Tag Archives: Spring Training

by TortureCast | March 31, 2014 · 9:57 AM

Episode 58: 2014 Season Preview Bonanza

Photo from last night’s season preview recording at the Public House at AT&T Park. A big mixer and expensive microphones make us look semi-legit, while that is contrasted by the assortment of alcohol. From right to left: Ben, Chelena, Willie and Jen. Holding the camera: Chad

Click the arrow below to stream our season preview podcast! Or you can download it here.

[audio http://torturecast.podomatic.com/enclosure/2014-03-31T01_29_28-07_00.mp3]

Happy Opening Day, Giants fans!

Join us on this inebriated special episode of the TortureCast!

Willie, Chad and Ben welcome @JenCosgriff (BaySportsNet.com) and @ChelenaGoldman (SFBay.ca) to our season preview podcast bonanza, recorded (we did it LIVE) at the Public House at AT&T Park. They probably wished they hadn’t agreed to come. And we saw Brian Wilson give up all the runs against the Padres as we recorded. And Willie is okay at pool.

The five of us predict how many games the Giants will win this year (Chad: 88, Jen: 90, Chelena: 90, Ben: 89, Willie: 89; note: Chad predicted 93 in 2012 when we recorded with GiantsPod.net…they won 94 and the World Series…just sayin’), our concerns about Scutaro, and we argue about why we should or shouldn’t overpay to resign Panda.

If you’re new to our site, stick around, we promise to be entertaining, at least we’re delusional enough to believe it. We’ll be attending quite a few games as members of the press, so heads-up for blurry photos of batting practice, tweets full of consternation and frustration that we cannot cheer or boo in the press box, and silence when we attend Bochy’s pre- and post-game press conferences.

Giants fans, let’s rejoice and exit the cold corners of shame that we allow hockey and basketball to satisfy our sports addiction, and enjoy this long and beautiful ride of another season of San Francisco Giants baseball!

Chad

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Tagged as AT&T Park, baseball, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, Cain, Chad King, chelena goldman, dodgers, giants, Gregor Blanco, hunter pence, jen cosgriff, Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, panda, podcast, public house, San Francisco Giants, scutaro, season preview, Sergio Romo, Spring Training, Tim Lincecum, TortureCast, Vogelsong

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Episode 57 – Jonathan Sanchez

Did this guy really throw a no-hitter for the Giants?!

[audio http://torturecast.podomatic.com/enclosure/2014-03-18T00_20_45-07_00.mp3]

Willie couldn’t make it tonight, so we brought in Jen Cosgriff to talk about her 6 days in Arizona for spring training. We talk about the 27 inning scoreless streak by Giants starters, then freak out about the pummeling of Sergio Romo and aforementioned starters. We can’t wait until the Dodgers melt down from their Australia series!

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by TortureCast | March 18, 2014 · 12:34 AM

by TortureCast | March 3, 2014 · 11:37 PM

Episode 56 – Andres Torres

Man, we’re gonna miss his outfits…

[audio http://torturecast.podomatic.com/enclosure/2014-03-03T23_23_03-08_00.mp3]

Click the button above to play the podcast!

Download the podcast here!

The boys are back in Episode #56 to talk about Ben and Chad’s experience interviewing players at Media Day, how Chad gave a 3 hour behind-the-scenes tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium to Matt Cain and his family, early domination by the starters in Spring Training, how many wins we think Tim Hudson will get, our favorite tweets, and the first “Why’ll we’ll win it all” of 2014. Come join our Michael Morse swooncast!

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Tagged as baseball, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Chad King, derek law, giants, Gregor Blanco, hunter pence, interview, Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, media day, Michael Morse, monterey bay aquarium, San Francisco Giants, Sergio Romo, Spring Training, tim hudson, TortureCast

by TortureCast | January 18, 2014 · 2:08 PM

Episode 55: The Tim Lincecum

We break out 2014 with Episode #55. It’s been 3 months, so the rust is there; consider this spring training for podcasters. (image: AP)

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Ben and Chad kick off TortureCast’s first podcast of 2014 by reviewing all of the transactions for the offseason, and talk about what is left on the Giants’ shopping list before spring training starts in a month. We also fear Tanaka’s arrival in LA while we powerwash our brain stems to shake off the ‘ole cobwebs from baseball hibernation.

Also, remember that Giants FanFest is a mere two weeks away, February 1 at AT&T Park. Let us know if you’re planning to attend; perhaps we’ll have an impromptu get together.

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Tagged as AT&T Park, baseball, Chad King, hotstove, Lincecum, media day, podcast, San Francisco Giants, Spring Training, tanaka, Tim Lincecum, TortureCast

by TortureCast | April 17, 2012 · 2:27 AM

Interview: Thurm und Drang

Fangraphs and SB Nation’s Wendy Thurm, also known as @hangingsliders, sits down with Ben to talk about Spring Training, Bumgarner’s emergence, her choices for franchise players, statistics, and facial hair. Originally recorded shortly before Opening Day.

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Tagged as Barry Zito, Fangraphs, Hanging Sliders, interview, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants, SBNation, Spring Training, Tim Lincecum, Troy Tulowitzki, Wendy Thurm

by TortureCast | March 26, 2012 · 12:17 PM

Episode 25: “Mean People Suck”

This brings back memories of Clark's single up the middle, Mitchell's bare-handed grab, and, er, Maldonado's slide

Stream it here…yes, press that little play button above!

Willie returns from his great adventures abroad at SXSW and Vegas to have a Ben-less hour long conversation with Chad about the Giants’ potential shakeups on the roster, given the injuries of Vogelsong and Freddie Sanchez, a potential middle infielder trade may open the door for Burris, Buster’s first play (GASP) at the plate this spring, Zito’s shelling, Cain’s dominance (have we signed him yet?), the possible shifting sands of the outfield, 49 year old Jamie Moyer beffudles the Giants, Hector “Babe” Sanchez, and John Bowker goes 0-4, 2Ks for the Giants against the Oakland A’s….oh right, the Yomiuri Giants, that is. We do a little hating on Dodger lawyers, dish out advice on how to act as a visiting fan, and praise the glory of the return of the late 80’s roadie.

Almost certain that Freddy ain’t ready

Buster’s first play at the plate

Zito’s poor start today; time to panic yet?

Starting outfield might shift? Shierholtz continues to struggle, Blanco impresses

Former Giant John Bowker to play vs. A’s in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants

Dodgers lawyers that tried to block Stowe’s lawsuit

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Tagged as Angel Pagan, Barry Zito, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, Cain, Chad King, DL, dodgers, fans, Freddy Sanchez, Gregor Blanco, Hector Sanchez, John Bowker, lawyers, Mike Fontenot, San Francisco Giants, Sheirholtz, Spring Training, stow, Vogelsong, Yomiuri Giants

by TortureCast | March 14, 2012 · 7:04 PM

How Much Are Lincecum Bobbleheads Going For?

photo by: Lenny Ignelzi

Here at TortureCast, we’ve heard some early rumblings about Tim Lincecum’s ineffectiveness in spring training this year, and concerns that he’s lost his zip, or his slot, or that “je ne sais quoi.” I know most of you probably aren’t putting your Lincecum bobbleheads on eBay, but for those of you worried about his potential decline, let the numbers put you at ease.

This is his sixth spring training, and he has never had an ERA below 4.00. His overall career ERA in 89.2 innings of spring training is a whopping 5.02. From 2007 through this year, his ERA: 6.43, 4.50, 4.03, 6.94, 4.37, and 6.75 (of course it’s only 8 IP in 2012 so far). His last outing vs Kansas City was stellar, with 1 hit allowed in 4 IP. The numbers also don’t reveal what he’s doing from a mechanical standpoint. He’s only been using his fastball and changeup so far, and just trying to get his mechanics down. Tenured players like him, especially pitchers, as John Kruk said earlier this week, “are always working on stuff,” much to the chagrin of the position players. Many position players acknowledge that spring training is really for the pitchers and then of course, the players on the bubble.

Lincecum is not on the bobble, er, I mean, bubble, of course. He’s just going through the motions, and he’ll be fine.

Chad

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Tagged as bobblehead, ebay, era, giants, history, kruk, Lincecum, mechanics, Spring Training

by TortureCast | March 12, 2012 · 12:43 AM

Episode 23: “A Cacophony of Miami Vice Day-Glo Colors”

Willie Dills is back this week, and he brings with him some questions about our Spring Giants – should we worry about Timmy? How good is Bumgarner? How do we see Huff doing this year? How did Gregor Blanco get over there so fast, I swear he was right here? What the hell is that thing in the Miami outfield?

And what about Tommy?

Willie, Chad, and Ben cover all this and more in a TortureCast record-setting forty-seven minutes! Grab some pine, and settle in (but not for long), because we’re talking some Spring!

Tim Lincecum not worried about poor outings (SFG)

Giants have another ace in Bumgarner (Bruce Jenkins, SF Gate)

Wilson returns with ‘conviction’ (SFG)

Tommy Joseph’s two homers (Baggarly, CSNBA)

Michael of the Grubby Glove’s excellent “A Game For Bryan Stow”

The monstrosity that is the Marlins’ new home run sculpture (CBS Miami)

Strikeouts, base hits, double plays (Scott Stapp’s “Marlins Will Soar”)

Ben’s Bonus: Pitbull’s “Marlins Time to Represent”

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Tagged as Aubrey Huff, Brandon Crawford, Brian Wilson, Gregor Blanco, Madison Bumgarner, Melky Cabrera, Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants, Spring Training, Tim Lincecum, Tommy Joseph