Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us for our final Giants podcast of 2017. We look ahead to the 2018 draft (the Giants will have the #2 overall pick) and what SF needs to do to improve. Plus, a little MLB post-season forecast.
Shea gave The Sports Virus a scouting report on Seth Beer from Clemson, whom the Giants will probably consider for the #2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft: “…He’s the real deal. He’s probably a first baseman, maybe somebody like (Brandon) Belt would move to LF…He’s a legitimate power guy. 6’2,” 200-plus (pounds) and he hits the ball a long way…He’s not a real great athlete. He’s not going to be a great outfielder if you put him in left. He’s probably more equipped for first base. He’s not fast, he’s not going to have much range, but he hits the ball and (Bruce) Bochy was telling us lately and he’s saying it multiple times, hey we’ve been talking behind the scenes about getting these guys. Maybe not necessarily contact guys, but power guys. If they strike out, they strike out. They’re kind of behind the curve on that. Every other team seems to be getting these guys.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
In advance of the final weekend of the Giants 2017 season, SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us to talk about Matt Cain’s retirement announcement and the emotions that might take place when he takes the mound one final time on Saturday at AT&T Park. In Part 1 of a 2-part conversation, we also talk about whether or not it’s necessary for the Giants to make some drastic changes to the roster this upcoming off-season.
Shea told The Sports Virus about Matt Cain’s good attitude toward the end of his career: “…Cain was sent to the bullpen last September, he was sent to the bullpen two or three times this year. Each time he said fine, I’ll do what it takes. (Bruce) Bochy wants me to go, I’ll go. That’s pretty classy stuff that other pitchers might not do…It’s going to be an emotional day (on Saturday). It’s well deserved.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
John Shea rejoins us for part 2 of our conversation and we talk about the feature he wrote with Henry Shulman in the SF Chronicle about Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the possibility of Bruce Bochy retiring soon: …“As he said, a lot of guys want to retire because they want to do the things they enjoy. Bochy tells me the thing I enjoy the most is managing. So, if I retired I would want to manage…He wants to come back, he’s healthy, he’s feeling good. He said absolutely this team can contend again next year. He doesn’t want to oversee a rebuild.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us to discuss which Giants are making a statement heading into the final month of the season.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the future of the young guns in the Giants bullpen: “…You wonder how much faith they’re going to give these guys again next year because they gave them every opportunity this year and it hasn’t worked out…(As far as veterans) They could say we’ll have Will Smith, we’ll have (Sam) Dyson, we’ll have (Mark) Melancon and they didn’t have those three guys all season.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us to talk about which Giants players should stay and which should go as tough decisions are on the horizon after a losing season. We also chat about how Buster Posey is dealing with not being on a contending team for the first time in his career.
The Sports Virus criticized Buster Posey for his comments after the hit-by-pitch by Phillies pitcher Hector Neris. Shea talked about Posey dealing with a losing year: “…(Bruce) Bochy really didn’t put out the flames the next day when he called Neris an idiot…That’s the epitome of frustration. Two guys who go out of character to accuse a guy of something that most people might think is an innocent act…It’s been a frustrating year for Posey. He is used to winning. This is Derek Jeter West. A guy who just showed up and started winning titles right away and a big reason the titles were won was because of him, just like Jeter. Jeter never went through a year like this…You’re seeing the frustration develop and show on the field and Posey’s always been reserved and constrained when it comes to showing emotion…This year is totally different.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us for part 2 of our conversation. Just prior to the start of the Giants/Marlins series in Miami we discuss the possibility of Giancarlo Stanton being acquired by the Giants. Plus, Mark Melancon’s goals for the rest of 2017.
The Sports Virus suggested that it might be far-fetched to think the Giants would have a chance to acquire Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Shea weighed in: “…Is it far fetched? Here’s a Giants team that will have Matt Cain off the books, $20 million…we don’t know yet about Johnny Cueto and whether he opts out or remains next year, that’s $20 plus million…There are players with big contracts that they may not necessarily appreciate anymore…The Giants sort of owe their fans something.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins us to talk about the first leg of the Giants road trip in Washington, DC, which included an injury to Bryce Harper of the Nationals.
Shea discussed the slippery base injury sustained by Bryce Harper with The Sports Virus : …“If health and safety means better bases, maybe not so high, maybe not so slick, maybe not so hard, then yeah, change it. It sometimes takes a star to bring attention to a case like this.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us for part 2 of our conversation. We discuss the Dodgers moves at the trade deadline and what might happen with Johnny Cueto and the Giants. Plus, Bill King and the Ford Frick Award at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Shea told The Sports Virus that he could envision Johnny Cueto not opting out of his contract with San Francisco: “…This might be a blessing in disguise for the Giants believe it or not. Last year we all remember how dynamic he was. He started the All Star game…This year he has a bad ERA, he’s got the blister issues and now he’s got the elbow issue…If he had last year’s production, he would opt out and he would get more money than what’s on the table for him in the next four years, which is $84 million. But, do you opt out now with the injury issues, with the ERA that’s ballooned, with the fact that you’re not pitching deep into games? You’re not the same Johnny Cueto.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins us to talk about the Giants non-activity at the trade deadline. We take a peek into the future and discuss playing time decisions for the last two months of the 2017 season.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about making the value of Kelby Tomlinson: …“He’s great off the bench. He’s got this wiffle ball, right field swing, like a slow pitch softball swing. Everything is to right field…Pitcher’s pitch you away and that’s how they’re want to beat you and he’s prepared….He’s not the prototypical 2018 player who needs to hit home runs. He’ll choke up, he’ll go the other way…It’s fun to watch him run.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego to talk about what to expect on the trade front and the return of Madison Bumgarner as the Giants play the Padres following the All Star break.
Shea suggested to The Sports Virus that Joe Panik might be on the trading block: “…He’s three years until free agency. He’s a very good defensive player. He can get in a groove offensively. He’s a good teammate. He’s got some value on the market. I think a second baseman can be replaced… He’s not a power guy, they’re not going to miss any kind of power. He’s not a speed guy, they’re not going to miss any kind of speed. They would miss his defense and his presence, but if you could get a left field prospect and a pitching prospect for Joe Panik I think you’ve got to make the move.”
Come back FRIDAY for Part 2 of our conversation with John Shea as we talk about what the Giants might do before the trade deadline and the return of ace Madison Bumgarner.
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