Longtime Giants writer for the San Francisco Chronicle John Shea joined the latest episode of the Inside China Basin podcast, and touched on the significance of Madison Bumgarner’s injury.
The club has listed Bumgarner’s timetable for recovery from the shoulder injury caused by a dirt bike accident at 6-8 weeks, but Shea believes he could be out much longer than that. If that’s the case, the Giants playoff outlook in 2017 is bleak.
“I’m not sure about the 6-8 weeks, they don’t even know if it’s a Grade 1 or Grade 2 (strain of his left shoulder AC joint) yet,” Shea said. “Once they know that then they can determine the extent of his absence, but it’s real possible this guy could be lost until August, and that’s a big blow for a team that is looking to get deep into the post season.
“It’s given us all the signs that this is not the year. How often can you say that in April? Pretty much never…This rotation took a hit, the team took a hit…The fans don’t know what to think. Are they bummed out because he’s missing time or are they bummed out because he did something to hurt the team that really shouldn’t be done during the baseball season? Do that in the off season. Don’t put your team in danger or at risk by putting yourself in danger or at risk.”
Listen to the full interview below.