Bochy considering forfeiting DH for Bumgarner in Oakland
Bruce Bochy's a smart manager and knows a deadly bat when he sees one, having previously managed the likes of Bonds, Gwynn, and Henderson.
Madison Bumgarner is not close to those guys, of course, but the San Francisco Giants left-hander's quickly turned into arguably the best offensive pitcher in decades. He's made such an impression at the plate that Bochy is apparently giving some thought to letting Bumgarner hit in lieu of the designated hitter when he starts against the Athletics in Oakland on Thursday.
When asked about potentially making the shocking move ahead of Monday's game between the Bay Area rivals at AT&T Park, Bochy only told reporters that it's "too early to commit" to that decision.
Though it's fair to question whether the Giants would even be allowed to do this in an AL park, it would actually be perfectly legal. Under AL rules, any team can choose to start a game without their DH and bat a pitcher instead. It might also make a small bit of sense, as Bumgarner's right-handed bat could help balance the team's predominantly left-handed lineup against Oakland southpaw Dillon Overton.
If Bumgarner steps to the plate in Oakland, it would be a historic moment for baseball. While it's happened occasionally and quite unexpectedly in AL games due to an error on the lineup card, only four teams have voluntarily given up the DH to their pitcher since the position debuted in 1973. But none of those instances involved an NL team during an interleague game and it hasn't happened in 40 years.
| Date | Pitcher | Team | Opponent | Rslt. | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2/1974 | Ferguson Jenkins | Rangers | Twins | 1-for-2, R, K | TEX Win 2-1 |
| 9/27/1975 | Ken Holtzman | Athletics | Angels | 0-for-2 | OAK Win 6-3 |
| 7/6/1976 | Ken Brett | White Sox | Red Sox | 0-for-3 | CWS Loss 4-0 |
| 9/23/1976 | Ken Brett | White Sox | Twins | 0-for-3 | CWS Loss 3-0 |
Bumgarner hasn't commented on the issue, but he'd likely be more than happy to take his hacks on Thursday. While hitting just .175 this season, the 26-year-old owns 13 career home runs - the most among active pitchers - and has recorded at least one hit in seven of his 16 starts this year. He's also been openly lobbying for a spot in this July's Home Run Derby.