San Francisco Giants Mailbag: Injuries, Sandoval, Bumgarner
Apr 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) during batting practice prior to a game against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
@MaggiePilloton When do we start hearing "we want panda back" chants?
— Edén Gutiérrez Sr (@EdenoneSF) April 15, 2015
On the field, the Giants fans might be missing Sandoval’s production right now. The starting lineup lacks power and some clutch production right now, which Sandoval specialized in. Adding to the pain, McGehee, Sandoval’s replacement, is currently injured. He hasn’t been able to prove to Giants fans yet how he’ll fit in on this team or if he’ll step up when needed. He will eventually though and it’s a long season, so fans can’t judge the McGehee signing yet.
Off the field though, it seems like the majority of Giants fans don’t miss Sandoval at all. He certainly didn’t seem thankful at all for the fans or the Giants organization as a whole when he said in an offseason interview that it wasn’t hard at all to leave the Giants, he knew he was going to leave as early as last year’s Spring Training, and that he’d only miss Bruce Bochy and Pence.
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Sidenote, thanks Sandoval for the memories, but good riddance.
Fans didn’t appreciate those controversial quotes from Sandoval, who was worshipped during his time with the Giants. He was a fan favorite during his time in San Francisco, and now, because of these ignorant, ungrateful comments, he has become an enemy. I believe many fans will boo him whenever he returns to AT&T Park in future seasons.
Sandoval conveniently won’t make many trips back to AT&T Park though, as the Boston Red Sox rarely come to play in San Francisco.
Giants fans might currently wish for more power in the lineup or another consistent middle-of-the-order threat, but that doesn’t mean they’re missing Sandoval specifically. He just represents what the Giants are lacking right now. In terms of character, Sandoval is not missed now and probably won’t be for a while.
Next: Bumgarner's Workload in Beginning of Season