Jerry Hairston Announcement Interview
Jerry Hairston Jr. joins Dodgers Dougout Live every Friday as a recurring guest.
Video Transcript
Let's get right into it.
I put big announcement as the tease, big announcement as the title.
That big announcement is that Jerry Harrison Jr., World Series champion, former Dodger, SportsNet LA analyst, the people's analyst as I dub him, he's joined the show.
He's gonna be on Dodgers Dugout Live throughout the season doing some stuff with Dodgers Nation.
Jerry, what was more exciting, the day you signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers or when you signed a one-year deal with Dodgers Nation?
It's got Is, is it close?
I mean, like.
the only thing I would say maybe signing a, a two-year deal with the Dodgers because it was two-year deals.
Yeah.
Th- this one was a one-year deal, so.
But I, I tell you what, I am excited to join you, Dodger Nation.
We're gonna have some fun this season.
Yeah, Jerry's the best.
You guys know that.
I don't need to say that.
And Jerry, you probably think I'm gonna ask about Shohei Ohtani pitching and the offense and this and that.
I actually wanna start with your time with the Dodgers and that team that is really at the beginning of this run.
How much of a connection do you feel with the current version of the Dodgers because you were kind of a part of that group that kind of started this run.
You know, it's amazing.
Sometimes people forget.
Dodger fans don't forget.
But people forget where the Dodgers were in 2011, 2012.
You know, filing for bankruptcy.
They weren't able to pay their players.
Major League Baseball in April of 2012, when I joined this team, weren't able to pay their players that first month because of what was going on in the courts.
Major League Baseball had to step in and pay it, pay us as players.
Late April it, it's announced that, this new Dodger ownership group, the Guggenheim group led by Mark Walter, Todd Boehly, Magic Johnson and so forth, purchased the Dodger team immediately.
Magic Johnson came into our clubhouse and, and, and told us, "Things are gonna change.
We're gonna invest in you guys.
We're gonna invest in the clubhouse.
We're gonna invest in the stadium, invest in the team out there.
making sure that we're competitive every year and have a chance to win.
And, and invest in the city."
And boy, have they done that.
Have they done more than we expected.
And it's just so cool to see where the Dodgers were, a historic franchise, where they were around that time when I first joined the Dodgers to where they're at now.
They laid the foundation, and boy, it, it has paid dividends.
It wasn't overnight as far as winning championships.
Some fans now, "Dodgers are ruining baseball."
Well, we weren't winning championships in '12, '13, '15.
It's been a process, and they are reaping the benefits of making sure they did things the right way.
And that's why now a lot of players wanna be here.
You know, it's a great organization.
They treat their players extremely well.
T- treat, treat their staff, from A ball, double A on up through the system.
It's just a great place to play and watch a game.
And you played for some iconic franchises.
The Yankees you won a World Series with in 2009, and you put on that Dodgers uniform towards the end of your career.
I was talking to Jimmy Rollins at the WBC, and he told me that when the Phillies were trying to trade him, he told them, "I'm only going to one team, and that'd be the Dodgers, 'cause I wanna wear the same uniform that Jackie Robinson wore."
Right?
And just what that means to players is to put on this Dodgers uniform and just everything it represents.
What did it mean to you to just kind of wear that Dodger blue in a game, and how special is that?
It is so special.
And for J-Ro, you know, him saying that, my grandfather played in the Negro Leagues.
He was the first Black player to play for the Chicago White Sox.
So putting on that uniform.
Uniform, not just Jackie, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, so many great, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale.
Don Drysdale I knew as a young kid when he was, announcing for the Chicago White Sox when my dad played.
I got a chance to talk to him a little bit and, and respected not only him, what he did on the field, but what he did off the field as far as being a tr- a tremendous broadcaster.
So it is a tremendous responsibility wearing that Dodger name across your chest because it is an iconic franchise.
So I was definitely fortunate and able to do that.
And now being on the, on this side, talking about the Dodgers, incredible fan base.
The fans are really what makes this happen, man.
You know, the energy in that ballpark every single night.
I got a chance to see it and feel it as a visiting player.
And I s- stated this a couple times.
Remember Manny, Manny, Ramirez when he had, Manny would, he hit that home run, that epic grand slam home run on his bobblehead night off the bench?
I was playing shortstop that night for the Reds, and I could feel the energy and passion of, of, of, of the fans that night.
And I was like, "Man, if I ever get a chance to play here, man, I gotta get here."
And so fortunate, Ned Colletti signed me to a two-year deal to finish my career.
Do you have a favorite moment specifically from your time with the Dodgers?
I'm sure there's a lot, but is there any one that kind of stands out?
I, I don't have a favorite moment as far as on the field because we didn't win the championship.
You know, that's our goal as players.
But I had tremendous teammates, man.
From Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Mark Ellis, Kershaw.
Michael Young came here for a brief time.
Skip Schumaker.
Great guys.
Nick Punto.
I love the guys, man, you know, and, and I love being around that clubhouse.
Hanley Ramirez was always funny to be around.
Puig as well.
But if I were to say being in that clubhouse and walking in that clubhouse and seeing Juan Uribe every single day.
Yeah.
I always I actually got, depressed a little bit when I was retiring, and I knew I wasn't gonna play anymore.
It wasn't because I wasn't gonna play a- a- anymore.
I was a little depressed.
I was like, "Man, I'll never have a Juan Uribe in my life anymore."
You know?
"I won't be able to go in the clubhouse and, and, and hear the guys and have that camaraderie."
That's what I was really depressed about.
It wasn't about playing again.
but just being around the guys and now, you know, being on this side of it.
Seeing Clayton Kershaw have, really from kinda day one, playing against him and seeing, man, this kid's got some stuff.
He has a chance to be elite.
And then seeing him be elite, playing against him, being his teammate, going about his business every single day, and then obviously winning championships, watching Kersh develop, have a family.
You know, all those kids.
When I met Kersh, he didn't have a kid, you know.
Now h- him and Ellen have a beautiful family.
So just being around this Dodger team and seeing them kind of grow, the players and, and, and growing the champions.
Yeah, you were joking me the other day that if Clayton Kershaw was gonna come back, it would have to be a package deal including Jerry Hairston Jr.
So you know he's done.
He's enjoying his time as a broadcaster.
He's gonna be working with the Dodgers.
But what was it like if There's kind of one kinda way to describe the intensity of being around Clayton Kershaw on a start day, entering his prime.
I mean, what was that like just to experience, Jerry?
I, I loved it.
You know, Kersh is the best teammate.
I mean, always prepared, meaning he's always working and, and, you know, when he's not starting, whether it's in the gym, running his poles in the outfield, shagging, being around his guys, and being on the bench cheering his teammates on, being the, the best teammate.
But on game day, he's locked in, ready to roll.
Doesn't say a whole lot.
Laser-like focus.
And as players, we love that.
I love pitchers like that.
Whatever you need to do to get yourself ready, because pitchers really pitch once a week, the starters.
So whatever they need to do to focus on that day, guys are a little different.
You know, Kersh was laser-like focus, didn't say a word.
Appreciated it.
Just a fiery competitor.
We loved it.
Josh Beckett, a guy that is always focused an- and a fiery competitor, but he was more talkative.
You know, he was always talking.
You know, and he'd come out I remember Josh Beckett come out of the first inning, he put up a zero, and he'd yell at us, "Hey, boys, will you score me some runs?
I'm pitching my butt off out there.
We haven't got the chance to hit yet."
You know what I'm saying?
Joking.
You know, so it's different ways to go about it, but as long as you are focused and ready to go, and Kersh was certainly focused every time he took the hill.
Yeah, you mentioned Josh Beckett.
I think it's a hilarious story that Kersh told that Beckett had that no-hitter in May, and he was talking to Kersh, and, "Hey, I'll show you how to do that one of these days."
And then Kersh, later in the year, he throws that no-no that could've been a perfect game, one of the best no-hitters in history.
So yeah, I just think that era is so awesome, and you look back at those players, those guys, and there's just this direct link to this current team, which, I mean, to dream of what the Dodgers have become, it's gotta be really incredible to see through your eyes.
First thing I want to ask you, though, about the current team, the offense, the top of the order, the top of the lineup.
It's five games, right?
Shohei, Freddie, Mookie, they've had their moments.
Shohei's taken really good at-bats.
But what Dave said really stood out to me was the guys that we have expected to hit aren't hitting as much, but the le- the guys that are kinda lower are producing.
So it's kind of what you would prefer because you know those guys are gonna come around, right?
100%.
Listen, five games is nothing.
We all know that.
Fans know that.
You know, we know historically what Shohei can, or Tani can do with the bat.
Kyle Tucker has been a beast, at the big league level.
He's really gonna settle in in that two spot.
We know what Mookie, Freddie, Will Smith can do.
So five games is nothing.
They're gonna settle into the lineup.
I think it's the biggest key this Dodger team, this Dodger offense specifically, they wanna make sure, especially the bottom half of the lineup, seven, eight, nine is productive.
Last year, seven, eight, nine really wasn't really productive.
You know, so hopefully this year they're off to a good start led by Paez hitting in that seven, eight spot.
They're focusing on making sure down the order they're productive and have good at-bats because we know the top of the lineup is gonna do their thing.
We know it's only a matter of time t- till they catch fire.
As far as the guys that have stood out, feels like Andy Paez has made, has made a early statement, the way he took that cutter up and away, hits it to the opposite field.
You're just seeing better at-bats from him.
Is he the guy who kind of stands out at the bottom as far as just the guys that you're hoping to take a leap this season?
Right now he has.
I, I thought he made great strides defensively in the second half of last year.
And remember, you know, playing your first big league season as an everyday player, it's taxing, mentally, physically.
So I think, I thought he wore down a little mentally, and he was tired, and it showed with, with his production with the bat.
I think he's more equipped this year knowing what he needs to do to keep his body strong and making sure that he's prepared for that 162 grind, and then those extra games in the postseason in the World Series.
So Paez, I expect him to have a great season.
He had a great first half last year.
You gotta remember, he should've been an all-star.
I expect him to have great two halves, first and second half.
Defensively, he continues to get better and better, man.
He's started to become elite in center field.
So it's no surprise to me, and really no surprise to all of us, that he's off to a pretty good start at the bottom of the lineup.
Yeah, you've seen the growth from him, and I think really stood out from last night, Jerry, you got Te'o, you got Muncy, guys batting in the sixth hole, the seventh hole.
I asked Dave about that after the game, and he's like, "Hey, those are guys that'd be batting right in the middle of the lineup in most teams around this league."
What can you say about just the veteran presence and the buy-in of those two guys and what it says to you just about the culture of this team and the lineup?
You know, first Max Muncy.
I mean, he's the ultimate glue guy, culture guy, and he stated, you know, he signed the extension.
He could've hold, held out and got more money in free agency, but he said, "Listen, what's the difference of a couple mil- million?
I know I wanna be here.
I love the culture here.
We've created something special.
I want to be con- be a part of it and continue being a part of it."
So for him, continuing having great at-bats, and last night having that home run, about 450 feet, tape measure shot.
Having that guy in the six spot, seven spot at times, it's so important because he knows how to work a bat, especially late in the game.
We've seen his We see Max be clutch so many times.
Tessier-Hernandez, we saw him the year before last year have an incredible year with the bat.
I know last season he was banged up.
He had that oblique injury.
I really believe that really bothered him the rest of the season.
Now that he's fully healthy, I expect him to be the two Tayo of old, swinging the bat back in left field where it's not as demanding as being that right fielder.
You have two weapons, six, seven spot, and you mentioned it, Doug, they could be hitting third, fourth, or fifth in any other lineup, but with this lineup, it just makes them that much deeper.
So two guys, veteran guys, that know how to win and know how to work at bats when it counts.
Tayo and Ma- Max are not overlooked.
I'm telling you, they're not overlooked by opposing pitching staff.
They know what they can do with the bat, but certainly maybe overlooked with the star power we have in this lineup.
Yeah, and of course, Jerry, you're someone who likes showmen.
You like MJ, Michael Jordan, you like MJ, Michael Jackson, you like Bruno Mars.
I see the nice Bruno Mars artwork behind you.
The greatest show in town right now is Shohei Ohtani, pitching and hitting- Yes at an elite level.
Last night, with the conditions, with the elements, it's raining out there, and he still looked really dominant.
There were some walks mixed in there, three walks, but six Ks, no runs in six innings, gave just the one hit.
What do you see from last night that has people believing that this is gonna be the best pitching version of Shohei Ohtani this season?
Just how sharp he was last night.
And listen, I, I'm not even gonna put the three walks on him because as you mentioned, the slippery conditions last night, it affected Diaz when he came out, in that ninth inning.
He slept, what, he slipped on the mound four or five times.
I know it affected the Guardian's pitcher as well.
Guys in the batter's box, it's very rare to see.
I can't remember having rain come down at Dodger Stadium.
it, it almost never happens.
But for Shohei Ohtani to be that sharp in his first outing, it shouldn't surprise us, man.
I mean, this guy makes sure he's prepared, whether it's on the pitching side, makes sure he's prepared at the plate.
It's not always gonna work out be- because it's the game of baseball, but it ain't because of lack of preparation.
This guy makes sure he's prepared, and I just love his, his, his new delivery.
Now, he showed us that last year, and I think he's perfecting it now heading in this year.
It's a really slow, methodical delivery.
He's got great rhythm and tempo, and I'm telling you, that is harder for hitters because I like that kind of a, you know, come at you, here it is right here as a hitter.
When you have that slow, methodical delivery, sometimes he could pause, mix speeds on his pitches, have seven or eight different variety on all his pitches.
It's difficult to hit, man.
And it just sh- goes to show that he's really starting to perfect that pitching side, and I expect him to be elite as a starter this season.
Yeah, you see he's got that little tilt, it feels like, where the shoulder kinda stays back, and then with the legs, he's just powering through towards the plate.
But doing a, kinda a big picture here on Shohei Ohtani, I think one thing I always love is if you're in the clubhouse, you don't, they don't call him Sho as much, they just call him Goat.
Like, his teammates are, "Hey, Goat.
There, Goat."
Like, you know, that's gotta be the u- the best nickname you could get, right?
Your teammates call you the greatest of all time.
I think- Well, I mean, it's pretty easy Is he already, is he already the greatest of all time?
I, I, I'm gonna say yes.
I, I think the game that kinda put him over the top for me, you know, listen, there's so many great players that have played.
No disrespect to Josh Gibson back in the day, Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays.
The game that he, he had in the playoffs, NLs- NLCS, to close out the Milwaukee Brewers, six innings, 10 strikeouts, oh, and oh, by the way, three tape measure shots.
That to me did it.
I mean, remember, there, there's stuff in other sports, they talk about longevity.
I'm not big on longevity.
It's prime.
At your best, what do you look like?
What do you look like at your best?
In the moments, what do you look like?
In the moment, close out the NLCS, pitching dominance, hitting dominance, and what he's done so far, to me, he's the best player I've ever seen.
I, I, I mean, it's Listen, I told John Hartung, yesterday before, the pregame show, sometimes I'll run in, yeah, I run into players all the time in Alex's office, guys talk to me all the time, but I never go in the clubhouse.
That's their space.
I don't go in the clubhouse.
So I usually run, go through this tunnel to head to, to head to the, the, the set, and I just so happened to run into Shohei Ohtani, which I run into Shohei a- all the time, and I always say, "What's up, Sho?"
You know, and I say, "What's up?"
You know, it's always cool.
I know it's his game day, pitching.
I didn't say a word to him.
Kinda looked at him, kinda looked at me.
I mean, he was so focused, kinda like Kersh says.
I absolutely loved it.
I go o- on set, Sho's dominating tonight.
He is locked in, dominating, because usually he's always happy-go-lucky.
He knew like, "Hey, I'm not really feeling great at the plate right now.
If I'm not getting any hits, guess what?
They're not gonna get any hits tonight.
I'm gonna shut them down."
So I just love the fact that he had that, that laser-like focus, you know, heading into last night's start, and you love that as an athlete.
That start day Shohei energy, that's just on another level.
By the way, you got it like that, by the way.
Shohei, he says what's up to Jay Harry.
He's gotta, you know, say what's up to his guy.
I love that.
And you mentioned that game in the, in the NLCS.
It's the fact that when you say the Shohei game, you can bring up a couple games.
Like, you can talk about- Yeah the 50-50, the six for six, you can talk about that, and the only way someone's gonna do it again is if he does it.
I mean, that's I think another, a marker there.
Now, a- as far as Shohei this season, is he your Cy Young, or do you have Yamamoto?
Is it Skeens?
Do you wanna make a pick?
I'll make a pick.
L- Listen, right now, I've always been a believer.
I'm hoping Yamamoto wins it this year, but you gotta knock out the champ.
You gotta knock out the champ.
So from the Cy Young side, Paul Skeens is that, is that dude, is that champ.
So I think Yamamoto makes a run this year, and I think he gets it.
Now, I picked Yamamoto at the start of the season.
I'm gonna stick with my pick.
I would love to see Yamamoto and Sh- and Sho battle it out the whole season long and battle it out at the very end, and whoever those two wins, awesome.
But right now, Paul Skenes is, is the champ.
You gotta knock him out.
He's the favorite, rightfully so, but my pick is Yamamoto.
I'm gonna stick with that pick.
Hey, he wants to win it, too.
I love how the consolation prize for Shohei is probably gonna be a fifth MVP, a unanimous MVP, just kinda tells you where he's at.
All right, Jerry, we know you gotta run, but I do wanna ask you one quick thing on the way out.
It went viral again for some reason, that Giants fan heckling you, and everyone thought it happened, like, two days ago, and people were asking in the chat, like, "What's up with your guy, Jerry Hairston?
Did, did he get heckled or something like that?"
That happened years ago, right?
It happened years ago, and it wasn't about getting heckled.
He threw a bottle at me.
A bottle?
Yeah, he threw a wa- Those plastic water bottles.
It was, it was full of water.
He threw it at me.
It glassed and hit me.
It didn't hit me square on, but it did hit me.
and then eventually the Giants flag came thrown on our set.
but that's why I went and, and just wanted to talk to the man.
I, I was asking him when would he come up and have a nice little chat.
That's the way I see it.
Hey- But he didn't come up.
I don't- that's why the people absolutely love you, man.
I don't promote violence- Yeah fans.
Do not I'm not promoting violence at any time.
Dodgers, Giants, Padre fans, listen, we're all there to have a good time.
All there to go have a good time.
You're gonna win.
You're gonna win some, lose some, both sides.
Have a good time.
I wasn't promoting violence, I was just letting him know, "Hey, man, I didn't appreciate him throwing a water bottle at me, or water bottle at me."
That's not gonna happen, so I'm not tolerating that, so thankfully nothing happened.
Everybody's fine.
No violence at the stadium, ever.
Yeah, for sure.
No doubt about it.
And just, guys, that did not just happen, so just in case, you're wondering.
But Jerry- That was like four years ago That was like four years ago.
I'm like, man, hey.
Hey, that, And why would a Giants fan be at a random Diamondbacks Dodgers game, too, is kind of what I was wondering, too.
So I was like, let's, let's put that to bed for sure.
But Jerry, you're the best, man.
We could talk to you for hours with your insight, the stories.
Love to hear.
We know you gotta, gotta run to the stadium.
Dodgers tonight.
You got a 5:20 start with the Guardians.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, your Cy Young pick, is on the mound, and we're so excited to have you here at Dodgers Nation.
We look forward to talking to you all throughout the season, my man.
I look forward to it, too.
Guys, remember, Dodger fans, 5:20 start.
Get there early.
Your ace is on the mound tonight.
Gotta win the series.
