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.”
While checking out Giants prospect Jose Vizcaino, Jr. in San Jose, we had a chance to talk to his dad, Jose Vizcaino, Sr., who played for San Francisco in 1997 and 2006 as part of an 18-year Major League career. When Jr. broke a few bats, Sr. was able to ask a good friend with the Angels for some new lumber.
Photo with Jose Vizcaino, Jr. (left), Albert Pujols (second from right) and Jose Vizcaino, Sr. (right) courtesy of Twitter
Vizcaino, Sr. tells The Sports Virus that his son used a special bat to hit his first HR in the California League for the San Jose Giants: … “Albert Pujols is one of my best friends. He always calls me and tells me, ‘when you need some bats just let me know.’ Two weeks ago I sent (Vizcaino, Jr.) Pujols’ number and told him to text Pujols and tell him to send you some bats. During spring training he sent some bats and now he’s sending more bats, especially (after Vizcaino, Jr.) broke 3 bats (in one game).”
Regular guest John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle joins us in part 2 of our an on-site “Live” podcast from Toscalito Tire and Automotive in San Francisco, our season long sponsor. Thanks again to everyone for hosting us!
Shea tells The Sports Virus: “…now without the neighborhood play the infielder has to stay on the bag longer and therefore is more prone to contact with the runner who has to come to the base. If you’re on the base and he’s gotta go to the base, those are two trains coming at each other.”
Bay Area News Group Columnist Mark Purdy is our guest.
In the wake of the opening home stand against the Dodgers, Purdy tells The Sports Virus: “…I can’t think of a 4-game series in the first two weeks of the season almost as compelling as that. We had a little bit of everything. The home opening game kind of showed why this Giants team may be a little different than others.”
Our first chat of the season with regular guest John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle as part of an on-site “Live” podcast from Toscalito Tire and Automotive in San Francisco, our season long sponsor. Thanks to everyone for hosting us!
Shea tells The Sports Virus: “…I think Chris Heston is going to start some games this year. At the back end (of the rotation) you have (Jake) Peavy and you have (Matt) Cain and those are the question marks. Until further notice all eyes are going to be on them and they’ve gotta succeed because they have Chris Heston waiting on deck maybe at some time in May if they’re not effective.”
We continue our home opener coverage from AT&T Park in San Francisco chatting with Giants C Trevor Brown and Dodgers OF Scott Van Slyke.
Brown tells The Sports Virus what he learns from watching Buster Posey… “I watch a lot of his pitch calling. I try to sit there on the side and call pitches while I’m not playing to see how on the same page I would be with Buster. I try to watch his strategy.”
<Connect With Us On Social 
Media>
