There hasn’t been any talk within the Giants organization about filing a grievance against Madison Bumgarner in the wake of the ace southpaw’s dirt bike accident earlier this week, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes (subscription required). It isn’t known whether Bumgarner had some sort of contractual clause (as many players do) prohibiting him from engaging in potentially dangerous activities like dirt biking, though if he did, the Giants would technically be within their rights to pursue recouping some of the salary owed to Bumgarner while he is on the disabled list. Then again, as Olney notes, such a tactic “would be incredibly shortsighted and stupid” for the Giants given Bumgarner’s importance to the franchise, not to mention the fact that Bumgarner is already an enormous bargain thanks to an early-career extension.
Here’s the latest on some injury situations from around baseball…
- Denard Span left last night’s game in the second inning after colliding with the wall while making a catch. The Giants outfielder suffered a mild right shoulder sprain and though Span told MLB.com’s Chris Haft and other reporters that x-rays were negative, manager Bruce Bochy said Span may be out of action for a few days. With Hunter Pence also hampered by a knee strain, the Giants may need to make some type of roster move to fill the gaps in their outfield.
- The Rays placed right-hander Tommy Hunter on the 10-day DL with a right calf strain, recalling Chih-Wei Hu from Triple-A to fill the spot in the bullpen. Hunter, who signed a minor league deal with Tampa Bay in February, has performed very well in his 8 1/3 innings with the club, posting a 1.08 ERA in 10 relief appearances. Hu, 23, will be looking to make his official MLB debut after five seasons in the minors with the Rays and Twins. Baseball America ranked Hu as the fifth-best prospect in the Rays’ system prior to this season.
- In better news for the injury-plagued Rays, Jake Odorizzi told reporters (including Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times) that he feels ready to return from the 10-day DL after a 36-pitch bullpen session and some running drills. Odorizzi was placed on the DL last weekend due to a left hamstring strain, though the injury wasn’t considered to be too serious. The Rays righty is eligible to be activated on Wednesday.
- The Marlins will probably use Jeff Locke out of the bullpen when the southpaw returns from injury, manager Don Mattingly told reporters (including Andre C. Fernandez of the Miami Herald). Locke gives the Fish another lefty out of the pen, and “We still want — we’ve always talked about having a number of guys who can do multiple innings,” Mattingly said. Locke has been sidelined with biceps tendinitis since early in Spring Training and is getting close to beginning a rehab assignment, Mattingly said, though no more specific timeline was provided beyond the skipper saying that Locke is expected back sometime in May. Locke has primarily been a starter during his six-year MLB career, though the Pirates shifted him to the pen last year in the midst of a rough 2016 season for the left-hander. Pittsburgh non-tendered Locke in December, and he signed a one-year, $3.025MM deal with Miami.
Holding Bumgarner to contractual obligations isn’t stupid or shortsighted. If the baseball world (or Bumgarner, specifically) flips out every time Yasiel Puig flips a bat, then Bumgarner can hold himself to the standards of the contract he signed.
That comparison makes no sense. Read what the report said. MadBum is the ace of the staff who has proven for years to be a franchise player AND is under a very team friendly contract. It would be dumb for the Giants to not show loyalty right now. It’s good business sense.
So pretty much what you are saying is that because he’s good, he’s above the rules (assuming there is even something in his contract)?
I don’t think the giants will and probably shouldn’t pursue this, but that’s the message something like this sends. MadBum is above the rules he signed
Yep, that’s what happens when your the best, you get rules bent. If it were drugs or something of a legal issue, it would be different, when it’s risky personal conduct that put no one else at real world risk then exceptions will be made. I have no issue with it. If it were illicit drugs, domestic violence or something like that, he should be punished.
So if im the best employee of a company , am i allowed to bend the rules just because?
Yea probably. If you produce a beyond comparison amount for a company and you are on a cheap salary and say you get hurt and that company cuts your cheap salary even more. Would that strengthen or weaken your perception on the company? You already produce more than you take in, but now you are doing it for even cheaper.
Also, what’s stopping you from declining the salary extension from you job and signing with a company that offers more lax rules and regulations? It doesn’t breed loyalty by cutting your best employees salary then turning around and asking them to stay with them and produce even more than they are worth. That’s why the Giants won’t file a grievance they have no need to outside of straining a relationship.
See, people don’t get that this is the Giants Organization’s decision there is no “rule” forcing a repercussion on a player for doing something that is grievance worthy. So let them make the business decisions by themselves.
You’ve heard of America, right? The best employees of companies break the rules all the time. Bill O’Reilly just got paid 25 million dollars to get fired for dirty behavior
ironman, based on the tone of your question, I’m sure you will never be in that position
I think it’d be different if he was making 20+ million a year. I think the three rings helps him. I sure am glad an extension wasnt worked out.
Especially considering they are looking at signing him to an extension at some point. They don’t want any bad blood.
why have a clause at all then. I understand days off for getting away from the game but you have a obligation to the team and organization to be out there every 5th day…..and I’m a MadBum fan
I think he should be held accountable. For no other reason to send a message to others. That being said, it’s doubtful they want to piss off there stud
Pretty sure their stud pissed them off.
I think a WTF look from Buster will be all the message MadBum needs to get.
I don’t see where this is a necessarily a contractual issue. Good judgement can’t be put into writing, either you’ve got it, or you don’t.
“It isn’t known whether Bumgarner had some sort of contractual clause (as many players do) prohibiting him from engaging in potentially dangerous activities like dirt biking, “
“My point is, it doesn’t really matter. Good judgment is a personal quality not a contractual issue.”
For all we know Bumgarner may return with a bum arm and never be the same pitcher again. The really short-sighted one is Bumgarner being foolish enough to be on a dirt bike, which now has probably cost the Giants a playoff spot.
wtf^ a playoff spot…. its fricken APRIL dude!!
If a team does not enforce an improper activity clause such as riding a dirt bike it makes no sense to have such clauses in a contract. The honorable thing for Bumgarner to do is give back his salary while he is out as riding a dirt bike was foolish given physical health is essential to do his job. The chances of him giving anything back is zero.
Giants are a mess, this will be a interesting year…???
I think Bumgarner fully understands how stupid this move was and probably feels worse than anyone else. I think he just found out what every young person finds out eventually – that he’s not invincible. I doubt the Giants will file a grievance unless he never pitches again. I also think Bum will ever do something so stupid in season again.
Agreed.