Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated twice a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Ray Woodson joined us after the Giants were 1-hit by Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in Phoenix. SF has lost four in a row and the offense is really struggling. On the positive side, Johnny Cueto was dominant in his return to the rotation with 7 scoreless IP, only 2 hits allowed and 11 strikeouts with 0 walks.
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
USA Today baseball writer Jorge Ortiz joins us in part 2 of our conversation to chat about Buster Posey’s comments after being hit by a pitch and the future of Johnny Cueto.
Ortiz talked to The Sports Virus about Buster Posey being upset after a recent hit by pitch: “…I like seeing that spunk out of Buster because Buster is a guy who keeps all his emotion inside and all the passion inside and you know he has it…It’s not going to be what Buster is going to do all the time, but I like it because this is kind of a lost season, it would be easy to kind of stop caring but you know guys like that still do care and I like seeing it with my own eyes instead of just assume he has that passion because of the terrific player he is.”
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 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!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea is our guest. In part 2 of our conversation we chat about whether or not Johnny Cueto remains a Giant and Dusty Baker’s kid Darren going from the cute World Series bat boy to a Major League prospect.
Photos courtesy of SF Gate
Shea tells The Sports Virus about Johnny Cueto’s status a Giant: …“It’s not the same old Johnny Cueto (5-4, 4.37 ERA). But, I think he’ll still be a popular figure come the trade deadline whether the Giants want to unload him or not, whether they think he’ll opt out and they would get nothing for him because he would be a free agent…If you’re the Giants and you’re still 10 games back at the deadline and you pretty much know you’re not going to make the playoffs, maybe trading Johnny Cueto is the way to go. ”
We talk about the Giants struggles against the Padres, dealing with injuries to Brandon Crawford and Johnny Cueto and the end of the great career of Dodgers announcer Vin Scully with SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the injuries to Brandon Crawford and Johnny Cueto against the Dodgers:
… “It’s just the wrong time for this to happen… It’s just not great for moral, not an emotional boost when you lose two key figures like that. But, on the positive side, neither is supposed to miss much time.”
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 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 guest to talk about the All Star game and the Giants first half is Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Studio Host and Reporter Ahmed Fareed.
Fareed talked to The Sports Virus about Brandon Crawford not making the All Star team:
… “This is the shortstop that won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove last year. It really is a very big oversight not to have him there. I don’t know how you can have Brandon Crawford in the prime, top defensive shortstop and a guy who’s knocking in runs every day (not on the team). He’s gotta be there. You’ve got to find a way to get him there. He’s an MVP candidate. I think he would be a top 5, top 6, 7 guy in the National League and you don’t have that guy on the All Star team?”
Giants bullpen coach Mark Gardner joined us before Tuesday’s game against the Brewers.
Gardner talked to The Sports Virus about Santiago Casilla getting over blown saves: “… It’s not a very good feeling. He feels terrible. The whole team is kind of let down. That’s the way they (closers) feel, they let their team down. They had a lead and they lost it. It’s very trying on them, but all the good closers that I’ve known from Robb Nen to many more guys, they have the knack to forget and move on. If you dwell on yesterday’s blown save it’s probably going to leak into today’s blown save. He does a good job of putting that aside and learning by his mistake and trying to right the ship the next day.”
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