Giants Talk: Assessing Giants' first days of spring training under Tony Vitello
"Giants Talk" hosts Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic break down the latest as San Francisco kicks off MLB spring training from Scottsdale, Arizona.
Giants Talk: Assessing Giants' first days of spring training under Tony Vitello originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
What's up, Giants fans?
Welcome to another episode of Giants Talk.
I'm Cole Kuiper here with Giants insider Alex Pavlovic.
Ballplayers are in Scottsdale, and so is your guy, Alex.
We'll get the scoop on what's going on at spring training on today's episode of Giants Talk.
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All right, Alex, you are currently my guy on the ground.
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be there?
Does it just feel real?
Well, it feels especially good, 'cause I guess it's raining for you guys, so.
It is.
Yeah.
It's not super pleasant- Right ... in spring training right now.
Yeah, I enjoyed, the last week when the whole half of the world discovered that San Francisco is nice, and- Yep ... that weather has carried over to Scottsdale, so not bad.
Jealous, jealous, jealous.
It's not been bad at all.
So y- you've gotten-- other than the, the, "It's nice to be in Arizona, it's nice to be at the ballpark," vibe, what about the actual how everything looks?
We're getting a look at, at new players in Giants uniforms.
We're getting a look at a new manager.
what, what's your first impression like of the twenty twenty six team?
It's been very quiet, which is just from a news perspective.
I was going through my tweets, I was going through the stories I've written and stories that I'm working on to, like, kind of find talking points for this podcast.
Just realized, like, not a whole lot has gone on, which is good, actually.
When you look around and, like, there's, like, a bunch of superstars who have handmade injuries, and, you know- ... there's issues elsewhere in the division.
So it's good that, like, everyone's healthy.
They, have no issues right now.
Tony seems comfortable.
no big speech the first day.
He had pitchers and catchers.
They'll have the full squad later, and, and they'll get those guys- Mm-hmm ... all together and, and do that.
But it's been really up until around eleven twenty today, when I look out and Bryce Eldridge is taking fly balls in left field.
It has been a very uneventful first couple of days here.
Well, that is a pretty eventful twist.
We kind of addressed it in a mailbag question already.
But I want to, I want to read this quote from Tony Vitello on the Bryce Eldridge playing left field situation.
Tony said: "I think Bryce is a very unique weapon with his bat.
I think you're always going to be itching for the next fifteen years, whoever you are, if you're on his team, you're gonna be itching for ways to get him out there in the lineup."
that's kind of what you and I had been saying.
You know, playing left field gives him a lot more versatility and lets him fit in a lot better into this lineup.
lets them, I don't know, do some more interesting things with the DH position over the next decade.
Yeah.
I You know, one, this is expected.
it, it was something we've teased a little bit here.
It's something I heard a little bit over the off-season, that this would be part of the plan for him.
I'm glad they did it so quickly.
I'm glad it was just like, "Let's Yeah, let's just do it," that they're on that page as well.
And I, I think there are-- this is one of those things where, like, I look at their social media reaction to the initial tweet and just kind of want to, like, respond to everybody with, like, "Pump the brakes."
if you are one of the people saying, "Great, Elliot Ramos was not good defensively last year, this gives him another option," you're insane.
And I, I saw some of that today, including from some Yeah, I, I just saw some of that on, on social media today.
no, this is not about that.
This is not about him ever becoming an outfielder.
This is purely about, one, when you have these two guys, Bryce Eldridge and Rafi Devers, this makes sense.
One of them has to add something to the, to the plate.
And y- you could say, like, "Hey, Devers, you've played third base before."
We did see him last year in an emergency go out there and- Mm-hmm ... like, look just fine, and I'm sure he could do it for years to come if he had to.
But that's-- this is just adding something for Bryce.
And one thing I, I talked to Tony today, and he was like: "Look, he's twenty-one.
Like, he has plenty of time, he has plenty of energy.
This is a great time to do it, great time to get him comfortable."
And, and Bryce, like, he was out there doing infield drills, doing first base drills with Ron Washington at eight thirty, and does a full workout at first base and, and full batting practice, and then goes and takes fly balls for twenty minutes.
It's-- He probably had the energy to go do it for seven more hours after that.
You could be like, "You want to pitch for two hours?"
"Sure."
Like, so this is a great time to do it, and it is something he's enthusiastic about because he wants to play and, and wants avenues to get him to line up.
And this is, this does two things: One, long term, I think it's important that he has some aptitude out there because it is a weird roster fit, if these are the two guys.
I mean, it does completely eliminate the possibility of using the DH spot for something else.
And, and we've seen times where guys, like, physically don't feel great in the field, but can hit, and this eliminates that possibility for all the other veterans on the roster.
So- Yeah ... it's important, I think, that he's able to do that.
The other thing is with the roster construction, and this is the main thing for me right now, I think it's really important for twenty twenty-six that he's at least Like, if this happens in June and he has to go out there some night, which is not crazy, that he at least, like, feels comfortable and not like, "Never took a fly ball in high school, never played outfield until two thousand twenty-three when I, I played right field in, in San Jose," and now you're like, "Go and- go and play left field in the- - 10th inning because something weird happened.
So I think it's good for him to get those reps out there.
And you kind of look at the makeup of this roster and, and the way it might work with Arias at second, and Bryce, and, and Rafael Devers, at first and DH.
And we don't know what the outfield's fully gonna look like, we don't know what the infield's fully gonna look like, but you kind of run out of spots to add versatility.
Yeah.
And there's a decent chance they carry four outfielders to start the year, or at some point are carrying four outfielders.
And one of those backup guys, you know, a Christian Koss, a Tyler Fitzgerald, they can go out there if needed.
Arias has actually played left field in the big leagues, so, like, he could in, in emergency.
But this is important, I think, to have another guy who could go out there one or two times this year, potentially, if needed.
I-- He's not gonna start in left field.
he's not gonna take Elliot Ramos's spot.
I- it's just, this is a, a way to get some reps here in spring training and get comfortable with something that could come into play this year, and I think will come into play down the line.
Yeah.
I, I'm glad you're kind of, pouring water on the, the fire of, of what this reaction could be.
'Cause I'm over here s- sitting there like: "Oh, wow, they're moving him to left."
It makes perfect sense, but what you're saying makes so much more sense.
I mean, we, we made the joke about Brandon Belt on last week or the week before.
He, he ended up in what?
Less than 90 career games played in the outfield?
Yeah, I d- I don't know where he ended up there, but, like, it, it's a minimal thing.
It's a way to get his bat in the lineup, and we'll get to Elliot.
But I am just People have given up on him, and I think some of the reaction I saw today was just people who were like: "Good, glad that there's gonna be a change in left field."
Which is, one, just a complete misunderstanding of, like- Mm-hmm ... how hard it is to, to even, even if they didn't have a left fielder right now, to get Bryce ready by opening day to even be an option.
Mm-hmm.
but two, I think is just, like, very prematurely giving up on, on a guy who was an All-Star, like, less than two years ago.
Exactly.
And had a very weird defensive year, and I think he'll be fine.
Yeah.
All right, the Tony Vitello quote on Bryce in the outfield isn't the only quote you're bringing home from Scottsdale.
Good quote.
I believe you have a couple from, regarding the new second baseman?
I said it was quiet, and to be fair, they did make a big roster move on the first day, which is- They did ... Luis Arias.
They waited to make that official until they could put Randy Rodriguez on the 60-day.
so he's officially a Giant.
He met with the media.
it's just we've, like, been over that, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Like, we, we, we did that on the pod.
We followed up on it, so I think everybody was just waiting for- make sure he passed the physical, and it became official.
But, yeah, he's, he's a Giant.
He met with us, and, and I think two questions we had, and, and one was for him and his comfort, and the other one was for Buster Posey, who couldn't talk about the deal until it became official and, and met with us on Tuesday.
We did talk to Buster a little about defense, but I think the main thing that stood out to me was just what he will bring to this lineup, which is- Mm-hmm ... one thing you and I have talked about quite a bit, and I think has been oversha- I guess, overshadowed by the defensive concerns that a lot of people have.
and last year being more of a, an average year for him, a down year, just when you look at some of his other years.
But we, we did wanna We have sound again.
We have- Woo-hoo!
We are with these guys again.
We're not just, like, going off mailbag questions.
yeah- It's sound season.
Yeah, we're back.
So, here's Luis Arias a- and Buster Posey talking.
Arias talking about his, approach at the plate, and then Buster talking about why he loves that approach at the plate.
I hate strikeout.
That's what I think.
I hate strikeout, yes.
All- Every hitter hates strikeouts.
They don't strikeout, but they still strike out.
Trust yourself, man.
Trust yourself, and go out there and compete.
Try to put the ball in play.
Like I say, hitting is simple.
It's not that easy, isn't It's not impossible, but, bro, you go there, that's why we train every day.
So be simple, and then try to, to put the ball in play.
Well, I'm a big believer in being the aggressor, and I think offensively it's hard to be the aggressor if you're not putting the ball in play.
now, I also, I also think part of the reason I feel that way is that contact hitters for us right now do balance out some of the other profiles of, of the hitters that we have.
So I'm not gonna sit here and say that I think- I believe that you build a lineup strictly with contact hitters.
I think I draw a little bit on my playing experience as well as when the, the best teams I was on, the- when you get to the playoffs and you're facing the toughest pitchers, the teams that can put the ball in play and force the defense to make a plays are usually in a better position than the ones that are, you know, gonna strike out 15, 16 times a game.
So I, I think the juicy part there is Arias saying, "I hate strikeouts," but the most important thing for me was, Buster talking about balance with this lineup.
And- Mm-hmm ... something you and I have talked about, there's a lot of guys here who strike out, and a lot of guys here who are going to strike out, a lot of guys here who are gonna strike out with a runner in scoring position.
This is the opposite of that.
And, and it's important to have some balance, to the lineup, and I think they feel really good about that.
And, and I'll just also say, like, he seems to be a great fit in the clubhouse.
I know his teammates are happy to have him here, and I've watched him take ground balls for two days, and I Look, it's spring training, and we're on the back field in Scottsdale.
It's- but he, he's still pretty athletic.
Like, he still looks- ... very middle infieldy.
he's- I watched him with Ron Washington for, for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, like, very intense drills.
If anyone's gonna get the best out of him, it's gonna be Ron Washington.
I know we were a little curious about that going into this, but watching him in person I've never been around Wash, so watching him in person, it's pretty intense, and- like, it, it, one thing that I've just talking to Giants people about the last couple days, remember last year?
This is something I- remember when we did the Tyler Fitzgerald, like, the bar for him to be one of the 10 best second basemen in baseball was- It was- -or an All-Star second baseman was so low?
So low.
Like- It was on the ground.
A year ago.
Yeah, it's just one thing I've heard a few times here from Giants people is like, they know the reaction to, They, they know what's out there about his defense.
It's also second base.
Like, it, it's, this is not, you know, they're not asking him- It's not third ... to play shortstop.
They're- Yeah ... they're asking him to play second base, which he has struggled with at times the last few years.
And, but they're not asking him to, like, win a Gold Glove.
They're, they're asking him just to, to go out there and make, make the routine plays and, and get better under Ron Washington.
And, I don't think the bar is very high that he has to clear here for this to, to work out defensively.
Mm-hmm.
It's- the Washington thing's interesting because we've gotten questions about this, and I would be fascinated to know, like, what training and improving a professional major leaguer looks like, but I trust Wash to do it.
Yeah.
I You know, it's something I was curious about, and I, we got some questions about it, and I saw some, a lot of people asking about it the last, the last week or so.
And, for me, honestly, coming in, I was a little like: "Well, you know, there's only so much you can do," but- Exactly.
At the same time, watching him daily, working with him, um- Mm-hmm ... and seeing how intense it is, if anyone's gonna get the best out of him, it's gonna be Ron Washington.
So- Right.
And I, I, I've, I've kind of been, turned around a little bit just from watching him up close, and him being Ron Washington, like, watching the way he's coaching these guys and the impact he's gonna have on the infielders.
So I, I think it's gonna be huge, and, you know, you do start going through some of his history and some of the people who vouch for him, and some very, very good defenders who have said, "This guy helped make my career."
And I, I guess we need to be fair to him, 'cause we've always kind of done the same with Ron Wotus and been like: "Look what he did with Crawford and- Mm-hmm ... and Panik, and a- all these other guys."
And, and, you know, I trust Wotus' valuation as much as anybody's.
and Ron Washington's the same dude.
So, I, I think it's- I, I think they have a real shot to, to get a lot of value there out of him.
We are a month and a half away from you dropping Arias Golden Glove on your bold predictions.
No chance.
But And that's not a knock.
It's just not gonna I- you know, even, even the Giants say that.
They're like: "We don't need him to be a Gold Glover.
We don't-" Yeah.
"We just need him to get it done."
Yeah.
"Just go out there, turn double plays," and l- look, there's gonna be balls that get by him that would- that Casey Schmidt probably would have stopped or Christian Koss might have stopped.
But, I, it, it I've been thinking about this a lot the last couple of weeks when I see the reaction.
Like, what would he have to do at second base to, like, two weeks into the season or three weeks into the season, you're just like: "This doesn't work"?
Like- It would have to be, like, the obvious, catastrophic, forgetting to cover kind of things, which I don't think is the type of defensive failure that- Yeah ... would be in his playbook.
Like, is he gonna Brooks Conrad it for, - ... for a couple weeks?
Then it's like, okay, I, I don't think he will.
Uh- No.
I think it's gonna be more subtle.
I think it's gonna be more: "Could somebody else have gotten to that ball?"
Um- Yeah, like a step or two away.
Yeah.
Totally.
but look, you, i- if you, if you can make up for that at the plate, and he does have to be better at the plate than he was last year, then it, it's fine.
So, yeah, I, I continue to just be like, "I think it's gonna be totally fine."
Well, speaking about the plate, you s- you mentioned there has been a lot of discussion about what he, he can do or rather can't do on defense.
has there been any more chatter about where he fits into this lineup, order-wise?
is this like a put him at the, at the very back just to get him queued up then in front of one, two, three?
Is he a leadoff guy?
What do you think?
He told us he likes to lead off, and- Okay ... Tony said it's in consideration.
He said there's a bunch being floated.
it- we've joked about this a little bit, but Max Fried's probably gonna start opening day, so it's, it's probably gonna be Eliot Ramos, no matter what- Yeah ... lead off on opening day.
but I Yeah, I don't know.
They haven't really given any hints.
We, we haven't gotten a whole lot of concrete, information through two days, one way or the other.
I think this is gonna be a camp where there's, there's gonna be a ro- a lot of, reading between the lines here.
Mm-hmm.
And, I don't know.
I, I think they genuinely want to see how this looks i- in spring training, and, and I think a lot of this is also how does Jung Hoo Le look like?
Yeah.
Does he- Does he lead-off material?
Yeah.
Is he coming out hot?
Totally.
Mm-hmm.
The other bit of Arias news that I know you have a lot of uniform number heads in your Alex- People ... fan club, is he, immediately after Drew Gilbert gets blessed with a main character number, number one jersey, Arias gets signed and swoops in on number one.
All-time, oops moment for this pod is you and I joking about how Drew Gilbert was number one, and there was nobody in front of him on the depth chart.
Yeah.
Like, things were really working out well for him, and then they signed Harrison Bader, and then they signed Arias- ... who took his number.
So- How quickly things turned for our guy, Drew Gilbert.
I don't think he cares at all.
No.
He's like, he's in grind mode every hour of every day.
Um- He's got his college manager running the team now.
Mm-hmm.
He is, is good to go.
Spring training's here.... but z, number zero for him, correct?
Number zero for him.
Um- You have to be a, a real character to wear zero, so he can pull it off.
He- it's a good fit for him, so.
Yeah, I like that one.
And look, it's a one-year deal for Arias, so a year from now- Yeah ... maybe there will be a jersey number change.
I hope he got I, I haven't talked to Drew yet.
I hope he, I hope he got something out of this transaction.
Like- Oh, interesting.
Yeah, I- you read about those.
You're getting a watch or you're getting a Range Rover, or you're getting something.
Remember, remember Blake Sable switching his number, like, 17 times?
'Cause they kept having veterans, and he was like- Yeah.
"Oh, hey, Blake Snell, how much are you making next year?"
Yeah.
Or whoever.
Yeah, cut the check.
Happy woman.
Cut the check.
Yeah, he, he, Sable did well for himself.
Yeah, yeah.
Made a career on changing numbers.
I, I heard he did well.
Yeah.
All right, what about the minor things from Camp Alex?
I know one thing that happens in every sport, baseball no exception, is someone's gotta be showing up looking better than they ever have.
w- any, any little details, nuggets, tidbits you can throw our way for those of us who can't be in Scottsdale?
We are on best shape of their life alert.
Um- Great.
I think Elliot Ramos looks fantastic.
He, he has, he has, put on some muscle, but not by adding weight, just a little bit.
Cut some body fat.
Um- He's shredding.
He's shred Yeah, he's, he's, And I, I just think, like, watching him, like, he watching him hit, watching him go through drills, just like really looks like he's in a good place.
And talking to people who, I- I'll have more on this later in the spring, and, and hopeful- you know, maybe have Elliot on here, but, or we'll talk to Buster about it and all that.
But, but talking to people behind the scenes the last couple of days, he really impressed with the work he put in in the off-season.
And he was in the Arizona area, he was I've said this a lot here, he was very self-aware about his defense last year.
Mm-hmm.
And basically, in November, showed up and was like: "Let's go.
I'm, I'm ready to be better in left field."
Now, a lot of the mistakes he made were, like, spur of the moment, you know, mental mistakes that he was making, under the bright lights.
So you- we need to see it during, during the regular season, but I everything I've heard has been very optimistic about the winter he had, and I, I think he's very excited about the work he put in, and physically looks to be in really good shape.
Best shape I've seen him in, which is- he's a- he looks like a linebacker anyway.
So, a guy we haven't really talked about it a whole lot in terms of, like, positives- Yeah ... 'cause it was down year for him last year.
But, you know, it's just a good reminder of, like, who he was two years ago and what he is capable of.
And, and I, I think that would be huge if he could get back there.
I love that.
I love that.
Give us some positive Ramos updates.
anyone else?
Any other major changes, any other best shapes of their life?
Any, how- healthy-wise, we had a few injured guys are coming in, a little dinged up to end the season.
It seemed to be doing really well.
I, I think, I don't know that this is a group right now that is gonna be the most forthcoming with- ... information.
Okay.
but by all accounts, everyone's healthy.
We- we're told everybody's healthy.
I've talked to some of the players.
Landon Roop is doing great.
He's completely over what happened last year.
Eric Miller, doing great, completely over it.
Sam Hentges is throwing bullpens.
Jason Foley doing the same.
He thinks he's right on schedule, if not a little bit ahead of schedule.
It's still gonna be probably closer to the middle of the season for him.
but health-wise, they're, the roster, at least as far as we know, is in a really good place.
I, I say as far as we know because I think we've You know, you see, like, the Detroit guy who they're like: "He's out for the year.
Oh, by the way- Yeah ... we signed Framber and Justin Verlander."
or what You know, like, it- you're seeing the first couple of days in camps, these things that teams hid for the last month.
Yeah.
but so far, there's been none of that here.
Okay.
Yeah.
Excellent.
Well, speaking of the Tigers, I feel like we should address some, you know, signings around the league.
You already mentioned Justin Verlander, our old friend, former Giant, signed with his old, his old friends.
Very cool.
Very, very cool.
There is nothing better than these guys who made their way around the league, r- ending up back at home where they, you know, were potentially most famous to begin with.
I ended up in Tigers, like, for UTAB Twitter- Mm-hmm ... one week in the off-season.
I don't know why.
I think I watched, like, a Scott Harris interview, and then was just fed Tigers content.
And the algorithm was like: "Hey, we got a Tigers feed."
Hey, yeah, they were so angry, and, really, I think, angry at Scott, our old friend here.
They're not doing anything, and they come away with Framber, they come away with, Justin Verlander, and- Yeah ... a few other additions.
Got Kenley Jansen, right?
So, like, ended up having a big off-season, and it seems like they're the clear favorite in the American League Central.
Yeah.
but I, I just thought that was really cool, that I, I really enjoyed covering Justin.
I thought he worked his ass off when he You know, it kind of explains why he's where he's at.
Mm-hmm.
And there were times where I'm like, "Why, why is he doing that at this?
You know, why is he doing it at this age?"
I, I, I went to Sacramento to talk to Bryce Eldridge, and he was there 'cause I, I think he had come home to be with his family and wasn't gonna pitch the last couple of days of a trip, and he drove up to Sac in the middle of the summer to throw a bullpen session.
So he'd have all the, the track man and, and all that.
Um- Oh, nice!
... it's like 100 degrees, and I'm like: "Dude, you're, like, you've been doing this for 20 years, and you're..." You know, it's dedication.
It shows why he's where he's at.
And I, I think having covered him and, and watched- the way he grinded last year and watched the way he had some tough luck last year, like, I hope he's on a- makes 30 starts for a good team this year and, and creeps up on 300.
That'd be really cool.
Yeah.
It- the Giants didn't do him any favors last year towards- No, they did not ... making that 300 number.
I certainly hope he does not end at, like, 290 X, 294, 296, because that would be a season that comes back to haunt you.
Yeah, we'd, we'd, we'd have some memories of specific games about for him.
Yes.
Yes.
another guy signed alongside Verlander, our very good old friend, Austin Slater, is heading to Detroit as well.
Getting the band back together.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
Scott Harris knows what to do.
He's taking everybody.
So yeah, it's, It, it- I was looking at the roster today.
I guess I'm gonna end up in the algorithm again, but, uh- Yeah, watch your- watch out.
The Internet's convinced now you're a fan of the Motor City Kitties.
They're pretty loaded.
Yes.
So, yeah, we'll see them this year.
Couple other Giants, former Giants, I guess, moving around.
Brett Wisely, DFA'd in Tampa and traded back to the Braves, and Luccivino with the Phillies.
this isn't really a flurry of moves, but as these kind of like mop-ups and, like, last final pieces seem to be falling in place around the league, are we- do we have a pretty good vibe that the Giants are done?
There's not gonna be, like, a Scherzer invite or anything like that.
We're pretty locked.
Man, you are locked in on, on Scherzer.
You are, uh- I, I, I really enjoyed the Verlander thing.
Yeah.
I enjoyed just Verlander- Yeah ... being on the team last year, and I think Scherzer brings that and also brings the Vitello connection.
Yeah, he's been mentioned already in a Tony media session, so- Yes ... yeah, and, and will be probably again seven more times before we leave here.
you know, if he's doing a thing, waiting for someone who has an opening in spring training, it's gonna happen- Yeah ... for somebody.
I Yeah, we, we asked Buster about that.
He said the Giants are now in listening mode, which would be different than the mode they were in prior to this.
I, I actually, you know, genuinely, they've been pretty honest about when they're, like, when they say they have balls still in the air, and a couple guys end up signing, and then- Mm-hmm ... it, it does sound like they're about done.
I mean, maybe something falls in their lap here over the next couple weeks.
Maybe there's someone who, who wants to spring home, or maybe something pops up injury-wise, and, and they have to make a move.
But sounds like this is the roster.
All right.
Which is, you know, spring training started already, so Yeah, it, it, it makes sense.
I get it.
Well, that's what's going on in Scottsdale.
Alex, I'm very jealous you are there.
and we got baseball right around the corner.
When is the first spring training game?
It is Saturday the What is it, the 21st, 22nd?
Whatever that Saturday is.
Okay, so we've got just under two weeks to go until we see San- we see San Francisco Giants players throwing baseballs around in a game.
I think we have live PP on Friday.
Right.
So we'll get some, maybe some Logan Webb versus Devers, Adames, whoever.
Mm-hmm.
we'll have some fun.
I'll post some video there on, on Instagram and YouTube of whatever's going on here, but we're not far from, we're not far from baseball.
Yeah, if you are listening to this and you do not follow Alex on his social medias, make sure to go give him a follow.
The content he's putting up just makes you feel like you're, you're actively there behind the cage.
You're actively there watching people on the field, and it's, it's pretty fantastic.
I will say spring training is the best place for video, because we're just- Yes ... you know, we're just right there creeping.
Yeah.
So.
Hanging around.
All right, we've got mailbag questions to get to on today's episode.
Before we start, though, Giant Stock is presented by Mancini's Sleep World.
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Okay, Alex, our first mailbag question of the day is from Derek.
Derek says: "I don't think either of you have mentioned Matt Chapman even once since the end of the season.
Is there nothing notable about him going into next season?
Is he just such a surefire option that there's nothing of note?"
I think so.
Yeah.
It- I mean, that's basically how I'm feeling.
Yeah, I mean, he's reached the point of, like We weren't talking a whole lot about, like, Evan Longoria in off-seasons, and- Mm-hmm ... like, so it- he's, he's a very good third baseman.
He's healthy.
that's the key thing with him.
He's fully healthy, not getting cortisone shots like he was in the second half last year.
he'll be somewhere in the heart of their lineup, and he will try to win another Gold Glove.
Yeah.
So I, I will say one- the one thing on him is just, like, it, it's so This was last year as well, but it's so clear now that this is him and Willie's clubhouse.
Mm-hmm.
And, and Logan as well, but, from the position player side, it's, it's him and Willie, and, and they're the leaders, and, this was the case last year, but this is more, you know, just another year for Chapman and, and a second year for Willie.
Yeah, and I- honestly, beyond the fact that he went to Korea, we haven't really had to talk about Willie Adames much either.
and it's- it feels nice just having positions that are locked like that.
You go into spring training, they're set.... We haven't talked about Devers much either.
I mean- Yeah.
This is, this was the point of- this was something Buster was adamant about when he took over, was, you can buy a jersey.
You can- you know who's gonna be in the starting lineup next year and the year for- ... the year after that.
So they are there, for better or worse.
There, there will be a day three years from now when you and I are, if we're still doing this, going like, "Ooh, this payroll is-" but yeah, right now it's a good thing.
Bronson asks: "I feel like Encarnacin is mentioned a lot.
Do you guys feel like the Giants are high on him?
Personally, I have not been impressed by anything I've seen when he's on the field.
Definitely has power, but lots of swing and miss, and bad defense.
I feel like him being on the roster would take up a spot for someone versatile like Koss or Fitzgerald."
Yeah, you know, we definitely try to talk about the, the guys who are in position battles much more than W- well, Matt Chapman's gonna be there.
Encarnacin, Matos, Gilbert, Koss, Fitzgerald, these are the guys that I think are more interesting and are, are, are worth deeper conversations.
With Encarnacin, I, I mean, it's just they Unfortunately for him, he just kept getting hurt last year, and even when we would see flashes, was like, he'd get hurt right away.
So, just a throwaway 2025 for him.
I think the important thing with him is, you know, he kind of offers something that nobody else on this roster really can, which is like that Wilmer role that is gone.
Mm-hmm.
Wilmer is still looking for a job.
Like, he, he's You look at the potential makeup of a bench, and you're gonna have a backup catcher, you're gonna have probably Casey Schmitt.
You're gonna have probably a true fourth outfielder, maybe it's Drew Gilbert.
like, who's- who can you count on to hit a home run off the bench if you need it?
Like, or to try to hit a home run off the bench if you need it?
That's a great point.
Yeah, the, the dedicated pinch hitter, basically.
I mean, how many Wilmer Flores heroic moments have we had over the past few years where he came off the bench to do something huge?
And I can't think of anyone I'd, I'd want in that spot, who would be on the bench, and any more than Encarnacin.
Just with the way their current makeup is, I- it's also, you know, if Bryce is on this roster, right, there are gonna be some lefties they don't want him facing.
Mm-hmm.
or that they don't think it's a great match of four and waiting games.
And that could be the case with Arraez as well, and it, it just Encarnacin kind of has his own lane here, where the other right-handed hitting outfielder is competing with Matos is a, a very different kind of player.
Mm-hmm.
And so he has a chance, I think, to show some power this spring, and, and be like: "Hey, you need this on your bench."
physically, he's capable of it.
He just has to stay healthy and has to have a good spring.
But I, it is somebody that I think is worth continuing to talk about, because these guys who are out of options, and him especially, like, they do really like him.
Like, they do really feel like there's something in there, and just hasn't gotten to show it.
So, it's somebody we'll continue to update on the entire spring.
Yeah.
Adam s- asks: "Maybe I missed this, but will any spring training games be broadcast?
I know the last few years it's been really limited, but usually I can at least find a TV schedule."
well, I can confirm games will be broadcast.
Yeah, we, yeah.
Just what's your dad's flight schedule, so?
That's what I was gonna say.
I've- I feel bad, I, I responded to Adam and was like: "Yeah, I think the schedule's out," because I know the schedule.
Because I know when I'm getting my dad's mail.
I, I haven't looked on the website to see if they have, like, the little TV notations.
I will just say generally- They do not currently.
I, I did look.
Generally, and I can find an answer for this and, and just give people a full schedule.
But generally, the night games at Scottsdale Stadium are because they're televised.
Mm-hmm.
So if you see some of those on the schedule, it's probably a TV game.
Yeah.
And I have to imagine, like, the Giants versus World Baseball Classic team, g- you gotta put that on TV.
I hope so.
Yeah.
Yeah.
There will be other ones.
It's less- I mean, there's Yeah.
There, there's ways to find other ones as well, but we'll get a full NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast schedule.
Okay.
Good, good.
Sawyer says: "Thank you both for the great movie recommendation, Caught Stealing.
The super long sex scene was extremely uncomfortable to watch with my mom.
Anyways, my bail back question is, what is your favorite ballpark drink or beer?"
Sawyer, you know, it's, it's an R-rated movie.
There's gonna be that kind of thing in it.
It was surprising.
I- this is- I, I'm gonna weigh out on this one, because I think I've probably had maybe two beers at a ballpark in the last 10 years.
Alex, this is- no one is going to find out.
This is just you, me, and Sawyer sitting here chatting.
You can say you drink Coors Lights in the press box.
You know what?
There have been some playoff games where I some sweet leftovers ended up down in the press box- ... afterwards, though.
Uh- All right.
No, I've-- other than that, it's like a bachelor party and took my kid once.
yeah, it's- I wish we- when I started doing this in, like, 2012, there were still a couple places around the league that, like, after Sunday day games, would have a tap open or something like that.
Oh, wow.
That's all changed.
that's all gone away.
Um- That's fair.
So I'm gonna weigh out to you.
Yeah, no, they have some great drink options at Oracle Park.
I'm really into this, the cans of Surfside right now, which is like a hard, Arnold Palmer, a hard, uh- tea.
I love a good michelada during a day game.
you can get th- those at a few locations around the ballpark.
And then there are a few spots with some really nice beers on tap.
you can get a Blind Pig or a Pliny the Elder, carry those around.
but as I get older, I will say my beer intake is drastically going down, and I'm leaning into those, those seltzers.
I've actually seen you with a michelada at the ballpark, like- Oh, yeah, probably- Yeah ... if anyone runs into me at Oracle Park- Yeah ... odds are I will have at least one michelada in my hand.
I think that's your thing.
Yeah, my go-to.
You can see those, the, that, like, red, dust in my mustache from drinking the micheladas when I walk around.
I'll try to drink more when I work, so that's my, that's my- You should.
Yeah, that's what the listeners want, apparently.
Podcast might get better.
Yeah, it very well might.
All right, we'll do one more mailbag question on today's episode of Giants Talk.
This last one is from Henry.
Henry says, "At the ripe old age of 66, I'll be going to spring training for the first time this year.
We have one game at Scottsdale on tap, but I wonder if you have suggestions on any of the other Cactus League ballparks to see?"
I love Salt River Fields.
I think it's just a really cool ballpark.
Yeah.
It's where the Rockies and Diamondbacks play.
Brandon Belt hit, like, 700 there, if anyone remembers.
Like, literally one time during a game, I went back and tracked his numbers at Salt River.
He'd demolish there.
I- That's good.
When I see stories from down here that the Diamondbacks are threatening to do whatever and want a new ballpark or want $200 million thrown into Chase Field or whatever they're trying to do, I'm always just like, "Just go play..." I guess it would be outdoors in the middle of summer, but- Yeah ... like, just go play at Salt River.
It's an awesome It's just a cool ballpark.
so that would be my suggestion.
I think it's a fun place to, to watch a game.
I was going to say, is it It's Talking Stick, right?
Yeah, it's like Salt River Fields- Yeah ... Talking Stick or- Exactly.
So my pick was going to be Talking Stick, and then I realized that is the same ballpark you were picking.
so I'm gonna back up and say Peoria, which is where the first game the Giants play this year is gonna be at.
Padres, Mariners, great ballpark, but I'm gonna be honest, almost all of these parks are very similar.
They're great- Yeah ... places to catch games.
you really can't go wrong.
Peoria is just also kind of cool because two bitter rivals share that ballpark in the, the- The Veteran?
... Cactus Veteran Face-off.
Yeah.
so that's pretty unique, too.
Yeah, you, you can go wrong.
You can sit at Camelback Ranch for a day game, which- ... for some reason, is facing, like, directly at the sun.
That's true.
There are places to sit in each of these ballparks.
Yeah.
Some of those, like, didn't ha- didn't add, like, shade or overhangs until surprisingly recently.
Yeah.
I've also heard some of those places, like, the owners were like, "No, we want a view of the mountains far away,"- Yeah ... and just did not care that it would be roasting at- Yeah ... at one o'clock, on March 12th.
But, No, the, the new, is it Sloan Park where the Cubs play?
Yeah, Sloan.
Yeah.
I've heard very nice things.
I have not been, obviously.
It's brand new.
It's always packed.
they have some good food there.
So yeah, I don't- most spring training parks are pretty similar.
Like, you know, get there early, don't deal with the rush of everyone showing up a half hour before a game.
Yeah.
go have a beer, grab a hot dog, and- Yeah ... some island noodles, I guess, s- like everywhere here, and- Grab some island noodles.
Have a good time.
Yeah.
I- Bring your sunscreen 'cause you're gonna get roasted.
I am guilty of, of skipping the away games, though, usually when I'm in spring training, and I will try to rectify that in the future 'cause I would like to experience more, more different ballparks around the area, but you gotta find time for that hike.
Last year, I think I did the aquarium with my nieces during one of the day games.
but there's a lot to do.
See, I will schedule my return trips to spring training around when we're not driving to, uh- That's smart ...
Surprise for it.
Yeah, that's smart.
No, I've, I've honestly had a Like, I, I really enjoy most of them.
I think they're It's spring training.
It's just, like, it, it is really I know, I know it's not the- it's become really, really expensive to do some of these things, but- Mm-hmm ... for listeners who have never had the chance to, like, come, come spend a couple days out here and just You know, you can get really up close to the players, really up close to the action, and it, it is, like, a very relaxed just everyone's in the sun having a good time.
Yeah, and it's also, like You know, I don't want our fans to be, like, creepy and stalkery, but it is odd how much you end up running into the players out at dinner or at brunch or wherever.
Like, it's a small area.
Scottsdale is just Yeah, it, it's a small, old town.
Um- Yeah ... but great food, great weather.
I have no complaints.
Yeah, no complaints.
With that, if you have mailbag questions for us, send them our way wherever you can find us on social media.
We'll add them to our list.
We have a collection of some very strong questions, but we can always add to it as we make our way towards opening day.
Until then, don't forget to subscribe to Giants Talk wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Leave us a glowing review if you're a fan.
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and let's go, Giants.
It's finally here.
Alex, I'm so jealous that you're there.
It's nice to be You know, it's, it's nice just to, like Even though not a lot has happened- Yeah ... it- we were, I appreciate everyone who listened through the winter, and, we did our best to put on two real podcasts a week, but- ... but, um- We had some really weird episodes in there.
Yeah.
It'll be nice to, to, have some things going on.
And we're- you know, next week, we'll start running a bunch of interviews here as well, so you can get to know some of the new guys and, and, hear from some of the, the familiar faces.
All right.
Baseball is back.
