Once beloved Pablo Sandoval sabotages his own image

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If Pablo Sandoval’s recent comments were meant to sting, they did not penetrate. They were comically weak, brushed aside in the clubhouse like a passing whiff of flatulence. The only real issue was his motivation.

Why would Sandoval paint himself as selfish and ungrateful when his reputation leans so far to the contrary? If Red Sox fans are paying attention, they have to be wondering why Mr. Happy Go Lucky is taking shots at the team that put up with his weight issues, brilliantly marketed his appeal and helped him earn three championship rings.

Give him this: He’s making it easier for Giants fans to move on. I’ve spoken with several of them lately, particularly women with kids, and they were gravely disappointed, along the lines of, “Well, if that’s how it is, guess we’ll just toss our Panda hats in the trash.”

It’s understandable why Sandoval would be sour over contract negotiations that never suggested much promise. But Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans were properly repulsed by an agent who established an unncecessarily adversarial relationship last spring. Sandoval knew he was gone from that moment on? Please. That’s entirely on his agent.

Meanwhile, two images come to mind. First, Sandoval engaged in spirited, laugh-filled card games with his Latino teammates in the clubhouse. Now he’s saying Hunter Pence is the only Giant player he’ll miss? Was he a different guy when the media had no access? On Facebook, ex-teammate Aubrey Huff wrote that “there wasn’t a tear shed among the players” when he signed with Boston and that “his ego will always get in the way.”

Secondly, Sandoval hooking up with David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez, two Red Sox players who really are his good friends, dating back years. “We’ve always talked about playing together someday,” he told reporters. “It’s going to be interesting, all the fun we’re going to have.”

Just get off to a good start in Boston, Pablo. That is strongly recommended. That can be a pretty harsh crowd if your wonderfulness isn’t shining through.

Boston Red Sox's Pablo Sandoval prepares to take batting practice at baseball spring training in Fort Myers Fla., Monday Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Boston Red Sox's Pablo Sandoval prepares to take batting practice at baseball spring training in Fort Myers Fla., Monday Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press Image 1 of / 40 Caption Close Once beloved Pablo Sandoval sabotages his own image 1 / 40 Back to Gallery