Brian Wilson and the Los Angeles Dodgers were in San Francisco on Thursday night to take on the Giants in an eventual 4-3 loss. The Dodgers have already clinched the NL West and are thinking about winning a championship, but Wilson appeared to have much more on his mind in his final trip to AT&T Park this season.
After the game was over, Wilson strolled across the field to where Giants CEO Larry Baer was seated and had an animated conversation with him. It was originally believed that Wilson was angry with the Giants over the lack of security near the bullpen because he had been heckled, but CSNBayArea.com reported that Wilson was confronting Baer about his 2012 World Series ring.
Wilson made only two appearances for San Francisco last season before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. The team chose not to pick up his $6.8 million option, but like any other player who was on the 2012 roster at some point he was entitled to a championship ring. He supposedly declined an invitation to the team’s ceremony in April and hasn’t returned calls from several members of the organization since.
[Related: Brian Wilson thanks Giants fans after signing with Dodgers]
“It’s disappointing. It’s unfortunate. It’s bizarre, really,” club vice president Slaughter said. “This organization really has tried to do the right thing and I don’t know where this is coming from. It wasn’t for a lack of effort on our part. Larry, Bobby, Bochy — everybody has made an effort to reach out to him.”
Wilson would not say what his conversation with Baer was about, though he noted that it had nothing to do with stadium security.
“Every other player, we managed to deliver their ring in a respectful way,” Slaughter said.
Wilson was seemingly the last player to receive his ring, although he supposedly has it now. We don’t know the full story or what exactly the eccentric reliever was angry about, but calling Baer out in public seemed unprofessional. That’s not the way to handle private business.
UPDATE: Wilson says he got his ring and that the issue is squashed.
