The Panda didn’t have many friends at the San Francisco zoo.
Pablo Sandoval, the former Giants third baseman/postseason folk hero, signed a five-year, $95 million contract with the refurbished Red Sox this winter, and described a lonely world for him in his old clubhouse. Sandoval told Bleacher Report he would only miss manager Bruce Bochy from the Giants organization. OK, and maybe one teammate.
“Only Bochy,” Sandoval said. “I love Boch. He’s like my dad. He’s the only guy that I miss. And Hunter Pence. Just those guys.”
Fortunately for Sandoval, he’s making fast friends with the Red Sox, impressing the pitching staff with his defensive preparation, the hitting coach with his ethic in the cage and some of the new-era Idiots on lazy fishing afternoons in Fort Myers. The rod-and-reel crew also includes Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli and fellow free-agent prize Hanley Ramirez.
“I love it,” Sandoval said. “We talk. We have fun.”
Sandoval said he knew early last spring training he would leave the Giants — “They didn’t respect my agent. Contract talks, everything,” he said — and the World Series run he helped propel did nothing to change that frosty stance. With the Red Sox, the Panda has pals.
“Now, I feel like I’m home,” Sandoval said.