, you're on Dodger Talk live from the stadium. How you doing, Kurt?
00:12:53
Speaker 3: Good evening, Dave.
00:12:55
Speaker 2: Good evening.
00:12:55
Speaker 3: I thought it was really exciting tonight to see Mookie back in the place in his element. I personally think that Mookie came out of the womb as a leadoff hitter and a right fielder. And now that he's back into his element of being a leadoff man, I think you could see that Mookie Betts, that's where he belongs. And I would say something that Mo said a couple of games ago. When Otani Shohei gets back into the lineup, teams don't want to face Otani with traffic on the bases. So if you've got Mookie leading off, Muncie, Freeman, and then Otani coming up with Traffic on the bases, that's something teams do not want to see.
00:13:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know what changes that? When you get Otani back and you have Will Smith back and you got Pahas coming back, all of a sudden if Otani is leading off, then you have more potential for the bottom of the order to turn the lineup over for Shohei Otani. And I'm not sure if you heard our one-on-one managers meeting conversation with Dave Roberts earlier, while we were on the road trip, but you can find it on the I heart radio app. And, uh, the point is Kurt, he said that he wants Otani to get more at bats than anybody else. And that's why he would have him lead off. But I understand your argument as well. I did the math once on lead off hitters versus number three and number four. When you lead off, you know, you only get like 30 or 40 more at bats than the lead off. Uh, if you hit, If he lead off, he can only get like 25 to 30 more at-bats than a cleanup hitter total. So, yeah, I understand what you're saying, but the Dodgers' thought is if Otani is in the lineup and he's good enough to go, he'll be their leadoff hitter. But, man, Mookie Betts, you know, there's just something about him in that leadoff spot. That's for sure.
00:15:03
Speaker 3: That's what he does. That's what he was born to do.
00:15:08
Speaker 2: All right, Kurt. Thank you for the phone call. Appreciate it. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. I will say this in the defense of the Dodgers. They have won back-to-back championships with Mookie not leading off and Shohei Otani being that guy. Tonight's game brought to you by Modelo. Modelo, the mark of a fighter. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. The Dodgers defeat the Giants tonight 8-2 and certainly are in a good spot to earn one of those buys and not have to play a wild card series. Let's go out to Phoenix. Lou, you're on Dodger Talk live from the stadium. How you doing, Lou?
00:15:48
Speaker 3: Hey, Dave.
00:15:51
Speaker 6: Great to talk to you again. Yeah, I mean, you covered so many good things, but You know, granted, we played the Giants tonight, right? And the bats were hot. But I loved how Doc moved up Will Smith in the lineup. We've already talked about Mookie. But, Dave, I remember you right after the All-Star break saying, you know, or right before the break, this is going to be Kyle Tucker in the second half. And then, you know, you've also heard from Gary Sheffield. And sure enough, you know, I wasn't in on Tucker. But now, of course, here we are. So very excited. And we're doing all this without Pajes and Otani. So just very excited to what the next four weeks brings. And thanks for everything, Dave.
00:16:33
Speaker 2: No, thank you, Lou. And I think what Tucker has done. to turn his season around should prove that he does care. Uh, maybe he doesn't have the same exuberance as a host way to Paula, but I feel like to Paula's infectious youthful enthusiasm is trying to rub off on Tucker and some of the other guys. But when you start to get results and you hit over 300 in a month and you're now hitting six home runs in one month, of course, you're going to feel better about yourself and, of course you're going to enjoy the game more. And so I think you're starting to see that with Kyle Tucker and every day that he stacks those type of days, the confidence grows. And You know, also, when you say he doesn't care, he's in the batting cage after games for the majority of the season trying to figure it out. And now it seems like he has figured it out. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's go out to Brock, who is at Dodger Stadium tonight. Hi, Brock. You're on Dodger Talk.
00:17:37
Speaker 9: Stevie, thanks for having me on, brother. What an amazing showing by the offense here tonight. What an amazing start by Mookie to set the tone like that. It was really, really amazing for us to see in the crowd. And then to see Kyle Tucker finally get his. you know, we're waiting for Freddie. Everybody's, you could feel the tension in the stadium. Every time Freddie came up to bat, you know, they were one. And even, even with, with Kiki, you know, everybody's pulling for those dudes to, to step up and have their moment, but it's going to come. I'm confident that it's going to come. And just Mookie being the, the silent leader. He always is throughout the season and, was such an awesome thing to see. And the Dodgers fans feed off of that energy. So it was really, really awesome to see, brother.
00:18:31
Speaker 10: Really cool.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: All right, Brock, thank you for the phone call. And when we were in that celebration yesterday, I feel it. I know how much this city and this fan base loves Mookie Betts. He's been here since 2020. And the first year he got here, the Dodgers won the World Series and they've won three since he's been here. And I know there's been some peaks and valleys every year with Mookie, but Dodger fans have not been fair weather. They haven't jumped off the Mookie bandwagon. And he felt that he expressed that yesterday and good thing you didn't jump off because like I said, he's got seven home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 25 games while hitting a cool three 33 and He has three hits tonight. He homers twice, and the Dodgers beat the Giants 8-2. When we continue on Dodger Talk live from Dodger Stadium, we'll check in with Jose Mota. You'll hear from Andrew Friedman, Ron Washington, and also a conversation I had with Nomar a few years back regarding tonight's anniversary, the 4-1 game, plus the I'll let you know what Andy Pah has told me before the game about when he may return. So don't go anywhere. More Dodger talk until 11 30 and your phone calls at 866-987-2570 the dodgers defeat the giants tonight eight to two on 570 la sports.
00:20:04
Speaker 11: Dodgers fans, this is Mookie Betts. You're listening to the home of the back-to-back world champion Dodgers on AM570 LA Sports.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: Abner delivers.
00:20:13
Speaker 6: And there's a fly ball to center field.
00:20:15
Speaker 2: That one is deep. That's way back. At the wall. Gone a home run.
00:20:22
Speaker 10: Will Smith hits the fourth home run of the inning for the Dodgers.
00:20:27
Speaker 1: The route is on.
00:20:28
Speaker 2: It is 8-2. That would be the final score tonight after the Dodgers score five runs in the eighth inning by hitting four home runs. Mookie Betts with his second of the night in that eighth inning. Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker also hit back-to-back home runs as the Dodgers open up the game in the eighth inning. and beat the Giants tonight by a final score of 8-2. David Vasse with you until the bottom of the hour. We have phone lines open. Dodger fans, don't get too complacent here. Don't be too spoiled. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Daniels Jewelers presents the home run forecast. For your chance to win a $ 50 Daniels Jewelers gift card, Visit am570lasports. com. Use the keyword home run. Enter your name. You could win. Daniels Jewelers own the dream.
00:21:25
Speaker 1: It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: All right, Jose Mota. It was great to see the Dodgers open up that game in the eighth inning to allow Edwin Diaz to come into that ninth inning. What was your first impression of seeing Diaz this time?
00:21:44
Speaker 8: First thing is I agree with you. I'm glad the game opened up. Some tack-on runs made it possible for Dave Roberts not to have to wait to see what Diaz has. Low velocity that I saw. Better command with a fastball. The slider a little bit tighter. Not there yet, in my opinion, but for sure the confidence can grow from an outing like this one today because he was working ahead or finding his way, Dave, to evening counts with any pitch, but not overthrowing. not dropping the arm, much better in repeating his mechanics. You can see a little more tilt on that slider going down and away the way it needs to be right now for him.
00:22:21
Speaker 2: For the Dodgers to be convinced that they can have Diaz on a playoff roster, do you believe he's got to show them the slider is back?
00:22:29
Speaker 8: He has to show that that pitch is back. He cannot survive on fastballs alone because his fastball is sometimes a little erratic in the zone where he's a little unpredictable. But the slider is the pitch that gets people to chase, changing eye levels, changing where the ball starts compared with your eyes and your eye circles. If they're set on the inner half and he starts that thing inside on you, that thing can break to the middle of the plate, which he's done a lot. For Edwin, the consistency becomes when he starts that slider. middle and a brace away from a hitter that you have looking at that pitch uh... right in the batter any combustible incisal the slaughter is the pitch velocity is nice not really a gun say only for ninety nine consistently he's he's ready it does not get it done it's consistency and working also pitching uh... backwards david it's been a big part of him pitching backwards we guys that uh... recall he was facing the edges back today with a little bit of errors got to come back to the i go say you know uh... the report said He's going to throw that slider with two strikes. I saw the first strike, second strike, and then he went fastball zombie. So he needs to pull that two beat, but it all becomes part of the command that he needs, but also finding that slider in a consistent basis down and away against righties.
00:23:43
Speaker 2: It's one thing to make your major league debut in Miami. It's another to play in front of 15 to 20,000 in Cincinnati. It's another. to come to Dodger Stadium and look as comfortable as Josue DiPaola did in his first game here, how much of a case is he making to be part of the postseason roster?
00:24:04
Speaker 8: Well, he's making it by playing the game right, not by having the decoration of going your top prospect. You're going to be in the conversation. No, he wants to earn it. I mean, and yes, he's here for that reason. He's not here just to say, oh, let me show my abilities and help out while some guys are out, he wants to be a part of this. And he's showing that he's not afraid to hit deep in counts. He understands when to be aggressive early, Dave, and when to go out there and work counts too. And he has a good time playing the game. I mean, as you're talking about, I mean, he's infectious. He's got that energy and, you know, that smile and that body language that says, man, I'm just enjoying the game like I was in the backyard of my house at one point in Brooklyn, up early down the streets. And on top of that, he learns. And he told me over in Cincinnati how much– Tao has been on his ear about certain things on and off the field. But he goes, coming back here and being in the big leagues now during the season, compared to spring training, it's night and day, but it's not because all the guys that I played with where I was in that club as in spring training are here and they're treating me like I just belong here. But he's a kid that tries to learn the most he can. And also, Dave, the lefty-lefty matchup thing that Dave Roberts talked about, He's not shying away from the lefties because he doesn't spread. He's not going to pull the baseball. So in his case, continue to push because I know, as I mentioned back in the last road trip, just being around is going to make some guys much better here in this last drive and this last push. And this guy's got some serious talent, but again, not a finished product yet, but certainly making a case to say, you know, don't forget about me. I can do a few things to help you.
00:25:40
Speaker 2: I guess Mookie Betts is saying the same thing as a leadoff hitter, right? It feels like the Dodgers have found their leadoff hitter, at least for the rest of the regular season.
00:25:49
Speaker 8: Dave, let's not forget about one thing. When Shohei Otani came to the Dodgers, Mookie Betts was a leadoff hitter, not Shohei Otani. The only way Shohei Otani became the leadoff hitter is when Mookie got hurt. You remember that, right? When he got hit in the hand? And then it was like, Shohei's leading off. Then when Mookie came back, the conversation was, well, who's going to lead off? And Shohei pretty much said, if you want me to lead off, I'll lead off. And Mookie can get a second. And that was it. Mookie knows what he's doing up there, David. And we know that sometimes it's a little ugly. The swing is a little loopy. But he wants to be in there every single day. He's gotten away from that loopy, lazy fly ball swing, which sometimes it kind of pops up a little bit. But I think he's finding a quicker way now with the help of Aaron Bates and Rob Van Scoyer to.
00:26:34
Speaker 3: Say, here's what you need to do.
00:26:35
Speaker 8: What they really preach to him is line drive center field. Line drive center field. Don't stop your swing. Keep going. And when it keeps it going, we see what happens. Like tonight, the ball really carries off his bat.
00:26:45
Speaker 2: All right, Jose. Thanks a lot for checking in. Great to be back in L.A. And we'll see you at the ballpark tomorrow. Talk to J.D.P. Yeah, no doubt. J.D.P. in the house. He had a big night tonight as the Dodgers defeat the Giants 8-2. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Before the game today, you talk about Teoscar Hernandez being a big brother to Josue DePaula and really being the guy to welcome him in first in Miami. That's what JDP told me. It was Teoscar Hernandez, the first guy that came up to him. In Miami, before he made his major league debut, when he walked into that clubhouse and embraced him, Teoscar Hernandez has really helped Andy Pajas reach the heights that he has. And before the game today, Josue DePaula came out here to work with Dino Ebel, and Dino was already out here with Andy Pajas. And before they started again to get through their outfield drills, I saw Andy Pajas really coaching up Josue DePaula. And that is called paying it forward. The student is now the teacher. And the student was Andy Pahez. And now he's being the guy passing on everything that he has learned to try to help another young player out. And then when Pahez went back into the clubhouse, I went to his locker and, um, He let me know that the Dodgers and him are targeting Tuesday to be activated off the IL and for him to be in the starting lineup. So that's great news. Pahez very well could be in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's go out to Lauren, who is at the ballpark tonight. Hi, Lauren. You're on Dodger Talk.
00:28:33
Speaker 4: Hey, David.
00:28:34
Speaker 3: First, I'm really worried about your eyes.
00:28:37
Speaker 6: I was watching you in the locker room yesterday at the celebration.
00:28:40
Speaker 7: Can I send you some goggles or something?
00:28:43
Speaker 8: How are your eyes doing?
00:28:45
Speaker 2: Oh, my eyes are doing great. I can see perfectly. And the first burn, my first interview with Freddie and the champagne started flowing. That was when my eyes burned the most. But after that, I was able to handle it. But you got to have eye contact with the boys, Lauren. You can't have goggles on. They can't see you.
00:29:05
Speaker 8: Fair, fair.
00:29:05
Speaker 3: It was just, it looked like it hurt.
00:29:07
Speaker 9: Well, I'm crying because we were at the game.
00:29:09
Speaker 3: And I just want to give a shout out to Kike.
00:29:12
Speaker 9: Maybe he didn't have an amazing game tonight, but the fact that he is such a strong utility player, they had him in third, they had him in second, center field.
00:29:21
Speaker 7: And I just feel like I can tell.
00:29:23
Speaker 8: He's about to come alive. We know he loves October.
00:29:26
Speaker 7: So I'm just curious where you think he's going to fit.
00:29:28
Speaker 9: In this postseason picture and when he's going to really take off.
00:29:33
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. How many opportunities is Kike Hernandez going to get? Are you really going to benchmark Smith? in a playoff game? I mean, he has more home runs than any other Dodger in history in the postseason. I know the Dodgers are not having him start the game when there's a lefty on the mound, but Max can hit lefties. I guess I could see the Dodgers doing the same thing they've done and have Kike start the game and then bring Muncie off the bench when the opposing team brings in the right-handed relievers. We got to see how Pahez looks as well, Lauren. I know he's really encouraged and he's bounced back in the last month to be able to be in this position to be activated next Tuesday, but Let's see how it looks. Maybe Kike gets more time in center field if it doesn't go the way the Dodgers or Pa has hopes. And let's not forget last October, Pa has really struggled offensively all October. Let's see him make that next growth. If he can't, I'm all in with Kike in center field.
00:30:39
Speaker 9: Well, David, I have to tell you, I feel like I was Paul Harris' first fan when he first came up on the team, and I even got a jersey custom-made with his last name because you can't find.
00:30:48
Speaker 8: Those just anywhere.
00:30:49
Speaker 9: So I am really hoping that he's back in next week and has an amazing postseason.
00:30:55
Speaker 2: Me too, Lauren. He's worked really hard, and it would be great to see him take that next step, and the next step is to be an October performer. Thanks for the phone call and the concern about my eyes, Lauren.
00:31:09
Speaker 3: Always. Always.
00:31:10
Speaker 2: Have a good night. You too. Yes, my eyes are fine. You don't know how many people around the stadium today asked me how my eyes are doing and just the whole champagne bath. It was a great time. And Colin, if you have the Andrew Friedman conversation, I think it's a good time to share it because no other person and Andrew's position would get sprayed with as much champagne and beer that he got sprayed with yesterday. No other president of baseball operations, no other GM would get that kind of treatment. And that just shows you how he's been able to walk that fine line of being the guy that trades guys, sign guys, options guys, and still being a guy that the players respect and and also feel comfortable enough to spray with that much champagne and Budweiser. Here is our conversation after the Dodgers won another NLS championship. It was the 11th time Andrew Friedman has won an NLS championship with the Dodgers.
00:32:16
Speaker 10: Yeah, we certainly have not had easy in the playbook. We've definitely had our challenges throughout the year.
00:32:23
Speaker 2: But this team is so talented.
00:32:25
Speaker 10: And as it's coming together right now, has us incredibly encouraged for what October can look like.
00:32:31
Speaker 2: You always talk about depth. You certainly used a lot of depth this year. When you're able to get that many contributions, how rewarding is that for you and for everybody else involved?
00:32:42
Speaker 10: It's an awesome organizational accomplishment. The guys that, you know, six-year free agents or a deep draft pick that we got. So many different departments in our group have their fingerprints all over it. So it's such an awesome organizational accomplishment. That being said, it's important to have depth, but you'd like to not use it.
00:33:03
Speaker 2: And we used a lot of it this year. Andrew, I ask players this all the time. How do you pick yourself back up and start the journey again? Is this as great as your first division championship with the Dodgers? Does it feel the same way?
00:33:19
Speaker 10: I would say it's even more meaningful because I think the relationships that are formed.
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Every year just gets stronger and deeper. Oh, the bullpen dogs want to get Andrew Freeman. You got to get him. You got to get him. We got Blake Trotter. We got Jack Dreyer. We got the entire bullpen drenching the president of baseball operations. By the way, Andrew, I feel like there was a lot of depth as far as the beer being thrown on you. I got to tell.
00:33:57
Speaker 10: You, one of the most fun things of this celebration has been watching everyone crush you.
00:34:02
Speaker 2: You have gotten demolished as much as anybody.
00:34:06
Speaker 10: But I think the relationships, the amount of time and energy and time away from home that all of us put in, To celebrate these moments are really important in our mind. We want three more celebrations and keep.
00:34:18
Speaker 2: Blowing it out. I gotta say this before we go. You don't see too many guys in your position get the kind of love that these players show you. How do you build those relationships? And I guess that's as real as it gets. Yeah, I mean, for us, relationships are everything.
00:34:36
Speaker 10: Being honest with people, treating them like the professionals they are with the utmost respect, but being honest.
00:34:44
Speaker 2: And I think they appreciate that.
00:34:46
Speaker 10: And sometimes we have to have hard conversations that they don't love to hear. But our point is you will look back on this and appreciate that we're being honest with you.
00:34:55
Speaker 2: And so I think through that, Real, meaningful relationships are formed. Well, it's a testament to you that you got that much love for these guys in the clubhouse. Congratulations, and we'll get you drenched again a few more times, hopefully.
00:35:08
Speaker 8: I like it.
00:35:08
Speaker 2: That's the goal.
00:35:09
Speaker 5: Thanks, Dave.
00:35:10
Speaker 2: There was Andrew Friedman on Sportsnet LA and right here on 570 LA Sports. You can hear all those interviews and see them. on the iHeartRadio app and on the Sportsnet LA social media feeds. And I'm serious. You know, I've seen a lot of GMs and now they call him president of baseball operations. None of them, none of them get that type of treatment from their players in a celebration like that, whether it's the World Series, a wild card or a division championship. And that's just a testament to what Andrew Freeman has built here since 2015. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's take another phone call. Bob in Malibu, you're on Dodger Talk. Hi, Bob.
00:35:56
Speaker 3: Hey, Dave.
00:35:56
Speaker 5: Thanks for having me on tonight, brother. I mean, speaking of a testament... Getting the kudos you got from Rick and from, you know, Charlie Steiner tonight before the game and the pregame show was pretty awesome, man. So I hope you're proud about that. That was pretty cool of them to pay you the respect for the work that you did yesterday and all the work that you guys do, you and Colin and the whole team.
00:36:16
Speaker 2: Thank you, Bob. Yes, it's always humbling when those two guys compliment you because they don't hand those out very often. So, yeah, that meant a lot.
00:36:25
Speaker 5: Hey, Dave, watching Mookie's interview with Miguel Rojas yesterday, Miguel talked a lot about the mentors in his life. Now, obviously, you've had a lot of firsthand experience with these teams. Who are some of the mentors that you see? You've mentioned Tao earlier. Who are some of the mentors that you see that you can share with us through the years that have been some of the super mentors on the Dodgers?
00:36:47
Speaker 1: Thanks, man.
00:36:48
Speaker 2: All right, Bob, thank you for the phone call. Wow, I've been doing this for 15 seasons. I really have to reel it back in and think about it. You know, I thought Rich Hill was a great influence on a lot of pitchers, including Clayton Kershaw. I think back to Adrian Gonzalez, he certainly was trying to be a calming influence and mentor to certain guys. So those are the guys that stick out. Chase Utley. Chase Utley was one of those guys for sure. Justin Turner also was one of those guys. And Freddie Freeman now. I feel like Freddie doesn't get enough credit for being... a big time leader on this team. He leads by example. He's an adult in the room at times when they need it. And he, Miguel Rojas and Kike Hernandez all chip in in their own way to lead this team and hold guys accountable. 8 6 6 9 8 7 2 5 70 is the phone number. Dodgers beat the giants tonight, eight to two. And speaking of Freddie Freeman, one of the closest people in this game that has a relationship to Freddie is one of his former coaches with the Braves. And that's Ron Washington, who's now part of the giants coaching staff. And I had a chance to catch up with Ron Washington and ask him whether or not the critics out there that want to poke holes in and every little thing that the Dodgers may or may not be is fair. Does Ron Washington believe the Dodgers are good enough still, have enough left in the tank to three-peat this season?
00:38:21
Speaker 11: Well, I lost the World Series because we were supposed to have been playing an old team. In 2010, when we made the World Series, we had a real young team that was feisty and could play, and we met the San Francisco Giants, who all the reports said was old, they couldn't do.
00:38:36
Speaker 1: This, they couldn't do that.
00:38:37
Speaker 11: But when it came time for the game of baseball to rear his head, they could do everything that the game.
00:38:43
Speaker 2: Of baseball asks them.
00:38:44
Speaker 3: They could hit with power.
00:38:45
Speaker 11: They could use their speed.
00:38:47
Speaker 1: They could pitch.
00:38:47
Speaker 11: They could fundamentally outdo you offensively. And they had older guys, but they knew how to play defense and they knew how to be in the right spot. They knew where to throw the ball. So, no, no, you don't count the Dodgers out until they're out. They're the team to beat. I know they're not maybe playing up to par defensively, But they got a 10-11 game lead in their division.
00:39:10
Speaker 3: How much part do you have to play up to have.
00:39:12
Speaker 11: That with 10-11 games left?
00:39:15
Speaker 1: I mean, so no, no.
00:39:17
Speaker 2: They're the team to beat.
00:39:18
Speaker 11: And until somebody remove them, the Dodgers might have a three-peat.
00:39:23
Speaker 2: Hey, there it is. Ron Washington speaking the truth. Nobody seems to give those guys enough. credit for being the back-to-back champs. It's not like they've gone to the World Series and lost twice. It's not like it was in 22 or 23 where they got bounced in the NLDS. This is a very different team and a very different time with a lot of different swagger in play not to mention their pitching staff is still the best in baseball tell me one team that could stack the way the Dodgers can stack with Yamamoto with Snell with Scooble and Glass now there is no team in baseball that can do it and also the Dodgers have like Ron Washington was talking about the ability to change the game with one swing any one of the guys in the lineup One through nine can change the game with one swing. And there is no deeper lineup in baseball that can say that. And look, they may look older. They may look tired when it's June, July, and they're bouncing around from New York to Philly to New York and a stop in Washington, D.C. They may look old, you know, in August or September. But when it's October, they're You seem to get a new life, and they know what they want to accomplish. The one thing that the coaching staff has told me that tells them that these guys are still hungry is the process and the work ethic. of guys coming out here and putting in their work. And that is a great sign that these group of players want to accomplish something that no Dodger team has ever come close to and no National League team has ever done before, and that's to win three in a row. So they are all in, and there is something about October that all of a sudden makes you feel like A little bit lighter in your feet makes you play through a lot more pain than you would in July, June, or August. And to me, I find it hard to believe anybody can beat the Dodgers four times in a series. Now, we always say that NLDS best of five is the most dangerous. But even this year, with the pitching staff the Dodgers have and the way certain guys are starting to swing the bat better than they have all year long, That's encouraging that they can avoid the pitfalls of a short series. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Speaking of short series, I was at Shea Stadium in 2006. When the Dodgers were playing the Mets and Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew got thrown out consecutively at home plate. Yeah, remember that? That also was 20 years ago. And the Dodgers tonight did something that you wouldn't expect from a team that is coming off back-to-back championships. Unprecedented success the last 15 years. to celebrate a regular season game for a team that did not win a playoff series that year. And that was the 2006 Dodgers who had a big night in September in a pennant race in a very weak NLS that year where they were able to tie the score in the ninth inning with four consecutive home runs. And then In extra innings, it was Nomar Garcia-Para after the Padres took the lead to hit the game-winning walk-off home run in his first year with the Dodgers, like hometown kid from Whittier. And the Dodgers celebrated that tonight. And Nomar threw out the first pitch. It was great to see him not only throw out the first pitch, but share it with his son, Garrett. That was really cool. To me, that pulled at my heartstrings a little bit. So that was really a great moment. And a couple of years ago, I had a chance to catch up with Nomar and ask him about that game and that moment for him. Nomar, you're a guy that loves us more than me. So when you celebrate that game in 2006, is it easier for you to celebrate and embrace? Because it wasn't just about you. It was about four other guys as well.
00:43:39
Speaker 4: Oh, no question. That's what people go, oh, what do you remember about what you did? I said, I don't remember. I go, I know what I did, but it was really what made it special is it's four plus one. It wasn't just one. It really is a four plus one, and it was just a complete team effort because everybody going after it and I just, like I said, the greatness, there were so many great at-bats over the course of those first four at-bats, you know, with Jeff Cantley getting the home run, then J.D. Drew, and then you got the greatness, the great Trevor Hoffman coming in. And then you have the home run, the first pitch, Russell Martin takes it out, and then Marlon Anderson's at-bat was ridiculous. And by the way, can't forget Marlon Anderson's day that day was ridiculous, the day he had, just the amount of hits he had and how hot he was, and then to cap it off with the bomb that he hit to tie the game. And then the bat by Kenny Lofton in front to work that walk. And then for me to able to hit that one, it was probably one of the most emotions I've shown on a field or right after I instantaneously after I hit a ball that I've probably ever shown on the field. And it was great.
00:44:44
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:44:44
Speaker 2: Earlier in the game or before the game, during the video that they, it was like a mini documentary about, They had all four of those guys plus Nomar talking about that night. And they all said when Nomar pumped his fist, they thought maybe he was going to dislocate his shoulder. But a lot of emotions because it was a big game. It wasn't just another game in September. They were trying to fight it out for the NLS championship that night. And that was pretty cool. 20 years ago tonight, the four plus one game. And I actually text Andre Ethier, who was a rookie that year. on the team his first year in the big leagues. And I asked him whether or not the four plus one game ranked high in his baseball life. And he responded right away and said, top 10, top 10, top 10 game I've been involved in, in my baseball life. And he wasn't even in the center of it. And he thought it was really cool. The Dodgers would take some time out and celebrate that game 20 years ago tonight. All right, that'll do it for us tonight on Dodger Talk. Coming up tomorrow, Tarek Skubal will be making his ninth start of the year with the Dodgers, his first against the Giants in a Dodger uniform. Our coverage begins at five o'clock tomorrow. First pitch at 610 with Rick Monday and Charlie Steiner. Tim Cates will have postgame for you tomorrow because I'll be Filling in on the sidelines on Sportsnet LA. Thanks to Colin Yee back at our Burbank studios. Thanks to Dwayne McDonald out here at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. And thanks to you for listening. In case you missed any of the show, you know where to find it. The iHeartRadio app. Make Dodger Talk a preset. Stream all the games live on the iHeartRadio app. You can also follow me on Instagram at OfficiallyVassay and on X at TheRealDV because there are imitators. Trust me. Anyway, thanks again for staying late with us. Glad to be back in L.A. The Dodgers open up the final regular season homestand with a win, 8-2 against the Giants. Have a great rest of your Friday. Be safe.
00:46:48
Speaker 1: See ya.
Speaker 1: The quest for the three-peat has begun.
00:00:03
Speaker 2: Only four teams in Major League Baseball history have won three consecutive titles. The Dodgers are the favorites to become the fifth.
00:00:13
Speaker 1: This is World Champion Dodger Talk.
00:00:15
Speaker 2: Here we go again.
00:00:16
Speaker 3: We're getting ready to.
00:00:17
Speaker 4: Run it back.
00:00:17
Speaker 1: To get in on the show, call 866-987-2570. And be sure to follow Dodger Talk wherever you get your podcasts. Here's your host, David Bassett.
00:00:31
Speaker 2: Welcome to Dodger Talk. David Basset live at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium after the Dodgers defeat the Giants 8-2 in their first home game. Officially the 2026 NL West champions. Yesterday the Dodgers clinching the NL West championship. Tonight They come back home and begin the final regular season homestand with a win over the Giants 8-2. We're with you until 11.30 tonight. Phone lines are open at 866-987-2570. Jose Mota will join us at the top of the hour. And then in the 11 o'clock hour, we will share with you our conversation, our celebratory conversation tonight. with the man that has put this team together again, winning another division championship, going for the three-peat, and that's Andrew Friedman. We also had a chance to catch up with now Giants coach Ron Washington, who has seen a lot of baseball in his life, and we got his take on whether or not the Dodgers can do something no other National League team has ever done in baseball history before. And that's to three, Pete. And we'll close out the show celebrating our guy, Nomar Garcia-Para, and the 20th anniversary of the 4-plus-1 game that the Dodgers remembered tonight. You know, so much has happened in the last 15 years. I thought it was really, really courteous of the Dodgers to celebrate that regular season game in a season that really wasn't that fantastic. That game was 20 years ago. And Nomar was at the center of all of it. So we'll share part of our conversation with Nomar about that four plus one game. But tonight, there was a lot that happened that has postseason implications. I have to, you know, just have a mea culpa right here. Corrections and retractions. I was so in on Tommy Edmund. I was blinded by the fact that Mookie Betts in his last 25 games now is hitting 333. I was so blinded by Tommy Edmund that I completely forgot how good Mookie Betts is. as a leadoff hitter. That is where he made his bones. That is where he has controlled games from the East Coast to the West Coast. And he reminded all of us how good he can still be out of that leadoff spot as he led off the bottom of the first inning. With his 32nd or 33rd leadoff home run as a Dodger, the 52nd leadoff home run of his career, Mookie Betts has the fourth most leadoff home runs in baseball history. Trailing only Craig Biggio, Alfonso Soriano, George Springer, and Ricky Henderson. That's the company he's in. And tonight we all got reminded how good Mookie Betts still is and how he has turned his season around. He does not get enough credit for the way he turned his season around. First 90 games, Mookie Betts was only hitting. 232 with 15 home runs. Like I mentioned, his last 25 games, including tonight, he's now hitting. 333 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. If for some reason the Dodgers have to turn elsewhere other than Shohei Otani in the postseason to be their leadoff hitter, how could I forget Mookie Betts? He's the guy. He's the guy that should lead off for the Dodgers, especially since he has turned his season around. So If for whatever reason, Otani cannot go, even in the NLDS, I'm not saying that's the case. Dave Roberts saying Otani is pain-free these days, but until we see him in a game, you still have to think about other options at the top of your lineup, and right now, Mookie Betts has reminded us all that he still has a lot to give and certainly can be that guy for the Dodgers to be the leadoff hitter. And I remember in 2020 when the Dodgers were playing in their first season with Mookie was that 60 game shortened season. They were doing some wacky stuff, having Corey Seager and Max Muncy lead off. And I remember Mookie saying he went into the office to have a conversation with Dave Roberts and Andrew Freeman about the fact how he feels he can control the game like a point guard when he's the leadoff hitter. And that was when he was at the peak of his powers, 2020. But at 33 years old, Mookie Betts reminded us how he can still be that veteran point guard that can control the game out of the leadoff spot for the Dodgers tonight. And certainly it was refreshing to see. And I guess I have to say I'm sorry, Mookie. I'm sorry I doubted you. I'm sorry I forgot about you. But you are far from over, obviously.
00:05:40
Speaker 5: I mean.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: A lot of guys would have gave up on their season, but that's what separates the great ones from the not very good ones. The not very good ones would have gave up on their season. But this guy is headed to the Hall of Fame. He doesn't want to be embarrassed. He doesn't want to have a 220. in front of his name he has a 254 respectable average now his OPS now is up to 766 when it was in the 600s the first 90 games of the year so for him now to turn his season around and do what he did tonight I know it was the Giants I know they're not very good but you got to play who's in front of you and Mookie has been playing everybody that's in front of him so have the Dodgers and And you've got to believe that the confidence that he and Kyle Tucker have at this point, no matter who they're facing, they can carry it over. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. How about JDP, Josue DePaula? Fans were very aware this was his first home game. Fans were very aware when he got his first hit in his second at-bat tonight, and they were even more aware when he drove in his first run at Dodger Stadium with that go-ahead RBI double, scoring Kyle Tucker, who led off the sixth inning with a walk. Josue DePaula. certainly making a case that he may belong on a playoff roster, whether he's the 25th or 26th guy, he gives you a really good at bat and he doesn't swing outside of the strike zone. And when you're coming off the bench, that's the type of guy you want. Plus he has the speed. So I, you know, if it's up to me right now, you know, when you talk about a playoff roster and, Josue DiPaola would be part of it. And I'm not saying he's going to start over tail or Tucker, but you never know. where the playoff series is going to take you. At the very least, he could be a pinch runner for you and give you a good at bat off the bench. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. On the pitching side tonight, I've been singing the praises of Chris Bubich, and he pitched really well in his first major league game since May in Cincinnati a couple of days ago. And tonight he followed it up with a scoreless seventh inning. So I'm very high on Chris Bubich and what he could do for the Dodgers on a postseason bullpen roster. Edwin Diaz, I mean, this was ideal for the Dodgers to blow this game open in the eighth inning to bring him in in a low leverage situation. Dave Roberts cut off my question yesterday. Uh, today other reporters were trying to cut me off and talk over me, but yesterday Dave Roberts was reading my mind and I asked him what role, and then he just cut me off and said, low leverage. I believe in meritocracy. Well, that's a lot different than the way the Dodgers played it the first time. They just threw Edwin Diaz into safe situations. This seems like it'll at least lend itself to see what you got, because it's not about the final eight games of the regular season. It's about seeing what he's got. Does his slider play? Is his fastball where it needs to be? Can you trust that going into the postseason? All those questions need to be answered when In the last eight games, because, you know, I'm not a believer that those answers would be solved in scrimmages during the five-game layoff. And speaking of all that, the Dodgers have a four-game lead in the loss column over the Braves for that number two seed. They're two games back of the Brewers. for the number one seed but the Braves own the tiebreaker on the Dodgers so they have to finish one game better so essentially right now they have a three game lead on the Braves for that number two seed and the National League wildcard picture has gotten incredibly interesting because the Padres all of a sudden are the hottest team in the National League they now have created a three-way tie with the Cubs and the Phillies for the top wildcard spot. We all thought it was a foregone conclusion it was going to be Cubs, Phillies, Padres in that order. Well all of a sudden now the Padres have caught while the Phillies have a tough schedule and are scuffling, and the Padres come to Dodger Stadium next Tuesday still fighting for a better wildcard seed that would avoid them going to Atlanta to start a wildcard series, it would seem like, if things hold up the way they are. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Giants tonight 8-2, hit four home runs in that eighth inning. And don't look now. Kyle Tucker has certainly changed his season around, hitting. 306 with six home runs in the month of September. Let's go out to my hometown, Woodland Hills. Robert, lead us off on Dodger Talk. How you doing, Robert?
00:10:59
Speaker 6: I'm doing very well.
00:11:00
Speaker 7: Thank you for being a real source of basketball.
00:11:05
Speaker 5: Baseball knowledge for me.
00:11:06
Speaker 3: First time caller, you can tell.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: I know my hoops, Robert.
00:11:09
Speaker 7: MHD has been pitching, pitched well in his two appearances after coming back from AAA. Is there going to be a spot for him on the postseason roster?
00:11:22
Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say he's on my bubble.
00:11:24
Speaker 8: Definitely.
00:11:24
Speaker 2: Definitely. He's pitched really well since going back down to Oklahoma City and coming back up. The reason why he was sent back down is because the Dodgers needed some fresh arms on that road trip, and thankfully they had him for what was unforeseen, Blake Snell coming out after one inning in his start in Cincinnati. So I could see Sheehan coming up by the end of this homestand and making a start because I don't see Snell taking his next turn on this homestand. I think the chances are him pitching at the earliest a week from Saturday. And like I said yesterday, I would be in the bucket of, Snell, you don't need to pitch the rest of the regular season. Get that left groin where it needs to be. But I also understand what Dave Roberts was talking about. You don't want to have him have a 15, 10-day layoff before he pitches in the postseason. But yeah, to answer your question, Sheehan certainly is in the conversation to be part of the bullpen. If not in the first round, because it's only a five game series, definitely in a seven game series.
00:12:32
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:12:32
Speaker 7: Thank you very much.
00:12:32
Speaker 5: Thanks for the insight.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:12:34
Speaker 2: Robert, thank you for the phone call.
00:12:36
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Remember in a best of five series, you don't necessarily need to keep 13 pitchers. You can go with the extra position player because it's a shorter series. Let's go out to Sacramento. Hey, Kurt, you're on Dodger Talk live from the stadium. How you doing, Kurt?
00:12:53
Speaker 3: Good evening, Dave.
00:12:55
Speaker 2: Good evening.
00:12:55
Speaker 3: I thought it was really exciting tonight to see Mookie back in the place in his element. I personally think that Mookie came out of the womb as a leadoff hitter and a right fielder. And now that he's back into his element of being a leadoff man, I think you could see that Mookie Betts, that's where he belongs. And I would say something that Mo said a couple of games ago. When Otani Shohei gets back into the lineup, teams don't want to face Otani with traffic on the bases. So if you've got Mookie leading off, Muncie, Freeman, and then Otani coming up with Traffic on the bases, that's something teams do not want to see.
00:13:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know what changes that? When you get Otani back and you have Will Smith back and you got Pahas coming back, all of a sudden if Otani is leading off, then you have more potential for the bottom of the order to turn the lineup over for Shohei Otani. And I'm not sure if you heard our one-on-one managers meeting conversation with Dave Roberts earlier, while we were on the road trip, but you can find it on the I heart radio app. And, uh, the point is Kurt, he said that he wants Otani to get more at bats than anybody else. And that's why he would have him lead off. But I understand your argument as well. I did the math once on lead off hitters versus number three and number four. When you lead off, you know, you only get like 30 or 40 more at bats than the lead off. Uh, if you hit, If he lead off, he can only get like 25 to 30 more at-bats than a cleanup hitter total. So, yeah, I understand what you're saying, but the Dodgers' thought is if Otani is in the lineup and he's good enough to go, he'll be their leadoff hitter. But, man, Mookie Betts, you know, there's just something about him in that leadoff spot. That's for sure.
00:15:03
Speaker 3: That's what he does. That's what he was born to do.
00:15:08
Speaker 2: All right, Kurt. Thank you for the phone call. Appreciate it. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. I will say this in the defense of the Dodgers. They have won back-to-back championships with Mookie not leading off and Shohei Otani being that guy. Tonight's game brought to you by Modelo. Modelo, the mark of a fighter. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. The Dodgers defeat the Giants tonight 8-2 and certainly are in a good spot to earn one of those buys and not have to play a wild card series. Let's go out to Phoenix. Lou, you're on Dodger Talk live from the stadium. How you doing, Lou?
00:15:48
Speaker 3: Hey, Dave.
00:15:51
Speaker 6: Great to talk to you again. Yeah, I mean, you covered so many good things, but You know, granted, we played the Giants tonight, right? And the bats were hot. But I loved how Doc moved up Will Smith in the lineup. We've already talked about Mookie. But, Dave, I remember you right after the All-Star break saying, you know, or right before the break, this is going to be Kyle Tucker in the second half. And then, you know, you've also heard from Gary Sheffield. And sure enough, you know, I wasn't in on Tucker. But now, of course, here we are. So very excited. And we're doing all this without Pajes and Otani. So just very excited to what the next four weeks brings. And thanks for everything, Dave.
00:16:33
Speaker 2: No, thank you, Lou. And I think what Tucker has done. to turn his season around should prove that he does care. Uh, maybe he doesn't have the same exuberance as a host way to Paula, but I feel like to Paula's infectious youthful enthusiasm is trying to rub off on Tucker and some of the other guys. But when you start to get results and you hit over 300 in a month and you're now hitting six home runs in one month, of course, you're going to feel better about yourself and, of course you're going to enjoy the game more. And so I think you're starting to see that with Kyle Tucker and every day that he stacks those type of days, the confidence grows. And You know, also, when you say he doesn't care, he's in the batting cage after games for the majority of the season trying to figure it out. And now it seems like he has figured it out. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's go out to Brock, who is at Dodger Stadium tonight. Hi, Brock. You're on Dodger Talk.
00:17:37
Speaker 9: Stevie, thanks for having me on, brother. What an amazing showing by the offense here tonight. What an amazing start by Mookie to set the tone like that. It was really, really amazing for us to see in the crowd. And then to see Kyle Tucker finally get his. you know, we're waiting for Freddie. Everybody's, you could feel the tension in the stadium. Every time Freddie came up to bat, you know, they were one. And even, even with, with Kiki, you know, everybody's pulling for those dudes to, to step up and have their moment, but it's going to come. I'm confident that it's going to come. And just Mookie being the, the silent leader. He always is throughout the season and, was such an awesome thing to see. And the Dodgers fans feed off of that energy. So it was really, really awesome to see, brother.
00:18:31
Speaker 10: Really cool.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: All right, Brock, thank you for the phone call. And when we were in that celebration yesterday, I feel it. I know how much this city and this fan base loves Mookie Betts. He's been here since 2020. And the first year he got here, the Dodgers won the World Series and they've won three since he's been here. And I know there's been some peaks and valleys every year with Mookie, but Dodger fans have not been fair weather. They haven't jumped off the Mookie bandwagon. And he felt that he expressed that yesterday and good thing you didn't jump off because like I said, he's got seven home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 25 games while hitting a cool three 33 and He has three hits tonight. He homers twice, and the Dodgers beat the Giants 8-2. When we continue on Dodger Talk live from Dodger Stadium, we'll check in with Jose Mota. You'll hear from Andrew Friedman, Ron Washington, and also a conversation I had with Nomar a few years back regarding tonight's anniversary, the 4-1 game, plus the I'll let you know what Andy Pah has told me before the game about when he may return. So don't go anywhere. More Dodger talk until 11 30 and your phone calls at 866-987-2570 the dodgers defeat the giants tonight eight to two on 570 la sports.
00:20:04
Speaker 11: Dodgers fans, this is Mookie Betts. You're listening to the home of the back-to-back world champion Dodgers on AM570 LA Sports.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: Abner delivers.
00:20:13
Speaker 6: And there's a fly ball to center field.
00:20:15
Speaker 2: That one is deep. That's way back. At the wall. Gone a home run.
00:20:22
Speaker 10: Will Smith hits the fourth home run of the inning for the Dodgers.
00:20:27
Speaker 1: The route is on.
00:20:28
Speaker 2: It is 8-2. That would be the final score tonight after the Dodgers score five runs in the eighth inning by hitting four home runs. Mookie Betts with his second of the night in that eighth inning. Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker also hit back-to-back home runs as the Dodgers open up the game in the eighth inning. and beat the Giants tonight by a final score of 8-2. David Vasse with you until the bottom of the hour. We have phone lines open. Dodger fans, don't get too complacent here. Don't be too spoiled. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Daniels Jewelers presents the home run forecast. For your chance to win a $ 50 Daniels Jewelers gift card, Visit am570lasports. com. Use the keyword home run. Enter your name. You could win. Daniels Jewelers own the dream.
00:21:25
Speaker 1: It's time to go around the horn with Jose Mota.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: All right, Jose Mota. It was great to see the Dodgers open up that game in the eighth inning to allow Edwin Diaz to come into that ninth inning. What was your first impression of seeing Diaz this time?
00:21:44
Speaker 8: First thing is I agree with you. I'm glad the game opened up. Some tack-on runs made it possible for Dave Roberts not to have to wait to see what Diaz has. Low velocity that I saw. Better command with a fastball. The slider a little bit tighter. Not there yet, in my opinion, but for sure the confidence can grow from an outing like this one today because he was working ahead or finding his way, Dave, to evening counts with any pitch, but not overthrowing. not dropping the arm, much better in repeating his mechanics. You can see a little more tilt on that slider going down and away the way it needs to be right now for him.
00:22:21
Speaker 2: For the Dodgers to be convinced that they can have Diaz on a playoff roster, do you believe he's got to show them the slider is back?
00:22:29
Speaker 8: He has to show that that pitch is back. He cannot survive on fastballs alone because his fastball is sometimes a little erratic in the zone where he's a little unpredictable. But the slider is the pitch that gets people to chase, changing eye levels, changing where the ball starts compared with your eyes and your eye circles. If they're set on the inner half and he starts that thing inside on you, that thing can break to the middle of the plate, which he's done a lot. For Edwin, the consistency becomes when he starts that slider. middle and a brace away from a hitter that you have looking at that pitch uh... right in the batter any combustible incisal the slaughter is the pitch velocity is nice not really a gun say only for ninety nine consistently he's he's ready it does not get it done it's consistency and working also pitching uh... backwards david it's been a big part of him pitching backwards we guys that uh... recall he was facing the edges back today with a little bit of errors got to come back to the i go say you know uh... the report said He's going to throw that slider with two strikes. I saw the first strike, second strike, and then he went fastball zombie. So he needs to pull that two beat, but it all becomes part of the command that he needs, but also finding that slider in a consistent basis down and away against righties.
00:23:43
Speaker 2: It's one thing to make your major league debut in Miami. It's another to play in front of 15 to 20,000 in Cincinnati. It's another. to come to Dodger Stadium and look as comfortable as Josue DiPaola did in his first game here, how much of a case is he making to be part of the postseason roster?
00:24:04
Speaker 8: Well, he's making it by playing the game right, not by having the decoration of going your top prospect. You're going to be in the conversation. No, he wants to earn it. I mean, and yes, he's here for that reason. He's not here just to say, oh, let me show my abilities and help out while some guys are out, he wants to be a part of this. And he's showing that he's not afraid to hit deep in counts. He understands when to be aggressive early, Dave, and when to go out there and work counts too. And he has a good time playing the game. I mean, as you're talking about, I mean, he's infectious. He's got that energy and, you know, that smile and that body language that says, man, I'm just enjoying the game like I was in the backyard of my house at one point in Brooklyn, up early down the streets. And on top of that, he learns. And he told me over in Cincinnati how much– Tao has been on his ear about certain things on and off the field. But he goes, coming back here and being in the big leagues now during the season, compared to spring training, it's night and day, but it's not because all the guys that I played with where I was in that club as in spring training are here and they're treating me like I just belong here. But he's a kid that tries to learn the most he can. And also, Dave, the lefty-lefty matchup thing that Dave Roberts talked about, He's not shying away from the lefties because he doesn't spread. He's not going to pull the baseball. So in his case, continue to push because I know, as I mentioned back in the last road trip, just being around is going to make some guys much better here in this last drive and this last push. And this guy's got some serious talent, but again, not a finished product yet, but certainly making a case to say, you know, don't forget about me. I can do a few things to help you.
00:25:40
Speaker 2: I guess Mookie Betts is saying the same thing as a leadoff hitter, right? It feels like the Dodgers have found their leadoff hitter, at least for the rest of the regular season.
00:25:49
Speaker 8: Dave, let's not forget about one thing. When Shohei Otani came to the Dodgers, Mookie Betts was a leadoff hitter, not Shohei Otani. The only way Shohei Otani became the leadoff hitter is when Mookie got hurt. You remember that, right? When he got hit in the hand? And then it was like, Shohei's leading off. Then when Mookie came back, the conversation was, well, who's going to lead off? And Shohei pretty much said, if you want me to lead off, I'll lead off. And Mookie can get a second. And that was it. Mookie knows what he's doing up there, David. And we know that sometimes it's a little ugly. The swing is a little loopy. But he wants to be in there every single day. He's gotten away from that loopy, lazy fly ball swing, which sometimes it kind of pops up a little bit. But I think he's finding a quicker way now with the help of Aaron Bates and Rob Van Scoyer to.
00:26:34
Speaker 3: Say, here's what you need to do.
00:26:35
Speaker 8: What they really preach to him is line drive center field. Line drive center field. Don't stop your swing. Keep going. And when it keeps it going, we see what happens. Like tonight, the ball really carries off his bat.
00:26:45
Speaker 2: All right, Jose. Thanks a lot for checking in. Great to be back in L.A. And we'll see you at the ballpark tomorrow. Talk to J.D.P. Yeah, no doubt. J.D.P. in the house. He had a big night tonight as the Dodgers defeat the Giants 8-2. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Before the game today, you talk about Teoscar Hernandez being a big brother to Josue DePaula and really being the guy to welcome him in first in Miami. That's what JDP told me. It was Teoscar Hernandez, the first guy that came up to him. In Miami, before he made his major league debut, when he walked into that clubhouse and embraced him, Teoscar Hernandez has really helped Andy Pajas reach the heights that he has. And before the game today, Josue DePaula came out here to work with Dino Ebel, and Dino was already out here with Andy Pajas. And before they started again to get through their outfield drills, I saw Andy Pajas really coaching up Josue DePaula. And that is called paying it forward. The student is now the teacher. And the student was Andy Pahez. And now he's being the guy passing on everything that he has learned to try to help another young player out. And then when Pahez went back into the clubhouse, I went to his locker and, um, He let me know that the Dodgers and him are targeting Tuesday to be activated off the IL and for him to be in the starting lineup. So that's great news. Pahez very well could be in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's go out to Lauren, who is at the ballpark tonight. Hi, Lauren. You're on Dodger Talk.
00:28:33
Speaker 4: Hey, David.
00:28:34
Speaker 3: First, I'm really worried about your eyes.
00:28:37
Speaker 6: I was watching you in the locker room yesterday at the celebration.
00:28:40
Speaker 7: Can I send you some goggles or something?
00:28:43
Speaker 8: How are your eyes doing?
00:28:45
Speaker 2: Oh, my eyes are doing great. I can see perfectly. And the first burn, my first interview with Freddie and the champagne started flowing. That was when my eyes burned the most. But after that, I was able to handle it. But you got to have eye contact with the boys, Lauren. You can't have goggles on. They can't see you.
00:29:05
Speaker 8: Fair, fair.
00:29:05
Speaker 3: It was just, it looked like it hurt.
00:29:07
Speaker 9: Well, I'm crying because we were at the game.
00:29:09
Speaker 3: And I just want to give a shout out to Kike.
00:29:12
Speaker 9: Maybe he didn't have an amazing game tonight, but the fact that he is such a strong utility player, they had him in third, they had him in second, center field.
00:29:21
Speaker 7: And I just feel like I can tell.
00:29:23
Speaker 8: He's about to come alive. We know he loves October.
00:29:26
Speaker 7: So I'm just curious where you think he's going to fit.
00:29:28
Speaker 9: In this postseason picture and when he's going to really take off.
00:29:33
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. How many opportunities is Kike Hernandez going to get? Are you really going to benchmark Smith? in a playoff game? I mean, he has more home runs than any other Dodger in history in the postseason. I know the Dodgers are not having him start the game when there's a lefty on the mound, but Max can hit lefties. I guess I could see the Dodgers doing the same thing they've done and have Kike start the game and then bring Muncie off the bench when the opposing team brings in the right-handed relievers. We got to see how Pahez looks as well, Lauren. I know he's really encouraged and he's bounced back in the last month to be able to be in this position to be activated next Tuesday, but Let's see how it looks. Maybe Kike gets more time in center field if it doesn't go the way the Dodgers or Pa has hopes. And let's not forget last October, Pa has really struggled offensively all October. Let's see him make that next growth. If he can't, I'm all in with Kike in center field.
00:30:39
Speaker 9: Well, David, I have to tell you, I feel like I was Paul Harris' first fan when he first came up on the team, and I even got a jersey custom-made with his last name because you can't find.
00:30:48
Speaker 8: Those just anywhere.
00:30:49
Speaker 9: So I am really hoping that he's back in next week and has an amazing postseason.
00:30:55
Speaker 2: Me too, Lauren. He's worked really hard, and it would be great to see him take that next step, and the next step is to be an October performer. Thanks for the phone call and the concern about my eyes, Lauren.
00:31:09
Speaker 3: Always. Always.
00:31:10
Speaker 2: Have a good night. You too. Yes, my eyes are fine. You don't know how many people around the stadium today asked me how my eyes are doing and just the whole champagne bath. It was a great time. And Colin, if you have the Andrew Friedman conversation, I think it's a good time to share it because no other person and Andrew's position would get sprayed with as much champagne and beer that he got sprayed with yesterday. No other president of baseball operations, no other GM would get that kind of treatment. And that just shows you how he's been able to walk that fine line of being the guy that trades guys, sign guys, options guys, and still being a guy that the players respect and and also feel comfortable enough to spray with that much champagne and Budweiser. Here is our conversation after the Dodgers won another NLS championship. It was the 11th time Andrew Friedman has won an NLS championship with the Dodgers.
00:32:16
Speaker 10: Yeah, we certainly have not had easy in the playbook. We've definitely had our challenges throughout the year.
00:32:23
Speaker 2: But this team is so talented.
00:32:25
Speaker 10: And as it's coming together right now, has us incredibly encouraged for what October can look like.
00:32:31
Speaker 2: You always talk about depth. You certainly used a lot of depth this year. When you're able to get that many contributions, how rewarding is that for you and for everybody else involved?
00:32:42
Speaker 10: It's an awesome organizational accomplishment. The guys that, you know, six-year free agents or a deep draft pick that we got. So many different departments in our group have their fingerprints all over it. So it's such an awesome organizational accomplishment. That being said, it's important to have depth, but you'd like to not use it.
00:33:03
Speaker 2: And we used a lot of it this year. Andrew, I ask players this all the time. How do you pick yourself back up and start the journey again? Is this as great as your first division championship with the Dodgers? Does it feel the same way?
00:33:19
Speaker 10: I would say it's even more meaningful because I think the relationships that are formed.
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Every year just gets stronger and deeper. Oh, the bullpen dogs want to get Andrew Freeman. You got to get him. You got to get him. We got Blake Trotter. We got Jack Dreyer. We got the entire bullpen drenching the president of baseball operations. By the way, Andrew, I feel like there was a lot of depth as far as the beer being thrown on you. I got to tell.
00:33:57
Speaker 10: You, one of the most fun things of this celebration has been watching everyone crush you.
00:34:02
Speaker 2: You have gotten demolished as much as anybody.
00:34:06
Speaker 10: But I think the relationships, the amount of time and energy and time away from home that all of us put in, To celebrate these moments are really important in our mind. We want three more celebrations and keep.
00:34:18
Speaker 2: Blowing it out. I gotta say this before we go. You don't see too many guys in your position get the kind of love that these players show you. How do you build those relationships? And I guess that's as real as it gets. Yeah, I mean, for us, relationships are everything.
00:34:36
Speaker 10: Being honest with people, treating them like the professionals they are with the utmost respect, but being honest.
00:34:44
Speaker 2: And I think they appreciate that.
00:34:46
Speaker 10: And sometimes we have to have hard conversations that they don't love to hear. But our point is you will look back on this and appreciate that we're being honest with you.
00:34:55
Speaker 2: And so I think through that, Real, meaningful relationships are formed. Well, it's a testament to you that you got that much love for these guys in the clubhouse. Congratulations, and we'll get you drenched again a few more times, hopefully.
00:35:08
Speaker 8: I like it.
00:35:08
Speaker 2: That's the goal.
00:35:09
Speaker 5: Thanks, Dave.
00:35:10
Speaker 2: There was Andrew Friedman on Sportsnet LA and right here on 570 LA Sports. You can hear all those interviews and see them. on the iHeartRadio app and on the Sportsnet LA social media feeds. And I'm serious. You know, I've seen a lot of GMs and now they call him president of baseball operations. None of them, none of them get that type of treatment from their players in a celebration like that, whether it's the World Series, a wild card or a division championship. And that's just a testament to what Andrew Freeman has built here since 2015. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Let's take another phone call. Bob in Malibu, you're on Dodger Talk. Hi, Bob.
00:35:56
Speaker 3: Hey, Dave.
00:35:56
Speaker 5: Thanks for having me on tonight, brother. I mean, speaking of a testament... Getting the kudos you got from Rick and from, you know, Charlie Steiner tonight before the game and the pregame show was pretty awesome, man. So I hope you're proud about that. That was pretty cool of them to pay you the respect for the work that you did yesterday and all the work that you guys do, you and Colin and the whole team.
00:36:16
Speaker 2: Thank you, Bob. Yes, it's always humbling when those two guys compliment you because they don't hand those out very often. So, yeah, that meant a lot.
00:36:25
Speaker 5: Hey, Dave, watching Mookie's interview with Miguel Rojas yesterday, Miguel talked a lot about the mentors in his life. Now, obviously, you've had a lot of firsthand experience with these teams. Who are some of the mentors that you see? You've mentioned Tao earlier. Who are some of the mentors that you see that you can share with us through the years that have been some of the super mentors on the Dodgers?
00:36:47
Speaker 1: Thanks, man.
00:36:48
Speaker 2: All right, Bob, thank you for the phone call. Wow, I've been doing this for 15 seasons. I really have to reel it back in and think about it. You know, I thought Rich Hill was a great influence on a lot of pitchers, including Clayton Kershaw. I think back to Adrian Gonzalez, he certainly was trying to be a calming influence and mentor to certain guys. So those are the guys that stick out. Chase Utley. Chase Utley was one of those guys for sure. Justin Turner also was one of those guys. And Freddie Freeman now. I feel like Freddie doesn't get enough credit for being... a big time leader on this team. He leads by example. He's an adult in the room at times when they need it. And he, Miguel Rojas and Kike Hernandez all chip in in their own way to lead this team and hold guys accountable. 8 6 6 9 8 7 2 5 70 is the phone number. Dodgers beat the giants tonight, eight to two. And speaking of Freddie Freeman, one of the closest people in this game that has a relationship to Freddie is one of his former coaches with the Braves. And that's Ron Washington, who's now part of the giants coaching staff. And I had a chance to catch up with Ron Washington and ask him whether or not the critics out there that want to poke holes in and every little thing that the Dodgers may or may not be is fair. Does Ron Washington believe the Dodgers are good enough still, have enough left in the tank to three-peat this season?
00:38:21
Speaker 11: Well, I lost the World Series because we were supposed to have been playing an old team. In 2010, when we made the World Series, we had a real young team that was feisty and could play, and we met the San Francisco Giants, who all the reports said was old, they couldn't do.
00:38:36
Speaker 1: This, they couldn't do that.
00:38:37
Speaker 11: But when it came time for the game of baseball to rear his head, they could do everything that the game.
00:38:43
Speaker 2: Of baseball asks them.
00:38:44
Speaker 3: They could hit with power.
00:38:45
Speaker 11: They could use their speed.
00:38:47
Speaker 1: They could pitch.
00:38:47
Speaker 11: They could fundamentally outdo you offensively. And they had older guys, but they knew how to play defense and they knew how to be in the right spot. They knew where to throw the ball. So, no, no, you don't count the Dodgers out until they're out. They're the team to beat. I know they're not maybe playing up to par defensively, But they got a 10-11 game lead in their division.
00:39:10
Speaker 3: How much part do you have to play up to have.
00:39:12
Speaker 11: That with 10-11 games left?
00:39:15
Speaker 1: I mean, so no, no.
00:39:17
Speaker 2: They're the team to beat.
00:39:18
Speaker 11: And until somebody remove them, the Dodgers might have a three-peat.
00:39:23
Speaker 2: Hey, there it is. Ron Washington speaking the truth. Nobody seems to give those guys enough. credit for being the back-to-back champs. It's not like they've gone to the World Series and lost twice. It's not like it was in 22 or 23 where they got bounced in the NLDS. This is a very different team and a very different time with a lot of different swagger in play not to mention their pitching staff is still the best in baseball tell me one team that could stack the way the Dodgers can stack with Yamamoto with Snell with Scooble and Glass now there is no team in baseball that can do it and also the Dodgers have like Ron Washington was talking about the ability to change the game with one swing any one of the guys in the lineup One through nine can change the game with one swing. And there is no deeper lineup in baseball that can say that. And look, they may look older. They may look tired when it's June, July, and they're bouncing around from New York to Philly to New York and a stop in Washington, D.C. They may look old, you know, in August or September. But when it's October, they're You seem to get a new life, and they know what they want to accomplish. The one thing that the coaching staff has told me that tells them that these guys are still hungry is the process and the work ethic. of guys coming out here and putting in their work. And that is a great sign that these group of players want to accomplish something that no Dodger team has ever come close to and no National League team has ever done before, and that's to win three in a row. So they are all in, and there is something about October that all of a sudden makes you feel like A little bit lighter in your feet makes you play through a lot more pain than you would in July, June, or August. And to me, I find it hard to believe anybody can beat the Dodgers four times in a series. Now, we always say that NLDS best of five is the most dangerous. But even this year, with the pitching staff the Dodgers have and the way certain guys are starting to swing the bat better than they have all year long, That's encouraging that they can avoid the pitfalls of a short series. 866-987-2570 is the phone number. Speaking of short series, I was at Shea Stadium in 2006. When the Dodgers were playing the Mets and Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew got thrown out consecutively at home plate. Yeah, remember that? That also was 20 years ago. And the Dodgers tonight did something that you wouldn't expect from a team that is coming off back-to-back championships. Unprecedented success the last 15 years. to celebrate a regular season game for a team that did not win a playoff series that year. And that was the 2006 Dodgers who had a big night in September in a pennant race in a very weak NLS that year where they were able to tie the score in the ninth inning with four consecutive home runs. And then In extra innings, it was Nomar Garcia-Para after the Padres took the lead to hit the game-winning walk-off home run in his first year with the Dodgers, like hometown kid from Whittier. And the Dodgers celebrated that tonight. And Nomar threw out the first pitch. It was great to see him not only throw out the first pitch, but share it with his son, Garrett. That was really cool. To me, that pulled at my heartstrings a little bit. So that was really a great moment. And a couple of years ago, I had a chance to catch up with Nomar and ask him about that game and that moment for him. Nomar, you're a guy that loves us more than me. So when you celebrate that game in 2006, is it easier for you to celebrate and embrace? Because it wasn't just about you. It was about four other guys as well.
00:43:39
Speaker 4: Oh, no question. That's what people go, oh, what do you remember about what you did? I said, I don't remember. I go, I know what I did, but it was really what made it special is it's four plus one. It wasn't just one. It really is a four plus one, and it was just a complete team effort because everybody going after it and I just, like I said, the greatness, there were so many great at-bats over the course of those first four at-bats, you know, with Jeff Cantley getting the home run, then J.D. Drew, and then you got the greatness, the great Trevor Hoffman coming in. And then you have the home run, the first pitch, Russell Martin takes it out, and then Marlon Anderson's at-bat was ridiculous. And by the way, can't forget Marlon Anderson's day that day was ridiculous, the day he had, just the amount of hits he had and how hot he was, and then to cap it off with the bomb that he hit to tie the game. And then the bat by Kenny Lofton in front to work that walk. And then for me to able to hit that one, it was probably one of the most emotions I've shown on a field or right after I instantaneously after I hit a ball that I've probably ever shown on the field. And it was great.
00:44:44
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:44:44
Speaker 2: Earlier in the game or before the game, during the video that they, it was like a mini documentary about, They had all four of those guys plus Nomar talking about that night. And they all said when Nomar pumped his fist, they thought maybe he was going to dislocate his shoulder. But a lot of emotions because it was a big game. It wasn't just another game in September. They were trying to fight it out for the NLS championship that night. And that was pretty cool. 20 years ago tonight, the four plus one game. And I actually text Andre Ethier, who was a rookie that year. on the team his first year in the big leagues. And I asked him whether or not the four plus one game ranked high in his baseball life. And he responded right away and said, top 10, top 10, top 10 game I've been involved in, in my baseball life. And he wasn't even in the center of it. And he thought it was really cool. The Dodgers would take some time out and celebrate that game 20 years ago tonight. All right, that'll do it for us tonight on Dodger Talk. Coming up tomorrow, Tarek Skubal will be making his ninth start of the year with the Dodgers, his first against the Giants in a Dodger uniform. Our coverage begins at five o'clock tomorrow. First pitch at 610 with Rick Monday and Charlie Steiner. Tim Cates will have postgame for you tomorrow because I'll be Filling in on the sidelines on Sportsnet LA. Thanks to Colin Yee back at our Burbank studios. Thanks to Dwayne McDonald out here at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. And thanks to you for listening. In case you missed any of the show, you know where to find it. The iHeartRadio app. Make Dodger Talk a preset. Stream all the games live on the iHeartRadio app. You can also follow me on Instagram at OfficiallyVassay and on X at TheRealDV because there are imitators. Trust me. Anyway, thanks again for staying late with us. Glad to be back in L.A. The Dodgers open up the final regular season homestand with a win, 8-2 against the Giants. Have a great rest of your Friday. Be safe.
00:46:48
Speaker 1: See ya.
