Anytime you mention an injury in the same sentence with Madison Bumgarner, it is anything but a minor matter. I'm sure he will pitch through it to a degree, but the legend of how some prior baseball legends had careers shortened by what at first were termed minor injuries has to give anyone in Giants Nation pause.
I hope it turns out to be nothing in hindsight and I also hope the Giants do the right thing and tie this guy up with a long-term deal that pays him what he is worth AND what he is earned. No way he should be the FIFTH highest paid starter on the Giants. NO WAY. We're paying two guys on the staf more for what they MIGHT do for the franchise. PAY THE MAN!!
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Posted: 13 Mar 2016 11:58 AM PDT
Revised version of earlier Bumgarner story, plus notes from the game and roster trim details. -- @stewardsfolly
Madison Bumgarner, not only the Giants' best pitcher but also their most durable, is suddenly dealing with a pair of physical maladies that could slow his readiness to be the Opening Day starter on April 4.
Bumgarner said Sunday he will miss one or two spring training starts due to tightness in his ribcage as well as neuroma, a nerve irritation between the third and fourth toe joints on the bottom of his left foot that has been bothering him since the off-season.
The 26-year-old left-hander, who was supposed to start the Giants' spring game against San Diego but was scratched, revealed he felt a slight tug in on the right side of his ribcage while taking batting practice two days ago. He underwent an MRI exam that revealed no oblique problems, but the club will be exceedingly careful with their ace.
As for the foot issue, Bumgarner has been dealing with it for awhile but added that the condition has improved with treatment. He received a cortisone shot on Saturday to relieve the discomfort.
"I thought it was just one of those little things that come and go," Bumgarner said. "I thought it would go away, but it didn't."
The pitcher said he expects to be fine by Opening Day and said he could have pitched Sunday if it was the regular season. But he wants to get the issues cleared up before resuming his spring game work.
"There's no sense in trying to push through two different things like that which could lead to something," he said. "I think I could still pitch, but there's just no sense in it right now. There's plenty of time to get my pitch count up. That's not a big deal."
Bumgarner has pitched five innings in two spring outings so far, but had already worked up to 50 pitches by his second mound stint.
"He's in great shape and I'm hoping it's just one start, to be honest," said manager Bruce Bochy. "If it's two, then we'll just have to watch his workload early until we build him up."
Bumgarner has never been on the disabled list as a Giant and has only missed a few starts since becoming a rotation fixture in 2010, none as the result of injury.
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