Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated twice a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Once again we have a wide range of Giants guests as spring training continues in the Cactus League. Jeff Samardzija, Nick Hundley and Derek Law were interviewed at media day in San Francisco prior to Fan Fest. Javy Lopez joined us outside the Giants dugout at Scottsdale Stadium at the beginning of March.
Samardzija talked to The Sports Virus about his mindset after a difficult 2017 season for San Francisco: …“When you pitch through situations you become a stronger guy on the back end. Whether that’s a minor injury you pitch through or a rough patch you pitch through or a rough season that you go out and no luck is going your way and you keep pitching. When you do get a normal situation after that you kind of sit there and understand that hey, you don’t take it for granted. A healthy team, a strong team, a team that’s bonded together doesn’t happen all the time. It’s not the norm. It’s a special case when 25 guys come together and you have a nice long stretch. You appreciate certain situations a little more when you go through rough patches. Whatever that rough patch is when you come out on the other end usually you are a little stronger for it. For me, I’m just excited to go through that and then have a clean slate and start all over with great spirits and a team that’s ready to win..”
Quinn Cook had another 20-point game to lead the Warriors, but Golden State couldn’t slow down LaMarcus Aldridge (33 points, 12 rebounds) and the Spurs in San Antonio. We update you on Draymond Green’s injury and partake in a little NCAA Tournament discussion.
The Warriors are limping though March as they are decimated by injuries, albeit none of them serious. Ray and Joe discuss consecutive losses in Portland and Minnesota without Steph Curry and bench players Andre Iguodala, David West, Jordan Bell and Patrick McCaw.
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
We have a wide range of Giants guests as spring training continues in the Cactus League. Austin Jackson joins us (while getting some ribbing from Pablo Sandoval when talking about the 2012 World Series), as well as Tyler Beede and Mark Melancon from Scottsdale Stadium. Mac Williamson and Austin Slater were interviewed at media day in San Francisco prior to Fan Fest.
Mac Williamson is off to a great start in Cactus League play with a .412 batting average, 4 HR, 13 RBIs in his first 15 games, but he is realistic about the meaning of those numbers: …“I don’t think it’s super important to look at the numbers in spring. Everybody is trying to work on something and get in the rhythm and that includes the opposing pitchers. They’re not immune to making mistakes in spring that they’re not going to make during the season…I’ve had ok springs in the past and it hasn’t always translated to the season…For the most part it’s important to remain healthy.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Hensley Meulens is making the move from Giants hitting coach to bench coach, Steven Duggar is vying for a spot in the SF outfield and Gregor Blanco returns to his favorite team. All 3 men joined us from Scottsdale Stadium last week.
Blanco is hoping to bring a spark back to the Giants: …“I really saw that they were missing the extra fight that you always need to win games (in 2017). Extra energy. It was hard to find that, that’s the way I saw it from the outside (while with the Diamondbacks)…Now coming here in spring training and I see Pablo Sandoval and all of those guys who have a really good connection with each other, we are starting to have fun again.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Giants General Manager Bobby Evans joins us to talk about the changes the club made during the off season and what to expect in spring training.
We also chat in the Giants Scottsdale Stadium dugout with new 3B Evan Longoria, one of San Francisco’s key 2018 acquisitions.
Longoria talked to The Sports Virus about the being a Giants newcomer: …“I’m just trying to find my role, see where I fit in…It’s a different feeling. You’ve got to kind of feel the guys out, see how the personalties are and how the clubhouse vibe is. All of that has been pretty seamless. It’s been great. The clubhouse is loose. I think everybody has fun playing the game and playing together and that kind of makes it easy for me.”
The Warriors post-All Star roll continued with a win over the Wizards in Washington, D.C. Kevin Durant was stellar in his return to his hometown with 32 points. We discuss the importance of pursuing the #1 seed in the West, Zaza’s reputation and the Warriors bench play.
The Warriors started the post-All Star break with a win over the Clippers that featured a 44-point night from Steph Curry. Joe and Ray discuss the Dubs 1st quarter improvement after Steve Kerr inserted Jevale McGee into the starting lineup in place of Zaza Pachulia .
The Warriors head to the All Star break after a loss in Portland, despite 50 points from Kevin Durant. We chat about another rough first quarter for Golden State and hear from Durant as well as Steve Kerr.
The Warriors have lost two in a row for the first time this season after another whipping at the hands of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder. We discuss the ugly Warriors loss on Tuesday at Oracle Arena and search for answers to the questions surrounding the Dubs, who have lost three of the last four games.