It appears that we won’t get to watch pitchers attempt to crank dingers in a Home Run Derby this year for the All-Star Game festivities at Petco Park.
I say “a” Home Run Derby, as there had been talk about a pitchers-only derby, but that is apparently off the table as well, according to San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Bochy was asked by reporters on Thursday night if Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner would participate in the Home Run Derby, and explained how the MLB Player’s Association “nixed” the idea of pitchers being in a Home Run Derby. However, Bochy did say that the MLBPA plans to revisit the idea next year:
“That’s done, there will be no Home Run Derby for Madison,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s been nixed. It’s out for this year, but they’ll revisit it next year.”
Bochy said the MLB Players Association got involved and did not like the idea of a pitcher taking a position player’s spot in the event. The idea of a pitchers-only derby also did not go far.
CSN Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic adds that the Giants were likely going to let Bumgarner participate in the Home Run Derby had he been invited, but the process “never got that far”. Pavlovic speculates that pitchers such as Jake Arrieta, Noah Syndergaard, Jose Fernandez, and Adam Wainwright also expressing their derby interest may have actually been what derailed things for Bumgarner:
The Giants did not actually prevent Bumgarner from taking part because it never got that far. He was not invited, so they never had to make a decision. Had Bumgarner gotten an invite, he likely would have taken his hacks. He was intent on being in the Home Run Derby, and Bochy and Dave Righetti are said to be okay with it.
The whole concept likely went off the rails when others — Jake Arrieta, Jose Fernandez, Adam Wainwright, etc. — asked to be included. Bumgarner liked the idea of facing position players, but a pitcher’s event never got much traction.
Hopefully this is indeed reconsidered next year, but for now, no fun.
