Category Archives: Our Podcasts

Tyler Beede Learning From Madison Bumgarner: “Throwing To All Four Quadrants”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants RHP Tyler Beede joins us as spring training continues in Scottsdale Arizona.

Photos courtesy of 2080 Baseball

Beede tells The Sports Virus that his success is predicated on more than just keeping the ball down:  “I thinking changing eye levels, making sure you’re throwing to all four quadrants. It’s something I learned from (Madison) Bumgarner and it’s something that I’ve tried to implement into my games and to bullpens and understanding when you’re changing eye levels as well as changing speeds it’s just as effective. So, sometimes being up in the zone can be effective. But, for the most part you want to be down in the zone, making sure you’re getting ground balls and going deep in the ballgame.”

Listen To Tyler Beede

Come back MONDAY for Brian Sabean and Josh Osich.

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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Closer Mark Melancon: “Impressed” With SF Power Arms, Explains Cutter Development

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

New Giants closer Mark Melancon is our guest. He signed with San Francisco as a free agent after combining for 47 saves last season with Pittsburgh and Washington.  In 2015 he led the National League in saves with 51 for the Pirates.

Photo courtesy of William Yee

Melancon told The Sports Virus how he developed his cutter: …“I learned lot from Mariano (Rivera), being in the bullpen with him. Billy Conners was a pitching coach over there (Yankees). He put it in my head it might be a good pitch for me. Then I continued to watch Mo. When I got to Houston, Brandon Lyon was throwing the cutter on a regular basis so I would pick his brain. He would teach me what to look for, what the feel is supposed to be like. Over that season I would sprinkle in a few cutters and it just got better and better. When Russell Martin got to Pittsburgh, he caught Mo before so he really instilled that pitch into me and said ‘hey this is a great pitch, I know how to use it, let’s use it.’ That gave me a lot of confidence because he knew what he was looking for and he helped me along the way.”

Listen To Mark Melancon

Come back SATURDAY for Giants RHP TYLER BEEDE

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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Gorkys Hernandez “Young Guys Are Hungry” Plus Doug Padilla From ESPN.com On Yasiel Puig

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants OF Gorkys Hernandez joins us from Scottsdale, Arizona and Dodgers beat reporter Doug Padilla from ESPN.com joins us from Camelback Ranch in Arizona.

Photo courtesy of YouTube

Hernandez  talked to The Sports Virus about the optimism surrounding the 2017 Giants: “…We have the talent. We have everything. Young guys that are hungry to play. Last year we almost beat the Cubs. This year we have a great team. Pitching, defense, everything to get to another post season and another World Series.”

Padilla talked to The Sports Virus about Yasiel Puig: “…It’s going to be an interesting year for him. It seems like we say that every year that this is kind of the year for Yasiel Puig that he can show what he can do. He’s come in fit, he’s a little thinner and he has this desire. He told me guys had given him advice. Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano said this is how you need to handle yourself from here on out. There’s no more of this stuff that you’re doing, distractions that you’re causing. Yasiel said ‘I want to play now not just for me, it’s not about my numbers. I want to play because I realize those guys are watching, they care and I respect those guys and I need to show my respect by the way I play this season’. So, that’s a good sign, but Yasiel Puig has said the right things before and turned around and did the wrong things.”

Listen To Gorkys Hernandez and Doug Padilla

Come back FRIDAY for new Giants closer Mark Melancon.

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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Hunter Pence: “Excited” About Melancon Addition. Mike Morse: Make The Giants Roster Or Bust

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants RF Hunter Pence and 1B/OF Michael Morse join us as spring training continues in Scottsdale Arizona.

Pence photo courtesy of Jon Wells. Morse photo courtesy of The Washington Times

Pence tells The Sports Virus about his friend and new Giants closer Mark Melancon:  “It’s a tremendous addition to the club. I got to play with him in Houston so I know that he’s just a confident, powerful presence, a guy that’s dialed into his body, dialed into his work and just a mental beast. So, I was really excited when I found out we added him to the club.”

Morse talked to The Sports Virus about getting signed after seeing GM Bobby Evans at Hunter Pence’s wedding: “I told him I could have the greatest spring training ever and if they don’t have room for me on this team I’m probably just going to take it home. I love baseball, it’s been great to me and I know I could still play the game, but all the other stuff (politics) I don’t have time for it anymore. I just told him to write up a cracker jack contract and let’s do it.”

Listen To Hunter Pence & Michael Morse

Come back MONDAY for Giants OF Gorkys Hernandez and Dodgers beat writer Doug Padilla from ESPN.com.

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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Brandon Crawford Glad To “Watch Others Struggle” Vs Melancon Plus Christian Arroyo

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants infielders Brandon Crawford and Christian Arroyo join us. Crawford coming off winning another Gold Glove at SS, Arroyo trying to reach the Major Leagues after solid seasons in  Class A and AA.

 

Crawford photo courtesy of Buzz Feed, Arroyo photo courtesy of KNBR

Crawford talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants new closer Mark Melancon:  “I think he’ll be awesome. He was never a guy that I felt comfortable facing so I’m glad I’ll be playing behind him now and I’ll be able to watch other guys struggle with him.”

Listen To Brandon Crawford and Christian Arroyo

Come back FRIDAY for Giants RF Hunter Pence and OF/1B Michael Morse

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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Giants LHP Ty Blach Says Young Players “Pushing Each Other”- Plus, Barry Bloom From MLB.com

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants LHP Ty Blach joined us just prior to spring training and Barry Bloom from MLB.com is our guest from Scottsdale, AZ.

Photo courtesy of The Mercury News

Blach talked to The Sports Virus about the young Giants players: “…It’s a pretty special group of guys. We’ve got a lot of us that have come up together. We’ve been kind of pushing each other all the way up, so it’s really fun to have that group of guys knowing that everybody’s pulling for each other.”

Listen To Ty Blach and Barry Bloom

Come back WEDNESDAY for Giants infielders Brandon Crawford and Christian Arroyo.

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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 SANDY LEE STATE FARM INSURANCE

IN SAN FRANCISCO

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Bruce Bochy: “Very Difficult Calls” In LF – John Shea: “Panik Helping Out Rollins At 2B”

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants manager Bruce Bochy and San Francisco Chronicle Columnist John Shea join us from Scottsdale Arizona.

Bochy photos courtesy of Bleacher Report

Bochy tells The Sports Virus about his left fielders:  “It’s going to be competitive with these guys. We’ve got a lot of experienced guys battling for a spot on this team and two young guys in Parker and Williamson. We probably won’t make a call  until very, very late in the spring. We feel like we have some good choices, have some depth there, but some very difficult calls.”

Shea talked to The Sports Virus about Jimmy Rollins: “Here’s a guy who’s played his entire career at shortstop. He’s darn near 40 years old and he’s learning this new position (second base). You can’t count him out at all. An MVP, the Gold Glove award winner, a World Champion. Now he’s trying to win a job as a back up infielder and Joe Panik has been fantastic with him. Panik won a Gold Glove last year. Even though he’s in his 20’s, he’s really helping out Jimmy Rollins at second base.”

Listen To Bruce Bochy & John Shea

Come back MONDAY for Giants LHP Ty Blach and Barry Bloom from MLB.com.

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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Derek Law Works On “Melancon Cutter,” Plans On Quick Pitching Again – Matt Moore Update

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

We go back to the bullpen in Scottsdale, Arizona and chat with Giants reliever Derek Law. Plus we check in on Matt Moore following his outing Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Law photo courtesy of You Tube

Law tells The Sports Virus about how his quick pitch came about last season:  “I tried it in Atlanta the first time and it worked. As I got off the mound Buster (Posey) said, ‘man that’s a pretty good pitch, I’m glad other pitchers don’t do that.’ I said maybe I should keep doing it.  He said, ‘Yeah, I think you should.’ I was thinking if Buster says it I should probably keep doing it.”

Listen To Derek Law and Matt Moore

Come back FRIDAY for Giants manager Bruce Bochy and SF Chronicle columnist John Shea

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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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Gardner Looking For Young Relievers To Be “More Consistent” Plus: Bumgarner & Marrero

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants Bullpen Coach Mark Gardner and Non-Roster Invitee Chris Marrero  join us, plus we hear from Madison Bumgarner after his Sunday start in Scottsdale against the Royals.

Photos courtesy of the San Francisco Giants and The Mercury News

Gardner talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants bullpen: “…those young guys have another year under their belt. The Stricklands and the Laws. They were put in some pretty tough situations last year and did remarkably well. I’m looking for them to turn the corner, be more consistent and give us the bridge to the closer.”

Listen To Gardner, Bumgarner & Marrero

Come back WEDNESDAY for Giants reliever Derek Law.

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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 SANDY LEE STATE FARM INSURANCE

IN SAN FRANCISCO

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Kontos “On The Field We Were The Better Team” In Playoffs Vs Cubs

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a  week on TheSportsVirus.com!

We go to the bullpen for our second podcast of  2017 and welcome in our new “regular” guest, Giants reliever George Kontos. He is slated to join us most home stands for “Kontos Inside The Pen”

Photo courtesy of William Yee

Kontos, who was a Cubs fan growing up in Chicago, tells The Sports Virus about his emotions during the 2016 post season which ended with a title for the team that beat San Francisco in the playoffs:  “The 8-year-old inside me was ecstatic, but the grown-up pitcher in me was not really thrilled about it, just how we ended. If they really deserved to beat us I think I might have felt a little bit differently, but I think that we did a little bit of beating ourselves in that (NL Division) series. I think that on the field we were the better team. and we deserved to win, but we just didn’t play to our capabilities in that last game and they won and they deserved it…Now that it’s healed a little bit, I’m happy for the city of Chicago and for the Cubs organization for ending that drought.”

Listen To George Kontos

Come back MONDAY for Giants bullpen coach Mark Gardner

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):