Dodger Talk is sponsored by LA Care Health Plan, providing affordable healthcare insurance to millions of Angelinos for over twenty five years. Welcome the Dodger Talk on this all Star Tuesday. David Vasse with you until eight o'clock tonight here on AM five to seventy LA Sports, and we have a great show for you.
Not only are we going to recap Teoscar Hernandez becoming the first Dodger ever to win the home run Derby, but coming up in our next segment, we'll hear from one of the best pitchers of his generation, a Dodger tormentor in many ways, but a great competitor and an even better guy, and that is Jake Peevey, the former Padre and San Francisco giant who is now on the set for MLB Network. Also coming up at the bottom of the hour, Since earlier this year, only a couple of weeks ago, did we
celebrate Clayton Kershaw's ten year anniversary of his one and only no hitter. A j Ellis will join us as well. We'll share a conversation with you that I had with Aj that really took us into a deep dive on Kershaw's no hitter. Aj was the catcher that night, and certainly a great time to reflect on a great moment in Dodger history, the great Kershaw's only career no hitter, and many believe that was a perfect game, even though it did
not show up that way in the box score. Many believe that was the single greatest game pitched in the regular season in baseball history, or at least in the modern era. So we'll have aj on to share the insights of Kershaw's one and only career no hitter that took place on June eighteenth, twenty fourteen, and Jake Peevey will join us in the next segment as well. But many of you are excited for Teoscar Hernandez to win the home run Derby last night? He was Can you believe this? He was one of the
bigger underdogs going into the home run Derby last night. Vegas had the odds
for Hernandez to win the home run derby fourteen to one. So if you were one of these Dodger fans that just bet on the Dodgers to win the World Series every year, I hope you bet on Taoscar Hernandez to win the home run Derby, because you would have made yourself some nice summer vacation cash if you would have taken Taoscar Hernandez, who was a fourteen to one underdog, to win the home run derby, and it was great to see him
go toe to toe with Bobby Wood Junior. What I thought was interesting was in the final round, Taoscar Hernandez did not look like he was going to have enough juice left to outlast Bobby Wood Junior. And I also was concerned about Dino Ebel, who may have been getting a little tired throwing BP all that time. But those two, dino Ebel and Taoscar Hernandez regrouped after Oscar
took the time out that he was allowed it in that final round. Vladimir Guerrero Junior brought Taioscar Hernandez's Blue Jays jersey with him and was wearing it in the final round and also gave Taoscar some piece of advice. Here's what Taoscar Hernandez said after the home run derby on what Vladdie Junior told him that was one of the biggest surprises today. Well, he did, he said yesterday when we get to we'll get here to the hotel. Zach, I got
a surprise for you, compilding, so I'm gonna show it tomorrow. So he brings my jersey from Toronto, and when he goes to home play, he was trying to calm down myself. He had passed through the two times and it works well, he said, it works. It helped me going
into the last around on the fun That was awesome. Taoscar Hernandez and Vladdie Junior, his former teammate in Toronto, staying all the way to the end to support his former teammate and countrymen, both great Proud Dominican Republic baseball players, and it was awesome to see Taoscar Hernandez win the home run Derby by one home run. Bobbywood Junior, by the way, he almost tied the home run Derby if you remember his final swing. His final out scraped the
left center field wall. He was that close to winning the home run Derby, or at least sending it to overtime. And that was an exciting finish because Bobbywood Junior is from the Dallas Fort Worth area, so he had the hometown crowd behind him to try to help him gain that energy and momentum to try to at least force another round of the home run derby. But all of us are super excited for Taoscar Hernandez. He is one of the most fun loving guys. He's got a great smile, He's a great team guy.
I was hoping somebody would have the sunflower seeds for Taascar Hernandez after he won the home run derby, to throw in his face like he does for his teammates. The only teammate I saw stick around for the finals was Tyler Glass. Now where was shoe hey Otani? Where was Freddie Freeman? Where was Will Smith? Where were the rest of the Dodgers to support their teammate?
And you know, I was thinking about it today. I was thinking about am I going to come on and crush those guys for not staying there? Because we saw the entire Phillies All Star contingent stay there for Alec Bohm who was eliminated in the semis. We saw the Royals teammates Sal Perez and Cole Reagan's be there for Bobby Wood Junior, even Vladimir Guerrero juniors stayed there for Taoscar Hernandez and I was thinking, man, where were these guys?
And I feel like that's a legitimate question, and I feel like we all are a little disappointed all the Dodgers did not stay there. But man, that was a long show. And I've talked to some guys that have participated in the home run Derby that we're watching last night, and they said,
man, that was a long show. I don't blame them for late leaving, but I will say this, even with it being a long show, and Baseball has got to do a better job to keep this pace moving, because if you were at Dodger Stadium for the home run Derby, it is a made for TV show. And that's fine. You're kind of part of a studio audience if you're at one of these home run derbies. But you've got to pick up the pace and it can't be drawn out as long as
it has. I mean, there have been critics of the dunk contest and the way they do things, and I feel like Major League Baseball, with all these tweaks, you've got to kill some of the dead time in between these hitters swinging, and I know it's exhausting for them, but come on, you got to speed this up, and the tempo's got to be better. So I'm on the fence now about whether or not to really slam the
rest of the Dodgers for not staying there for Taoscar Hernandez. But I'm sure they had their reasons, but come on, you got to be there for the guy, right, I mean, we wanted to see Otani throw the sunflower seeds at Taoscar Hernandez at the end. We wanted to see Freddie and Charlie there. We wanted to see Will Smith there to embrace their teammate who
became the first Dodger ever to win the home run derby. But on the flip side, I understand that it was a long show, but come on, you could have stayed right, I mean, we wanted to see you guys be there. But kudos to Tyler Glass Now for staying there until the finish and being there for his teammate Taoscar Hernandez. And kudos to Dino Ebel, who has thrown to a few different hitters in this home run derby format.
And Dino even got a press conference after last night's victory. Yeah, you know, I don't call it really pressure do this every day this, that's my job. I always joke around with the players. My job is to get lit up and batting practices. I just got to know, you know where they like it and you know they're, yeah, I'm not perfect. I'm gonna throw some balls and do some balls down in the way. But you know he's a trooper. That this guy. He believed in himself.
I believed in him. He uh, he just showed it to the world to night, that Wayne talent, and he showed up. They're so proudly and so happy for the Dodger organization, the first one to He's been some heavy hitters and in this organization, but special moments. I'm still the static just watching the family. For me, was you know, the best part with Tail raising that trophy if it was good? All right? There is Dino Ebol, Dodgers third base coach and maybe the best batting practice thrower.
If you were watching some of these other guys and their BP throwers, it was night and day compared to Dino Ebel. I feel like that may have been the difference for Taoscar Hernandez to beat Bobby Wood Junior. Obviously, ta Oscar has got to be the guy to hit the home runs, but man Dina was putting those pitches right in his sweet spot, right in his swing, and they certainly had a game plan to be able to pull the ball to left field. If you try to go center field or right field
if you're a right handed hitter, it wasn't going anywhere. So that was a great strategy for Taioskar Hernandez to be able to pull that ball. And nobody knows globelie Field better as a BP pitcher than Dino Eble. It feels like that's the Dodgers' second home since twenty twenty, since they went on that twenty twenty World Series ride in the bubble. There that home clubhouse that the Rangers used that was basically the Dodgers clubhouse, and they may be co renters
and not surprising Corey Seeger has done what he's done with the Rangers. I mean, I feel like that is the house that Seger made famous when the Dodgers won the World Series in twenty twenty. So congratulations to Taoscar Hernandez and Dino Ebol. And Dino threw BP twice because he threw it to his son the day before for a high school Baseball Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field. So Dino knew what he was doing out there, and it couldn't happen
to two better guys, Dino Ebol and Taoscar Hernandez. The winning team the first player ever as a Dodger to win the home run Derby. Remember Jock Peterson back in twenty fifteen. Twenty sixteen came up short to Todd Frazier in Cincinnati. That was the closest a Dodger has ever come to winning the Home Run Derby. So kudos to Taoscar Hernandez. We're gonna take a time out here on Dodger Talk. When we continue, will be joined by MLB Network
Zone Jake Pevia, two time World Series champion. Don't go anywhere more Dodger Talk until eight o'clock right here on a five to seventy LA Sports on this All Star Tuesday. Right now, we are joined by a man that was one of the best pitchers of his generation and certainly a man that was known for his competitive spirit during his career that saw him win two World Series titles,
one with the Giants, the other with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched eleven years in the NL West with the Padres and San Francisco Giants. He's a cy Young Award winner. He's a triple Crown winner. He's a three time All Star and now part of MLB Network's coverage during the All Star break. He is a champion of the people, the one and only Jake Peevie. Jake, thanks a lot for the time. Appreciate it. What an introduction. It's an honored to be here. I know Dodger fans may
have mixed feelings. We have Dave Roberts in common. Dave Roberts tied and put this bad blood together. And that's the beautiful thing about post career. You don't have to hate or be enemies with anybody. You can appreciate it at all. You're such a nice guy. I don't think anybody could hate you like they hated Madison Bumgardner. Well, I'll tell you what. Madison gave the Dodger nation a lot to hate. He was one hell of a teammate, I'll tell you that. And I don't get to carry around one
of those titles of champion if it's not for number forty. Him and Yasielpwi come to mind. When you talk about Dodgers giants in general, no doubt about it. And I guess before we move on Jake and get into all that you mentioned Dave Roberts. You were teammates with him with the Padres.
Did you ever envision him being not only a manager, but this successful of a manager doesn't surprise me one bit because a manager, he's just got to know the game of baseball, but he's got to be able to communicate and put it all together. And that's what the best that I played for were able to do. They were incredible communicators. They could rally the truth. The truth would rally around that person. That's who Dave is. And we've seen that come to fruition. You know, Look, we can get deep
into it. And I think the guy should have another world title too, if another team's not cheating, and you know, so, look, I think if he does have that other world title, he's viewed even differently than he is. Dave Roberts is a great manager and to no surprise of anybody who's been a friend, teammateer around him. It's interesting you brought that up
twenty seventeen. If the Dodgers win that World Series, championship, Jake, the narrative surrounding two men, Dave Roberts and Clayton Kershaw are completely different. Well, that's why I brought that up, David, is because it needs to be in the peripheral when you're having that discussion, because there's a huge asteris by that, and it's the first thing that comes to my mind when Dodger fans want to talk about who Dave Roberts is as a leader as a
manager, who the front office is. Look this front office since I kind of when the changeover, when Andrew Freeman kind of came in, there's been nobody front office wise, down through the on field product to the off field marketing of the players that do it better than the Dodgers. And that's just the truth in my opinions. Jake Peve is our guest, former Major League
pitcher now a great analyst on MLB Network. This will be Jake Peevey's first All Star Game covering it for MLB Network during this All Star break, and you'll see him on MLB Tonight and their coverage not only during the All Star
break but also in the second half of the season. Are you seeing the game a little bit differently, Jake being in the studio than you did maybe in the dugout on the days you didn't pitch well so much as went into it because of how much the game's changed, and you can't be stubborn. I think it's kind of labeled on me that I'm a non analytic guy, or I'm the opposite in the studio of Brian Kenney, but that's not true. I've continued to try to stay evolved, evolving with the game and to
stay current and now having so many friends still within systems. Mike Napoli is a first Bay coach and been with David Ross, but he's still there now. He's under Craig Counsel learning wanting to be a manager. Craig Breslow Chris Young two former teammates that are now successful general managers. Craig Breslo in his first year doing Wonders in Boston, Ce Why and Boach and those guys having the belt. So these guys were very close friends. Andrew Bailey, you
know, who's now went over to join Breslow. You know, the guys who I still have out there in the game are helping me stay relevant and understand, you know, the new lingo. But the game is the game. Winning baseball is winning baseball. You don't have to have anybody or analytics tell you that. The when you watch the Dodgers play, you understand if we're doing things the right way or the wrong way. And the leaders that we're talking about in Dave Roberts, you know, still pushing the right buttons
awfully, you know. Good. Did you ever encounter the analytics towards the end of your career, Jake? Of course, yeah. No, by twenty sixteen, they were, you know, coming on full board and we
were getting ready to take off with them in San Francisco. You know, it was kind of you know, and I think one of the things where analytics went wrong is they pushed a lot of the experience and the older guys and even the coaching staff managers Bochie out of San Francisco, I'm saying, And that was there was many more that was I think where the analytics went
wrong. It just didn't it valued a young and upcoming star with somebody who had years of experience and maybe didn't metric out as well, but but but had those invaluable and intangibles that that add so much to a ball club, and I you know, it was a tough mix because those guys wanted to hold on and listen to the guys who had taught them the game, and then guys were you know, in suits telling them, no, this is how you got to look at it, and there wasn't really a marriage to
that. It was kind of a style takeover. Yeah, that's one way to put it, for sure. Jake Peevee is our guest, and look, I side with you, Jakes. I feel like analytics certainly has a place in the game, but a three year sample size is not going to help any manager win tonight. And maybe the macro of a one sixty two marathon doesn't really reflect how you deviate or how you manage a game in the
postseason. I think play a big part in a data I think you're you're all over and what you just said, and the Dodgers get this, Rise just said, I don't want bee in front of all of sudden better are heavily analytically driven, and I think over the macro that stuff can really play out in place of your advantage. When we talk about winning championships, that's
a whole different story. Now, winning baseball and you can throw some of the analytics out the window, and they need to take a little bit of a back seat to game management and field and I'm talking and maybe like decisions. And I hate to bring this up because I'm not throwing shade at anybody, but I'm just going back and playing Monday morning. Quarterback Tyler Anderson coming
out of that game in San Diego was an analytical decision. It's seemingly Hilary Loretta was sitting next to me, not watching the game at all, and just said to me, I'm so glad they took that left hander out of the game. We had no chance for him. They didn't care that Graderral was you know what I'm saying, just a normal casual fan who was watching the game had the feel of it of gosh, we have a better chance
versus anybody but that guy. And so I think when you get to the playoffs, you have to match that feel because you're riding a hot hand. Ruth Bochi's, you know, playing his hot hand that given night might go against what the matchup says, but in the playoffs, I believe that stuff wins championships. Two time World Series champion Jake Peevey knows all about it. He is our guest. He's on MLB tonight's coverage of the All Star Game
and certainly their coverage during the entire baseball season. And Jake, that brings me to the question twenty twenty four, how do you view this Dodger team and their chances to get through the National League? Well, look, I still view him as the class of the league. We have some big issues. I'll start with the two teams behind you. I think Arizona's in real trouble, potentially missing the dance. San Diego certainly has issues, but they're
coming. The Giants certainly have issues, but they're coming if they get some healthy pieces back. And that leads us to the Dodgers. You have a seven and a half game lead. We've got some When Mooki and Max Munzi are back in this lineup, it gives it the length and look, especially with ta Oscar providing the way he is. When you put those two bodies back in this Dodger lineup, it becomes a lineup like kind of the Phillies are on the opposition tonight. They're a complete lineup. You saw last night
seven through nine of that Philly team beat you seven for nine. They were in the game last night. That's incredible when you're getting that kind of production and you're winning games like they did last night. That Bryce Harper in the middle other than Trey Turner goes over. So the Dodgers to me, when
you get Mookie and Max back, you're fine. I will tell you this, when I just mentioned Trey Turner, I wish we were have signed Trey Turner and that short stopposition would have been his because since he he's been himself in August and had got used to Philly, he's been the best player in the National League. And I think that contract is gonna be the best one out of that winner signed over the length of it. The way he plays the game and gets older, smarter and looks as good as ever. But
the Dodgers also on the same side. We're just beat up in a pitching way of my gosh, if you look at since Yamamoto went on now Glass now and on and on with the names, we've just you got a seven and a half game lead that you're gonna be able to hold that lead throughout the second half. We've just got to get healthy and poised and really respond to being punched in the mouth the last few years in the postseason. Just get there with an edge, and I believe your leadership not only with Dave
Roberts, but on the team. Freddie Freeman wants another title. He's a world champion, Nuki Betts wants another one. Will Smith stud all Star Taoskar's riding that way show Hey's the best player on the planet. But it can happen. You just got to get in the playoffs healthy with those guys motivated. I can't talk to Jake Peevee without asking him about future Hall of Famer
Clayton Kershaw. You've competed against him, you obviously respect him. Do you believe that he'll be able to come back and look like himself after a major shoulder surgery? Jake, It scares me. A major shoulder surgery is not anything guaranteed, and anybody who knows about it will tell you that, and that's just the facts of it. What I will tell you is Clayton Kershaw's as good as anybody to maybe ever do it. He's in the question of
as good as anybody to ever do it. And greatness comes with longevity and Clayton has just been the model of all of that greatness and longevity is all encompassing Clayton Kershaw. The Dodger fans should be lucky to have him, and none of the negativity should be allowed to see ben. It does when we get older in our career and don't produce and we're not healthy. But I'm just very glad that we have a chance for him to come back. I
think Clayton is as mentally strong as anybody I've ever met. You can't do what he's done without it. The mind's a powerful thing in the body. You know, Clayton's gonna work and do all of his rehab, and I know he's doing that. I'll have a lot more feel maybe talking to some guys today. As I told you, I'm on the way of the ballpark. But Clayton Kershaw, this is all you need to know. He's as good as maybe anybody has ever do it? Are you kidding? Meet?
The Dodgers have Sandy Kofax and Clayton Kershaw, the two best left handers of all time to hang their hat on. Possibly, I hope to see him one more time doing what we've seen him do for so long man, Jake Peeve me fired up, throw away that suit. You got to take the mound for the Dodgers. They need to forget about training for somebody. How about just signing Jake Peevey. I tell you what what you've got coming off the IL and what you've got in that minor league system. The arms,
You've got plenty coming. Mark Pryor is another friend, former teammate. You guys are going to be just by. Well. You brought up Mark Pryor. You and Mark Pryor had the best bent caps in baseball history. When you used to bend your bill like prior. Yoh, you knew game was on pv me and Prior matched up in the minor leagues in Double A and
then got to do it all through the big leagues. And gosh, what a shame that he couldn't stay healthy because he would have been in that conversation of the best to ever do it, the stuff out of this world. IQ betch ability all there, man. I love Jake Peevy. That's why it was. I knew it was going to be a tough day when you saw him on the mound at Dodgers Stadium. Two time World Series champ and Triple Crown winner. I mean, people don't give you the love because you're
so humble. You had one of the great careers in recent memory, Jake, and it's an honor to have you on the show. And I hope to meet you one day in beautiful Sandiago. I look forward to the same, my friend. Thanks for having me all. What a great guy, Jake Peevey. You knew when he was taking the mound you were going to be in for a fight, and you could hear it in his voice. Still he's got that fight in him and I love watching him on MLB Network.
He does a great job. Coming up next here on Dodger Talk, we will catch up with former Dodger catcher aj Ellis, who took us inside Clayton Kershaw's one and only career no hitter. It took place ten years ago at Dodger Stadium. Don't go anywhere more Dodger Talk until the top of the hour. Right here on a five to seventy LA Sports. You heard Peev talk about Clayton Kershaw and you could hear the reverend he had for Kershaw in
the career and the competitor that he is. We just celebrated the ten year anniversary of Kershaw's one and only career no hitter, and I had a chance to catch up with this catcher that night. A j Ellis for a very extensive, in depth interview about that special night on June eighteenth at Dodger Stadium. Yeah, and that is amazing to hear Dave that I've passed over the rubicon from professional friend to personal friend. I am, I am, I'm
shaking right now. I'm so excited to hear that we've crossed over in that relationship. And I don't know, do we get like matching T shirts now, or do we get like hats or like, what's the next step for us? I think we should. We should get a T shirt pointing at you and one pointing at me. Bes friends, let's let's do it. I feel like I know that's how I feel. I'm not sure if that's how you feel. No, I mean, I do. I really do miss our time. I miss being out in l A. I miss I
missed coming to Dodger Stadium. Like I said, I said the day I was created, it's it is the greatest home office in the world. And uh, you know I did. I did enjoying my time there and mentally, and uh, it was not just people on the field or people in the in the stands or teammates that I had. It was people, you know, doing a variety of jobs. And uh that doesn't include the media at all, who had just an important role in uh providing a great lens
for our fans into the game, and yourself included. And UH, now as we joke about it, but you know, you have been an amazing advocate and amazing voice, uh for the Dodgers, and you're not afraid to tell it as it is, and you give the Dodger fans a great perspective of what it's like on a daily basis for the team. So congratulations to
you. Congradulations to this podcast another great avenue for you to connect with fans, and uh fans are out in LA and Dodger fans around the world are fortunate to be able to have access to a little bit even more of a behind the scenes look to club. Well, thank you so much for that. And I know everybody kept asking me after the Dodgers won the World Series whether or not I got a ring or not, And honestly, the ring meant nothing to me after I got two texts from guys that I really respect
and have accomplished so much in their careers. One was from you and the other was from David Freese. That really sent a nice note and honestly to me, that meant more than any material thing that they could have given me. So your thoughtfulness really meant a lot to me. And full disclosure. AJ. Last week on the podcast, I did share one of my favorite
memories being in Pittsburgh. I may have been overserved one night before a game and I walk into the clubhouse and you out of nowhere throw a caterade bottle at me and say, hey, drink this, that'll help. So that's one of my PNC Park memories. Yeah, I do remember that. I do remember that you were Hey, it's it's lessons we learned on the road. It's a hydrate and uh, you know, if we got to make
sure that you're you're you're able to perform at at your peak level. So it's my job there at two o'clock in the afternoon to uh, you know, maybe put a little life back into the body, take a little color back into the slush space that you had, and give you the ability to
uh to work a good game that night. Unfortunately, unfortunately that's maybe from too much experience on my own end of understanding how to do bounce back uh after especially in Pittsburgh when there's some good places to go and uh, some places to hang out with the boys after a game. Hey, speaking about the boys, how are my favorite people that you know, not your family but your Kentucky friends. Oh? Nice, Yeah, they're doing it awesome.
Yeah, it was fun. We actually all turned forty this year and all of us have gotten together. Well, we got together once we went down to Kentucky and support and surprised a couple of the guys and got to
hang out with them. Just an awesome weekend. And then later in this in this fall, the four of us are going to get together and experienced the Rider Cup up here in Wisconsin, Wisconsin out but in Milwaukee suburb there and the Ryder Cup is coming to Whistling Straits and we decided for a fortieth birthday celebration for us to kind of commemorate our relationship, our friendship and turning forty, we're going to spend some time at the Ryder Cup. So looking
forward to that for sure. That is awesome. Maybe you'll spend a night at the Iron Horse, you know, with the friends. Now I'll open up the ill ove up the mansion. Oh not the manson, I shouldn't say. I'll leave ot to Andre. Andre is the one of the multiple mansions all over the place. He actually claims that he owns my ore and
Milwaukee told me before. But yeah, that's a funny story. At Me and Dre were on the bench one day and I was watching and one of our hitters stepped up, who was notorious for swinging at the very first pitch of the bat wildly, didn't matter where the pitch was, And I said, I will bet my house. But he swings at the first pitch right here, and of course, as you would have it, he doesn't swing at the pitch, and Dre goes you, I own your house. Now
that's my house. Ever since, ever since that point, he's always referred to me as being the caretaker for his Wisconsin home. Since I bet and lost my home that day on the bench in Dowger Stadium. That is awesome. You've had some very interesting conversations. Zach Granky said he would trade you,
and now Andre Ethier told you that he owns your house. Oh my gosh, yeah, it's you know, I've been on the receiving end of some some fun relationships and some some serious some serious characters in our sport, and it just made it, maybe the years even that much more enjoyable when you're around some fun people and guys who can keep you on your toes at all time. June eighteenth is the anniversary of Clayton Kershaw's one and only career
no hitter. It's the seven year anniversary of you catching that no hitter. And I went back to watch that entire game last night. I wanted to point out a couple of different at bats, but before we do, I know, Clayton's all on that five day schedule, good or bad. The next day he's on to the next start. But do you remember what it was like the day after the no hitter when he walked into the clubhouse. Did you guys drive to the ballpark together that day? What was it like
if you remember now? Yeah, No, I think it was. I think it was a little bit of business as usual for him, But also I think he was out, was really still in that reflection mode of just how special the previous night was it wasn't just a no hitter. I mean it was it was it was him, you know, on the national stage, you know, really putting a stamp on you know, who he was,
was the dominant pitcher. I think every run at that point knew, you know, he had kind of you know, transcended into being the best picture on the planet for that stretch of time that he was that he was out there competing. But for him to do it in the way that he did it, it wasn't just a no hitter. It was complete utter dominance and it was the talk of baseball for the week to follow it. And I think that was in the midst of him not mistaken like a thirty eight
or thirty nine Indian scorelesstreak he had going as well. So he was he was at at as as our friend John Pratt Pratt like to say, he was at the peak of his powers, and he was. He was. He was absolutely dominant over that over the course of over the course of that
month. And yeah, so I think coming in the next day, you know, obviously there's the next name media rush that comes as the national media now wants to be a part of it, and there's interviews, and you know people will from ail Me network want to connecting radio interviews, and so there was definitely a flurry of people who really wanted to get a little bit
farther behind the curtain of what that game was all about. June eighteenth, twenty fourteen, the one and only no hitter that Kershaws pitched so far, and in that game, which was basically a perfect game despite it not being that in the box score, there was only one three ball count a j and that was in the second inning. To Josh Rutledge, does that ring
a bell? I mean it's the have a good slider. I think he threw to get a ground out if I'm not mistaken, But yeah, it was a day where it was It was one of those days where Clayton would get strike one in a simple pattern or his his his standard pattern, and that how we pitched at the time of it was just an aggressive fastball inside. I think they were loaded up with all writing hitters on that day,
aggressive line up. Just Dickerson led off with the left. But but then he it was one of those those handful of times I can remember where he had his A plus slider and his A plus curveball working on the exact same day, so really behind the plate, it was honestly just pretty simple for myself of just putting down a pitch, getting strike one, and then kind of just mixing and matching between the two breaking balls that we needed to use.
And he was he was efficiently putting guys away, and you know, to strike down fourteen guys I believe it was that fifteen so few, Yeah, that's right, fifteen guys and so and so few pitches. This speaks to how just you know, dominant and efficient he was in that game. Hey, the seventh inning was very eventful. Miguel Rojas made a great play
on Tulowitzki and Adrian had a nice scoop. But also in that seventh inning was Hanley's throw that Adrian may or may not should have been able to get and Brandon Barnes was the next batter after the Hanley error in the seventh inning. Were you a little concerned that that may frustrate Clayton and things could unravel there in that inning? No, actually I wasn't. I think my only concern at that point was that you know, he had pitched, you know,
six clean innings in a row. So this is his first time being in the stretch the entire day. So you know, this guy, he just pitched them from the lineup for six trade innings, maybe trying to find his rhythm, find his time into the stretch, but it's pretty evident that he was. He was in a good spot right there. But really tough
play for Hanley and I came and got that on the run. And I love watching back the highlights and watching you know, Hanley's hat go flying off, and if you go back and watch it, you see Clayton bend over and pick up his pick up Hanley's hat handed to him and say, hey, nice try. Uh the handling just like no frustration, no no rotation, and Clayton probably you know, probably never even looked at the school board.
It's als onto the next hitter, and it was onto the next guy, and uh, you have to get to strike out of barns and then you know two of whisky. Just a you know, always a tough battle in the n last years that we had and he and Clayton had had many epic showdowns over the years and ground ball down the line, the go Rojas who uh, you know, it's really made a name for himself, you
know. And I think back then he was kind of an up and down utility infielder, can kind of plug and you know, more for his glove than his bat. And you know, as an aside, really proud of Miguel in the career he's been able to carve out, carve out and the leader he's become for that marveling team. But they had just a fantastic play down the line and just to get rid of the ball and and and a grace by a goal glover over at first base. So just a good all
around play and then to go and strike out. You have to remind up believe his willing. Rosario was next if that's a mistake. If I'm not, he was through it, through it, through a nasty curveball there to freeze him. And at that moment, chatting off, trotting off the field, it's almost like, way, that's that's the bullet we dodged, you know, let's push through the finish line right here. Yeah, And in that eighth inning, it was very easy for you guys to get through that
inning. And I noticed when both of you were coming off the field, but especially Clayton, he had a sense. You could tell he had that smirk on his face coming back to the dugout. He had a sense he was going to get to the finish line. Did you feel that way too after coming off the field in the eighth inning, Yeah, it felt good about it for sure, And you're exactly right. It was. It was very, very evident that the Rockies had figured out, do not let this
guy get too strikes because he's got a nasty strikeout stuff. And I toel like they're desire to swing at first pitches and be a bat and just try to get the first pitch they saw in play was definitely what their game plan became from that point. But there's a great moment there after the eighth inning. Uh, you know it was, Uh, We're sitting over the bench and Rick Honeycutt and myself are over there, and obviously it's a no hitter
and it really want a matter for to know it or not. Clayton's gonna sit by himself and no one's gonna talk to him, remembers, gonna let him say his his tunnel vision, and uh, you know, Rick and I are trying to figure out who they're gonna pinch. It. I can't remember who all they had I do the pitch. It end up being Charlie Colberson, who became a Dodger hero with a big home run in his career,
but Charlie was with the Rockies as a bench player. Both Rick and I are trying to figure out who they're gonna who they're gonna pinch it, and when you what our game plan is going to be against him and him and are kind of Rick and Ire kind of standing there talking and looking. Also we feel this presence come behind us and it's Clayton right there, and he was looking like this. He says, hey, who do you think they're gonna pinch hit? Well, you don't want to Jinx and no hitter
and no one wants to talk to the pitchers. So Rick and I were just staring at each other like uh uh, like I'm not gonna go first, and uh and Rick and then the Clayton just says that I think it's gonna be Cleverson. I'm just gonna pitch my strengths. And I'm like that's kind of now in my head, like yeah, pitch his strengths. And
he went back and sat back. But Rick Rick Rick he I always chuckle and we tell that story just thinking about nobody wanted to be the one to talk to Clayton, and Clayton came over and I wanted to talk about who the pinter was going to be. And yeah, I mean there wasn't gonna
be some detailed game plan. Hey, Charlie Colberson, we got to go curb ball first pitch and you were you were so locking He was so locked in on that day that pitched the strengths, you know, And for ninety nine percent of Clayton's career, especially in that era that he was pitched the strengths. Was usually a pretty easy game plan for him to go out and and be be who he was. Yeah, and Colberson swung at the first
pitch for the second out, it is he had. He had a nice pop up the yachtiel out there in right field, which is probably the only time that yachtiel caught a ball two hands out there right field, which was interesting you go back and watch the highlight, but uh yeah, he secured the catch and then set up the final bat with Colberson, I'm sorry with Dickerson, which is also has a great fun moment where Clayton Corey flips the foul ball into the left field or we had to dug out bleachers, and
I go running in full steam and I end up in Magic Johnson's lap over there in the owner's box. I'm trying to catch a foul ball. It was probably about twenty five rowers d but at definitely I'm trying to catch everything I can. You had to know I was going to bring that up, so you jumped me. No, I didn't know. It's it usually comes up. It's one of it's one of those funny I ran full steam into
that thing like an idiot. You know, it's it's it's it's just trying to make its play, trying to get there, and the adrenaline took over. But uh yeah, I go running in. Clayton's like laughing at me. If I remember Riley, It's like, I like smile at me, like what are you doing? You're you're You're an idiot. Yeah, and so yeah, but he went back and uh yeah, uh he threw a slider and got the punch up. Yeah, and then uh yeah, next pitch a slider that they got got got to the glove and I don't know
if you're gonna you're gonna bring this one up or not either. But uh, it's funny if you watch the highlights back and watch the game, uh three weeks earlier, uh, roughly in Philadelphia. I wasn't going to bring this up. I was not going to bring this up. Josh Beckett threw a no hitter and Drew but Terra. I love Drew. Drew is a great friend, a great another great uh great character in our game. Drew is a starting catcher, and Drew enough to celebrate, as he said,
and he's out there in the dog pile, bounce around his mask. Catcher's mask goes flying into the pile. Well, here comes the athletic Midwest thirty thirty five year old, you know, lumbering catcher into the dog pile. Jumps up into the pile to celebrate with my teammates, and I land with my right foot right on top of the Drew's catcher's mask, and it's pretty severely sprained my ankle and they put me on the DL for eighteen days.
And I always give Drew a hard time about it, and like said, hey, if I ever catch you no later, I'm not taking my mask with me. I'm not going to put my teammates in harm way. I'm a better teammate than you, like I care about people and just give him a hard time. But I did. He got the strikeout, and if you watch back, I leave my mask at home plate and I run out there because, like I told Drew, I care about my teammates more than he does. Yeah, yeah, I remember. I remember the day.
The next day after we got back from Philadelphia, I walked into the clubhouse and your ankle is all taped up, and you're a like so bummed out that happened. Oh, And I was like, and I was like, I think I was talking to you. I think I was talking to Alana Rizzo at the time. I'm like, please, like get video footage of the story. Like the last thing I want is like for people like to
not believe me. I think that I like was you know, like you like as you said earlier, over served in Philadelphia on Saturday, like sumbled stumbled over a curb or or trip somewhere, but like, please let the people know this was actually like an idiotic, idiotic, non athletic athletic move, but actually did happen on the baseball field. Hey, speaking of the celebration, there's that iconic photo of you and Kershaw embracing on the mound.
How big of that photo is hanging in your living room right now? Is it sixteen twenty or larger? Uh? It is? You know what I think? Uh? Well, which one? We got one? We got one on each floor of the house. You know, you know there, I'll be first one to be uh, you know, self deprecated. And there are people out there who will say that I am sitting right now in the house that Kershaw built. I'm not. I'm not like I. There's
part of it that can't deny that our relationship was special. And I will be the first admit that Mike, who was probably extended and probably a little bit overinflated because of our relationship and my ability to work with him. But no, I do have a nice I haven't I you know, honestly, Dave, I haven't planning up. I do haven't a been full of no hitter, the memorability from that game, the scorecard and baseball from that game,
and a couple of other items. It definitely those photos, and we've talked about doing something and putting putting up, putting up maybe a plaque. But at at the same time, like it's similar to what you said earlier. It's like not about like the items, like you mentioned the ring,
It's about the relationships, and it's about the memories. And like I I love the memories I have from that day and even just talking right now, I'm smiling right now just thinking back just so much that happened on that day and and just this just this the moment of that day and you talking about celebrating, and you know, there's a great moment there on the field and you know, Ellen, she comes down and and they get to share it
together. But we go in the clubhouse and you know, obviously, uh, I don't know if you know as fans know this or not, but there's a Major League rule, and it's a very wise rule that there's not there's not on the alcohol served in the home clubhouse because people have to drive home back to the game. But we we had other items of uh, you know, different types of milk and soap and you know, anything you
get any shaving cream, and Clayton got to go. Clayton got to go get in the shower, and we all got to kind of do our best to got to dirty him up a little bit, but not after his showers,
did his media. He was sitting there by the locker. And you know, one of the traditions I had when I was in LA and in my career was if the Dodgers of the team I played with one, my son Luke got to come and spend time in the clubhouse afterwards, because the clubhouse was it was fun and boisterous and you know, it's a good, good place for kids, and you know, he got to come in and
have a chocolate milk and just have a good time. But he, uh, there's a I have a great picture of him and Clayton and they both kind of holding up a zero sign with their fingers and Luke has no idea what he's doing. He's you know, he's five years old at the time and I'm sorry, four years old at time, and he doesn't even know what he's doing, but he's name with Clayton. They're both holding up a
zero. And it's like memories like that or or what a really much more special than uh, you know, any any framed photo or uh you know, nostalgic plaque or anything like that. It's the memories it's the people. It's conversations like this just and we get to share. Yeah. I like to call it the a j Ellis no hitter. Now there you go, There you go. Please, let's let's let's let's get that going. Yes, do the kids do the Ellis kids call Clayton uncle Clayton or do you
just keep it at mister Kershaw or Clayton? What what's the appropriate addressing for your kids? Well, you know what's funny is uh, you know, I got to spend some time with him when they played the Brewers, and we gotta hang out together. And my kids aren't the only one. I've been around other people and for some reason, like it always rolls together.
It's like Clayton Kershall. My kids will be addressing them and like like Luke would be like, hey, Clayton Kershall, Like what's your favorite stadium? You're Clayton. I'm like, I'm like Luke, Luke, just call him Clayton, or call him curse or call him home like that. But you know, but no, it's uh, yeah, it's it's funny how and then again, like my kid's not the only one. You'll be out and people be like, hey, Clayton Kershaw. It's just one of those names
that just it rolls, It rolls hand in hand. You know, I don't hear too many a j eliss. I'm sure you don't hear too many. Dave best age. We probably can't repeat the words that we're heard when we see by. It's definitely Clayton Kershaw. You hear that one a lot. I look forward to seeing you when Andre Ethier and I come visit in his summer home in Milwaukee one day. So I appreciate that. Right, we'll see you out there. I'm I'm the caretaker. I'll be the guy
out you know, moaning the grass and pulling the weeds. And I'm just glad to Andre allows me. It's a little me and the family, a little a little nook in the basis of Prus to stay in. All right, man, this is great. We'll do this again soon. I hope to see you in person very soon. Awesome, Dave, good to connect with you. Enjoy enjoyed the time out there, and uh, you know, tell the boys. I said, hey, when you get in the club offs next there. He was aj Ellis, the Dodgers catcher during Kershaw's
prime. In his career, and certainly happy that aj Ellis was there for Kershaw on his no hit or night against the Rockies June eighteenth, twenty fourteen, one of the best pitch games in Major League Baseball history. That'll do it for us tonight here on Dodger Talk. In case you missed any of the show, you can find it on the iHeartRadio app. That's also where you can get all your past Dodger Talk shows, interviews, anything you need
Dodgers related on the iHeartRadio app. Just search Dodger Talk Like subscribe and you won't miss an interview or an episode. You can also follow me on social media on x at the Real Underscore DV and on Instagram at officially VASSA. Thanks to Ronnie Fossio for all his help. Thanks for listening. Fox Sports Radio is next. We'll talk to you tomorrow. See you