KNBR Podcast

In a candid conversation, Mike Krukow shares his thoughts with Murph & Markus, on the Giants' recent struggles, particularly in the bullpen and the decision-making of young manager Tony Vitello. The team's loss to the D-backs was excruciating, with Eric Miller's inability to command the game and the bullpen's inability to close it out. Mike Krukow emphasizes that the bullpen is a work in progress, with emerging talents like Caleb Kilian and Keaton Winn showing promise.

The discussion delves into the importance of having a "gun slinger" in the bullpen, someone who can take the pressure off the closer and provide a reliable high-leverage arm. Mike Krukow highlights the Giants' lack of a traditional closer and the need for a pitcher who can perform in clutch situations. He also praises Tony Vitello's decision to put Matt Gage in a tough situation, taking the blame for the loss and showing confidence in his players.

Mike Krukow also discusses the positives from the game, including the emergence of Devers and Adames as a potent hitting duo, and the impressive defensive play of Devers at first base. He notes that even young players like Bryce Eldridge need time to develop and that the Giants' inconsistent playing time for him is a sign of the team's commitment to his growth.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 4: The Giants' bullpen woes continue to plague the team, and the hosts are feeling the frustration. In this episode, they dive into the latest developments, including the struggles of Bryce Eldridge and the lack of a reliable closer. The hosts discuss the team's decision to keep Eldridge on the bench, despite his impressive minor league performance, and the potential consequences of not giving him more playing time.

The conversation also touches on the bullpen's performance, with the hosts questioning the team's decision to rely on Ryan Walker as the closer. They discuss the importance of having a reliable closer and the impact it has on the team's overall performance. The hosts also mention the recent signing of several bullpen arms, but question whether any of them will be able to fill the void left by the team's current closer.

The hosts also take a break from the Giants' struggles to discuss the Greek festival and the music of Yanni. They share their thoughts on the iconic musician and his hit song "Almost a Whisper." The conversation is lighthearted and entertaining, providing a much-needed break from the seriousness of the Giants' season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3: The Giants' struggles continue, and it's not just about the team's record. In this episode, Murph & Markus dive into the latest developments with the team, including the bullpen's blown save and the ongoing debate about Bryce Eldridge's playing time. Our guest, George Kontos, shares his insights on the team's performance and offers his thoughts on the future of the Giants.

The Giants' offense is starting to show signs of life, with players like Casey Schmitt,Willy Adames  & Rafael Devers contributing to the team's success. However, the bullpen has been a major concern, with the team's closer situation still up in the air. George Kontos joins the show and discusses the importance of having a stable bullpen and how it affects the team's overall performance. He also shares his thoughts on the Giants' decision to send Trevor McDonald to the minors and the potential impact on the team's rotation.

The conversation also touches on the topic of Bryce Eldridge, the team's top prospect who has been struggling to find consistent playing time. George Kontos offers his analysis on the situation and how it affects the team's lineup. He also discusses the importance of giving players like Eldridge the opportunity to develop and grow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2:

In a season marked by inconsistency, the San Francisco Giants' bullpen has been a major storyline. Last night's devastating loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks was just the latest in a string of frustrating defeats. The team's inability to close out games has been a recurring theme, and it's not just the fans who are feeling the pain. The Giants' manager, Tony V, is under scrutiny, and the team's front office is coming under fire for not addressing the bullpen's weaknesses in the offseason.

This episode of Murph &  Markus dive into the Giants' bullpen woes, with Mike Krukow joining the conversation. Kruk shares his thoughts on the team's current state, including the struggles of Eric Miller and the emergence of Caleb Killy as a potential closer. The discussion also touches on the importance of having a "gun slinger" in the bullpen, a term coined by Mike to describe the type of reliever who can shut the door in high-pressure situations.

The conversation also explores the team's decision-making process, including the usage of Bryce Eldridge, which has been a topic of debate among fans. Mike shares his insights on the team's approach to managing the bullpen and the challenges they face in finding the right combination of pitchers to get the job done.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: Murph & Markus dive into the San Francisco Giants’ latest heartbreaking loss, where another bullpen implosion raised serious concerns about the team’s late-game reliability. Why does this keep happening—and more importantly, why wasn’t the closer role addressed before the season began?

In this episode, the guys break down what went wrong, analyze the current bullpen structure, and debate whether the Giants front office miscalculated its pitching strategy. Is it time for a major adjustment, or can the current roster still turn it around?

Don’t miss this in-depth discussion as Murph & Markus call out the biggest issues, explore potential solutions, and ask the tough question every Giants fan is thinking: where is the closer this team desperately needs?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garry St. Jean joins the show to discuss the NBA Conference Finals, and discussed how or if the Warriors can get back to that level of basketball with Steph Curry and Steve Kerr. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Giants reliever and closer, Sergio Romo, joins the show to break down the Giants bullpen struggles this season and why it is important to have defined roles as relievers going into the season. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.