Category Archives: Our Podcasts

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

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Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

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

March 12, 2017 fighton1984

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

SANDY LEE STATE FARM INSURANCE

IN SAN FRANCISCO

Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

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

March 9, 2017 fighton1984

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

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

Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

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

March 7, 2017 fighton1984

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

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

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

March 6, 2017 fighton1984

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

SANDY LEE STATE FARM INSURANCE

IN SAN FRANCISCO

Kontos In The Pen, Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

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

March 3, 2017 fighton1984

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

Giants GM Bobby Evans Says Having Melancon As Closer “Puts Guys Minds At Ease”

March 1, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

We begin our 2017 coverage chatting with Giants Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Evans.

Photos courtesy of The Reporter and Baptist Press

Evans tells The Sports Virus why the Mark Melancon acquisition means more to the team than just him saving games: “…When the phone rings down in the bullpen they almost know who it’s for. I think that’s part of our success in these three World Series is guys knew when that phone rang, what time of the game it was, what the score was, they knew who was going to be getting up. I think that really puts guys minds at ease and they don’t have to give a second thought to the position that they’re being put in. We put ourselves in a tough position last year as we weren’t clear who would pitch the ninth. Now we can allow that to play out for the other guys with a clear ninth guy.”

Listen To Bobby Evans

Come back FRIDAY for Giants reliever, our new regular guest George Kontos

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.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

SANDY LEE STATE FARM INSURANCE

IN SAN FRANCISCO

Kontos In The Pen, Our Podcasts, San Francisco Giants

Kontos Inside The Pen

February 13, 2017 fighton1984

Regularly throughout the 2017 season we sit down with Giants right-handed reliever George Kontos for Kontos Inside The Pen as part of The Sports Virus Inside China Basin podcasts.

Kontos is in his sixth season with the Giants, garnering World Series rings in 2012 and 2014. As an integral part of the San Francisco bullpen, he compiled a 2.90 ERA over his first five seasons with the Giants and has posted ERAs of 2.33 and 2.53 the past two seasons.

After pitching collegiately at Northwestern, Kontos was a fifth round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2006. He made his Major League debut in 2011 with the Bronx Bombers. An early season trade in 2012 brought him to San Francisco, where he made a name for himself as a dependable set up man.

Don’t miss our insightful conversations with Kontos all season long.

Our Podcasts, San Francisco 49ers

Steve Bono on 49ers Firings: “I’m Glad They Did It” Players Had “Zero Accountability”

January 3, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers EXTRA podcast on TheSportsVirus.com!

Every Tuesday during the NFL season we chatted with Former 49ers QB Steve Bono. In our final podcast of the 2016 season we discuss the Niners 2-14 campaign that ended with GM Trent Baalke and Head Coach Chip Kelly getting fired.

Bono spent 14 seasons in the NFL. He had a 5-1 record in his 6 Niners starts and finished his career 28-14 overall.

(Photo courtesy of: Bleacherreport.com)

Bono talked to The Sports Virus about the 49ers hitting the reset button by firing Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke:

“I don’t know at what point during the season Jed (York) makes that decision that we need to blow this up. I’m glad that they did. It was bad from the get-go…There was zero accountability (among players). A veteran player told me that there were maybe a dozen guys focused and locked in every day. The rest of them were just along for the ride “

Bono also commented on Colin Kaepernick:

“He seemed like a good guy when I talked with him. But, he just never seemed to be into it emotionally. You’ve got to be pissed off at some point that you’re getting your ass handed to you and you’re losing games. I just didn’t see that fire…(Kaepernick winning the Len Eshmont award for courageous and inspirational play) made a lot of people sick, I’m one of them. In my mind (teammates) bought into his nonsense and they followed him. They voted for him. Hence the reason you had such a bad season.”

Listen To Week 17 With Steve Bono

Join us again in September 2017. Thanks so much for listening!

Check out our other Podcasts all year long.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS EXTRA is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

Our Podcasts, San Francisco 49ers

Bono Says Kaepernick Is “Done” With 49ers, Kelly Coached “Fractured” Team

December 27, 2016 fighton1984

Welcome to the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers EXTRA podcast on TheSportsVirus.com!

Every Tuesday we chat with Former 49ers QB Steve Bono. Today we discuss the Niners 22-21 win over the Rams, plus the future for coach Chip Kelly and quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Bono spent 14 seasons in the NFL. He had a 5-1 record in his 6 Niners starts and finished his career 28-14 overall.

(Photo courtesy of: Bleacherreport.com)

Bono talked to The Sports Virus about Colin Kaepernick’s future with the 49ers:

“He’s done…His only chance is for Chip Kelly to be here. I just don’t see it. I don’t think Kaep wants to be here.”

Bono also commented on Chip Kelly’s status:

“After that game is over on Sunday, nobody’s safe…The team is fractured. You have three guys kneeling and the other guys standing at attention…Did Chip go the opposite way of what he did in Philly where he was meddling and on guys all the time? Did he go the other way and kinda let it take care of itself, be more of a players’ coach? Seems like he did that. Is that the right way? I’m not convinced…There didn’t seem to be much finger pointing in the newspaper. Is that because most of the guys didn’t really care? Was there not enough passion that guys that really care were getting on guys that don’t care?…The next two or three weeks it could be serious bloodshed.”

Listen To Week 16 With Steve Bono

Steve Bono will be back next Tuesday as we analyze the 49ers/Seahawks game. Thanks so much for listening!

Check out our other Podcasts all year long.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS EXTRA is also available on ITUNES. PLUS YOU CAN NOW FIND US ON SOUNDCLOUD, PLAYER.FM, STITCHER and our STITCHER WIDGET.

<Connect With Us On Social Media>

(Click on Facebook and Twitter images to interact with TheSportsVirus)

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

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 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.”

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

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

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.

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.

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”

We begin our 2017 coverage chatting with Giants Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Evans.

Regularly throughout the 2017 season we sit down with Giants right-handed reliever George Kontos for Kontos Inside The Pen as part of The Sports Virus Inside China Basin podcasts.

Kontos is in his sixth season with the Giants, garnering World Series rings in 2012 and 2014. As an integral part of the San Francisco bullpen, he compiled a 2.90 ERA over his first five seasons with the Giants and has posted ERAs of 2.33 and 2.53 the past two seasons.

After pitching collegiately at Northwestern, Kontos was a fifth round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2006. He made his Major League debut in 2011 with the Bronx Bombers. An early season trade in 2012 brought him to San Francisco, where he made a name for himself as a dependable set up man.

Don’t miss our insightful conversations with Kontos all season long.

Bono talked to The Sports Virus about the 49ers hitting the reset button by firing Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke:

Bono also commented on Colin Kaepernick:

Bono talked to The Sports Virus about Colin Kaepernick’s future with the 49ers:

“He’s done…His only chance is for Chip Kelly to be here. I just don’t see it. I don’t think Kaep wants to be here.”

Bono also commented on Chip Kelly’s status:

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