March 11, 2025 • 12 mins
Petros and Money talk with Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts right after his new contract extension was announced and the team gets ready to head to Japan. He expects a large crowd of fans to welcome them to Tokyo.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Matt What a wonderful year and off season for this
man who's been so gracious to us for so long,
whether things are up or down, always available and gracious
to the radio show and to the fans. Two time
World Series champion signed a four year contract extension with
(00:22):
the Dodgers that runs through twenty twenty nine. It is
a lucrative contract. I'd say he's gonna up the quality
of the red stitch onine, but the quality is so high.
The ceiling is cat on the precipice of a great
and historic trip to a place that is meaningful to
his own history. The Great Dave Roberts on your Southern
(00:45):
California Toyota Dealer Celebrity Hotline. What a day to be
talking to the Skipper, Dave. Congratulations first and foremost, and
thank you so much for joining us today, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I am so great full to be on with you guys. Finally,
it was probably the worst kept secret the last few days,
but I just couldn't be more excited to know, you know,
looking out for the next five years, I'm gonna be
with the Dodgers, and you know, planning and planning on
winning a few more championships.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Wasn't at all stressful, Dave, I know it. You know,
for those people listening in fans and stuff, it's kind
of hard for them to relate. It's such a great gig.
You're the skipper of the Dodgers, but you're also part
of a group of managers that look out for each
other and you want to kind of make sure you're
viewed the right way you should be viewed. And you're
sort of the guy that everybody was looking to to
try to set a tone for for what you do
(01:43):
and how important this job is and how you should
be compensated.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You know what. That's that's actually that's there's some truth
to that certainly, and like most things, it's bigger than yourself. Obviously,
the most important thing is you know, what was it
for for my my wife, my family. We wanted to
be here. I made no I didn't hide that at all.
The organization felt the same way, and it's, uh, I'm
(02:10):
just happy that I had my agent, you know, John
Boggs kind of hand to all that stuff. But there
is something too that where there's comparables in kind of
sports and and work and and the work world, right,
and so uh, that's a little bit part of but
ultimately this is a place I wanted to be and
everyone knew that.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
The One and only Dave Roberts, our guest, we talked
about the trip to Japan. I know there's a lot
of emotions going on, and I mean, we can't put
ourselves in your shoes. We can imagine what a great
thing it is to be an MLB player and then coach,
and then what it is to be the manager of
the Dodgers. My god, but now you start looking at
(02:51):
the history your career, Dave, You've You've managed these guys
in Australia, uh In, uh In in Korea. Uh You're
taking him to Japan. It's just Mexico, Mexico. I mean,
this is what's it. I mean, do you have perspective
on what these trips mean?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Are you able to do that in the moment? Or
is it all business?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
You know what it's It's pretty it's pretty much all business.
There's a little bit of play. But I will say,
and I think you guys know me pretty well, and
I just think that, uh, you know, on the first level,
it's it's tougher for the players the coaches logistically, but
I think that overall, our guys just really understand that
(03:37):
it's bigger than them. And for the Dodgers to be
able to go to whether it's Australia, Mexico, Soul, Korea
and then Tokyo, Japan, I mean there's Dodger jerseys and
hats and you know, uniforms all over the world and
that's pretty special. So to be able to go with
(03:57):
the Dodgers, it's a trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
What are the just logistically challenges and why you set
it up the way you do when you start spring training,
and how much planning has to go into making sure
these guys are right for those two games, for spring
training and when you come back to get things rolling
on the twenty seventh of March.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Logistically was tougher last year because it was the first
time we had done it as far as Asia, and
so now if you look at kind of and we
got through it came back in a good spot. There
wasn't as much jet lag. And our guys are the
player performance guys do such a good job as well
as when we sleep hitting you know, compression flocks and
(04:41):
hemans to get us like to stay up or to
rest well and so that part is easy. And thankfully
our players money are smart and they came into camp
ready to go, and so building up the pitchers was
pretty easy. The position player side, you know, talking to
task for her in then is today and he's like,
(05:03):
we just feel like four weeks we're ready to go,
and then to play two games there, to come back,
do the exhibitions and there shouldn't be much kind of
grogginess jet lag, and we'll be ready for the Tigers
for the home opener.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
For you guys, do you have to set the team
aside and talk about just how crazy it's going to
be out there as far as the amount of people
and and and all of that stuff logistically or is
that something that just kind of takes care of itself.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Well, you know what, I think our security team major
League Baseball, they do a good job kind of prepping
everyone and keeping us safe. But a little bird said
that there's going to be close to a million fans
to greet us when we land. I don't know how
truth that is true that is, but I mean that's
(05:52):
just it's gonna be bananas. And so I would like
to be showhaying a lot of capacities, but going back
to I do not want to be sho he Otani.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
What uh you know, it's it's Otani, it's Yamamoto. And man,
what an outing by Sasaki today? Well, what's going on there?
Like he gets in games and this is not sort
of the thing they've been hearing about from rookie Sasaki
and kind of you guys working through it with him
and trying to get him right. He looked like he
was mowing everything down in his way.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Today he looks so good. I mean it was pretty
effortless today. I think if you guys listen to me,
I just didn't want him to and people to feel
that he's going to be you know, he Deeo Nomo
coming over here as Hedeo was an older guy, a
seasoned veteran coming over to the States, and you know,
(06:40):
there's some finishing school that meets up with Roki and
so he's suber talented. He's had a great spring, but
there's still a learning curve that needs happened. But yeah,
you know, to be able to go to Japan and
have those three guys, you know on our club, it's
going to be special. And as you know, Mark Walter
(07:00):
to Andrew Friedman. We want to paint the country of
Japan blue, and I think we've done that.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You got to build your roster kind of twice here
for this trip and then kind of again for the reset,
like you talked about for the Tigers, an opening day
and all that, going through a spring a week early
and all that is that harder. Did you build the
roster today the way you kind of wanted to and
the way you foresaw it.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It's a little tricky. We've got two exhibition games there
against a couple of Japanese teams, one being the Tokyo Giants,
which is like the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball,
and then you've got two real games against the Cups.
And so Major League Baseball only allows us to take
(07:49):
thirty one players, and so there are players in the
fact that like, for example, Dustin May, who's going to
be our fifth starter. And we had a hard conversation
with Dustin that we had to keep to him back
here in Arizona so he can build up for his
start against the Braves, I think of that second series,
and so he couldn't, you know, take part in this
(08:10):
trip and other guys like that that we just couldn't
take Evan. We're pitcher heavy because we gotta, you know,
guard against pitchers not totally being built up. So there's
a little uh, you know, gymnastic roster gymnastics to go.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
With that uh stick on that day with Dustin May
and were you at all? I always hate using the
word surprise because you guys know kind of exactly where
these guys are. But just kind of take us through
what you saw from him in spring training, what you
expected him from him in spring training, and how he
ended up. You know, Nalen, I know Tony Gonsolin is
(08:45):
going to start on the IL, but just how he
was the guy that snatched up that fifth starter spot.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Not surprised, but I will say that, you know, Tony
was right there obviously until that little uh pick up
in the weight room set him back. But Dustin earned it,
and Dustin's pitched really well for us and baseball. As
you guys watch baseball closely, things always seem to happen
(09:11):
when you got to make a roster decision, and weather
it's performance, it's an injury, and guys sort of slide
in and you're always tapping into your depth. So Tony's
gonna be back soon enough. But Dustin's looked really good.
I mean, it's it's gonna be excited to get big
Red back out there, and he's an uncomfortable at bat,
(09:32):
and so I just hope he kind of just takes
this opportunity and runs with it.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Dave Roberts always great to catch up with him and
gracious enough to join us on the eve of the
big long trip to Japan. How fluid is the second
base and center field situation, Dave? And will it remain
fluid for some time?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
You think?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I think it's going to remain fluid. You know we're
gonna send out Haysong Kim. Uh, he's not gonna break
with us in Tokyo. God, he's a special young player. Uh,
there's some finishing school that he needs to kind of
take those at bats, log those at bats. I wouldn't
(10:14):
be surprised if he makes an impact at some point
in time, uh this season or beyond. But you know,
we got tom Yedman who can play obviously short great spring,
James Autman's really come on uh with the bat lately,
and so obviously with Keith k At to play some
(10:37):
second we got Migi Row which you've seen in spring
training take some innings in second base, all over the diamonds. So, uh,
Petro's just got to be fluid. And so I think
one thing we do a good job. I do a
good job is trying to keep these guys relevant, keeping
guys rested, and so we're gonna have h that's kind
of the blessing and the curses having a lot of
(10:58):
good players. Uh, there's all only you know, nine spots
eight on the diamond when you're playing defense. So guys
are gonna have to red reacting. Like you said, it
is going to be fluid.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Last thing for me, Dave, I don't mean to put
you on the spot if you don't have an answer, understand,
But I'm sure and full of our listeners are going
to go and take this opportunity to maybe take that
trip they had always said they wanted to take to Japan,
to Tokyo, maybe extended a little bit and make their
way around the whole country. But any advice you would
give them, like, hey, you've got to do this. If
(11:29):
you're gonna take that whatever it is, twelve thirteen, fourteen
hour flight over.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
There, I think if you're gonna go certainly there's an
opportunity potentially to watch some of those exhibition games. I
hear tickets are hard to come by for those regular
season games. I would really recommend getting on the machine Consent,
which is the Bullet train, and take it down to
(11:53):
Kyoto Osaka. Obviously, Tokyo's a couple of days in itself
to kind of get the landscape with Yokohama being next
to it. Great food, there's these got kart things that
you can get a triple A license international license that
you can ride on the streets on the wrong side
(12:14):
of the road, and that's fun. That's a quite the experience.
But it's just such a great place with great food,
great culture, great people. It's safe, it's clean. It's definitely
a trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Well, it could not be for a better guy and
more fun success story to watch unfold all these years
from UCLA till now big contract. Everybody's very pleased in
a historic trip, coming off a World Series victory, heavily
favored for another one. A lot of work to be done, Dave,
We sure appreciate you. Thanks a lot for doing it,
(12:50):
Dave Roberts.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Everybody, all right, fellas, thanks for having me on, and
we'll see you soon, all
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Right, be saying about there
Matt What a wonderful year and off season for this
man who's been so gracious to us for so long,
whether things are up or down, always available and gracious
to the radio show and to the fans. Two time
World Series champion signed a four year contract extension with
(00:22):
the Dodgers that runs through twenty twenty nine. It is
a lucrative contract. I'd say he's gonna up the quality
of the red stitch onine, but the quality is so high.
The ceiling is cat on the precipice of a great
and historic trip to a place that is meaningful to
his own history. The Great Dave Roberts on your Southern
(00:45):
California Toyota Dealer Celebrity Hotline. What a day to be
talking to the Skipper, Dave. Congratulations first and foremost, and
thank you so much for joining us today, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I am so great full to be on with you guys. Finally,
it was probably the worst kept secret the last few days,
but I just couldn't be more excited to know, you know,
looking out for the next five years, I'm gonna be
with the Dodgers, and you know, planning and planning on
winning a few more championships.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Wasn't at all stressful, Dave, I know it. You know,
for those people listening in fans and stuff, it's kind
of hard for them to relate. It's such a great gig.
You're the skipper of the Dodgers, but you're also part
of a group of managers that look out for each
other and you want to kind of make sure you're
viewed the right way you should be viewed. And you're
sort of the guy that everybody was looking to to
try to set a tone for for what you do
(01:43):
and how important this job is and how you should
be compensated.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You know what. That's that's actually that's there's some truth
to that certainly, and like most things, it's bigger than yourself. Obviously,
the most important thing is you know, what was it
for for my my wife, my family. We wanted to
be here. I made no I didn't hide that at all.
The organization felt the same way, and it's, uh, I'm
(02:10):
just happy that I had my agent, you know, John
Boggs kind of hand to all that stuff. But there
is something too that where there's comparables in kind of
sports and and work and and the work world, right,
and so uh, that's a little bit part of but
ultimately this is a place I wanted to be and
everyone knew that.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
The One and only Dave Roberts, our guest, we talked
about the trip to Japan. I know there's a lot
of emotions going on, and I mean, we can't put
ourselves in your shoes. We can imagine what a great
thing it is to be an MLB player and then coach,
and then what it is to be the manager of
the Dodgers. My god, but now you start looking at
(02:51):
the history your career, Dave, You've You've managed these guys
in Australia, uh In, uh In in Korea. Uh You're
taking him to Japan. It's just Mexico, Mexico. I mean,
this is what's it. I mean, do you have perspective
on what these trips mean?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Are you able to do that in the moment? Or
is it all business?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
You know what it's It's pretty it's pretty much all business.
There's a little bit of play. But I will say,
and I think you guys know me pretty well, and
I just think that, uh, you know, on the first level,
it's it's tougher for the players the coaches logistically, but
I think that overall, our guys just really understand that
(03:37):
it's bigger than them. And for the Dodgers to be
able to go to whether it's Australia, Mexico, Soul, Korea
and then Tokyo, Japan, I mean there's Dodger jerseys and
hats and you know, uniforms all over the world and
that's pretty special. So to be able to go with
(03:57):
the Dodgers, it's a trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
What are the just logistically challenges and why you set
it up the way you do when you start spring training,
and how much planning has to go into making sure
these guys are right for those two games, for spring
training and when you come back to get things rolling
on the twenty seventh of March.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Logistically was tougher last year because it was the first
time we had done it as far as Asia, and
so now if you look at kind of and we
got through it came back in a good spot. There
wasn't as much jet lag. And our guys are the
player performance guys do such a good job as well
as when we sleep hitting you know, compression flocks and
(04:41):
hemans to get us like to stay up or to
rest well and so that part is easy. And thankfully
our players money are smart and they came into camp
ready to go, and so building up the pitchers was
pretty easy. The position player side, you know, talking to
task for her in then is today and he's like,
(05:03):
we just feel like four weeks we're ready to go,
and then to play two games there, to come back,
do the exhibitions and there shouldn't be much kind of
grogginess jet lag, and we'll be ready for the Tigers
for the home opener.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
For you guys, do you have to set the team
aside and talk about just how crazy it's going to
be out there as far as the amount of people
and and and all of that stuff logistically or is
that something that just kind of takes care of itself.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Well, you know what, I think our security team major
League Baseball, they do a good job kind of prepping
everyone and keeping us safe. But a little bird said
that there's going to be close to a million fans
to greet us when we land. I don't know how
truth that is true that is, but I mean that's
(05:52):
just it's gonna be bananas. And so I would like
to be showhaying a lot of capacities, but going back
to I do not want to be sho he Otani.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
What uh you know, it's it's Otani, it's Yamamoto. And man,
what an outing by Sasaki today? Well, what's going on there?
Like he gets in games and this is not sort
of the thing they've been hearing about from rookie Sasaki
and kind of you guys working through it with him
and trying to get him right. He looked like he
was mowing everything down in his way.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Today he looks so good. I mean it was pretty
effortless today. I think if you guys listen to me,
I just didn't want him to and people to feel
that he's going to be you know, he Deeo Nomo
coming over here as Hedeo was an older guy, a
seasoned veteran coming over to the States, and you know,
(06:40):
there's some finishing school that meets up with Roki and
so he's suber talented. He's had a great spring, but
there's still a learning curve that needs happened. But yeah,
you know, to be able to go to Japan and
have those three guys, you know on our club, it's
going to be special. And as you know, Mark Walter
(07:00):
to Andrew Friedman. We want to paint the country of
Japan blue, and I think we've done that.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You got to build your roster kind of twice here
for this trip and then kind of again for the reset,
like you talked about for the Tigers, an opening day
and all that, going through a spring a week early
and all that is that harder. Did you build the
roster today the way you kind of wanted to and
the way you foresaw it.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It's a little tricky. We've got two exhibition games there
against a couple of Japanese teams, one being the Tokyo Giants,
which is like the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball,
and then you've got two real games against the Cups.
And so Major League Baseball only allows us to take
(07:49):
thirty one players, and so there are players in the
fact that like, for example, Dustin May, who's going to
be our fifth starter. And we had a hard conversation
with Dustin that we had to keep to him back
here in Arizona so he can build up for his
start against the Braves, I think of that second series,
and so he couldn't, you know, take part in this
(08:10):
trip and other guys like that that we just couldn't
take Evan. We're pitcher heavy because we gotta, you know,
guard against pitchers not totally being built up. So there's
a little uh, you know, gymnastic roster gymnastics to go.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
With that uh stick on that day with Dustin May
and were you at all? I always hate using the
word surprise because you guys know kind of exactly where
these guys are. But just kind of take us through
what you saw from him in spring training, what you
expected him from him in spring training, and how he
ended up. You know, Nalen, I know Tony Gonsolin is
(08:45):
going to start on the IL, but just how he
was the guy that snatched up that fifth starter spot.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Not surprised, but I will say that, you know, Tony
was right there obviously until that little uh pick up
in the weight room set him back. But Dustin earned it,
and Dustin's pitched really well for us and baseball. As
you guys watch baseball closely, things always seem to happen
(09:11):
when you got to make a roster decision, and weather
it's performance, it's an injury, and guys sort of slide
in and you're always tapping into your depth. So Tony's
gonna be back soon enough. But Dustin's looked really good.
I mean, it's it's gonna be excited to get big
Red back out there, and he's an uncomfortable at bat,
(09:32):
and so I just hope he kind of just takes
this opportunity and runs with it.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Dave Roberts always great to catch up with him and
gracious enough to join us on the eve of the
big long trip to Japan. How fluid is the second
base and center field situation, Dave? And will it remain
fluid for some time?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
You think?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I think it's going to remain fluid. You know we're
gonna send out Haysong Kim. Uh, he's not gonna break
with us in Tokyo. God, he's a special young player. Uh,
there's some finishing school that he needs to kind of
take those at bats, log those at bats. I wouldn't
(10:14):
be surprised if he makes an impact at some point
in time, uh this season or beyond. But you know,
we got tom Yedman who can play obviously short great spring,
James Autman's really come on uh with the bat lately,
and so obviously with Keith k At to play some
(10:37):
second we got Migi Row which you've seen in spring
training take some innings in second base, all over the diamonds. So, uh,
Petro's just got to be fluid. And so I think
one thing we do a good job. I do a
good job is trying to keep these guys relevant, keeping
guys rested, and so we're gonna have h that's kind
of the blessing and the curses having a lot of
(10:58):
good players. Uh, there's all only you know, nine spots
eight on the diamond when you're playing defense. So guys
are gonna have to red reacting. Like you said, it
is going to be fluid.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Last thing for me, Dave, I don't mean to put
you on the spot if you don't have an answer, understand,
But I'm sure and full of our listeners are going
to go and take this opportunity to maybe take that
trip they had always said they wanted to take to Japan,
to Tokyo, maybe extended a little bit and make their
way around the whole country. But any advice you would
give them, like, hey, you've got to do this. If
(11:29):
you're gonna take that whatever it is, twelve thirteen, fourteen
hour flight over.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
There, I think if you're gonna go certainly there's an
opportunity potentially to watch some of those exhibition games. I
hear tickets are hard to come by for those regular
season games. I would really recommend getting on the machine Consent,
which is the Bullet train, and take it down to
(11:53):
Kyoto Osaka. Obviously, Tokyo's a couple of days in itself
to kind of get the landscape with Yokohama being next
to it. Great food, there's these got kart things that
you can get a triple A license international license that
you can ride on the streets on the wrong side
(12:14):
of the road, and that's fun. That's a quite the experience.
But it's just such a great place with great food,
great culture, great people. It's safe, it's clean. It's definitely
a trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Well, it could not be for a better guy and
more fun success story to watch unfold all these years
from UCLA till now big contract. Everybody's very pleased in
a historic trip, coming off a World Series victory, heavily
favored for another one. A lot of work to be done, Dave,
We sure appreciate you. Thanks a lot for doing it,
(12:50):
Dave Roberts.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Everybody, all right, fellas, thanks for having me on, and
we'll see you soon, all
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Right, be saying about there
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