Tag: Madison Bumgarner

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants nearly come back on Dodgers on Thursday night

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Dodgers nearly did what they did on Wednesday night and run away with a ballgame as the Dodgers started out the game with a 6-0 lead.

#2 The Giants rallied back in the last three innings of the game and nearly tied up the ball game against Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen.

#3 On a Giant bunt by Tyler Austin up the first base side, Dodger first baseman Cody Bellinger’s throw to third base that Giants baserunner Stephen Vogt was called out. The play was reviewed and it look like Vogt’s foot hit the bag about the same time the ball hit Dodger third baseman Justin Turner’s glove how did Michael see it.

#4 When the Dodgers’ Max Muncy came up to the plate to face Giants starter Madison Bumgarner the Dodger’s scoreboard showed a replay of the home run that Muncy hit off Bumgarner last time the Dodgers were in San Francisco plus the Dodgers played “Under the Sea” and “Smoke on the Water” during the replay.

#5 The Giants are in Arizona for a three-game battle with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will start Jeff Samardzija (3-6) going against the Diamondbacks’ Taylor Clark (1-2).

Michael does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Dodgers show love of new t-shirts are as deep as the ocean; Giants Pomeranz and Panda pitch and hit for win over the Brew Crew; plus more

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@adriangarro photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncey gets a laugh out of the freshly printed t-shirts on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium in reference to his chatter with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner after hitting a home run off him on the Dodgers last trip to San Francisco.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Who would ever thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ever print the famous words from Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after he hit a splash hit off San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner when Muncy and the Dodgers were in San Francisco that said “Go get it out of the ocean” a reference to Bumgarner telling Muncy to “run and not watch the ball” after a home run and then Muncy telling Bumgarner “If you don’t want me to watch the ball go get it out of the ocean.” The Dodgers this week have been wearing blue t-shirts with those words printed on it.

#2 For the second consecutive game, San Francisco Giants pitcher Drew Pomeranz got the winning decision in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pomeranz pitched for five innings, giving five hits and two runs striking out five hitters.

#3 The once former Boston Red Sox third baseman that was given up for dead Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco went 3-4 on Friday night, including a double and a home run

#4 The Oakland A’s are certainly a ball club that is playing .500 ball after their 10-game win streak a couple weeks back ended they have been playing some back and forth ball going 6-4 on their last road trip and dropping their first game to Seattle 9-2 to open a homestand in Oakland on Friday night.

#5 You have to enjoy the two-way competition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays with a 1/2 game margin over the Yankees make it for a competitive battle. The Rays bounced back from having the A’s taking two out three from them in their previous series with a win over the LA Angels 9-4. The Yankees got trounced on Friday night by the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

Matt does the MLB podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Bumgarner’s Last Act In S.F.?: If so, it’s quintessential MadBum

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By Morris Phillips

Madison Bumgarner’s Giants career hasn’t entirely been about winning.

Yes, the Giants’ ace was around for all three World Series titles, and he became the Series MVP for the ages in 2014 for his incredible starting and relief performances against the Royals.

Bumgarner also won 18 games in 2014 and 2015, a remarkable feat of consistency, given the seasons bookended his grueling 2014 postseason.

And–as we were reminded of on Sunday afternoon–Bumgarner has battled the Dodgers tooth and nail for a decade.

In 34 career starts against the hated Blue, Bumgarner is 15-13 with a 2.52 ERA. But he hasn’t beaten the Dodgers in any of his last seven appearances.

It’s unlikely that the Giants’ ace remembers any of the wins, only the 13 losses, and definitely the last seven meetings without a win as well. That’s just who Bumgarner is, and his level of competiveness.

“He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow of Bumgarner.

In Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Dodgers, Bum’s reaction to Max Muncy’s first inning home run was priceless. Angry and combative, Bumgarner yelled at Muncy, demanding he circle the bases with no dramatics.

Muncy, clearly enjoying the moment, gestured and yelled back, as he circled the bases. The Dodgers’ slugger would later say Bum could retrieve the home run ball from the Bay if he didn’t appreciate his celebration. Muncy’s quick wit won him supporters on social media.

But Bumgarner wasn’t swayed, justifying his confronting Muncy with a simple statement bathed in his old-school mentality.

“They want to let everybody be themselves. Let me by myself — that’s me, you know?” Bumgarner explained.

With the trade deadline approaching,  Bumgarner has precious few days left as a Giant. Increasing the bittersweet nature of the iconic player being dealt are the underwhelming offers being fielded by GM Farhan Zaidi. Losing one the faces of the franchise in mid-season for a pittance isn’t very dignified, so much so that Zaidi recently reiterated that Bumgarner would not be moved unless the return is significant.

Keeping Bumgarner would be bad business, moving him removes a key presence in the clubhouse, so there’s no victory there. Watching him battle every fifth day for a club that scuffles to score runs is hard to endure too.

Hard on Bumgarner, the team, and the fans.

So the end may be near, but the appreciation for one the game’s biggest winners is unrelenting. Manager Bruce Bochy issued his thanks on the occasion of his 1,000th managerial win as a Giant on Thursday.

“What he’s done here, and I wouldn’t say what he’s done for me, it’s been an honor to manage this man,” Bochy said. “He’s done so much for the Giants organization and he’s helped put rings on our fingers and he’s still going strong. He’s one of my all-time favorites and that’s pretty obvious.”

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Muncy’s 1st inning home run leaves MadBum really mad

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from sfgate.com: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 9, 2019.

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner hates it when anyone flips a bat or makes a gesture, and when the Dodgers come to town, there’s that chance that could happen instead of the bat flipping when the Dodgers’ Max Muncy went for a splash hit into McCovey Cove in right field. The fireworks started when Muncy was admiring the homer and Bumgarner told Muncy to run and not watch the ball.

#2 Bumgarner said that he would rather fight than let the new age of hitters flip a bat or admire a home run saying Muncy could do his thing while I do mine.

#3 It was the second game of the three-game set between the two clubs and the bad blood didn’t wait to get started. Muncy said that he look for only a moment and then took two steps and started to run the bases. Muncy also said that if Bumgarner didn’t like him to watch the ball that Bumgarner could go to the ocean and get it.

#4 Things did settled down as no one would score for the rest of the afternoon as the Dodgers got a 1-0 shutout behind the fine pitching of starter Walker Buehler, who went seven innings with a shutout giving up five hits.

#5 The Giants have Monday off, but will host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Oracle with the Padres starting Chris Paddack (4-4, 2.97 ERA), and for the Giants, Tyler Beede (0-2, 8.15 ERA).

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts and reports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Muncy makes Bumgarner go swimming for the ball in Dodgers’ 1-0 win over the Giants

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Photo credit: @Lakers_newsnow

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner made only one mistake on the afternoon, and Max Muncy took advantage.

Muncy launched a Bumgarner offering 426 feet into McCovey Cove, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before a crowd of 34,098 at Oracle Park.

Following the home run, Bumgarner and Muncy began to jaw at one another and home plate umpire Will Little got between the two as Muncy rounded the bases.

He took exception to me watching the ball, I guess. Muncy said, ‘You don’t watch the ball. You run.’ That’s what he told me. Truth of it is, it’s just a guy out there competing. He was upset he made a bad pitch and that’s really all there was to it. I told him ‘If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go in the ocean and get it, Muncy added.

Little came out to give Bumgarner a new ball, and nothing was said in regards to the incident.

“They want to let everyone be themselves, then let me by myself. That’s me. You do your thing, Ill do mine. Everybody is different. That’s how I want to play, that’s how I’m going to,” said Bumgarner.

The Splash Hit by Muncy was only the second one that Bumgarner gave up in his major league career, and first since Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies did it on April 11, 2014

This was only the third time since 1900 that the Dodgers have defeated the Giants 1-0 and the only run came on a solo home run.

Trent Hubbard hit a home run off of Shawn Estes on September 20, 1998 and Dioner Navarro did it off of Tim Lincecum on July 20, 2011

In his next at-bat, Muncy grounded out to Joe Panik at second in the top of the fourth inning and then walked in the top of the sixth inning.

Panik led off the bottom of the first inning with a sharp double off of Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, but he was stranded at second base.

The Giants managed to get runners to first and second in the bottom of the third inning, but Buehler struck out Bumgarner swinging to end the inning.

Things looked promising for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Mike Yastrzemski single and then Evan Longoria followed up with a single of his own that sent Yastrzemski to third base. Unfortunately, Pablo Sandoval grounded to Justin Turner at third base and Yastrzemski broke for home, he was eventually tagged out by catcher Austin Barnes as he attempted to get back to third base.

Buehler then got Stephen Vogt to fly out to Kyle Garlick in left field, and then got out of the jam, as Kevin Pillar out flew to Chris Taylor in center field.

It was a great day for Buehler, who went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out nine on his way to seventh win of the season against just one loss.

On the other side of things, Bumgarner went seven strong innings, giving up just one run, while scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out five.

It seems that the Giants are not able to get that runner in while in scoring position, as in Saturdays 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, they went a collective 1-for-11, and in this loss, they went 0-for-7.

NOTES: With the loss, the Giants are now 11-20 on the season at home, the second-worst in the National League and have lost seven out of their last eight at home. To make matters even worse, the Giants have scored two or fewer in six of those eight games.

The last time that the Giants lost a game 1-0 at home came on June 12, 2015 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This was the first time that the Giants lost a game where the only came on a home run since July 27, 2013, when former Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz hit a solo home run to give the Chicago Cubs the 1-0 victory. Schierholtzs’ home run came in the top of the ninth inning off of Sergio Romo.

Travis Bergen, who is currently out with a left shoulder strain began his rehab assignment on Friday night with the San Jose Giants and threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. In that one inning, Bergen threw 13 pitches, nine of them for strikes.

Buster Posey continues to get better, and could be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, prior to the game versus the San Diego Padres.

UP NEXT: Following an off-day on Monday, the Giants open a brief two-game series with the San Diego Padres beginning on Tuesday night. Tyler Beede still looks for that elusive first major league victory, as he will get the start in the opener and Chris Paddack looks to his raise his record to 5-4, as he takes the mound for the Padres.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants’ Crawford makes easy work of Orioles with two homers

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abc.news.com photo: San Francisco Giants catcher Stephen Vogt (21) greets Steve Duggar, who scores on a Evan Longoria RBI double in Sunday’s game at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford didn’t waste any time, blasting two home runs in Camden Yards to trounce the Baltimore Orioles 8-1.

#2 Giants starter Jeff Samardzija got the win as he got a quality start over the struggling Orioles, going six innings and giving up three hits.

#3 With Sunday’s win, SF manager Bruce Bochy gets him just one short of the Giants record for managers with 1000 wins — one victory shy of joining John McGraw.

#4 You knew that Giants third baseman Evan Longoria was going to come around sometime. Longoria had a homer, double for two RBIs and got his second three-hit game this season.

#5 On Tuesday, the Giants will start Madison Bumgarner (3-5, 4.01 ERA) against the New York Mets Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 4.90 ERA). Morris goes over the matchup.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Struggling Giants face the inevitable parting of ways with several familiar faces

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By Morris Phillips

Of course, in the season the Giants enter the MLB trade deadline market as unrepentant sellers, a buyers market has developed that could leave the club with few, attractive options for its most desirable assets.

Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith are the biggest names the Giants have to offer. But they will also listen if teams show interest in Tony Watson or Pablo Sandoval. Wishful Giants fans thinking others like Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria or Joe Panik could be dealt for something of value are just being wishful.

Simply, on a team that’s currently 10 games below .500 (21-31) and on pace to lose 95 plus games–again–a market doesn’t currently exist for players who have underperformed or have contracts that can easily be termed an albatross.

So that brings us back to Bumgarner, Smith, Watson and Sandoval. Can any of those four in some combination bring the Giants the youthful, high-level prospects that they desire? That remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain: the offers currently being tossed about aren’t blowing GM Farhan Zaidi out of his office recliner.

The biggest factor in creating interest for any teams looking to off load veteran talent is a buyer’s market that’s robust. And take a look at the current Memorial Day standings, the number of teams that consider themselves contenders for a playoff spot or a World Series title is dwindling fast.

In the American League especially the playoff picture is–like last season–reaching clarity early. The Yankees, Twins, Astros, Rays all seem playoff worthy, and everyone outside of the Red Sox and A’s do not. That leaves one notable club, the Indians, as a likely seller, and in direct comparison to the Giants, Cleveland would appear to have more desirable starting pitchers in Trevor Bauer and Cory Kluber (currently on the injured list) than the Giants do in Bumgarner.

Of the six AL clubs that appear to have postseason resumes, few have holes in their rosters at this time that would force them to consider a big deal prior to the July 31 trade deadline. The A’s, Rays and Yankees especially are currently content to see what pieces they can add from within, as all three have pitchers that could regain their health and be significant additions from the injured list.

The Twins, Astros and Red Sox–at least to this point–haven’t generated many rumors regarding their needs, and while that could change dramatically in the next 60 days, their situations don’t appear to be headed toward a deal for a big ticket item like Smith or Bumgarner.

In the National League, two clubs, the Padres and Phillies, have expressed interest in adding a high level starter or reliever, but two clubs don’t form a competitive buyer’s market. And a deal with the Padres could be disadvantageous to the Giants, who may not be interested in strengthening a divisional rival, even for the short haul.

Another factor looms over the entire trade market, affecting any deals that are consummated, and that is the premium all 30 clubs place on their prospects, as baseball trends heavily toward younger players with controllable deals. Just look around the league, or just look at the Giants’ opponents thus far this season that have visited Oracle Park. Young pitchers are dealing, and youthful sluggers are raking all across major league baseball, and that trend makes it less likely a team will part with a top 100 prospect to add a Bumgarner or a Smith.

Finally, the July 31 trade deadline for the first time is a hard deadline. New rules prohibit any waiver wire trades after that date, limiting the time and circumstances that could trigger a significant trade. While players will still be available after July 31 through the waiver wire, that would only allow a club to shed a hefty salary as opposed to adding a desirable asset.

Well Worth the Wait: Braves take first lead in the 13th, beat the Giants 5-4

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — The list of youthful sluggers that have raked in their Oracle Park debuts is growing lengthier.

Yandy Diaz, Gleyber Torres, Aaron Senzel, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and now Austin Riley have all had big games. Consequently,  the Giants win-loss record is suffering.

Riley capped his first trip to San Francisco as a big leaguer with a two-run, game-tying home run in the eighth inning, then topped himself with the game-winning base hit in the 13th inning of the Braves’ 5-4 victory over the Giants.

The homer was Riley’s third in the series, and his fifth in his first eight, big league games. That second feat makes the slugger the fastest to hit his fifth home run in the history of the Braves franchise.

“To be able to do that is an honor,” Riley said. “The last hit was even more special to me because it put the team ahead and got the job done.”

Getting the job done in Riley’s case required driving Reyes Moronta’s 97 mph offering into the right field corner with a swing that was executed with Riley lunging and off balance. That came with two outs, and scored Darby Swanson, running at Moronta’s release, and scoring from first base.

That effectively ended the Giants’ afternoon in which they held 2-0 and 4-2 leads but couldn’t close the door. Adding to their frustration, Madison Bumgarner’s impressive, six innings of work was squandered. The Giants’ ace departed in line for the win.

“We just couldn’t get the bats going later on against their bullpen,” said manager Bruce Bochy.

While Riley showed off a natural swing that belied his age and experience, the Giants flailed. After pinch hitter Tyler Austin homered in the seventh to give the Giants’ a two-run cushion, the home team went scoreless over the final six frames. But more disturbing than the zeros was the quality of the at-bats.

In the eighth, with a runner on, Kevin Pillar and Mac Williamson fanned to end the inning. In the ninth, with two runners aboard, Buster Posey hit a chopper to the third on the first pitch. Pablo Sandoval got his opportunity as a pinch hitter in the ninth, and struck out on a pitch in the dirt.

Continuing the theme, Evan Longoria struck out in the 13th without unleashing a swing, and Williamson fanned five times, prompting questions after the game.

“We’ll talk about it,” Bochy said. “It was a rough day for Mac. I know he’s probably pressing… I can’t say probably. That’s a tough day there. So anyway, we’ll huddle up and see what we can do to add some offense here.”

The Giants open a three-game set with the Diamondbacks on Friday at Oracle Park.

Giants use 11-hit attack to hold off Snakes

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, May 18, 2019

PHOENIX — In 24 hours, things changed for the better offensively for the San Francisco Giants.

On Friday, the Giants couldn’t get a key hit when needed. On Saturday, it was key hits to spare.

San Francisco’s 11-hit attack was backed a strong start from Madison Bumgarner, as the Giants defeated Arizona 8-5.

Seven different Giants drove in runs, led by Brandon Crawford with two. Steven Duggar, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Mac Williamson and Pablo Sandoval each knocked in a run.

“You could really see the difference tonight,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “The hitters were doing a nice job of getting on base. We had a lot of big hits, extra-base hits, and we did the little things well.”

Bumgarner (3-4) worked 61/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked three.

“I thought he threw real good,” Bochy said. “His stuff was good. And with that lineup in this ballpark, a really nice job. And he had good command of his pitches all night.

Longoria’s two-out hit in the first inning drove in Joe Panik, who led off the game with an infield single. The Giants rallied for three runs in the third, with Duggar’s RBI triple, Posey’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly to center by Crawford the key blows giving San Francisco a 4-0 lead.

Eduardo Escobar’s 10th home run of the season into the left field seats put the Diamondbacks on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Arizona cut the Giants’ lead to 4-2 in the fifth when Adam Jones singled in Blake Swihart, who led off the inning with a walk.

San Francisco pushed two more runs across in the sixth on an RBI triple by Crawford, who scored two batters later on a single by Williamson.

The Diamondbacks chased Bumgarner in the bottom of the seventh after Nick Ahmed walked and scored from second on pinch-hitter John Ryan Murphy’s double down the left field line.

Adam Jones drove in Carson Kelly (who walked) with a ground out off San Francisco reliever Sam Dyson, pulling Arizona to within 6-4. But with two out in the San Francisco eighth, Sandoval — pinch-hitting for Dyson — hit a solo home run, giving the Giants a 7-4 lead.

“How about Pablo, huh?” Bochy said. “It’s nice to start him, and it’s nice to bring him off the bench to pinch-hit. He’s been the silver lining through our struggles.”

San Francisco extended its lead in the ninth to 8-4 when Brandon Belt’s seventh home run of the season reached the swimming pool in right-center.

Arizona closed its deficit to three when Carson Kelly hit a solo home run in the ninth, but closer Will Smith struck out Alex Avila, Adam Jones and Ketel Marte in what became a non-save situation.

In Sunday afternoon’s series finale, Robbie Ray (3-1, 3.14) starts for the Diamondbacks. San Francisco has yet to announce its starter.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Sandoval’s pinch home run in the eighth inning was the second of his career. The first came on May 8, 2018, at Philadelphia. … Gi Belt’s ninth-inning homer into the Chase Field swimming pool was the second overall of the season. Ex-Giant Hunter Pence hit one earlier this season for Texas. … D-Backs OF Adam Jones has hit safely in his last seven games. … Giants 2B Joe Panik has a streak of reaching base safely in 16 straight games, by hit or walk. … The attendance at Chase Field on Saturday was 25,014; Friday’s attendance was 26,806.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, Steven Duggar, Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Belt, Posey expected back in the lineup tonight in Arizona

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Photo credit: @mercnews

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he kept first baseman Brandon Belt out of the lineup due to his inflamed knee Bochy says Belt is listed as day-to-day.

#2 Belt has had two knee surgeries. He went 0-3 with a walk on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Did his 0-for-3 have something to do with his knee being inflamed?

#3 The bobblehead for Pablo Sandoval reads “Let Pablo pitch” but someday the bobblehead for Giants pitcher Shaun Anderson will read “Let Shaun hit” because two hits in his first MLB game and some solid hitting would make only teammate Madison Bumgarner proud.

#4 Buster Posey is expected to be in the lineup on Friday night to open up the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was out with a concussion for seven days. How cautious will the Giants and Posey be about his return?

#5 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto is doing a 40-pitch bullpen session as he catches up with the team in Arizona. Bochy said he’s not sure if Cueto will be back this season after having Tommy John surgery, but he wants to see how and where Cueto is at in these bullpen sessions.

Join Miguel for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com