1 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: All right, it's another episode of splash Hit, and I 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: have to separate the two because my son pointed out 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: to me in the Buck Showalter episode that I ran 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: it together a little too fast and that would be 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: a really messy podcast if that were the name of this. 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: So welcome to another episode of splash Hit. We are 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: joined by our freaking contributor, Susan Selser. Susan, what's going on? 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 2: Glad to have you today. 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 3: Oh, it's so good to be here. Yeah. As a writer, 10 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 3: I appreciate you being very careful with terminology and words. 11 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 4: I think that's a very good thing. 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: You just got to go slow and separate him. So 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: we got a fun show today. It's a mail bag show. 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: We're gonna answer questions from fans, and we're real thankful 15 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: for all the fans that we have so far. We're 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: trying to get some more subscribers, so subscribe to splash 17 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: Hit Territory. 18 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: Next goal is three thousand. 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: We have two thousands right now, and all the feedback 20 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: from you guys has been so flattered and overwhelming, and 21 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: we're glad. 22 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: That you're enjoying the podcast. 23 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: We're just here having fun talking giants baseball during the 24 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: off season, and we're gonna do three shows a week 25 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: during the season. We're break down some games and stuff 26 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: and that'll be fun for us too. 27 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: But today, Susan, it's the mail bag. Where do we start? 28 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: What do we got? 29 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: Well, let's we had so many good ones, which is 30 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 3: really exciting because there's a lot, you know, there's a 31 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: lot to talk about at this time of year with 32 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,199 Speaker 3: the Giants. But one I was really glad to see 33 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: pop up, and you and I both kind of went 34 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 3: through the questions and picked out some. But this one, 35 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 3: I think it's a very timely because I actually was 36 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: writing a story about this when I saw this pop up. 37 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 3: Could the Giants? It's talking giants, which is what we're doing. 38 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 3: Who knew could the Giants go after Nico Horner via 39 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 3: trade from the Cubs? Well, my story in the Chronicle 40 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 3: today and that was online yesterday. The Giants have called 41 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: on Nico Horner. Now we've talked a lot fp about 42 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 3: the fact that the Giants have called on almost everybody, 43 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: you know, any of the spots that they think they 44 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: need some help. They're you know, starting pitchers, relievers, apparently 45 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 3: zeg and Basement because they've been calling and the agent's 46 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 3: were telling me all during the winter meetings, Hey, did 47 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 3: you know the Giants are actually calling on second basement too? 48 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 3: And of course outfielders, so nice to know Nico Horner 49 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 3: is among those. But there are other you know. They've 50 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 3: been linked to Katel Marte, they have been linked to 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: Brandon Lowe, all sorts of possibilities, and of course Brennan 52 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 3: Donovan is a guy who I think they were described 53 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 3: as front runners for. I'm not sure I would go 54 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,399 Speaker 3: that far, and I don't see this as really their 55 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 3: top priority. Unless they cannot get a big outfield bat, 56 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 3: like a real offensive bat, the place you could add 57 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 3: some offense might be second. And if you got somebody 58 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 3: like Nico Horner, let's talk about him really specifically. He's 59 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 3: got one year left on his deal with the Cubs. 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: He actually led them in war last year and what 61 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 3: terrific season, and since moving to second base he's won 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 3: two Gold Gloves. This is a guy for me. Maybe 63 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 3: you do pony up a little bit in a trade 64 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: because he's also potentially a really good candidate for a 65 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 3: contract extension. Because he's local, he's from Oakland, he played 66 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 3: at Stanford. I think that he would be if that 67 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 3: is the spot they really feel like they want to 68 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 3: add something. 69 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 4: He'd be the perfect guy for me. 70 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I've been thinking about him all off season. 71 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: He's a perfect giant and he's a perfect guy for buster. 72 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: Posey, scrappy guy, hits the. 73 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: Ball to all fields, plays plus defense, like you're saying, 74 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: doesn't love to strike out. But he's intense and he 75 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: brings energy every single day. And I don't know if 76 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: this is breaking news or not, but I heard this, 77 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: and I don't know exactly where it is, but he 78 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: bought a home in the city of San Francisco, in 79 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: kW Hollow And. 80 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 4: That was what I told you. 81 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: That well, I heard from my friends because it's right 82 00:03:58,560 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: by this place, right here, So. 83 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: I was like, I might get a beat him. I 84 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: love the way he plays. He's scrappy man, and he's 85 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: a good player. And when you talk about Chapman a 86 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: Damas Horner endeavors in your infield, that's a solid, solid infield. 87 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: And if it's Ktel Marte, I don't know if that's 88 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: going to happen, but if you even had a guy 89 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: like him, and now you got Chapman a Damas Marte 90 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: endeavors that would be one of the best infields in 91 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: the National League. But I think what Buster Posey's looking for, 92 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: Susan is these type of players, winning players that can bunk, 93 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: guys over, can hit behind, runners that don't like to 94 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: strike out, that put the ball and play to all 95 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: fields that are scrappy. I mean, when you think of 96 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: Giants baseball, a guy like Nico Horner would be like 97 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: the poster kid for what Buster Posey wants to do well. 98 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 3: And here's another way look at it too, and it 99 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 3: brings us into some of this week's moves. If you 100 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 3: have an infield of essentially above average and a couple 101 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 3: goal glove glovers in the infield, and you add someone 102 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 3: like Adrian Houser, who a pretty sinker heavy guy, you've 103 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 3: already got Logan Webb who's sinker heavy. You know, when 104 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 3: you're talking about a team that missed the postseason by 105 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 3: two games right there, that could be you know, the 106 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 3: difference of another win or two, maybe even more with 107 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 3: a really solid infield defense. And this is going to 108 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 3: bring I love how these things work. This is our 109 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 3: next question, and I think this is appropriate from Drew 110 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 3: Gilbert stan and I've got you know what, I'm gonna 111 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,239 Speaker 3: surprise you because I got a Drew Drew Gilbert question 112 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 3: for you later specifically, but I read last year at 113 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: first base the first time Devers posted a positive war defensively. 114 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: I saw a couple of plays from him at the 115 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 3: end that looked very intuitive, like you've been playing there 116 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: his whole career. Do you think he supplants Eldridge? Does 117 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,119 Speaker 3: that make Eldridge expendable? I think there are a few 118 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 3: things that we can talk about here FP. First of all, yes, 119 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 3: Devers Devors looks really good to me. Defensively, I think 120 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 3: he could be an elite first baseman. If you take 121 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: a sort of average to maybe slightly below average big 122 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 3: league third basement and move them to first oftentimes that 123 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 3: can be the case. So I and then we're working 124 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 3: with Ron Washington. Oh my gosh, I mean, he really 125 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 3: could be among the better first basemen in the league 126 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 3: really quickly, because look how look how fast it was 127 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 3: last year, just a couple of months, and Drew Gilbert 128 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 3: stan who's also Matt Chapman's talk, He's got a lot 129 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 3: going on there. He really improves so quickly in just 130 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 3: those two months, and by the end of the season 131 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 3: really really did look right, very good there. So what 132 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 3: are your thoughts there? And then and then we'll talk 133 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 3: about Eldridge. 134 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: There's a lot of nuances at first base that the 135 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: only thing that is going to make you better is 136 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: game experience. So he could work with Wash, and Wash 137 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: is amazing and that'll help definitely. But there's all kinds 138 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: of game situations that pop up. And when I talked 139 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: to Ryan Zimmerman when I was in DC, who moved 140 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 1: from third to first, his biggest challenge was how far 141 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: to his right towards second base he goes for a ball? 142 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: When do I hit the brakes and peel back to 143 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: first or how far do I go for a baseball? 144 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: There's little things like but dee's and cutoffs that you 145 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: just have to You just have to play enough where 146 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,679 Speaker 1: it's second nature and you're not actually thinking every pitch 147 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: like I have to be here on this and it's 148 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: instinct rule. Because he did his whole life at third 149 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: base to where he just knew where to be all 150 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: the time and it was just like secondhand. And I 151 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: think he got a bad rap devers at third base. 152 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: I think he was a lot better than people said 153 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: he was, you know, the whole bragmant thing, and we 154 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: don't have to get back into that. 155 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: But I think with Rafi at. 156 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: First base, I don't know if gold gloves in the 157 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: mix for him, but definitely definitely inadequatey. He's a good 158 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: athlete and he picked things up really quickly. So yeah, 159 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of his at first base. I 160 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: think he's only going to get better. 161 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know if he's going to 162 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: be an elite defensive first baseman ever, but he's going 163 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: to be good enough. 164 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: To Here's the thing is a former infielder, I want 165 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: my first basement. I want to have confidence in my 166 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: first basement where I just let the ball go and 167 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: I know he's gonna pick it. I know he's gonna 168 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: make the play once I release the baseball. When you 169 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: have a below average first basement over there, now I 170 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: start to press as an infielder that I know I 171 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: have to be perfect with my throws. Jason Giambi never 172 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: got enough credit at first base, like could he feel. 173 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: The ground ball? 174 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 3: Now? 175 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: It looked like a gang fight at times, but as 176 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: far as picking like short hops, he was as good 177 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: as anybody ever played with. 178 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: And I had JT. Snow which speaks for itself when. 179 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: I was in San Francisco and David SAGhE in Montreal 180 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: was as good as anybody I've ever seen at first base. 181 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: So what that does is relaxes me as a first baseman. 182 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: And if you watched Willie a Damas over this past season, 183 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: he has a little short arm in his delivery sometimes 184 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: where the ball doesn't always get to first base in 185 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: the air and it's not on the fly. 186 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: Excuse me. 187 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: Where you're gonna need a first baseman with a Damas 188 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: as your shortstop where he does the pat on the 189 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: glove and maybe wash fixes the pat because when you 190 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: feel the ground ball for your younger kid listening to this, 191 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: and I know there's tons of them, when you pat 192 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: your glove once you feel the ball and you go 193 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: like this before you throw. 194 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 2: Now you have a tendency to get off rhythm to. 195 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: Where your feet aren't underneath you, and your release point 196 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: can get a little bit different, almost like a pitcher. 197 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: And if that's off because of this timing thing. Number one, 198 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: the runner is getting a step on you when you 199 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: do this. Number two, you don't know where you're going 200 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: to release it and it can go low. And Willi 201 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: does that lot. Well, He's a great shortstop. He made 202 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: some fantastic plays, but I think the confidence Chapman hits 203 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: you in the chest, you don't care. But with Willy 204 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: at shortstop, I think if Devers can show that he 205 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: can pick baseballs cleanly on the rag, then that gives 206 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: Adamis more confidence. And what happens is you start hitting 207 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: the guy in the chest because you're not thinking about it. 208 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 3: Well, the second half of this was do you think 209 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 3: he suppliants Eldridge? Does that make Eldridge expendable? You know, 210 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 3: this is a topic that we've kind of discussed a 211 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 3: lot this offseason, is price Eldridge? Is he available via trade? 212 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: Certainly teams would have interest. I wouldn't do it for 213 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 3: one year somebody so much as I love Nico Horner, 214 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 3: for instance, I wouldn't consider that. And as we talked before, 215 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 3: I like, I think like a hunter green level guy, 216 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 3: three more years of service, maybe somebody like that. But 217 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 3: I do think that Devers is the first baseman flat out. 218 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 3: You know, the front office, coaching staff, they've all sort 219 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: of mentioned that here since since Devers started playing first, 220 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 3: that he's the first baseman. So to me, Eldridge is 221 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: occasionally maybe a bill in there, but mostly a DH. 222 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: How are you seeing it? 223 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think Eldridge has to take the job from 224 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: Devers eventually, right when that is because Rafi said like 225 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: publicly that he'd rather be out in the field, that 226 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: he felt like he was a part of it. That 227 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: DH was weird for him because he just thought about 228 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: his at bats the small times IDHD in the minor leagues, 229 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: it was like pinch hitting four times, where you just 230 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: like you go hit and then you wait an hour 231 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: and then you think about your last bat. 232 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: When you're on defense, you're. 233 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: Thinking about plays, you're talking to umpires, you're talking to 234 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: base runners, you're in the flow of the game. 235 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 2: You're getting a sweat going. 236 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: It's like going from zero to sixty, stepping into that 237 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: on deck circle, then in the batter's box. 238 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 2: And I always admire guys that could do that. 239 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: I really did, because there's an art to pinch hitting 240 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 1: four times a game as a DH essentially. 241 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 2: What it is. 242 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: So I think if Eldridge shows a that he can 243 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: make the team, I still think he has. 244 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 2: To prove that, like he's a part of this. 245 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: At his age, I don't think there's a rush with 246 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: a twenty one year old. And I was all for 247 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: rushing him last year, like let's see, let's see, let's see. 248 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: But now you have Dever's there, and I don't know 249 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: what kind of progress Bryce Eldridge makes as a DH defensively. 250 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: So that's that's a conundrum, a good conundrum to have. 251 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: But I don't think you trade Bryce. I really don't. 252 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: I think you keep him unless unless there's just a 253 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: package that knocks your socks off and you just can't 254 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: say no to it and it helps the organization for 255 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: not just next year, but a number of years. 256 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 3: Yeahestion is that Eldridge is more comfortable at DH than 257 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 3: Devers is. He DHD in high school, he didn't play 258 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 3: a position in the field. It was a two way guy, 259 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 3: pitcher and a hitter. But as a DH. So you know, 260 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: I've said numerous times, you don't really want to make 261 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 3: a twenty one year old essentially a permanent DH. But 262 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: you know there's dhs in both leagues now. Every game 263 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 3: has a DH. I'm not necessarily sure that that's a 264 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 3: terrible thing. When you do have a pretty quality guy 265 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: playing the one position you might put Rice at, but 266 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 3: he needs to be able to fill in adequately at 267 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 3: the very least. Let's go to another question about another 268 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 3: one of the young players. And I was very happy 269 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 3: to see this question because I like Tyler Fitzgerald a lot. 270 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 3: I kind of am wondering what's going on with him too. 271 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: You were a guy I really am interested to hearing 272 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 3: your impressions at Tyler Fitzgerald, because you know this role 273 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: so well. It seems like potential speed on the base 274 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 3: pass is a utility guy filling at second base or 275 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 3: potential trade piece. 276 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 4: FP. 277 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: Tyler Fitzgerald, Well, I mean being utility players a lot 278 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: of work. 279 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: Every day. 280 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: You got to take ground balls in every position. I 281 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: used to just shag in the outfield at one position, 282 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: and so there's a lot of work involved in being 283 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: a utility player. Because when you walk into that clubhouse 284 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: and you see a five or six or a four 285 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: by your name. 286 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: They're not rating how you look. 287 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: That's a position that you're going to play that night, 288 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: So you have to be ready for all of them. 289 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 2: And watching Tyler. 290 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: Over the last couple of years, there's flashes of brilliance 291 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: but I think with Tyler Fitzgerald's game, and I got 292 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: to be careful with what I say right here, because 293 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: he's he's. 294 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 2: He could be more aggressive. I guess that's the way 295 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 2: to put it. 296 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: Like on the basis, a little more swagger to his game, 297 00:13:55,800 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: a little more confidence, and just his approach in with 298 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: his speed, he has to put the ball in play 299 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: more often. Like there was a saying back in the day, 300 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: down and run. Mean, he hit the ball on the 301 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: ground with two strikes and then see what happens. He 302 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: puts so much pressure on infield when he just simply 303 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 1: hits a ground ball with two strikes. So there's a 304 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: lot of swing and miss in his game. For a 305 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: guy with so much speed. If he could spread out, 306 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: choke up, shorten up, bunt more, he's pretty good bunter. 307 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: He doesn't do it a whole lot. When Buster Posey 308 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: says meat on the bone, and we've talked about this 309 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: on this show before, there's so much more meat on 310 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: the bone. But in my experiences in coaching and my 311 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: experiences in playing, I don't know if you can teach 312 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: the things that Tyler Fitzgerald needs to improve on. 313 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 2: I think you either have that or you don't have that. 314 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 2: So I'm a. 315 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: Big fan of the human being the nicest kid in 316 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:51,359 Speaker 1: that whole clubhouse. 317 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: But I think if Tyler Fitzgerald wasn't nice, he had 318 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 2: a little more fu in him, which he does, but 319 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: just a little more. 320 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: I think, God, he's got so much. He's got more 321 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: talent on his pinky finger than I ever had, with 322 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: his size, his pop, his speed, everything about his game. 323 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: But it just needs that intangible I think, just to 324 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: turn up a notch or two or three or four 325 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: and that he would be a star major leaguer with 326 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: the ability he has. 327 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, the confidence, to me, that's the real key. We 328 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 3: saw him play and spurt so well, and certainly the pop. 329 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 3: You love the pop and the speed. I don't think 330 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 3: he's a guy you give up on. 331 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 4: He's a little on the older side. He's kind of 332 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 4: moved out of prospect territory. 333 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 3: That's one caveat, and for that reason, he might not 334 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 3: necessarily bring back a ton in a trade. They did 335 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 3: use him in the outfield at Sacramento in the second 336 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 3: half last year, trying to make him into more of 337 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 3: a full utility player. I like that idea, the confidence, 338 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 3: and then Also, he was one of the guys last 339 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 3: year who was prone to making base running mistakes, defensive mistakes, 340 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 3: mental mistakes. Some of that's confidence, some of that is 341 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 3: just experience. I think he needs to iron that out 342 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: of his game. Somebody like Ron Washington, I think is 343 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 3: going to help there a lot. I certainly hope he 344 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 3: gets a lot of opportunities to work with Wash because 345 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 3: I think that that could really take care of of 346 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 3: some of those things. And then, of course the base 347 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 3: running with Jase Tinler, I there were so many unwarranted 348 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 3: base running mistakes almost Team wid. There are a few 349 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 3: guys who are extremely good based runners who even once 350 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 3: in a while fumble. 351 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 4: That's going to happen. 352 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 3: But Tyler Fitzgerald has to get the mistakes out of 353 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 3: his game. 354 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: If if Nico Horner becomes a giant, Casey Schmid is 355 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: your utility guy, and that's going to affect Tyler Fitzgerald. 356 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: And I'm wondering, based on what you say, if Ron 357 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: Washington can make me a better broadcaster, because I mean, 358 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: it sounds like this guy. 359 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 3: You'd have to use the bleep button awful lot, you 360 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 3: really would, though it would be very well. 361 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 2: We both love Ron Washington. 362 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: That's that's been chronicled down here and it's one of 363 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: the better ads for the Giants this offseason. 364 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 3: Well, let's talk about you know, we're in the young 365 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 3: player portion of I guess this mail bag, But who 366 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 3: do you think will take the next step up? This 367 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 3: is from Benjamin Contraras. I think Birdsong is a chance 368 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 3: to make a big impact on the team, great stuff, 369 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 3: chance to grow under by Tello and this coaching staff. Yes, 370 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 3: I think that's that's definitely the case. But it's going 371 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 3: to be the strike throwing. If he is not consistently 372 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 3: throwing strikes I've mentioned on here. I think potentially a 373 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 3: move to the bullpen could be something. 374 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 4: That helps him. 375 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 3: Oh, the talent, I feel like I'm talking about Fitzgerald again, 376 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 3: but especially we gosh, bird Song the first half last 377 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 3: year was just spectacular. I mean, the stuff is outstanding. 378 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 3: If he's throwing strikes. What happened to MFP is that? 379 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 3: I mean that's Has anybody figured that out? 380 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 4: What do you think? 381 00:17:58,720 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 2: Yeah? 382 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: I wouldn't know from experience, but the mound is a 383 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: lonely place where you can't throw strikes. And we saw 384 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: him with swagger and confidence and cockiness, a little like 385 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: Mark Fiderich, where he was talking to himself after every 386 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: pitch shot on the broadcast last year, he threw a 387 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 1: curveball that was nasty and they zoomed on his face. 388 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 2: He's like, ooh, that was nasty. 389 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: So like when he had that he was unhittable that 390 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:22,719 Speaker 1: all of a sudden that left. And there were some 391 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: weird quotes. I forget what they were about after a 392 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: game one time where he could just tell he was 393 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: deep in his own head. So again in Tangibles, in 394 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: a game where we have so many measurements analytically with 395 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: a lot of math involved, it comes down to confidence 396 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: and believing in yourself and you start overthinking things, you 397 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: start tinkering. Then you forget where he started because you're 398 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: so far different with your mechanics, and his release point 399 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: was off confidence waiver. There's tons of meat on that bone, 400 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: whether he's a starter or re leieve. I'm a big 401 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: Hayden Bird Sog fan. But the young player I'm really 402 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: excited about, and I think that Tony Vitello is going 403 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: to have a huge impact on and already had in 404 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: his career, is Drew Gilbert. He energized that team last year. 405 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if he's. 406 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 2: An everyday right fielder yet, but I just love the 407 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 2: kids so much. I love the energy he brings. I 408 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: love the swagger he brings. 409 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: Back to our last podcast where or a few ago, 410 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: where I said, I hope the Giants are the most 411 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: hated team in baseball. 412 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 2: I really do. Drew Gilbert would be a big reason. 413 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 2: And there were some things behind the scenes last year that. 414 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: I heard that were yelled by Drew on the top 415 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 1: step in the heat of battle that may or may 416 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: not got the attention of the other team. But those guys, 417 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: to their credit, the veterans on that team just let 418 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: him go. 419 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 2: They let him be himself, like dude, you do you? 420 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: And he energized that ball club for a long time, 421 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: and he gave him a confidence and a cockiness and 422 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: a swagger that I don't think as a group that 423 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: they necessarily had at times with those lulls last year. 424 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: So while energy guys are good and they're fun, you 425 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,919 Speaker 1: still have to perform. And if you walk the talk 426 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: and you start to put up numbers, and then you're 427 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: that guy. You know, Garrison in Vader's a guy a 428 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: lot like that, guys that can add something to a 429 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: club with their attitude, but the attitude has to match 430 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: the performance. 431 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 2: So for Drew it can get a. 432 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: Little it can it can get a little old if 433 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: you're not performing and you can and then and then 434 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: you see a guy kind of get back into a shell. 435 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: So I think the sky's the limit for Drew Man. 436 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,479 Speaker 1: I'm just rooting for the kid I compared him and 437 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: on the field I got so criticized on this on 438 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: as for saying he reminded me of Lenny Dykstra, but 439 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: he does as a player, not about car washes and 440 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 1: all this stuff Lenny Dykster cut into after his career. 441 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 2: But but he has a little Lenny Dykster in him. 442 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you know what. The young player I'm most 443 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 3: excited about, uh, and I do have more I'm going 444 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 3: to bring up to you again as I said, But 445 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 3: the young player I'm most interested in this spring and 446 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 3: I hope during the season is. 447 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 4: Hey Sus Rodriguez. The catcher. 448 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 3: He looks like potentially certainly a good hitting catcher, which 449 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 3: the would make such a nice compliment with Patrick Bailey, 450 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 3: but potentially as he gets experience and learns how to 451 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 3: catch a little bit more. He was a convert in 452 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 3: the in the minors. I think, you know, the hope 453 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 3: is that he will be a very good two way catcher. 454 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 3: I think he could be pretty special. So I'm really 455 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 3: looking forward to seeing him. I when Buster Posey says 456 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 3: this was a kid we really really wanted and it's 457 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 3: a catcher, that that makes me take notice. So yeah, 458 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 3: that makes me pretty excited about that we got. Hey, everyone, 459 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,919 Speaker 3: work with everyone. All the questions so far put up 460 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 3: were from Twitter or x or whatever you want to 461 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 3: call it. 462 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 4: I still say Twitter. 463 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 3: There here's a b K Adventures on YouTube. The YouTube 464 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 3: comments asked a bunch of questions, so let's go through 465 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 3: some of them kind of quickly. And uh, uh I 466 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,239 Speaker 3: miss Wade. I'm not sure which way this is? Uh 467 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 3: is Lamont? Is it Wade Meckler. 468 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 2: It's the Mechlinator for sure, because it's talking about. 469 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think so. 470 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: I mean Lamont was briefly in the outfield, but yeah, 471 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 3: I Wade Meckler is another one. I do think he 472 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 3: could be a decent big league hitter. It hasn't really 473 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 3: you know, between health things and just not really having 474 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 3: the opportunity. I don't know, if well, how much we'll 475 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 3: see him in a Giant's uniform at the big league level. 476 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 3: What were your impressions. I know that coaching staff really 477 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 3: has liked him a lot. 478 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: I think he was a blow up average outfielder. 479 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: And when I think of Wade Meckler, I mean and 480 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 1: being a utility player myself, like I think of him 481 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: running after balls on the warning track and inside the 482 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: park home runs is my first take. He's a decent 483 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: enough hitter. But you know, Susan, you get your day 484 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: in the sun, you gotta shine man. You get a 485 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: chance at the major league level, you got to take 486 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: advantage of that opportunity in every way as a complete 487 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,400 Speaker 1: baseball player. So, if I'm being honest, he's not even 488 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: on my radar. 489 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 2: Not that I want to. 490 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: Say that he's a bad player, but I just think 491 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: that it would have happened by now if it was 492 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:13,120 Speaker 1: going to happen. 493 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 4: I think you're probably right. 494 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 3: Anyword on when the Giants will announce their coaching staff. 495 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 4: Why the delay? This is a great question we've all 496 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 4: been asking. 497 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 3: We thought the first day of the winter meetings, there 498 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 3: was thought that they would announce the coaching staff, and 499 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 3: it's more than a week later, we have yet to hear. 500 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 3: I mean, all the names are out there. I reported 501 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 3: a couple more last week. The Giants have made a 502 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 3: lot of internal promotions, which I love that, but any 503 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 3: any day now, I guess I thought that they would 504 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 3: announce the coaching staff before we got some moves, And 505 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 3: of course they've added Houser and Jason Foley in the 506 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 3: last week, so that came before the coaching staff. 507 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 4: Anything anything to other. 508 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 2: I have no idea. 509 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: I do know if I was a free agent, I 510 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: would want to know as a player, right, yeah, I 511 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:08,439 Speaker 1: think you know who the skipper is, you know the 512 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: pitching coaches, you know the hitting coaches. 513 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 3: Well, and they know everybody, so if they're talking to 514 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,719 Speaker 3: free agents, they can say, like, look, this is our staff. 515 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 3: What the Buster and Tony Vaitello indicated during the winter 516 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 3: meetings is that there's still some of the rules and 517 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 3: I'm guessing this means just first and third maybe are 518 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 3: still kind of being hashed out, so they want to 519 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 3: make sure that's all. Hey, but by the time some 520 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 3: people are listening to this show, it might have been announced. 521 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 3: So let's not spend too much time. But let's see 522 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 3: what was this last question. Do you see Smith sticking 523 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 3: with the Giants. I hear he's been practicing in the outfield. 524 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 3: Could he transition to a utility role? Dom Smith, of course, 525 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: is who were discussing. I'm a huge John Dom Smith fan. 526 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 3: I love the way play it played it first, I think, 527 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 3: you know, guys like that are probably ones who sign 528 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 3: a little bit later in the winter, talking to various 529 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 3: different agents. They want to wait and see what the 530 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 3: opportunities are. But certainly, I think all things being equal, 531 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 3: I think Dom Smith would really welcome I returned to 532 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 3: the Giants. His career got completely rejuvenated playing for the Giants, 533 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 3: and he was just a nice bit And what a 534 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 3: great guy. Eddie could hit, Eddie could field. That's what 535 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 3: the kind of guys the Giants are looking for, right. 536 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's still good at defense. He could teach Ron 537 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 2: Washington a thing or two about how the coach defense. 538 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: No, I'll tell you what, just getting to know the 539 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: guy amazing, but what a pleasant surprise. Defensively, had no 540 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: idea that Dom Smith was that smooth around the bag. 541 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 2: I mean all the plays he made and. 542 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 1: I watched him play as a met and that's just 543 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: never you know, you can see him me fifteen times 544 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: a year, and I don't remember that part of his game. 545 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: My favorite part about Tom Smith was his defense number one, 546 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: but the two strike approach where he'd spread out Gono's 547 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: tried and. 548 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 2: Just try to put the ball in play. 549 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: He and Wilmer Flores, to me, were the two guys 550 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: in the lineup that that really cared about putting the 551 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: ball in play with two strikes. Wilmer would spread out 552 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 1: and choke up too, but Dom had a knack for 553 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: just throwing the hands at the baseball while he was 554 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: choked up with two strikes. And he got a bunch 555 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: of big hits with two strikes this year. And to 556 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 1: have a guy that I forget what game it was, 557 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: but somebody got thrown out, he came in the game 558 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: and then he got a big hit late. To have 559 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 1: a guy that's a veteran guy on the bench that 560 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: knows how to be ready at a moment's notice and 561 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: put the barrel on the baseball consistently, and to play 562 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: plus defense. When you have a guy like Rafael Devers 563 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,479 Speaker 1: at first base, you're gonna need a guy in the 564 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: eighth and ninth ending with a. 565 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 2: Two run lead as a defensive replacement. 566 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 1: Now, that would be a tough thing for Tony Vattello 567 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: to take that big bat out of the lineup. But 568 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: I was raised with the game with Felipe and Dusty 569 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: that you always had your best defense on the field 570 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: with a lead late in the game, you know, big lead, no. 571 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 2: But like three runs a save opportunity. 572 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: You know, you put somebody in left for Ramos, maybe 573 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: you put somebody at first for Devs. And to me, 574 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: he played left field in the minor leagues, so he 575 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 1: is versatile. 576 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 2: I could do this whole show about Tom Smith. 577 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: I would love if the Giants signed him back because 578 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: he's a winning player, and the Giants did lots of 579 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: winning players. 580 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 3: I agree, And just a great dude. Here's one that's 581 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 3: specifically for UFP. I really like this because I'm interested 582 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 3: in it too. Did your preparation change here to year, 583 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 3: when did you start to ramp up after the previous season, 584 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 3: and what advice would you give to the young or 585 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 3: older Giants players as they prepare. I really liked that 586 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 3: one a lot. 587 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it depended if I was driving or 588 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: flying to spring training. If I was driving to spring training, 589 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: I would sit on the couch with a steering wheel 590 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: in my hand for a couple of days to get 591 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 1: in shape for the drive. 592 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,479 Speaker 2: But I'll tell you this seriously about preparing for spring training. 593 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 2: It changes every year. Man. 594 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: It depends on your age, it depends on your contract status. 595 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,439 Speaker 2: You know, it was always hitt in the off season. 596 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: I would ramp up right after the holidays, but the 597 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: weightlifting started in November. You would take October off and 598 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: try to decompress and let your body heal, and then 599 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 1: in November you really started lifting the weights and getting 600 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: in the weight room. December came around, you start getting 601 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: a little bit antsy, maybe you start throwing. 602 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 2: And hitting a little bit. But after the new year, 603 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 2: you know you got a good month. 604 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: And some change is when you start hitting in the 605 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: cage and take a ground balls. 606 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 2: But there was always training involved. 607 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: I mean for a guy that was married at the 608 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: time with kids, you know, the off season is supposed 609 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: to be for family. But when you were the twenty 610 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,439 Speaker 1: fifth guy on the roster, every year, I had to 611 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: always I was always tinkering. I was always tinkering. I 612 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: never had the same routine. It would have been so 613 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: nice mentally to know that I had the same routine 614 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: every year. But it's like, do I want to be 615 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: bigger and bulkier this year? Do I want to be 616 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: leaner and faster this year? Do I want to work 617 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: on this part of my game? What position am I playing? 618 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 2: Who? 619 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: Did I sign a contract yet? Am I trying to 620 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: make a team in spring training? So do I have 621 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: to go in ready to make that team? Do I 622 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: have a contract where I could ramp up in spring 623 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: training and take a deep breath? 624 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 2: So long answer to that is just like it just 625 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: varied every year for me. 626 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I guess that giving advice to any Giants players, 627 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 3: it seems like the off season now is such an 628 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 3: individual thing. I don't even know how necessarily you would 629 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 3: go about doing that. But this is a WBC year too, 630 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 3: Does that change things in terms of preparation? 631 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, these guys got to be ready to play games 632 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: that matter right out of the gate. And that's been 633 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: my only contention with the WBC, Like we're creatures of 634 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: habit and we're used to getting ramped up for end 635 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: of March early April for opening Day, and all of 636 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: a sudden, you're putting forty thousand people in a stadium 637 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: and adrenalines taken over, and you have to get hit 638 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: the gas pedal when you're not ready to hit the 639 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: gas pedal. So yeah, those guys are probably starting a 640 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: lot earlier than I did. I would imagine the guys 641 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: that in the WBC started locking in maybe early December 642 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: or right now, or I won't say November, but maybe 643 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: early December. 644 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 3: Well, I love this one so much I jumped again 645 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 3: a little bit. But putting it back up, I put 646 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 3: in the whole conversation here, f because this made me laugh. 647 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,239 Speaker 3: You might be anticipating it because you know, you had 648 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 3: a little foto about Drew Gilbert and this is your son, 649 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 3: Frank Paul Junior. Would you rather fight a thousand duck 650 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 3: sized Drew Gilberts or one elephant sized Drew Gilbert. People 651 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 3: really seem to like this question. I don't know where 652 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 3: I weigh in, but obviously you're kind of thinking advanced 653 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 3: stuff here. I just worry that one elephant sized Drew 654 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 3: Gilbert would really create some havoc in the dugout. 655 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 2: It would and it probably wouldn't run very fast, and 656 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 2: that's a big part of Drew Gilbert's game. 657 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: So and then I asked if, like, do the thousand 658 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: ducks or whatever it is fly, and my son said, yeah, 659 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: so a thousand Drew Gilberts that fly beat one elephant. 660 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:45,959 Speaker 1: That's gonna just clog up the base pass if I'm 661 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: being honest, Like, how many base hits does it take. 662 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 2: An elephant to score from first? I'm going to say 663 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 2: like seven or eight? 664 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 3: I mean, what is the strike zone for a duck 665 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 3: sized Drew Gilbert? 666 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 2: Though? 667 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 3: I but then he'd be walked, which by which it 668 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 3: would be waddling. I don't know. I feel as if 669 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 3: perhaps just one Drew Gilbert size Drew Gilbert is absolutely perfect. 670 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 3: That's my answer. I refuse to ask the question. 671 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 2: Well I should have. 672 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: My answer should have been layof the gummies, kid, because 673 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 1: that was obviously my son after taking a few gummies. 674 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 3: Legal in California. Everyone well, is that. 675 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're going out on top with a thousand duck 676 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: sized Drew Gilberts. 677 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 2: We can't top that one. Another great episode, Susan, Thanks 678 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 2: a lot. 679 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: Happy Holidays to everybody out there like and subscribe. 680 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: We love when you guys in the comments. We read 681 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 2: them all. 682 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: You guys are the best and we're having a blast 683 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: and Like I said, we're gonna do this three times 684 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: a week during the season, so we'll break down some 685 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 1: games for you. But right now it's the holidays and 686 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: we're just enjoyed talking to you guys. 687 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 2: Susan, have a great holiday. I will see you soon, 688 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: all right. 689 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 3: Thanks a thanks everyone for all your questions to We 690 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 3: really appreciate it. 691 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 2: Yes, Swingharten in case you hit it.