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 to talk about the Giants non-activity at the trade deadline. We take a peek into the future and discuss playing time decisions for the last two months of the 2017 season.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about making the value of Kelby Tomlinson: …“He’s great off the bench. He’s got this wiffle ball, right field swing, like a slow pitch softball swing. Everything is to right field…Pitcher’s pitch you away and that’s how they’re want to beat you and he’s prepared….He’s not the prototypical 2018 player who needs to hit home runs. He’ll choke up, he’ll go the other way…It’s fun to watch him run.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
We sat down Wednesday with Giants RHP Cory Gearrin to get his thoughts on the Giants bullpen and his reaction to Eduardo Nunez getting traded in the middle of a game earlier this week.
Gearrin described the scene when Eduardo Nunez got traded earlier this week during a game against the Pirates: “…We loved having him here. A ton of energy, obviously the numbers speak for themselves for how good of a player he is…You hate to see him go. I’ve never actually been a part of a team where the guy was traded mid-game like that…We see Boch give Nuney a hug and we (all said) wow did he just get traded? Then we kinda find out a couple of minutes later that that’s what happened.”
Gearrin also talked about how daunting it is for young relievers to come into key situations out of the bullpen: “…First time coming into a game in the Major Leagues, especially with the bases loaded, you’re just trying to not pass out. You’re just trying to breathe and throw strikes. The guys you talk to who are more veteran, they’ve been in those situations before, it’s nothing new. It’s still a challenge. It’s not easy to go out and get outs no matter if it’s your first day or your 1000th day.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
Giants reliever Kyle Crick had a longer road to the Major Leagues than planned after being a first round pick in 2011 out of high school in Texas. He made his debut with the Giants this season and has fared well in his first 11 appearances with a 2.03 ERA. Crick joined us before the Wednesday afternoon game with the Pirates at AT&T Park.
Crick talked to The Sports Virus about making the transition from starter to reliever: …“It didn’t take that long. It was a pretty easy transition. I like not knowing when you are pitching…I think I took more of a reliever approach when I was starting, here’s my best stuff, try and hit it.” Crick also talked about his journey: “I appreciate (making the Major Leagues) a lot. I don’t think (struggling in the minor leagues for awhile) was a mechanical thing, I think it was mental for the most part. Just committing to baseball day in and day out.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
National baseball writer Jayson Stark gives his opinions on pace of play and what might change as MLB tries to shorten the time of games.
Stark told The Sports Virus that there are a few key issues when it comes to slow pace of play in baseball: “…Guys just don’t get in the box, they take too much time between pitches to throw the baseball…you compound that with too many mound visits and not enough balls in play…The players are really resistant to a pitch clock, but they’ve got to do something.”
Welcome to the INSIDE CHINA BASIN Baseball Podcast
Updated 3 times a week on TheSportsVirus.com!
National baseball writer Jayson Stark joined us earlier this week. In part two of our conversation we chatted about Pablo Sandoval’s tenure with the Red Sox. The Panda was eventually signed to a minor league contract by the Giants.
Before Pablo Sandoval signed back with the Giants, Stark talked to The Sports Virus about his future: “…He hasn’t done anything since the day he signed that contract (with Boston) that would make you think this guy is somebody who could help your team win…He (still) has that same Panda smile and love of baseball, love of being in the batter’s box that we used to see…I ran a list the other day of players in Red Sox history who wound up with a higher OPS than the Panda in his time in Boston. It was comical. Mike Benjamin and Bob Zupcic and names like that. If you saw Pablo Sandoval swing the bat as a Giant you would ask yourself, how could that be?…If you don’t do everything in your power mentally and physically to prepare you’re not going to be that guy. You just can’t show up in the batter’s box four times a night and think that’s enough. This guy hasn’t put enough into it mentally and physically to be a great player.”
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!
San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea joins us from San Diego after covering the All Star Game in Miami.
Shea talked to The Sports Virus about Aaron Judge as the possible face of baseball: “…Three months into his rookie season, a little bit unfair. Asking Buster Posey who the face of baseball is he didn’t think twice. He said Mike Trout. Think about it. Aaron Judge is 25, he’s a rookie. Mike Trout is 25, he’s a six-time all star.”
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.”
<Connect With Us On Social 
Media>
