Dodgers Andy Pages Extension, 10 BIG Takeaways, Freeland vs. Kim, Shohei Ohtani, & More!

the Dodgers have started their season three and oh, we've got 10 big takeaways from the

first week of action. Also, the Dodgers have not discussed a contract extension without

field or any pahez today. And who will be the most valuable addition of the Dodgers this season?

Will it be Kyle Tucker? Will it be Ed Wind Diaz? We're talking about those World Series rings

and tonight, Rokie Sasaki makes his season debut. That's coming up next on Dodgers Doug

L.I.

Live from the heart of Los Angeles, this is Dodgers Dugout Live with your host, Doug

McKayde, what is up Dodgers nation and welcome to another episode of Dodgers Dugout live

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that put this together, you got a lot nicer locker here behind me with the number one at

Jersey says nation on the back of the jacket. Got my name plate. Got the bobble heads and

most importantly, you got the 100,000 subscriber YouTube plaque. That's the most important

thing for sure. Today's Dodgers Dugout live poll questions show. I asked you guys over

on the X who will end up being the Dodgers most valuable addition this season. And right

now it's 50 50. You're rarely ever going to see that. But right now 50% of Dodgers fans

stay Kyle Tucker, 50% of Dodgers fans say Edwin Diaz will talk about that in a second

here. But baseball is officially back. There's so much Dodger baseball to get into. So let's

get right into it.

Leading off the hottest story in Dodger baseball.

All right. So we get to our 10 big takeaways like we do every single Monday during the season.

But the lead off today is going to be about Andy Pahez and according to Fabian Ardaya.

I do the show the Dodgers collective with. He's the man from the athletic. He's reporting

that the Dodgers have quote not broached any extension talks with Andy Pahez. Now Pahez

is controlled through the 2030 season. He's going to be 30 when he's eligible for free

agency in the 2030 and 2031 off season. So there really is no panic or urgency to get

a deal done. It's not like he's in his walk platform season as a free agent or anything

like that. But he's on pace to get to super two status and an extra year arbitration and

any extension would give the Dodgers the opportunity to gain some cost control, some certainty

over what will be increases in his salary through the arbitration process because he's

going to get for arbitration years instead of the customary three. So that's interesting

because Andy Pahez we know has really improved as a player. He continues to get better.

He was close to being an all star last season. He just missed it. But he's given the Dodgers

something that they really hadn't developed since a will Smith essentially and that is

a proven every day position player that looks like he's going to be a part of this team's

foundation. Last season Pahez wasn't above average batting 114 OPS plus he had 27 doubles

had 27 home runs year before that he was an average bat this year through three games

at the big home run in the first night, the three run bomb for the Dodgers that really

got things going offensively. Ultimately they would score eight runs. But I think if

the Dodgers you at least would have those conversations because typically when players get

to the status you're at least going to check in and you're going to address it at some level

because this is a four war player. Last season a 4.1 F war well above average defensively

he's an above average bat and you want to lock up some of these guys because you already

have the stars locked up and then you got the extension done. We'll submit a couple years

ago. He looked at the future of the outfield position as far as the prospects go. You

got host way to Paula Zyer hope Eduardo can tarot James tips of third Mike Sarota. Those

are guys that are already starting to emerge. They're going to get some opportunities probably

this year. Maybe there's an injury later in the season next year. Of course, Teostar

Nandes one more year on his deal. So Andy Pahez if he puts together a really nice season

and he's getting close to 30 home runs. He's holding down center field as an everyday center

fielder. Well, guess what? Those are the kind of guys that get paid. I mean, you could be

looking at an extension worth over a hundred million dollars for Andy Pahez and for a guy

that has proven himself on this team in this franchise. That's saying something that

we're even talking about this. The big question is, do they think that he has cemented his

status as a guy that is going to be the everyday center fielder for this organization?

Because you guys know my five stages of a big leader, right? The stage one is the boyhood

dream is realized. You make your debut, your family's there. They cut to your mom and

your dad and your sister and your brother and your girlfriend or wife and they're crying

and you get your first hit. They give you the ball. You get your first strike out. They

give you the ball. You get the lineup card. You get the cool patch on your jersey that

Major League Baseball puts there when you make your debut. All that stuff is great. It's

awesome. But after that, it's the stage two and stage two is the prove you belong stage.

And for as much success as Andy Pahez has had, he went four for 51 in the post season.

He was an average bat after the all star break last year. The defense, I think, is going

to play up. I think he's go glove caliber in the outfield as a corner in center field.

I think if you're being completely objective, it's tough to say that his defense is better

than P Crow Armstrong. I think P Crow Armstrong is a clear cut, better outfield defender

in center field. But I do think that the big key for any pauses here is to go from my

stage two of a big leagueer, the prove you belong stage to stage three. And that's the

smash mouth stage. That's the hey, now you're an all star. Get your game on. Let's play.

And if he makes the all star team this year, then you start to say, okay, he's here to

stay because I need to see more from Andy Pahez to feel comfortable saying that because

we saw it happen a couple of years ago with James outman. James outman, if it is third

in the all star voting had 23 home runs. And then he fell off a cliff. I don't think

Andy Pahez is going to fall off a clip. I think that Andy Pahez is a legitimate big

leagueer. I think he certainly has the potential to be an all star. I think if I'm just looking

at my crystal ball down the line, I do see an extension getting done at some point.

I do see him being a part of this Dodgers nucleus for the next four, five, six, seven

years because he's proven that he has a swing that can make adjustments when he falls

into slums. And also he defensively has proven that he can get better too. It's talking

to Dino evil in Miami. We talked about Andy Pahez's defense and center field. And one

thing he told me was he focused on that first step and getting those reads right and being

quick to the baseball. And you're already seeing the routes improve. You're seeing the reads

improve. But having said all that, I have to see it for a second season, right? Because

the truth is he did it for one season, wire to wire, 3.8 war on B war at four, four point

one. So a four war players extremely valuable. But if he does it this year, then I'm certifying

him. Even if he doesn't go to stage three, the all star stage, he can make it past stage

two, where he's an everyday player. And if he does that, then I think that you really

need to start having those conversations. And I don't think I think it's a little too

early now. I think it's a little too early right now for the Dodgers to just lock everyone

up because when Will Smith got his extension, made man, right? Andy Pahez is still getting

there. He turned the Pahez on a bad season a couple years ago when he had some slums.

Last year was big. This is the year though. So stage three, the all star stage, stage four,

you are they get the bag stage, right? The big bag. We're talking free agency bag. We're

talking 200 million, 300 million. You're big, big contract. Stage five is legacy stage.

That's all stars world series titles. That's patting that Hall of Fame resume. And right

now, Pahez right there at stage two. So I think it's early. I know that's not me saying

I think that he won't ultimately get there. I do. I think that Andy Pahez has the

talent and the potential to earn that bag. But if I saw an extension today and it was

breaking the Dodgers, signed Andy Pahez to $150 million extension, buy out some of those

arbitration years. I would say, all right, that's a little early because you're doing it

after just one above average season. Just one thing you need to see too. And then you

start to have that conversation. But I love the progress. I love the heartbeat. I think

that he's a much needed infusion of youth for this team. And I look at that outfield,

Kyle Tucker's 29. Andy Pahez entering his age 25 season. He's a young player. You need

that shot of youth. And let's be honest, there hasn't been a lot of great homegrown players.

The Dodgers have developed in recent seasons that have proven themselves beyond the, hey,

we're going to make our debut type level, right? We'll smith debut in 2019. Andy Pahez

debuted in 2024. We thought Gavin Lux was going to be that guy. We thought that James

Alman could have been that guy. We thought Zack McKenzie had some potential to help. Don

rushing, I think is the next guy in line to prove that he has a chance to be a long-term

contributor as a backup catcher, but also we'll see what happens with Will Smith as

far as position changes down the line. I mean, Will Smith could put himself in a great

position for a long-term career behind the dish. So it's tough to see Alex Freeland

has sunk him. Don rushing, we already talked about, but they need to develop as many of these

guys they can because now you're starting to see the contracts pile up, right? I mean,

you look at $100, $200, $200, $300 million deals at every position and you start to think,

okay, you can only head out so many of those. Not that the price tag is not some of the Dodgers

are willing to do, but every time Andy Pahez works out, it frees up money for a Blake

snail, right? Every time a more cost control player is able to have some success, you can spend

money on some of the luxury things. I mean, Mookie Betts, being your shortstop allows you to spend

on Edwin Diaz, right? All this stuff is interconnected. So I love the progress, though,

and I really love the defensive improvement. I asked Andy Pahez after the game about that improvement

in centerfield and how he's continued to get better and how much countably he feels. He has

told me. Andy had the big sliding catch there in the seventh inning. Just what's been the biggest

key to your continued improvement there and just how much more countable do you feel in centerfield?

I feel better and better out there every day. The more you play, the more reps you get out there,

the more confidence you get in there. I think that's showing.

So my goal for Andy this year, 30 home runs, give me 90 RBI, give me top three defensive

metrics in centerfield, and then maybe we can have a conversation. One more thought on that too

is for everyone screaming for Andy Pahez extension today is let's not forget that

having money is a reason to not extend a young player. And what I mean by that is if you're a

younger player that's having success and it looks like you have the potential to be a valuable

player to that organization, a lot of teams out there, the pirates, the Rockies,

other teams out there that aren't going to spend massively and for agency will say, hey,

we want this extension done so we can save money because we know we can lose this player one day.

We know it's arbitration number is going to get high if he's as productive as he has the potential

to be the Dodgers being the rich guys on the block. That's a reason to not extend a player

like Andy Pahez. You would think that's counterintuitive, right? You would think to yourself,

wait, since they have the money, why not just spend the money? Well, because of what happened last

off season, what the Dodgers do? They had a knee in the outfield. They had the 18th ranked outfield

as far as overall offensive production. And what did they do? They signed Kyle Tucker had a record

deal four years, 240 million, $60 million per with the deferrals of $57.1 million AAV. So when you

can flex that financial muscle, you don't necessarily want to lock up a guy because then that kind of

hurts your flexibility just a little bit. The Dodgers might want another outfielder down the line.

More of a established star outfielder. They might want to trade for an outfielder. They might

want to trade Andy Pahez if the right deal comes along. So that is a reason to not extend if you're

the Dodgers because you got that kind of money. What do you think about it like that? But hey,

I love it. We're one weekend. We're talking extension. That should tell you the kind of week

it was got some comments. Here we got Karina Rodriguez waiting for that first Otani homerun bombing

to really feel like it's time for Dodger baseball. That feeling is everything. Look,

we'll talk some Shohei Otani goes one for eight. But they're crowding him. They're not giving him

very much to hit. And he's doing what he needs to do to help this team win games. You saw him

roll over to the right side that allowed the run into advance that allowed for a big moment. I mean,

well, we'll talk some Shohei here. But yeah, I think tonight with his fellow countrymen,

Rokis Sasaki on the mound, maybe we'll want to give him some run support. And he'll hit his first

bomb tonight. I'm feeling it. We got Chris to helicopter love DMags. Voice very distinctive.

DMack have you always had an announcer's voice? No, I'll just be putting up comments here that

I'm not ready for sometimes. Yeah, I know. I don't know. I don't know. But you know what?

Honestly, I like your voices because this is your guys' show. I'm just hosting it. By the way,

shout out to Ava. Ava, you're at the stadium, right? You're you're interviewing fans.

Yeah. What's what of all the fans you talked to? I loved your your bit about what Dodger baseball

means to you. What really stood out? Just talking to those fans and what this team means to this

community. I'm at one lady generation Dodger. That's really shows that maybe there's a few that

have hopped on and here's but there's still those diehards in there. From day one,

the road passes are the seasons, everything. I love that. I love that because sometimes we'll

ask people who's your first favorite Dodger, the bandwagon's kind of exposed themselves when

they say show Hey Otani, right? Like your fan is probably like Pee Wee Reese, right? Roy Campanella

diving back into but yeah, awesome stuff. And yeah, no, I think that it really does feel like

everyone's back in lockdown with opening day here. No, well, was there too. No, well, big,

very popular guy. I told you Anthony Bond, it has his replacement in his name's Noah Sanchez.

I can't carry on that legacy. No, you are carrying on that legacy. Hey, what did you think of

I rather carry on McGill Vargas's legacy? Oh, hey, I saw some reels of him of him having a lot of

fans too. Yeah, right? Yeah, McGill Vargas is very popular with a certain demographic as well.

So that demographic is me, right? No, well, what did you think of Ring Night? I mean,

pretty electric in there. It was incredible. You know, a lot of people like to say that Dodger

stadium doesn't bring the same energy anymore, but I thought for all nine innings, the stadium

was electric. Everybody was having a great time. And you know, all nine innings when Edwin Diaz

came out to hear the job for the Dodgers, it was nice and loud. So it was a really good time

and seeing everyone get the rings is always amazing. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think that was the

most anticipated thing. It's kind of wild when you think about it. Like you have show,

hey, you have Yamamoto, you have Freddie Moogie, but if you would pull fans and ask them, what was

their most anticipated thing? It wasn't even the rings. It was how would Edwin Diaz look coming

out of bullpen? How would Narcos sound? How would Timmy Trumpen sound? So we'll talk about that,

too. We're talking on a tape, right? I think it's awesome. Yeah, it's got to talk to you on a tape.

Awesome. Look at your monitor story. Actually, it was funny. So that night, I told Rob, I was like,

hopefully we get Vesia and Diaz to make their debut and sure enough, both them did. So it was

electric. Yeah. No, well, that's some Tatiana. That was like a good song there. That

was the face. Yeah, the blue face. Yeah, you pronounce it a little different in that song,

but it's similar. Okay. Got you. All right. So guys, we got a lot to discuss and see the comments,

firing away. Guys, baseball is all the way back. You love to see it. But let's get into the 10

big takeaways from the week that was a little Dodgers rewrite. So we get into the first one here.

And why don't we start with this Dodgers offense. And you look at top to bottom

where this team was and how they performed. Yes, you had the four run innings. You had certain

innings where it looked like they were quiet for long stretches. And yeah, I mean, you look at

show Hey, 587 OPS, Kyle Tucker, 580 OPS, Freddie Freeman, 641 OPS, Teo, 200 OPS. You look at

just the entire group and they end up going 12 for 103 as far as the played appearances.

They hit 222 as a group. Slug 422. Yeah, at homeers from Freelind, Betts, and Pahez.

But to me, what stood out was the first thing you look at for elite lineup is

who are the guys that you don't always expect to come through? How well are you performing?

Yes, Shohei Otoni. He ends up going one for 13 played appearances scored two runs. Kyle Tucker

had a couple hits. Freddie, first game, second game, no hits. Then he had a multi hit game in the

final game. But it's the bottom of the lineup that I think gives this team the potential to be the

best Dodgers lineup and ultimately the best Dodgers team in franchise history and not even just that

to go a step further, the best team in baseball history. I think all those possibilities are on

the table with this group. And we saw on opening day, it was Andy Pahez hitting a big three run

home run to get things started. It was Andy Pahez defensively making that nice sliding catch.

Then in the second game, who was it that got the scoring going? It was Alex Freeland. Alex

Freeland, he steps up in a big spot in a big moment and is able to come through in a game where

the offense really was having their issues. And he also had another hit later in the game that was

a double. So that is to me what makes this team potentially special is you have guys in their

lineup that are batting down guys like Max Muncie and Tiasco Hernandez batting six batting seven.

Andy Pahez were talking about a hundred million dollar extension and an all-star team. He's batting

eighth Alex Freeland. We're talking about a guy who's the eighth best prospect in the Dodgers

organization. He had a home run in a double. There's so much length and quality depth in this lineup

that they're going to eat because the big dogs are already at the bowl eating before them.

Dave Roberts talked about this after the game that the pressure that the Dodgers top five puts on

teams. It makes it where by the time you've gotten to Tiasco Hernandez, you got into Max Muncie,

you got into Andy Pahez or Alex Freeland or Miguel Rojas. I mean, your pitcher has expended so much

energy to that point that those guys are going to be able to have success because of it. I mean,

you look at the first game, the six through nine hitters when it combined four of eight at one point

and yeah, it's just one of six one sixty two in that one. But if you get that level of consistent

production from that top of the lineup, this is going to be a lot that's going to be able to score

five plus runs per game. And that was the output to start the Dodgers. They ended up

scoring over five runs per game. And you're at 5.33 scored 16 runs in three games. And that is

exactly what you're hoping to get from this team is is just consistent offensive production.

Because last year, let's not forget in the post season, they fell apart for certain stretches.

The Dodgers for the first team since 1966 to win a world series where he had 203 in a series.

So the at bats are better. The pressure is better. And the bottom of the lineup, I think, is going to

ultimately determine whether or not this team goes down as an all-time team. And I talked to

Teoscar Hernandez on opening day. And one thing he told me was this team is making no secret about

it. Like they're going to say all the right things when they're in front of the mic about, oh,

you got to take it game by game day by day. We're not going to think about a three-peat,

even though you've only had a handful of teams in the history of this game to do it. The Yankees did

it three times. The A's did it once. The Dodgers trying to be just a third team,

a major league history to win three straight titles. But I guarantee you that it's not even in the

back of all these players' minds. I think it's in the middle to the front of their minds,

knowing that a championship this season cements them as not just one of the great Dodgers teams

of all time. It cements them as one of the great baseball teams of all time. We are talking murderers

Ro Yankees. We're talking big red machine reds. We're talking late 90s, early 2000s Yankees.

And as great as the Dodgers have been throughout their lustrous history,

they've never went back to back. They did that last season. They never had a true world series

winning dynasty. And they're in the midst of that right now. So I do want to say that my

wins prediction was 105. I had the Dodgers winning 105 games. But I will say this is the juice

that you feel at Dodger Stadium where you've got 50,000 plus fans every night here to see show

hey, here to see Will Smith, here to see Edwin Diaz and all this talent and all this electric

stuff. I think the way to take the juice to the next level for this team is if they go on a run

in the first two, three months of the season. And that 116 regular season win record is within

reach or they're on pace for that that this a Dodgers team that owes it to themselves to go for it.

And I hear everyone parroting the same thing saying, oh, they don't need 100 wins to win the world

series. You don't go for that Mariners record. You care about the 11 wins in the post season or

the 13 wins in the post season to get it all. But the truth is this team is designed to win games

in the regular season and the win games in the post season. The only reason why they won 93

games last year was because their bullpen fell apart. Their 72 million dollar closer led the league

and blown saves. Now you have Edwin Diaz who already has two saves to start the season. He knows

how to handle the ninth inning. He's not afraid of the moment. And I always say this about a lot of

these players. Don't be afraid to be a Dodger. And I think Edwin Diaz is a great example of that.

Is played in New York, played for the meds, played for Puerto Rico, has the electric entrance. He's

here for that no biz showmanship element of this. And then on the flip side, look at the outfield.

The Oscar and Andy's was in the right last year. The outfield production was low. I can

for to really struggled. Now you have Kyle Tucker. A guy that's already had an impact on this team

offensively and defensively had the big double to score. Show Hey couple nights ago made the big

rob job of the home run. So I don't think there's any reason why this team can't make a run at 116

plus wins. It's now you're actively trying to lose the only time that you would actively not

want to win games is if you're resting players for no apparent reason. But we've seen already that

some of these younger players have every incentive to want to pitch well, want to hit well,

want to play well defensively. So I think that it's within the realm of the possibilities this

season that the Dodgers can win 116 plus games. I really do because the bullpen's better,

the outfield's better. Mookie looks like he's right again. And yeah, I think that we could

recalibrate expectation. I know I hear it. De maggot just three games. I would say this before

the series two. I would say it's before this series two. Right. So I caught up with Teosco Hernandez

on the field at Dodgers stadium this weekend. And yes, wasn't the best first series for Teosco,

Hernandez, Teo, end of going one for 10. And he did kind of get on that number that started the

rally with Andy Pahas there in the first game, but he looks great. Basically, this is the best he's

looked as a Dodger. The swing looks right. I think it's more comfortable to in left field,

then right field. And just overall, he looked like he's in a really good place. So here's my

little chat with Teosco Hernandez. Teosco Hernandez, best smile on all the baseball. Joining his

Teo get a great spring, but today's opening day. Just how excited you get things going.

You know, feels really excited to be back here in front of our fans. I know it's been

trying to know it's great, but I was ready to go here. So we're really good right now.

It physically, it's noticeable. Looks like you're in the best shape of your life. I know a lot of

players say that this time of year, but is this the best shape that you've been entering a season

in your time with the Dodgers? Yeah, the last four years. I can tell like this is the best

shape that I can be body-wise and on the field. I feel like I'm ready to go and

waiting for positive things to happen. And we know what it looks like when you're at your best.

It all started hit her 30 plus home runs. What's the goal for you this year? Is it to be back in

the all-star game? Things like that? Not really. For me, it's more about health than anything.

Last year, I mean, it's like 20-something games because of my injury. My goal for this year

is just trying to play 162 and trying to be there every single day. How weird is it to see Clayton

Kershaw in a suit being a broadcaster, Jay, calling to give it not being that clubhouse? I know,

he looks really weird. I don't think that's for him. He looks better with the uniform on.

We're going to miss him a lot, but he's going to be around. So we're going to give him some love

while we can and just trying to make this moment really a special one for him and for us too.

And Taylor, you're going to be asked about the three-piece thing all season. This culture and this

clubhouse, it's about winning a game, winning this year. But is that an extra motivation at all to

say, hey, we have a chance to do something. It's only been done a handful of times in the history of

this game. Yeah, that's the main goal. Obviously, together, you've got to win in the regular season

and then that's the main focus just trying to win every single day and trying to do the best

that we can to get back to the wall series and obviously to win another championship.

And what do you think your emotions are going to be like when you see that cover come off

and see 2025? You've won two World Series with the Dodgers. What do you think those emotions

are going to be like here in the fans just celebrating tonight? Yeah, I mean, they deserve it.

The best fans in baseball. This is for them. We play for them. Obviously, we want to win so they can

enjoy every single night at the field and can't wait for that moment up. Awesome.

Taylor, walk up song the same this year? Same one, same one. It's a class. You don't mess with it,

right? Yeah, I don't really like to mess around with it. I've been listening to those songs

for a really long time, so I think that's for my career and I'm going to give a listen to it.

Do you have a guess as to which of you guys is going to win the first ABS challenge?

Is it going to be you? Maybe not. I think show has going to be the one.

Show me. Yeah, possible. Teo. Have a great year and we're excited, man. Look and great.

Awesome on the field and have a great year, Teo. Give it a man, man. Appreciate it.

That was Teosker Hernandez. Look, slow first series. The swing looks a lot better. Physically,

he looks like he's in great shape. I'm expecting big things again from Teosker.

Hernandez got some super chats. By the way, anytime you drop a super chat,

you're going right to the front line. It's like lightning lane. It's fast pass.

You go right to the front. Nightwing 184, what we have here is Will Smith, the best LA Dodgers

catcher ever. Great segue. We're going to talk some Will Smith right now. Is he the best Dodgers

catcher ever? The answer to that is no. And right now, it's not really close as far as best

all time because you guys know that to Roy Campanella won three MVP's as the Dodgers backstop and

has over 40 war. I mean, the Dodgers have a lot of great catchers. I think Will Smith ends up

on that pantheon for sure because of not only what he does in the regular season as an all-star

catcher, but also the postseason heroics. This is a guy that is as clutch as it comes. He's a guy that

has the game winning home run in the World Series. I would say as far as peak, I hate to say this

because I kind of hate this dude because he was said to not so nice things about Vince Scully,

but Mike Piazza. I don't hate him as much as Shyla Buff, by the way, but Mike Piazza,

certainly individually. No one's going to touch that that season. Like no, like as great as Will

Smith is, his heights will never, I don't think reach what Mike Piazza's heights were offensively.

You look at Piazza's 97 season, a 185 OPS plus hit 40 home runs had 124 RBI. Really,

the only person individually that can, you can say in Dodger's history that had a better season

that was show Hayotani and in the 50, 50 season and the season that he's put together already in

those seasons that he is going to put together. Just for context there, Will Smith, his best season

for a Dodger is, I think home runs wise, I'm looking for a career high, but he had 25 home runs

in 2021, OPS plus though. In 2020, he had a 162, 2025 though. Last year,

a really good season. I mean, I don't want OPS, one thing to do, OPS plus me, Will Smith,

really incredible. But let's talk some Will Smith now because he was the hero on Saturday night.

Dave Roberts said that he originally was not going to be in the lineup and then he said,

it's my bubble tonight. My family is doing it at the first page. I want to be in there.

And what does he do? He not only plays, but he's the reason why they win. How can you not be

romantic about baseball, right? By the way, the Will Smith, after every time Will Smith has a

a big game or a big moment. I mean, you guys will not let the Will Smith, other Will Smith, he,

he, he, D Mag Will Smith told that ball to keep his name out of his mouth and he slapped that ball

like it was Chris Rock. I mean, can you guys please end that? We need to hear that every single

time Will Smith does something. Axe, I'm here for it and makes me laugh every time. But I think

the most impressive thing about that moment that Smitty had was something that I think is

emblematic and really epitomizes why this Dodgers lineup is as good as they are when they're firing

on all cylinders. And that is the competitive approach to an at bat and never giving up an

at bat, never giving up on a pitch. And it looked like that inning was over. It's the bottom of

the eighth inning. Yeah, Marillo in the game. He's pumping 98. He's pumping 99. And he had already

gotten out. Shohei Otani and Kyle Tucker. He had them ground out. It's two outs. And then

get Mookie bets a lot of credit. He draws a four pitch walk to really set the stage put the

tying run aboard. But Will Smith is at the plate. And I think outside of Freddie Freeman,

there's no one on the on this team. You'd probably want at the plate in that moment.

Then Smitty because with those shorter arms, he has the ability to cover all sides of the plate.

If there's a fastball inside, he's going to be able to get to it. Get his hands in and

spoil pitches. And that is what this team teaches their hitters. That is the approach with Aaron

Bates and Robert Van Scoyak and the hitting coaches on this team is they realize that if a opposing

pitcher is going to execute their pitch, well, you tip your cap, well, you don't go down swinging,

you foul it off and you wait for a pitch that you can drive. And that at bat, Smitty goes down

the count. Oh, and two, two straight fastballs on the outer half. And he takes ball three, ball four,

fouls off two really good pitches, four seamers on the inner half, one down and in. And then on

that seventh pitch, he leaves that heater up and Will Smith crushes it goes as a two run shot.

The Dodgers take a three to lead and they ultimately end up winning that game. So that is what is

going to take this team to new heights this season. If you can even go to new heights after winning

back to back titles is the ability to have every single one of your hitters come through

in moments like that. And Freddie Freeman said it after the game that everyone in this lineup could

be a number three hitter on most teams in major league baseball. Now is that entirely true? Maybe

a stretch a little bit, but his point remains the same that at about seven or eight, you really

could make the case that those hitters are good enough to be your number three number four hitters

for any team age league baseball. That speaks to the depth of this lineup. But also I think it

it speaks to this team being in those clutch situations again, again, again, again, playing deep

in the postseason, playing in the world series. So when there's a moment like that on a weekend game

in late March, of course, they're going to come through in that spot. Will Smith did it again.

My take on Will Smith this year is I think that everyone knows how good he is. But this is the

year that Will Smith surpasses Cal Raleigh as the premier catcher in all of major league baseball.

Cal Raleigh, the big dumpers been the big slumper to start this season. And Smitty, he just looks

like he's locked in and better than he's ever been. And he knows too. They brought in Kyle Tucker.

He knows too that there's some other guys in this lineup that are going to be competing to possibly

being hitting cleanup. And he wants to kind of keep that spot or hit third or hit fifth. So I

think it's going to be a big year for Will Smith. And just his ability to be the clutch prince like

I dubbed them back in 2019. It never ceases to amaze me. Slow heartbeat, right guy in the right

moment. And here was Will Smith after the game. You know, a lot of hard work. You know, I kind of

haven't felt great for a week or so. So I put a lot of swings in today in the cage. A lot of work

with the guys hitting coaches. You know, it's kind of reap the benefits a little bit on that, I guess.

But you know, just just trying to get back to who I am, you know, controlled zone,

not spoiled good pitches, you know, drive the pitches you should. That's who we are. That's the

Dodgers. That's, you know, we preach day in and day out, you know, one through 13 guys. This

was always on the roster. And you know, that's that's how football games. Yeah, I think,

you know, he's he's good. He throws hard. Just got to get slider. You know, it's the basketball kind of

guy. Yeah, you know, I think I was just kind of building confidence throughout the day.

You know, coming in, I was working a lot in the cage. I was kind of lacking it, but I know,

you know, in the game, you can just go compete. And you know, after a few good takes, it's kind of like

all right, kind of seeing it better, kind of stick to, you know, seeing the ball a little bit deep.

No one I can still catch up to 100. And yeah, got to grow on the ball.

So there's Will Smith. By the way, see the comments every time Mr. Classic, there's DMAX twin,

there's DMAX doppelgainer. First of all, let's not be disrespectful to Will Smith. Okay,

because I'm like Will Smith. He became the training camp on the Andrew Jones diet. Okay,

so the minute that Will Smith is looking like this, I don't know if he's going to be America's

catcher. I don't know if he's going to be passing Cal Royal. Of course, I'm only playing. I love

me some Will Smith. And that is not me. There is a picture of us in the same room at the same time.

So contrary to some of the theories out there, see Douglas Smith, America's catcher.

You got some super chats here for 99 DMAX super worried about Rocky tonight. Your thoughts will

get into that in a minute. Nightwing 499 Campanella never played in Los Angeles. So best

Los Angeles Dodgers question is my question might never want to series let alone three.

I think that if you want to say that Will Smith will go down to the best Los Angeles Dodgers catcher,

I think that's something that he's certainly on pace to do. He's 31. I think he has some really

elite catcher seasons left in him. So I certainly do think that. But before we get into

a comment from Will Smith that I think really tells you everything you need to know about

this Dodgers lineup and gets you into the mind of what it's like to be a Dodgers hit

here at the plate. I do want to say that this episode is brought to you by our friends over at

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for $20 off your first purchase game time. All right, you got some more comments here. We'll

get to those guys a Monday, a big takeaway Monday. Have that one of these in a while. But

the relentless approach of this Dodgers team, we saw it on display. It was Will Smith talking

about that and the performance of his family there. Don't not that first piece. They did a great

job. It was it was Will Smith. I don't know. You know, I definitely can stay calm in those big

situations. You know, not try to do too much. Just stick to my approach, what I'm looking for and

kind of let whatever happen, let whatever happens happens and knowing you guys have done this

so often before. Yeah, you know, I think there's just, you know, we never feel like we're out of it.

We keep taking good at that. We keep believing each other. Keep believing someone's going to come

with a big hit. The bullpen always keeps us in it. You know, they're so good down there and

you know, not letting the game get away. Yeah, it's just kind of a team effort.

So there was Smitty got some more super chats. Man cave DMACC. Have you come up for a good name

and name for Tucker yet or Freeland love? The nickname game you possess. I'm still working on

Freeland. I mean, Tucker, I've been doing LTG. Let's talk and go. King Tug is kind of his though.

I believe that is his nickname heading into this into this room with the Dodgers, but we'll work

on stuff. Alex Freeland. I was tinkering with some stuff. I've been tinkering with some self

of Alex Freeland. So I think his, his nickname was going to hopefully be permanent big

leager if, if your Alex Freeland. So all right, we got some, some more big takeaways to get into.

The next big takeaway. This was a nice start for the bounce back guys, the bounce back boys in

blue. As I'm calling them this season, the bounce back boys in blue, Tanner Scott, even Mookie Betts,

even Taos Grenandes, but the one that has the most to gain is Tanner Scott. I think that he was

extremely impressive in his first couple of appearances used in moments where he's not the closer,

but he really is closer adjacent and you saw Tanner Scott in the fastball. The life it has, the

mechanics look cleaner, more consistent. He was originally using a low levered situation that A2,

when he got the final out, got Mookie to pop out to end it, but how about top of the six with Thomas

at the play two, two count. He gets some swing and missing out of fastball up and in. And that was

the Tanner Scott that we signed up for. That's the Tanner Scott that we thought we were getting

last season. So if we're getting this version of Tanner Scott, that makes me feel like this bullpen

can be as good as their lineup, can be as good as their starting rotation. And all three phases

in all three units can be pluses. And I think that when I said earlier, you never want to,

don't be afraid to be a dodgy, right? Tanner Scott needs love from the fan base. I'll never forget

being at Dodgers Fest and he was getting heckled by Dodgers fans. Say one fan said to Tanner Scott,

I heard him. He said, Tanner, we don't want you, right? I mean, they were just openly heckling a guy

at fan fest. And look, this is LA that you sign up for. You got every right to heckle. I'm not saying

that. As long as you're not using profanian things like that, you're not being hateful. Like you

can do that. Do you? Not what I would do because I want my team to be as good as they could possibly

be. And I think you don't want to hurt a guy's confidence. But Scott looks much improved. The

command is better. The life on the fastball has just a little more explosion to it. And I think

we saw too why the Tanner Scott from last year didn't have the success that we were hoping for

because of the execution. And we saw what Tanner Scott looks like when he's really good, right?

The Dodgers saw that firsthand a couple of years ago when he's with the Padres and before that

with the Marlins. But when he's not afraid to attack hitters out of the zone, that's when you're

getting the best version of Tanner Scott. That's when you're getting that. And in the ad bat to

Thomas, first of all, gets ahead in the count. What's the best pitch and baseball? It's strike one.

What's an even better pitch and baseball? It's strike two. And when the Dodgers relievers are

doing that, they're not issuing free passes. They're not putting opposing hitters in advantageous

hitters counts. Then you can take advantage of nasty stuff out of the zone. After he got ahead

on Thomas, he threw two straight sliders that were intentionally out of the zone. And then on

the four scene fastball, he goes up and in. So he had him looking down away and he goes up and in

out of the zone to change those eye level. So this guy looks like he's a man on a mission this

season. He really does. And I think we're going to put some respect on on Tanner Scott's name.

Like, let's not forget that he was one of the best relievers in all of major league baseball

before he signed here a couple of off seasons ago. And if you get a designated closer

in Edwin Diaz and a Tanner Scott from the left side, you got a dominant lefty, a dominant

righty and a guy that he's built for this. And Edwin Diaz is going to be the best thing that's

ever happened to Tanner Scott because now he's a little more comfortable in that role. But I like

the way it's all the bounce back boys, the bounce back boys and blue. How about Mookie Betts?

Look at the home run that he had. Mookie hit a home run at four RBI. Yeah, to hit in the first

game that was pivotal. And then in the second game, Mookie, he did what you needed an explosive

number three hitter to do. He homework bottom of the third inning after Alex Freeland hit a solo

shot to make it the two one game. Show Hey and Tucker walked and then it was Mookie Betts

Oh, one count passball up in a way and you saw the strength was back because he got his

barrel to it and he hit it out to right center. I've only seen Mookie Betts homework at right center

maybe two or three times. And how did that home run go over the wall? It just scraped past the

wall. You see it right here goes right past the wall. And that is the difference of 20 pounds

of strength is Mookie Betts. He didn't have a strength last season. He lost it because he was sick.

He tried to gain it back, but you don't gain weight back that's not muscle mass and expect the

same result. So the bat speed from what I'm told is at a place where he feels like he doesn't have

to guess on swings and he doesn't have to try to over swing to find bat speed. And we saw that

right there. Mookie living his bedslife once again, a three run shot good night for him. And

if all these guys bounce back and the players that we know produce the level that we're accustomed to

just do the same. You're in for a special season. So I love seeing that. All right, let's talk some

Edwin Diaz real quick here lots to get into because the bullpen. That's my next big takeaway.

The bullpen. They're much improved. I think this is going to be a top five bullpen in all

the major league baseball after having a bullpen that you just could not trust. They were about as

reliable as the ice cream machine at your local McDonald's. They just struggled again and again.

They blew saves all season long. This bullpen not only were they dominant. They were good in close

games. They kept the Dodgers offense and it they gave Will Smith a chance to hit that go ahead

home run late. They gave Mookie bets in Alex Freeland a chance to make sure they can pile on some

runs and Kyle Tucker a chance to get a big hit to score Otani in this first series. So the bullpen,

they don't go to 11 and two thirds innings. All zeros. 11 and two thirds scoreless innings.

They had two inherited runners that did score on Friday. But outside of that, the bullpen look great.

Will Klein looks like he is not going to be remembered just for what he did in game three of the

World Series. The fastball life, the changes to that grip on the sweeper curveball to get

out right handed hitters. The appearance of Alex Vesia who looked really good. Tanner Scott

looked really good. Jack Dryer gave up a hit. But still, I think Bank is spurious. Look,

really good. I was really impressed with Edgar Henriquez hitting that 101 mile prowess sinker bottom

of the zone. Are you kidding me? How many pitches have that pitch? So the bullpen, it was a massive

upgrade. If last year, the bullpen was a D minus the first week, the bullpen gets an A. It was an A

for the bullpen and Edwin Diaz getting the two saves that he did. But doing it in a way that I

think should make you feel a little more comfortable about having a designated closer is Edwin Diaz

doesn't need to go out there and rely on high velocity every single time. Sometimes is

cement mixing slider to right handed hitters actually plays up because of his arm angles

and the way he's spotting it. So he's a guy that's going to go out there and study hitters,

study swings. And I think he handled it well. I mean, just can you imagine

having the entrance that he did have with the Timmy trumpet and Narco and going out there and

blowing the save. That'd be the biggest vibe killing moment to start a season that I can think of

after getting a world series rings and celebrating on opening day. If he did not come through in

those spots, it would have been pretty awkward, right? They wouldn't be playing Timmy trumpet or

Narco be playing taps out there on the trumpet. And it was cool to see him embrace it. I think

overall once they get the LED panels replaced, it's going to be better. I know that a lot of people

came down hard on the trumpet player, Tatiana Tates and that she was missing notes. Look,

I thought it was cool. Live music is live music. It's not going to sound exactly like it is on

the main track. So look, people need to just relax. Okay. She did her best and it was a really good

moment. I think the most important thing was the three outs that he did get and getting those

saves. And we see Dave Roberts now has a designated closer. He doesn't have to worry about

going to a match up in a ninth inning to finish a game. He knows that Edwin Diaz can get it done

because guess what? Edwin Diaz is good against right. He's good against left. He's good in big

moments. His career highs in saves is 57 in 2018. It makes you wonder if the Dodgers offense gets

going. How many of those will be saved situations, right? Because you need a shorter margin of score

to be able to get a save. But I thought I was electric. It lived up to the hype for me. I think

it's only getting a better. I think the timing for when he comes out of the bullpen should be kind

of synced up a little better, a little differently. I like to see the bullpen staff guys in there with

trumpets. So yeah, I thought this was great. Noah, what do you think of Edwin Diaz and the

Timmy trumpet entrance? Yeah. I mean, Edwin Diaz super electric. Everything that we were hoping for,

he got the job done fast. And like you said, he wasn't scared of the moment. He fully embraced it.

And that's exactly what you need on a team like the Dodgers. And as far as the performance,

it was going to be a tough task no matter who took it on. If it wasn't Timmy trumpets,

no, I think it not being him put an even bigger spotlight on whoever they were going to show on

the broadcast and showing the stadium playing it. But I still think Tatiana did a great job. Not

easy going in front of there. One of the most anticipated appearances and walkouts from Edwin Diaz.

So just for her to take it on, she said she rehearsed for like eight hours. And you know,

just because she missed that one note, I got off to a bad start. But I think she did even better that

second night. And like Dave Roberts said, I think we should see her again.

Absolutely. No doubt about it. I mean, I saw Timmy trumpet. I think posted on his Instagram story,

a picture of him wearing Edwin Diaz jersey. So maybe that's him saying, hey,

we'll work for trumpet playing. Maybe he wants the gig too. I don't know about that.

I'm disappointed though, because you know who I think they should have gotten.

Who? And Tatiana, I thought to define job. But I think that we all know who they should have

had gotten to play it. Antonio and Tony Taters. You know, I call Tony Taters. You had

an air trumpet in that thing. You had an air trumpet in that thing. No, but honestly,

I thought it was awesome. And I think too that the biggest takeaway for me was being inside

that stadium and trust me Dodgers Nation. No one will defend this fan base.

Harder than me. I am the the biggest defender of Dodgers fans on the planet. But

ain't nobody leaving that stadium early again. Yeah, like every single person that felt like

was still in their seats in anticipation of seeing Edwin Diaz come out. And hey,

is that's a way to solve that problem then great because Dodgers fans were bringing the energy

until the very end. They were there from the start to the finish. An early five o'clock game is not

easy to be there. And they certainly were there in force. And look, let's not forget this is

show business. This is an entertainment product. And look, we used to love California love

when Kenley Janssen would come out. If you got to experience

Eragonia coming out to welcome to the jungle, that was incredible. They're just something about

a closer entrance that makes you want to run through a brick wall. And Edwin Diaz certainly has

that I saw the that Mason Miller is coming out to like the corn thing. I'm just going to ask you

that I see people in the chat and I see people online. What do you think about the two walk out

songs compared to each other? I mean, it's what corn. I mean, I think it fits him. I think it

really fits him. I'm not really good too. I mean, the corn will get you hyped. Like I think

it's cool. Like my whole thing is is is once you start getting the lights involved, that's when

you start to really make it as a closer. So it has to fit the picture. I think his really fits him.

I liked the originality of it too. I'm not mad at it. I saw it and I saw Dodger fans. He's like,

oh, Timmy trumpets is better. It's like, why is it always going to be like that? Like it's not

as good as like Timmy trumpets is like, okay. So I'll break down for you. They act like two legends

cannot coexist. Exactly. That's a good way to put it. And I wouldn't know it's really called

basically a legend. Yeah. But but the songs. I mean, like, look, nothing's ever going to stop

Mariana Rivera's enter Sandman, right? I mean, the best closer of all time at Yankee Stadium in

those big moments. But Timmy trumpet is something that I think has got into a point where

the production value people have it in their heads. I mean, you're sitting in the press room and

reporters are like, huh me? You know me? Like, you kind of go to sleep with thinking about it. So

like, I think it's just going to be great for the sport and great for baseball. I think the

thing too is like, if he struggles, like, we're going to forget about it very quickly. And we're

going to hate on it quickly. Like, I'll never forget with Craig Kimberl a couple of years ago,

when he had Elsa's let it go. Yeah. And everyone's like, oh, this is awesome. He's got let it go

for his kids. And I said, they need to let him go, right? And Kimberlson needs to not be a Dodger.

But after he struggled, people like, oh, he sucks again, forget this guy, right? So

the point is your walk your walkout music is only as good as your ERA in your save total.

But the good thing is we know that Edwin D is a guy that can certainly back it up. But all right,

guys, the longer show today, we'll kind of push on these other ones for tomorrow. Got some more

exclusive dugout and on field interviews will get to you. But hey, it is a lit chat. A lit chat.

So I want to spend some good time. We're going to bring back the Collins, by the way. Wait for

that for tomorrow. But let's get to you guys because I see you guys find a way. So here's your

time to shine all your thoughts, comments and questions about your boys and blue here on the

seventh inning stretch. The seventh inning stretch.

All right, we got nightwing two dollars. Why doesn't the entire team train with Yada Sensei?

It's a good point. I mean, Yada Sensei got his ring, by the way,

Mookie bets. It looks like he's having some early success. Would it be cool to have a job where you

get paid to have people give you piggyback rides? I'm just saying. Where do I sign for that?

Like that'd be pretty awesome. But no, look, I mean, I think the first thing I thought too when

when Mookie was working with him, I was like, wait a second, it's not good enough that Mookie is

playing shortstop. He now has to pitch to like I was getting afraid that he wanted to go to show

him a tiny route. But no, I think look, he probably has so much bandwidth too. And I don't think that

Yamamoto would want to share with everyone, right? He's got to focus on his main guy. But

I'm sure that all of these guys, all jokes aside, have taken things from Yada Sensei. And that

might be something worth asking other players like, hey, just either it's observing from afar

or going up and asking Mookie or Yamamoto about certain techniques and training methods.

I wouldn't be shocked if that was the case. ABD DMACC, how many innings will row use the

Sockie pitch tonight need your predictions? I'm going to go positive,

Rokie of the year positivity to start this. I will say that he'll go

one of thirds innings tonight and he'll be out of gas a little bit, give up a couple runs.

But get some strikeouts to six strikeouts. Not going to go too crazy on the expectations. But

he needs something just positive moving forward. He just needs to not put the bullpen in a situation

where they have to cover eight innings. He needs to go out there and do his job as a starting

pitcher if he's going to be a starting pitcher. So I'm just looking for positive steps in the right

direction and not walking four guys hitting two batters, giving a couple home runs or

getting taken out of the game before the third inning. So anything past the fourth, I think you

could see as a step in the right direction for sure. We've got a new set looks clean,

organized like a home makeover edition man cave. Give all the credit to Travis Schlepp and Robert

and Gary and Noel. I will take none of the credit for the new set, but it looks fantastic. It looks

awesome. So yeah, I like things you guys. You guys are loving it. Great stuff guys. Delivery of

night. I'm pretty sure Dolan Russian will catch tonight. I think it's ready to show how great

he can be. But we'll be happy with him. Just being Ben Roart vet. We had our criminal Lola about

to drop a hundred dollars. Super chat soon. Yeah, Lola's only on the nighttime shows. Now I think

right? She's on my Dodgers dug out after dark chose because we saw the night Lola.

Kenny Chung D back is still trying to speak. Rookie of the year to unload his piles of shirts.

Give my sorry bro. Andrew, you need to see more of Andy in 2025 game seven. He sat on the bench

in a hoodie for three hours, but maintained his presence. They went out there and made one of

the most important catches ever. No doubt about it. What you're saying is absolutely true. Tom

Verducci told me that that is the best catching world series history. And I don't disagree.

One of the greatest moments in Dodgers history. He saved the dynasty by running over Kike Hernandez

and making that catch. I'm saying as far as blindly giving him over a hundred million dollars

in an extension, I think you want to see more than just one above average season. I don't think that

is too much of a stretch. That's just me. We've got Karina Rodriguez.

The new set needs a world series replica or two. Stay room for the third. Speedster 2000 are the

bullpen pitchers like bruise our grader and Phillips and Brock Stewart coming back soon. Yeah,

we'll get it that tomorrow on the injury report, but we did get a chance to talk a little bit to

Evan Phillips. And he's going to be there at some time in the summer, bruised our grader all

still working on getting the feel and the shoulder and everything that he needs to do. But Brock

Stewart is the guy that is making the most progress because Brock Stewart's already facing hitters.

So hopefully we see Brock Stewart back pretty soon here because he's ahead of bruised our

bruised ours ahead of Evan Phillips and bruised our kind of a little bit of setback because they

were basically projecting that he was going to be ready to start the year. So clearly,

it is not happy about how things are coming out of his hand and just the bounce back and things

like that. But I expect to see Brock Stewart back soon ish. I mean, he is looking to bounce back

from a season where he's had a bunch of injuries. He had Tommy John in 2021. He had a right elbow

injury in 2023. He's had some shoulder issues. So I think the only thing that kind of worries me

about Brock is if you bring back too early, the you burn those 40 innings that you think he's

going to throw because he's never gone past 50 before you think you might need him in the post

season. So they're going to want him back. They're going to see if they can get the guy that he was

with the twins early on where he was really good against right hand to hitters but struggling

against lefties. But the good news is he's facing hitters and that definitely is a major step

in the right direction. I could see him back at some point, possibly by end of this month or

or the end of April or in early May, we're Brock Stewart barring any type of setbacks. Okay, we've

got NANO. DMACC, your voice is my prescription. That's interesting. We got Mr. Classic not having

it's not having it's just DMACC loves his baseball team. Okay, let's see these night wing. Should

DMACC do the on base celebration every time he gets a super chat. I think so I like that.

It's no one of it. So one of the comments said that they should have, uh, uh,

Yoshi know, be almost javelin throw as their new hit celebration. I like that. I like that.

I like that only thing is he's not a he's not a hitter but it's still be pretty coldly

in the javelin throw. I thought Kyle Tucker did a really good job with his my whole thing is

this is the only thing like do we need the charge plus the Freddy like this plus that it just like

it's just do the Freddy the Freddy is the best outside the bubble machine. I think the Freddy is

the best because when the Freddy happened organically, which happened the blue diamond gala

with usher and he was dancing that happened organically and they all started doing the Freddy

and the fans would do the Freddy in the stands, especially on road games. And when Freddy does the

Freddy where he gets the hips into it, it's awesome. But the javelin throw is not bad.

No, well, would you think of Kyle Tucker's first shot at the the hit selling pretty good man?

He's he's he's looking and he's bringing all the vibes people are saying he doesn't care.

I think he's proving otherwise in this first series.

Oh, I like that. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think too, there's also smiles at him,

which was cool. I mean, I guess they're going to diss the decor day show. Hey, one,

I thought that was cool because it was organic. I mean, maybe something that kind of makes him seem

like they were the kind of poking fun at the villain thing. Brock Stewart can replace trying

that's from Dodger dog, Nightwing Brewstar has been having setbacks for two years now. We've got

the OX experiment. I wore a shirt like DMX once when I went to a party in the 70s. Wow.

I actually call this one this shirt. Now I'm going to have to take it off like Antonio during your show.

Tell them a story about your gala mania shirt. Okay, sure. I mean,

there's a guy alkaline water spot near my place where I live, not going to give out direct address.

But yeah, I was on the corner getting tacos. And this guy comes out and he's like,

DMX, I'm a big fan of the show blah, blah. I was like, oh, cool. So I went in and he gave me some

free water. And he said, he liked my Yamamoto shirt. So I just took off my shirt and the mill of

his employee in his in his store and I gave it to him. And he's the name is Mark. And he's going

to rock our shirt. By the way, if you want to get any shirts, go to gear up dot L A,

the best Dodgers T shirts in the game. Sheriff, show me and tug. Go back to back tonight,

put that down. You're hurting here. First man cave, Tanner Scott is going to do great. He's

going to be the Dodgers. Come back player. The year Espinal won't hang. And I think Freeland takes

his spot when Tommy tanks comes back. Well, first of all, I love the username man cave because that

is a perfect segue to our next had read that is our Dodgers nation fan cave battle series is

back for season two. And it's pretty simple. If you have any sort of setup at home with Dodgers

memorabilia or merchandise, you have a chance to be featured on our platform and win special

prizes, whether you put together a full basement setup, a Dodgers decorated bedroom, a shrine or

even just a shell filled with different bobble heads over the years. We want to see in every episode

of the series our host Ava brand will be running through four of our favorite fan caves and the

stories behind them, but there can only be one winner by the end of the episode. The winner will

receive a one of one fan cave certificate and gift card from the Dodgers nation team for all

details on how to submit your fan cave to enter the battle series head over to Dodgers nation.com

slash fan cave. We cannot wait to see your guys special setups. All right.

Couple more here. We Alex Pavlovitch of San Francisco Giants NBC Bay area says that LA is going

to run away with this year's championship. Well, I'm pretty sure they love to hear that on a

giant podcast. That's got to be fun. All right. We got a couple more DMACC. Who's going to be more

valuable? Kyle Tucker Edwin Diaz. I think they're both going to be viable. Let's talk to this with

one of these steam riders here Dodgers nation earlier. I know some people are saying Edwin Diaz.

And yes, Edwin Diaz has the potential to be one of the best three closures in baseball this year.

The Dodgers needed to get a closer or at least another high leverage arm. They can trust

latent games. He certainly provides that. Having said that, one guy helps you in the ninth inning.

One guy helps you all nine innings. One guy has the potential to have the three war season.

One guy has the potential to have a five plus war season and be in the MVP conversation. Kyle

Tucker, when he's right, is a top 10 player in all of major league baseball. Kyle Tucker, I predict

is going to finish second in the national league in MVP voting. I think he's going to have that

kind of year hitting behind Show Hay O'Connie, seeing more fastballs, being in a better lineup,

being hungry after signing a four year, $240 million contract where you can opt out after

the second year. He needs to put up a lead seasons. If he wants to get that big deal after the

second year and get 300 plus million after already earning what would be 120 plus million,

something in that range. So I like the defensive side too. Kyle Tucker, we've seen

gold globe caliber play so far in right field. So look, I mean, it's a good problem to have.

There's no slide on Edwin Diaz because I think that his role, he's perfect for what the Dodgers

needed. But I just don't want to diminish what an elite position player can bring to you.

And yes, the bullpen was a pressing need for the Dodgers last season. They needed to address it

and they did it in the biggest way by signing the top reliever that was available. But also,

the outfield was their second and arguably their most difficult to address

position because they were below average defensively, below average offensively for the most part.

And you brought in a guy that isn't a lead player in Kyle Tucker. So I look at the age to

me. Kyle Tucker's 29. He's in his prime. Look, I think Kyle Tucker is going to be the second

best player on the Dodgers this season. And when you have a team that has show Hey Otani, he was

going to be the best, even though he's one for eight, whatever it is right now, right? He's

going to hit a bomb tonight. Don't worry. That's saying something because you got hollow famers

and all stars up and down that lineup. Aaron, you want to make a case? What's your, what's your,

what's your short case? Or on on why you would say Edwin Diaz is going to be a more valuable edition.

You can get you get you can sit side by side. It can be a two-man show here.

Hi everyone. Two two two guys. Well, there's Aaron Coloma, one of our esteemed writers here.

So Aaron Aaron saying that Edwin Diaz is going to be more valuable to the team and more and

based on a more important edition, right? I think why do you hate Kyle Tucker? I don't hate Kyle Tucker.

The thing for me is obviously the Dodgers and how the field wasn't as good last season because of

the presence of Michael Corporto and I guess the lack of Kyle Tucker, but their bullpen was just as

bad. I checked the stats earlier. They were as far as bullpen ERA goes. They was 21st and

which isn't great by any means. And I mean, if you take Kyle Tucker out of the outfield right now for

the Dodgers, they still have one of the best hitting lineups in in Major League Baseball. And if

you take Edwin Diaz away from the Dodgers bullpen right now, you have the same group of guys from

last year who couldn't close the game out to save their life towards the enemy. So I think with the

value that, you know, a potential 60 save guy like Edwin Diaz brings in, especially with the line

up like this, he he's going to make a really big difference for the Dodgers. I agree. I think

the truth of all this is they need to both of them and both of them have the potential to do exactly

what they hope they would do, which is elite outfielder, Ali Closer. And I think you could be right.

I think that at the end of the day, we're going to see another player, another pitcher get the final

out because that's what we've seen, right? I mean, 20, if you go back to Oral Hurstizer 88, he gets

the final out in 88. You go to Julio Arias in 2020 gets the final out. You go to Walker Beeler in

2024. He gets the final out. You get a 2025 and it's Yamamoto. It's just it's more difficult

to find someone do Kyle Tucker things late in the postseason game that I think it is to find

someone doing closer things. So that's kind of where I always look at it. It's like, hey, like

those guys don't grow on trees. You do elite closures, but I do like his walk out song to it's

Roddy Rich something. It's a it's a it's a banger. But there you go, guys, Aaron Colomay

providing his thoughts. Edwin Diaz vs. Kyle Tucker though. Let me know down below. What are your

guys thoughts? Who's going to end up being more valuable to the Dodgers this season? I think

they're both going to be massive. But all right, guys, that is going to be this episode of Dodgers

dug out live tomorrow. We got more takeaways. We've got Rocky Sasaki to get into also Jose Moda

will be joining us and we'll talk to Jose Mod who got his World Series ring today. So congratulations

to the great Jose Moda. And yeah, we're running out of time. So we'll see you guys tomorrow.

My name is Doug McCain. You can follow me on X and Instagram at DMACC underscore LA.

If you subscribe, but hit the notification bell, hit the like button, drop a comment down below.

And if you haven't yet, subscribe to the LA Sports Report. Go to gear up.la to get all of our

merch. And most importantly, remember that nothing, absolutely nothing brings us together,

quite like Dodger baseball. And until next time, think blue, bleed blue, and I'm out.