Dodgers Territory - Bullpen Trade Coming? 2nd Half Questions

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

With the All-Star Game behind us, the stage is set for the second half of the season and the MLB trade deadline. Will the Dodgers be active on the trade market (7:15)? DT hosts Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas discuss needs for LA and the latest rumors indicating Andrew Friedman is looking for bullpen help. Plus, we shine a spotlight on Will Smith (17:58) and look at the Dodgers' biggest competition in the National League (26:53). Start paying rent through Bilt and take advantage of your Neighborhood Benefits™ by going to joinbilt.com/FOULDownload the DraftKings Pick6 app and use code FOUL for new customers to get a special sign up offer.Check out DT merch at dodgersterritoryshop.com! Support Guidry's Guardian and guidrysguardian.orgFind Clint at youtube.com/@alldodgers!Subscribe to Dodgers Territory on YouTube!Rate and review our podcast on Apple and Spotify!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ask your doctor about Skyrisi, the number one prescribed biologic in Crohn's and ulcerative colitis combined. Learn more at skyrizzie.com or 1866 Skyrizzie. Andrew Friedman came into this season hoping that they didn't have to make decisions at the trade deadline, but you can't anticipate the amount of injuries that the Dodgers have had. You know what's insane? Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dodgers Territory. For the first time ever, I noticed in our open that when they're going down the street with the camera, there's a police officer, there's a police car and a police officer park in front of someone's house.

well it's L.A. Alana. That's what happens out here. No, but I mean, that was a, that was a pretty six, that was a pretty sixth street, though. It's not like, it's not like we're, you know. You know, we need to get somebody to come. I'm not going to say it's going to get somebody to come arrest your internet because it's been, it's been a problem for you all day long. I saw it. All right. So don't, okay.

So just don't put me on camera. Don't put me on camera. Hi, everybody. I'm going to draw stick figures. Alonarizzo. Alana Rizzo, Clint Paseas, who has good internet. I do not. Welcome to Dodgers Territory.

We are super happy that you are here. Rate is five stars. Subscribe all of the things. By the way, put up this graphic so you can cover me, Clint. The Dodgers Territory Shop is open. Everybody grab some gear. Just click the store button on YouTube, support the show and style. We appreciate it very much.

All right, let's get to it. Can't wait for the second half of the season to start tomorrow. Let's get to the big ticket. Let's do it. Alana, the All-Star game happened. it was fun. The swing off, I think absolutely nailed it. JT also called it all those years ago

with that being something fun. In 2020. All those years ago, way back in the day when Alana Rizzo was still covering this team full-time. I don't know. What did you like from the Derby? What did you like from the All-Star game? We all, everybody in the chat,

you better have loved Clayton Kershaw being miced up. That was a lot of fun. I loved the ABS. Yes. There were a couple things I loved. Number one, kudos to Rob Man, Fred, and Major League Baseball for bringing back the player jerseys. Their respective team jerseys. I love them so much.

I'm so glad that they did that. There's something about pride when you put on, listen, Party Legate is 1999. I might still be on dial-up. I don't know. I don't know what's happening here. But it is what it is. Let me tell you how awesome it is that you get to walk out there and see your favorite player wearing their team jersey.

love that so much. Another thing, love the swing off. I know it's an exhibition game. I know it's a meaningless game, but you don't want it to end in a tie. That's silly, right? So have something that determines the winner, determines the victor, and I loved it. ABS was great. And I know you have more opinions about the ABS today, Clint. You want it now. I would love to have it now. I mean, I can go to my screen for a second and talk all about it if you want to jump off the link and jump back on. I loved a lot of the things about the derby, sorry, about the game. I love the swing off. I want to know if people in the chat would love to see that old school style home run derby returning to this, like where we had the four, sorry, the 10 out format. I think that was fun.

I think that was arguably better for the game. I know some people have a difference of opinion when it comes to the way the derby. I know I keep going back and forth between the game and the derby here. But I don't know. I like being able to actually watch the home runs. I'm sticking to the derby now. Let the home runs watch them travel far. We're not, this isn't an endurance thing.

Let these kids actually, you know, hit a baseball, take a few pitches, maybe something like that. This is, Alana, this might be old man yelling at a cloud again, which is something we've been enjoying doing on the show of late as you look like you're back in 2025 now, which I very much appreciate. But

yeah, your thoughts on the derby, should it go back to the, you know, 10 outs format where there's maybe it lasts a little bit longer. It's not, it's not hit for the TikTok crowd, but you actually get to watch the baseball travel a long way, which is the whole point of the home run derby and these big, beefy dudes. I don't know. I mean, maybe if there's fewer contestants, I feel like it's already, I feel like it's dragged out as it is. Like I want like, I don't want all the pomp and circumstance. I see, but here's the thing. You're not asking the right person, because I can't stand all the buildup to stuff. Like, I don't watch award shows.

I don't watch, like, the Super Bowl, like, 24 hours of coverage. But just kick the, just kick off. Like, just go. Like, I don't like all of the hoopla. I am like, all right, here's the contestants. Hit a bunch of home runs. My internet's going on again. Hit a bunch of home runs, and let's just get to it.

So, no, I don't need to, I don't need to see it go over the fence. I don't. I mean, I don't. It's fine. I don't care. So you're part of the TikTok crowd. Let's just go. Everything's exciting.

I'm not. I'm not. By the way, I requested my stepdaughter on TikTok and she hasn't said yes. I'm feeling a little bit weird about that. She doesn't want me to see what she's doing. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't know. That's neither here nor there. That's pretty funny.

I don't know. I see your comments in here is Kershaw. Speak on Kershaw possibly retiring. I'll walk back in. I don't know. There was something about. We're not submitting this show for. Yeah, this is not going up.

our best. Listen, this isn't me. This is all Alana. Somebody needs to pay her to get better internet or something like that because her internet is not happy today. But Kirchaw, a lot of I'm noticing some speculation online with Clayton and the way he kind of handled

his two outs, being miced up, the way Dave handled it and the crowd, the teammates on the National League team. I don't know. There's that kind of conversation. Like, do people know? Do people have people heard internally that Clayton this could be or will be his last year?

Obviously with him being a legend pick as well by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. There's a lot of, there's some tea leaves that you could follow where maybe Kirsch is setting himself up to hang up the old sketcher spikes after this. A lot of my like others reading too much into this. Those closest to him. Kersh and those close just go with it. Curson those closest to him. I just think that, you know, again, he reserves the right to choose when he's ready to go. I think the Dodgers will have him on that team in some capacity until he no longer wants to do this. Would I be surprised to be retired? Absolutely not. I mean, he's had an unbelievable career. His next stop is Cooperstown. It, you know, it lends you to believe that he's probably going to retire this year. But I've not heard that. And I don't think anybody can speculate until they've heard it from Clayton specifically. Yeah, that's fair. I mean, I hope not.

Or if he does retire, I hope he goes out on top. Let the boy win another World Series champion to be a three-time ring holder. And two of those he would have participated in, ideally, if he's around come this World Series and all of that. But that's getting way ahead. We still have a second half of a baseball season to watch, Alana. What are some things that you're watching here as we kick off the second half? Because it feels like everybody is super focused on the transition. deadline. Yeah, I think that's all people care about right now is where is this person going,

who are they going to get, who's going to be the subtraction, who's going to be the addition to the team. I had a conversation today on Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal that he had wrote in his notes column that perhaps the Dodgers are, you know, looking for starting pitching and, you know what, or excuse me, bullpen arms, I apologize, bullpen arms. And it's not, you know, again, this is what Ken Rosenthal is hearing. And again, Andrew Friedman came into this season hoping that they didn't have to make decisions at the trade deadline, but you can't anticipate the amount of injuries that the Dodgers have had, not only in the starting staff, which has put a lot of pressure on the bullpen, but also in the bullpen too, with all the guys being down. So do they go after a bullpen arm?

Probably. But let's say Clint that they're looking for a starter. If you had to wave the Clint Pesias magic wand and you wanted a starter to join the Dodgers starting rotation, assuming that Blake Snell is coming back soon, who do you want? That's potentially out there on a team that is not contending. I mean, to set the stage for that a little bit, I really like the arms that this rotation has. I think they did a really, really good job, obviously bringing Blake Snell in in the offseason.

We know eventually he's going to be a part of this rotation. He actually just completed another rehab outing while the All-Star game was happening three innings at, I think it's like a rookie level of baseball or whatever. But seven strikeouts and three innings sounds, I think it was like 40-some-odd pitches. He is getting closer to coming back. Tyler Glasna just rejoined this team a couple of weeks ago.

So I know there are some insider, some people saying the Dodgers are going to be out there looking for a starting pitcher. I don't think they need to. But to your question, if there's a dude, one guy on the start. I don't even know if he's technically on the market because of where the Rangers are at. But I would love to see Nathan Iivaldi back in a Dodgers uniform. Let him, I don't know if it's ending his career where it all started before that, Lee Ramirez trade back in 2012, but just the absolute dog, been there, done that kind of dude, has done it in the postseason in the World Series, an immediate improvement in the rotation

over Dustin May, Emmett Sheehan, Justin Rebleski types. Give me Nate Yovaldi. If I had my say, that's where I'm going. What about you? Yeah, he single-handedly crushed the Dodgers in the World Series when he was with the Boston Red Sox coming out of the bullpen for them. I mean, he was just, he's just stupid. He's just stupid good, and I desperately wanted him to come here before he went to the Texas Rangers.

I think for me, if it's not Nathan Avaldi, because I can't pick the same guy that you do, I'm going Sandy Alcantra. I know people are like, well, you know, he's not the same as he was, but I think he's on his way back to where he was. And on Miami, you have to be the dude, right? On Miami, you've got to be the ace. On the Dodgers, you don't. And I'm thinking Sandy Alcantra is on the upswing, and I would take him right now because I'm obviously Miami's selling. So I would take him right now. If it's not him, why not maybe Charlie Morton?

I know people have their opinions about Charlie Morton, but if it's not Sandy Alconter or Charlie Martin, what about Pablo Lopez from the twins? Twins should be sellers. And they have some interesting arms, including a couple of bullpen pieces. So that's where we can kind of shift to the bullpen and continue that conversation that you and Ken had earlier on fair. Dodgers bullpen, not anywhere near what we thought it was going to be at this point in the season. Here's an excerpt from Ken's column about that. Some of the pieces, of course, we've talked about it a bunch. Evan Phillips out for the season.

Blake Trinon is on his way back, but, you know, we're talking about forearm tightness. You do worry about words like that and relying on him for the final month plus the postseason and all that. Kopeck had knee surgery. Brouser Goddural has not pitched this season. And so those are like three arms in particular that are expected back. That I, you know, to go all in on expecting those dudes to return and stay healthy and be effective with when you're already running a bullpen out there that has guys like a Will Klein, Lou Trevino. Yeah, they've been great for the team. But they're also extremely, not even relative, extremely unknowns.

And getting those dudes in the Dodger bullpen when they're trying to go back to back in World Series, I think, yeah, they need. to be active on the deadline. And I agree with Ken. They will be active. It will be kicking the tires on some of the bigger names. You had mentioned the twins there with, with Yon Duran, of course. Joe Ryan was the name you had mentioned just before we went live here. Emmanuel Class A. A lot of people like to bring up from Cleveland because they are really out of the picture. What about this name? And then we're going to get to Francisco's super chat, which we appreciate you very much, Francisco. What about Kenley Janssen? Are you laughing at me? He's on his way to the Hall of Fame.

That's also a question. Your mother is on the way to the Hall of Fame. Stop it. Kenley Jansen. She did something with her life. Kenley Jansen is, why not? The thing is, I don't love the idea of Kenley Jansen. I don't hate it because when you're looking in the grand scheme of things, this is Kenley Jansen replacing Willel.

Klein. This is Kenley Jansen replacing Lou Trevino types, you know? So it's, it's not, I don't want Kenley Jansen if he's coming back to close. That's, that's just a fact. First of all, are you serious right now? That you think Kenley Jans? You're putting Will Klein and Noah Davis on like the Kenley Jensen?

Noah Davis was already sent to the moon, also known as, as, I know, but my point is that that's the level that you're putting Kenley at now, the Will Clines of the world? Are you insane? He's 38. the VLO that he somehow found in Boston isn't there he wasn't great over his final few seasons in Dodger Blue

he has often hamstrung Dave Roberts in needing to be the closer where there were a number of times in the postseason he did not help another time in the regular season that he did not help the team win a ball game and they kept going to him much like we're seeing right now with Tanner Scott I think Dave Roberts and this is a conversation we had on my All-Dodger show a couple days ago.

I think Dave Roberts is a much better manager when he doesn't have a closer. He's a much better manager of the bullpen and to have Kenley, and if he comes in being like, I'm trying to get the 500 saves, put me in that closer spot. It can't happen here. Now, if he's picking up innings at any point in time, that's fine. I think there are better moves out there. But I think with this team and the expectations,

if they go and pick up Kenley Jansen and who, Who's to say, Artie Moreno, the idiot, wants to even trade with the Dodgers. But if they're going out and picking up somebody, it's got to be a top talent. It's like a top end talent to put alongside Tanner Scott and pick up, you know, that somebody that can pick up some saves. So maybe Felix Bautista. Okay. Baltimore.

Sure, sure. All right. Sure. What about moving Dustin May to the bullpen? All day. Every day of my life put Dustin May in the bullpen. I'm, of the internal office. options, that is one of my favorites. Putting him there, I would love to see the Dodgers try Bobby Miller

in the bullpen at AAA first because AAA, right? Yeah, he doesn't have a future as a starter. They don't necessarily need a starter. If the Dodgers were desperate enough for a starter, they would have tried Dustin May, or sorry, Bobby Miller at some point. Might as well see if he has some sort of, it can offer up something to this team. Emmett Sheen should be in the rotation right now, but he's likely somebody who's going to be in the bullpen, a couple of rookies that could come back River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, maybe could be factors for this team, but more likely not, just because, you know, they're coming back from Tommy John. It kind of need to be rushed. Dustin May in the bullpen and one more arm via trade. And I think they're in a really,

really good spot. And then it's everybody, you know, pray to Joe Boo, pray to everybody, cross your fingers, light some sage in the hopes that, you know, Blake Trinon's forearm can stay together and intact for another postseason run. Because that's, you know, that's kind of where this team is going to end up being at. You're making fun of my internet. I think one of your lights just went out, but that's fine. Did you pull up the super chat with Francisco? I did not.

Let me get that. Let me get that for you. There we go. Francisco, what's going on? What's up, buddy? We appreciate you. Our reports indicate months you will return, but there's a new report that State Doc believes his bone bruise will linger into next season.

So should they think about for trading for a potential bench bet? No. I mean, not right now. I think you look at that as maybe more of a long. I mean, How can we know how long have grown? I mean, look at Will Smith. I think I said I mean 17 times in that sentence.

My English right now is really not really great. So it's going to be great. That's not my English right now. No, I think you're right. This is as good as your internet. It's okay right now. It's fine. It's getting the job done.

Pull pen arm and let's get some starters back healthy. And I will be very fine with that. I agree. A couple weeks away from the trade deadline. We still got some more Dodgers talk as well. We'll have plenty more trade stuff coming up. But first, we're overdue for a pause. Let's hear from a quick word from our friends over at Fowell Territory.

Then we will be back. Hey, have you heard of Bill? No? Do you pay rent? Yes? Okay, good. Let's talk. There's no cost to join.

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Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in seven days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Alana, in more things that we are watching here as the second half kicks off, obviously. We're watching to see which pitchers can come back and be healthy, what the bullpen looks like. But I'm also very curious about the guy. I would like to spotlight here in our draft Kings player spotlight. that is William Dills Smith, the All-Star. Before we dive into that, talk about Will.

It's really cool to see a friend of the show. I think he was technically the first guest we had here on Dodgers territory just after he ink that big-time 10-year contract with the team. He was solid. I mean, he went over two in the All-Star game, but just to see him out there, see America's Catcher out there. I loved it. Will Smith is a special player because he doesn't have to prove how cool he is, right?

He is, he, it's funny when I was watching, uh, everybody get ready and all of the photos that were on, um, you know, social media and stuff, whether it was John Sue, who's photos or Sue Joe's photos, um, and her great social media team. Just seeing Will Smith get ready. He looked like James Bond, right? He's just like so, he's so put together. And, you know, obviously getting his little girls ready, uh, with Charlotte and Layton, um, and like tying, you know, just like, I don't know. There's just something about him that just strikes. He reminds me of Buster Posey. And I have said, I said this a thousand times. As soon as Will got drafted at a Louisville, I felt like he was a carbon copy of Buster Posey, the way they go about their business, the way that they're very serious, obviously the game calling, the maturity behind the plate, but the fact that we've always known that Will

was a very good game caller and defensive catcher. That's what you hope for in a backstop. But the fact that his bat has reached this level of production, and he's such a cog, in that lineup. That's huge for a catcher. I mean, that's all you could ever ask. That's like icing on this beautiful Dodger cake, right, is Will Smith with this offensive production. And the Dodgers are being really smart about how they're handling his workload and you know, Dalton Russian coming up and those types of things. And eventually, you know, he's not

going to be our backstop. He'll probably be our first basement. Isn't that what most catchers do? They go over to first, although he's not left-handed. But the point is, you know, he can handle it. I just, I think Will is such a, he's a, he's an old man in a young kid's body. You know, he just has the old man mentality. And he's amazing. I think he very much warrants our spotlight for draft kings because he's just, he's huge on so many levels. Yeah, he, he, I agree with that. He's like 60 years old and a 30 year old, you know, sack of flesh or whatever.

But have yourself a first half kid. And I know, Riz, you remember him coming up in 2019 and kind of the narrative surrounding him, glove first dude the bat maybe it will it will arrive had himself a very nice 2019 good bat in 2020 the glove some of the parts were still a bit of a work in progress but now here we are 2025 arguably the best catcher in baseball as j t real muto you know kind of gets on in years and and you know sal Perez also gets on in years all that kind of stuff what do you got that's what i was going to you hit the nail on the head you are spot on with, I really thought that in the National League, it was, it was Real Muto. I really, I really felt that way with the Phillies. But to your point, I think Will Smith has surpassed that. I'm not just saying that because I'm a Dodger. I'm also very fond of catchers. And I, and I, I think I evaluate them pretty well. But I do think that Will Smith is the, is the definite number one in the national league. And I was screaming for him to be the starter. And it wouldn't have been, you know,

just because Dave's his manager. He deserves it. I mean, there's very few times in the All-Star game where the guy that's named the starter is honestly deserving of it. And Will Smith absolutely is. Yeah, no, he's, he's been phenomenal. Such, like you said, such an important part of this first half for the team. But the question I have here is we're spotlighting him. And this is something I talked about is, yeah, can he maintain that level of production in the second half? And there's a reason this team made such a drastic decision to cut awesome.

Boston Barnes after 10 years with the ball club and bring up Dalton rushing to have a second catcher that has some offensive prowess potentially to spell Will Smith more often. And we're seeing how Goodwill has been with a little bit more regular rest. But in his career, the fall off has been pretty significant. You see their career OPS by the first half or in the first half is 896 in the second half 777. not like that's not world changing or whatever, but when you're talking about a dude who regularly, regularly is hitting cleanup for you or third, fifth or whatever,

that's a significant enough drop off. The average kind of craters and then the homers either dry up or he'll hit him in bunches or whatever. But he's had the injury woes, some bugaboos. Ankle last year, he's had the back, he's had a neck thing. Generally, as you know, catchers just get beat up because that is the position. You're working harder than just about anybody out there.

But I think this is finally the year where I have faith in America's catcher. I think he's going to keep it going in the second half. Hopefully we don't see him out there six days a week. We can find a way to get Dalton going, get that bat going, get him in there a little bit more regularly. And Will's going to have himself a really, really good second half and continue to be an important part of this lineup in the World Series. under the postseason in the World Series and all that. Do you have, you share faith, my faith in William Dills? I feel like today you've been, you know, impressive with your words.

I think you're putting them all together in a really good way. And I agree with everything that you're saying. I think this is the year for Will in terms of all of the years that he's had. If the Dodgers continue to manage him the way that he is being managed. And again, I like the way that they're doing it. I mean, being a catcher for the majority of 162 games in the regular season, plus what he caught in spring training, plus what he's done in the off season,

plus obviously postseason, we're fortunate enough that we know that we're going to get there is a freaking beating. Being a catcher is an absolute beating. And he's still young, right? I mean, they still, they sign him to a 10-year,

$100 million dealer, whatever the heck it was, a lot of money, and they need to make sure that he had a lot of cheese. Shetter. So I do think that this is, he's, if it's even possible, he's learned the role even better.

He's grown into the role even better. He knows how to, to manage the guys even better. And I, yeah, I mean, for a lack of sounding like his mother or his big sister, I'm proud of him. I'm proud of the way that he's handled it. I mean, and the guy is mute. You know what I mean?

He just goes about his business. Like, he's just like, I'm just, he takes his lunch pill, puts his head down and that's it. And that's what you want for, honestly, like he does. Like he's just, he's just that guy. And that's what you want. He's the one guy on the field that's involved in every single play. And he's the perfect guy.

He's the perfect calmness that you need. As a kidder. Stoic funny man, Will Smith. Yeah. Having him be in that role, I love that too. Just, you know, puts on his hard hat, kind of literally, picks up his lunch pail, kisses his wife and his kids goodbye in the morning. All right, honey, I'm off to work.

Ah, yeah. See? Gets in his late 60s Studebaker. No, he's got the, he has the station wagon with the wood paneling. Oh, like a, like a, are you old enough to know what that is? Like a station with the yellow with the wood paneling. Oh, you're talking about the Griswold family truckster?

Sure, sure. So like the front end turns like it's like it's like a hoopty right? So the front end turns the corner and then about 27 minutes left. The back half comes around because that's how big this fricking. Now imagine in today's gas prices. Forget about it. Forget about it. But we digress.

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Discover is accepted at the places that I love to shop. Geteth with the times. With the times. You're playing the loot. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right? Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nilsen Report. This is Bobby from the Bobby Bone Show.

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Get two today. At participating U.S. Taco Bell locations for a limited time only while supplies last. Riz, as we move on to the second half of the Major League Baseball season, I want to take a second here in Bleeding Blue. It's usually the time we'd be doing last licks, but don't worry, guys. We're going to get the last licks. We do have a pup to be showing off. But I like to call this keeping your enemies close.

Just looking at the National League West and the National. National League as a whole, all these teams are going to be trying to get better. Dodgers trying to get better. Dodgers currently maintaining that five and a half game lead over the Padres, six game lead over the Giants, 11 game lead over the kind of now irrelevant Arizona Diamondbacks. But looking at these teams here is the top eight in the National League, top eight records in the NL. And is there any particular team in here that gives you the frights?

Maybe not the Padres the way we had them last year, but who scares you, who worries you the most when it comes to the top three behind us, right? So, I mean, the Cubs worry me. I think the Cubs have arguably had a very, very complete team this year. I think Sizzuki and Michael Bush were robbed, although I think Bush ended up going, but whatever. The Cubs worry me. Milwaukee always worries me because I feel like Milwaukee is the Tampa Bay of the National League, right? like Milwaukee doesn't have a massive payroll. I do like their owner.

I think Milwaukee has a very good owner in Mark Antonacio. But I just feel like they're always in it and they always find a way. And they're just kind of talk about bring your lunch pill to work type of folk. I mean like the Brewers, like the Sevesitos, right? I just feel like it's a blue collar like hard-nosed community. And the Phillies, I've always, I've always worried me. I like the Phillies. If I wasn't a Dodger fan, I'd probably be a Phillies fan.

But those teams, they make me nervous. I mean, it all depends. I don't think Philly's bullpen is that great, you know, but I don't think ours is that great right now either. Yeah, yeah, Steve, and I'm with you. The Phillies worry me too. Yeah, that's my team, by the way. Anything can happen, you know, in that short, you know, five-game series.

Like, that's what, that's what, that's what, the problem with baseball, I think, is that, I mean, in football, you have, what, 17, 18, 18 games, 17 weeks? And it's like, you know, you play once a week, and it's, it's easier, I think, to separate the good teams from the crappy teams. Baseball, you can have a garbage team, but not, okay, maybe not the Rockies, but anybody can get hot at the right time. Yes. And then you're screwed, right?

So the five game series scare me a little bit. But yes, to answer your question, I think, honestly, I think the standings are pretty fair for where teams are sitting right now in terms of the quality of the opponent. Yeah, no, that's very fair. I mean, these are the teams, maybe outside of St. Louis, these are kind of the teams you would expect to be in the hunt, in the race. The Phillies scare me the most. I think they just have some big-time bats there that love to do damage against Dodgers pitching.

Giants, we know, very good ball club. Padres always get it up playing against the Dodgers. The Mets have something to prove against the Dodgers as well. Cubbies. We saw the Brewers take it to the Dodgers just a week or so ago. and of course they're coming to LA very, very soon. Here's what's interesting. I think it'll be interesting this next.

It's probably more of a indication of how good the Red Sox already are actually right now because the Red Sox will play the Cubs, the Phillies, and the Dodgers. So we'll really see if the Red Sox are for real. But the Cubs and the Phillies, they have some interesting schedules as well. Red Sox, I think, have the hardest remaining schedule moving forward. But the Phillies are always good. And that team, I mean, that lineup is is very, very dangerous. Again, though, their bullpen is crap and their closers not eligible for the postseason.

So there's that. Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Sorry about it. That doesn't mean, Dombrowski can't go get somebody, though.

Although everybody that's contending is looking for a relief help. And it's not, maybe they go get Felix Batista. Yeah, that's going to be another big part of the conversation. We'll probably talk about that more next week. Again, it's, you can. we can sit here and say, oh, I want this player, I want this player, I think they can go get this player. But all of these teams, again, I'll put that graphic up yet again, all of those teams are also going to be in the mix on all of the favorite players that you would like to see

come put on a Dodger uniform. So it's going to be that much more difficult to acquire these, players, these pitchers, these relievers, these top end closers. But doesn't it make it more fun? Don't you, I appreciate this way more than I appreciate, like, the American League, that I think there's a much easier path. Like I like, of course, the Dodgers are going to win the division. Of course, the Dodgers are going to the postseason. But I do like the, it makes baseball exciting. I start scoreboard watching March 31st, okay?

So this, when everyone's jockeying for position, I love it. I just think it's great for baseball. The more parity there is in the league, the better it is for the fan base, the better it is for the sport. I agree, I agree. But fun stuff. We're a couple weeks away from things really, actually, we're probably like a week away from things really, really.

starting to heat up. We already seen a couple of low-level trades kick off the trade deadline, but that's not the good stuff. Give us the blockbusters. We want the meat and the potatoes. We want the appetizers. Do you think there's going to be blockbusters? I don't know. I think there's going to be complementary pieces. I don't see anything massive like happening at the trade deadline. I don't know. I mean, I'm wrong. Not with us. I don't think, I don't think we're going to get like, I remember flying and it was like, oh my God, we got, you know, you Darvish. Oh my God. This is like back, you obviously. Yeah.

2017, I think it was when we thought that was a good thing. But it's like, I don't know. I don't see that happening for the Dodgers, but this time of year is a, is a blast. Yes, it is. We got a little bit more show to come, but first, let's do some last links. We've got a front end for that. Got to talk pups. All right, guys, I want to, I love talking pups.

This is Lolita. Lolita is a four-month-old pity mix. Look at her. How sweet she is. She's twisting her head to say, hello, please. I would like a home. She is looking for a long-term adopter, a forever home. She's so sweet, you guys. She's very snugly. She's smart. She's learning all her basic commands. She is potty trained. She is leash trained for the most part. She's a puppy, so you've got to give her a little bit of grace.

She's completely up to date on her puppy shots. And when she is old enough, she's not old enough yet, but when she's old enough, she will be spayed at our cost. So no cost to the adopter. It's all part of your adoption fee. We've taken care of everything. She's being fostered in pauling. Palmdale, California, and she is a sweetheart. She was dumped, found walking around just abandoned in the street, and now she's okay. So if you're interested in adopting Lolita, please let us know. Lovely Lolita? What we're going with?

Lovely Lolita. Yes, lovely Lolita. What's coming up on your show, buddy? I think tonight. I got to talk to the gentleman about it, but we should be live and we should be talking more trade deadline stuff, actually doing an official all Dodgers blessed trade deadline primer exactly thank you the father of the son and the holy Andrew Friedman so do tube in just the best way to know when we're going live is subscribe hitting that notification bell that does go a whole long way in helping us out

and known when we're live here as well please subscribe yeah my mother would appreciate it my mother would appreciate it my mother would appreciate it um what is your baseball thought for the road we had a couple of different things we wanted to discuss. We kind of discussed Kirsch being miced up, which I thought was flipping amazing. Yeah. I was like, holy cow, what a change, right? From Kirsch when I, well, I've known Kersh for 20 years,

but when he first became a Dodger and started to becoming the ace to now, he's like, sure, heater, oh, you want a sneaker? Wow, it's going to be a curveball. I mean, what a blast. I loved him getting a little upset at Smoltz for calling his cutter, the slider, calling it properly a cutter, because that's kind of what it is. Yeah, but he doesn't like that, though. He doesn't like it. He does not like it, of course.

As I say, we do have a super chat as well to walk us out on some kind of wonderful with $499 for you, Riz. Somebody said that when you left asking or saying that, Kirsten Watson, of course, who does a great job covering the team these days. She has come into her own, wasn't sure about her at first, but asking if you have a relationship with her. And more so, the most important part is that they miss you. Some kind of wonderful misses you with the ballroom. I miss you guys. I miss you guys, too. Yes. I miss you guys. very much. I miss L.A. I miss you guys so much. You guys are embedded in my heart and my soul. That city is always incredibly special to me. I'm proud of her. She's really, she really has,

she's grown a lot. She's really improved. I've sent her a variety of texts. Like, that was a really good sideline hit. That's a good report. You know, when she first started, I don't know how much she knew about baseball. I didn't know what her education level was on the sport. And that's a very difficult position to be in when you're just kind of thrust into something. She didn't have much of a baseball background. It's like me like going and covering volleyball. I don't have a ton of education on that, but she really has, she studied her butt off the first couple of years. So give her grace, give her all your support, welcome her, as you guys welcomed me. She's into her fourth season.

So, yeah, she's doing a really good job. And, you know, that's not an easy position to be in when you're the sideline reporter, the Los Angeles daughters. To whom much is given, much is expected. And she's rising to that level. So thank you for that. I miss you guys, too. Truly, I do. She's definitely been great.

And baseball, that's the one thing. I mean, some sports can get away with the baseball. You can't fake baseball. You can't. And people will see right through you. It's a sport in which you will get exposed very, very quickly. So she's done a nice job. So I'm proud of her.

Not that she needs to be proud, but I am proud of her. So we've exposed today at a longer show. We've exposed your internet. So we're going to get that squared away from Monday where. It's been fine in the last 10, 15 minutes. By the way, Stephen Nelson is joining. us on Monday. So hopefully my internet is not crappy. So there you have it. Don't forget you guys. The Dodger Territory Shop is open.

Scan that link.com. You can scan the QR code. Click the store button here on YouTube, support the show and style. Thank you guys for watching. We appreciate it very much. Clint and I will be back on Monday regular time. Stephen Nelson joins us as well. Thanks you guys for being here. Second half starts tomorrow. We can't wait. Go Dodgers. Bye. You know how it's never really about where you're you're going. It's about who you're going with. The right people can turn any drive into a great memory. That's something Toyota really believes. They design vehicles around real life and real people, the ones who make plans happen and bring everyone together. Inside, everything's built

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