Bernfield: Pitchers could add new energy to HR Derby

Madison Bumgarner is a career .181 hitter. But have you ever seen him take batting practice?

Last week when the Giants were in St. Louis, their ace pitcher obliterated baseballs into the upper deck at Busch Stadium. He put on a show worthy of a national audience - if Major League Baseball would allow it.

Bumgarner is one of a handful of pitchers who have expressed interest in participating in the Home Run Derby, baseball's signature event prior to the annual All-Star game in July.

Pitchers normally watch the event holding a camcorder, marveling at the game's greatest sluggers' ability to launch towering blasts. But with 13 career home runs, and 11 in the last three seasons, Bumgarner wants a chance to show pitchers can hit the long ball too.

"He's convinced he could win it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Bumgarner isn't the only ace racing to the batting cage. Count Cardinals' righty Adam Wainwright and Cubs' ace Jake Arrieta in, too.

"If [Bumgarner] is in it, I need to be in it," Arrieta said last week while the Cubs were playing in Atlanta. "That's for sure. He can hit the ball a long way. But I can too."

With the amount of money invested in elite pitching these days, there are many - including Bochy - who scoff at the idea of allowing them to participate in an exhibition which makes them susceptible to injury. One awkward swing could result in a costly injury to a coveted investment.

But athletes get injured in countless ways, both on and off the field. A Home Run Derby puts them at no greater health risk than a regular workout. And the best-hitting pitchers already put on a daily Home Run Derby in batting practice. Teams concerned about potential injury could have the two contestants with the most home runs in the first round square off in a shorter final with fewer outs.

If Major League Baseball wants to re-energize an event with dwindling intrigue, pitchers swinging for the fences would undoubtedly do the trick.

Imagine the excitement of watching those paid to prevent home runs hit them deep into the bleachers, pitted against some of the game's great sluggers with bragging rights on the line.

If baseball fans' phones lit up with the headline, "Madison Bumgarner Leads Manny Machado In Home Run Derby," there would be plenty of motivation to get to the nearest television.

As Hall of Fame pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux reminded us in Nike's famous ad years ago, "chicks dig the long ball." Give these pitchers a chance to hit the long ball, and fans everywhere will dig it, too.

• Jordan Bernfield is an anchor and co-host of "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR 670-AM The Score. He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter@JordanBernfield.