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Moving Forward: What have we learned from the Panda's departure?

Next year, we (SF Giants fans) will inevitably be faced with a nauseating image - Red Sox fans donning Panda hats - I mean, can you even imagine the sting?

Neither can I, but get ready for it - because it's going to happen. The Red Sox (like any mlb franchise) won't care about our "feelings" as they're cashing in on merchandise. And, those Panda hats are going to rock the concession stands - (I mean, how fun are they!?) Of course, Bostonians are going to love (meaning... buy) them! Don't take it personally though, when that happens. It might not even be about baseball. Seriously, have you ever experienced winter in Boston? That climate can be cold enough to motivate the wallets of freezing fans, and the sale of warm fuzzy panda hats for purely practical purposes.

So, looking forward to the 2015 season and beyond, many baseball loving Bostonians will keep their heads warm with the exact same merchandise that SF fans have shoved to the back of their closets. And it's going to be painful over on the West Coast. Yet, the Giants will play on. We SF fans will learn to love our lineup sans Panda, as we familiarize ourselves with its characters - both new and old.

Any honest Giant's fan [and even fans (such as myself) who've been less than "die-hard" supporters of the Panda] will admit that Sandoval's departure stung quite a bit. It may continue to weigh heavily upon his most dedicated SF fans throughout the 2015 season.

For many Giant's fans, Pablo's departure almost feels like a break up. Laugh at this idea if you must, as I am sure it sounds strange to many people… but then go read some of the comments beneath Sandoval's (@kfp48) recent Instagram posts. In many cases, you'll notice that offensive language mixed with excessive profanity conveys the following message: "good f***ing riddance Panda!" Clearly, many fans feel hurt, betrayed even, by their less than loyal Panda. And their online rants resemble those of a crazy/angry ex - emotional, passionate, reactionary.

Note to my fellow Giant's fans, it's time to stop acting like the crazy ex. Next season, we'll all notice Pablo's absence on the field. Gazing at third base might sting for a while, but we'll get through it. In difficult moments, I propose that we comfort ourselves with the knowledge that Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner are here through the 2021 and 2019 (pending club option) seasons, respectively. Another comforting thought - Reverend Pence will direct his sermons to our beloved team's dugout through the 2018 season, at least.

And, with the Red Sox shelling out the big time dough to our former third baseman, the Giant's budget is free to attract new talent - Jon Lester on the mound, anyone? Lester, or some other big name free-agent will probably sign with the Giants. This offseason, we'll all read about a deal sure to evoke fear, comfort and the following sentiment: "Yes, we get HIM on our team!… omg at THAT price!?!?"

Ideally, this fear, coupled with Panda nostalgia, will promote a desire for more Bumgarner-esque signings. When exceptional talent comes the Giant's way, why not lock them in early? There will always be a risk involved with extending contracts for newer talent. But signing a player like Lester also involves risk, and greater potential losses for the Giants.

Moving forward, I hope that the Giants prioritize long-term agreements with key players while they are still affordable! For example, Panda's asking price (or something close to it) could probably secure Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt for the next five years.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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