Brian Wilson Publicly Slams Giants President Over World Series Ring
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) - The game ended and Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson hustled toward the opposing dugout to lash out at Giants chief executive officer Larry Baer—the very man who employed the bearded pitcher for seven seasons until he recently joined rival Los Angeles.
After months of trying to present Wilson with his 2012 World Series ring, Baer did his best after the Dodgers' 3-2 loss Thursday night. Here's a photo of the encounter.
Once Wilson was done yelling, Baer walked to the other side of the ballpark and delivered the ring to Dodgers personnel outside the Los Angeles clubhouse to give to the pitcher.
"We have been for seven months trying to give him his World Series ring, and tried these past three days," Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said. "It's been more challenging than we expected. We've given the ring to the Dodgers and he now has it. We really tried to do the right thing. We invited him to the ring ceremony. A number of members of our organization repeatedly reached out to him and we didn't get any response."
Slaughter said only that Wilson "voiced his displeasure" when speaking to Baer. The Giants stayed in contact with Wilson and monitored his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery that cost him most of last season, but he ultimately signed with the archrival.
The shaggy-haired Wilson wasn't around in the clubhouse for comment after the game.
"It's just unfortunate, because he was an important member of our organization," Slaughter said.
Wilson's former teammate, Tim Lincecum, helped shut down the NL West champion Dodgers.
The sellout crowd that used to cheer Wilson in the ninth inning jumped to its feet to celebrate what might have been Lincecum's final outing for the Giants, and to root on new closer Sergio Romo.
Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the eighth inning to give San Francisco a win in what might have been the final outing by Lincecum.
He has won two World Series championships and a pair of NL Cy Young awards while pitching all seven of his big league seasons in the Bay Area. Catcher Buster Posey couldn't think of it being Lincecum's last, and neither could manager Bruce Bochy.
"I've just been one of the most fortunate pitchers in this organization just to be a part of so many things," Lincecum said. "To have the guys around me, Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, big names, Buster Posey coming up, Pablo Sandoval. The names just don't end. To be here to witness all the things they've done, and be there for also the team things, it's been pretty special for me."
Pagan's fifth home run in an injury-shortened season was surrendered by losing pitcher Paco Rodriguez (3-3) and plunked off the top of an ambulance parked just beyond the fence in left field.
Lincecum struck out Yasiel Puig three times among his six Ks but missed a win. Santiago Casilla (7-2) earned the victory with a 1-2-3 eighth, while Romo pitched the ninth for his 38th save.
Lincecum is wrapping up a $40.5 million, two-year contract that paid him $22 million this season. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and three hits in seven impressive innings.
After Adrian Gonzalez put the Dodgers ahead on a first-inning sacrifice fly, the Giants saved Lincecum a run in the second. Tim Federowicz was thrown out at home by left fielder Gregor Blanco as he tried to score on Puig's single.
Dodgers starter Edinson Volquez's winless stretch reached seven starts since he beat the Mets on Aug. 17. He didn't beat the Giants in five tries this year.
"I feel pretty good right now. I'm throwing the ball in the zone. That's important to me," he said. "Whatever they decide I'll be happy. I was at home and they gave me another opportunity to pitch. It was great coming here, especially since they're going to the playoffs."
The Dodgers lost the season series 11-8.
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