SF Giants Brandon Crawford Celebration Day could be complicated by number drama

Ever since it was announced that the SF Giants were going to sign legendary veteran pitcher Justin Verlander, fans wondered whether he would wear the number 35. If he does, it could create a slightly awkward situation on Brandon Crawford Celebration Day.

In Verlander's introductory press conference, it was clear that he has given this jersey number issue a lot of thought. President of baseball operations Buster Posey, a teammate for Crawford's for many years, reached out to Crawford and said that the long-tenured Giants shortstop gave his blessing for Verlander to wear the number 35. Verlander said that he wants to talk to Crawford before making a decision one way or another.

Some people may roll their eyes at all of this consternation over a jersey number, and that is fair. It is just a number after all. However, fans also latch on to numbers and associate them with their favorite players forever. That leads to a special connection which is why people can get so passionate over who wears what number.

Awkwardness could ensure for SF Giants during game honoring Brandon Crawford

In the event that Verlander does end up wearing the number 35, it could lead to a very interesting situation on April 26th which is when the Giants are scheduled to honor Crawford after he officially retired from major league baseball earlier this offseason.

If one projects the starting rotation for the Giants with Verlander in it, he makes sense sliding into the number three spot in the rotation. Of course, a lot can change between now and Opening Day. Guys can get injured or there can be poor performances so there are no guarantees that Verlander will be the number three starter.

However, for the sake of argument let's assume Verlander is the number three starter and starts every third game for the team in the month of April. That would mean he would start the April 26th game honoring Crawford facing Bruce Bochy's Texas Rangers.

Wouldn't that be interesting? Verlander, wearing the number 35, would be pitching for the Giants in a game honoring a retired Brandon Crawford against a team managed by Bruce Bochy, when less than 13 years ago it was Crawford and the Bochy-led Giants who took down Verlander and the Detroit Tigers in four games in the 2012 World Series. What a world, huh? The Giants should just sign Pablo Sandoval to a one-day contract and have him be the designated hitter for the team that day because why not?

Again, it is far from certain that this will happen. We know Verlander is going to be 42 soon so it would not be a shock if he is on the IL by the end of April, but if he is healthy and takes the ball every third game in the month of April then we could have a slightly awkward but ultimately compelling spectacle on our hands at Oracle Park on April 26th.