Madison Bumgarner’s dirt bike accident may have repercussions even after he has recovered from the injuries sustained as a result.
According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants’ front office won’t forget about Bumgarner’s decision to get on a dirt bike during an in-season off-day, particularly when it comes to negotiating a future contract extension.
Comparisons between Bumgarner’s accent and what happened to Jeff Kent just before the 2002 season are popping up. Kent, then the Giants’ star second baseman, lied about breaking his wrist in a motorcycle accident, claiming he had hurt himself washing his truck before the truth eventually came out. Things turned sour between the player and organization, and he departed after the season on poor terms.
Things are better with Bumgarner, according to Shea, because the ace lefty was forthcoming about what had happened, though the fact that it occurred during the season works against him.
The Giants could try to recoup money from Bumgarner’s current contract, but such a move is unlikely. Bumgarner is already playing on a team-friendly contract and has been integral to the organization’s success since 2010, and such a move would likely be a PR nightmare.
Bumgarner’s poor decision is going to cost him significant time. One can understand why the Giants would be frustrated and upset, even if there isn’t really anything they can do about it.
