1 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: All right, it's another episode of splash Hit, and I 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: have to separate the two because my son pointed out 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: to me in the Buck Showalter episode that I ran 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: it together a little too fast and that would be 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: a really messy podcast if that were the name of this. 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: So welcome to another episode of splash Hit. We are 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: joined by our freaking contributor, Susan Selser. Susan, what's going on? 8 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: Glad to have you today. 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 3: Oh, it's so good to be here. Yeah. As a writer, 10 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 3: I appreciate you being very careful with terminology and words. 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 4: I think that's a very good thing. 12 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: You just got to go slow and separate him. So 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: we got a fun show today. It's a mail bag show. 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: We're gonna answer questions from fans, and we're real thankful 15 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,319 Speaker 1: for all the fans that we have so far. We're 16 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: trying to get some more subscribers, so subscribe to splash 17 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: Hit Territory. 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: Next goal is three thousand. 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: We have two thousands right now, and all the feedback 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: from you guys has been so flattery and overwhelming, and we're. 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: Glad that you're enjoying the podcast. 22 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: We're just here having fun talking giants baseball during the 23 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: off season, and we're gonna do three shows a week 24 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: during the season. We're break down some games and stuff 25 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: and that'll be fun for us too. 26 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: But today, Susan, it's the mail bag. Where do we start? 27 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 2: What do we got? 28 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: Well, let's we had so many good ones, which is 29 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: really exciting because there's a lot, you know, there's a 30 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: lot to talk about at this time of year with 31 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 3: the Giants. But one I was really glad to see 32 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 3: pop up, and you and I both kind of went 33 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 3: through the questions and picked out some. But this one, 34 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 3: I think it's a very timely because I actually was 35 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 3: writing a story about this when I saw this pop up. 36 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 3: Could the Giants? It's talking giants, which is what we're doing. 37 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,479 Speaker 3: Who knew could the Giants go after Nico Horner via 38 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 3: trade from the Cubs? Well, my story in the Chronicle 39 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 3: today and that was online yesterday. The Giants have called 40 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 3: on Nico Horner. Now we've talked a lot fp about 41 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: the fact that the Giants have called on almost everybody, 42 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 3: you know, any of the spots that they think they 43 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 3: need some help. They're you know, starting pitchers, relievers, apparently 44 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: zeg and Basement because they've been calling and the agent's 45 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 3: were telling me all during the winter meetings, Hey, did 46 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 3: you know the Giants are actually calling on second basement too? 47 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 3: And of course outfielders, so nice to know Nico Horner 48 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 3: is among those. But there are other you know. They've 49 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 3: been linked to Katel Marte, they have been linked to 50 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 3: Brandon Lowe, all sorts of possibilities, and of course Brennan 51 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 3: Donovan is a guy who I think they were described 52 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 3: as front runners for. I'm not sure I would go 53 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 3: that far, and I don't see this as really their 54 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 3: top priority. Unless they cannot get a big outfield bat, 55 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 3: like a real offensive bat, the place you could add 56 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 3: some offense might be second. And if you got somebody 57 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 3: like Nico Horner, let's talk about him really specifically. He's 58 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 3: got one year left on his deal with the Cubs. 59 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 3: He actually led them in war last year and what 60 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 3: terrific season, and since moving to second base he's won 61 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 3: two Gold Gloves. This is a guy for me. Maybe 62 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 3: you do pony up a little bit in a trade 63 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 3: because he's also potentially a really good candidate for a 64 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 3: contract extension. Because he's local, he's from Oakland, he played 65 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 3: at Stanford. I think that he would be if that 66 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: is the spot they really feel like they want to 67 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 3: add something. 68 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 4: He'd be the perfect guy for me. 69 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I've been thinking about him all off season. 70 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: He's a perfect giant and he's a perfect guy for buster. 71 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: Posey, scrappy guy. 72 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: Hits the ball to all fields, plays plus defense, like 73 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: you're saying, doesn't love to strike out. But he's intense 74 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: and he brings energy every single day. And I don't 75 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: know if this is breaking news or not, but I 76 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: heard this, and I don't know exactly where it is, 77 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: but he bought a home in the city of San Francisco, 78 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: in kW Hollow. 79 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 4: And that was what I told you. 80 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: That well, I heard from my friends because it's right 81 00:03:58,520 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: by this place, right here, So. 82 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: I was like, I might get a beat him. I 83 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: love the way he plays. He's scrappy man, and he's 84 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: a good player. And when you talk about Chapman a 85 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: Damas Horner endeavors in your infield, that's a solid, solid infield. 86 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: And if it's Ktel Marte, I don't know if that's 87 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: going to happen, but if you even had a guy 88 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: like him, and now you got Chapman a Damas Marte 89 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: endeavors that would be one of the best infields in 90 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: the National League. But I think what Buster Posey's looking for, 91 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: Susan is these type of players, winning players that can bunk, 92 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: guys over, can hit behind, runners that don't like to 93 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: strike out, that put the ball and play to all 94 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: fields that are scrappy. I mean, when you think of 95 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: Giants baseball, a guy like Nico Horner would be like 96 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: the poster kid for what Buster Posey wants to do well. 97 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 3: And here's another way look at it too, and it 98 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 3: brings us into some of this week's moves. If you 99 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 3: have an infield of essentially above average and a couple 100 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 3: goal glove glovers in the infield, and you add someone 101 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 3: like Adrian Houser, who a pretty sinker heavy guy, you've 102 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 3: already got Logan Webb who's sinker heavy. You know, when 103 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 3: you're talking about a team that missed the postseason by 104 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: two games right there, that could be you know, the 105 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 3: difference of another win or two, maybe even more with 106 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 3: a really solid infield defense. And this is going to 107 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: bring I love how these things work. This is our 108 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 3: next question, and I think this is appropriate from Drew 109 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 3: Gilbert stan and I've got you know what, I'm gonna 110 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 3: surprise you because I got a Drew Drew Gilbert question 111 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 3: for you later specifically, but I read last year at 112 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: first base the first time Devers posted a positive war defensively. 113 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 3: I saw a couple of plays from Hi at the 114 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: end that looked very intuitive, like you've been playing there 115 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 3: his whole career. Do you think he supplants Eldridge? Does 116 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 3: that make Eldridge expendable? I think there are a few 117 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 3: things that we can talk about here FP. First of all, yes, 118 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 3: Devers Devors looks really good to me. Defensively, I think 119 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 3: he could be an elite first basement. If you take 120 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 3: a sort of average to maybe slightly below average big 121 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 3: league third basement and move them to first oftentimes that 122 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: can be the case. So I and then we're working 123 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 3: with Ron Washington. Oh my gosh, I mean, he really 124 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: could be among the better first basemen in the league 125 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: really quickly, because look how look how fast it was 126 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: last year, just a couple of months, and Drew Gilbert 127 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 3: stan who's also Matt Chapman's talk, He's got a lot 128 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 3: going on there. He really improves so quickly in just 129 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 3: those two months, and by the end of the season 130 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 3: really really did look right, very good there. So what 131 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 3: are your thoughts there? And then and then we'll talk 132 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 3: about Eldridge. 133 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: There's a lot of nuances at first base that the 134 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: only thing that is going to make you better is 135 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: game experience. So he could work with Wash, and Wash 136 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: is amazing and that'll help definitely. But there's all kinds 137 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: of game situations that pop up. And when I talked 138 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: to Ryan Zimmerman when I was in DC, who moved 139 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: from third to first, his biggest challenge was how far 140 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: to his right towards second base he goes for a ball? 141 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: When do I hit the brakes and peel back to 142 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: first or how far do I go for a baseball? 143 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: There's little things like bunt de's and cutoffs that you 144 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: just you just have to play enough where it's second 145 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: nature and you're not actually thinking every pitch like I 146 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: have to be here on this and it's instinctual, because 147 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: he did his whole life at third base to where 148 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: he just knew where to be all the time and 149 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: it was just like secondhand. And I think he got 150 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: a bad rap devers at third base. I think he 151 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: was a lot better than people said he was, you know, 152 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: the whole bragmant thing, and we don't have to get 153 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: back into that. 154 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: But I think with Rafi at. 155 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: First base, I don't know if gold gloves in the 156 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: mix for him, but definitely definitely inadequatey. He's a good 157 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: athlete and he picked things up really quickly, So yeah, 158 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of his at first base. 159 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: I think he's only going to get better. 160 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 3: I don't know. 161 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if he's going to be an elite 162 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: defensive first baseman ever, but he's going to be good 163 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: enough to Here's the thing is a former infielder, I 164 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: want my first baseman. I want to confidence in my 165 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: first basement where I just let the ball go and 166 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: I know he's gonna pick it. I know he's gonna 167 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: make the play once I release the baseball. When you 168 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: have a below average first basement over there, now I 169 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: start to press as an infielder that I know I 170 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: have to be perfect with my throws. Jason Giambi never 171 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: got enough credit at first base, like could he feel. 172 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: The ground ball? 173 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 3: Now? 174 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: It looked like a gang fight at times, but as 175 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: far as picking like short hops, he was as good 176 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: as anybody ever played. 177 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 2: With and I had JT. Snow which speaks for itself. 178 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: When I was in San Francisco and David Seghie in 179 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: Montreal was as good as anybody I've ever seen at 180 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: first base. So what that does is relaxes me as 181 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: a first baseman. And if you watched Willie a Damas 182 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 1: over this past season, he has a little short arm 183 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: in his delivery sometimes where the ball doesn't always get 184 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: to first base in the air and it's not on 185 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: the fly. 186 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: Excuse me. 187 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: Where you're gonna need a first baseman with a Damas 188 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: as your shortstop where he does the pat on the 189 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: glove and maybe wash fixes the pat because when you 190 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: feel the ground ball for your younger kids listening to this, 191 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: and I know there's tons of them, when you pat 192 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: your glove once you feel the ball and you go 193 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: like this before you throw. 194 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: Now, you have a tendency to get off rhythm to. 195 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: Where your feet aren't underneath you, and your release point 196 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: can get a little bit different, almost like a pitcher. 197 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 1: And if that's off because of this timing thing. Number one, 198 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: the runner is getting a step on you when you 199 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: do this. Number two, you don't know where you're going 200 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: to release it and it can go low. And Willi 201 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: does that lot. Well, He's a great shortstop. He made 202 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: some fantastic plays, but I think the confidence Chapman hits 203 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: you in the chest, you don't care. But with Willy 204 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: at shortstop, I think if Devers can show that he 205 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: can pick baseballs cleanly on the rag, then that gives 206 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: Adamis more confidence. And what happens is you start hitting 207 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: the guy in the chest because you're not thinking about it. 208 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 3: Well, the second half of this was do you think 209 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 3: he suppliants Eldridge? Does that make Eldridge expendable? You know, 210 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 3: this is a topic that we've kind of discussed a 211 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: lot this offseason. Is price Eldridge? Is he available via trade? 212 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 3: Certainly teams would have interest. I wouldn't do it for 213 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: one year somebody so much as I love Nico Horner, 214 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 3: for instance, I wouldn't consider that. And as we talked before, 215 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 3: I like, I think like a hunter green level guy, 216 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 3: three more years of service, maybe somebody like that. But 217 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 3: I do think that Devers is the first baseman flat out. 218 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 3: You know, the front office, coaching staff, they've all sort 219 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: of mentioned that here since since Devers started playing first, 220 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 3: that he's the first baseman. So to me, Eldridge is 221 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 3: occasionally maybe a bill in there, but mostly a DH. 222 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 4: How are you seeing it? 223 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think Eldridge has to take the job from 224 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: Devers eventually, right when that is because Rafi said like 225 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: publicly that he'd rather be out in the field, that 226 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: he felt like he was a part of it. That 227 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: DH was weird for him because he just thought about 228 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: his at bats the small times IDHD in the minor leagues, 229 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: it was like pinch hitting four times, where you just 230 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: like you go hit and then you wait an hour 231 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: and then you think about your last bat. 232 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: When you're on defense, you're. 233 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: Thinking about plays, you're talking to umpires, you're talking to 234 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: base runners, you're in the flow of the game, you're 235 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: getting a sweat going. It's like going from zero to sixty, 236 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: stepping into that on deck circle, then in the batter's box. 237 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: And I always admire guys that could do that. I 238 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: really did, because there's an art to pinch hitting four 239 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: times a game as a DH essentially what it is. 240 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:24,719 Speaker 1: So I think if Eldridge shows a that he can 241 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: make the team, I still thinks he has to prove that, 242 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: Like he's a part of this. 243 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: At his age, I don't. 244 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: Think there's a rush with a twenty one year old. 245 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: And I was all for rushing him last year, like 246 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: let's see, let's see, let's see. But now you have 247 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: Dever's there, and I don't know what kind of progress 248 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: Bryce Eldridge makes as a DH defensively. So that's that's 249 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: a conundrum, a good conundrum to have. But I don't 250 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: think you trade Bryce. I really don't. I think you 251 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: keep him unless unless there's just a package that knocks 252 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: your socks off and you just can't say no to 253 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: it and it helps the organization for not just next year, 254 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: but a number of years. 255 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, is that Eldridge is more comfortable at DH than Devers? 256 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 3: Is he DHD in high school? He didn't play a 257 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 3: position in the field. It was a two way guy, 258 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 3: pitcher and a hitter. But as a DH. So you know, 259 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 3: I've said numerous times you don't really want to make 260 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 3: a twenty one year old essentially a permanent DH. But 261 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 3: you know there's dhs in both leagues now every game 262 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 3: has a DH. I'm not necessarily sure that that's a 263 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 3: terrible thing when you do have a pretty quality guy 264 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 3: playing the one position you might put Rice at, but 265 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 3: he needs to be able to fill in adequately at 266 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: the very least. Let's go to another question about another 267 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 3: one of the young players. And I was very happy 268 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 3: to see this question because I like Tyler Fitzgerald a lot. 269 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 4: I kind of am. 270 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: Wondering what's going on with him too. You were a 271 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 3: guy I really am interested to hearing your impressions at 272 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 3: Tyler Fitzgerald, because you know this role so well. It 273 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 3: seems like potential speed on the base pass is a 274 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 3: utility guy filling at second base or potential trade piece. 275 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 4: FP Tyler Fitzgerald, Well, I. 276 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 2: Mean being utility players a lot of work. Every day. 277 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: You got to take ground balls in every position. I 278 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: used to just shag in the outfield at one position, 279 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: and so there's a lot of work involved in being 280 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: a utility player. Because when you walk into that clubhouse 281 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: and you. 282 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 2: See a five or six or a four by your name, 283 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: they're not rating how you look. 284 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: That's a position that you're going to play that night, 285 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: So you have to be ready for all of them. 286 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,599 Speaker 2: And watching Tyler. 287 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 1: Over the last couple of years, there's flashes of brilliance. 288 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: But I think with Tyler Fitzgerald's game. And I got 289 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: to be careful with what I say right here because 290 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: he's he's he could be more aggressive. 291 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 2: I guess that's the way to put it. 292 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: Like on the basis, a little more swagger to his game, 293 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: a little more confidence, and just his approach in with 294 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: his speed, he has to put the ball in play 295 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: more often. Like there was a saying back in the day, 296 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: down and run. Mean, he hit the ball on the 297 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: ground with two strikes and then see what happens. He 298 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: puts so much pressure on infield when he just simply 299 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: hits a ground ball with two strikes. So there's a 300 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,599 Speaker 1: lot of swing and miss in his game. For a 301 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: guy with so much speed. If he could spread out. 302 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 2: Choke up, shorten up, bunt more, he's pretty good bunder. 303 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 2: He doesn't do it a whole lot. 304 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: When Buster Posey says meat on the bone, and we've 305 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: talked about this on this show before, there's so much 306 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: more meat on the bone. But in my experiences in 307 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: coaching and my experiences in playing, I don't know if 308 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: you can teach the things that Tyler Fitzgerald needs to 309 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: improve on. 310 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 2: I think you either have that or you don't have that. 311 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: So I'm a big fan of the human being the 312 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: nicest kid in that whole clubhouse. 313 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 2: But I think if if Tyler Fitzgerald wasn't nice, he 314 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: had a little more fu in him, which he does, 315 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 2: but just a little more. I think, God, he's got 316 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: so much. He's got more talent on his pinky finger 317 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: than I ever had, with his size, his pop, his speed, 318 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: everything about his game. 319 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: But it just needs that intangible I think, just to 320 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: turn up a notch or two or three or four, 321 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: and that he. 322 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 2: Would be a star major leaguer with the ability he has. 323 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, the confidence, to me, that's the real key. We 324 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 3: saw him play and spurt so well, and certainly the pop. 325 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 3: You love the pop and the speed. I don't think 326 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 3: he's a guy you give up on. He's a little 327 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 3: on the older side. 328 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 4: He's kind of moved out of prospect territory. 329 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 3: That's one caveat, and for that reason, he might not 330 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: necessarily bring back a ton in a trade. They did 331 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 3: use him in the outfield at Sacramento in the second 332 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 3: half last year, trying to make him into more of 333 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: a full utility player. I like that idea, the confidence, 334 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 3: and then also he was one of the guys last 335 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 3: year who was prone to making base running mistakes, defensive mistakes, 336 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 3: mental mistakes. Some of that's confidence, some of that is 337 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: just experience. I think he needs to iron that out 338 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 3: of his game. Somebody like Ron Washington, I think is 339 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 3: going to help there a lot. I certainly hope he 340 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 3: gets a lot of opportunities to work with Wash because 341 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 3: I think that that could really take care of of 342 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 3: some of those things. And then, of course the base 343 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: running with Jase Tinler, I there were so many unwarranted 344 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 3: base running mistakes almost team wise. There are a few 345 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 3: guys who are extremely good based runners who even once 346 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 3: in a while fumble. 347 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 4: That's going to happen. 348 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 3: But Tyler Fitzgerald has to get the mistakes out of 349 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 3: his game. 350 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 2: If if Nico Horner becomes a giant. 351 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: Casey Schmid is your utility guy, and that's going to 352 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: affect Tyler Fitzgerald. And I'm wondering, based on what you say, 353 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: if Ron Washington can make me a better broadcaster, because 354 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it sounds like this guy. 355 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 4: You'd have to use the bleep button awful lot. You 356 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 4: really would, though it would be very under well. 357 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 2: We both love Ron Washington. 358 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: That's that's been chronicled down here and it's one of 359 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: the better ads for the Giants this offseason. 360 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 3: Well, let's talk about you know, we're in the young 361 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 3: player portion of I guess this mail bag, But who 362 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 3: do you think will take the next step up? This 363 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 3: is from Benjamin Contraras. I think Birdsong is a chance 364 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 3: to make a big impact on the team, great stuff, 365 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 3: chance to grow under by Tello and this coaching staff. Yes, 366 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 3: I think that's that's definitely the case. But it's going 367 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 3: to be the strike throwing. If he is not consistently 368 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 3: throwing strikes I've mentioned on here. I think potentially a 369 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 3: move to the bullpen could be something that helps him. Oh, 370 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 3: the talent, I feel like I'm talking about Fitzgerald again, 371 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 3: but especially we gosh, bird Song the first half last 372 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 3: year was just spectacular. I mean, the stuff is outstanding. 373 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 3: If he's throwing strikes. What happened to MFP is that? 374 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 3: I mean that's Has anybody figured that out? 375 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 4: What do you think? 376 00:17:58,680 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 2: Yeah? 377 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: I wouldn't know from experience, but the mound is a 378 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: lonely place where you can't throw strikes. And we saw 379 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: him with swagger and confidence and cockiness, a little like 380 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: Mark Fiterich where he was talking to himself after every 381 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: pitch shot on the broadcast last year, he threw a 382 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: curveball that was nasty and they zoomed on his face. 383 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 2: He's like, oooh, that was nasty. 384 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: So like when he had that, he was unhittable that 385 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: all of a sudden that left And there were some 386 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: weird quotes. I forget what they were about after a 387 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: game one time where he could just tell he was 388 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: deep in his own head. So again in Tangibles, in 389 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: a game where we have so many measurements analytically with 390 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: a lot of math involved, it comes down to confidence 391 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: and believing in yourself and you start overthinking things, you 392 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: start tinkering. Then you forget where he started because you're 393 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: so far different with your mechanics, and his release point 394 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: was off confidence waiver. There's tons of meat on that bone, 395 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: whether he's a starter or re leieve. I'm a big 396 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: Hayden Bird Sog fan. But the young player I'm really 397 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: excited about, and I think that Tony Vaiitello is going 398 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: to have a huge impact on and already has in 399 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: his career, is Drew Gilbert. He energized that team last 400 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: year I don't know if he's an everyday right fielder yet, 401 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: but I just love the kids so much. 402 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 2: I love the energy he brings, I love the swagger 403 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 2: he brings. 404 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: Back to our last podcast where or a few ago, 405 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: where I said, I hope the Giants are the most 406 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: hated team in baseball, I really do. Drew Gilbert would 407 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: be a big reason. And there was some things behind 408 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: the scenes last year that I heard that were yelled 409 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: by Drew on the top step in the heat of 410 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: battle that may or may not got the attention of 411 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: the other team. But those guys, to their credit, the 412 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: veterans on that team just let him go. 413 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 2: They let him be himself, like dude, you do you? 414 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: And he energized that ball club for a long time, 415 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: and he gave him a confidence and a cockiness and 416 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,439 Speaker 1: a swagger that I don't think as a group that 417 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: they necessarily had at times with those lulls last year. 418 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: So while energy guys are good and they're fun, you 419 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: still have to perform. And if you walk the talk 420 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: and you start to put up numbers, and then you're 421 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: that guy. You know, Garrison in Vader's a guy A 422 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: lot like that. Guys that can add something to a 423 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: club with their attitude. But the attitude has to match 424 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: the performance. 425 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 2: So for Drew it. 426 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: Can get a little it can it can get a 427 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: little old if you're not performing and you can and 428 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: then and then you see a guy kind of get 429 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: back into a shell. So I think the sky's the 430 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: limit for Drew Man. I'm just rooting for the kid 431 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 1: I compared him and on the field I got so 432 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: criticized on this on as for saying he reminded me 433 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 1: of Lenny Dykstra, but he does as a player, not 434 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: about car washes and all this stuff Lenny Dykster cut 435 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 1: into after his career. 436 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 2: But but he has a little Lenny Dykster in him. 437 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you know what. The young player I'm most 438 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 3: excited about, uh, and I do have more I'm going 439 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 3: to bring up to you again as I said, But 440 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 3: the young player I'm most interested in this spring and 441 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 3: I hope during the season is Hey sus Rodriguez the catcher. 442 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 4: He looks like. 443 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 3: Potentially certainly a good hitting catcher, which the would make 444 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 3: such a nice compliment with Patrick Bailey, but potentially as 445 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 3: he gets experience and learns how to catch a little 446 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 3: bit more, he was a convert in the in the minors. 447 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 3: I think, you know, the hope is that he will 448 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 3: be a very good two way catcher. I think he 449 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 3: could be pretty special. So I'm really looking forward to 450 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 3: seeing him. I when Buster Posey says this was a 451 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 3: kid we really really wanted and it's a catcher that 452 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 3: that makes me take notice. So yeah, that makes me 453 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 3: pretty excited about that we got. Hey, everyone, work with everyone. 454 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 3: All the questions so far put up were from Twitter 455 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 3: or x or whatever you want to call it. I 456 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 3: still say Twitter. There here's b K Adventures on YouTube. 457 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 3: The YouTube comments asked a bunch of questions, so let's 458 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 3: go through some of them kind of quickly. And uh, 459 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 3: I miss Wade. I'm not sure which way this is. 460 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 3: Uh is Lamont? Is it Wade Meckler. 461 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 2: It's the Mechlinator for sure, because it's talking about. 462 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think so. 463 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 3: I mean Lamont was briefly in the outfield, but yeah, 464 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 3: I Wade Meckler is another one. I do think he 465 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 3: could be a decent big league hitter. It hasn't really, 466 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 3: you know, between health things and just not really having 467 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 3: the opportunity. I don't know if we'll how much we'll 468 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: see him in a Giant's uniform at the big league level. 469 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 3: What were your impressions. I know that coaching staff really 470 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 3: has liked him a lot. 471 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 2: I think he was a blow up average outfielder. 472 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: And when I think of Wade Meckler, I mean and 473 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: being a utility player myself, like I think of him 474 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: running after balls on the warning track and inside the 475 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: park home runs is my first take. He's a decent 476 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: enough hitter. But you know, Susan, you get your day 477 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: in the sun, you gotta shine man. You get a 478 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 1: chance at the major league level, you got to take 479 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: advantage of that opportunity in every way as a complete 480 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: baseball player. So, if I'm being honest, he's not even 481 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 1: on my radar. Not that I want to say that 482 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: he's a bad player, but I just think that it 483 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: would have happened by now if it was going to happen. 484 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 4: I think you're probably right. 485 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 3: Anyword on when the Giants will announce their coaching staff. 486 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 4: Why the delay? This is a great question we've all 487 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 4: been asking. 488 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 3: We thought the first day of the Winter meetings, there 489 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 3: was thought that they would announce the coaching staff, and 490 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 3: it's more than a week later. We have yet to hear. 491 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 3: I mean, all the names are out there. I reported 492 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 3: a couple more last week. The Giants have made a 493 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 3: lot of internal promotions, which I love that, but any 494 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 3: any day now, I guess I thought that they would 495 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 3: announce the coaching staff before we got some moves, And 496 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 3: of course they've added Houser and Jason Foley in the 497 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 3: last week, so that came before the coaching staff. 498 00:23:57,760 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 4: Anything anything to other. 499 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 2: I have no idea. 500 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: I do know if I was a free agent, I 501 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: would want to know as a player, right, yeah, I 502 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 1: think you know who the skipper is, you know the 503 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: pitching coaches, you know the hitting coaches well. 504 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 3: And they know everybody, so if they're talking to free agents, 505 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,199 Speaker 3: they can say like, look, this is our staff. What 506 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 3: the Buster and Tony Vaitello indicated during the winter meetings 507 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 3: is that there's still some of the rules and I'm 508 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 3: guessing this means just first and third maybe are still 509 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 3: kind of being hashed out, so they want to make 510 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 3: sure that's all. Hey, but by the time some people 511 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 3: are listening to this show, it might have been announced. 512 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 3: So let's not spend too much time. But let's see, 513 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 3: what was this last question? Do you see Smith sticking 514 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 3: with the Giants. I hear he's been practicing in the outfield. 515 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 3: Could he transition to a utility role? Dom Smith, of course, 516 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 3: is who were discussing. I'm a huge John dom Smith fan. 517 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 3: I love the way play it played it first, I think, 518 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 3: you know, guys like that are probably ones who sign 519 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: a little bit later in the winter, talking to various 520 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 3: different agents. They want to wait and see what the 521 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 3: opportunities are. But certainly, I think all things being equal, 522 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 3: I think Dom Smith would really welcome I returned to 523 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 3: the Giants. His career got completely rejuvenated playing for the Giants, 524 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 3: and he was just a nice bit And what a 525 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 3: great guy. Eddie could hit, Eddie could field. That's what 526 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 3: the kind of guys the Giants are looking for, right. 527 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's still good a defense. 528 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: He could teach Ron Washington a thing or two about 529 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: how the coach defense. No, I'll tell you what, just 530 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: getting to know the guy amazing, But what a pleasant surprise. Defensively, 531 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: had no idea that Dom Smith was that smooth around 532 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 1: the bag. I mean all the plays he made and 533 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: I watched him play as a met and that's just 534 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: never you know, you can see him maybe fifteen times 535 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: a year, and I don't remember that part of his game. 536 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: My favorite part about Tom Smith was his defense number one, 537 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 1: but the two strike approach where he'd spread out Gono's 538 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: tried and. 539 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 2: Just try to put the ball in play. 540 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 1: He and Wilmer Flores, to me, were the two guys 541 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: in the lineup that that really cared about putting the 542 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,719 Speaker 1: ball in play with two strikes. Wilmer would spread out 543 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: and choke up too, but Dom had a knack for 544 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: just throwing the hands at the baseball while he was 545 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: choked up with two strikes. And he got a bunch 546 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: of big hits with two strikes this year. And to 547 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: have a guy that I forget what game it was, 548 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: but somebody got thrown out, he came in the game 549 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: and then he got a big hit late. To have 550 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 1: a guy that's a veteran guy on the bench that 551 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,719 Speaker 1: knows how to be ready at a moment's notice and 552 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: put the barrel on the baseball consistently, and to play 553 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: plus defense. When you have a guy like Rafael Devers 554 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: at first base, you're gonna need a guy in the 555 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: eighth and ninth ending with a. 556 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: Two run lead as a defensive replacement. 557 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 1: Now, that would be a tough thing for Tony Vtello 558 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: to take that big bat out of the lineup. 559 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 2: But I was raised with the game with. 560 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: Felipe and Dusty that you always had your best defense 561 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: on the field with a lead late in the game, 562 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: you know, big lead, no, but like three runs a 563 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: save opportunity. You know, you put somebody in left for Ramos, 564 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: maybe you put somebody at first for Devs. And to me, 565 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: he played left field in the minor leagues, so he 566 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: is versatile. 567 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: I could do this whole show about Tom Smith. 568 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 1: I would love if the Giants signed him back because 569 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: he's a winning player, and the Giants did lots of 570 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: winning players. 571 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 3: I agree, And just a great dude. Here's one that's 572 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 3: specifically for UFP. I really like this because I'm interested 573 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 3: in it too. Did your preparation change here to year? 574 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 3: When did you start to ramp up after the previous season, 575 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,479 Speaker 3: and what advice would you give to the young or 576 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 3: older Giants players as they prepare. I really liked that 577 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 3: one a lot. 578 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it depended if I was driving or 579 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: flying to spring training. If I was driving to spring training, 580 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 1: I would sit on the couch with a steering wheel 581 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 1: in my hand for a couple of days to get 582 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: in shape for the drive. 583 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 2: But I'll tell you this seriously about preparing for spring training. 584 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 2: It changes every year. Man. 585 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: It depends on your age, it depends on your contract status. 586 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 2: You know, it was always hit in the off season. 587 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: I would ramp up right after the holidays, but the 588 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: weightlifting started in November. You would take October off and 589 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: try to decompress and let your body heal, and then 590 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: in November you really started lifting the weights and getting 591 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 1: in the weight room. December came around, you start getting 592 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 1: a little bit antsy, maybe you start throwing and hitting 593 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: a little bit. 594 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 2: But after the new year, you know you got a 595 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 2: good month. 596 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 1: And some change is when you start hitting in the 597 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: cage and take a ground balls. 598 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 2: But there was always training involved. 599 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 1: I mean for a guy that was married at the 600 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 1: time with kids, you know, the off season is supposed 601 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: to be for family. But when you were the twenty 602 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,399 Speaker 1: fifth guy on the roster every year, I had to 603 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: always I was always tinkering. I was always tinkering. I 604 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: never had the same routine. It would have been so 605 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: nice mentally to know that I had the same routine 606 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 1: every year. 607 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 2: But it's like, do I want to be bigger and 608 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 2: bulkier this year? Do I want to be leaner and 609 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: faster this year? 610 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: Do I want to work on this part of my game? 611 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: What position am I playing? 612 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 2: Who? Did I sign a contract yet? Am I trying 613 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 2: to make a team in spring training? So? 614 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: Do I have to go in ready to make that team? 615 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: Do I have a contract where I could ramp up 616 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: in spring training and take a deep breath? 617 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 2: So long answer to that is just like it just 618 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 2: varied every year for me. 619 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I guess that giving advice to any Giants players, 620 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 3: it seems like the off season now is such an 621 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 3: individual thing. I don't even know how necessarily you would 622 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 3: go about doing that. But this is a WBC year too, 623 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 3: Does that change things in terms of preparation? 624 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, these guys got to be ready to play games 625 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: that matter right out of the gate. And that's been 626 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: my only contention with the WBC, Like we're creatures of habit, 627 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: and we're used to getting ramped up for end of March, 628 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: early April for opening Day, and all of a sudden, 629 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: you're putting forty thousand people in a stadium and adrenalines 630 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 1: taken over, and you have to get hit the gas 631 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: pedal when you're not ready to hit the gas pedal. 632 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, those guys are probably starting a lot earlier 633 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: than I did. I would imagine the guys that in 634 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: the WBC started locking in maybe early December or right now, 635 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: or I won't say November, but maybe early December. 636 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 3: Well, I love this one so much. I jumped again 637 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 3: a little bit. But putting it back up, I put 638 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 3: in the whole conversation here, f because this made me laugh. 639 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 3: You might be anticipating it because you know, you had 640 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 3: a little photo about Drew Gilbert and this is your son, 641 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 3: Frank Paul Junior. Would you rather fight a thousand duck 642 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 3: sized Drew Gilberts or one elephant sized Drew Gilbert. People 643 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 3: really seem to like this question. I don't know where 644 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 3: I weigh in, but obviously you're kind of thinking advanced 645 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 3: stuff here. I just worry that one elephant sized Drew 646 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 3: Gilbert would really create some havoc in the dugout. 647 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: It would and it probably wouldn't run very fast, and 648 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: that's a big part of. 649 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 2: Drew Gilbert's game. 650 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: So and then I asked if, like do the thousand 651 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: ducks or whatever it is fly, And my son said, yeah, 652 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: so a thousand Drew Gilberts that fly beat one elephant. 653 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: That's gonna just clog up the base pass if I'm 654 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: being honest, Like, how many base hits does it take an. 655 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 2: Elephant to score from first? I'm going to say like 656 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 2: seven or eight? I mean, what is the. 657 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 3: Strike zone for a duck sized Drew Gilbert? 658 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 2: Though? 659 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 3: I but then he'd be walking, which by which it 660 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 3: would be waddling. I don't know. I feel as if 661 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 3: perhaps just one Drew Gilbert size Drew Gilbert is absolutely perfect. 662 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 3: That's my answer. I refuse to ask the question. 663 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 2: Well I should have. 664 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: My answer should have been layoff the gummies, kid, because 665 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: that was obviously my son after taking a few gummies. 666 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 3: Legal in California. Everyone well, is that. 667 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're going out on top with a thousand duck 668 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: sized Drew Gilberts. 669 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 2: We can't top that one. Another great episode, Susan, Thanks 670 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 2: a lot. Happy Holidays to everybody out there. Like and subscribe. 671 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 2: We love when you guys in the comments. We read 672 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 2: them all. You guys are the best, and we're having 673 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 2: a blast. 674 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: And like I said, we're gonna do this three times 675 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: a week during the season, so we'll break down some 676 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 1: games for you. But right now it's the holidays and 677 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: we're just enjoyed talking to you guys. 678 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 2: Susan, have a great holiday. I will see you soon, 679 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: all right. 680 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 3: Thanks a thanks everyone for all your questions to We 681 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 3: really appreciate it. 682 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: Yes, Swingharten in case you hit it.