Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
National baseball writer Jayson Stark joins us to examine Buster Posey’s season, Madison Bumgarner’s return and the Giants priorities with the trade deadline approaching.
Stark talked to The Sports Virus about Buster Posey’s low RBI total: …“This is a reminder why RBIs don’t mean what they used to mean in baseball because you can’t drive in runs when you’re coming to the plate with nobody on base…The Giants rank next to last in the league in on base (percentage)…The whole team seems like it goes through this when those opportunities come along, a lineup full of guys who have always been great at situational baseball, it seems like they feel the weight of those situations in a way they never did before because they’re so much more infrequent. The disparity between Buster’s numbers with runners in scoring position, men on base vs. nobody on tells you that even he’s done it.”
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.
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Barry Bloom from MLB.com joins us to talk about Barry Bonds getting a plaque on the AT&T Wall of Fame. Plus, we discuss what went wrong for the Giants in the first half and what they might look to accomplish before the trade deadline.
Bloom talked to The Sports Virus about the legacy of Barry Bonds: …“Regardless of what people may think or not think about what he did in his career, the numbers speak for themselves, the era speaks for itself and I think it’s great that the Giants have finally moved to have him involved with the team and to recognize him for the significant person he was in this era of San Francisco baseball.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Bay Area News Group Columnist Mark Purdy joins us in the aftermath of the Hunter Strickland/Bryce Harper fight to talk about Buster Posey’s role. We also tackle the difficult question of whether the Giants should be sellers sooner rather than later after a terrible start to the season.
Purdy talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants possibly becoming sellers before the trade deadline : …“you have a plan that’s like two or three years out. I don’t think the Giants are in a market where you want to go through a full three, four, five year rebuilding project like some teams do …you have to decide which of those (core) guys you want…I don’t think they should rule out anything. You don’t just break up the team to break it up, you’ve got to have an architecture in place…I love watching (Johnny Cueto) pitch and he’s maybe their best guy right now, but if he has value that can get them where they want to be in two or three years then you’ve got to make that move.”
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.”
Our special guests from AT&T Park in San Francisco are Former Giants All Star shortstop Rich Aurilia and Rockies All Star third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Aurilia talked to The Sports Virus about Brandon Crawford having an All Star season, but not being named to the National League team today:
… “We get spoiled watching that guy play every day. A lot is being made of his offense the last two years and that’s not even the best part of his game. The defense is fun to watch. I think he has fun playing defense. He has a lot more All Star games ahead of him. So, if this doesn’t happen for him (could get added if there is an injury), good for him, he goes to get three or four days rest somewhere.”
Arenado also talked to The Sports Virus about the NL All Star roster, which includes him as a reserve:
… “It’s an honor just to be a part of it. Obviously you would like to start, but at the same time that’s the last thing that’s on my mind. I’m just happy I’m going. I know my parents are happy so that’s nice. It’s a big deal. If you had told me I’d be a ball boy at the All Star game I’d be just as happy.”
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 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.”
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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