Dodger Talk is sponsored by La Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. And now your voice for Dodger Talk. Like back, David Basse. Welcome to Dodger Talk. David Vasse with you until ten o'clock after the Dodgers defeat the Rockies nine to five at Corsefield eight six six, nine to eighty seven, two five seventy is the
phone number. I know we're all going to be caught up with the offense, and it was nice to see them put up a ninth spot tonight, even if it was at cors Field. But this season has been about the Dodgers starting pitching. James Paxton has been a big part of it, and I know he's had some downs, but he's also had some ups, and tonight he beat a not a very good team. But it's not easy to pitch a course field, and especially not easy to pitch a course field and
only give up two hits. No matter who the Rockies lineup is, that's still a significant accomplishment. Paxton goes seven innings tonight, strikes out eight and only gives up two hits. The Dodgers now forty five and twenty nine. They are eight and a half games ahead of the San Francisco Giants, who are now in second place behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres have lost four in a row. There are now two games under five hundred.
The Rockies fall to twenty five and forty seven. They are nineteen games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. And look, this was game one with life without Mooki, and tonight it looked good. Right against the Rockies, it looked good. Show he Otani, the new leadoff hitter. Dave Roberts said he will see most of the time in that top spot while Mooki Betts is on the injured list. Otani will lead off against right handed
pitching. I know, we see a lot of right handed pitching in Major League Baseball, and from there, you know, I was a little surprised they had Will Smith hitting second and Freddie Freeman remaining in the three spot, but it makes sense. I'm sure Freddie wants some consistency to his season last year he hit second all year. I'm sure he was he would do whatever Dave Roberts asked of him, but I'm sure he preferred to hit third,
and I'm fine with that as well. You want your guy that can make contact and drive the ball to be in that three spot with runners on base, especially with Mookie Betts on the injured list. And look, there's no sugarcoating the loss of Mookie Betts, but a lot of teams would still love to have two MVPs like the Dodgers do with sho Heyo Tani and Freddie Freeman. They're going to have a two time All Star and catcher Will Smith, not to mention ta Oscar Hernandez, who is having one of the best seasons
of any National League outfielder. So the Dodgers have enough players to be able to cover it until Mooki comes back. And Dave Roberts said before the game today it's expected to be six to eight weeks no surgery for Mookie Bets on that left hand that was broken on a ninety eight fastball. And you know, just like Yamamoto I was telling you, so many were worried and concerned
about who's the odd man out. Well, a lot can happen. One pitch can change a season, one pitch can change an opportunity and all of a sudden, now the Dodgers are calling Miguel Vargas back up. He was active for tonight. And Miguel Rojas, who has been playing sparingly now is thrust into an everyday role. I know he's wanted an everyday role. Well, here you go, Miguel Rojas, here is your opportunity. Hopefully he's ready for it, because the Dodgers are going to need him for at least
the next two months. Nine eight seven, two five seventy is the phone number. Let's get back to Corsefield to hear from the manager, Dave Roberts. It was a great, great performance across the board, and obviously Maggie had had a great night. Offensively solid as always at short and to see show Hey slide into the leadoff spots and I seamlessly was big and just up and down the line up. We got contributions. And you know that first inning, I thought Taos at bat really set the tone for the night.
And then the way we'll finished his bad driving in a run, capped off the offense with James Paxton, his efficiency. What stood out to you about it most? I thought the fastball played up today. He got a lot of swing and miss. He sped him up and then he you know, through the curveball short got swing and miss and they were just off balanced on I couldn't time them up. And obviously he only gave up two hits and
had a good rhythm. And think that last inning the ball started to kind of cut a little bit glove side, started to losing a little bit of lose a little bit of feel. But to see him get through seven, it's just what we needed. Obviously, got a row confident and he doesn't kind of understand that cave. Just to see it, like the first game after his injury, how good is that psychological to the guy? Proved the guy gener just kind of seeing it. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,
I think I wasn't concerned. You know, we still got to go out there and play and win baseball games. And like I said yes yesterday, we still have good players. And you know, Maggie's been swinging aback the last couple of months really well. So he's going to get more more opportunities and show, Hey, the last week has been great, and Freddie is really this last few weeks, this month of June, he's really been on fire and getting on base five times night or six six times tonight. Pretty
impressive. Great game by Freddie Freeman, only the second player in Dodger franchise history to be on base six times and to have five walks. First time in Freddy's career he has ever walked five times in a game. Eight six
six nine, eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight nine to five, and going back to the Mookie injury, the only thing I can compare it to I know I said earlier on Petros and Money Show that it reminded me of when Sieger had Tommy john and hip surgery back in twenty eighteen, and they went out and made the trade for
Manny Machado basically in the middle of the All Star Game. This reminds me more of another Seeger injury in twenty twenty one, when he broke his hand his wrist area and he was out for sixty five games, and the Dodgers
obviously went out and made the trade for Max Scherzer and Trey Turner. This reminds me of that because the Dodgers at the trade deadline before Mooki returns could make another trade for a shortstop, whether it be Bobashett or if the Brewers cooled down, maybe Williadomas outside chance for that because of how well the Brewers are playing in their playoff chances are pretty high these days. But I don't see the Dodgers panicking and being forced into a trade just because Mookie Bets is
out until August. I feel like the way they're going into the trade deadline and the way they're viewing this trade deadline the next six weeks is exactly the same way it was viewed before Mookie's injury. Now, Yamamoto's injury could be a little bit different because I know there were some around the Dodgers that believed, yeah, they could use another bat to lengthen their lineup, but maybe we need another starting pitcher. And that was before Yamamoto got hurt. And
I know Dave Roberts said yamamoto injury is not season ending. I'm not gonna say I don't believe it, because I think he is hopeful that's the case,
and I know the Dodgers are hopeful that's the case. But when you're talking about a rotator cuff, I've spoken to pictures in the past that have had it, and they said, you really don't know what's going on in that rotator cuff that shoulder area unless the surgeon goes in and sees it for himself, because the MRI could show minimal damage, while when you go inside and operate, all of a sudden, there's major damage in that rotator cuff
area. So there have been some pictures that have been able to pitch the rest of their careers with some sort of strain, which is, by the way, a tear in your rotator cuff. A strain is a tear. No matter how they want to word it, you could look it up. A strain is a tear. So there is some sort of tear in that rotator cuff. But like I said, I've spoken to pictures in the past over the years that have said I've been able to pitch through it. There's
been scar tissue that builds up around it. But then other times you can't get rid of the pain or the limitations. And even though the MRI shows kind of gray, cloudy images on the MRI, you have to go in there to be able to see exactly the extent of the injury and the damage. So That's the reason why I believe the Dodgers may be on the lookout for another starting pitcher, whether it's Garrett Crochet from the White Sox jesus Lozardo
from the Marlins. They're looking for another starting pitcher that's not just a number five guy, but a guy that possibly could start a game three. A lot can happen, as I've said before, between now and the end of the season, so you want to add depth to that rotation with guys that can make a playoff start. Eight six nine, eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Let's hear from Dodger GM Brandon Gomes. I had a chance to catch up with him on Sunday before the Mookie Beds injury and
before we knew the extent of the Yama Moto injury. So listen to this. And this was the morning of Mookie getting hit by a pitch Sunday afternoon, and the morning before it was made public the extent of the damage to Yamamoto's shoulder. I know us in the media and in the fandom world,
we're always already zeroing in maybe five or six weeks too soon. When it comes to the trade deadline, when do you start to kind of zero in on what the needs may be and where you could help this team On July thirtieth, I mean that's just assessing libory game and kind of seeing how guys
are trending, what we have internally, what could make sense elsewhere. So it's it's constantly assessing what we have and kind of looking at, you know, what's the bet we're gonna make moving forward, who's gonna help us win you know, HELPM, who's gonna help us win in October and ultimately, you know, win a world championship. So it's just you know, kind
of evaluating and assessing over these next six weeks or so. So much parody in both leagues doesn't make it a little bit more challenging to pull off trades. I mean, certainly right now now we don't know what's gonna look like Gaus. It gets closer, it could stay this bunch stuff, or it could separate, And you know that's that's part of like you just have to kind of continue to stay flexible and and evaluate on what makes sense. And it could be a big move, it could be a small move, Like
you don't really know how it's gonna play out. How do you assess the National League? When you look at it, the Dodgers are among just four teams consistently that have a winning record in the National League. Is it parody or is it a down year? I think it is parody because you look at the rosters at those teams that are like covering around five hundred, like
there's some real talent in there. And maybe it's you know, if they're not because of injuries or whatever, there could be some depth component there with their high end talent and a certain thing there. So I think it's more for parity than the thing else. All Right, there's Dodger GM, Brandon Gomes And that was, like I said Sunday morning, before Mookie Bets broke his left hand wrist area and before we knew the full extent of Yamamoto's now
shoulder injury. And I go back to what I told you see I try to share with you with what we see, and what we saw on Tuesday afternoon was not a healthy pitcher. Because you don't see a pitcher playing catch on flat ground with the Dodge GM, with two pitching coaches and a herd of trainers watching you and now we found out exactly that Yamamoto, uh it was maybe tricep titaness being a symptom of a shoulder problem, but that was
not normal, and we had an inkling of that. And if you were listening to this show, so should you have eight six six nine, eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight nine to five at coors Field. Let's go out to La John. You're on Dodger Talk. How you doing, John? Yeah? Great post game as always, Dave. You know, it's so interesting. It's you know, Japanese pitchers they're incredible. I mean overaf you look at the history, including
you, Darvish. But they have to commit six years in Japan. So when you offer a star like Yamamoto hundreds of millions of dollars, he's already been pitching, but they don't. They pitch every five days, just like Major League Baseball, and they have one hundred and forty four game season, so it's not like it's a drastic increase being here in the US. So the wear and tear, it's there. I mean, it's you know,
pitchers these days are fragile. It's just how the dynamic of being a pitcher today looks like well, John, I know that the concerning part right, because there is a lot of mileage on his arm and his shoulder, and here he is two months into his major league career. The Dodgers have done everything possible to cater to his needs, to give him extra rest and everything else, and they're looking at a rotator CUF injury. With all that being
said, exactly, and it's serious. But I also I want to point to something last night in Dave Roberts's post game and I don't mean to nitpick, but this is really really important. Dave Roberts over and over again when he was referring to Mookie Betts and the injury, he said, we need to move on. He said it over and over again. He said it at least twice, maybe three times, three times. I hope MOOKI was not watching that press conference, because what he needed to say was we will
move forward, not move on, and that could bite him in. It could really bite him at the end of the season if they don't win the World Series and Mookie isn't or you know, isn't himself coming back from injury, because he's going to come back, but is he going to be himself? How long will it take for him to be himself? That's the big question, and it's the game of baseball is all mental, and so you're
you know your manager has to have your back one hundred percent. I know he does, John, I know MOOKI and number one, I'm sure he did not hear or see what Dave Roberts said, So it's not going to affect his head. What is going to be tough for Mooky is he's been trying his hardist every single day, three or four hours and thanks for the phone call three or four hours before every game, trying to be the best shortstop as much as he can be, to be the best he can be
at shortstop. And that's gonna be a life change for him. I know he's gonna continue to work and keep the legs going, but it's a lot different when you're out there being able to make the throw because that was really what he was working on, the throws more than anything else, maybe the backhanded plays. So for me, that's going to be the biggest mental challenge for Mookie Bets because he's been going NonStop since three or four days before Korea,
and it's disappointing. Right, I've been calling twenty twenty four the season of Mookie Bets, and he was on an MVP track. But the season of Mookie Bets is not over. This will be the season of Mookie Bets if he leads the Dodgers to a World Series championship. And you're right, it's not going to be easy to get back on track. It's not that simple. He's gonna have to get some rhythm under his belt. And if he comes back in August, that'll be more than enough time for him to
hit his stride in October. So who knows. This could be a blessing in disguise. Obviously we did not like to see Moki in that much pain on Sunday afternoon, and obviously you rather have him in the starting lineup all the way through the season. But it could be worse. It could have been worse. And I know my guy doctor Shin who operated on my left wrist, is taking good care of Mookie beds and his fractured left hand or left wrist area. Luckily, he will not have to operate on Muki,
and that's a big, a big plus for the Dodgers. Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. We're gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk. When we continue, well, head back to Denver to check in with Jose Moda and also here from Freddie Freeman, who a career night. The Dodgers beat the Rockies tonight nine to five on AM five to seventy LA Sports on air at AM five seventy, online at AM five seventy LA sports dot com, and available by podcast on the iHeartRadio
app. This is Dodger Talk with David Bassi. Two nothing Dodgers in the second in and now will winds it down the right field sign next a fair ball, It's gonna roll of the corner. Show. He's on the run. He's around second, now touching third. He's on his way to the plate. Smith around second. He is in the third, standing with a two out RBI triple three nothing. Dodgers. Look like that ball hit right on the foul line. It certainly did. Rick Monday still got that twenty
twenty vision from his playing days. Rick Monday and Tim Neverett on the call tonight for us on AM five seventy LA Sports and Dodgers Radio. The Dodgers defeat the Rockies tonight nine to five. Daniels Jewelers, they are the official sponsor of the Trip around the Diamond. Stop by any Daniel's location and say home run for your free team bracelet and fifty dollars gift card toward any purchase
of ninety nine dollars or more. Daniels Jewelers own the Dream, and I will stand by my position that the triple is the most exciting play in baseball outside of a walk off base it or even walk off home run. So to me, seeing Will Smith off to the races for his first triple of the season was more exciting than seeing any of these other guys hitting home runs at cors Field, whether it was Jones, Stallings or Goodman. That triple
by Will Smith the most exciting play tonight at the Mile High City. Freddy fe Freeman, very steady, he's not flashy, and tonight he did a great job by and before we get to Freddy, can I just say that I thought Will Smith at bat in the ninth inning sent a message to the rest of the team. The team was up at that point in time nine to one, and you have Will Smith battling in a twelve pitch at bat and it ended up being a sacrifice fly. To me, that's the type
of at bat that sends a message to the rest of the team. We're not giving up at bats and we are going to fight even without Mookie Bets in the starting lineup. Freddie Freeman also sent a message tonight to pass the baton a career high five walks tonight in the game, let's head back to
Coursfield to hear from the Dodger first baseman. I just thought overall, I thought over the last few weeks, and we haven't sworn the runs that we wanted to, but I felt like the bats were getting better and better as each day went on. And you know, today we just kind of put it all together. Yesterday and I was obviously some tough news and Mookie Bats going down. How did you see this team's cutting up, build around him and also step up for him in a way while he's down. Yeah,
I mean, obviously you're never gonna replace Mookie Bats. It's a top five player in all of the Major League Baseball. But you know, we got a lot of good guys in this group, a lot of veteran guys. A lot of us have been through uh on teams that have lost people to injuries. But we got a good group to hold it down and let them get healthy, and we'll welcome him back here, hopefully sooner rather than later. Did you have any preference, like how if you even got readjusted,
just show up and hit and play wherever? I'm told? Mention that everyone's kind of a team when you lose, like a good play. Obviously you were in that that brave team. Like how tough is that emotionally and as a as a clubhouse to tiw you guys are and how do you kind of stay positive? I mean, I mean you always everyone was pretty down obviously yesterday when you lose Mookie. But I think it's just more of the guys we have in this clubhouse. When you got you got obviously I've been around
long time. You got Jay, Hey, you got ct you got Will got Miggey, the guy who's going to fill in for him has been an everyday guy for a long time, really really good too. So we just got a lot of guys that you can surround and create a clubhouse culture like we have that we've done over the last couple of years here that is able to kind of just try and keep it going. There's not season ending.
We know he'll be back, so we just got to hold it down until gets back, and we've got a good group to keep the vibes going and play well because we know they would want us to play well and they want to come back to a team playing really well. So we'll try and do the best we can. How would you just wrap the way the Rockies pitched against you tonight? Five walks at the base hit? Yeah, I mean I have pictures to hit. I just followed him off, so yeah,
just the three more bold before I could hit the ones. But you know, it's just kind of how they've always been pitching kind of round on the edges, and I had some pictures of the hit that I felt off aware of how rare it was to walk five times in a game? No, no, is it? Is it rare? Oh? Is it rare? Oh? No? I rally get five hits. There's Freddy Freeman, Yes he would, he likes to swing the bat, but yeah, five walks is very rare. Only Carl Yastremski has had a box score line similar to
Freddy Freeman's in the last ninety years. So he's in a rarefied company with five walks in a basic getting on base all six times tonight. All right, let's head back to Coursefield again. That's where Jose Mota is in the Mile High City, I should say, in Denver, somewhere in Lo dough. How you doing, Jose, I'm doing wonderful, man, especially after we win a little scary there at the end, but you know, the whole broadcast, I'm going never enough runs. The Rea's not gonna get it
done. If I's not gonna get it done, keep adding, keep adding, because you just never known this ballpark, no doubt about it, and the Dodgers were fortunate to tack on some runs late. What impressed you the most about this, I don't want to say new look lineup, but a
new batting order without Mookie Bets, you know, in this ballpark. What the personally the most was the fact that being down there in batting practice and talking of the hitting coaches Aaron Bates and Rob Hascoyer, these guys were emphatically just talking about line drives. Okay, It's very easy to say, oh, we have a struggling offense. Let's go out there and take these four
games and swim for offenses. These guys were as direct as possible, just to make sure they stress on the guys and really emphasize good at solid contact and you sell the results. This game reminded me, Dave of that one game in Washington against Washington that had twenty hits and it's twelve of them were to the opposite field, to the middle of the field. Same thing,
and another thing too is I mean, the discipline is great. Another thing too is when you look at and I always tell you this, you know, teams like the Dodgers, he has lugging players. The minute you get the first base, you outen score in position. So sometimes if we got over carry without comment about what they did in men's corn position, I mean to the fifth inning they were one for seven. What happened was you look at taker and Anders drug somebody from first base Will Smith did the same thing,
and it happened a short time. So it's it's one of those things where once you're on with the guys that there's really no base clock rolls from this ball club. So you guys got a guy first base and if the approach had today is going to be very conducive to getting guys in from first base, and I really like that. What do you think about show Hill tany leading off? It's only one game. I know he's coming off a
two homer game at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. I guess two questions here, Jose, is he's starting to get his rhythm back, his balance back, And do you believe that he changes anything being the leadoff hit or now? Show he's not going to change anything. I mean, show his show him. It's like if you move for your freeman up that leadoff, he's not going to change anything. Guys like this Mookie Bets, those type of guys just have to be who they are. And Heavier moves him to that spot
because he understands they are the best option. Yes, Show, he's getting a little more settled with, you know, his life being anchored, his feet being stable. We saw the results, you know against Kansas City, the way he drew the ball, and you know, the best indication tomorrow is against the lefty when he got a couple of hits against the left end
where he's not wailing off so much and covering the plate. But for sure, you know, coming into today sixty four games in that leadoff spot where he had done, you know, okay, he's gonna get on base. But it was nice to see the way the ball was coming off the bat hot again on a line, and when he starts going middle of the field, we know he's back on truck. Hopefully he'll keep the rhythm going.
He doesn't have to change anything. There's gonna be some games when he's gonna go back to the old but hopefully now he's gonna find a way to that trigger and get back to where he is right now. The last couple of games. Jose Mota is joining us after the Dodgers beat the Rockies nine to five at Coors Field. Jose, let's talk about Yoshi Yamamoto. We all know about rotator cuffs. The shoulder is a more serious injury than the elbow.
How can anybody say with any sense of certainty that he will come back because that's such a fickle injury and a lot of times MRIs don't tell the whole story that's true. I mean, that was the scary the injury of the eighties when guys who rotator cuff talked to all her shaws are about that, and so many guys are pitching in the eighties before the Elbert became the issue. It's just you just never know that there's so much going on there
that connects and rotates and pronates and extends it. You just never know. Hopefully, because of the way that Yoshinovo has been taking care of his body for many many years and the way he was careful on the way he posts things in Japan, he is going to be back. Everybody that's playing the
game today throwing a baseball has some kind of here. I guarantee you that it doesn't mean it's major, But when it's found, then you go, okay, let's pull the brakes on and know what we need to do here that you know, at least in terms of the medical advances that have been made, is going to favor him. But going back to the personality, and you know, he's not a guy that trains in the traditional way either,
And the Dodgers knew that every time in baseball. Knew that he has his own way of training between starts, when it comes down to waste or
no weights and the javelin and things like that. So I mean, this is something that obviously for him is new, and it's challenging because obviously the results indicate one thing what he was feeling another thing where he was feeling, I should say, But there's a lot of season left and hopefully he's going to be able to because of the way he does take care of himself to at least make small decisions all the directors of medical staff and know that it's
going to be a very small process without pushing it. All right, Well, I'm not counting on it that he comes back, and I feel like the Dodgers have enough pitching in that department to be able to make up for it. Not to mention the trade deadline, but I guess I'll ask you the same question people have been asking me the last twenty four hours. Or do the Dodgers need to pursue another starting pitcher at the trade deadline more than
say, pursuing a bigger offensive bat or another infielder. One hundred for sure. One hundred for sure. Of course, you never have enough pitching because you know, you never know what's going to happen with guys out in your staff. Right now, you know the case of a glassnew the case of a Packson. You want these guys to be on track and know that they're pitching under different circumstances and they're aiming for bigger stuff, so you can't have
enough. You never say that you have enough Bobby Mailers coming up of shoulder injury, and obviously he had the shoulder injury last year too. So with all that in short, yes, they are actually in the process of looking. I mean that never stopped since the beginning of spring training, because I mean these guys have been around and know they just cannot have enough arms and
to cover you. But as you mentioned too, Dave, it's very important to remember this got to get guys, and you have to you have to give up something to get a guy that, as you mentioned, can go out there making free in the playoffs and hopefully is down to the point with
a very tough decision needs to be made come October. Ob see, if they win the division, expect to win the division where you know that whatever you acquire is going to be part of the top three guys that you need that playoff, all right, Jose With that being said, all things equal, I know Jose Mota scours the entire major leagues. You're not just locked in on the Dodgers. If you had your choice between acquiring Jazus Lozardo or
Garrett Crochet, which one would you go for? Most likely Lozardo if I have a choice, considering the track record, No course had the injury recently coming back, and Lozardo is a guy that with his plethora of pitches and the ability to fill his own and the power stuff that he that's possessed. But we know one thing, he is going to be very expensive no matter who's asking for him. So I'm going to lead for him. He's a
very talented pitcher. But I know there's some obscure guys that nobody's counting on that perhaps can not have the names, but perhaps be on the verge of, you know, taking the next step where guys are looking and the teams are looking for the Dodgers. I'm not going to stay behind all right, Jose should be interesting the next six weeks to see who becomes sell and who remains a buyer, because right now there's a lot of logjam in the league.
Brendan Gome said, parody, But there's a lot of teams that are hovering around five hundred that really don't have a chance to run him to run into the playoffs. Jose, that's for sure. Yep, I'll talk to you money now. Okay, yeah, you agree, right, No,
a lot of parody. You know what I was going to add was this with the parody and with teams like say the Pirates and the d Backs and thinking we have a chance here in San Francisco, all those other teams too are going to say, well, if we have a chance, now, one time chance, let's go out there and you know, splurs and get
the farm system out of here and get the what we need. So in that term, because of this parody, there's more teams thin can we're in it, that are willing to sacrifice more than other teams will to quite a one or two or top three pitchers. A lot of time between now and July thirtieth, we'll see who's a contender. As they saying, who's the pretender? Jose, moda, you got it man. Sometimes Tom will separate the people. So let's see that happens. Okay, thanks a lot,
be safe up there in Denver, Audios. There he goes, Jose Mota live in Denver. After the Dodgers defeat the Rockies nine to five. Look, there's a reason why some of these teams just hover and parody and you don't really see them in the postseason. It's because they do not have the ownership backing to go after it the way the Dodgers do, the Phillies do, the Braves do. The Giants do have the ownership backing, but they
just haven't been able to get it on track. The Padres had it with Peter Seidler, not really sure what direction they're going in, but there's still they're still trying to be a playoff contender. Aj Peller continues to wheel and deal to try to keep them in the race, and they're a perfect example.
The National League as a hole is a perfect example right now. If you look at the wildcard race, the Dodgers, the Brewers, and the Phillies are the division leaders, and you got the Braves at thirty nine and thirty one, a legit wildcard playoff team. But then you have the Cardinals, the second wildcard team, which is just a game above five hundred. They got off to a horrible start and have dug themselves out of a hole. But you look at the Giants, the Washington Nationals. You got how
many teams here? You got six teams separated by one and a half games to be the second team as far as the National League Wildcard goes. Teams like the Giants, the Diamondbacks, the Pirates, the Mets, the Reds, the Cubs, all of these teams are within striking distance, and the majority of them are under five hundred. That's the dilemma for the Dodgers and every other one of these upper echelon teams to try to make a deal to improve their teams. If this is the case six weeks from now, it's
going to be a very slow trade deadline. Teams are gonna have to turn to only the Rockies, the Marlins, the White Sox, the Oakland A's, the Angels. Those will be the one stop shop for some of these teams if there is this type of logjam as we get closer to the trade
deadline. Because a lot of these teams have a lot of expectations to win, and then you look at some of these other teams and smaller markets that are two games, three games, four games under five hundred and still only a game out of the Wildcards. So that's the dilemma for the Dodgers, the Phillies, the Braves and all these other upper echelon teams that are trying to add some of these teams and any other normal year would be sellers,
but with the expanded playoffs now it's a lot tougher to make a trade, especially in a year like this. And this, by the way, another topic for another night, but I will say this. This was the warning from those that were against expanding the playoffs by two extra teams. They said this would happen that you would have teams at five hundred or under five hundred that aren't spending, that don't have a high payroll, but are still in
the playoff hunt. And also it waters down the significance of the regular season. But more importantly, you have teams and smaller markets that are notoriously nonspenders in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati that are under five hundred or right around five hundred, that have a chance for the playoffs. What's the motivation to add payroll or
to give your city a superstar or keep a superstar. If you can be five hundred or two games under five hundred and be in the playoff race, that's what the people around the league were concerned about when Rob Manfred wanted to expand the postseason. This is what you have, this is what you wished for, and now it's an issue. So we'll see how it plays out. Between now and July thirtieth. There's a lot of time, like I
said, for the pretenders to be separated from the contenders. Tomorrow, Walker Buehler will be on the mound for the Dodgers in Game two of this four game series between the Dodgers and Rockies. Bueller making his eighth start of the season, going up against Austin Gomber, who is one in four with an ERA of four to twenty six. Marongo Casino Dodgers on deck begins at four point thirty, first pitch at five point forty. And you know the biggest
thing for Walker Bueller to do tomorrow believe in himself. Believe that he's that guy again. Believe he's that guy. If Walker Buehler starts to believe that with every bone in his body the way he used to and not have doubt about conviction of pitches, he will be Walker Bueler again. So that's my pitching mental health coach advice for Walker Bueler if it gets back to him in Denver for tomorrow. Once he starts believing he's that guy, he will be
that guy again. Thanks to calling me Who's that Guy? Back in our Burbank studios, Thanks to Dwayne McDonald at Corsfield, and thanks to you for listening. In case you missed any of the show, you can find it on the iHeartRadio app. Coming up next Fox Sports Radio and then an hour from now, yeah that guy, Ben Maller on Fox Sports Radio once again. The final score tonight at Corsfield the Dodgers defeat the Rockies nine to five. Have a great rest of your night see them