North Bay Woman

"My mom always told me that luck was when hard work and opportunity came together." crew in the truck under the stadium and cross-reference with the producer there to see if I have any other responsibili- ties. The Giants are famous for celebrat- ing or commemorating prior to games so, if that's the case, I'll prep for that. I walk at on the field at 3:15 and that's the favorite part of my workday. It's qui- et and very peaceful. I'll sit in the dug- out off to the side as the players trickle in. I think they respect people who keep the same hours that they do. I can pick off my interviews after they warm up. Players are very responsive at that time. I've learned that there are definite times in the day that aren't good to approach them. When they're getting into their mindset, it's not a good time to ask them about their favorite restaurant. At the 4 p.m. manager meeting I collect information on who's hurt, who's not playing, why someone got switched in the batting order. After that, I eat and then it's game time. How do you choose your content? My approach is that if it's interesting to me, it will be interesting to someone at home. You can sell it if you believe in what you're saying and know what you're talking about. What are the advantages to being a female in the field? What are the challenges? I think it's an advantage that as a female I just have a different approach. It's probably gentler and certainly asking different things and that can be refreshing to a player or audience, which creates a positive vibe for fans. The biggest disadvantage is the ex- tremely small margin for error. You have to be on top of your game every day because should you make a mistake you will be judged much more harshly than a man who makes the same mistake. Do you go into the clubhouse? Yes. Honestly, I never thought any- thing about it. It's a good sign of where we are today and I'm so grateful to the women who went before me. Still, if I'm interviewing a starting pitcher and he just got out of the show- er, I turn my back and give him a minute to put his pants on. If you could be in charge of the big leagues, what would you do to make it better? I would take away the replay. It makes a game that is already long, longer. It also takes away the human element of the game. Some of the most mem- orable moments in baseball are arguing over a call and stirring an emotional aspect of the game. Keeping the game honest shouldn't depend on the use of a computer. What have been your most revealing interviews? Probably the ones with players who have lost their parents, have loved ones going through cancer, those who are new parents or players who have chil- dren with disabilities. Every player has a story and it's my job to find it. If not the Giants, who would you want to cover? I've been so spoiled covering the Giants there really isn't another team I'd want to cover. I would love to explore working with sports magazine shows that go in depth with athletes of any sport. I just like to tell someone's story and sports stories are usually extremely inspiring. The interview you'd like to do next? The hero of the game, of course. That means the Giants won! ■ – Amy Gutierrez Follow Amy G on Twitter: @amyggiants or on Instagram: @amyg Left: Amy Gutierrez in Petaluma in March 2016. – Photo by Stuart Lirette, styled by Malia Anderson, hair and makeup by Megan Hadden

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