PHOENIX –– In his annual start-of-the-spring address to his Dodger team on Tuesday,manager Dave Robertsdelivered a simple message to the two-time defending World Series champions.
“I think for us it’s more about looking forward, focusing on ourselves and … not concerning us with outside expectations, noise, other teams,” he said. “That’s what we’ve done a pretty good job of in years past.”
Then, Roberts invited the club’s two superstar offseason additions to speak to the room and drive home that message.
As has become a common theme in these team-wide spring meetings –– which take place on the morning of the club’s first full-squad workouts, which the Dodgers had on Tuesday –– the longtime skipper wanted his returning players to hear from the new faces in the clubhouse.
“It was just more about what made the Dodgers attractive to them,” Roberts explained. “I think it’s powerful for our guys to hear it from the other side, from somebody who hasn’t been here.”
This year, that meant speeches from Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz, each of whom explained why theywanted to sign with the Dodgersas free agents this winter.
Roberts said Tucker talked about watching “how the Dodgers go about things” while playing against them as a member of the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros over the last eight years, calling the franchise “a destination place.”
Díaz echoed that sentiment when he got up to talk, joking that the Dodgers always “look pretty nice on the field” and how he “heard they treat every player the same inside the clubhouse.”
“That,” the new closer added while speaking to reporters later, “was one of the things I was looking for.”
The Dodgers hope that a scene like Tuesday’s will serve as a tone-setter ahead of their three-peat pursuit this year. Simply signing big names like Tucker (the $240 million outfielder) and Diaz (the $69 million right-hander)served as a source of reinvigoration for the club this offseason. But hearing their perspectives of the team for the first time was “refreshing,” veteran third baseman and longest tenured Dodger Max Muncy said.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
