Reports surfaced early on Monday that the Giants clubhouse is in a bit of a funk chemistry-wise. That’s expected from any team 24.5 games out of first place, but color commentator Mike Krukow actually thinks the Giants are a relatively tight-knit group, especially given the circumstances of the season thus far.
Krukow joined Murph & Mac on KNBR Monday morning and addressed the reports from Ken Rosenthal, discussing closer Mark Melancon in particular. Rosenthal’s report said Melancon rubbed some Giants the wrong way in the beginning of this season with his warmup routines and alleged disruption of the relievers’ status quo for preparation. Krukow said he hasn’t noticed anyone upset by Melancon’s actions, nor has he noticed chemistry weakening.
“What I see is Melancon, you know like a lot of relievers, he’s got his own gig,” Krukow said. “I think we all understand, closers are different people, and they deal with different demons. And some of their own routines. I think the important thing is that he has his own routine. I haven’t heard that it’s upset anybody. If you looked at how Melancon is in line to get on the plane, getting off the plane, he’s having fun, he’s laughing with the guys. The same thing on the bus, I mean he’s going over to – he’s walking over to the ballpark before the games with guys, and they’re buddies.”
“I mean I don’t see any friction, I don’t see that rotten core starting to fester in the club at all. So I don’t really know what the whole point of the article from Ken Rosenthal – I mean he’s a good guy, I like Ken. I mean he’s very good. I don’t doubt that what he wrote, that that happened, but I just don’t think the result of what happened was anything rotten or that’s going to infect that clubhouse. Despite this negativity, they’re still a good clubhouse.”
The full interview with Krukow is available below. To listen to his comments on Melancon and the possible chemistry issues, or lack thereof, jump to the 11:30 mark.