Our special guests from AT&T Park in San Francisco are Giants CF Denard Span and KPIX Sports Director Dennis O’Donnell.
Span talked to The Sports Virus about new Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr.:
… “He’s one of the reasons why I played this game. He’s influenced this game so much. I think you could go around every clubhouse in Major League Baseball and I guarantee you probably 95% of the guys would say he was their favorite player growing up. Salute to him. Unbelievable career.”
O’Donnell talked to The Sports Virus about Bruce Bochy:
… “I think Bochy has done one of his best managing jobs since being a Giants manager. If you look at the first half they compiled the best record in baseball really without 30% of their lineup. If you miss that much talent and you have the best record, at some point you’re going to hit the skids. The 1-7 (to start the second half) doesn’t surprise me. They’re not a 1-7 team but I think this kind of streak was inevitable given the fact that so much talent is sidelined.”
Our special guest to talk about the All Star game and the Giants is USA Today Reporter Jorge Ortiz.
Ortiz talked to The Sports Virus about Santiago Casilla:
… “If they don’t pick up an elite closer he’s going to be a critical guy so (Bruce) Bochy needs to keep riding him because what are his options otherwise? You could go matchup, but Javier Lopez has not had a good year, (Sergio) Romo just came off the DL, (Josh) Osich is very young-sometimes good, sometimes not so great, Hunter Strickland throws gas but he is a home-run-giving machine.”
We talk about the second half of the season for the Giants as our regular guest SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego in part 2 of our conversation.
The Sports Virus talked to Shea about San Francisco bench players coming through this season:
… “When (Hunter) Pence was lost last year the Giants were done. It was over. They never recovered from that. This year they lose him and don’t miss a beat and just roll into the All Star break…I think (Bruce) Bochy has a lot to do with this. It’s one of his best managerial efforts.”
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.”
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.”
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