Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

In Part 2 of our conversation with John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle we talk about the Madison Bumgarner injury and Buster Posey bouncing back from the concussion DL.

Bumgarner Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Shea talked to The Sports Virus about Madison Bumgarner’s injury: …“It’s real possible this guy could be lost ’till August and that’s a big blow for a team that is looking to get deep into the post season. It’s given us all the signs that this is not the year. How often can you say that in April? Pretty much never…This rotation took a hit, the team took a hit…The fans don’t know what to think. Are they bummed out because he’s missing time or are they bummed out because he did something to hurt the team that really shouldn’t be done during the baseball season? Do that in the off season. Don’t put your team in danger or at risk by putting yourself in danger or at risk.”

Listen To John Shea

Kane Russell from Halo Neuroscience joins us Monday to talk about a new Giants training partnership

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John Shea From SF Chronicle Says Matt Cain May Be “Able To Win & Get Outs With 88, 90, 91 MPH”

April 19, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Our regular guest John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle joins us to talk about Bruce Bochy, Matt Cain, the Giants bullpen and the left field situation in part 1 of our conversation.

Shea talked to The Sports Virus about Matt Cain’s hold on the #5 spot in the rotation: …“If they can find somebody better and Cain is struggling in May and June I’m sure they will. They’re not going to go on with his struggles forever. But, at the same time I think the last two starts by him have shown that maybe he is able to win and get outs with 88, 90, 91 miles per hour.”

Listen To John Shea

Come back FRIDAY for Part 2 of our chat with 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.

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San Jose Giants Voice Joe Ritzo Says Top Pick Bryan Reynolds “Does Everything Well”

April 17, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

The Giants Class-A California League affiliate had it’s home opener on Thursday and The Sports Virus was there to cover it for Comcast Hometown Network and chat with the Voice of the San Jose Giants/CHN broadcast partner Joe Ritzo.

Reynolds Photo courtesy of the San Jose Giants

Ritzo talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants first pick in the 2016 draft, Bryan Reynolds: “…He does a lot of things well. I watch him play and you don’t have maybe that one great tool that kind of jumps out at you like power did with Chris Shaw did last year. Or, he doesn’t have this unbelievable throwing arm out in center field. He just does everything well. He can hit for average, he can hit for power, he’s a switch hitter, the Giants are playing him out in centerfield, they think he can handle that position. As he learns the rigors of pro ball, I think as he settles in he’ll have a very nice season in the Cal League.”

Listen To Joe Ritzo

Come back WEDNESDAY for a conversation with our regular guest, 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.

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USA Today Reporter Jorge Ortiz Says Matt Cain Is Not A “Complete Pitcher” Right Now

April 15, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

USA Today reporter Jorge Ortiz is our guest from AT&T Park in San Francisco. He joined us just before the Giants home opener on Monday.

Ortiz talked to The Sports Virus about Matt Cain: …“We see him still throw 92 (mph) or so, it’s at least an average Major League fastball, but it’s really where you locate it and what your secondary stuff is like that makes you a complete pitcher. Right now he’s not.”

Listen To Jorge Ortiz

Come back MONDAY for another special guest

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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Matt Williams: “It Was Embarrassing To K” Says Parker “Will Be Able To Do Damage”

April 12, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

From AT&T Park in San Francisco we chat with former Giants 3B Matt Williams who is now an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area.

Photos courtesy of SFGate and CSN Bay Area

Williams talked to The Sports Virus about the progress of Giants LF Jarrett Parker: …“It’s about experience and it’s about getting those at bats. Everybody progresses through the minor league systems and they have success and that’s why they’re here. This is a completely different level. I’m sure Bam (Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens) is working with him on an everyday basis to get him to cut down on (strikeouts), create contact, because if he can create contact more often then the results will be there. We’ve seen that. That’s first and foremost for him… take away the bad swings on bad pitches and get the ball in the strike zone and he’ll be able to do damage…For me it was embarrassing to strike out and I did it quite often. It still was embarrassing to have to turn around and have to take that long walk back to the dugout.”

Listen To Matt Williams

Come back FRIDAY for a chat with Jorge Ortiz from USA Today

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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Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija 1st Start “Tough Pill To Swallow” – Plus Coach Shawon Dunston

April 10, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

It’s the home opener at AT&T Park for the Giants as they face the Diamondbacks. Today’s guests are SF RHP Jeff Samardzija and former Giants player now coach Shawon Dunston.

Photos courtesy of Jon Wells

Samardzija talked to The Sports Virus about his first start in Arizona: “…Obviously it didn’t end the way I wanted it to. It was a really a tough pill to swallow. Those starts are real tough when you have good stuff, you get a bunch of strikeouts (9), you’re not walking guys (2) and getting one, two, three innings. Then you have a long inning on offense and go out and it bites you in the butt…Things like that you learn from and why that happened and how can you prevent it next time.”

Listen To Jeff Samardzija and Shawon Dunston

Come back WEDNESDAY for an interview with former Giant 3B and current NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Matt Williams.

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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Brandon Belt:”I Do Like Being In The 2-Hole” Hunter Strickland: Slider Has “Got To Be Deceptive”

April 7, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants 1B Brandon Belt and RHP Hunter Strickland join us for opening day as the Giants start the season on the road in Phoenix and San Diego.

Belt photo courtesy of KNBR.com

Belt talked to The Sports Virus about batting 2nd in the batting order: …“I do like being in the 2-hole and at the top of the lineup. I don’t know what it is about it, maybe just knowing what you’re going to be doing in that first inning and just kind of get prepared right off the bat…Overall I do like being in that position, but I’m going to try keep the objective the same no matter where I am.”

Strickland told The Sports Virus the key to his off speed pitches: …“It’s got to be deceptive. It’s got to look like your fastball out of hand. If they see it out of your hand they’re going to lay off of it and put you in a fastball count. So, it’s definitely key to have it deceptive.”

Listen To Brandon Belt and Hunter Strickland

Come back MONDAY when we have guests from the Giants home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks

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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Kontos: “Old-School Bullpen” – Alguacil On His “Scary Moment”

April 5, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

From Chase Field in Phoenix we have our first KONTOS IN THE PEN feature of the season with Giants RHP George Kontos. We also caught up with new SF 1B coach Jose Alguacil.

Kontos talked to The Sports Virus about the composition of the 2017 Giants bullpen: …“We’ve got some guys who can get both lefties and righties out. We have guys who have been there before, who have pitched late in the game before. So, I see a lot of what we’ve come to expect from the bullpen…It’s more of an old-school bullpen, just guys who can get both (lefties and righties) out, not as specialized.”

Alguacil told The Sports Virus about getting hit in the face with a foul ball during spring training: …“It was a scary moment…I had a broken nose, had to get surgery on my eye, but I’m fine right now. I have just a scar. I’m happy to be here…Everybody was very supportive. That day I had like 400 texts. Everybody was worried about it.”

Listen To George Kontos and Jose Alguacil

Come back FRIDAY for interviews with Brandon Belt and Hunter Strickland from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona

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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Opening Day From Phoenix – Aaron Hill And Chris Marrero On Making The Team, Plus Amy G

April 2, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

It’s opening day at Chase Field in Phoenix for the Giants and The Sports Virus is there chatting with new Giants Aaron Hill, Chris Marrero and Amy Gutierrez from NBC Sports Bay Area.

Marrero told The Sports Virus why making the Giants roster is special: “…I’m just honored to be here and part of this organization. I want to enjoy my time and do whatever it is I can do to help this team win because this is a great team and we’ve got a lot of expectations.”

Hill told The Sports Virus about reducing the pressure in his battle to win a job in spring: “….You just have to take a step back and tell yourself I can’t force hits, just take a deep breath and relax.”

Amy G talk to The Sports Virus about the new Giants closer: “….If you spend two seconds with Mark Melancon you realize they got a good add in him. He’s just a very composed, very nice, gentle Giant literally and figuratively. When he gets on the mound he kind of turns into a beast.”

Listen To Hill, Marrero and Amy G

Come back WEDNESDAY for more opening day interviews. Coach Jose Alguacil and RHP George Kontos will be our guests.

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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Samardzija Says Posey “Wants Us To Do What We’re Comfortable With” Plus Trevor Brown Joins Us

March 29, 2017 fighton1984

Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast

Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!

Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija and C Trevor Brown are our guests as we conclude our spring training podcasts.

Photos courtesy of William Yee and Jon Wells

Samardzija told The Sports Virus about working with Buster Posey behind the plate: …“Having conversations with Buster early in the year (2016) really made me realize that he wants us to do what we’re comfortable with. He’s throwing some suggestions down back there, but he’s very open to going to your strengths…To have both of those options is great, what you’re thinking and what he’s thinking.”

Brown told The Sports Virus his reaction to the Giants signing catcher Nick Hundley during the off season: …“It’s kind of a tough deal when they go out and sign (Hundley). It kind of makes you think was it I wasn’t playing good enough? But, then you reflect on it. I was happy with what I did last year. They’re going to go out and they’re going to get guys to put the best team out on the field.”

Listen To Jeff Samardzija and Trevor Brown

Come back SUNDAY for Opening Day Interviews from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona

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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In Part 2 of our conversation with John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle we talk about the Madison Bumgarner injury and Buster Posey bouncing back from the concussion DL.

Our regular guest John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle joins us to talk about Bruce Bochy, Matt Cain, the Giants bullpen and the left field situation in part 1 of our conversation.

The Giants Class-A California League affiliate had it’s home opener on Thursday and The Sports Virus was there to cover it for Comcast Hometown Network and chat with the Voice of the San Jose Giants/CHN broadcast partner Joe Ritzo.

USA Today reporter Jorge Ortiz is our guest from AT&T Park in San Francisco. He joined us just before the Giants home opener on Monday.

Ortiz talked to The Sports Virus about Matt Cain: …“We see him still throw 92 (mph) or so, it’s at least an average Major League fastball, but it’s really where you locate it and what your secondary stuff is like that makes you a complete pitcher. Right now he’s not.”

From AT&T Park in San Francisco we chat with former Giants 3B Matt Williams who is now an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area.

Photos courtesy of SFGate and CSN Bay Area

It’s the home opener at AT&T Park for the Giants as they face the Diamondbacks. Today’s guests are SF RHP Jeff Samardzija and former Giants player now coach Shawon Dunston.

Photos courtesy of Jon Wells

Giants 1B Brandon Belt and RHP Hunter Strickland join us for opening day as the Giants start the season on the road in Phoenix and San Diego.

From Chase Field in Phoenix we have our first KONTOS IN THE PEN feature of the season with Giants RHP George Kontos. We also caught up with new SF 1B coach Jose Alguacil.

It’s opening day at Chase Field in Phoenix for the Giants and The Sports Virus is there chatting with new Giants Aaron Hill, Chris Marrero and Amy Gutierrez from NBC Sports Bay Area.

Marrero told The Sports Virus why making the Giants roster is special: “…I’m just honored to be here and part of this organization. I want to enjoy my time and do whatever it is I can do to help this team win because this is a great team and we’ve got a lot of expectations.”

Hill told The Sports Virus about reducing the pressure in his battle to win a job in spring: “….You just have to take a step back and tell yourself I can’t force hits, just take a deep breath and relax.”

Amy G talk to The Sports Virus about the new Giants closer: “….If you spend two seconds with Mark Melancon you realize they got a good add in him. He’s just a very composed, very nice, gentle Giant literally and figuratively. When he gets on the mound he kind of turns into a beast.”

Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija and C Trevor Brown are our guests as we conclude our spring training podcasts.

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