Bumgarner says decision to risk body a poor one
Pitcher noncommittal about extent of his injuries or when he expects to return
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, speaking publicly for the first time since the Colorado dirt bike accident that injured his pitching shoulder, said Monday he deeply regrets the decision to risk his body in an off-day outdoor endeavor but vowed to get back to the mound as quickly as he possibly can.
“It’s terrible,” Bumgarner
said. “Obviously, it was not my intentions when we set out to enjoy the off day. I realize that’s definitely not the most responsible decision I’ve made. It sucks not being able to be out here with my guys.”
Bumgarner said he didn’t make a formal apology to the team but has spoken to teammates individually.
“I feel like it’s pretty clear,” he said. “I obviously don’t want to be in this situation, don’t want to put these guys in this situation, this organization, the fans, the city.”
Bumgarner, who met the media with his left arm in a sling, said he was still having tests on his shoulder and ribs — he was scheduled for a second MRI Monday evening — but does not yet know if he suffered any structural damage in his pitching arm.
He said he has been feeling better every day since the mishap, however.
Bumgarner said he spent the off day last Thursday riding trail bikes in the mountains outside Denver with two family members. He said they were near the end of two-to-three hours of riding when the accident occurred.
The pitcher maintained he was making every effort to be safe and couldn’t describe what caused the accident.
“Man, I knew I was going to get asked that question, and I wish I had some sort of cool story for you, some kind of crazy wreck, but it really wasn’t anything spectacular,” he said. “It was just super unfortunate.
“I wasn’t really going that fast. I honestly don’t know what happened. It was a surprise to me, too ... when I was younger, I got in much worse wrecks. Nothing ever happened, though. But that was a long time ago, too.”
Bumgarner said he immediately called Giants head trainer Dave Groeschner and had one of his relatives drive him to the nearest hospital emergency room to get checked out.
Asked to provide specifics on the extent of his injuries and how soon he expects to be back, Bumgarner was noncommittal.
“I’m probably not qualified to answer those questions,” he said. “I’m just going to do everything I can do to get back as quick as I can.”
Asked if he expects to be able to pitch again in the 2017 season, he said, “It’s hard to put a timetable on it, but I certainly would be disappointed if I wasn’t.”
Bumgarner said he understands that his trail bike adventure probably violated clauses in his contract about things he shouldn’t do away from the baseball field.
I think there’s quite a bit of stuff in there, but it’s probably not the first time I’ve made a stupid decision,” he said. “We are human.”
Bumgarner said he has talked with Giants CEO Larry Baer and general manager Bobby Evans. He said he has spoken with many of his fellow players individually, intimating that he had apologized to them.
He doesn’t know if he’ll face punishment by the organization for his actions.
“We haven’t talked about it, and I haven’t been informed if there is,” he said. “The only thing I’m putting my focus on now is busting my butt and rehabbing and making sure I get back here to help this team. It is what it is, and I just have to deal with it now.
“They honestly couldn’t have been nicer to me and more caring than they were,” Bumgarner continued. “Obviously, I was expecting the worst, and rightfully so, but the team and everybody have been super-encouraging and positive, and they’ve been really good to me throughout this process so far.”
Bumgarner said his arm is in a sling as a precautionary measure to keep his shoulder immobilized.
He said he has not required any pain medications, and he’s not having trouble sleeping.
He said he can’t say for certain that he wouldn’t require surgery but didn’t think it would be necessary.
He has not had any treatment as of yet and is simply resting and icing his injuries.
He is encouraged that he has made improvement every day, however.
“A lot of times you hear people say the second, third, fourth days it gets worse,” he said. “But in this case, every day I wake up, everything just feels a little better. I’ve got to believe that’s a good sign.”
Romo retuns: Sergio Romo, all dressed up in Dodger Blue, returned to AT&T Park on Monday and laughed about his new role in the Giants rivalry. “It’s on, it’s on, it’s on,” he said. But part of his heart still drifted to the other dugout. The longtime Giants reliever said he was “surprised and saddened” to hear about Bumgarner’s accident.
Romo, who spent nine seasons with the Giants, said he knew of Bumgarner’s adventurous side but was taken aback that the pitcher put himself at risk during the season.
“Although we’re no longer teammates, I still care,” Romo said during his first visit to AT&T Park as a visitor. “I want him to be able to be happy and healthy. Plus, baseball is now missing a great, key piece.”
Romo clearly had nothing but fondness for his old home.
He said that the first thing he did after signing a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dodgers in the off-season was to call his dad, Frank, a longtime Dodgers fan who played semi-pro ball in Mexicali, Mexico.
The second thing he did was to look up when the Dodgers played at AT&T Park.
“I looked right away,” said Romo, who posted a 32-26 career record with a 2.58 ERA and 84 saves in San Francisco. “Why? Because it matters to me . ... And it doesn’t really matter that I’m wearing a different jersey... I am beyond elated just to be here.
“I’m so stoked. The little kid inside of me is just jumping up and down. He’s waiting to get out there and have Miss Renel (Brooks-Moon, the PA announcer) call my name.”
Romo won three World Series and appeared in 515 career regular-season games with the Giants. The only pitchers to appear in more games in a Giants uniform are Gary Lavelle (647), Christy Mathewson (634), Greg Minton (552) and Carl Hubbell (535).