Arrieta makes case for pitcher HR derby; Wainwright wants in

ATLANTA – What in the name of Carlos Zambrano has Jake Arrieta started?

The day after Arrieta joined the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner in a two-man chorus lobbying for pitchers to be allowed into the All-Star Home Run Derby, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright piped in Sunday via Twitter:

“Well, if Madbum and @JArrieta34 want in on this #homerunderby…I might as well throw my name in the hat!”

The idea was still so intriguing to Arrieta on Sunday morning that the man with the longest home run among pitchers this season propsed a qualifying format for a pitcher, involving a shorter, four-pitcher bracket.

“Get four guys who can really hit the ball a long way, and whoever wins can actually hit in the Derby,” he said. “Me, Bumgarner and [Noah] Syndergaard in a short derby.”

And maybe Wainwright?

“I’m just spit-balling some things,” said Arrieta, who might actually have one hurdle for his ambition cleared already.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said his organization isn’t likely to let Bumgarner participate over injury concerns.

“I know. Everybody’s afraid of injuries,” scoffed manager Joe Maddon. “I don’t subscribe to that theory, so I don’t worry about it from that perspective.”

Obliques?

“My oblique’s fine,” said Arrieta, who sees no downside. “What’s it going todo, mess up my swing?”

Arrieta, by the way, not only has participated in home run derbies, but he won a recent TCU alumni derby, out-slugging, among others, Cardinals’ All-Star hitter Matt Carpenter.

“I made a small bet with him,” Arrieta said. “He still owes me, too.”

And if he had to pitch the next day after a long day of homer practice?

“It’ll get me loose,” he said.