Category Archives: Our Podcasts

Mark Purdy On Giants Becoming Sellers: “I Don’t Think They Should Rule Out Anything”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Bay Area News Group Columnist Mark Purdy joins us in the aftermath of the Hunter Strickland/Bryce Harper fight to talk about Buster Posey’s role. We also tackle the difficult question of whether the Giants should be sellers sooner rather than later after a terrible start to the season.

Purdy talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants possibly becoming sellers before the trade deadline : …“you have a plan that’s like two or three years out. I don’t think the Giants are in a market where you want to go through a full three, four, five year rebuilding project like some teams do …you have to decide which of those (core) guys you want…I don’t think they should rule out anything. You don’t just break up the team to break it up, you’ve got to have an architecture in place…I love watching (Johnny Cueto) pitch and he’s maybe their best guy right now, but if he has value that can get them where they want to be in two or three years then you’ve got to make that move.”

Listen To Mark Purdy

Join us next week when Brewers broadcaster Brian Anderson will be among our guests.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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SF Chronicle’s John Shea: “Maybe Trading Johnny Cueto Is The Way To Go” If SF Is Out Of Race

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea is our guest. In part 2 of our conversation we chat about whether or not Johnny Cueto remains a Giant and Dusty Baker’s kid Darren going from the cute World Series bat boy to a Major League prospect.

Photos courtesy of SF Gate

Shea tells The Sports Virus about Johnny Cueto’s status a Giant: …“It’s not the same old Johnny Cueto (5-4, 4.37 ERA). But, I think he’ll still be a popular figure come the trade deadline whether the Giants want to unload him or not, whether they think he’ll opt out and they would get nothing for him because he would be a free agent…If you’re the Giants and you’re still 10 games back at the deadline and you pretty much know you’re not going to make the playoffs, maybe trading Johnny Cueto is the way to go. ”

Listen To John Shea

Come back FRIDAY for Mark Purdy of the Bay Area News Group.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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John Shea: No Minors For Arroyo “Let Him Figure It Out”-The Sports Virus: “I Don’t Blame Posey At All”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

The Giants are hosting the Nationals and we talk about San Francisco’s recent hitting woes and Christian Arroyo’s immediate future with John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle. Also, The Sports Virus weighs in with a commentary on the Hunter Strickland/Bryce Harper brawl.

Photos courtesy of The Associated Press and Bleacher Report

Shea tells The Sports Virus that slumping Christian Arroyo shouldn’t be sent down to AAA Sacramento: “…Play him at one position regardless. If (Brandon) Crawford is off a day don’t put him at short, if (Joe) Panik is off a day don’t put him at second, keep him at third. Let him figure it out. Let him grind over the next few weeks. He’s 0 for 21 (heading into Monday’s opener with the Nationals), that’s awful, but he’s not going to be 0 for 42, he’s too good… He’s dealing with the mental part of this. He’s got the physical capabilities. He’s a ballplayer. He can help you when he’s not hitting.”

The Sports Virus backs Buster Posey’s decision not to join the brawl between Hunter Strickland and Bryce Harper: “…I actually think it was really smart on his part. Some people think maybe he didn’t support his teammate there, but as soon as that pitch was thrown and it hit Harper you could tell that Posey was not in favor of this drilling. He just stood there very disappointed in a way, just his posture, it wasn’t like he was going to go out and tackle Harper and get involved in this because he didn’t approve of it. He didn’t want a baserunner in that situation in a 2-0 game. It seemed like just a personal vendetta, Strickland against Harper…I don’t blame Posey at all.”

Listen To John Shea

Come back WEDNESDAY for Part 2 of our conversation with John Shea.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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IN SAN FRANCISCO

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Dave Righetti On Former Umpire Steve Palermo: “I Was Real Proud To Be A Friend Of His”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti joined us during the last home stand to talk about the passing of former umpire Steve Palermo, who was behind the plate when Rags threw his no-hitter for the Yankees in 1983 against the Red Sox.

Righetti gave The Sports Virus his thoughts about Palermo: …“To see him fight, fight, fight, fight (after he was shot and paralyzed) all his might to get back on his feet, get back in the game and do all of the different things he did in this game, I was real proud to be a friend of his… I’m going to miss the thought that he’s out there somewhere. I’ll always remember him with a lot of fondness.”

Listen To Dave Righetti

Join us MONDAY when we are slated to chat with John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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Former Giant Andres Torres On 2010 World Series Impact: “I’m Very Proud Of What We Built”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Former Giants outfielder Andres Torres joined us during the most recent home stand.

Torres talked to The Sports Virus about winning the 2010 World Series: “I’m very, very, very proud of what we built…That moment was so special. First World Series, fans deserve it and really great memories. I still go down the street and people talk to me about how incredible it was to win that World Series.”

Listen To Andres Torres

Come back FRIDAY when Giants pitching coach DAVE RIGHETTI will be our guest.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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Author Tabitha Soren: Fantasy Life, Baseball And The American Dream

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Journalist, photographer and pop culture icon Tabitha Soren joins us to talk about her book, Fantasy Life, a heartfelt portrait that presents a unique perspective of minor league baseball players pursuing the often elusive goal of making the Major Leagues. Plus, we chat about an upcoming Giants exhibit at City Hall in San Francisco.

Listen To Tabitha Soren

Come back WEDNESDAY for an interview with former Giants outfielder Andres Torres.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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IN SAN FRANCISCO

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Justin Ruggiano On Giants “Great Clubhouse…Going To Turn Season Around”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants outfielder Justin Ruggiano joined us during the recent homestand.

Ruggiano talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants clubhouse: …“You’ve got to have the young kids who we get to pick on here and there and old salty vets. I guess that’s me, I’ve got to accept that role now. This is a great clubhouse. The chemistry in here is well thought out from the front office perspective. I think we’re going to gel and turn the season around.”

Listen To Justin Ruggiano

Join us MONDAY for an interview with author Tabitha Soren.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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Gearrin Calls Crawford’s Defense “Best In The World…Doesn’t Get Enough Credit”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

We make a call to the Giants bullpen and chat with valuable member Cory Gearrin about how the season is going and his appreciation of the defense Brandon Crawford plays at shortstop.

Gearrin talked to The Sports Virus about Brandon Crawford: “I really don’t think there’s anyone else like him in baseball. I think he’s the best in the world at what he does. He doesn’t get enough credit in my opinion for how good he is, the detail he puts into the work that he does…to watch him play every day you start to notice the little things that I’ve never seen before professionally or just in my life in general, what he can do, how easy he makes the game look out there. It takes a lot of pressure off the pitching staff knowing that we can allow the ball to be put in play and he’s going to make that play.”

Listen To Cory Gearrin

Come back FRIDAY when Giants outfielder JUSTIN RUGGIANO will be our guest.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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Dodgers Beat Writer Bill Plunkett Says Giants “Look Like A Mess Right Now”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

The Giants are hosting Los Angeles for three games this week and Bill Plunkett from the Orange County Register gives us an inside look at the Dodgers.

Photos courtesy of Ryan Leong

Plunkett gave his impression of the Giants early season struggles: “It looks like a mess right now… So many injuries, so many pieces of their plan that are just not there. I think Christian Arroyo’s arrival is a big plus, but everything else you see is just minuses and subtractions.  Maybe the depth is just not there in the same way as it is with the Dodgers. Blame it on the payroll or whatever you want to blame it on but they have not been able to absorb all the hits that they’re taking.”

Listen To Bill Plunkett

Come back WEDNESDAY for an interview with Giants reliever Cory Gearrin.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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This podcast is sponsored by (Click each image to visit the sponsor’s website):

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IN SAN FRANCISCO

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Dave Righetti: “It’s Really A Different Touch…Different Look” For Matt Cain

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti joined us Friday before the Giants opened their series with the Dodgers in part 1 of a 2 part conversation.

 

Righetti talked to The Sports Virus about Matt Cain reinventing himself: …“He was going to get hit this spring (training) but I didn’t care. I didn’t want him walking people, I wanted him get used to his 2-seamer…(After Arizona spring training) where the ball won’t move at all, his stuff was going to be a little bit better once we hit San Francisco, I knew that for sure. You still need success when you’re trying something, in his mind it was new. You still want to see something positive out of it so he can build on that and he did…It’s really a different touch. A slower curveball, more separation in his speeds, movement on his fastball on both sides of the plate. He’s giving these guys a little bit different look.”

Listen To Dave Righetti

Join us later tonight when we hear from Orange County Register Dodgers beat reporter Bill Plunkett.

Check out our other Podcasts all year long. INSIDE CHINA BASIN is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FMSTITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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This podcast is sponsored by (Click each image to visit the sponsor’s website):