Will Clark, the iconic former San Francisco Giants player, recently expressed his views on the controversy surrounding the acquisition of star designated hitter Rafael Devers. During an appearance on KNBR’s radio show with hosts Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher, Clark acknowledged that the situation has spiraled out of control and emphasized his desire to move on from the harsh comments made during an earlier conversation regarding Devers’ practice habits.
Clark clarified that during a series between the Giants and Red Sox, he had a private discussion with Red Sox announcer Will Flemming about Devers missing practice at first base. However, Flemming later aired these sentiments publicly, which Clark felt was unnecessary and damaging. He explained, “I think that this story has gotten blown way out of proportion. I said some stuff that I shouldn’t have said, and Will Flemming said a few things as well. I have reached out to him; we talked about it; we hashed it out. It’s going to be water under the bridge.”
Flemming’s comments about Devers have fueled a narrative suggesting the three-time All-Star is resistant to play at first base, but Giants manager Bob Melvin stated that Devers is expected to take on first base duties following the MLB All-Star break. Devers himself expressed eagerness to start playing at the position, countering the claims made by Flemming.
Clark’s frustrations with Flemming led to an outburst on his podcast, where he voiced his dissatisfaction with the way the situation was portrayed. However, the former player is now looking to put the conflict behind him and focus on more positive aspects of the game and the team’s progress.
This incident serves as a reminder of the sometimes sensationalized nature of sports reporting and the impact it can have on players and teams. As Clark seeks to move on, it may open opportunities for better communication and understanding within the sporting community.