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00:00Stopping by before tonight's game.
00:01He gets to hand the ball to Shohei Otani tonight.
00:04He has yet to give up an earned run.
00:06This is start number three on the season.
00:08The 32-year-old in July, 31 at the moment.
00:12Japanese-born right-hander, and you look at the numbers.
00:15There are his first two starts, just one unearned run allowed.
00:19And he is taking on a Mets team that's looking for hits,
00:22looking for runs, and sitting the kind of guy you want to face
00:25when you're looking for hits and looking for runs.
00:27You know, Wobleski and Yamamoto have shut the Mets down,
00:32and now they have to face Otani, a seven-pitch pitcher,
00:35which is throwing more curveballs and split fingers.
00:39So it's going to be a very interesting night for the Mets.
00:44Got to look at that lineup.
00:46Mentioned that Lindor homered in last night's game,
00:49not just his first home run, his first RBI.
00:52And the switch-hitting superstar shortstop has to hope
00:56that that is the beginning of something good for him for the Mets.
01:00Table setter up at the top of their lineup will be followed
01:03by Luis Robert Jr.
01:05And then Brett Beatty, who is playing for Jorge Polanco,
01:08who's been mainly de-hitting because of the tendonitis
01:11in his Achilles tendon.
01:13You look at Carlos Mendoza.
01:14He's got his hands full.
01:15Slow start as manager of the Mets.
01:18And you know that's when the world descends upon you,
01:21and it's up to him to try to keep them positive.
01:23Well, I'll tell you, I've seen him now for three years.
01:26When they've been at their lowest, he always is the same all the time.
01:30And I know that's really important to players on his team.
01:34Chance for Will Smith to say hello to Francisco Lindor.
01:38We're glad you're with us tonight.
01:42Mets come into this game having lost seven straight,
01:46a record of seven and 11, while the Dodgers 13 and four.
01:51And that ties for the best record out of the gate
01:55for a reigning world champion over the last 100 years.
02:00So they're picking up where they left off last year.
02:02Here's Otani.
02:03Here is Lindor.
02:05And there's ball one.
02:09You mentioned the seven pitches from Otani,
02:11but the breaking stuff has been excellent.
02:14And I think it's because he's a year removed from rehabbing
02:16from his Tommy John surgery.
02:20Lindor with a 1-0 count and swings through it.
02:24One ball, one strike.
02:25We get it underway at 7-11 tonight on a 66-degree night at Dodger Stadium.
02:34You know what I love about Otani?
02:36Full wind-up, we don't see that much anymore.
02:38Most guys have a hybrid wind-up that looks more like pitching from the stretch.
02:43Here's a 1-1.
02:45That goes around the strike zone.
02:47Ball two.
02:50It's very old school.
02:53Takes his head and his body offline
02:55and then finds the line over the rubber.
03:01A little bit of heat at 98,
03:03which is what he averaged in his last start.
03:06A start that he said his mechanics were a little bit off.
03:10Must be nice to be off with your mechanics.
03:12An average 98.
03:13And he starts his night with a strikeout.
03:16As Lindor goes down one away.
03:20Elevates the fastball a few times.
03:22It's going to be really hard to hit this ball.
03:26Up and away like that.
03:28If you do hit it, it's probably a pop-up to short,
03:30a fly ball to left, a weekly hit.
03:34Brings in Luis Robert Jr.,
03:35who the Mets picked up from the White Sox.
03:39Solidified center field.
03:40Really good player a few years ago.
03:43Hello.
03:43Up and in.
03:44Ball one.
03:45And a guy that when he's right and healthy
03:47can be as good as any center fielder in the game.
03:50And wow.
03:52Do you guys remember Monday?
03:54You guys hit me in the scapula.
03:55So a little payment due.
03:57Up and Ohtani.
03:59And now back into the strike zone.
04:00A ball and a strike.
04:01Old school delivery with an old school method.
04:04You think there was something behind that?
04:06No, no, no.
04:06Don't start, Ron.
04:07He just missed.
04:08Don't start.
04:09Well, you haven't done a game in a while.
04:10I thought maybe you did.
04:11Let's get a brawl.
04:12Here's a breaking ball popped up right side.
04:15Foul ball.
04:16Freeman will watch it become a souvenir strike, too.
04:19You know, when I was a kid and you would listen to professional pitching coaches,
04:23they had kind of two trains of thought.
04:25They would say drop and drive or rock and fire.
04:30And Ohtani's more of a rock and fire.
04:33You'll watch his shoulders kind of go backwards and forwards as he generates all that velocity.
04:38Here's his one-two pitch.
04:41Pretty good swing by Robert.
04:42Fouled away.
04:43Since 1969, hard to be the drop and drive guy with the mound being so low.
04:48You'd be, you know, where would you throw the ball?
04:5050 feet in front of home plate.
04:52That's right.
04:53But you are so right.
04:55He is a rock and fire kind of guy.
04:58Line drive into center field.
05:00Coming to get it.
05:01Paz, and he's got it for round number two.
05:08Well, they're hitting, they're pitching, and they've got the best defense to start the season
05:14and what a play by Paz.
05:16First 17 games, this is the best hitter in the major leagues,
05:19and he's playing elite defense in center field.
05:22Came to the big leagues as a corner outfielder and has made himself into an elite center fielder.
05:27There are some outfielders in the Dodger outfield that want to win gold gloves.
05:34With two out, number three hitter is Brett Beatty, and he takes the ball.
05:39Well, Brett Beatty is one of their young players they're really counting on.
05:42He's got off to a slow start, hasn't walked yet in the games that they've played,
05:47the 18 games they've played.
05:50Right side, Freeman to his right.
05:53Ohtani gets over in a 1-2-3 start.
05:59Mets go down in order.
06:01Dodgers coming up.
06:03The Dodgers are coming to bat.
06:05Oral, do you ever get tired of the weather out here in Southern California?
06:09This is absolutely gorgeous.
06:11Tonight, it's not Ohtani leading off.
06:13Instead, it's Kyle Tucker leading off, playing right field.
06:16Freddie Freeman bats second.
06:18Will Smith hits third.
06:19Teoscar Hernandez cleans up.
06:21Max Muncy has a three-homer game already this season.
06:25Andy Pajas, who is leading the world in everything.
06:29Dalton rushing.
06:30Heesung Kim.
06:31Alex Freeland against the right-hander, Clay Holmes.
06:34He was a reliever with the Yankees.
06:36He was a reliever with the Pirates.
06:37He's become a starter with the Mets, and he's been a good starter.
06:40He's one of the few elite relievers that has transitioned to be a starter,
06:44and he had a full, complete season last year.
06:46He's gotten off to a quick start.
06:48Left his last start, though, with a hamstring strain.
06:51We'll keep our eye on him.
06:52It was a left hamstring, but got through the work week okay,
06:56and he delivers a pitch that's fouled away by Tucker.
06:59Strike one.
07:00Well, the great thing about Holmes is that he is a ground ball machine,
07:0462% ground ball rate, with sinkers, sliders, cutters, and a kick change.
07:12Kick ball change.
07:13Kick ball change.
07:14Here's an 0-1 pitch.
07:16Strike two.
07:17Pitching's been good for the Mets.
07:19You want to look for a bright spot.
07:21They're top ten in all of the major leagues with their team ERA at 3.57.
07:27They got a strong start last night from the rookie, Nolan McClain.
07:31They look for more from the veteran.
07:34Clay Holmes.
07:35That's strike two.
07:36It's going to be interesting against this Dodger lineup,
07:38because they are very good against the sinking fastball.
07:41Average sixth in the major leagues and number one in slug.
07:45So, they have some guys that actually drop the head of the bat
07:48and try to get on the plane of that sinker.
07:530-2 pitch is hot.
07:57Kyle Tucker, the Dodgers had a couple of needs in the offseason.
08:01They needed some maybe relief help.
08:03They went out and got the best reliever in the free agent market,
08:06and they needed some outfield help, and they got the best outfielder.
08:09You sound bitter.
08:10I'm not going to lie.
08:11Yeah, you sound bitter.
08:12One ball, two strikes is fouled into the Mets' dugout.
08:15The Mets kind of get what they want as well.
08:17True.
08:17But they had their eyes on Tucker.
08:19They didn't get him.
08:20And their closer now is in the Dodger uniform.
08:22And they wanted Diaz to come back as well, certainly.
08:26This is a boost of confidence to have him in the leadoff spot.
08:28He has really struggled, especially here at home.
08:32Had a little bit of a Dodger moment last night with his bleeder over third base
08:37to drive in the winning run.
08:38But I would think if you ask Kyle, he's like, that's not my moment yet.
08:42Yeah, but I mean, if you're a human being, four years, 240, it's around your neck.
08:48And trying to fit into a championship team, the count's full.
08:54I think that's the thing that we always tend to overlook.
08:57I mean, average annual value, no one's ever had a higher contract.
09:00And just trying to get off to a quick start.
09:04It was 0-2, now 3-2, and a fly ball into left center field.
09:08Not well hit.
09:09Robert to his right, sliding catch one away.
09:15Robert has been great for the Mets.
09:17We know he can be a great player because he has had great years.
09:21But you mentioned it, Joe.
09:22Injuries have really kind of mitigated his success.
09:26But he's been healthy so far, and he's been arguably their best player so far.
09:31Postseason hero, Freddie Freeman, digs in.
09:34The guy with 242 career hits against Mets pitching.
09:39Most among active players, and a lot of that because he used to be an Atlanta Brave
09:43as he takes ball one high.
09:47About as professional as they come.
09:50I don't know what that means, but if anybody defines being a big league ball player,
09:54doing it the right way, Freeman's at the top of that list for me.
09:58It means he makes every play defensively.
10:00He gets every big hit that you need.
10:02He'll walk off the opposing team occasionally.
10:06He's a six-tool player.
10:07The six-tool is being able to have good conversations at first base.
10:12I've never heard of that tool.
10:14Here's a 1-1.
10:15That can lead to a nice broadcasting career, too.
10:18Strike two.
10:20Sean Casey must have had that six-tool.
10:22Oh, I think you're right.
10:24But it was number one on his list.
10:26Sean was in the box by himself having a conversation.
10:30They call him the mayor.
10:32Here's a ground ball right side.
10:33It stays to the right of the first base bag.
10:36One ball, two strikes.
10:38One of the highest barrel ratings so far this year.
10:41Freddie Freeman, if you look at his numbers, they actually are hitting in bad luck.
10:46He has squared up a lot of balls this year and hit them all hard.
10:49Still hitting .257 with his three home runs, and he's driven in 14, trying to get on in front of
10:54Will Smith.
10:59And he does.
11:01Out of the reach of Simeon and into right center field, and Freeman is aboard with one out here in
11:06the first inning.
11:07And Will Smith will stride to the plate.
11:10Your unprofessional hitters would have topped this as a ground ball, but he gets underneath of it and hits that
11:16semi-line drive.
11:17One hopper through the infield.
11:19Tough to play in the right spot when they hit it that hard.
11:22He is league's best or most disciplined hitter.
11:26In batting practice, he just works the ball up the middle.
11:30Exit velo at 105.5 on that rocket by Freeman.
11:37And ball one is high to Will Smith.
11:40I think Will Smith is one of the most underrated players in Major League Baseball.
11:44I think I'm right there with you, but I get to see him on a daily basis.
11:48And so he's not underrated in my book, but I guess, yes, as the nation and the ESPN audience watches
11:54him,
11:55he's had his moments with the World Series home run, of course, and that put him on the map.
11:59But as far as day in and day out, consistency, and a heartbeat that is the Dodgers, it is Will
12:05Smith.
12:06It's a number one pick out of Louisville, so they expected him to be a real good player.
12:11I don't know if they expect him to be as good as he's come out to be, though.
12:161-0 pitch.
12:18Fly ball into right.
12:21Benj, the rookie, is back a few.
12:23That's out number two.
12:25Freeman stays put.
12:28And that will bring in the cleanup hitter, Teoscar Hernandez.
12:37Teo came in to this year with a goal to win a gold glove and switching positions from right field
12:43to left field
12:44and also came in in much better shape, really wanting to pile up the offensive numbers.
12:51Off to a 2-96 start here over the first two and a half weeks.
12:55Tops won left side, strike one.
12:57It's good to see home so far.
12:59His manager, Carlos Mendoza, said he's really going to keep eyeballs on him to see if his leg was all
13:04right.
13:04He's responded in a good way here in the first.
13:14Should end the inning, shallow right center field.
13:17Simeon out, says I've got it, and he didn't lie.
13:20After one at Dodgers Stadium, Mets, Dodgers, no score.
13:27They're in the NLCS, Ron Darling, Oral Hershizer, and God, I love watching you guys pitch,
13:33and God, I love listening to Vin Scully on that tape piece.
13:36There was a lot to like for somebody of my age watching that little video piece.
13:41I'm so glad you guys agreed to do this tonight.
13:43Well, it's so much fun, and it was interesting to hear Ron talking about he ran from defeat.
13:49Here's Freeman, nice plays.
13:51He backed up.
13:52One pitch, one out.
13:53Because so did I.
13:54Oh, you did.
13:54Yes, because you run towards success, or you run from defeat, and it's both in the same direction.
14:00It's just what your motivation is to run in that direction.
14:03The problem was running down sometimes.
14:04That's the problem.
14:05It caught you.
14:06Yeah, every once in a while.
14:09Bo Bichette grounded out on the first pitch to the right side,
14:12and Francisco Alvarez, who has really been kind of the lone bright spot in this lineup for the Mets,
14:18he leads their team with four home runs.
14:20He's hitting .283.
14:22He's got four home runs.
14:23He's got four RBIs.
14:24So that just tells you there's nobody getting on base in front of him.
14:28One out, nobody on, with Benj, the rookie, on deck.
14:33And a strike from Otani.
14:34Yeah, the Mets are 27th and on-base percentage so far.
14:38Alvarez had a brilliant rookie season.
14:40Injuries have cost them the last couple, but they see him as a future superstar.
14:48One ball, one strike.
14:49A little slider near the edge, but no challenge.
14:53We'll see some ABS work tonight.
14:59Ohtani spins at home with a 1-1 count and a nasty pitch that Alvarez missed by a foot, strike
15:06two.
15:06First swing and miss on a breaking ball from Otani.
15:09The other ones were in the first inning all on his four-seam fastball.
15:12Looked like a little cheating there.
15:15I love the ABS.
15:17It was like, catchers, hitters, you can challenge.
15:20Pitchers, please stay out of it.
15:221-2 pitch.
15:23There are some teams that, at least I've heard, have a rule.
15:28Pitchers, you're not allowed to challenge.
15:30Because they're falling off, they don't get a good look at the pitch.
15:35Their heart's in it.
15:37Their heart's in it.
15:38They're the one that threw it.
15:39That's strike three.
15:40Two out.
15:41I've got to clear something up.
15:42When I said cheating, I meant the hitter cheating on a fastball because Otani's fastball is so good.
15:47So he started his swing early.
15:49Shohei does not cheat at all.
15:51He can spin a baseball with nothing on his hand.
15:53Good cleanup.
15:55Anytime you say that word.
15:57Yeah.
15:59It lights up the internet.
16:01It does.
16:02Oral Hershizer just said.
16:05Ball one outside to Carson Benj.
16:08And, you know, we talked about the pressure with a guy like Kyle Tucker
16:12and the big contract with this young man who shot through the Mets system.
16:18Takes a strike over the inside corner.
16:21He is just 7 for 49, hitting 143.
16:24Does other things really well.
16:26Plays a good outfield.
16:27Runs the base as well.
16:28But he is struggling to find some consistency at the plate.
16:32Yeah.
16:32He's got five stolen bases to speak to his speed.
16:361-1.
16:37Good.
16:38Breaking ball.
16:39Had him frozen straight, too.
16:40But I think it's harder now to break into the major leagues as a young player than it ever has.
16:44They get everything on you, your swing path, what you like, what you don't like.
16:49And it gets translated to the pitcher straight away.
16:52A little clunker left side.
16:54A little clunker left side.
16:54Muncy, tough play, and got it.
16:57Two in the inning.
17:01Muncy charged it.
17:02Gloved it.
17:03And just a 10-pitch inning for Shohei Ohtani.
17:07Sun is Dodgers coming to the plate.
17:11Dodgers won on Monday, 4-0.
17:14And Justin Robleski's eight shutout innings.
17:18They won last night 2-1.
17:19No score here tonight.
17:20And Muncy takes the ball outside.
17:23It'll be followed by Pajes.
17:25And then the young catcher, Dalton Rushing, is DH-ing tonight.
17:34Here's a 1-0.
17:37And that's going to be challenged.
17:45Looked like a strike from up here.
17:47Really challenged.
17:49Plenty of the plate.
17:51You're ready to umpire from up here, aren't you?
17:54The ABS system is powered by T-Mobile.
18:00One plate umpire is Edwin Moscoso.
18:06The umpires like this thing.
18:08Have you talked to them?
18:09I have talked to some.
18:10I would say that they don't say too much about it.
18:15They certainly, no one wants to be pointed out
18:19that they're missing pitches during the game.
18:21I'm sure they don't like it.
18:24Two balls and a strike on Muncy,
18:27who has hit four.
18:31Fouls it away, strike two.
18:32They like it when they're right.
18:33They get a little, I told you so.
18:35That's right.
18:36Catcher's ear.
18:37But they could be wrong
18:38because they missed the pitch by one-tenth of an inch.
18:41Exactly.
18:41You know, at 95 miles an hour.
18:43Yep.
18:44The human element there is borderline, like, unjust.
18:49Here's a 2-2.
18:51Muncy hits it to the first baseman, Beatty.
18:55To the bag, one away.
18:56You know, it's interesting, Earl.
18:57You said that the Dodgers have a lot of hitters
18:59who really hit that pitch down in the zone very well.
19:03Well, in the first inning,
19:05Clay Holmes had six change-ups out of his 17 pitches.
19:08So, I think he's tipped his hand
19:10on how he's going to try to counter
19:11against this really difficult Dodger lineup.
19:15Yeah, Freddie got a hit on a change-up,
19:17and off of his change-up so far,
19:19Holmes has changed up this yard.
19:20The league is only 2 for 15.
19:23So, Freddie bucked the trend.
19:25Swing and a miss by Pajas,
19:27who is off to an incredible start.
19:31See where he is with the batting average.
19:34He's tied for eighth in home runs,
19:35first in RBIs, first in hits.
19:44Batting with the bases empty.
19:45He takes down an end, one ball, one strike,
19:48and Earl, he's been working a lot
19:50with the virtual reality goggles
19:52and been, I guess, tracking pitches
19:55from some of the toughest pitchers in the league
19:57like a Paul Skeen's.
19:58Right.
19:59Yeah, he will work on the toughest pitchers
20:01and really on what is a strike,
20:03what is the balls, and tracking them.
20:05The other thing that he has done
20:06is he is two different hitters now.
20:09Before two strikes, he's a hitter
20:10that usually is looking middle in.
20:13And with two strikes, he's covering everything.
20:16The door to his left.
20:18Two out.
20:20Well, it's interesting.
20:21Dave Roberts told us before the game
20:24that Pa has had a chip on his shoulder.
20:26He doesn't want to be known as just the catch
20:29that happened in World Series.
20:30He wants to be out there in the field in postseason.
20:33He wants to take his at-bats in the postseason.
20:36So that chip on any ballplayer's shoulder
20:39can be a good thing.
20:40It is amazing how all the individuals in the Dodger organization
20:44come out of a successful year, back-to-back world championships,
20:47with motivation at the individual level.
20:50I mean, I think that shows how they got off to this hot start.
20:53They all came in focused, even with, you know,
20:56the World Baseball Classic as a distraction,
20:58but they were all focused on what they were trying to accomplish in spring.
21:02Dalton Rushing is in the hole, nothing and two,
21:05and just to further your point,
21:07the catch was the bases loaded grab that Pa has made in the ninth inning
21:12of game seven, a game that the Dodgers won in 11.
21:17T.K. Hernandez playing left field and playing very shallow,
21:20and Pa has was inserted for defense because of his range.
21:23That range paid off.
21:25Rocket by Rushing down the right field line.
21:28Dalton Rushing, the young catcher tonight,
21:32the D.H., has a two-out double.
21:34He can hit.
21:36He's shown that he can handle the low ball,
21:39and that's what he got right here.
21:40Had a two-home run night the other night
21:43that really got his year started.
21:48Down and under that one, and it was a rocket.
21:52Left the bat at 104.
21:56I mean, you're stuck behind Will Smith.
21:58He's learning how to catch at the big league level,
22:01but he brings up, at least in my mind,
22:04is Hesong Kim, who is playing shortstop now
22:08for the great Mookie Betts,
22:10who is on the I.L. with an oblique strain,
22:13takes the ball outside.
22:14Yes, you look at the checking account.
22:16And the contracts that the Dodgers hand out.
22:19But they have drafted well.
22:21They develop well.
22:23And there's guys in this lineup up and down,
22:26mixed in with the free agents and other players
22:28that they've brought in.
22:29It makes this team as great as it is.
22:31That's a strike, one-on-one.
22:34Well, Rushing is going to have a tutorial under Will Smith.
22:38And that's about as good as it's going to get,
22:41learning from that young catcher.
22:45Dodgers with a chance to take the lead here in the second.
22:47A two-out double by Rushing.
22:50Hesong Kim
22:53takes up and away two-and-one.
22:55Clay Holmes has done some of his best work
22:57in his first three starts with men on base.
23:00Two for 32 hitters are against him
23:03with men on base coming into this start today.
23:10Here's a two-one.
23:12That's well hit into right.
23:14Back at the wall.
23:16It is good.
23:20Two-nothing Dodgers.
23:22As Kim goes deep to right.
23:38Well, Dave Roberts told us
23:40he'd be a good matchup tonight for Clay Holmes.
23:44And he gets his first home run
23:46on that shot to right.
23:48Some of the strongest legs in the Dodger organization
23:51when you go to the leg press
23:52and what this guy does
23:53and he knew he needed to get us stronger
23:55this offseason, and he did.
23:58Big daddy.
24:00Late swing and a foul by Alex Freeland.
24:03You cannot rest on the Dodgers' second half
24:06of their order.
24:067-8-9 better than any 7-8-9 of all of baseball.
24:11And at one time a few days ago,
24:13they were 200 points OPS above anybody else.
24:18Strike two.
24:19Oral and I both used to throw sinking fastballs.
24:22The high sinker always goes a long way.
24:28Fourth career big league home run
24:30for Hesong Kim.
24:32His first of the year.
24:35And the Dodgers lead 2-0.
24:44And they're going to challenge that.
24:47It was called inside or low.
24:52Francisco Alvarez framed it.
24:54And let's see.
24:58And it was low.
24:59Goal is confirmed.
25:00New York has one challenge remaining.
25:03That's an example of this 7-8-9 of the Dodgers.
25:07Two out, nobody on, and five pitches later, it's 2-0.
25:11That's an example of this 7-0.
25:11Rushing and Kim, those household names.
25:15Here's a 1-2.
25:19Strikeout ends the inning.
25:20But again for the Dodgers.
25:23And Oral touched on at the bottom of the order.
25:27Third inning rolls around here at Dodgers Stadium.
25:30Hesong Kim with his first home run of the year
25:33playing for the injured Mookie Betts.
25:38So a 2-0 ball game.
25:40And this Mets team has the bottom three in their order.
25:45They're looking for their first base runner.
25:49Dodgers pitching.
25:51The starters allowed one earned run in this three-game series
25:54to this point.
25:58Counts one and one on Simeon, who's off to a slow start.
26:01Hit in 188.
26:02Had a down year last year.
26:0635 years old.
26:07Hit 230.
26:09A year ago with Texas.
26:11Strike two.
26:13Shohei leaning on his fastball tonight.
26:17First few starts right around 36% with it tonight.
26:20Over 50.
26:25That is out of play.
26:27You know what's great about pitching is sometimes you come into a game
26:31and that fastball is coming out a little different than it did in your last start.
26:35And like you said, you just lean on it while you have it.
26:44Fold him and strikeout number three for Shohei Ohtani.
26:49Now time for high performance brought to you by Sage.
26:52It's amazing what he can do.
26:54There, leaning on his fastball, throwing it right by Lindor.
26:58Especially up in the strike zone.
27:01He's spinning it as good as you've seen.
27:04Making it look easy to throw a sweeper, then go to the curveball, then go to the split.
27:09That seven-pitch mix is almost unjust.
27:14So smooth, I think the scapula bruise is fine.
27:20MJ Melendez is getting his first plate appearance of the season just up and right into the lineup.
27:27And the count, one ball, one strike as we go back to that pitch that got Simeon.
27:33Well, he sped him up with the fastball, and then he made the last pitch look like a fastball, ended
27:38up sweeping it away.
27:41Melendez is one of those depth pieces that the Mets had in spring training.
27:45Had a tough year in Kansas City.
27:47It's been down in AAA.
27:49And because of the woes offensively of the Mets, try something different.
27:53They also have recently added Tommy Pham, 38-year-old outfielder, who's on deck.
28:00Into the gap and left center field.
28:02That ball is going to get down and go to the wall.
28:05A one-out double.
28:06Welcome to the Mets.
28:07Where you been all our lives?
28:10A double by Melendez, and the Mets are in business here in the third.
28:16Looked like the only hitter in the Mets lineup so far that could catch up to the good fastball from
28:22Otani.
28:24Well, when you're in the eight hole and you see what he is leaning on, you start to cheat a
28:30little bit, expect it.
28:32Mets were 0 for 4 on his fastball with two Ks until that swing.
28:37Here is Pham trying to deliver a run or maybe two for the Mets here in the third inning.
28:45Off the hand, strike one.
28:46Well, Tommy Pham usually is a left-handed specialist.
28:50If there's a left-handed pitcher in the game, he's going to be in the box.
28:53But because of the offensive walls of the Mets, they are just getting some veteran leadership in that lineup.
29:00He brings some grit.
29:02He's a tough guy.
29:03He is kind of a rah-rah, fire-up-the-team type player.
29:07He's been around forever.
29:09He's bounced around second time around with the Mets.
29:11Came up originally with the Cardinals.
29:13But basically, you name a team, and he's got a jersey with his name on it hanging in a closet
29:19somewhere.
29:21Nothing into the count.
29:26Ball one.
29:27His first time with the Mets in 23, traded to the Diamondbacks, and helped that team on their great run
29:33when they made it to the World Series.
29:36That enthusiasm has to have integrity.
29:41Here's a 1-2.
29:43What do you mean by that?
29:45Well, it's just got to ring true.
29:46It can't be just when he's hot.
29:47It can't be just when he's in the lineup.
29:50It's got to be constant to be a leader.
29:52You can't have your days where he's like, oh, I'm a little depressed, or I'm here.
29:57You've got to be consistent to have that integrity.
30:00Then your voice gets heard.
30:03Struck him out on a pitch that was up at 98 miles per hour.
30:08Two down.
30:1098 matches 38 sometimes.
30:13When you're 38 years old, sometimes the bat speed starts to slow down.
30:17He goes up and in, which gets the young hitters, and usually can get some guys that are a little
30:21long in the tooth.
30:22But it kind of points out the state of the Mets in that they signed Pham on opening day.
30:28He got five games in in low A ball, didn't even go to AAA Syracuse.
30:35They call him up, put him in the lineup, and he just struck out against Ohtani for the second out
30:40to bring in Lindor.
30:42It's one of the biggest jumps in baseball to go from A ball to the big leagues and face Ohtani.
30:46Yes.
30:47That is hooked down into the corner foul.
30:51I think when you look at the strikeout of Pham, that final fastball up after two breaking balls,
30:56is that baseball pitching has become the science of how fast do you throw it, how much can you spin
31:04it.
31:04But when I watch Ohtani, there's still a lot of that old school setting up pitches, reacting to the hitter's
31:10swings.
31:14Well, Lindor was out in front of that last pitch, and now foul tips, it's rigged two.
31:22Well, fastball's in the first at bat, and now he goes to the split finger with seven pitches,
31:28and if they're all feeling good in his hand, he can pull the trigger on anything in setting up a
31:33hitter.
31:37Able to get out of the way, and a nice block by Smith on ball one.
31:42Lindor has already swung and missed four times on pitches from Ohtani in his two plate appearances,
31:48and he's set up here at one and two.
31:49Lindor has been a slow starter so far in the Mets uniform.
31:53Nine hits in his last eight games, though, and that big home run last night for him.
31:58Maybe he's on his way.
32:01One-two pitch.
32:02Had that hammock bone and the surgery on his left hand.
32:06He got back at the end of spring training.
32:10And, you know, out of the gate, trying to find it a little bit.
32:15Two-two.
32:22That was a good swing there by Lindor.
32:24His best of the night.
32:27Pitches in that location this deep in the count when he's seen some pitches,
32:31you're glad you're getting it back, and it's just from the umpire for a foul ball.
32:37Some pitchers will actually grow when that pitch is mid-flight.
32:41Two-two.
32:42Out in front of it.
32:45Still two and two.
32:46You know how it comes out of your hand?
32:47Yeah, I want it back, please.
32:49And then they foul it off, and you go, oh, thank you.
32:53Both Oral and Ron are pantomiming in the booth what it was like
32:56when they tried to get a pitch back, and it just doesn't come back.
33:00It flies away.
33:05Two-two again, and a foul back.
33:08I would wonder for Otani, his first time, as we mentioned,
33:11that he's in the lineup, he's pitching, but he's not hitting.
33:15What this night feels like.
33:16I mean, you know, there's been a little bit of talk about how long it takes him
33:20to get ready to get up to the plate when he's pitching,
33:22and they dealt with that back in Toronto last postseason
33:25when the Dodgers were there last week.
33:28It has to feel like a walk in the park as he misses inside,
33:32and they're going to challenge.
33:34If it's a strike, it's the end of the inning.
33:37Shohei encouraged the challenge with a jump off the mound.
33:43And it missed.
33:46Stoltz confirmed the time to let's have one challenge made.
33:49And the count's full.
33:50So far in this young season, no one challenges less than the Dodgers.
33:56What do they need to challenge?
33:58They're 13 and 4.
34:01Maybe they'll just take the challenge away from them.
34:03That's right.
34:073-2 pitch.
34:09That's down the right field line, and foul again.
34:13Everybody has seven pitches and throws 3-2 splitters.
34:18You did it, Ron.
34:19Oh, I never had seven pitches.
34:22But you throw a lot of 3-2 splitters, especially to Lindor.
34:25But what an at-bat he's had so far.
34:28Tenth pitch of the at-bat coming right here.
34:34Another 3-2.
34:35Foul back, and he was on that.
34:39Shohei has gotten away with some tough locations in the middle of the plate.
34:43A breaking ball there, and the fastball we saw three pitches earlier.
34:57Good at-bat.
34:59What's the result?
35:00Struck him out.
35:03Chased it.
35:06And now five strikeouts on the night for Shohei Ohtani.
35:13Ended up striking out the side in the third inning.
35:17Last pitch.
35:18See you later.
35:20And many, many, many, many, many, many others.
35:22We welcome you back.
35:24Bottom of the third inning, Dodger Stadium, 2-0 L.A.
35:27Top of the order for the Dodgers.
35:29Tucker, Freeman, and Will Smith.
35:32Against the right-hander, Clay Holmes.
35:33Ball one.
35:34You know what's interesting is that you try to fight this as a pitcher,
35:38but when you're out there starting and you're giving up a two-run bomb
35:41and your team hasn't been scoring,
35:43there is a part of you that says, that's it.
35:46Can't give up any more.
35:49Strike one.
35:50Especially when starting pitchers are called on to go five and six innings,
35:54it's like, do I have that many innings out here
35:56where I'm going to give my team a chance to come back?
36:041-1 pitch.
36:06Tucker takes outside.
36:07Spent seven years in Houston.
36:10Came up in 2018, did Kyle Tucker.
36:12Last year with the Cubs.
36:14A 2-66, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs.
36:18Battled through some injuries.
36:21Two balls, two strikes.
36:23Highly sought after free agent, and he picked the Dodgers.
36:29He's got a pretty unusual swing.
36:31In fact, with he and Freeman, he's got,
36:33the swing is kind of a longer swing,
36:37but it's in the strike zone a long time.
36:43This stays fair, and Beatty to the bag, one away.
36:47The swing is not being taught at a lot of camps.
36:49That's right.
36:52That's right.
36:54Sometimes I feel like he's screaming or at times,
36:59because it's such a long paddle-like swing.
37:02But, boy, so effective during this career.
37:10Freeman singled his first time up.
37:16Takes a strike from Holmes.
37:20Holmes is big, 6'5", 245.
37:23He's 33 years old now.
37:24Came up with the Pirates back in 2018.
37:26Originally a ninth-round pick.
37:29Traded to the Yankees.
37:30Was great in their bullpen.
37:33And now, as we've talked about,
37:35has made that unusual move from long-time reliever
37:38to starter in the big leagues,
37:40and he's got Freeman set up at nothing and two.
37:48And a center field.
37:51Robert diving catch for the out.
37:54Wow.
37:56Holmes loved it.
37:58The Mets dugout loved it.
38:00And that's one of the reasons why they got him from Chicago.
38:03He has made three of four of these kind of catches already so far.
38:09Such a big athlete.
38:10Six-foot-three, 225 pounds,
38:14and he can move and catch the ball like that.
38:20That was the last chance to catch that one as low as he got it.
38:25Covered a lot of ground,
38:26and now with two out and nobody on,
38:28Will Smith, who flied to right, takes a strike.
38:31That ball was smashed by Freddie Freeman.
38:33108 coming off his bat.
38:40Keep the legs healthy,
38:41and Robert could have a big year for the match.
38:45Strike two.
38:53It was three years ago in 2023.
38:55Luis, talking about his defense,
38:58hit 38 home runs,
38:59drove in 80,
38:59hit 264.
39:01Big year.
39:02And missed a lot of games last year.
39:04Battled hamstring injuries three different times.
39:08Slowed his year.
39:10And so because of that,
39:11Ron,
39:13Carlos Mendoza has said,
39:14and this organization has said,
39:16they're going to keep an eye on it,
39:17not overwork him,
39:19and make sure they're aware of how his legs feel.
39:21Well, the Mets training staff is so good,
39:23and they've really talked about
39:24not having him play more than three days in a row,
39:27but he's been so good,
39:28he's already played five days in a row.
39:30So there's plans,
39:32but there's also giving yourself the chance to succeed.
39:37Well, ball two strikes on Smith.
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