Madison Bumgarner may be in lineup at Oakland
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy may opt to let Madison Bumgarner hit instead of using a DH later this week.
The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of a four-game series against the Oakland A’s, with the first two games being played in San Francisco and the last two taking place across the Bay in Oakland.
The series finale is Thursday in Oakland and will feature Madison Bumgarner starting for the Giants. Certain National League pitchers may relish the opportunity to have a game off from playing on offense, but not Bumgarner.
Bochy is thinking of letting Bumgarner hit instead of using DH Thursday in Oakland. "Too early to commit."
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) June 27, 2016
And it is a move that would not surprise A’s manager Bob Melvin.
Bob Melvin on Bruce Bochy mulling whether Madison Bumgarner might hit in Oakland, disdaining DH: "Can't say I blame him."
— Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) June 28, 2016
Bumgarner has been lobbying to compete in this year’s Home Run Derby, and has hit two home runs this season in only 40 at-bats. With only seven total hits this season, he is a home run machine based on the ratio of home runs per total hits.
He also finished last season with a .247 batting average in 81 plate appearances, so he is more than just a pitcher who occasionally hits home runs. He can be relied upon to hold his own at the plate throughout the season.
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Putting him in the lineup is not too big of a deal, as he may only see two or three at-bats during the game. It can also help Bumgarner, who is a competent hitter, to stay in a rhythm of getting live at-bats every five days.
The decision also allows Bochy to see if he can rely on Bumgarner as a hitting pitcher, and one he can leave in games when a hit is desperately needed. If he can prove to be reliable, he can stay in games longer as he will not have to be pinch-hit for when he can still be useful on the mound.
This experience in the regular season can be crucial when it comes to the postseason and Bochy must decide whether to pull Bumgarner for offensive purposes, or leave him in to take his chances at the plate and remain in the game to pitch.
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Thursday will show Bochy’s faith in Bumgarner as a hitter, and a home run in the game could be enough for the team to allow the pitcher to take place in the Home Run Derby.