On Monday afternoon, recently released Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier was a guest on MLB Network Radio’s Inside Pitch, hosted by Casey Stern and Cliff Floyd. And while much of the lighthearted banter centered around Sunday’s ‘Fake News’ of Ethier’s sudden retirement that even he knew nothing about, it also included several serious and even emotional topics, such as Ethier’s relationship with 22-year-old rookie phenom Cody Bellinger and about his eventual replacement, Dodgers (should have been Gold Glove) right fielder Yasiel Puig.

“He was never fazed by anything, nothing really got him rattled or got him shook. He has an even just-never-excitable attitude about him,” said Ethier of Bellinger, in an almost fatherly tone. “Sometimes I’d get on him because he never was really excitable about anything. But that’s what played so well for him – the good, the bad, anything else that’s going on – he just kind of is even, straight up. No highs and lows.

“Even over the course of a season you’re going to have good games, bad games, some bad stretches, good stretches,” added Ethier “You couldn’t tell whether he had a good game that night or a bad game that night by the way he acted or anything, by the way his attitude was, by the way he talked.

“His locker was right next to mine and I would talk to him before every game, after every game, but he was the same guy no matter what, and that’s a lot to say for a young guy experiencing and going through [it], everything being so excitable and so new and fresh,” Ether said. “He just had that workman’s attitude about him and showed up and concentrated every game, and didn’t get carried away with anything.”

Wow!

The 35-year-old seasoned veteran, who is still hoping to play next season, never said a single word about Bellinger’s MLB record-setting 39 home runs by a National League rookie, or his absolute stellar defense at first base and in the outfield. He is most impressed with Bellinger’s even keel attitude, demeanor and mental approach to every game, good or bad. Could there be any higher praise?

In addition to being one of his mentors, Andre Ethier also became close friends with Cody Bellinger.
(Photo credit – Harry How)

Ever the consummate professional, the 35-year-old Phoenix, Arizona native was very diplomatic when talking about the oft-controversial Puig, who Ethier acknowledged is good for the game.

“I think he learned a lot from being sent down. I think him getting sent down just let him know, if anything, that he’s not untouchable, that this game isn’t going to be just given to you,” Ether said, when asked about Puig’s antics that led to his demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier this past season. “But other than that, I think that him realizing team-wise what the opportunity we had last year, and the position he’s in to help and succeed, and be a great player. I think that kind of finally started hitting home to him. So that’s why you’re able to see him have the success he’s having.

“And all those antics and, like you said, the stuff he does, I used to think the same way a lot of people think, ‘What is this guy doing? Why is he doing stuff like that?’ Ethier continued. “But honestly, after seeing it and knowing where this game’s heading and where it needs to go, I really like it, I’m a fan of it. People are turning on the TV to either see it because they like it or see it because they hate it so much. But you know what? It’s getting people tuned in. It’s getting people excited to watch the games.

“I think a lot of us wish we could be that confident in that way and go out there and play the game and still get the job done,” said Ethier. “For me, I can’t. I’ve got to concentrate with every bit I’ve got and play the game. I can’t do all those things and I can’t think on the fly like he does, and be able to do that. It just shows the amount of talent and what he can do out there on that level … He’s a guy who contributed a ton to that team last year.”

Ever the consummate professional.

One of Puig’s many antics includes licking his bat. “I make love to the bat and he pays me back with hits.”
(Photo credit – Mark J. Rebilas)