Dodgers Territory - Our Favorite Dodgers Moments of 2025!

Episode Date: December 26, 2025

Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas recall their favorite moments of the year for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers!From Miguel Rojas to Mookie Betts to Shohei Ohtani and a few more in between, did they miss any? Share your thoughts in the comments section!Plus, Alanna and Clint discuss their excitement for the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Team USA, which is stacked with MLB stars.Check out DT merch for the holidays at dodgersterritoryshop.com/promo/HOLIDAYUse promo code HOLIDAY at checkout and save!Support Guidry's Guardian at guidrysguardian.orgFind Clint on YouTube at youtube.com/@alldodgersSubscribe to Dodgers Territory on YouTubeRate and review our podcast on Apple and SpotifySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend. This is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far, but I'm John Green, co-host at the podcast The Away End, with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. The first thing that popped up for me was that Miguel Rojas Game 7, are you kidding me kind of Homer? Because that's what it became real. I'm going to a brand new episode of Dodgers territory. I am the Grinch, Alonarizzo.

That is Clint Pesias. The holiday festivities continue. Why not do this in Grinch PJs? Clint is far more professional than I as he wears his All Dodgers with Clint Pacey. We are happy that you guys are here. Thank you so much. Rate us five stars. Like, subscribe. We are working our way to 15,000 subs guys. We appreciate you very much. You can do it anywhere you listen to your podcast or of course YouTube. We are part of the Felt Territory Network and we are

happy that you are here. Lots to talk about. Lots to celebrate Clint. It is the holiday season and the Dodgers keep giving us gifts. We're going to talk about what moments of 2025 Stick out to us and stick out to our viewers. Let's get into Bleeding Blue. Still love that front end. It's so good. It's so good. Obviously, the World Series is the pinnacle of 2025.

But there's many moments, Clint, leading up to the win that stick out. You have the honors, my friend. What are you starting off? So, yeah, I kind of just compiled a little bit of a list. We also got some input from friends of the show in the comments. So a lot of Kershaw love for sure. But as I was putting the list together, the first thing that popped up for me was that Miguel Rojas game seven, are you kidding me kind of Homer?

Because that's what it became real. It honestly became real at that point that, oh shit, they're going to win this. They're 100% going to win this. So that is, I mean, these are just top moments. I don't know if that's the number one best moment, but that one stood out to me. Obviously, you were on a plane by that point. I was on my way to Africa. And I was getting like so many different text messages from Jill Painter Lopez.

It was like doing the play by play for me because I didn't have live television. And I'm like trying to follow on my phone. I'm trying to listen to what Jill has to say. But the most unlikely hero, we know that Miggy is such a good ball player, right? The guy is a gamer. He's a baller. But you don't expect it to be Miguel Rojas, you know, to be able to tie up the game. to force what they forced.

And what an unbelievable world series. Probably one of the best world series I've ever seen. You know, Game 7 coming down to your final two outs, those types of things. You think your team, your squad's going to lose, although I never thought we were going to lose, but whatever. That was incredible. Miggie Roe, what he did, and obviously Will Smith, what he did, and just getting to that point. Another moment for me, Clint, is, and it was obvious why this dude got MVP of the World Series. Yoshnobu Yamamoto, who was your Syung Award pick in the National League all season long?

and did get some votes as he should have. He was just a freaking gamer. To be able to warm up in the bullpen in a game, you know, the 18 inning game, but to be able to come out and just do what he did to close it out and do everything that that man did to get us to that point. He wasn't, I don't believe, I don't think Yama hit the IL all year. Did he? No, he was the one guy who actually, he made 30 starts.

T was start to finish, you know, the ace for the Dodgers. And, you know, the Yamamoto warming up and they obviously didn't enter that game, but that was the beginning of like, okay, this dude is absolutely going to be a dog for this team in the postseason. And there's a bunch of moments in that game three in particular. We can talk about a need to talk about. But I remember, you know, being there in the auxiliary press box and, you know, starting to get that little bit of, the murmurs, the chatter, like, oh, shit, something's happening down there. just moving a couple steps over, looking down into the Dodger bullpen and watching the

progression of Yamamoto getting ready for that game. Like you saw the moment where this is real. The something, the switch flip, this is real. There is a chance this boy is about to come in here and pitch after, I think, what had been like a day, two days after throwing a complete game in his game one or sorry, his game two start against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. So the heroics were being displayed early for, as you pointed out, your World Series MVP, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. There's a bunch of game three stuff we could talk about.

There's also a good tight package of Yamamoto stuff we need to talk about there. Again, back-to-back, complete games for the dude in the NLCS and the World Series. And then you mentioned, you know, I said there were the displays of the heroics and then we saw it in game seven coming off of, you know, throwing 96 pitches just, you know, just before that game. I think it wasn't in game six. Dude's an absolute beast, man. I love that dude. And that is why you pay the man.

That's why you pay the man, right? $325 million or whatever, Reddick, by the way. But I tell you what, he's not the only one, Clint in game three that had some heroics in terms of Yamamoto warming up in that 18th inning. Let's talk about a guy that doesn't have the massive contract, right? doesn't have the name recognition, if you will. But you liked what Will Klein did in game three. Tell me more.

Oh, Will Klein. What an absolute beast move. Look, you need somebody to step up. If you're winning a World Series, you need somebody to step up. The unsung heroes, the underdog story. They need to step up. Last year, kind of. Yeah, exactly.

Will Klein going out there, what do you throw? 60, I think it was 61 pitches in relief. Most pitches, ever thrown longest career professional outing in his life. He hadn't thrown that that long and that much since, like I think he said, high school or college days. To keep the team, to keep the score there, that was that game. We said after the fact, nobody wanted to win that game. I don't know if it was quite a pillow fight. Nobody wanted to lose it, but my God, nobody wanted to win that game. Will Klein, absolute hero, got stuff in the Hall of Fame. He's not a Hall of Famer,

but there's a glove in there and all that kind of stuff. But you don't win that World Series without the efforts and the heroics of Will Klein. And you don't win that game without Freddie Freeman. Without Freddie Freeman. Yeah, Will Klein may not be a Hall of Famer, but he is the World Series champion. And so is Freddie Freeman many times over. Freddie Freeman, again, the knack for the dramatic, right? Coming in clutch, we know what he did last year in game one against the New York Yankees.

We know what he did, obviously, in game three with the walkoff. I mean, these are the moments that you pay the man for. Like, this is what everybody growing up as a kid. It's like, you know, game seven, bottom of the ninth inning, you're down to your last out. It maybe wasn't game seven for Freddie, but what he was able to do in game three was, was unbelievable. And he just continues to prove that he's just good. He's just a baller. He never wants to take this dude out of the lineup.

He never wants to be out of the lineup. It's just awesome. It's awesome what Frederick Freeman did. And he is definitely on the way to the hall. of Fame. And so is our next dude, our next moment. And Clayton Kershaw. So many moments, Clint, about the 2025 season. And Kershaw just pitched once in relief in the World Series. But this team is nothing without Clayton Kershaw. And what I mean by that, the organization is nothing without what Clayton Kersha has done 18 seasons in a Dodgers uniform. Obviously, he is

hung up the cleats. He's going to be a full-time dad for now. But how about, and you were there, His final home start, his, you know, and also the, you know, strikeout number 3,000, which I believe you were there for that too, weren't you? No, that. Yes, that what I was. Yes. Yes. Yeah, you were there for that.

So that, I mean, that's special. Like, there's not a lot of guys that, you know, are going to have the career that Clayton did. And to do it all in one uniform is pretty special, too. Yeah, a special season for Kirsch to come back off of the knee surgery, the foot, the foot, which was the big one for him. Apparently, that had been bugging him for a while. But to be the second most consistent starter for this team as well in his, what, age 37 season. And then to have the humility to take just a massive step backwards and understanding everybody else around me is better than me right now. But I don't want to be a hindrance in this team potentially winning a

world series. I'll do whatever you need, Doc. And he did. You mentioned. You mentioned. You mention the, getting that, that huge out in that 18 inning game, by the way. But Clayton was our number one vote from people in the chat here on the YouTube. Matthew is pointing out, you know, his favorite moment being at that last home start, which was just an absolutely special moment. Friends, of course, were there, family was there, and all of our, you know, it got real dusty in the room here when Kershaw was doing that. Cole had that 3,000 strikeout game, which I was there. That was a slog.

That was a grind. Also that final start, his technical final career, major league start in Seattle, another special moment. The, you know, the wife and the kids were there. Yeah, just a, we got the, we got the finish that we wanted for Clayton, Alana. He needed to go out on top, and he did. And there are a few with all of the bullshit that we've had to hear. from experts and pundits about Clayton Kirshah and the postseason and all that for him to go out

a three-time World Series champion. It's special stuff. And for him to go out on his own terms, which is what I love. And kudos to the team, too, for allowing him to do so, right? I mean, he would have had a place on that roster as long as he wanted to. And I applaud the organization for allowing Clayton that courtesy because he certainly earned it. I mean, the next stop is obviously Cooperstown. Again, congratulations to the Kershaw's on welcoming in. their fifth child, Chloe Peach, was born not that long ago, a couple days ago. So congratulations to them. Yeah, two daughters, three sons, a Hall of Fame career. And Kershaw has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to watch. So thank you, Clayton. Another dude is a guy that caught

Clayton Kershaw. He caught everybody, Will Smith, what he did in terms of, we know what McGee Rowe did to force the issue, but Will Smith coming up huge. And what was kind of a kind of a weird year for him. A World Series clinching home run. Really? I mean, my God, is there anything cooler than that to be able to be the dude that won your team in the World Series? When for all intensive purposes, I mean, Toronto gave you everything they had. I think a lot of folks thought that Toronto had that game won. I mean, why wouldn't you at that point, right? So thanks to McGee. Thanks to Will Smith. He's just a gamer. Yeah, that was that was a special dinger right there the mirror shot of what miggy row did just two innings prior and you know it was thinking about

towards the end of the season there will smith was injured we didn't know what to expect out of that bat he was playing that postseason with a fractured hand and put together a pretty damn good postseason run and and capped it off with you said there's not a lot better there's one thing better it's a world series walk off um to clinch it but This is just like, it's right there. Yeah. It's right there. At least a walk off.

You know you're at home. You're celebrating with the friends, family, fans, all that kind of stuff. But Will Smith, tip of the cap to the man for, got to being the captain of this team in a way.

And piloting that pitching staff as well. He was phenomenal pitching staff. We've talked so much about all the offensive moments. Of course, that's what people tend to remember. But two things that stuck out to me, and it's ironic that it's the second to, and second to last and lasting on this portion of our list,

but the defense, particularly, both of them involving Kike, but obviously Kike and Pahas in game seven, when Kiki didn't think that that ball was caught, and he was like, oh my God, I just lost the World Series for us. And Andy's like, what are you talking about, bro? I got the ball. I mean, those are my words, not Pahas's words. But that's the point.

Andy Pahas made the catch. Kiki didn't realize it at the time. They get out of the inning and they're still alive. I mean, that was huge. And then, of course, the coolest defensive play is the double play from Kike to Miguel Rojas to end it. I mean, that was just insanity. And those are defensive moments.

That's why you run the plays, right? That's why you do the drills. That's why you never let your glove be affected by what you're doing at the plate. What a special moment. Mickey was all over this World Series. His imprint was all over it. And, you know, Kike, to a degree. as well, you know, wasn't quite with the bat the way he would want, the way he would hope.

But having that glove, you know, saying F you to the kind of the defensive positioning card, playing in shallow on that double player, double play to end game six, you know, he had his moments where the baseball IQ just took over and, and again, another one of those situations where Dodgers don't win without Kike Hernandez. is, and this is why I can understand why so many people, I think us included, I think people might have a misrepresentation of what I've said this off season where I don't think, at least early, I didn't think the Dodgers would bring it back now. I think you and I both agree.

It's very much a, you know, back alley handshake agreement. Something will eventually be done to bring Kike Hernandez home here. I love the dude. I was a big advocate for him last year up to, including the point where he unblocked me, and I think followed me on Twitter. That's how much I was pushing. You guys are besties now? Tight, tight.

So tight. The boys are tight. But I love the idea of trying to get this group back together to run it back for that third time. But also, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And these dudes, these boys, this group, this core seems to work together pretty damn good to getting to a postseason and finding a way to win a postseason. And as long as there's not another team banging trash cans when a fast ball is coming. Oh, my goodness. We can't get through a show.

Let me say this, though. We didn't think that it was going to be Miggy and Kiki together because we thought Miguel was retiring. But then he said, I don't want to retire. Then I was like, I don't think they're going to be able to bring both of them back. And then they bring back McGee first, 6, 7. Then they bring back McGee first. And then we know, basically, because Kike's hurt, he's not needed. until the second half of the season, really anyway.

So once he could be placed on the 60-day IL, maybe all of a sudden there's an announcement of a signing. I mean, he all but told Dave Vasay that that's pretty much what's going to happen, right? And I'm glad for it. I'm glad for it. A lot more to talk about so many great moments that culminated in a World Series championship,

back-to-back championship. We'll get to that momentarily. But Clint, let's talk about our gear. You guys, you can help support Clint and I. You can help support the show. The Dodgers Territoryshop.com is open right now. You can scan the QR code. You can also go to Dodgers Territory Shop.com.

There is a promo code. It is Holiday, H-O-L-I-D-A-Y. You can use that promo code at checkout to save. And don't forget, get some sweet DT swag. We have it all. It supports the show. It supports Clint. It supports myself.

We appreciate that very much. So... I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault and Our Stars. And now, I guess, also is the co-house. host of The Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids.

My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game, and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable.

And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Danielle Robeye, host of Bookmarked, the podcast by Reese's Book Club Club. And this week, we are talking about a monster. Or maybe the woman who refused to be one.

I'm sitting down with Maggie Jillon Hall to unpack her new film, The Bride. And trust me, this isn't your grandmother's bride of Frankenstein. It's darker, smarter, sexier, a full reimagining of what happens when the monster gets a voice of her own. What I was more interested in was the monstrousness inside of each of us. You can spend your life running from those. things or you can turn around and shake hands with them. If I'm honest about that and I tell my story about monsters really dealing in something truthful and I do it in a way that's pop, that's hot, that's like getting on a roller coaster, will people respond? Listen to Bookmarked, the Reese's

bookmarked, the Rees Book Club podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you at your podcasts. I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him. Hi, Dad. And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen. She says, I have some cookies and milk. This is his badass convict. Right.

Just finished five years. I'm going to have cookies and milk at my mom. Yeah. On the Ceno Show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience, and redemptive. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor, cultural icon Danny Trail, talk about addiction, transformation, and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Addish, Johnny Knoxville, and more. I'm an alcoholic.

And without this trouble, I'm going to die. Open your free I-Heart radio app. Search the Cito Show and listen now. All right. We've gone through a lot of stuff and we have yet to mention Shohei Otani. And we cannot have a 2025 recap, Clempasias, without mentioning Shohei Otani, telling the Dodgers to get back in the dugout after getting drilled by the Padres in another whiny. Mike and Schultz BS game.

Joe Hey, saying, I got this. I got this. That was a fun moment. You know, I've really appreciated. and I'm sure a lot of, you know, fans, people that have followed baseball, people have followed Show Hay throughout his career, really appreciated seeing the personality come out of him more and more over, you know, his two seasons in Dodger Blue, two championships in Dodger Blue. But that moment, obviously things were getting a little wonky there at Dodger Stadium. I think Dave Robertson and Mike Schilt were getting pretty close to throwing fistikos right there on the field. Shohei gets drilled because I forget who got drilled earlier in the game.

maybe it was Tatis and it was very yeah and it was very obviously not like intentional but they intentionally hit Shohei and he is he's pissed he knows he knows he understands the game but also stupid as hell I mean one of the first dudes jumping over

that that damn rail in the dugout was Clayton Kershaw right behind him Max Muncie these dudes are ready to go you know F some shit up and Shohei says no no stay in the dugout stay we're not we're not giving them what they want and that's exactly what they want The Padres wanted attention.

Exactly. We're not going to suit to that level. So that that was really, really cool. And the fact that, you know, from that point forward, you know, show hey, the, the consummate professional, the nicest, perhaps the nicest dude in baseball, tips his cap to everybody before us first at bat, not to the Padres after that point. I love that. That's a big, it's a big, it's like that, it's like that subtle, like, you know what I mean?

It's just like, you know, sometimes, sometimes saying. nothing speaks volumes yeah you know what i mean like sometimes the silence is deafening i love that i love that i love that and and chohay backs up his own teammates in in a certain way which is which is a beautiful thing um all right max munsey the eighth inning home run in game seven to bring the dodgers within one what do you remember about that you're so good about remembering like specific moments and all of the things what did you like about that that that one was definitely a feeling too because that game seven at that point i mean boe baudet future dodger hits the three on Homer off a show, Hey, Otani.

And you're like, oh, damn. This is, this is that, that's that sinking feeling. It's like they ran out of the magic. They ran out of the juice. Thankfully, I was wrong. But, you know, they chip away. Teo gets, earlier in the game, gets the, um, uh, sack fly. They get a run on the board later.

They keep chipping away. And the point, you know, I'm getting to here. It's, it's, what, four to two at this point. Max Muncie comes up. and he hits a no doubter, as Max does, bat drop the whole thing. He's feeling good. He's not getting too excited. He's really just enjoying himself.

But he hits that Homer in the eighth inning. And I just get that feeling like, don't you do this to me. Don't go play with my emotion, smoky. Like, don't give me hope. That's really what I felt. And I put it in my all Dodgers discord, sign up five bucks a month. The scene. from Avengers Endgame where Jeremy Renner's, you know, Ronan, he turns to Scarlett Johansson.

He says, don't give me hope. And that's what I felt. That's what I felt. And thankfully, he gave everybody hope and ultimately became a huge cog because Miggie Road does not tie up a game without that homer in the previous inning. So so much in that game seven. That just says so much to me about their maturity. And that's where I think, Clint, the experience of having been there done that has really come to play for this team. One thing that you and I talked about was just who who's going to out experience

the Dodgers. Nobody right now, right? I mean, they've had all of these moments and they've had the experiences of what do we do in this situation. We've been there before. So they never, they're not like us, right? Okay, Kendrick Lamar, but they're not like we don't, we freak out because we have no control over the situation. The players don't need to freak out because they've been there and they do have control over it. Like they took it as every single at bat. When When Boba Shet hit that three run home run, I was still watching the game at the time because I hadn't boarded the plane yet.

And I was like, oh no, oh no. And I'm like, found in champagne, even though I was anyway. But they just, they have the resume, Clint. They knew that they had the team to get it done and they did get it done. And you know what's funny too is they did it without a really good bullpen this year.

And that's another moment that I loved this year, is the way that the bullpen rallied around the whole Alex Vescia situation. We knew it was dire. I had a feeling and, you know, but we, the team didn't confirm what had happened until obviously after the fact when the Vescia family felt it was, it was time to do so. But that was a huge piece of their bullpen that they did not have. Whereas in 2024, the bullpen seemed so much more automatic than the starting rotation, it was the reverse in 2025.

And Dave was constantly trying to, it was like a merry-go-round, which led me to why we need a fricking closer in 2026, which we got. But you've got to be pleased about the relieving core and how it was managed. Yeah, yeah. And the way that all of those dudes stepped up. And you eventually even saw, you know, tip of the cap to Toronto as well. But seeing the 51 on the side of the hat, that was one of those things. I remember in that game three is when it happened.

And obviously, I can't see shit from where I'm sitting, but starting to see it pop up on social media is like pretty sure somebody i think it was bonda maybe who came in first anthony bonda has 51 inside of his hat that's that's really nice that's his boy and then you start to see everybody including clayton uh who was a big time bullpen dog um everybody having that in their hat uh that was really cool that was really special and shout out you know Alex Kayla the family uh Alex just posted something on social media a couple days ago getting back into it getting a workout going it's got the daddy beard going even though you know Sadly, not, but I'm happy that, you know, they're able to trudge forward and move on.

And me, you never really move on, I would imagine. But just, you know, obviously, heart, love, thoughts, all that kind of stuff, continue to go to them. So they find the strength, as Alex finds the strength to move on and hopefully be in another important bullpen dog in 2026. He's throwing the weight around. He's throwing some stuff around there, like lifting and getting swole is what the kids say. I got one more to because we, I feel like we have not talked enough, Shohay Otani, but how about, I think it was what, the game, game five performance in the

National League Championship series puts himself on his back, three homer game. He has three homers and like 15 punchouts or something. It was three homers, tosses six innings, 10 punchies against a very good Philadelphia, Phillies team. Yes, yeah. So, hey, he was, he was money. I really felt like Philly was the heart, like was going to be the hardest series. I felt like if we could get through Philadelphia, the American League I thought was not going to be cake by any stretch, but I thought it was going to be easier.

I felt like Philly was kind of the World Series for us. Toronto proved me wrong because they were phenomenal. It was fun, especially when you win. But yeah, no, that was big. That was big. Shohei, he's ridiculous on so many levels. Mookie, you love his impression of Jeter, huh? Yeah, that was one of the ones like, like, if there's just a random regular season pull that I, that I had come up with, there was a play.

And obviously, I feel like it sucks that we're just talking about these. You can't really show a lot of these on YouTube or else MLB is like, what, you're trying to grow our brand. Uh, uh, uh, we're not going to let you do. How dare you try to promote us. But, but show Heyo, I mean, sorry, show Hey, Otandi's teammate, Mooki Betts, obviously, uh, trying to learn the position early in the season, playing short. stop getting better at it. And that was a big moment for me. You see him range from shortstop, dive into, uh, well, he, with the net, you can't dive into the crowd, but essentially he was throwing his body out there to kind of make a twisting, turning play, um, down the, the left

field line. And, you know, immediately he, he makes the play. He comes out of it and he's ready looking the ball, make sure nobody's moving, uh, you know, the baseball instincts kick in. That was one of those things. It just kind of stood out for me. Uh, I really appreciated that play. and the growth, I guess not maturity, but the growth of Moogie bets as a shortstop over the course of the season. So we're now, we're not having that conversation of, oh, should Mooky move back out to the outfield? Hey, the Dodgers need an outfield. Why aren't they looking at that? No, Mooky is the shortstop.

And we talked about it already online before, but as maybe he gets on into his years and maybe the bat speed declines a little bit more, you really start bringing that value back up if he can be a. plus plus defensive shortstop, even a plus or even an average defensive shortstop. Really, really cool to see. But I enjoyed that play for Mookie. There was also another one of the responses here on the YouTube. About him too, right? This one I actually, I remembered, but I didn't remember the full context of it.

But the Dodgers were down on Ring Ceremony Day at home. And Terry here, Tori, sorry, Tori Hanson says Tori Lope on the screen there. But Tori had reminded us here was. Mokey hitting a walk off Dinger on Ring Day. Sorry, ring night at Dodger Stadium. I didn't remember it. But I went back and looked at it and I was like, that's pretty cool.

That is pretty cool. I was blinded by the ring, so I don't remember the remainder of the game. Because those diamonds, man, damn, I left too soon. I left way too early. And first I thought I was like the good luck term. Apparently Kirsten's way better at this because back to back World Series champions, damn.

Well, they suffered, we all suffered for a couple of years in 21. 22, 23 was a really bad, so. I mean, really bad. I mean. Well, yeah, well, 22, 23 for sure. Going out in the first round, losing to the Padres, losing to the timebacks. 21, at least they just, like, the wheels quite literally fell off on that team up to it, including like JT getting hurt. And was it game to the ALS or NLCS, something like that?

Yeah. Well, we're spoiled. Anyway, we're not talking about. Why are you bringing up old shit? All right. You can't do it. Hey, let's What?

Why don't we do this? How about that? Those are, that was our list. That's what we came up with. It's what some fans came up with. If you guys have anything else, feel free to still sound off in the comments and all that. But we do have to trudge forward,

and we do have to show you guys a dog in Last Licks. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault and Our Stars. And now, I guess, also is the co-host of the Away End, a brand new world soccer. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old.

I watched every game, and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was there most loyal and sometimes. only fan. I love this game. I love its history,

its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer,

is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auer Kohn and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, y'all,

let's make this happen. This is Havana, and she is such a sweetheart. We've had her in our care for several months now, and she is just such a sweet sweetheart. She would do great in a house with another dog that's equally as playful as her. So somebody that likes to play and be active and run around, she's a puppy. So she has that puppy

energy. But she is good with other dogs. She's wonderful with kids. She's healthy. She's vaccinated. She's spayed. She's currently being fostered in La Habra. But she's available for adoption. And she's just, she does have a little bit of separation anxiety. So we're working on that. She's starting a training program on January 10th. But we're We would love for her to have a forever home. So please, if you're interested in adopting Havana-unana, please reach out to me on social or at giddry's guardian.org or hit me up on Instagram, Facebook, all the things.

So please, she's a good girl. She's not even, she's not even two years old. So please, let's get her home. You can pet that dog if you get her home. Can I put that dog? What's your thought for the road, man? So before we sign off, Since we were last on, the Team America, WBC Team, Team America has gotten a little bit better.

They have added the talent known as Bryce Harper, somebody you're a big fan of. And I started looking at that lineup. Shout out to the John Boy people for putting together a couple graphics of it. That really makes you look at the lineup and be like, ooh, this is going to be a pretty damn good team. Possibly the best WBC team that Team America has seen. that's a debate, sound off in the comments about that one. But this is a projected lineup. We got Bobby Wet Jr., of course.

I think undisputed best shortstop in baseball. Aaron Judge, Beast, Kyle Schwabre, Beast, Cal Raleigh, Beast, Kyle Raleigh, Beast, Bryce Harper, Corbyn Carroll can still get it done even through like random shoulder injuries. Gunner Henderson, Bryce Terang, and then PCA, P.C. Crohn and Center Field. That is a damn good-looking team. Yeah, and don't forget, I mean, I'll start in the game, but we're starting the game, Will Smith is there, you know, Will Smith is participating in this. I mean, this is some pretty, it's funny.

Will Smith is on the bench, which is so crazy to me, but you understand why. I mean, obviously, Calvalli had an unbelievable, in my opinion, an MVP year, even though it went to Aaron Judge, which is fine, too. But look at the bullpen. David Bednar, Clevenger, you know, Holmes. This is a really good team. And what I love about, I've always been a huge fan of the WBC. But I always have felt that the Latin American team, have taken it more seriously.

I mean, if you look at Latin American players, which is a huge portion of Major League Baseball, right? It's such a global sport, but they really, really care about playing for their country. And you'll ask many Latin players, Spanish-speaking players, that playing for their respective country is more important to them than, like, playing in a World Series. And they truly believe that.

And I finally feel like the U.S. team is catching up to that. So kudos to Mark DeRosa, the team USA manager for the second time. Kudos to him for going after these guys and really, you know, trying to recruit and understand the importance of playing for your country and putting on that uniform. And you saw it, Clint, and in the last WBC, I mean, it could not have come down to a better final match, a final out, Shohay Otani versus at the time his teammate, Mike Trout. Obviously, Team Japan against Team USA and Shohei striking out Mike Trout. And I mean, you love that.

When I saw Mike Trout walk out with the American flag, I'm just like, wow. I mean, that was like an Olympic type of like, you know, goose bump type of moment. And I love it. I love that these guys want to play for their country. And I love that the teams are allowing them to do so. And guys are saying, listen, I'm doing this. It's no longer, especially when you have the likes of the names of the Bryce Harper's of the world and the Mike Trouts and the Aaron judges,

who's going to tell Aaron Judge he's not going to put on a team USA uniform. You know what I mean? So when you have those type of players at that caliber, at that level that say that they want to participate, it's almost like an open door to the other guys that are like, yeah, this is something special. I love the WBC. It's so cool. And yeah, you've seen over the last couple of years or last really two of these.

Obviously, there were supposed to be one in 2020. That was canceled. But usually the kind of heel, the Achilles heel of Team USA teams has been that starting rotation. You're like, this is all they're able to get. I mean, Merrill Kelly, with all due respect, he was like one of their aces last year. You mentioned the bullpen. how about that starting rotation?

This is insane, the top of the rotation. Paul Schoomack. Terrick Scoobel. And then how about Logan Webb in there? Joe Ryan, Matthew Boyd. It turns out also Blake Snell expressed interest. He said he would love to pitch for Team USA. He didn't get a call, which, I mean, there's still time to get Blake Snell on there.

But that's always felt like the biggest deficit. Obviously, Team Japan last year, or last turn. had Shoah, had Yamamoto, had Roki Sasaki, just chilling. Well, I mean, Sasaki and Yama weren't in the big leagues yet. So there's that for one, you know. But it's a lot of it's a level of talent that they have. No question. But a lot of the big league teams didn't want their guys to play.

You know what I mean? And a lot of it is the the schedule too in terms of, you know, when these guys are pitching their bullpins and pitching in live games in spring training. And how does it match up with the WBC? and then, you know, how does that affect the regular season moving forward? So there's a lot of logistical stuff that goes into it. But I love that it seems like it's more of a priority now for Team USA than it has been in the past. It just makes the tournament better.

It's just cool. Absolutely. It's going to be fun. I don't know how people feel about WBC. I've get more and more excited each time, each edition iteration of it. I saw some of the games last year in, or sorry, last tournament in Arizona. I mean, who would ever thought, Team Canada versus Team Mexico would be like a badass game, but it was a pretty badass game. So if you guys like that, you know, sound off in the comments what you're most excited about for with the WBC, Team USA, all that kind of stuff.

Watch it, enjoy it. And while you're on the internet, subscribe to Dodgers territory. Help us get to 15,000 subscribers. We'd appreciate it. Best way to do that. Just, you know, subscribe on the way out. It's easy. The X is there.

So easy. Easy, easy, easy. All right, Clint and I are back on Monday with our normally scheduled show at 12 p.m. Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern. Have a great weekend. We'll see you next time. Go to Dodgers. I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend. This is much more famous than I am.

I wouldn't go that far. But I'm John Green. Co-hosted the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on?

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