SAN FRANCISCO -- Bruce Bochy and Madison Bumgarner’s Giants legacies are so intertwined that it seemed only fitting that the 30-year-old left-hander would be on the mound for Bochy’s final game as manager on Sunday. Bumgarner had been lined up to start Game 162, but practicality ultimately trumped sentimentality, leading to a last-minute change of plans.
Bochy announced Friday that Bumgarner will not start Game 162 as expected, officially ending Bumgarner’s 2019 campaign and potentially bringing his career with the Giants to a close. Dereck Rodríguez will pitch in Bumgarner’s place against the Dodgers.
“He’s been out there every start,” Bochy said. “He’s pitched enough. The game is not going to determine anything. He has a lot of baseball left. I’d just like to take care of him, so he’s not going to pitch.
Bochy and Bumgarner spent the last few days discussing the situation before making their final decision. Bumgarner, who logged a 3.90 ERA over 207 2/3 innings in his final season before free agency, will instead watch the game from the dugout alongside Bochy.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any disappointment,” Bumgarner said Saturday. “We’ve had a great career together. My time here with him has been special. We went through a lot of amazing things. Tomorrow is not going to change any of that one way or another.”
With Sunday’s start off the table, it’s possible Bumgarner might have made his final appearance in a Giants uniform on Tuesday against the Rockies. Still, Bumgarner feels his connection to San Francisco will remain intact regardless of where he signs this offseason.
“Certainly, who knows what the future holds, but I have a long career ahead of myself,” Bumgarner said. “I’m excited about free agency. I’m sure I’ll find my way back here one way or another, whether it’s back in this uniform or not.”
Bochy said he’s hoping to find a way to give Bumgarner a proper sendoff on Sunday, though he kept his plans intentionally vague.
“He’ll have his spikes on, I’ll put it that way,” Bochy said, smiling.
Bochy honored
San Francisco Mayor London Breed presented Bochy with the keys to the city during a special pregame ceremony on Saturday at Oracle Park. It was the first key Breed has awarded during her mayoral tenure.