Duane Kuiper is known for telling it like it is when asked to break down what’s happening with the Giants throughout the week on KNBR 680. Tuesday’s conversation with Murph & Mac was no different, as Kuiper did not hold back his frustrations over Monday’s ugly loss in Los Angeles.
“He’s got to get in there and rally the troops.” Kuiper said about how Bruce Bochy has to handle a clearly dejected clubhouse.
Kuiper had a lot to say about the showdown between Madison Bumgarner and Yasiel Puig. While many Dodgers told the media after the game that they took issue with the way the Giants’ ace reacted, Kuiper came to Bumgarner’s defense.
“Right or wrong, you can dissect that all you want, that’s who he is and he’s got three World Series rings. And that’s the bottom line,” Kuiper said.
Kuiper went on to say that there’s a silver lining to the Bumgarner-Puig beef.
“I don’t care who starts it. It doesn’t matter. They don’t like each other and that’s the bottom line. And for a lot of ways, it’s great for the rivalry.”
Murph & Mac also asked Kuip about the mysterious circumstances surrounding Bumgarner’s departure from the game, as he was under 100 pitches and dealing.
“There’s a lot of conspiracy theorists out there, but the bottom line is he and Bruce Bochy had a conversation,” Kuiper explained. “Neither want anybody to know what that conversation was about. I did not see Bumgarner throw a fit when Bochy took him out of the game so that tells me something.”
One theory with traction is that Bochy was concerned the Dodgers would throw at Bumgarner as retaliation in his next plate appearance so the Giants’ skipper wanted to protect his ace.
Despite San Francisco’s extended skid, Kuiper said he’s still optimistic that if this team can just get back to the postseason, anything’s possible.
“Getting there is the main thing. Once you get there, play it out, see what happens. I’m pretty confident about this team once they get there. Not so confident right now. When they get there, that’s a different story.”
The interview ended with a frustrated Kuiper explaining that sometimes he can’t just fall back on the “it’s just a game” philosophy after a tough loss and that Monday’s 9th inning meltdown cost him some sleep.
“Sometimes you just don’t have the answers,” a clearly tired Kuip admitted.
The Giants, currently six games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, are sending Johnny Cueto to the mound in Game 2 of the series Tuesday at 7:10 pm on KNBR 680.
