Q&A S.F. Giants reporter Amy G.

10 QUESTIONS FOR

Amy Gutierrez

For Amy Gutierrez, baseball has always been a family affair. Growing up as a fourth-generation baseball lover and talking about it over the dinner table was great early preparation for a career in sports broadcasting. After a stint covering basketball, the Emmy-winning Journalist journalist moved to baseball and started covering the San Francisco Giants for PETALUMA NBC Sports Bay Area in 2008. For a decade, Amy G — as she’s affectionately known to viewers — has focused on the stories behind the headlines, sharing the human side of the sport and insights into the Giants players. Recently, Gutierrez took her storytelling approach beyond the diamond with her children’s book series

Smarty Marty. STEPHANIE MARTIN

1What is your favorite Giants memory? Interviewing Jonathan Sanchez after he authored a no-hitter in 2009. I

loved the story line of the night, with Sanchez on the chopping block and given a final start to prove he belonged. His father was in the stands, visiting from Puerto Rico, watching his son pitch at the MLB level for the first time ever. The emotion was overwhelming and it was an honor to bring that moment to the Giants fan base. 6 Most challenging interview? Without naming names, there have been a few. I’ve worked with all types of personalities. Some guys are nervous, some are simply uncomfortable talking about themselves. But the challenge is why I do it. It’s very rewarding when you get a player who isn’t known for talking to open up and trust you.

2How has sports broadcasting changed since you began your career? There are more women. And I love it.

Especially seeing more women in positions of influence or power. I also think there are just more positions in the industry allowing for different skill sets to be highlighted. 7 Favorite thing to eat at AT&T Park? The Cha Cha Bowl hands down. It’s hall-of-famer

Orlando Cepeda’s recipe. So, contrary to popular opinion, it’s not those World Series rings that motivate me, it’s the opportunity to eat a bowl.

3Advice to young women aspiring to work in sports broadcasting? Know your sport. There is not the same room for error when it comes to women versus men in this

industry. So if you’re not confident about something, don’t try and sell it. Talk about what you know and learn, learn, learn the rest.

4Who were your first Giants interviews? In the same season, Pablo Sandoval and Sergio Romo were called up. They

were two of my favorites as rookies. Always bright-eyed and available for interviews. But also that same season Rich Aurilia, Dave Roberts and Randy Winn were on the team. Known as the “Rat Pack” of the Giants, those three are some of my favorite people in sports and life. Always helpful and accommodating, they helped me figure out my role as a rookie.

5Most fun interview? Too many to pick just one. All of the postseason interviews from ’10,’12 and ’14 were extra exciting, knowing what was on the line. It’s also always fun to interview someone willing to “play,” like Jeremy Affeldt or Javier Lopez. They each have a wicked sense of humor and can be super sarcastic. Sarcasm, if understood, can be a reporter’s best friend. 8 Day or night game? Easy. Night. Traffic on day games is brutal.

9How did you become an author? By chance really. I was approached by publisher Cameron & Co. in Petaluma about writing a book about baseball for kids. But what really put things into motion was the push from my grandmother. She passed away November 12, 2012, and shortly thereafter I signed a contract to write about a strong female character who teaches her brother to love the game of baseball through scoring the game. I named her Marty in honor of my grandmother (Martha) and dedicated the book to her.

10 What inspired you to write your second book in the series? I think we’re in a very interesting time, politically and socially. I have a 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter and it is very important that my husband and I foster strong, confident children with a voice and sense of achievability. Smarty Marty turns the tables on gender stereotypes and raises the question “why not a girl?” That’s a topic I’m passionate about driving awareness of. m