KNBR Drive Time
Big props to Dirt for picking up what I wasn’t throwing down yesterday….
Longer ride into work than usual with all the rain today. Got to listen to two interviews on KNBR this morning. The first one was with Ron Wotus. Listening to Wotus is like listening to elevator music. He’s a nice guy, been around baseball forever, but it’s no surprise to me why this guy gets passed over for a managerial job. He’s more than a standard deviation away from being an electric personality.
Same with Heath Hembree. Still, I had never heard him talk before and that was interesting. He’s a country boy from South Carolina. He bailed on University of South Carolina after his freshman year citing wanting more innings as the reason. I wanted the KNBR guys to ask him who was in front of him on the depth chart that led him to leave his dream school after one year but of course they never did.
Who would you be most interested in hearing get interviewed? From the Giants, for me, it’s hands down Voggy–he’s the best interview on the team.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I heard that same Hembree interview this morning. It was pretty good. Well spoken guy.
I would like to hear a real in depth interview with Sandoval about his rise to MLB and hitting. I know there is a language barrier but his English has improved over the last couple of years and I think the happy go lucky perception of him as off a bit. I think it would be interesting.
I’ve heard Vogey a ton. Unless it is a video conference with him getting frisky with his Nicole, I would rather hear Hudson. I always respected Hudson from his days with the A’s and Braves (even when he was handing the Giants their asses). I would love to get his perspective on the team, how he thinks he can contribute (to the other pitchers when not on the bump, etc.), and what the driver was for him to choose the Giants.
First spring training Gigante game today against the A’s! WHOOT!
Here is today’s line-up for YOUR San Francisco Giants!
Blanco Tiburon – CF
Baby Giraffe – 1B
Panda – 3B
Reverend – RF
Morse – LF
Sanchez – C
Abreu – 2B
MudBug – SS
Colvin – DH
Petit – P
I still don’t see Blanco as much of a player, seriously. Good tools on defense, but that’s a dime a dozen. If Morse isn’t up to snuff or his wrist wrinkles again, we’re back to Blanco. And, that ain’t good fallback, folks…
Blanco as a 4th or 5th is fully serviceable IMO. If Morse or someone cannot go. they can re-evaluate at that time. Overall, I like the make-up of this roster. If the regulars produce and stay healthy, and the pitchers pitch up to their capability, it will be a good year for our Giants.
Vogs is a good interviewer for surei.
I still like Jeremy myself, he always has a line like this morning about the dumbass baseball hats for the pitchers to try out…” There only one guy who care where that big hat and that’s Bruce Bochy”
Look at the last couple of interviews of Boch on CSNBA. Wotus and Boch — the Somnambulist Brothers…
I’d like to see an interview with Murph — with his shirt ON…
I get the never ending angst about Blanco, but he’s a valuable back up. Nothing earth shattering but decent D and OB… he wasn’t supposed to replace Pagan or carry the offensive load.
And obviously if SF had more talented guys in the mix (another rant we hear over and over) he wouldn’t be here at all. Maybe Perez makes a go of it or somebody else in AAA, but Kieschnick didn’t look like a ML ballplayer to me, and Sabes wasn’t forking over $130 mil for Choo or Ellsbury.
I agree, WillieD. Well said. Let’s let the team get ready, and roll the fucking dice and see what happens. I think Perez and Blanco make the team as the additional OFers. I like Perez and am looking forward to seeing more of him.
Good post Willie (ditto Chi). This is the “girl (Giants) we are taking to the dance,” so in my opinion, we should stop complaining about her flat chest, fat ass, and big nose. I know, I know – terrible metaphor. Giants money tree isn’t blooming, so don’t expect anyone to come to the rescue until after the all star break.
Friend here in DC just told me that the Bum is getting the nod! WOW. Did you all already get into this yesterday? Lincecum 4th???
I posted on this yesterday. Bum gets the nod on the opener in Arizona. And I am totally down with that (in the article Cain even supported it and said it is the absolute best choice). Rotation is Madison, Cain, Hudson, Timmy, and Vogey. The article I read said that Bochy, if need be, will tweak the rotation and flop Hudson and Tim. If it stays as announced yesterday, Huddy gets the start for the home opener (April 8 against the Snakes).
cool thanks chi
I would have said Scutaro because he’s often pretty witty in his interviews, but there’s nothing funny about all the injuries starting to pile up on him. He got old, FAST.
John Shea was surprisingly (to me) negative about the Giants’ chances this season, in a Comcast interview. His main issue was the Giants’ lack of depth. It bit them hard last season, and he figures it’ll probably bite them hard again this season. He gushed on and on about the Dodgers.
The only problem I have with all that is that NONE of the Bay Area sports media gave the Giants a chance in 2010 and 2012 either. The fans believe in the team, but the Bay Area media is always the last to jump on the bandwagon.
What injuries are “piling up on him?” He had the mallet finger last year, and that has healed. He has had a back back from last year, and that is known. The Giants have specifically said that he needs very little to get into “baseball shape,” so that he would be introduced to the regular workouts and ST games, slowly. So, outside of those two things, I have no idea what you are talking about. Got old FAST? Fuck, the dude is 38.
I wasn’t keen on a three year deal for him, but given the Giants need at the time, and the way he was playing, if just had to go down that way. Whatever…it is what it is. I expect him to be ready to roll come opening day, and I am going with the OVER on games he will start (always the eternal optimist).
See: Huff, Aubrey.
2nd and LF were the issues at the end of last year. Have they fixed them?
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell . . . we’ll see with Morse . . .
That CSNBA interview a few days ago when Scuts first showed up in camp sure made him look old. The guy looked beat already, and talked depressed like somebody just stole his puppy…
BF talked about the weak bench in a thread two weeks ago. Shea is behind the times. Obviously the lack of bench help is a real concern, and there’s nobody in the minors ready to step in if there are significant position injuries…
Get some fill of Giants interviews here….
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/8007844/v31385469/marco-scutaro-on-playing-with-tim-hudson-again
Interview? Morse, the fans in DC loved the guy so I’d like to hear what The Beast has to say.
As some of you know I’ve been a Blanco fan from the get go (he gets bonus points for being pals with unca_chuck). Has he been starter material? No he has times when he has looked tired and beat but I love speed and D. In his blog he talks about not playing winter ball this year, buying a place in Miami to get away from Venezuela, getting a trainer and eating right. So we’ll see if being in better shape and coming off the bench helps the guy. I thought it was a pretty informative post of his. Check it out if you’re interested in the violence in Venezuela or just Blanco in general. http://gregorblanco.mlblogs.com/
He’s right to not have played winter ball. He has crapped out midseason the last few seasons, and most scribes were saying he burned out, not used to playing daily. So, offseason rest should help, as his teammates said. Good move. As for Venezuela, yeah, it’s bad. One thing I don’t agree with is that he says his relatives should move to Miami, as if it’s like moving across the street. I’ll admit to being progressive, but not when it comes to immigration. We can’t take the whole world in here, there’s trouble all over. Many people are suffering in Venez, I don’t see why Blanco seems to think his family can just move to Miami, and that’s that. His family doesn’t deserve to immigrate here any more than anybody else in that country. They should have to get in line and apply like anybody else. I won’t say anymore about that…
there will noot be room for any Latin Americans now that half of Somalia is moving to hollywood.
hehe
And I have always thought someone playing MLB might be better focusing on MLB all year round.
Nice to see you are still kickin’ it on the Flap!
and Morse was a big help to my successful fantasy season so I am looking forward to him this season.
When you look at the fact that a lot of MLB players’ families are targeted by kidnappers down there, I think Gregor has every right to be concerned. The logistics? Who knows? The Giants have lawyers to figure that shit out the correct way. It’s not like they’re going to load up the minivan and drive here a la the Beverly Hillbillies.
Giants baseball is ON THE AIR. So damned good to hear Jon Miller on the air again!
LET’S GO GIANTS!
Agreed.
WOOT!
Some locations have all the luck, but how does Bozo get KNBR on the right coast?
edd- I have the MLB.com package and it includes the radio feed (no video today). Hey man, it’s spring training maybe it’s free. Just go to MLB.com and the same place they have the video feed and you can choose listen to the KNBR feed.
I have just the audio…$19.95 a year…ensures I can listen to the Giants anywhere I want (as long as I have an Internet connection).
Thank goodness it is ONLY ST…Petit gives up 4 in the top of the 1st.
Agreed II.
Reddick just robbed The Beast of a HR.
Dan Runzler just tossed an inning for the Gigantes. Now there is a guy who just a couple of years ago showed great promise.
OK, it was good to hear baseball on the radio again, but at 10-0 A’s, I’ve had enough. Thank goodness it IS a ST game, AND the guys have the day off tomorrow.
10-1 now chi, we’re coming back.
yeah, I was tempted to have a listen/watch at Atlanta 6-5 in the 9th with Detroit, but then I remembered it is ST.
What happens to the Tigers when Detroit is bankrupt and all the city employees lose their pensions?
Reddick robbed Morse of 2 BOMBS today. Nice to see him display power this early, looks like the wrist is all good.
Agree. He says that it is the best it has ever felt. Go Beast!
check out this sick catch by Reddick
http://instagram.com/p/k5SRqBMDN5/
Calm down, Josh. Save it.
Morse and Bumgarner, for interviews. Throw in a side of Sergio salad or Pagan rites.
A couple of HRs in the 9th, anyway: (Yo) Adrianza 3-run bomb and Duvall mashed a solo shot.
I like the Rocky reference. And can never go wrong with Robert Duvall.
Awesome catches, and the world will be wondering what a Salty Senorita is.
The thing that sucks about Spring Training is that jobs never seem to be won or lost anymore. There’s just nothing at stake. When was the last time a Giant had a huge Spring and unexpectedly landed a starting job
or even a roster spot? Maybe Eugenio a few years back?
well if you have guys trying to win jobs in spring training your team probably sucks.
Randy Elliott.
Didn’t Blanco Arias and Vogs win jobs out of ST? Panda, Belt and Crawford were late call ups the year before, but didn’t they actually win spots the next year coming out of ST (Belt might have finally won a job)? Some of the bullpen guys, Pill, and maybe Noonan. I don’t know, it seems like the Spring has helped some
Giants listed as 6th most valuable MLB team. http://wallstcheatsheet.com/sports/the-9-most-valuable-mlb-teams-right-now.html/5/ This will set off Snarkk to no end.
Sounds about right, maybe they should be up a notch to #5 with the Cubs due to high non-TV revenues. Gyros are said to be in the top 5 for gate receipts and parking, aka, Giants fans definitely are getting “dynamically” priced. The Cable TV deals are driving team value now. But, the Giants own the stadium,too, which many other teams don’t. I don’t know how these guys figured values, looks to me like stadium ownership wasn’t a consistent consideration….
I was thinking the same thing. When you throw in the stadium and the value of the land, that pushes the number up dramatically. I can’t even begin to imagine how valuable that land must be.
The land under ATT is ground leased from the City of SF for 66 years. The Giants value estimate cannot possibly include the Giants planned Mission Rock development across the O’Doul bridge on SF Port leased land including the current parking lot — 3+ million square feet of mixed use worth around $1.6 billion. Giants are partnering with a developer and stand to make millions per year when this thing is finished. Anchor Steam has committed to move its brewery in there as the first tenant. Project has been approved by the SF Supes, but there is a voter initiative that may go on the fall ballot that would subject the project to voter approval, and any other big projects on the waterfront, including the Warriors proposed arena. So, this project is still up in the air…
http://sfport.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentID=5666
Just checkin’ in from Asia (and I’ll sub for Steve for the moment as well as he wanders starry-eyed around Vietnam): Craig, you can now add something to your blog credentials: blocked by China’s Great Firewall. Have been able to read your threads but not allowed to post or see the other posts. Got in today using my VPN subscription (it looks to China like I’m logged in from Amsterdam). Anyway, happy Spring Training, Flappers, hope springs eternal. As for Steve, we’ve chatted quite a bit as he’s hanging out now in Saigon in some of my old haunts (actually, at the moment he’s “vacationing” in a beach town with a certain local lady friend). Trust me when I say his messages to me are a bit different from what he’s posting on his blog… 🙂 Good times.
Carl Crawford did an epic face-plant today in the Dodger/D-Back game. He went for a head-first slide into secondbase, but stuck in the dirt instead of sliding, and ended up with a colossal face-plant, and his helmet bounding over the bag towards the outfield.
And Kershaw had a rough outing. Probably doesn’t mean anything, but it was still entertaining to see. 🙂