Dominic Smith doesn’t yet know what it’s like to lose a game in orange and black. The newest Giant, along with speedy outfielder Daniel Johnson, is a perfect 6-0 in his first week with the team. It’s not binary cause and effect of course. Smith hasn’t been superhuman, but he’s provided stability at first base when the Giants were getting anything but that during the first 60 games of the season.
Smith joined Murph & Markus on Wednesday morning following the Giants’ dramatic extra innings win over the Rockies on Tuesday night in Denver. For the second time during the six game win streak, San Francisco pulled off a win after being down to its last out in the ninth. On Saturday it was Matt Chapman’s walk-off homer, Tuesday night it was Wilmer Flores’ infield single that scored Jung Hoo Lee to tie the game. They’re calling it, the Denver Dribbler.
Smith spoke with the morning show for nearly 30 minutes, covering a range of topics from the Giants’ clubhouse to his beginnings in baseball and the effort to bring baseball to inner city youth and increase the number of black American players.
Smith grew up in Los Angeles, but nevertheless he “always had love and respect for the Bay.” His walk-up song is a tribute to Bay Area legend Mac Dre.
Smith, among others, (looking at you, Adames) will also have to step up offensively in the absence of Matt Chapman. Susan Slusser reported Tuesday that the initial 10-day IL designation for Chapman is preliminary, and that he told her he will likely miss closer to a month with sprained ligaments in his hand.
Smith spoke in depth about the positive impact of programs like the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner cities) program, and how the league as a whole is investing in black youth. He mentioned stars like Hunter Greene and Jo Adell as younger ambassadors.
“I think it’s up to the older guys with more experience to guide and help these young guys,” Smith said. “Older guys who understand the game and the dynamics of the community and the economy, there’s definitely some work to be done.”
Check out the full Dominic Smith interview here: