Feb. 4, 2011GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEOGIANTS WORLD SERIES PAGEPABLO SANDOVAL WORKING WITH BONDS
UPDATED: 1:28 p.m.Geoff James
CSNBayArea.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants' media room is almost empty, except for a few of the Latin American media representatives talking-- in espanol-- with Pablo Sandoval.
And although the Panda is wearing loose clothing, you can really see his weight loss -- particularly in his face.
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1:14 -- Sandoval working with Barry Bonds
Here comes the Panda. Lots of interest in the media room now, and the anticipation was worth it. Pablo Sandoval revealed that he has been working with former Giants slugger Barry Bonds.
Reporter: "Does this mean you've lost weight?"
Sandoval: "Yeah. A lot. But you have to keep working at it."
Truth is, he looks a lot slimmer. He also said he didn't pick up a bat for two months.
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Sandoval said he feels "very fresh right now."
"I've lost a lot of weight," Sandoval said.
"I've been working a lot with Barry," Sandoval said.
Press responds: "Bonds?"
Sandoval: "Yes."
Apparently they have the same trainer.
Sandoval on the mandate from the Giants to get in shape: "I say thank you to the Giants ... they made me grow up."
Sandoval declined to say how much he weighs.
"You can find out February 19th when they have the scale," he said.
He also talked about working out so hard in Arizona, that he "threw up -- many times."
CSN Senior Insider Ray Ratto: "Can you throw up on cue?" (laughter)
Sandoval said he's been working with former Olympic athlete Dan O'Brien.
12:49 -- Avoiding the World Series hangover
Bruce Bochy has some experience on what follows a trip to the World Series, having done so with the Padres. He summed it up in his typically succinct style on Friday.
"It's different being the hunted," Bochy said
12:44 -- Speaking of Showtime
Giants owner Bill Neukom on the upcoming "Showtime" series: MLB films is involved, it will be "very high quality"...."This will be content that will be carefully created they (the Showtime crew) will abide by the rules that the rest of the press abides by ... this will not be anything that will distract to winning the NL West."
12:36 -- Sabean singles out Dusty Baker
Brian Sabean was his usual tell-it-like-it-is mode after the press conference to announce extensions for him and manager Bruce Bochy.
"As much hell as you go through, you have a lot of fun in this business," Sabean said.
He also saluted former manager Dusty Baker: "Dusty kicked this thing off ..."
12:29 -- In praise of Bochy and Sabean
The media horde has moved down to the press room to watch as Giants owner Bill Neukom announces contract extensions through 2012 for manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean.
Neukom on Sabean: "A career of accomplishment...the sun never sets on Brian's group."
Sabean on the Giants: "It's a great place in time. Everyone's on the same page."
Sabean says he appreciates the trust Neukom has given him and it puts the Giants in a good place to try and win another trophy.
Neukom on Bochy: "Bruce solved the Rubik's Cube" last season.
Bochy on the 2010 season: "This has been the greatest year in my life in baseball."
12:10 p.m. -- Lincecum looks back
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum sits in Suite No. 39, hunched forward, speaking with that maddeningly even and calm demeanor that doesn't tell you much of anything.
All of the Giants pitchers, in fact, are the same way. Eerily calm. Lincecum's eyes did light up a bit when he talked about Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean's intense speeches to the pitchers last August after the group fell on some hard times.
"They lit a fire under us." Lincecum said.
The rest, as they say... is history.
11:47 a.m. -- Cain praises Posey
Pitcher Matt Cain spoke to reporters in Suite 38. He spoke about Buster Posey, and the effect the young backstop had on the Giants pitching staff after Bengie Molina was traded.
Cain said it took him just an "inning or two" with Posey following Molina departure for the staff to feel comfortable with the rookie catcher.
11:34 a.m. -- Ross is boss
Ross is boss. Cody, that is. KCBS morning sports reporter Steve Bitker was loitering outside Suite 41, but nobody was inside.
I asked. "Who's in here?"
His answer: "Cody Ross' suite... And I don't want to leave 'cause I know it will be packed soon."
He was right, it got packed fast. Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami asked Ross,"Is this team set up to do it one, two, three more years?"
Ross' reply: "I think it is."
SOUND OFF: "The title defense officially starts now" -- REnteen
I think everyone in the room got a chill.
11:17 a.m. -- Buster plays it cool
We are under way here at AT&T Park for Giants media day.
Players are scattered about the Suite Level along the third-base line, and the media is out in force, but Suite No. 40 is the most crowded.
Why?
It's the Buster Posey suite. Everybody wants a piece of San Francisco's Rookie of the Year, but Posey remains as calm as ever, giving his "we still just need to take it game by game" speech that we heard down the stretch last season.
Geoff James is a Web producer for CSNBayArea.com and CSNCalifornia.com and the author of the blog "Word on the Street."