Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated once a week and celebrating its 11th season on TheSportsVirus.com!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins the Inside China Basin podcast to analyze the Giants offensive prowess, scoring over 5 runs a game for the first time since the Barry Bonds/Jeff Kent era. Plus, we discuss the closer situation and tell some stories while reminiscing about Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Lou Brock, who passed away this past week. Shea recently co-authored the book 24, Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid with Willie Mays.
Shea on the Giants new-look offense: “Are you kidding me? What? This we have never seen. I guess we have to go back to the early 2000’s with (Barry) Bonds and (Jeff) Kent when they were scoring 5+ runs a game. But, now they’re doing it with guys that, well, they’re not Bonds and Kent…They’re scoring runs at a clip that nobody expected.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea joins us to talk about which Giants players should stay and which should go as tough decisions are on the horizon after a losing season. We also chat about how Buster Posey is dealing with not being on a contending team for the first time in his career.
The Sports Virus criticized Buster Posey for his comments after the hit-by-pitch by Phillies pitcher Hector Neris. Shea talked about Posey dealing with a losing year: “…(Bruce) Bochy really didn’t put out the flames the next day when he called Neris an idiot…That’s the epitome of frustration. Two guys who go out of character to accuse a guy of something that most people might think is an innocent act…It’s been a frustrating year for Posey. He is used to winning. This is Derek Jeter West. A guy who just showed up and started winning titles right away and a big reason the titles were won was because of him, just like Jeter. Jeter never went through a year like this…You’re seeing the frustration develop and show on the field and Posey’s always been reserved and constrained when it comes to showing emotion…This year is totally different.”
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!
We get an update on Madison Bumgarner’s rehab with SF Chronicle columnist John Shea. Plus, we chat about trade possibilities.
Shea tells The Sports Virus how Madison Bumgarner is dealing with being out of action: “… He’s kind of a bulldog. He doesn’t like this business. When (Bryce) Harper and (Hunter) Strickland went at it, he wanted to be out there protecting and bumping heads, maybe throwing punches if need be. He couldn’t go on the field or else he’d be suspended. So, he just walked away and that was hard for him. He’s been a leader of this team. A physical, emotional, spiritual leader…This is all new for him and he’s just trying to adapt, but it’s really affected him and the team.”
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. ”
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.”
We talk about the Giants Wild Card win over the Mets and look ahead to the NLDS against the Cubs with SF Chronicle Columnist John Shea.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about the Giants unlikely October heroes:
… “Cody Ross in ’10, (Marco) Scutaro in ’12, (Travis) Ishikawa in ’14, now we have (Conor) Gillaspie in ’16. I mean, he was DEEP down on the depth chart at third base.”
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.”
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?”
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins the Inside China Basin podcast to analyze the Giants offensive prowess, scoring over 5 runs a game for the first time since the Barry Bonds/Jeff Kent era. Plus, we discuss the closer situation and tell some stories while reminiscing about Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Lou Brock, who passed away this past week. Shea recently co-authored the book 24, Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid with Willie Mays.
you kidding me? What? This we have never seen. I guess we have to go back to the early 2000’s with (Barry) Bonds and (Jeff) Kent when they were scoring 5+ runs a game. But, now they’re doing it with guys that, well, they’re not Bonds and Kent…They’re scoring runs at a clip that nobody expected.”
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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.
