We talk about the 2016 All Star Game as our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego in part 1 of our conversation.
The Sports Virus talked to Shea about the All Star Game winning league getting home field advantage in the World Series:
… “I asked Buster Posey, if there is one thing you could change about this All Star Game and it’s process what would it be? He said, ‘We play our tail off for 162 games and you’re giving home field advantage for the World Series to the league that won an exhibition game back in July when most guys are playing no more than 3 innings.’ … “Once the game starts who knows if anybody thinks, ‘I’ve gotta get this hit’ or ‘I’ve gotta make this pitch.’ It’s ridiculous.”
We talk about Tim Lincecum, Ichiro Suzuki and Will Clark’s issue with new rules as our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us in part 2 of our conversation.
The Sports Virus asked Shea if Tim Lincecum would have been a good reliever for the Giants: … “I kinda doubt it. (Starters) love their routines. Lincecum was a great reliever in the post season in ’12, but that was kind of a short term basis. He didn’t do it all year. He had the pitch count up to where he could throw one inning or five innings, it didn’t matter. The situation called for him to be a reliever at that time. He was dynamite. From there though, his career slipped quite a bit and now we’re at the point where his hip is not an issue anymore and his confidence is soaring.”
We talk about Giants recent winning ways with our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea in part 1 of our conversation.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the possibility of Madison Bumgarner competing in the All Star home run derby: … “he hasn’t gotten hurt. He hasn’t had arm problems. He’s a big durable guy and if he wants to hit in the home run derby I think you just let him do it because he pretty much does that every day. He takes regular batting practice and it’s a show. He hits balls farther than anybody on that team except for maybe (Hunter) Pence and maybe (Brandon) Belt here and there. He’s a big, strong man and he hits the ball a long way and that’s a perfect addition to the home run derby.”
San Francisco Chronicle Columnist John Shea joined us for our on-site podcast from Keeble and Shuchat Photography in Palo Alto in Part 2 of our conversation.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about Tim Lincecum: … “The mechanics are back, the hip is fixed. There were hip issues last year. It messed with his long stride and step. He was pointing his toe one way and if he pointed it the other way he would have been back in stride, but he just couldn’t close out the windup like he normally used to. Basically, he had no command. He had little velocity. At the showcase he reached 92 mph. You never saw 92 last year, you saw 86, 88, 89. He’s not over the hill. He’s 31. A lot of guys are performing at a high level in their mid to late 30’s.”
San Francisco Chronicle Columnist John Shea joined us for our on site podcast from Keeble and Shuchat Photography in Palo Alto in Part 1 of our conversation.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants superb infield defense: “… You talk about gold glovers. The only one with one is (Brandon) Crawford, but there’s gonna be more. I put down the computer (on a) ground ball. It’s a must watch because they’re turning double plays, it’s so swift, it’s clean and the essence of defense and glove work. It’s beautiful to watch right now.”
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.”
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 go back to late September and hear our last podcast with San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea in 2015. Get ready because John will be joining us every other week on The Sports Virus.
Shea called the late Hall of Famer Yogi Berra: “…a wonderful character…In middle of everything in NY.” Compared to Buster Posey “…3 MVPs not 1, 10 championships not 3. There was only one Yogi.”
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