John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Bochy will tab Madison Bumgarner one more time.
Is this the last time the Giants are tabbing Bumgarner, too?
Bochy signaled that as long as Bumgarner, who threw 106 pitches Tuesday, comes through OK, he’ll be on the mound for the manager’s finale Sunday at Oracle Park against the Dodgers.
Rounding out the last-weekend rotation will be Johnny Cueto on Friday — Bochy said he should be up to about 85 pitches — and Logan Webb on Saturday.
Before Thursday’s game against the Rockies, Bochy said he would converse with Bumgarner to ensure he’s OK, but of course Bumgarner will be. He will be a free agent at year’s close, and without Bochy around and with the Giants moving into the future, his own future is unknown.
The Giants surely will extend him a qualifying offer. Farhan Zaidi’s history suggests he will not want to give out a five- or six-year deal, and if another team is willing, this may be Bumgarner’s final start as a Giant.
The schedule for the Giants’ final series of the weekend:
— Before Friday’s game, there will be the Willie Mac Award ceremony on the field, awarded to the player “who best exemplifies the inspiration, character and leadership that Willie McCovey demonstrated during his playing days in San Francisco.” The Giants are asking fans to be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. for the ceremony.
— Saturday Bochy will be given a “key to the City” before the game. The Giants will also unveil a plaque, on the Wall of Fame, dedicated to Peter A. Magowan, the late former team president and managing general partner.
— At noon Sunday, the Giants will create “the loudest foghorn salute the City of San Francisco and beyond has ever heard.” You’ve been warned.
There will be a postgame ceremony to wish Bochy farewell.
Bochy on bench coach Hensley Meulens and third-base coach Ron Wotus: “They’re going to be in baseball. Quality baseball men that have done so much for me. Love them both. I’ll be pulling for them in whatever they want to do. I can’t say what’s in the future for them, whether it’s managing or coaching. They’re going to be a real asset for whatever they do. Obviously I care about them. I’ll be watching what happens.”
Enderson Franco, who spent 10 years in the minors as predominantly a starter, has shown promise as a reliever. The 26-year-old told KNBR he figures his future is in the bullpen, and he’s allowed one run in three outings thus far.
“When he went to the bullpen, it just seems like he took off,” Bochy said. “The velocity picked up, he’s got the good changeup and breaking ball. He’s gone up here and thrown strikes. … I’d like to see him a couple more times here before it’s over.”
Trevor Gott, out for the season with a right elbow strain, had surgery on his groin Thursday in Philadelphia. It had bothered him periodically throughout the year, and recovery is expected to be around six weeks.