MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES VS DODGERS

October 24, 2024

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. I'd like for you to talk about -- we all know what the World Series means in the United States when the Yankees and the Dodgers get in it, but what about from a global standpoint? This thing is worldwide.

DAVE ROBERTS: It is worldwide. I think that's what's going to make this World Series so special, so unique. You could easily argue that on a global scale the Yankees and the Dodgers are the most followed, the most supported, the most visible.

So obviously with our two great organizations and the branding, it's going to be very visible.

Q. Just wanted to ask about Vesia and Graterol and what their status will be for the World Series.

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that everybody is trending in the right direction. We're going to have some more difficult conversations, which I think is a good thing. I think Alex threw 15 pitches yesterday in a sim game, and the stuff looked good.

Then Graterol has been throwing. I think he's trending in the right direction.

So I think that on the pitching side, we're in a pretty good spot right now.

Q. Dave, it just seems like the last couple of Spring Trainings, one of the first questions you're asked is who's the closer, and usually the answer is wait and see. How much of that is wait and see, and how much of that is trying to establish an egoless bullpen readying guys to be able to pitch in the ninth inning or whatever the situation?

DAVE ROBERTS: Again, it's a wait and see. I think what we've done all year is have certain guys, a handful of guys finish games and for me to feel comfortable with those guys.

I think that each game is going to be different. So, yeah, I think it's beneficial to not have one dedicated guy because those guys at the top of the order, Treinen might see those guys too.

Q. Just going back to Graterol, how much just beyond the injury do you have to weigh the fact that he hasn't pitched in a month in a situation like this?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's part of the math. I think the other part is his track record in the postseason, how good he's been, how good the heartbeat's been. We believe in the person, the stuff.

So then if it plays out as he's on the roster, then it's more of a decision on when I feel comfortable using him. I just don't know that answer, but I am hopeful that he's in a good spot right now.

Q. What's the update on Miguel Rojas? How's he doing?

DAVE ROBERTS: Miggy Ro is doing well. Yesterday he participated in the entire workout -- running well, taking at-bats, catching grounders. Everything looks really good. So I think there's a really good possibility we'll see him on the roster.

Q. Back to the bullpen for a second, if Vesia is added or maybe someone else added, would you consider going almost more bullpen, more short type relievers just to have those options, or is that sort of what you're working through at this moment?

DAVE ROBERTS: That is certainly what we're working through right now. I don't see it being anything other than 13 and 13. Then to your question about the short versus the length, those are kind of all the conversations we're having, absolutely.

But I do think we have a lot of viable candidates that we can match up, we can prepare for whatever scenario, but there's going to be some tougher conversations for sure.

Q. Dave, you guys scored a lot of runs against the Mets and in general. Besides just the names, the star power, what about your guys' offensive philosophy or approach makes you so dangerous, I guess?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think Aaron can say the same thing. I think our lineup is very -- controls the strike zone. We can slug and the ability to create stress, traffic by way of a walk, we do that as well.

When you get 1 through 9, it gets daunting, and it's hard for a starter to go three times through the lineup. And then in a longer series, you're starting to see the same guys again. So all that stuff starts to benefit and become an advantage for the offense. That's overall our approach and trying to scare pitchers out of the strike zone.

Q. It's my turn to ask the annoying question. Is there any possibility of Shohei Ohtani pitching for you in the World Series?

DAVE ROBERTS: There's no possibility, none whatsoever. Thank you for asking.

Q. Also just jumping ahead a little bit with Jack Flaherty, would there be any concern for him coming back on normal rest to pitch the second time in the series, just given how his stuff looked when he pitched under normal rest in New York?

DAVE ROBERTS: Fair question, fair question. I think that, number one, we don't have a different alternative. And, number two, we are going to dig into that as far as the stuff kind of seems like it's been down on regular. But that's kind of the way we set up the rotation, and that's just the way it's going to be.

Q. Earlier Aaron Boone talking about knowing you for 30-plus years, went back and said to make clear you're a Trojan for life but a Bruin for four years.

DAVE ROBERTS: Ouch. Ouch, that hurts. Yeah, we go way back. We've got a lot of history, but it's all in fun. I've got nothing but love and respect for Aaron.

Q. I assume you would disagree with that?

DAVE ROBERTS: Absolutely disagree, 100 percent.

Q. And he said when he landed yesterday, he sent you a Yankee emoji?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, you know what, there was another emoji I thought about sending him with one finger, but I didn't. I just gave a laughing emoji back.

Q. You were talking earlier about this being a global World Series. In Japan in particular, the viewership numbers have been extraordinary for your games. This has been something you guys saw coming last off-season, of course. What's it been like to see the way it's resonated in Shohei and Yoshinobu's home country?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's 100th percentile outcome. Obviously there's a strategy as far as the skill set of the player and then the global impact it could have on the fan-based organization when you acquire two players like that.

So just to see the way these two guys have performed, the way they've assimilated with our fan base, the clubhouse, all that stuff has been a perfect outcome. Yeah, that's part of kind of the math with Andrew, with Mark Walter in getting these guys.

I just think that it's going to be a global World Series. I still stand by the fact that more eyeballs are going to be watching this World Series than any other series in history.

Q. Mookie Betts talked earlier today about how much you've been there for him through the good and the bad times. How much pride do you take in being a manager that doesn't just set lineups and manages bullpens but also is there for his players when they need it, especially now on a stage like this?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's great to hear that. I really -- yeah, Mookie and I just, what we've gone through the last handful of years, I really do consider him like a son. We've had a lot of conversations about life and things like that. There's just crazy amount of trust between the two of us.

Just knowing that I can be there for him and have a little bit of ability to kind of help him along the way, there's a lot of satisfaction in that. He's just a great young man, and he always wants to do well and do right by others.

Yeah, I'm one of the happiest people for him that he's kind of caught fire and kind of showing the world what he can do on the biggest of stages. So it's a lot of fun.

Q. You're always described as a player's manager and somebody who's very personable in the room. I'm curious, what's kind of helped you develop that personality and being somebody that players can trust and can talk to about things both in baseball but outside?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think part of it is that's who I am. I think I'm a very positive, welcoming guy. I like to learn more about people, learn about people. I played the game. I know how hard the game is.

I really appreciate that the game is about the players, but it's still -- the game, it's bigger than all of us. And I don't hesitate in letting the players know that, albeit it's still about them in the here and now. And I just try to be their biggest champion.

So I think that's part of why people say that. Dusty Baker, obviously I have a lot of respect for Dusty. He was that player's manager. I think Tommy was. I think Terry Francona and guys that I've been around -- and I guess when players see a manager or head coach pull for them, undoubtedly, that's kind of how you get it, I guess.

Q. Is Joe Kelly somebody that's an option to be considered at all this week?

DAVE ROBERTS: Not to start, not to start. Joe is still throwing and ramping up, but I think at the outset of, when we set the roster, I don't think Joe's a candidate right now.

Q. How similar did this week look to the bye week going into the DS for you guys and kind of trying to keep the momentum going?

DAVE ROBERTS: It was similar in the sense that we needed it. I think the DS -- break before the DS was very much needed as far as kind of the reset, the health. I think this kind of was very comparable.

There wasn't any baseball to watch, so we didn't have any watch parties here with the players, so that was a little different. But I think that overall the psyche and the preparation for this series is kind of we're in the same spot.

Q. On that note, when you think back to the beginning of the month, those five days, both you and the Yankees overcame that dreaded five-day layoff this month. I'm wondering, when you think back, was it the watch parties? Was it the getting healthy? Or was it maybe just playing more meaningful games in September that made the biggest difference this year compared to years past?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think all of the above. I think to get Freddie playable in that series was huge. I think having the watch parties and having the guys kind of spend time together and sacrifice some time with their family, I thought was beneficial to the group.

Then I think that, as we played all the way through September meaningful games, I thought we kept that edge and didn't let us take off the gas. So I think all of that played a factor in us getting off to a decent start.

But to be fair, we were still down 2-1 in that Division Series. If we don't win Game 4, that would have all been for naught anyways. But it's a good story right now.

Q. If I remember correctly, you speak some Spanish. Is it possible for you to talk about Fernando Valenzuela in Spanish, just about his legacy, just try. It would be much appreciated.

DAVE ROBERTS: (Speaking Spanish).

Q. Going back to the UCLA-USC thing, what's your memory of Aaron Boone and playing against him in that rivalry?

DAVE ROBERTS: Aaron, gritty, tough, pull power, baseball body, pedigree. He's just a good competitor, so he played that way. When he got to the Big Leagues, same gritty, grindy type player.

That's kind of what I see in him. It's crazy to kind of see where we're at right now playing at Jackie Robinson Stadium back in the day or at Dedeaux Field, and to kind of see we're on the biggest of stages, it's mind blowing.