Roger Arrieta
Mark McGwire was gracious enough to answer a few questions at the Los Angeles Dodgers offseason Fan Fest on January 26, 2013 at Dodger Stadium.
DB: With all of the additions of the players of the second half and then the struggles the Dodgers went through, what would you attribute that to? Is it chemistry or something that you saw the players doing at the time?
MM: I don’t know if I can really comment on that because I was watching from afar. It’s not easy when the team comes together with a few trades in August. It takes time for guys to learn each other, play off each other and learn what they can and can’t do. The really exciting thing is you get to start that in a couple of weeks from now, from Day 1. The last 10 games of the season the guys were playing really well and that’s a great sign. Going into the spring training with quite a few guys playing in the WBC (World Baseball Classic). Once the WBC is over with the last two/three weeks we will get it going during the season.
DB: Obviously you study player’s weaknesses. Do you approach them or do you let them come to you?
MM: I do a lot of observing. I have to watch the players. When you watch from afar in the other dugout it’s a little different from when you get to know the guys and watch them from the dugout yourself. I’m going to a lot of watching. I’m going to do a lot of watching, talking, and understand who they are. I want to see what makes them tick and just go from there.
DB: With a player like Ethier, who struggles with lefties, do you already have a game plan to address that issue?
MM: I can’t wait to go to spring training, sit down, talk and understand what’s going on. Tell me about a hitter. I can see you from the other dugout and this guy’s really good. I’m now on your side. So we’ll just go from square one and get to know him. We’ll have a nice work ethic. He loves to work. I love to work. It’s going to be exciting!
DB: It’s a great fit with you, being local, and bringing what you did with St. Louis in the last couple of years. It was obvious where they ranked as far as hitting and we would love to see that here in Los Angeles. When you look at that lineup, what are you thinking about the order?
MM: Hitting is about getting a pitch to hit, understanding having a game plan, being disciplined at the plate, understanding what the pitcher is trying to do to you, willing to adjust during the game and understanding that if things aren’t going well, just pass the baton to the next guy behind you. Not everyone has to be the man. We have a lot of guys on this team who can be the man. Now it’s just about getting all together. It starts from number one, and goes down to number eight and the guys on the bench. I can’t wait.
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