Bryan Cranston is such an enormous Dodgers fan that he acquired goosebumps in a Los Angeles studio six years in the past whereas narrating an MLB Network documentary in regards to the group’s 1988 season, which culminated with one of the dramatic house runs within the historical past of the World Series, Kirk Gibson’s Game 1, pinch-hit, walkout by Dennis Eckersley.
The 68-year-old “Breaking Bad” and “Your Honor” actor was at Chavez Ravine in late October for one more gorgeous World Series homer, Game 1 by Freddie Freeman, the Tenth-inning walk-off grand slam that introduced the The Dodgers got here from behind to win a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees and propelled them to their eighth World Series title.
“That was essentially the most thrilling recreation I ever attended,” mentioned Cranston, a lifelong fan who was 5 when his father took him to his first Dodgers recreation on the Coliseum in 1961. “Complete strangers have been hugging one another.”
Cranston returned to a Los Angeles studio on Thursday, this time to conduct a SiriusXM Town Hall interview with Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts, however earlier than the four-time Emmy Award winner sat all the way down to grill the two-time successful skipper of the World Series, he cleverly dodged a troublesome query directed at him:
Will Freeman’s delirious drive in 2024 supplant Gibson’s thunderbolt in 1988 as essentially the most dramatic postseason house run in Dodgers historical past?
“Can’t they dwell facet by facet?” Cranston mentioned after an extended pause.
“Good response,” mentioned Roberts, impressed by the actor’s diplomacy.
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts, left, and actor Bryan Cranston.
(Los Angeles Dodgers)
Cranston and Roberts then spent an hour discussing a season that started with a $1.2 billion splurge for two-way star Shohei Ohtani and pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow and ended with the Dodgers erasing a deficit 5-0 within the fifth inning in a World Series. Decisive victory in Game 5 over the Yankees.
The interview, which was held earlier than a small dwell viewers, will air on MLB Network Radio on Friday (1 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. PST) and once more on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Among the highlights:
Roberts on the dizzying array of pitching accidents which have pressured the Dodgers to make use of 17 completely different starters and 40 pitchers whole: “Our group does an ideal job of scouting, growing, buying and selling for guys and depth, however there have been numerous guys, to be trustworthy, who have been on our roster that I had by no means heard of. I do know you right here in the present day higher than I knew a few of these gamers who pitched for me this yr.
Roberts on the uncommon group assembly he referred to as earlier than the Sept. 15 recreation at Atlanta, the day after the Dodgers discovered Glasnow had suffered a season-ending elbow harm and a 10-1 loss to the Braves lowered the their division lead over San Diego at 3 1/2 video games:
“The crux of the assembly was, ‘I consider in every of you guys, however it does not matter, in case you do not consider in one another, that we’ve sufficient expertise on this room to win 11 video games in October.’ .”
Roberts on the dialog he had that very same afternoon with Walker Buehler, who had a 1-5 document and 5.95 ERA in a Sept. 15 begin through which the Steed, getting back from a second Tommy John surgical procedure, sat out with one earned run and three hits in six innings of a 9-2 win over the Braves, which marked the turning level of the season.
“Walker was arguing, however I instructed him, ‘You pitched a few of the most important video games in Dodgers historical past and you probably did it.’ We want you to step up and lightweight a heater tonight, as a result of if we do not have you, we’re not going to win the World Series.’ It was a problem to boost the bar for all of us, and he answered the bell.”
Dave Roberts comes into the dugout earlier than Game 5 of the World Series towards the New York Yankees on October 30.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Roberts in a tricky 10-2 loss within the second recreation of the National League Division Series towards the Padres, through which pitcher Jack Flaherty and San Diego slugger Manny Machado yelled at one another a number of occasions and Machado drew the ire of the Dodgers when threw a ball towards Roberts within the third base dugout between innings:
“They needed a road combat – I feel we needed to flip into road fighters and play their recreation. We wanted to do one thing to even the enjoying subject, and I felt like issues have been reversed from then on.
“It actually did,” Cranston mentioned. “In the final two video games (of the NLDS), your pitching employees has allowed zero runs.”
Roberts on Freeman’s grand slam within the World Series: “That to me was the largest second I’ve ever witnessed in individual in sports activities. We celebrated after that hit like we simply gained Game 7. I felt like we gained the World Series, and in case you look again, that may have been after we gained the World Series.
Cranston then steered the interview towards 2025, asking Roberts how the Dodgers can enhance subsequent season.
“The largest factor we have finished thus far is signal Blake Snell,” Roberts mentioned of the veteran lefty who signed a five-year, $182 million contract in late November. “We have Glasnow coming again, we’ve Yoshinobu coming again…
“Sasaki,” Cranston interjected, referring to highly-coveted 23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki, who was shipped out by the Chiba Lotte Marines in November and is anticipated to signal with a significant league group in January. “Sasaki.”
“Right,” Roberts mentioned, “I am unable to say something about that.”
“Sasaki,” Cranston insisted.
“Don’t get me in hassle, Bryan,” Roberts mentioned with amusing.
The Dodgers are among the many groups seeking to signal Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
(Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press)
Roberts thinks the Dodgers, who hope to re-sign free agent slugger Teoscar Hernández and add one other influence reliever, “ought to be higher” in 2025 than they have been in 2024, however acknowledged that “it is arduous to finally be higher than win a world championship.”
If the Dodgers wish to develop into the primary group to repeat as champions for the reason that Yankees gained three straight titles from 1998-2000, they’re going to want the precise mindset and motivation, a subject Roberts mentioned this week with Dodgers half proprietor Magic Johnson, the purpose guard who led the Lakers to 5 NBA titles from 1980 to 1988.
“I actually really feel just like the carrot, the motivation for our membership, in 2025, is now that you simply’re moving into legacy territory,” Roberts mentioned. “I talked to Magic in regards to the legacy and Pat Riley (former Lakers coach) and what he instilled in these guys, the mentality. That’s one thing I’m going to attempt to (instill) in our guys as a result of now we’re attempting to do one thing that can final endlessly.
