As I Was Saying . . . — Gregor Blanco
I was at my seven-year-old son’s baseball game when my agent called me to say the Giants had made an offer. I was like, “Man, yes! Let’s do it!’’ My wife got all excited. When the deal was done, I called my brothers, my whole family. Everyone was so happy for me because they know this is home for me.
On my first day back, I got here so early no one else was in the clubhouse. When guys started coming in they were like, “Man, it’s so good to see you. We missed you!’’ I was just so happy to see everybody.
What I like about the Giants family is that we are really a family. Once you put that uniform on, you can feel the greatness of the team over all these years. You feel the fans, how they support you. You feel your teammates, the front office, the coaches — everybody is willing to do everything they can to make you better. As a group, we are really pulling for each other. Those things are what make the Giants special. I remember my first time here in 2012, that’s the first thing I noticed. And coming back, I still have that feeling.
If there’s one thing I missed the most it’s the fans. Seriously, our fans are the extra player. We can see it here in spring training already — and the games haven’t even started! It’s amazing. We know they’re really pulling for us. it’s not like that everywhere.
Obviously, I am really hoping to make the team, but I’m also having fun and doing my best to help the young guys. The first day I was here I saw this kid and I thought, “That guy has great talent.’’ I didn’t know who it was and it turned out to be Steven Duggar. He’s one of the top outfielders in the minor leagues, so I started talking to him about playing the outfield, about bunting, stealing bases — some mechanics that will help him be a better player.
Sure, I’d love to play four or five more years but I’m at the point in my career where I’m on the way out, and he’s just on his way in. He’s going to be the future of the Giants organization. So I want to help him keep the dynasty that we built. We’re a team here. We’re all pulling for each other no matter what. Everybody helping everybody.
I wish you all could be down here with us. I can’t wait to see all of you when we get back to San Francisco — and Sacramento, too — for the last spring training games. If you forgot what I look like, just find the guy with the biggest smile on his face.
