Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former SF reliever George Kontos is back to talk about some key calls and decisions in Monday night’s Giants/Dodgers game. Plus we analyze Steven Duggar and Brandon Crawford, discuss MLB’s pitcher’s checks for foreign substances and get into the relationship between pitcher and catcher..
Kontos on the way MLB is checking pitchers:“It’s been silly from the first day they implemented all of this stuff because it’s been done so backwards and so amateur hour when you’re talking about Major League baseball, the best players in the world and this is how they are being treated coming off the field because of the inability of MLB to do this in the proper manner.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former Giants pitcher and current NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Shawn Estes gives his thoughts about the Major League Baseball crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances on baseballs. We also talk about why Sammy Long was so good in his first career start and discuss LaMont Wade, Jr. and Jason Vosler being demoted to AAA.
Estes says the stricter rules won’t impact the elite pitchers as much as the average pitcher:“…Better spin on the fastball and breaking ball definitely provides an advantage. It takes them to that next level. The average pitcher becomes above average. The good breaking ball becomes great. The spin on the fastball up in the zone becomes less hittable.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former SF reliever George Kontos is back to talk about the Giants reversing course offensively, going from barely scoring in DC to bombs away vs. Arizona. We discuss Brandon Crawford’s All Star case and dive deep into MLB’s crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances on baseballs.
Kontos on pitchers using Spider Tack:“Going out of your way to get something that will make (the baseball) significantly stickier is where we have the problem.. I think it’s good for baseball to not use blatant cheating substances.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
Former KNBR talk show host Ray Woodson and sports photographer Brad Mangin join Inside China Basin this week. Woodson and Joe Castellano discuss why the current Giants have surprised the baseball world. Mangin takes us down memory lane as we remember a grand slam in 1978 by Mike Ivie against the Dodgers and other great moments that he has experienced as a photographer.
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former SF reliever George Kontos is back this week to talk about the Giants entering June with the best record in the National League. He explains why bullpen roles are important, discusses the Giants winning three out of four in LA and shares some Cubs stories.
Kontos on the Trevor Bauer/Maurico Dubon showboating rivalry:“If you’re going to dish it you need to be able to take it. After Dubon hit the homer and put his sword back in the sheath they asked Bauer about it and the response he gave was little hypocritical when he said you are barking up the wrong pitcher’s tree. I hope Dubon does it again and every single time after that. There’s always a two-lane street.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea, who is also the co-author of the Willie Mays book 24 joins Inside China Basin to discuss what we learned from the Giants getting swept at home by the Dodgers. He gives his thoughts on Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt in the final year of their contracts with San Francisco. We also take a look at why the modern game has former Major Leaguers concerned about its future.
Shea talked about Posey staying fresh:“What they’re doing with Posey is fascinating. It’s not put him out there until he needs a rest, it’s plan rest in advance and don’t be surprised if he sits out at least one game out of every three….Kapler’s theory is I’d rather have him at 100% two out of three days or three out of five days than play him four out of five, five out of six and not have his leg strength at the plate.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
Steve Berman, the Bay Area Sports Guy from The Athletic joins us for a local angle on why the Giants are in first place in the NL West and he gives us insight into his sports media column. Then, national baseball columnist Bob Nightengale from USA Today expresses his surprise at the Giants early season success and tells us why he votes for Barry Bonds to be in the Hall of Fame.
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former SF reliever George Kontos relates to Mike Tauchman making the move from the Yankees to the Giants since he was in the same situation in 2012. Also, we talk about Madison Bumgarner’s 7-inning no-hitter, pitchers hitting, why Buster Posey and Evan Longoria have been back to their old selves and freak injuries.
Kontos compares playing in New York to playing in San Francisco: …“(In New York) you’re going to have 50 media members in the clubhouse that are going to micro-manage everything and give their opinions and judge and criticize. It takes a very mentally strong individual to have long term success playing for a New York market team…Coming out West and playing for the Giants you are already built up and you’ve been toughened by that market. When you come to the West Coast, everything is still talked about, it’s just not made such a buzz about and you’ve already hardened your emotions to it where you can just go out there and play and not care what the media says. It allows you to have a lot more success and be yourself.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
Former Giants reliever George Kontos won two World Series rings with San Francisco. Now he’s an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area and he’s helping us dissect the Giants on a regular basis this season. Our second 2021 podcast took place on Tuesday following back-to-back shutouts in Miami and Philadelphia and a San Francisco studio stint for George.
Kontos discusses the hot start for the Giants rotation and cold start for the lineup. He tells Joe Castellano why he doesn’t like the extra innings rule, how he got the number 70 and who convinced him to grow his trademark beard. Plus, he analyzes rookie reliever Camilo Doval:“It’s been impressive how he’s come in and done his job and managed his emotions…His slider is very, very good. He throws it with the same intent and arm speed as his fastball, so out of the hand it looks just like a fastball which is why he’s getting some of those swings that the hitters look a little bad on.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 12th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
Steve Bitker from KCBS radio in San Francisco tells stories from his 30+ year career as he nears retirement and gives his thoughts on the 2021 Giants. Will Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt still be in San Francisco in 2022? Do the Giants have a chance to make some noise this season? It’s all discussed on this week’s Inside China Basin.
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former SF reliever George Kontos is back to talk about some key calls and decisions in Monday night’s Giants/Dodgers game. Plus we analyze Steven Duggar and Brandon Crawford, discuss MLB’s pitcher’s checks for foreign substances and get into the relationship between pitcher and catcher..
Kontos on the way MLB is checking pitchers: “It’s been silly from the first day they implemented all of this stuff because it’s been done so backwards and so amateur hour when you’re talking about Major League baseball, the best players in the world and this is how they are being treated coming off the field because of the inability of MLB to do this in the proper manner.”
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On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Giants podcast former Giants pitcher and current NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Shawn Estes gives his thoughts about the Major League Baseball crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances on baseballs. We also talk about why Sammy Long was so good in his first career start and discuss LaMont Wade, Jr. and Jason Vosler being demoted to AAA.
Former KNBR talk show host Ray Woodson and sports photographer Brad Mangin join Inside China Basin this week. Woodson and Joe Castellano discuss why the current Giants have surprised the baseball world. Mangin takes us down 
memory lane as we remember a grand slam in 1978 by Mike Ivie against the Dodgers and other great moments that he has experienced as a photographer.
Kontos on the Trevor Bauer/Maurico Dubon showboating rivalry: 
On this week’s Inside China Basin San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea, who is also the co-author of the Willie Mays book 24 joins Inside China Basin to discuss what we learned from the Giants getting swept at home by the Dodgers. He gives his thoughts on Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt in the final year of their contracts with San Francisco. We also take a look at why the modern game has former Major Leaguers concerned about its future.
Shea talked about Posey staying fresh: 
Steve Berman, the Bay Area Sports Guy from The Athletic joins us for a local angle on why the Giants are in first place in the NL West and he gives us insight into his sports media column. Then, national baseball columnist Bob Nightengale 
from USA Today expresses his surprise at the Giants early season success and tells us why he votes for Barry Bonds to be in the Hall of Fame.
reliever Camilo Doval: 
Steve Bitker from KCBS radio in San Francisco tells stories from his 30+ year career as he nears retirement and gives his thoughts on the 2021 Giants. Will Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt still be in San Francisco in 2022? Do the Giants have a chance to make some noise this season? It’s all discussed on this week’s Inside China Basin.