For openers, Giants don’t need friction

When Giants starter Jeff Samardzija recently called the concept of openers “a load of crap,” and Madison Bumgarner seemed of a like mind, it looked like the team could be heading for friction and turmoil this season.

But it’s spring training, for goodness’ sake, a time to be positive.

So, the Giants are perfectly positioned to help majorleague baseball ease into the new creative use of pitchers era.

Samardzija told The Chronicle’s John Shea that pitchers who accept the “opener” concept — a normal relief pitcher pitching the first inning — are like sheep. Wimpy sheep.

This sets up the possibility that Samardzija not only might refuse to be a second-inning replacement if asked, but might foment dissension on the staff. Reliever Will Smith told Shea he is wide open to the opener concept.

Showdown at the Not-OK Corral? Samardzija is not tradeable or cut-able. He’s under contract for this season and next at $18 million per. He and Bumgarner could make it uncomfortable for the Giants to go new-wave. The new president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, says using openers on occasion is a distinct possibility.

Fortunately, Zaidi is sensitive to the traditionalists, players and fans, who rail that the analytics people are overrunning baseball like Huns with computers. Zaidi will summon all his sensitivity and tact when dealing with his two longtime starting pitchers.

Fortunately for Zaidi, he has Bruce Bochy to act as a gobetween. Bochy leans oldschool, but not dumb-school. He has seen teams translate advanced analytics into wins. Old-schoolers and new-schoolers agree: Winning is good.

If anyone can convince Samardzija and Bumgarner to accept the new stuff, or at least not stir up the rest of the staff, it’s Bochy.

Meanwhile, Zaidi and Bochy should invite Andre Iguodala to stop by spring training and give the lads a pep talk. Iguodala helped launch the Warriors’ dynasty by accepting a reserve role when Steve Kerr became head coach in 2014, even though Iguodala still had starter skills. Harrison Barnes became the Warriors’ “opener” at small forward. Voila! NBA title!

Iguodala took one for the team. That itself is a valuable talent.