Bumgarner, Colon among the eight pitchers best suited for a Home Run Derby
If MLB considers a Pitchers Home Run Derby, who should be in it?
In recent weeks, there's been lots of time spent discussing whether or not Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner should be included in this year's Home Run Derby, which is held the Monday before the All-Star Game. My colleague Dayn Perry made the case for Bumgarner and I wholeheartedly agree.
Sunday, however, this was floated by ESPN's Buster Olney:
The Giants had conversations today about Bumgarner being in Derby. Idea floated is a P's Derby. SF open to ideas; he wants to be in Derby.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 13, 2016
OK, so the "idea" has been "floated." That doesn't seem like a concrete discussion that Major League Baseball is having for the 2016 All-Star Monday in San Diego's Petco Park, but let's pretend it is, just for fun.
8 PITCHERS BEST SUITED FOR A HR DERBY
First off, I'm limiting the pool to one pitcher per team, just because. Secondly, these are totally subjective choices based upon in-game power that we've seen, potential for a show and for entertainment purposes. On the latter, you'll know what I mean soon enough.
My eight choices, alphabetically:
Jake Arrieta, Cubs: He only has three career home runs, but they've come in his last 72 at-bats, including this prodigious blast in Arizona on April 10:
He's so strong that there's potential for a big-time laser show.
Madison Bumgarner, Giants: The active leader in pitcher home runs with 13, Bumgarner actually has seven homers in 111 at-bats since the beginning of 2015. That's a 40-plus homer pace over a full season's worth of position-player at-bats.
Bartolo Colon, Mets: A Pitcher Home Run Derby would be little more than a novelty/circus act, so why in the world shouldn't the most entertaining guy be involved? Plus, he did make history earlier this season by becoming the oldest player to ever hit his first career home run. And it came at Petco!
Jose Fernandez, Marlins: He only has two career home runs in 107 at-bats, but he has some major power when he does connect. Take a look:
Not only that, but few players show as much outward positive emotion while playing baseball like Fernandez does. Between Bumgarner and Arrieta, there will be plenty of stoic faces to be seen during this as-yet-fictional event. Let's get some smiles in there, too. Jose brings those.
Yovani Gallardo, Orioles: Thanks to being an AL pitcher now, Gallardo has zero at-bats this season and only had four last year. In his career, however, Gallardo has 21 doubles and 12 home runs in 420 at-bats.
Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks: Greinke is one of the best all-around hitters among pitchers. In 2013, he hit .328 with a .409 on-base percentage, for example. In his career, he's a .225 hitter with 17 doubles and six homers in 320 at-bats. My hunch is he wouldn't want to do this, but this is a for-fun exercise anyway, so he's a pick.
CC Sabathia, Yankees: The AL-lifer rarely picks up a bat, but when he does, he brings power. In 114 at-bats, he has three doubles and three home runs. Plus, at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, he's liable to run into a few that would travel well over 400 feet.
Adam Wainwright, Cardinals: So far this season, Wainwright is hitting .261 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI. He had a go-ahead, two-RBI double in extra innings against the Pirates just a few days ago. He has 29 doubles, two triples and seven homers in 543 career at-bats. There's certainly some pop in there.
Toughest omissions: Travis Wood has nine career home runs in just 271 at-bats, but with him being a reliever now and slightly out of practice, I felt like Arrieta would be the more entertaining selection for the Cubs. Mike Leake (6 HR in 387 AB) and Matt Cain (6 HR in 569 AB) are in similar situations with other teammates having been chosen. Noah Syndergaard already has three career home runs in just 65 at-bats. He just looks like a dude that would crush the ball in a Home Run Derby, too. Of course, he's already thrown his support behind a certain teammate that we already picked:
In 2016, I fully endorse a Pitchers Home Run Derby. #wewantBart#pitcherswhorakepic.twitter.com/Iwl7nndIUa
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) June 11, 2016
So we'll take his request and stick with Bartolo.
And, sorry, Carlos Zambrano, but we're looking only at active players.
So who would your choices be? Let us know. There aren't any wrong answers, so post with impunity.
















