Everything that is wrong with the Derby can be solved with competent production from ESPN, which used a combination of bad camera angles, inconsistent split screen, and data graphics that came and went. It was absolutely maddening.
"It's time to end the home run derby" OK, let's stop right there. This headline is absolutely correct. I am a HUGE baseball fan. I saw the great DiMaggio in his final season. I saw Mantle for many years. I saw Henry Aaron. I saw Kaline at the beginning and end of his career. Ditto Robin Yount. The list goes on. I go back a long, long way with the Great American Pasttime. The game is the game is the game. It doesn't need home run contests or anything else. It just needs the game. Play ball!!
I like the HR derby, but I don't like the current format. What was the old format? Hitters got 10 "outs." 10 non-HR swings. That was probably too many, but at least you got to watch the ball fly, and that was the best part.
With the new format, even the scoreboard tally is 3 pitches behind. When they were putting up the statcast stuff I was watching the exit velocity and launch angle to judge the swings. 104 mph off the bat @ 27 degrees, that'll go. 99/54, popup. 108/16, watch out in the outfield kids, it's coming in hot.
I didn't grow up in a sports-loving sphere of influence (neither my dad, nor my brothers and circle of friends were into sports), so I don't have the "I love baseball" gene. Yet, even I found plenty to agree with in your post on the Home Run Derby. :)
Great suggestions. I agree, it is ho hum nowadays. When my son was young, we’d watch it as a family as he loves baseball, too. However, it was never like it was “back in the day”. I remember as a child, the long days of the summer, hot as heck outside, watching with my dad. We did not have central a/c and no window units, it was hot. We’d watch with the lights off, just the tv on and the fan blowing. It was a fun evening and my dad would get so excited. Those days are gone. My son, who LOVES baseball and played all through school and then on a mens league, gets bored with the derby now.
I like some of your ideas for additional skills competition, but highly disagree with your stance on the Derby. The home run derby must stay. In fact, they should bring back the (very) old TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaxrzW3aSrc
Great suggestions. Really love the idea of bunt competition. It so rare and often so poorly done now.
I know! And a really cool skill to watch executed at a high level.
Absolutely your worst take!
Everything that is wrong with the Derby can be solved with competent production from ESPN, which used a combination of bad camera angles, inconsistent split screen, and data graphics that came and went. It was absolutely maddening.
"It's time to end the home run derby" OK, let's stop right there. This headline is absolutely correct. I am a HUGE baseball fan. I saw the great DiMaggio in his final season. I saw Mantle for many years. I saw Henry Aaron. I saw Kaline at the beginning and end of his career. Ditto Robin Yount. The list goes on. I go back a long, long way with the Great American Pasttime. The game is the game is the game. It doesn't need home run contests or anything else. It just needs the game. Play ball!!
Naah. Home runs ftw
Maybe the decathalon of baseball skills
Totally agree. I was so bored, I turned it off after about an hour. Thank goodness the All-Star game was better!
The real travesty is having players wear matching (not their own team) uniforms in the ASG.
Sacrilege but well-argued.
I like the HR derby, but I don't like the current format. What was the old format? Hitters got 10 "outs." 10 non-HR swings. That was probably too many, but at least you got to watch the ball fly, and that was the best part.
With the new format, even the scoreboard tally is 3 pitches behind. When they were putting up the statcast stuff I was watching the exit velocity and launch angle to judge the swings. 104 mph off the bat @ 27 degrees, that'll go. 99/54, popup. 108/16, watch out in the outfield kids, it's coming in hot.
Just not the same as watching them fly.
I love this critique! And, great suggestions! The whole all-star break has lost its luster.
I didn't grow up in a sports-loving sphere of influence (neither my dad, nor my brothers and circle of friends were into sports), so I don't have the "I love baseball" gene. Yet, even I found plenty to agree with in your post on the Home Run Derby. :)
Like the idea of the fastest pitch contest. Did anybody put a timer on Sean Murphy’s throw down to second?
That's what I am saying! Would be awesome.
Great suggestions. I agree, it is ho hum nowadays. When my son was young, we’d watch it as a family as he loves baseball, too. However, it was never like it was “back in the day”. I remember as a child, the long days of the summer, hot as heck outside, watching with my dad. We did not have central a/c and no window units, it was hot. We’d watch with the lights off, just the tv on and the fan blowing. It was a fun evening and my dad would get so excited. Those days are gone. My son, who LOVES baseball and played all through school and then on a mens league, gets bored with the derby now.
Amen
I agree, Chris, I gave up on it years ago. Just a glorified batting practice session... ho hum!
I like some of your ideas for additional skills competition, but highly disagree with your stance on the Derby. The home run derby must stay. In fact, they should bring back the (very) old TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaxrzW3aSrc
I admit. That was awesome