Dave Roberts Dodgers Pregame 3 He's Been a Real Impact for Us
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MLB World Series: Dodgers vs Red Sox Friday, October 26, 2018 Dave Roberts Dodgers pregame 3 He's been a real impact for us. Q. How does this shift in scenery help you maximize the roster and put more pressure on the Q. You mentioned their versatility in terms of their opposition with matchups? lineup and Mookie and the DH situation, and DAVE ROBERTS: I think the shift in scenery, it's possibly playing the infield. How much do you something obviously the ballpark, the pitcher in play, think of that as an opponent and what do you think our roster is built for this, with the versatility we have. of him potentially doing that in this series? Those guys have a lot of versatility, as well. I think it's DAVE ROBERTS: It's a possibility. I know he hasn't just more of being able to get home, be in front of our played a whole lot of second base, but there's probably home fans, different weather. nothing on the field that he can't do. My biggest fear is him in the lineup, so not the defensive side of things. But like I said yesterday, the most important thing is we've just got to play good baseball. So, yeah, we've got some good players on both sides. And Alex is going to do his things to kind of maximize Q. After thinking about the first two games, do you his matchups. And you've got to net it out, the offense dwell on whether maybe you catered your lineup versus the defense. I'm sure him and Ron Roenicke, too much to the left-handers and not enough to they'll be able to navigate through a National League your strengths, and would you factor that in in game, I don't see any problem, and trying to figure out making decisions against the lefties later in the where they can get Beni back in the game. series? DAVE ROBERTS: I don't second-guess that. This is They've got options, just like we do. It's going to be fun what we've done all year. And the slug that you're kind to kind of see how he goes about it. of referring to has come against right-handed pitching, outside of Max Muncy who David Freese, you could Q. On the whole realm of stealing signs, tipping argue is having our best at-bats in these first two pitches, it's been something that's been involved in games. baseball from time immemorial. Why do you think there's so much focus on it? How much does So every day is different, every left-handed starter, technology have to do with it, and how do you talk every pitcher is different. But there's no second- about to guys about what they can do and what guessing as far as who we ran out there in those first they can't do? two games. DAVE ROBERTS: I think that there's, to your point, it's been going on since the game came to be. There's a Q. What went into the decision to add Mark Prior as gamesmanship part of it, where you're trying to get an a coach and what influence has he had? advantage and coaches, players, do that every day. DAVE ROBERTS: So Mark obviously had a nice But now when you kind of introduce technology and career. Very intelligent guy. Spent time in the San using that as an advantage, I think that there's a line Diego Padres' front office. Was a Minor League that's crossed. That's where Major League Baseball pitching coordinator for a few years and really has done a really good job of trying to make sure that connected with players and receives information and that doesn't happen. distributes it really well. And so once we lost Josh Bard to the Yankees last year, just getting permission But as far as kind of the sign stealing, I guess from the Padres and talking to him, really exciting. And everyone's probably guilty of that or attempting to do I knew him a little bit but not a whole lot, but his impact that. has been huge, just kind of getting the information, strengths, weaknesses, with our relievers, and his Q. Do you anticipate being any more aggressive relationship with the pitchers, relievers in particular, with your usage of Baez and/or Jansen out of the kind of getting that information to these guys and letting them buy into it. Knows mechanics. bullpen tonight? DAVE ROBERTS: I could see us being a little bit more Rev #1 by #178 at 2018-10-26 21:01:00 GMT page 1 of 3 aggressive with Kenley, being down 2-0, the first game at home, with a lead, to try to ensure it as best you can Q. I'm just wondering where you stand on the DH makes sense. Still appreciating that you have three debate. Would you like to see the status quo or DH games in a row, potentially. And Pedey, Pedey has all around or what? thrown the ball well. DAVE ROBERTS: I think if I had to choose one or the other, I would probably lean towards the National I like our guys. And so he's got a lot of confidence right League with the pitcher hitting as far as strategy and now, and so to use him in the right spot does make things like that. I enjoy that part of the game. The sense. opposite, the counter, is to have guys that are kind of at the end of their career, fans want to see the homer, the Q. Could you talk a little about Kiké Hernandez's big at-bat, instead of the pitcher taking the at-bat which job in the clubhouse in October? I get. DAVE ROBERTS: Kiké is a fun guy in the clubhouse. He's very in tune with social media. He's very jovial But for me I think I would probably lean toward status with the players. But when it comes to playing baseball quo. I guess having your cake and eating it. But I'm he's very focused. He plays hard. He's very versatile. just more biased probably toward the National League I can use him anywhere on the diamond, which makes style. my job a lot easier. And I think this year he's really done a great job of maturing as a Major League Q. Just wanted to get your thoughts on Matt Kemp ballplayer. and his homecoming and him being sort of the fan favorite, and how far he's come this season. Chase Utley I think has a lot to do with it, his influence DAVE ROBERTS: All the credit goes to Matt. And after on consistency, on preparation. But Kiké has done a we acquired him this winter from the Braves, and didn't lot of good things to get us where we're at right now. really know how it was going to play out, but for him to get himself into great shape coming into Spring Q. Speaking of making your job easier, how much Training, win a job, and make an All-Star Team, one easier is it to manage against a team that's rolling that he hasn't made in call it four or five years, huge four starting pitchers and no openers? hits for us, being a great teammate and trying to keep DAVE ROBERTS: (Laughing) It does make it easier. these young players focused. And obviously Matt It's a good club over there. But, yeah, to know that I would like to be in there every day. And we've had don't need to flip my lineup in the second inning or after many conversations about that. But still to be on the first hitter is a change, which is nice. But still when board, be ready when called upon and to still realize a you've got Sale, Price, Porcello and potentially Eovaldi, dream of his to play in a World Series and to potentially so you could argue the other way. But you've still got to win one, I know it's something that he's really proud of, find a way to get 27 outs and score more than the and for him to homer in a World Series is something opposition. that I think is a feather in his cap. So, again, I like our guy today. I think Walker is battle- So we've got some work to do, but Matt, he deserves tested. I think he's been in some tough spots and all the credit for the position that he's put himself in. really come out on the other side. So in this moment, Game 3, first game back home, I think he's ready for Q. What about specifically in the World Series the this moment. And we've got to do our best to play well way you flip-flop back and forth DH in Boston, no around him, catch the baseball and get some hits. DH here, do you wish that there was just one rule in the World Series? And I'm guessing if you do, Q. Speaking of catching the baseball, why did you maybe the fact that no DH, they've got to lose an decide to go with Grandal behind the plate tonight? outfielder tonight? DAVE ROBERTS: Well, I think that, No.