The San Francisco Giants have lost their most important player, but it wasn't because of an injury suffered on the field. Ace Madison Bumgarner was placed on the disabled list on Friday with bruised ribs and a shoulder sprain. The way he suffered the injury? A dirt bike accident. As fans debate whether or not the Pitcher did something ill-advised when he got on his dirt bike during the season, the team will be forced to cope with his absence for the indefinite future.
Dirt bike injury
The team released a statement about their ace on Friday afternoon.
The statement discussed the injuries Bumgarner suffered, as well as the circumstances surrounding them: a dirt bike accident in Denver, Colorado on an off day for the San Francisco Giants. It mentioned that he was out of a local hospital and in a team hotel, and would be reevaluated in a week's time. It did not mention a timeline for their star pitcher, though.
Early reports suggest that the Giants could be without Bumgarner for the next 6 to 8 weeks. It's the first stint on the disabled list the pitcher has ever had during his career. He is known for his love of the rugged outdoors, something fans have embraced in the past. If that love precludes him from starting every fifth day for the team, however, fans will turn their back on the practice quicker than a dirt bike can go around a dusty track.
A bad season made worse
The Giants were already off to a horrendous start to the season before the Bumgarner news broke on Friday. Their 6-10 record is the worst mark in the National League West division. Catcher Buster Posey has already had a spell on the concussion disabled list. Manager Bruce Bochy missed the team's most recent series against the Kansas City Royals with a heart condition.
Now, their most important pitcher is out for the long-term future.
Bumgarner has been one of the best and most consistent aces in baseball during his career, which now includes 100 wins. None of those wins have come this season, however, as the Giants have been unable to provide him with any run support. Now the only support they'll be able to provide him with will come in the training room for the next few weeks, even months.
It may be time for the Giants to consider becoming sellers at the trade deadline in July if they can't turn around their awful start soon – it just got a whole lot harder without their best pitcher to help them start picking up some necessary wins.
