San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner waits to bat during batting practice prior to a spring training exhibition baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, March 22, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
OAKLAND – Madison Bumgarner might become the first starting pitcher in 40 years to hit for himself by design in an American League ballpark.
But he will not pick up a bat in the All-Star home run derby.
“That’s been nixed,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Bumgarner wanted to become the first pitcher to participate in the exhibition, and although Giants officials were reticent to allow it, they told him they would be open minded depending on the format.
When other pitchers expressed interest, there was some discussion of a scaled down version of the event for pitchers only – something Bumgarner had no interest in doing.
Bochy said the Players’ Association ultimately did the most to veto the plan.
“The union didn’t want a pitcher taking a player’s spot,” Bochy said. “And I don’t think they were too keen on the pitchers (derby) thing. They said they would revisit it next year.”
Giants GM Bobby Evans said Bumgarner in the derby “was never any more than a concept,” and so “we never had to make a decision.”
That’s convenient for the Giants – even if it makes the derby slightly less compelling.
The Giants were less concerned about the injury risk of forfeiting the designated hitter to bat Bumgarner on Thursday against the A’s at the Coliseum.
Bochy said the idea was his, and it made sense for several reasons: the A’s were starting a left-handed pitcher, the Giants are extremely limited from the right side, and Bumgarner is a power threat.
Although Bumgarner has just a .175 average, he owns 11 home runs in 183 at-bats over the past three seasons.
“It’s not for fun,” Bochy said. “This makes sense. It wasn’t a tough call, really, with the way he’s swinging the bat.”
Bochy said he went to Bumgarner to ask if he’d like to hit, not the other way around.
“He thought I was kidding,” Bochy said. “He wanted to make sure I was serious. He’s a competitor. He said, `I’d love to. I’d love to hit.’”
Bumgarner will bat ninth and become the first starting pitcher to hit for himself in an AL park since 2009, when Andy Sonnanstine hit third in the Tampa Bay Rays lineup. But that was unintentional; manager Joe Maddon had turned in an incorrect lineup card. The Indians’ Charles Nagy once had to hit for himself in a game because Manny Ramirez jogged to right field when he was supposed to be the designated hitter.
But no manager has forfeited the DH intentionally since 1976, when starting pitcher Ken Brett twice was in the lineup for the Chicago White Sox. (He went 0 for 6.) There are two other instances since the DH was implemented in 1973: Ken Holtzman, batted for the A’s in a game against the Angels in 1975, and Fergie Jenkins got a hit for the Rangers against the Twins in a game in 1974.
Bochy said he was surprised that it’s been four decades since a manager has punted the DH to let his pitcher hit in an AL park. Although the Giants would be at a significant disadvantage if Bumgarner were to get knocked out early, the pitcher who replaces him would go into his lineup spot – just like a regular National League game. Bochy didn’t weigh that risk as a potentially major disadvantage.
“I don’t think in the negative, to be honest,” Bochy said. “Sure, anything could happen. Hey, I’ll have to deal with that. I understand that. This wasn’t a tough call, to me.
“He’s earned this. He’s a pretty good hitter.”
Bochy chose Bumgarner over left-handed hitters Jarrett Parker, Gregor Blanco and Conor Gillaspie. The Giants also have a right-handed hitter, Trevor Brown, on their bench. But he’s the lone backup catcher. Switch hitter Ramiro Peña is out for five to seven days because of a sprained ankle.
“It’s nothing against our guys,” Bochy said. “He’s a good hitter. It’s a good matchup.”
Even though Bumgarner is out of the All-Star derby, he could get an even more prestigious honor. With Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list, Bumgarner could be a candidate to be the starting pitcher for the NL team.
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