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Krukow breaks down similarities between Shaun Anderson, Madison Bumgarner

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© Orlando Ramirez | 2019 Jul 3


Now that the All-Star break is officially in the rear-view mirror, the San Francisco Giants have to get to work in the second-half of their season. They are getting it all started with Shaun Anderson, their rookie right-hander who started 10 games in the first half and pitched to the tune of a 3-2 record, a 4.23 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 55.1 innings.

Usually teams roll out of the break with a veteran or their ace, as the Giants have done in the past with Madison Bumgarner, but this year they are going with their rookie. Mike Krukow stopped by the Murph & Mac Show on Friday morning to discuss why he likes the move.

“Tonight we got Shaun Anderson leading the charge, which is kind of unique, by the way,” Krukow said. “Normally when you have a break, especially a four-day which most teams have now, you usually come back with one of your veterans. So to come back with a rookie like Anderson is a little unique, but you know what? He’s deserving of the task. I think it’s a pretty neat little tip of the cap to what he did in the first half, so I like that.”

Anderson has allowed less than four runs in all but two of his starts for the Giants this year, and has been one of their most reliable pitchers since he was called up, but there is obviously room for him to improve. Krukow discussed some of those potential improvements.

“I think where he goes forth from where he’s at right now is a little more belief in the fastball. He was a closer at the University of Florida, which is invaluable because during that time he learned how to warm up properly and he learned what his best pitches were. He learned to attack and I think those things are all essential things you learn in the bullpen,” Krukow continued. “We talked a little bit about that in our last couple shows, but he still nibbles with the two-seam fastball and I think his bread and butter is his cut-fastball and he can throw it anywhere between 92 and 94-miles-per-hour. Those are good pitches for him. I think he gets a better feel of his changeup, I think he learns to use both the two-seam and the four-seam grip with his changeup and I think he gets a little more courageous with his curveball.”

Krukow also compared him to Madison Bumgarner and discussed some similarities between the two that could show how Anderson will be successful during his time in the big leagues.

“What is so cool about the guy is that he gets to the ‘screw you’ point pretty quickly and if you look at his starts – think about it he had one start in New York where he gave up two home runs, a walk, and then a base hit. You thought ‘this was gonna be a disaster’ but that was it, he shut the door, he got to the ‘screw you’ factor. […] I think he’s gonna be a guy that is gonna have that ‘bad dude’ mentality when he takes the hill,” Krukow said. “I love the fact he’s had a chance to pitch with Madison Bumgarner, because they have a lot in common in that regard. They just think that they’re the baddest guy on the mound when they get on that little hill in the middle of the infield.”

Listen to the full interview with Mike Krukow below.