Welcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Today’s guest from AT&T Park is Hector Sanchez.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll try to ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Hector Sanchez photo courtesy of Jonathan Korn on flickr.com.
Hector Sanchez made his Major League debut in 2011 and this season he surprised many folks around baseball when he made the Giants opening day roster as a 22-year-old with only 46 games of experience above Class A ball. Last season he had the opportunity to catch Barry Zito in Class A San Jose and AAA Fresno and things went so well that he has become Zito’s personal catcher. The switch hitter from Venezuela has a mentor in countryman Pablo Sandoval. Baby Panda gives his thoughts on Big Panda, Zito and his friend Jesus Montero of the Seattle Mariners. Sanchez joined us before a game against the A’s at AT&T Park.
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Our series of interviews focusing on pitching and defense continues. Next up is Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer.
Michael Cuddyer Photo courtesy of Ben Krause on flickr.com.
Michael Cuddyer began his career with the Minnesota Twins bouncing between the infield and the outfield. In 2006 and 2007 he established himself as having an outfield arm that put fear in every base runner. He led the American League in assists in each of those two seasons. A 2011 All-Star who spent 11 years with the Twins, Cuddyer now plays almost exclusively in right field in his first season with the Colorado Rockies. That positon was the focus of our conversation during the Rockies recent series in San Francisco.
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Welcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Today’s guest from AT&T Park is Pablo Sandoval.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll try to ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Pablo Sandoval photo courtesy of Jonathan Korn on flickr.com.
Pablo Sandoval is on the DL and working hard every day to come back from surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left wrist. He had the same injury to his right wrist last year. When he went down he was batting .316 with 5 homers. The Panda gives his thoughts on turning around his career since a difficult 2010 and he discusses teammates Brandon Crawford, Melky Cabrera and Baby Panda Hector Sanchez. Pablo joined us before a game against the Rockies at AT&T Park.
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Welcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Today’s guest from AT&T Park is Jeremy Affeldt.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll try to ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Jeremy Affledt photo courtesy of laheringer on flickr.com.
Jeremy Affeldt talks about the knee injury that landed him on the DL and his return to the active roster. Affeldt gives his thoughts on Tim Lincecum, rookie Charlie Culberson, veteran reliever Javier Lopez and the LA Dodgers. We also get an update on Not For Sale, a charity that fights human trafficking with support from Affeldt. Jeremy joined us before a game against the Rockies at AT&T Park.
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Welcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Our special guest from AT&T Park is new San Francisco Giants infielder Charlie Culberson.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Charlie Culberson Photo courtesy of Gamma Man on flickr.com.
Charlie Culberson had a special Major League debut in Arizona on the last game of the recent road trip. Not only did he get thrown into the starting lineup in his first game, but he also collected his first big league hit with his family in attendance. Culberson worked his way up to San Francisco after five full seasons in the minors. This year he was batting .284 at AAA Fresno with 5 homers. A first round pick of the Giants in 2007, Culberson is the son of Charles Culberson who played in the Giants’ minor league system from 1984-1986. Charlie joined us before his first ever game in San Francisco.
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Welcome to CATCH IT!– My observations of the sports world. Basically it’s something to read and comment about in between podcasts.
Honesty is the best policy, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. For Cole Hamels, being honest meant a five game suspension. Granted. that means he doesn’t even miss a start, but he was reprimanded for
telling the truth and that’s something to talk about. I’m a little torn on this one. On the one hand I want players to tell us the truth. I want them to speak up. It drives me nuts to hear “no comment.” Too many people in the sports world are afraid to speak their mind. They fear they might say the wrong thing. Hamels had no fear. He told us exactly what he did and why. But, I don’t like pitchers throwing at hitters, period. And to say that it’s “old school” doesn’t really work because even Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson and Randy Johnson didn’t have to plunk you to be intimidating. They threw brush back pitches to send their message. Hitting a rookie in the back doesn’t teach him anything. I’m guessing that Hamels is never again open with the media because he will be afraid of another suspension. In this case he should have kept his intentions to himself, knowing that MLB would nail him. By the way, memo to MLB: a five game suspension for a starting pitcher means absolutely nothing. You have to go with at least 10 games so he will miss a start.
The funny thing about Josh Beckett‘s comment about having 18 days off a year and deserving time to himself is that I actually agree with him under normal circumstances. Even though playing baseball or covering it is a dream job that many people envy, the season is a grind with little time to clear your mind and enjoy other parts of your life. Yes, there is a long off season, but consider that you are on the road a lot and baseball is your singular focus for six months of the year. Yes, Beckett and all Major Leaguers are paid handsomely, but no matter what the pay, everyone is entitled to a little time off and it’s really nobody’s business what you are doing on the rare day off. This time was the exception. This time off was made possible because of a back injury. I agree with Bobby Valentine about golf not being a sport where you worry about someone getting hurt. But, it seems like a back issue might be irritated by swinging clubs. The timing was wrong and Beckett was too defensive about it. It’s not surprising since the Beckett that I saw once in Oakland left me with a bad impression. I was grabbing a young Jon Lester for an XM Satellite Radio interview and Beckett asked me if Lester was going to be paid for the appearance. I laughed and said no. He said that he should be paid and it wasn’t right. I didn’t reply to that, but I wanted to say that for the millions of dollars being paid to players, it’s really not too much to ask for an interview before the game as a service to the fans. Josh didn’t get it then and apparently he still doesn’t know when and how to express his opinions now.
Please email all comments and questions to: thesportsvirus@gmail.com.
Photos and artwork courtesy of: Suzie Armagost, JPM Sports and Entertainment and TJ Perr.
ShareWelcome to CATCH IT!– My observations of the sports world. Basically it’s something to read and comment about in between podcasts.
The news of Junior Seau committing suicide still hasn’t totally sunk in for me. It’s really hard to
accept that someone who was as successful as he was on the field and as giving off the field would decide that there is nothing left to live for. It’s so sad that he couldn’t get some help.
When Mariano Rivera tore his ACL it was another example of how you can protect an athlete as 
much as you want, but sometimes injuries just happen. Sure you could say that he shouldn’t have been running so hard and to try to catch a batting practice fly ball, but you really can’t consider that to be reckless. I’m sure he’s been running around out there shagging the same way for years and just got unlucky. I was listening to Mad Dog Unleashed on Sirius/XM the other day and couldn’t believe that a caller actually compared the Yankees losing Rivera to Seau’s suicide. Seriously? This is not life and death Yankees fans. Plus, Mariano will probably return next season.
Speaking of Sirius/XM. A little criticism here for my former employer and this is not sour grapes. I just don’t understand how you can have Sirius in your car and not be able to listen to Major League Baseball games. Especially in a rental car. When you’re on on a long drive, the best part of having satellite radio is checking out all the games. Please think about the customers!
With the Giants and Dodgers facing off this week, I think back over the many years of the great rivalry. Favorite memory:
Tommy Lasorda getting tossed from a game at Candlestick Park in the 1980′s and blowing kisses to the fans. Worst memory: Rick Monday hitting a big home run on a Friday night to beat the Giants in 1982 to knock them out of the playoffs. Joe Morgan’s Sunday homer to knock out the Dodgers doesn’t make me forget how disappointing it was on that Friday night.
Losing Pablo Sandoval for 4-6 weeks is a huge blow to the Giants. He’s having a great year and the offense has been sluggish. Hopefully either Conor Gillaspie or Aubrey Huff swings the bat well because some punch is needed. This team desperately needs clutch hitting like they got from Hector Sanchez on Sunday. The Angel Pagan homer in Cincinnati is my favorite offensive moment of the season so far. Matt Cain’s one-hitter in the home opener was the best day period. Hopefully more games like that are on the way.
Please email all comments and questions to: thesportsvirus@gmail.com.
Photos and artwork courtesy of: Suzie Armagost, Dave Sizer, and whatifdoggie.
ShareWelcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Our special guest from AT&T Park in San Francisco is former Giant Mark Sweeney.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Mark Sweeney Photo courtesy of stickerbandit on flickr.com.
Mark Sweeney played for the Giants in 2006 and 2007. He finished his 14-year career ranked second in Major League history with 175 career pinch hits and he is first in career pinch hit RBIs with 102. Sweeney also played for the Cardinals, Padres, Reds, Brewers, Rockies and Dodgers. Currently he is part of the San Diego broadcast team. Mark joined Michael Duca during the Padres first 2012 visit to San Francisco.
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Joe Castellano and pitching mechanics expert Angel Borrelli talk about injuries: cause and prevention. Our
first live webcast can be viewed on Spreecast.com, Tuesday, May 1 at 11:00am PT. You can also catch the podcast here on TheSportsVirus.com, where you can send questions and comments to thesportsvirus@gmail.com.
Our first show, IT’S YOUR PITCH: THE FIRST PITCH, will have special guest Joe Janish, who writes a blog called Mets Today.
The webcast can be found here: Spreecast.com
Later this week, go to our navigation page and click on the IT’S YOUR PITCH PODCAST WITH ANGEL BORRELLI to listen in.
ShareWelcome to the another episode of INSIDE CHINA BASIN, your San Francisco Giants Player Podcast featuring Jeremy Affeldt, with your host Joe Castellano and Michael Duca out of the pen. Today’s guest from AT&T Park is Jeremy Affeldt.
INSIDE CHINA BASIN has found a webcasting home on Spreecast.com and we’re available on itunes.
Listen up Giants fans! Join us every homestand this season here on thesportsvirus.com for in-depth discussions with Jeremy Affeldt, other Giants players and specials guests from around Major League Baseball. If you have a question for a player, email us at thesportsvirus@gmail.com and we’ll ask it on our next podcast.
Stadium Photo courtesy of Andy Lopusnak, Jeremy Affledt photo courtesy of laheringer on flickr.com.
Jeremy Affeldt assesses the Giants recent road trip which ended in Cincinnati, recently a difficult place for his club to get a win. Michael Duca had this conversation with Jeremy before a game against the Padres over the weekend at AT&T Park.
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