San Francisco Giants: Former Teammates React to Sandoval’s Comments
Pablo Sandoval‘s mouth continues to get him in trouble. Normally, the issue is what he puts into it, but now, the problem is what’s coming out.
The former San Francisco Giants‘ third baseman is airing all of his grievances now that he can call himself a member of the Boston Red Sox. Earlier this week, in an interview with Bleacher Report, Sandoval told Scott Miller that leaving San Francisco was “not hard at all”, that he and his agent were disrespected, and that Hunter Pence and manager Bruce Bochy were the only ones he would miss from the Giants.
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Never once did he mention he would miss the fans, who cheered him on through every prolonged slump, and through every injury, and through every season that he gained all the weight that he lost in the offseason. The fans are unhappy with the inflammatory talk of their team and the front office, and so are some of Sandoval’s former teammates.
While no current players have outwardly spoken, which is a good thing, meaning they’re focused on what actually matters, and that’s playing, some former Giants have spoken on their behalf, sticking up for their friends.
Aubrey Huff, who played three seasons with the Giants, and Sandoval, and was a key figure in the 2010 World Series run, has had the most notable reaction. In a post on his personal Facebook page, Huff had the following, transcribed verbatim, to say:
"I’m pretty sure [there] wasn’t a tear shed on behalf of all the players, and coaches when he signed with Boston. It has always been about Pablo! He had the fans fooled but not the players! One of the biggest reasons he didn’t want to come back is because the Giants made him workout on the treadmill everyday! Pretty sure that was a driving force for him! Never the less he could have been known as a legend in San Fran but ego always will get in the way when it comes to Pablo! Sorry for the rant just want to take up for the players who are there now holding their tongues, because they don’t want to get in the middle of this! If you can’t get along with guys like Posey, Bumgarner, Cain, Affeldt, just to name a few, then maybe it’s time to look in the mirror!! Rant over!"
Shane Loux, a relief pitcher who spent parts of three seasons with the San Francisco organization, also chimed in on Twitter.
No one who ever played with Panda is surprised about his comments. It's too bad he felt the need.
— Shane Loux (@shaneloux) March 9, 2015
It seems there was a side of Sandoval that the fans never knew. There were some grumblings that he wasn’t the easiest guy to play with, but there weren’t the reports to this extent. The smiling, jolly face above the round midsection was all a facade.
The team lost an All-Star third baseman, and some thump in the middle of their lineup, but judging from the comments his former teammates have had, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Team chemistry has been a vital component to the Giants’ success over the past half-decade, and losing the once-loved Sandoval could actually improve that.
Newcomer Casey McGehee, after being acquired in the offseason, said he was “shocked, but really, really excited” to join the Giants. He’s happy to be with the team, which is more than could be said about Sandoval last year.