Chicago Cubs could learn from Giants’ post-championship mistakes

But, why was their ace on a dirt bike?

First, let’s look at the obvious: injuries.

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Injuries are inevitable in baseball and can’t be stopped. Teams that overcome injuries demonstrate their true strength. Sometimes, however, there are dumb injuries and they are completely avoidable.

This April, Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner sprained the AC joint of his pitching shoulder. He did so in a dirt bike accident that sidelined him three months. If that was any indication for how the Giants’ season would go, they should have waved the white flag right there.

Throughout the season, the Giants have also shelved Denard Span, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, Mark Melancon, Connor Gillaspie, Johnny Cueto and Brandon Belt.

They haven’t been able to find valuable replacements in any case. Surely, there’s no way to protect Cubs’ players from getting injured down the line, but at least keep Johnny Lester off a dirt bike.