Thanks mostly to the exploits of Mr. Madison Bumgarner -- who doesn't really speak softly but most certainly does carry a big stick -- there's been talk all season of a possible Pitcher Home Run Derby at some point. I even picked my eight a few weeks ago, with Bumgarner as the centerpiece.
Also on that team? Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. He went oppo for a bomb on Monday night in a wild 11-8 Cubs win, too:
That's Arrieta's fourth career home run, but his fourth in his last 89 plate appearances. That's a pretty awesome rate for a pitcher. Overall in 2016, Arrieta is hitting .294/.368/.500, as he also collected a single on Monday.
On the mound Monday, however, was another story. Arrieta has had visible problems with command for the last several weeks. Even when he's been effective, he's racked up huge early pitch counts thanks to the command issue. Some of this strikes are in missed spots, too. It all seemed to catch up on Monday, as the Reds got him for five runs on four hits, thanks in part to five walks and a Joey Votto home run.
I wouldn't call it a huge concern, but it's a concern. In his last seven starts now, Arrieta has a 3.38 ERA and many people would scoff at this being a problem.
Here's what is becoming an issue, though. He's walked 20 batters in 40 innings in those starts and overall he's walking 3.5 batters per nine innings this season as compared to last year's rate of 1.89 BB/9. His innings pitched in these last seven starts, respectively: 5, 7, 5, 7, 6, 5, 5. Given the Cubs' lack of bullpen depth at this point, they need the ace to work deeper into games, but Arrieta just doesn't have the command to last longer.
So, again, it's a concern, but not an enormous one. He's still mostly preventing runs from scoring, Monday notwithstanding.
In conclusion: Pitcher Home Run Derby, please!