During the last home stand at AT&T Park in San Francisco we talked to Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija and Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Evans.
Samardzija tells The Sports Virus about his “twist” delivery: … “you’ve got to use your whole body, your legs and your core. For me it’s just a way of generating a little bit more velocity with a little less exertion. It feels comfortable for me. As long as I’m nice and slow and calm in my lift and my turn and not ahead of myself it usually works out alright.”
Evans tells The Sports Virus about the chances of Tim Lincecum being back in a Giants uniform: … “We’ve kept an open door. For him, he’s got to really evaluate opportunities and situations out there that are afforded to him in terms of a role. He’s particularly interested in starting. For us, we really see it more in the bullpen. That said, we understand what his options will be and he’ll have to make a decision here soon I think.”
We talk with San Jose Mercury News reporter Dan Brown who is also author of the new book about the Giants: The Big 50.
Brown discussed the future of Jake Peavy and Matt Cain in the Giants rotation: … “they’re both smart guys, they’re both masters at their craft in terms of being thinking pitchers. I don’t know how much deeper into May though they can stand to go with this long leash.”
Jim Kelch talked to The Sports Virus about Johnny Cueto’s creative deliveries: “… that evolution started back in 2012 in Los Angeles. Johnny had a problem falling off to the first base side. He came up with this to keep his shoulder closed to get a better part of the plate. He started improvising from there. No matter what he does, he is still always around the plate.”
We talk about the Giants AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League with Sacramento River Cats Play-By-Play Announcer Johnny Doskow.
Doskow tells The Sports Virus that Mac Williamson told him: … “I didn’t want to be that bitter AAA guy. I wanted to come down with a good attitude. I knew there was a good chance I wouldn’t make the team out of spring training.” Doskow went on to say that Williamson “hit the ball so hard (with the River Cats), his average (.355) wasn’t indicative of how well he hit. He hit line drives right at people. He could have been hitting over .400.”
We check in on the Giants farm system and chat about the South Atlantic League affiliate August Green Jackets with Chris Hogan from 27outsbaseball.com.
Hogan tells The Sports Virus Giants 2015 first round pick Phil Bickford (pitching at Class A Augusta): … “is a very mature guy. He’s known for his fastball in the mid to upper 90’s. A 20-year-old kid is not going to be ready with his secondary pitches right away, but he knows he has to improve on it and he’s worked very hard on it. He could be a nice #2 (in the future in San Francisco rotation).”
Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area Giants Reporter Amy Gutierrez, is our guest to talk about how newcomers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija are fitting in with the team as well as what Buster Posey does as leader of the team.
Amy G talked to The Sports Virus about Buster Posey’s leadership ability: “…I think Buster Posey has a demeanor in a game and with the fan base and then I think he has a different demeanor in the clubhouse. Posey is probably one of the most approachable teammates that you’re going to come across in the game.”
We talk about Giants RHP Johnny Cueto with our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea in part two of our conversation.
Shea tells The Sports Virus that Johnny Cueto: … “is a guy you just don’t want to take your eye off of. There are movements in his delivery that you don’t see. He might quick pitch you, he might delay in his delivery, he might look to centerfield with his back to home plate, a la Luis Tiant. He’s got some (Juan) Marichal in him. Very creative. I think Buster Posey had to take little time to figure it out.”
We talk about the early state of the slumping Giants with our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea in part one of our conversation.
Shea addressed the San Francisco bullpen with The Sports Virus: … “can (Josh) Osich and (Hunter) Strickland carry this? Who knows? The bullpen hasn’t been great, but at the same time they’ve worked an awful lot of innings.” On Barry Bonds returning as Marlins hitting coach: … “coaches show up at Noon for a night game. We’ll see how long this will last. He kind of played by his own rules over the years.”
Arizona Sportscaster Jeff Munn, who has recently been a part of the Diamondbacks broadcast team joins us to talk about their series in San Francisco against the Giants.
Munn tells The Sports Virus about the current mindset of Diamondbacks fans: “…a lot of people have come off the ledge. Especially after (Wednesday night’s Diamonbacks win). If (Shelby) Miller doesn’t pitch well today they’ll be right back on the ledge tomorrow morning.”
San Jose Giants Play-By-Play announcer Joe Ritzo is our guest. Once again the California League will witness a team in the South Bay that is loaded with prospects.
Ritzo tells The Sports Virus why the San Jose Giants should contend this season: “…Balance and just a club that looks like they’ve got a little bit of everything…You’ve got four of the top ten prospects in the organization.”
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