San Francisco Giants/NLDS podcast with Michael Duca: Battle comes down to historic game 5 tonight in SF

San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is pumped up after striking out the Los Angeles Dodgers Trea Turner in the top of the sixth inning during game 1 of the NLDS on Fri Oct 8, 2021. Webb will get the start in game 5 Thu Oct 14, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants/NLDS podcast with Michael:

#1 Tonight’s game the deciding and final game of this five game NLDS boils down to two great starting pitchers tonight the Los Angeles Dodgers Julio Urias (1-0 ERA 1.80) and the San Francisco Giants Logan Webb (1-0 ERA 0.00) a 6:07 pm start at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants who lost on Tuesday night at Dodgers Stadium 7-2 saw a Dodger line up awaken and Mookie Betts well and bat alive with some potent offense in game 4.

#3 The Giants will be facing a 20 game winner in Urias what will Giants manager Gabe Kapler have to be concerned with most in facing one of the most prolific pitchers in MLB who can mix up his pitches against this Giant line up.

#4 You’ve seen the Giants drop two of the four games thus far with Brandon Belt out and looking at this series how badly to the Giants miss his bat?

#5 Logan Webb opened the series in game one last Friday with a brilliant performance going 7.2 innings, five hits, and ten strike outs. The Dodgers had a rough time touching up Webb how do you see Webb coming into this game 5 tonight.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Gausman gets start against Padres to conclude four game series today

San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman who goes today against the San Diego Padres has won five in row and goes for his sixth at Oracle Park in San Francisco (file photo from the Advocate)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Lots of excitement this past week the Giants who ended a nine game win streak winning nine of their last ten games clinching on Monday night against the San Diego Padres and most important with our very own Morris Phillips in attendance.

#2 During the nine game win streak they really got some suburb pitching we’ll start with Kevin Gausman 14-5 ERA 2.65 Gausman has won in his last five starts.

#3 Gausman who signed with the Giants last season for $18.5 million has really paid off with the work he’s done. He’s good but did the Giants expect him to be this good.

#4 Catcher Buster Posey whose been around for all three World Series Championships in 2010. 12, and 14 wanted to share Monday’s clinch for post season and let his teammates be the face of the celebration and Posey loved every second of it.

#5 The San Diego Padres have not announced a starting pitcher as of deadline last night but you’ll never guess whose starting today’s game for the Giants, Kevin Gausman gets the call. Knowing and seeing the Padres line up for the last few nights how do you see Gausman matching up against their line up this afternoon?

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Duca: Newly signed Jewell hopes to get call up; Cueto’s future in question suffering from strained elbow

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Jewell hopes to get off to a great start with his new club after struggling with his old club the Chicago Cubs. Jewell will face his old teammates as the Giants open a three game series against the Cubs Friday afternoon. (photo from mercurynews.com)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael the Giants have brought up Jake Jewell, Jewell had struggled with the Chicago Cubs this season with an ERA of 9.90 and appeared in ten games with the Cubs with ten strikeouts and five walks in ten innings.

#2 Jewell joins the Giants but will not be eligible for post season because he missed the post game deadline, Jewell is someone the Giants are hoping to help. He was optioned to Triple A Sacramento do you see him joining the big club before the season is over?

#3 The Giants are maintaining they won the three game series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver and hold a two game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers and visit the Chicago Cubs for a three game series on Friday morning at Wrigley Field. The Giants have won five of their last ten can they hold onto first place for the rest of the way.

#4 The Steven Duggar had himself a ball game on Tuesday against the Rockies with two triples, a double, and three RBIs. Duggar is hitting .223 and seeing the ball well how important has he been contributing at the plate and helping the Giants stay in first place.’

#5 The Cubs are a struggling team they have lost eight of their last ten games and sit in fourth in the NL Central this should be a breeze for the Giants in the upcoming three game series Friday.

Join Michael each week for the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants hitters do some handy work against one of the best teams Cubs

San Francisco Giants Steven Duggar connects for an RBI single in the second inning against Chicago Cubs pitcher Zach Davies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jun 3, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (35-21) opened the four game series on Thursday night with a rather decided win over visiting Chicago Cubs (32-24) at Oracle Park 7-2 as the Giants gets some timely hitting and solid pitching.

#2 Giants pitcher Anthony DeScalfani pitched for six innings giving up four hits and two runs except for the two run third DeScalfani looked like he could have thrown a complete game.

#3 The Giants chalked up some run production in the bottom of the second inning with Steven Duggar who singled in a run and in the fifth inning the Giants added three runs and wound up with a five run win over one of the best teams in the National League.

#4 Usually to beat your opponent your try and put some runs up on the board early but the Cubs struck first with two runs in the third but DeScalfani with some good pitching held the Cubs back and the Giants were able to win their seventh in ten games.

#5 Next up for Friday night’s game the Cubs will start Jake Arrietta (5-5 ERA 4.41) the Giants were going to go with Logan Webb (4-3) but he has a recurring shoulder injury and will sit out tonight’s game. Giants manager as of Friday morning has not announced who will start.

Join Michael Fridays for the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Why so many no hitters? MLB hitting average has been .240

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman seen here delivering against the Cincinnati Reds on Wed May 19, 2021 was throwing a no hitter into the sixth inning before being lifted (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 After may five no hitters in baseball you might question that’s a lot but after seven and if the San Francisco Giants Kevin Guasman was able to keep the Cincinnati Reds off base on Wednesday night that might have been the eighth no hitter of the season.

#2 At the pace of no hitters being pitched there could be up to 20 no hitters thrown by the end of June.

#3 One of the top reasons brought up why there are so many no hitters is the league batting average is .236 going into Wednesday’s games with 12 MLB teams hitting an average of .240.

#4 Is the other part of the reason why there are so many no hitters is that the pitching is better and ball is not as tight as it was.

#5 The Seattle Mariners have been struggling at the plate needless to say and have been no hit twice already is less than a week.

Join Michael for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants home opener Friday with Rockies; Cueto scheduled starter for SF

The San Francisco Giants Darin Ruf circles the bases after hitting his second home run of the season in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell at Petco Park on Wed Apr 7, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 Michael, the Giants last two wins have been by a narrow margin but if your a good club you can win the close games such what they did against the Seattle Mariners and on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres.

#2 Talk about Wednesday starting pitcher Kevin Guasman he’s not the number one starter without a reason throwing seven innings, four hits and one run scored and improves his ERA to 1.32.

#3 Michael, Darin Ruf was key in his home run at bat against the Padres on Wednesday he has two home runs in nine at bats now.

#4 The Giants last two wins are from two come from behind wins Giants manager Gabe Kapler knows that old saying all too well that good pitching beats good hitting and a team like the Padres will battle you.

#5 Next up for the Giants it’s the home opener against the Colorado Rockies (2-4) and the Giants Johnny Cueto is scheduled to get the call talk about his start and how important it is to be back at Oracle for the home opener on Friday.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts on Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: One game makes a season not; M’s come back on Giants in opener

San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman pitches into the sixth inning at T Mobile Field in Seattle against the Mariners on Thu Apr 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 Michael you’ve said it dozens a times throughout the years one game doesn’t make a season but a comeback loss is a tough one to start the season?

#2 San Francisco Giant starter Kevin Gausman showed he had good stuff going six plus innings surrendering two hits, one earned run and striking out six hitters.

#3 Michael talk about Giant relievers Mike Wisler who gave up two hits and three runs and Jarlin Garcia pitched one third and gave up two earned runs and two walks for five more runs after relieving Gausman.

#4 Michael, talk about Buster Posey getting his first homer of 2021 and after taking all of last season off he looks like he’s ready.

#5 For tonight’s game at T Mobile Park for the Giants Johnny Cueto gets the call and for the Mariners Yusei Kikuchi makes his first start of the season. Cueto has had his battle with injuries since last season how ready does he look going into tonight’s game against Kikuchi?

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Gausman to open in Seattle Apr 1; Cueto to start home opener Apr 9

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman gets the call to start against the Seattle Mariners on Apr 1, 2021 in Seattle is seen here throwing against the Colorado Rockies on Aug 4, 2020 (AP file photo)

#1 San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler will be going with starter Kevin Gausman for opening day in Seattle on April 1st. Gausman this spring is 0-1 with an ERA 5.63. Gausman made 12 appearances with the Giants and had an ERA of 3.62 last season.

#2 Kapler said that Guasman has had some lights out performances in spring and is honored to name him as the starting pitcher for opening day.

#3 Kapler also named pitcher Johnny Cueto as his starting pitcher for the home opener on April 9th. Kapler realizing Cueto has been with the team the longest deserved to have a conversation as to why Kapler went with Gausman on April 1st.

#4 Heliot Ramos the Giants outfielder may not be all the way there yet according to Kapler but don’t be surprised to see Ramos back on the parent club’s roster early in the regular season. Ramos this spring is hitting .387 with six RBIs.

#5 Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been through the mill in the off season with Covid and Mono and has had only one at bat this spring. What will be expected for Belt in his return and has his recovery been slow?

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Kapler working on starting rotation; Giants hitters providing some offense

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani seen throwing against the Pittsburgh Pirates last season on Sep 5, 2020 is expected to be in the San Francisco Giants starting rotation this season (AP Sports file photo)

#1 Michael, talk about the starting rotation a little bit, Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, and Anthony DeSclafani. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the rotation isn’t written in stone yet.

#2 Cueto on Tuesday night struggled in his last outing he and catcher Joey Bart were not on the same page with some of the pitches, pitcher Kevin Gausman got hit more than in his first outing does Kapler have any reason to be concerned at this juncture of spring training?

#3 Kapler is really counting on Gausman who was the Giants number one starter last season and the club signed him up for this year for a qualifying offer of $18.5 million.

#4 The Giants Wednesday had a big offensive day with 15 hits, Alex Dickerson had three hits which included a home run in the eighth inning to centerfield. Austin Slater had two hits and Jason Krizan went 3-3. They can swing in this line up.

#5 Michael, talk about outfielder Mike Yastrzemski who hit .297 with 39 runs, 57 hits and 35 RBIs last season and this spring is hitting .300 with four runs, six hits and a home run.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Fri Mar 19, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: How Covid issues will effect Giants-Padres series

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler (left) and team general manager Scott Harris right gets word that a player on the club had tested positive for Covid-19 and Friday’s game was canceled. They would later learn Saturday’s game was a scratch too. (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 One thought that was brought up after the game was canceled on Friday was how in hindsight what catcher Buster Posey who took the season off was out of caution and was it a good idea to even have a season knowing the risks?

#2 An unnamed Giants player was tested positive and you can imagine anyone in the traveling party has to be concerned no doubt testing and self quarantine in the Giants San Diego hotel was in effect.

#3 Yesterday and today’s games were canceled and Sunday’s game is in doubt if canceled the Giants are scheduled to go to Seattle is that series in doubt?

#4 The Oakland A’s when they were in Houston had found that pitcher Daniel Mengden came up positive and games were canceled on that trip and the A’s were forced to scratch their trip to Seattle. For the Giants right now they’ll have to test and see if they get a clean bill of health before moving forward?

#5 Tell us your feelings about the time you got to spend over the years with recently re-assigned Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval who had been part of three World Series Championships and what did he mean to the Giants organization?

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