Which San Francisco Giants players will be breakout stars (as media members)?

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner stood in the middle of the visitor’s clubhouse at Dodger Stadium with a blank expression on his face.

He paused for so long that it was difficult to tell whether Bumgarner had forgotten he was asked a question or if he was so perplexed by it that he couldn’t deliver an answer.

His eyes began to shift from locker-to-locker as he surveyed the nameplates of his Giants teammates. Finally, he locked in on Giants rookie Mike Yastrzemski.

“He could do it,” Bumgarner said.

Before Bumgarner could be asked why Yastrzemski would make a good broadcaster in the future, the Giants ace walked away.

Over the last week, 15 Giants players were asked which of their teammates — both former and current– have a future in broadcasting. A search for the next pregame and postgame show stars, color commentary extraordinaires and jocks turned radio hosts led to in-depth analysis, thoughtful compliments and one common refrain.

“I’d like to think I could do it,” was said in one form or another by at least half of the respondents.

How does a player parlay a career in baseball to a job behind a microphone?

“You look for perspective, knowledge, but I think a guy has to have a little hemorrhoid in him when he gets behind the microphone to have fun with it,” said Mike Krukow, the uber-popular Giants broadcaster who moved into the booth after a 14-year pitching career. “You’ve got to have some stories.”

Two Giants players emerged as obvious front-runners, picked by at least five of their peers.

Catcher Stephen Vogt, one of the best interviews in all of baseball, was named by a half-dozen Giants position players.

“Stephen Vogt. I think we’re all in unison on that one,” Yastrzemski said.

“Vogt is the obvious one,” third baseman Evan Longoria echoed.

Vogt received his biggest vote of confidence by the man who would know best.

“Vogt could do it tomorrow,” Krukow said.

Vogt could likely go on to a lucrative career in broadcasting if he pursued the path. But most teammates also think he’s most likely to become a big league manager when his playing days end.

The Giants’ backup catcher is so convincing when he speaks that he could probably become a world-class telemarketer. When informed he was a leading vote-getter to be a broadcaster, Vogt smiled.

“That’s awesome,” he said.

Vogt nominated his fellow catcher, Buster Posey.

“He’s so well-spoken and he knows the game inside and out. He’d be really good at it,” Vogt said.

Posey isn’t convinced it’s a career he’ll pursue, but the ever-diplomatic catcher noted, “You never say never.”

Posey was one of the many Giants players who tabbed pitcher Jeff Samardzija as the next-most likely broadcaster. Unlike Vogt, Samardzija might not be able to walk directly into the booth.

“He would probably have to go through a few censorship classes first,” Posey said.

Giants reliever Tony Watson ginitially chose Ryan Vogelsong, his former teammate, but said Vogelsong might be too intense, especially if the team was playing poorly. Ultimately, he went with Samardzija.

“I think they’d have to censor him a bit too much, though,” Watson said.

Samardzija, who has pitched in parts of 12 major league seasons, has already thought of a way around his cursing problem. Instead of cleaning it up, he’ll find an outlet that embraces him.

“I’ll definitely have to be on XM radio,” Samardzija said.

If Samardzija hosts a show, many of his teammates would tune in.

“He’s just something else,” rookie pitcher Shaun Anderson said. “He has to get paid for what he says. For sure.”

Krukow, who has a near-spotless record on air, identified the “cough button” as a broadcaster’s best friend.

“I swear too much, too,” Krukow said. “To me, that’s a strength. That is not a hindrance.”

Vogt and Samardzija received the most votes, but no fewer than 10 Giants players were mentioned as having the potential to become a media star.

Longoria said he’d prefer to stay involved in the game in a different way, but his teammates think he could thrive as an analyst.

“With how long he’s been playing the game, he’s analytical and he talks in-depth about different situations in games,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said.

As for Crawford?

“I don’t think so. He’s more quiet,” first baseman Brandon Belt said. “He’s not going to get overly excited about anything.”

Crawford has a knack for describing plays in great detail, but he’s so soft-spoken that reporters routinely compare notes after his interviews to make sure they got it right.

“I don’t think people would be able to hear me,” Crawford said. “I’d like to think I could talk about different situations, but they’d need to turn up my microphone.”

Belt didn’t receive any votes in the early-portion of the process, but he did earn a ringing endorsement from Krukow.

“He’s hysterical, he’s bright, he sees the game well, but he’s quick-witted which is essential,” Krukow said.

Crawford isn’t as convinced.

“Belt would be falling asleep in the middle of the game,” Crawford said.

Belt won the 2018 Good Guy Award, an honor voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America for the player who is most cooperative and exhibits professional behavior with writers throughout the season.

Most Good Guy Award winners give honest, descriptive answers to questions after wins and losses and some have excelled in the media after their playing days. Could Belt be next?

“I think I could do it,” Belt said. “I can make small talk about nothing for a really long time.”

That’s the spirit, Brandon.

Others to receive nominations include Watson, Smith and center fielder Kevin Pillar, who acknowledged he plans to pursue jobs in the media after his career ends.

“I’m going to do it. When I was on the DL with my collarbone (in Toronto), I would sneak up to the booth and do it for an inning,” Pillar said.

Pablo Sandoval was a popular pick, as the bi-lingual infielder is a popular player with both teammates and fans. Regardless of whether he provides analysis in English, Spanish or both, Sandoval will always have enthusiasm on his side.

“He’d be fun,” Krukow said. “He’s really got a great sense of humor.”

Among the younger players on the Giants roster, Chris Shaw and Tyler Beede were each mentioned. Beede might have a better shot at handling a more traditional job whereas Shaw may have to find a position where censoring language isn’t as important.

“(Shaw) always has the perfect thing to say,” teammate Dereck Rodríguez said. “He’d 100 percent have to be on XM radio, though.”

A few Giants, including Will Smith, said they’ve spent rehab assignments listening to former reliever Javy Lopez call games and come away impressed with his professionalism. Of Lopez’s recently retired teammates, Matt Cain was a name who surfaced as someone that might be able to enjoy the same type of success.

“He talks so well and it’s just going to be amplified when you get him in front of a microphone,” Samardzija said.

Of the Giants coaches, Krukow thinks Ron Wotus and Rick Schu could join Tim Flannery, a pregame and postgame show analyst, as a media personality. But Krukow also suggested a name no one else had mentioned.

“I’ve always believed that one of the best personalities in the Bay Area, bar none one of the best storytellers is Dave Righetti,” Krukow said. “He would be lights-out. He’s got a million great stories.”

Storytelling, an ability to analyze the game and a willingness to have fun are all key components of transitioning from the field to the booth. Anyone who possesses those qualities should at least have a chance to succeed, which is why a few teammates wanted to see if Bumgarner would ever consider a gig.

“I’d be good at it, yeah,” Bumgarner said. “But I’m not doing it.”

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