Dodger Talk (6-30-25)

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Hey, hey, David, how you doing today? Thanks for taking a call. Hey, pleasure real quick, David, I am a yeah, just real quick. I have a couple of balls, all right. I realize how out field is in that. You know, they're not fast flooring. Even though I get Padres, he's okay at center field, but the other two ends, you know, left and right field, I'm kind of worried about that. And then again, we have a goal and glove short stop there. It's not really hitting too much right now.

Do you think that would do it?

Chuck?

I think that it's just my opinion. You know, we don't have too many weeks spots statement, but I just think that that's one but the but the pitching to me is, you know, I feel confident about the pitching because everybody's gonna get healthy. What do you write, Chuck, David.

You're not the worst person to ask me about that, Chuck. And look, there's no denying Mookie Bets is the greatest right fielder we have seen, no doubt about it, And many that saw Willie Mays say Mookie Betts was the second best outfielder they have seen play that I have spoken to. But here's the issue. If you move Mookie Bets to right field and you move ta Oscar Hernandez to left field, are you just saying, Michael CONFORDO, You're

Then basically it was a little weak, you know, and like his home run production is really you know what I'm saying. But eventually, eventually, he'll come around, you know, that's all it is.

I'm actually hoping Chuck that he doesn't make the All Star team. I hope Francisco Lindor beats him out because I really believe Ki Bets he needs to catch his breath at the All Star break. He really does, because going back to Tokyo, you know, maybe he's never really had his legs underneath him. Maybe this gives him a chance to regroup, maybe just give his mind a rest. I would love Mooki just to stay in the house, go swimming with the kids in the house, don't go anywhere.

Hey, David, how you doing here?

You okay?

I can.

Okay?

Hey, yeah, Joe. I was just gonna say, I think I think Max Monkey deserves some consideration there.

Definitely, Hey for Mount Rushmore since twenty eighteen, and then.

Maybe maybe Seeger or soon o Tawny, But I think Max Monty definitely deserves some consideration there.

Now.

See this is hilarious because two months ago many callers one in Max Munsey off the Dodgers. Were you one of those people, Alex? Are you trying to just go overboard in your maxim see love? Now?

No, I wasn't one of those. I was patient with him. I appreciate that the Dodgers are also patient with their players when they struggle. I think a lot of fans tend to jump ship too soon on guys. But we've seen many times before where the players just need a little bit more time to work through their struggles. But Max has been a consistent producer for us his entire career, so I was willing to bear with it and give him more time. And I'm glad that that Roberts and the GMS did as well.

Smart Man, Alex. A resume means something, no doubt about it. It's not like this is Max Munsey's first year with the Dodgers. He has a lot of credit with this fan base, and that's why I thought it was ridiculous that fans were jumping off the Muncie bandwagon, and look, he needed to make an adjustment. He did. He went to get his eyes checked, and ever since then he hasn't looked back. In the last forty games, twelve home runs, forty six RBIs. In the last ten days, he said,

I was just calling in to talk about the Dodgers, Mount Rushmore the last.

Twenty five years. The last twenty five years, Yes.

So I totally agree with you about Justin Turner and I also want to add I would say Matt Camp is because I mean, obviously that twenty eleven year was pretty special and he's always been a fan for you, So I would say Matt Camp and also Corey Seeger because of how well he played for us during the twenty twenty peason, even though you know he was injured sometimes that post season really really helped us out win that championship World Series. Yeah, exactly right.

You you only have four spots. You got Kershaw, you got j T, you got Seeger, and you got Matt Camp. That's it.

Yeah, those are the main four that I would put honestly.

All right, Anthony, thanks for the phone call. Eight six six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. We have three lines open. We will get to your phone calls. But since we are celebrating Clayton Kershawn, who knows this may be his final season in Major League baseball Because there are a lot of variables and there's not one certain thing that will dictate whether or not Kershaw comes back. He's gonna see a how he feels physically at the end of the year, and that's number

Yeah, you're welcome. I didn't really get a choice, so yeah.

You know you want to spend more quality time with me.

No, I'm doing this for Kurse, not for you, but yes, whatever you need.

Okay, thank you, and it's great to have you in the starting lineup behind Kershaw. You obviously are aware that he's only eight strikeouts away from three thousand. What does he meant to you as a teammate.

I think Kurts has been an inspiration.

You know, I got here a lot of strikeouts ago, and when I got here, he was in the midst of one of the greatest runs that pitcher has ever put together.

And if he didn't know who.

If you didn't know the name, if you weren't aware of who he was, what he had done in the game, and you just observed the way that he handled his business and the way that he worked and his routine and all that, you would think that he'd be a guy that wasn't even establishing the big leagues, you know, guy that was hungry, guy doing whatever it.

Took to stay at the big league level.

He worked harder than anybody in the in that locker room. You never just and you never saw him just sitting in this locker He was always doing something. And you know, for him to do that, you know, coming off an MVP season and he's third, so young, and he was I would say the best way to if I had to describe in one word, it was a perfectionist.

How would you describe the way your friendship, your relationship with him has grown since twenty fifteen, It's grown a lot.

I mean, I he with my personality. It's not easy to be around pictures that you can't necessarily talk to on start day. So we we we.

We butt heads a few times.

The first couple of years, but but no, man, you know, he's we can't be any We can't be more different, but we were very similar at the same time when it comes to baseball and all this, all these things. So you know, I see Curse as a great example for for for a lot of things, you know, leading the pitching staff, leading by example in the locker room.

When you look at him, even though you're a position player. Do you feel like he sets the tone for everybody else to raise their level of work ethic.

Yeah, that's that's exactly what we're trying to get at the first question. You know, Uh, guy that has done that much and he's still working that hard, and it just it pushes you. It inspires you to work harder and and and keep trying to improve your game. And of course he's a he's uh, he's a very much, very very different picture than when when I first got to this team.

But if it wasn't for his work.

Ethic and and and his dedication and and it is desired to be better each and every day. Uh, the evolution of Clayton, not just as a as a guy, but as a pitcher has been incredible.

And you know, to still be out there.

And and his stuff is a lot different. You'd say that then ten years ago. Uh he's got new pitches, but uh, you know, and he still goes out there and then and manage manages the manages to keep him off off the off the board scoring runs.

Uh. You know, it's it's really impressive.

And you know, uh, every time I hear that song at Dodger Stadium, it puts me in a better mood. And it's just maybe it's a coincidence, but some of my better games as a Dodger have been behind Clinton.

Is that for everybody? Does it? Does it raise the level of focus and intensity when you play behind him? Uh?

Yeah, I mean whenever you have those guys on the mound, you just you want to be great for them behind them, and especially guys that found the strikes on the way that he does. He gets a lot of early contact. Guys are trying to trying to get out of the batter's box as soon as they can so that they don't strike out there. You know, they he has the curve. Boy as a slider. He has the fastball, so.

Guys don't want to get to two strikes with.

So a lot of guys swing early, and he manufactures a lot of weak contact because he throws a lot of pitches off the strike zone that looks like strikes, and guys are are, you know, being too aggressive because they don't want to get to two strikes And he gets a lot.

Of early contacts.

So he keeps you, he keeps you active on the defensive side. He's not He never puts you on your heels by you know, just walking the house or anything like that. And of course he's Clayton kershell, So you just want to make the place for him. And I've been fortunate enough to play behind him a lot and make a lot of really nice.

Place for him. Kay.

He said that Freddy Freeman has made him aware as he gets closer to three thousand strikeouts? How aware and how much do you think he's aware going into today and fighting against trying to chase those strikeouts?

He knows, he's he's very aware, you know, Clayton, he's a he's a very self aware person. He always knows what he needs to do. He's a he's I know for a fact he's aware because we had a conversation about him potentially flying some of his former catchers for the day that he could get the three thousand strikeout in a perfect world.

He he he does it at home.

But yeah, he's aware, and he's he's joked around like he's like, what if I'm sitting atween nine, nine hundred ninety nine and I want to get that last strikeout on a heater and I try to overthrow it and you never get that strike out. But he's gonna get that strikeout and it doesn't really matter what pitch he uses, because you know, the only pitch that would that would not be an iconic strikeout would be the split just

That's why not many pitchers have done it.

And you know, it's it's it's always special when you get to be part of a small part of history.

Yeah, it's awesome that you're here for it. It's awesome that you're in the starting lineup playing behind Kershaw and hopefully whenever he gets that three thousand strikeout. You'll be there behind him as well. Thanks a lot for the time.

Amazing if I'm behind the play or behind the behind him on the field and you're doing television like that's wow, unbelievable.

Huh.

Another great moment in Denver.

Another great moment in Denver. Thanks a lot, Thank you so much.

There he is, Key k Hernandez. There was a lot of kik on this road trip, a lot of lefties. The Dodgers finally got to face and keyk started to heat up, especially yesterday he hit a home run and he just missed the second one, and man, that was an amazing insight to Clayton Kershaw and a great tribute from Key k Hernandez, who has emerged as a leader

Good David, how are you.

I'm so happy to be back home. David went to golf and stuff with the kids in Ventura today. You know, life is good again.

That's great. Hey. First of all, I want to thank you for this program because you know you are. You know your format, whether we're happy the Dodgers win or we get a little bumm because they lose, you know, you listen to us callers, and me personally, I really really appreciate what you do.

Hey, thank you. I was I was a caller to Dodger Talk when I was a kid. I listened to this show my whole life. So you know it's important to have and your opinion matters. David.

Okay, so here's my mount rushmore. I I agree with you with the first three with Clayton Kershaw, Jason, Justin Turner excuse me, and Lookie Betts. Now my fourth one, I'm kind of a toss up, but I'm gonna go with my my gut instinct and I would put Fernando Vealezuela.

Well, now here's the catch, David, it's the last quarter century. He is not eligible last.

Okay, how about Eric Ganie.

Eric Ganne, you would put him above guys like Mookie bats Show, Heo, Tany, Cory Seeger, Cody Bellinger. And I think I wouldn't put.

Him on there because of the saves, because you know, he broke the record for the saves.

Okay, so you're you're telling me the mount Rushmore in the last twenty five years would be Kershaw, Justin Turner, Eric Ganye and who else.

No, I would agree with like with Mookie Bade the first three, I agree with you.

All right, So and Eric Dane. Yes, all right, David, thanks for the phone call.

Ready.

That's an interesting Uh, that's an interesting one right there. I mean I wouldn't include Eric Ganie because I mean he's a closer number one, number two.

I mean.

One inning. I mean they were great innings. They were great innings, no doubt about it. But uh, you know, he was a three time All Star, three time All Star and incredible three years, no doubt about it. But that's a little bit of a reach for me. Let's go out to a joy in Alpine.

Hi, a Joy, Hey, what's up?

David.

Good to have you back, man.

Thank you.

It sounds like you're good man. So just have a couple of quick questions I had for you. Number one in regards to Max Munty and where he's been batting. I noticed that Ek kind of touched based on that during the broadcast during the weekend. Is that more some a situational thing with them trying to kind of still put him a little back when it's a lefty or is that kind of like what he said where he's kind of you know, double, you know, clean up there, kind of trying to turn over the bottom.

I think it's a little bit of both. He hasn't been very good against lefties this year until recently. I mean he's been correct an one hundred hitter against lefties this year, and all of a sudden, like everything else that he touches, it's turned to gold recently. So I think it was a little bit of both.

Nice and then I'm not a big list guy, but just get to give it a whirl here. So obviously Kershaw, I have Matt Kim because I think that was a taint hit and lost the MVP he had in a twenty eleven. I have Cody Bellinger, because I mean, the kid was great man when he was with us. You know, if it wasn't for the injury, who knows, and then I have Mookie and then that would be that would be it right there. I think, yeah, that's yeah, you

Have a good night, brother, all right, a joy, thank you, thanks for calling. All right, let's go out to Carson, Manny, you're on Dodger Talk. You doing, Manny?

What's going on DV? Welcome back to La man. We missed you out here, but we should get straight to it. My Mount Rushmore. You gotta have ck number twenty two playing Kershaw obviously, yep, I do a great I do agree with MOOKI. He had a great, great, great impact on the team, especially in twenty twenty for that World Series run. I have to add a Freddy Freeman in there. And I know he's only been on the team for the last four seasons or so, but he's missed Game seven.

I love that, Manny, and I can't believe I forgot about Freddy Freeman. But you're right that one swing in Game one of the World Series and him just being a great player certainly makes him a viable candidate. And I wouldn't argue with that, Manny. So that's a great call by you. Thanks a lot. Yeah, Freddy Freeman having the World Series that he had last year automatically put some as a candidate for the Mount Rushmore in the

How you doing?

I'm I'm down with the three guys, but to me include Mike.

When did Mike Piazza play at it's the last twenty five years.

He was done in ninety eight, that's right, twelve All Stars with the Dodgers.

Yeah, Mike Piazza was great, but he didn't play in the last twenty five years with the Dodgers. No, he's out, he's out. Thank you for the phone call. You're out too. Let's go out to George and Eastvale. You're on Dodger Talk. How you doing, George?

Great?

Great? Thank you, David.

And since he.

Brought up Piazza, Hey, George. Just to make it clear for the record, I don't have Eric Carros on my Mount Rushmore because he was a nineties player. He only played three more years with the Dodgers from two thousand to two thousand and three, and his prime was in the nineties. So that's the reason why Caros isn't on mine either. I don't want him to be offended. He's easily offended, George, trust me, No.

I get it.

I I'll go with Kenny Jason Hey.

Ken Jackson, an all time SAFS leader in the last twenty five years he became I like that, George, I like that.

Yeah, Freddie Freeman, Okay, you can't beat Frederie Freeman, you know, with with this big big Homer last year and Mookie Betts. You can't beat Mookie Betts, you know. Then there's the grinder and the last one. I don't know if you agree, but he is mister clutch Man kick Hernandez baby, mister clutch Well.

I will say this, George. Even Key K would tell you you're ridiculous for having him on Mount Rushmore and not Clayton Kershaw. I'll speak for KEYK here.

I agree as as No, No, you're right, you're right, but you know kick A has a little soft spot in my own so no, Clayton Kersher, You're absolutely right. I agree with you one hundred percent. But what do you think about my picks?

I love your picks. I love the Kennley Jansen angle.

I love.

That's way more legit than Eric Ganne all time saves leader in Dodgy history, and he did it from twenty eleven on.

So I'm with you, George, and can getting that honorable mention.

Okay, he's the mountain right next to Mount Rushmore. Thank you for the phone call, George, appreciate it. Eight sixty six nine eight seven two five seventy is the phone number. That was fun and I loved hearing all of your different Mount rushmorees. He had some good ones and made me reconsider mine, So I appreciate all the calls. We had a chance to catch up with a man that knows a lot about Mount rushmorees in the Negro Leagues.

Oh, Dave, it's great to see you man. Thanks so much for having me on the show.

Well, the franchise of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcomb, just to name a few. I mean, it is special to come to Kansas City and see the museum.

Well, and there's a bridge between the two cities. Because a lot of people don't know, Dave, Dad, Jackie Robinson's illustrious professional baseball career began right here in Kansas City with the great Kansas City Monarchs in nineteen forty five in the negro Leagues. Now, he was only here for five months, but as I tell people, the five months he's spend in Kansas City, he fell in love with everything that Kansas City is famous for, barbecue and jazz.

I love that. Yeah, Jackie was a big man of jazz and baseball and all that. And Roy Campanella three time MVP. He was a big player in the negro Leagues as well.

Well.

Noah and the Dodgers had a litany of great stars that came out of the negro Leagues camp. He joined the team in the negro Leagues called the Baltimore Elite Giants. Now it's spelled elite, but it's pronounced elite because you make those Negro leaguers mad if you call him the elite giants. Well, Campy joins the elites as a fifteen year old catcher.

Can you believe a fifteen.

Year old kid catching professionally in the Negro leagues? But as I tell my guests, he was not your typical fifteen year old. He was a fifteen year old man style, but he was fifteen. Nevertheless, and the great Raleigh biss MACKI took him under his wing and taught him the art of catching. And I don't have to tell Dodger fans. Roy Campanella will become a three time MVP with the Brooklyn Dodgers before a tragic car accident left them paralyzed and cut short what was still a Hall of Fame career.

When we come to the Negro League Museum and you tell the stories of the Negro leagues, are you mesmerized as much as we are? Even though you've told the stories many times? Oh man, this never gets old for me. It doesn't.

And every time I did a young athlete of any sports discipline, but particularly my young Major league baseball players, it just fills me with great joy to walk them through that museum, to share the stories, many of these stories that the late great Buck O'Neil and other legendary Negro leaguers shared with me, and in doing so, I feel like I'm keeping them alive in my mind and

But it's still about the love of the game.

They are still playing a game that they played for free, and if they had to play it for free, they would still play it for free. But as I remind them, you will never see a greater example of love of the game than you do when you walk through the Negro League's Baseball Museum. They had to love it in order to endure the things that they had to endure.

What's the lasting legacy of Jackie Robinson with the Negro Leagues and just how special is it for him? To be not only the face of American sports history, but American history period. Absolutely.

Well, you know, we take great pride that Kansas City and the Negro leagues gave America arguably its greatest hero

Before I let you go, show hand Tani one of the greatest players we've ever seen in Major League Baseball. Was there anybody like Otani in the negro leagues?

Well, the thing that I love about this phenom by the name of shoe Hey Atani is that it has opened up the opportunity for me to talk about the great two way stars of the Negro leagues. And so when Shoe Hay first gets here to play in the major leagues, everyone was saying, Babe Ruth. But in my opinion, Babe Ruth is a royal comparison. The real comparison is to a guy named Wilber Bullet Rogan who was a star pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs. He is in

You've got to be able to rake.

And in the words of the immortal Leroy Satchel Page, in the beautiful vernacular of Leroy Satchel Page, who said that Bullet Rogan is the onliest ball player I ever heard of. I've ever seen that pitch and hit in the cleaned up position. That was Robert Bullet Joe Rogan.

All right, we got a parallel to show. Hey, O, Tommy, I knew you would have the answer to that. No, But you know, I, like the rest of us, I'm a baseball fan. We marvel at what sho he has done.

And it also gives me an opportunity to talk about that connection between the Negro Leagues and Japan because the Negro Leagues go to Japan in nineteen twenty seven. Man, that's seven years before Babe Ruth and as all Americans go, and they've been commonly credited with having taken our brand of professional baseball to the Japanese.

But it's not true.

If it was a team called the Philadelphia Royal Giants, they go over to Japan in nineteen twenty seven, they

That's why the negro Leagues can never be forgotten and it never will be forgotten because Bob Kendrick has continued to tell the story of the great negro Leagues, and the Negro League Museum Hall of Fame is one place that you have to come to and see our good friend Bob Kendrick when you come to Kansas City. Thanks a lot for the time and man the best stressed guy in Kansas City.

Thank you, No, it is my pleasure. I want to thank all those Dodger fans who filled up the museum over this weekend series. Thank you guys for coming by and seeing us, Thank you for your support, and thank you for the opportunity to be on the show.

Hey, we love Bob Kendrick. Thanks a lot for the time, Bob. Hey, we do love Bob Kendrick and really appreciate him coming on the show before yesterday's game right here on a five to seventy LA sports and Sports Net LA best dressed man in the stadium yesterday and Dodger fans always ask me where should we go see the Dodgers? Which stadium should we go? Visit? Kansas City? Would be worth it just to go to the Negro League Baseball Museum. It's that good.

I know.

Cooperstown obviously is a big deal for baseball fans, but you've got to put it on your bucket list to go see the Dodgers playing Kansas City, get that great Kansas City barbecue, and go see and visit the Negro League Museum and see Bob Kendrick and get a tour from Bob and you will learn a lot. It's really special. My favorite part of the museum is they have a miniature baseball diamond and they have statues of every great Negro League player at that position. That's my favorite part.