One of the most entertaining events of the baseball season is quickly approaching. It's baseball's equivalent of the NBA's Dunk Contest. It, of course, is the Home Run Derby. Every year baseball's biggest sluggers step up and go head to head trying to be crowned the king of home runs.
Last year, Todd Frazier walked out as the champ. This season, no one has officially been announced as a participant. However, there is one very interesting name that has thrown his name into the ring as wanting to be in. His name is Madison Bumgarner, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
A pitcher has never participated in the Home Run Derby. This is likely for a few reasons. First. pitchers only hit in one league, the National League. Second, pitchers are typically poor hitters. It is not their main focus, and they simply do not put as much work into it as an everyday player. Finally, managers and owners are fearful of injury when a pitcher hits. This is one of the main issues behind people pushing for the DH in the National League, which would completely eliminate pitchers from having to hit.
But Madison Bumgarner is not your ordinary pitcher. Not only is he one of the most elite arms in the game, but he can hit like an everyday player. Next time the Giants are on TV and Bumgarner is pitching, take the time to watch his at bats. It only takes the eye test to know Bumgarner knows how to handle the bat. He puts on a fun show in batting practice as well, hitting homer after homer. He also has a few homers to his name in actual game action as well.
So let's get back to the reasons why a pitcher has never been part of the Home Run Derby. Reason one was half the league's arms do not even get to hit. Well, Bumgarner is in the half of the league that does, so that is not a concern of his. Reason two, pitchers are usually bad hitters. Well, I mentioned before, Bumgarner is no ordinary pitcher when it comes to swinging the bat. The man knows how to hit, and he knows how to hit home runs. So that is also not a concern.
Now the final reason is the one that will likely be the one that actually keeps us from actually getting to enjoy Mad Bum hitting home runs in Petco Park in mid July. Bumgarner wants to participate, but the higher ups do not want him to. The Giants organization would be fearful that he would hurt himself in the Derby. Since he does not swing the bat every day, they will be fearful their golden arm will be hurt by swinging a bat for home runs over and over again in one night.
Now that is a legit concern, as doing something that one is not used to doing on a daily basis does increase the risk of injury. But this should be a decision that is up to Mad Bum. If he wants in, he should be allowed in. The fans want to see it. He wants to do it. So let's make it happen. It would not be a gimmick. The man can hit, and he can certainly move on past the first round. It would be entertaining to watch, which is the point of the event.
Noah Syndergaard is another pitcher who can hit like an everyday player, but he has not voiced his opinion about wanting to participate. Bumgarner has, so he is the man to break the streak. He should become the first pitcher to get a shot at the Home Run Derby. Come on baseball, and come on higher ups in the Giants' organization, let it happen.
Do you want to see him in the Derby? Voice your opinion in the comments!
