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Pablo Sandoval could have sat this one out. He could have politely muttered boilerplate responses through gritted teeth, telling everyone that he enjoyed his time in San Francisco but needed new challenges. The Red Sox have only won three championships in 10 years, and they're in the middle of a championship drought right now. That's the kind of challenge that can motivate anyone.
Sandoval didn't sit this one out. In a conversation with Bleacher Report's Scott Miller, Sandoval revealed that he knew he was gone in spring training last year because the Giants disrespected him and his agent.
"I knew early in spring training last year I was going to leave," Sandoval said. "They didn't respect my agent. Contract talks, everything. The way Brian Sabean (Giants general manager) talked to my agent."
It wasn't just the GM being sour, either. Pablo hated everyone. Well, almost everyone. He was asked who he would miss from the Giants.
"Only Bochy," Sandoval said of Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "I love Boch. He's like my dad. He's the only guy that I miss. And Hunter Pence. Just those guys.
If he had left it at "Only Bochy," it wouldn't have been that weird. It would have indicated that he had a special bond with his manager, or some such, and that was the only extraordinarily difficult separation. Except he singled out one player. Now it moves from "special bond with manager" to "there were, like, 29 or 30 complete butts in that locker room, and I hope their locker room is infested with centipedes." Give or take.
Is it wrong to read too much into this GIF?
That's after Matt Cain's perfect game, and Buster Posey shoos him away like he's Pablo's schoolmarm. I can see the Giants having a serious side that Pablo doesn't have. I can see personalities clashing every danged year for months and months and months, then starting up a year later. Six years is a long time.
Still, it kind of stings. The Giants keep everyone, and everyone wants to be kept. Except for Pablo, the first homegrown All-Star hitter since Matt Williams. He was annoyed with everyone and wanted to leave.
Well, fine.
Be that way.
We have McGanatee hats to buy.
Not even tripping.