The rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers runs deep. But new layers constantly arise, adding fuel to the fire.
Take the case of Giants outfielder Joc Pederson. Signed by general manager Farhan Zaidi to a one-year, $6 million deal on Thursday, Pederson spent his first few years in the big leagues with the Dodgers. But that’s not all.
Pederson grew up in the Bay Area and went to the Giants’ World Series parade in 2010 — after he was drafted by the Dodgers.
Here are the details and a postseason prediction from Pederson, courtesy of Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Pederson, the former Dodgers outfielder, officially joined the Giants on a one-year, $6 million deal Thursday. Some former Los Angeles teammates have already texted him about landing with their northern rival, “all in fun,” he said.
Pederson, 29, admitted Thursday that, after getting drafted by the Dodgers in 2010, he joined his Palo Alto High School pals at the Giants’ World Series parade.
Speaking of which….
“I mean, I did grow up in the Bay Area and I do know that it’s an even year,” he said. “I’ll take an educated guess that we’ve got a good chance to win the World Series.”
San Francisco Chronicle
I wonder what Dodgers fans in Los Angeles think about that?
Pederson’s love for his boyhood, Bay Area team can now be out in the open. But Dodgers fans have their own love for Pederson, a one-time All-Star, because he helped LA win its own World Series two seasons ago. Last season, he helped the Braves win it all.
So when Pederson says the Giants have a good chance to not only get to the World Series but win the whole freakin’ thing, he knows what he’s talking about. He’s added some fuel to an already classic rivalry, and if this season is anything like the last when the Giants and Dodgers battled for NL West supremacy, the rivalry will be white-hot yet again.
Bay Area Sports Hub 