Home Run Derby: Good or Bad for Participants?

love baseball?

Click here for a preview of the 2007 Derby and participant list.

Join ArmchairGM and follow along with other baseball fans.

For the last two years some of the Home Run Derby participants have suddenly went into home run slumps after being in the Home Run Derby. Bobby Abreu hit about 45 home runs in 2005 derby then the rest of the season couldn't hit a home run on a bet. David Wright had the same problem last year. He had hit 20 home runs before the All Star game but hit only 6 the rest of the season.

Ryan Howard was the exception last year winning the Home Run Derby and going on to have a great second half of the season winding up with 58 home runs. It was the second year in a row that a member of the Philadelphia Phillies won the home run derby.

I am almost hoping no player from the Braves gets picked for the derby because they may fall into bad habits that may stay with them the rest of the season. Have heard Ryan Howard may be in the derby again this year but haven't heard any other names of participants mentioned yet. If anyone knows please post in the coments section.

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher

ChristofMVP

886 days ago

Score 4

I like the Home Run Derby. Then again, I miss the old Home Run Derby shows on ESPN. ANyone else remeber them from the late 1980's and early 1990's?

Permalink | Reply

KelsdadAll-Star

886 days ago

Score 3

You mean the late '50's and early '60's?

Permalink

PeanMajor Leaguer

886 days ago

Score 2

i loved them..that weird field, and having the guy who wasn't hitting in the booth or whatever

Permalink

ChristofMVP

886 days ago

Score 1

That is what I am talking about. I wish they brought that show back, maybe do new episodes with current day players. Thus, they can drop the stupid poker that is on almost every afternoon.

Permalink

DNLLegend

886 days ago

Score 2

I miss Rock&Jock from MTV.

Permalink

Kwitt11Varsity Captain

886 days ago

Score 10

Here's my explanation of the post-HR derby "slump":

Player A, Player B, and Player C are all "true" 30-HR hitters; that is, they will all hit exactly 30 homeruns every year. (Obviously, this is impossible, but stay with me here.) In one particular year, here's how they do it:

Player A hits 23 homers in the first half of the season, and hits just 7 in the second half.

Player B hits 15 homers in the first half and 15 in the second half.

Player C hits just 7 homers in the first half, but 23 after.

Guess which one gets invited to the Homerun Derby? Only player A would be there, because he has 23 homeruns. So he hits only 7 homers after, and people say it's because the Derby messed up his swing, when it actually is just that he was doing what he was supposed to do.

To summarize, almost all the people selected to participate in the Derby are hitting more homers than they were expected to, so it makes sense that they'd hit less after the break.

Permalink | Reply

KelsdadAll-Star

886 days ago

Score 4

And that, my friends, is the whole story. Nicely stated, KWitt.

Permalink

Behbigben15All-Star

886 days ago

Score 2

The home run Derby has nothing to do with the rest of the season, the fans like the home run derby, and it looks like most of the players enjoy it too. It's just for fun, and it is entertaining, there is nothing wrong with the home run derby.

Permalink | Reply

Niteowl049AAA-er

886 days ago

Score 1

I enjoy the Home Run Derby too but not crazy about being barraged with commercials. It is fun to see which players will be the ones that get hot and hammer one after antoher out of the park.

Permalink | Reply

Niteowl049AAA-er

886 days ago

Score 1

Loved the old Home Run Derby that aired on TV back in the 60's. Can't remember for sure but think Mickey Mantle was one of the players featured on the show.

Permalink | Reply

KelsdadAll-Star

886 days ago

Score 0

Mantle did participate. Now the $64,000 question. Who won it?

Permalink

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

886 days ago

Score 1

That show was pretty cool. I think ESPN Classic used to air the re-runs.

Permalink | Reply

ChristofMVP

886 days ago

Score 1

Key phrase here is "used to"

Permalink

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

886 days ago

Score 1

Unfortunately.

Permalink

False ProphetAll-Star

886 days ago

Score 2

does anyone here still get ESPN Classic? Comcast screwed me over

Permalink

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

886 days ago

Score 1

I think DirectTV still has it.

Permalink

False ProphetAll-Star

886 days ago

Score 1

I hate DirecTV. It's to good. It makes me upset that I have comcast

Permalink

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

886 days ago

Score 1

Yeah its great when there are no T-storms in the area. It sucks to lose satellite feed during storms.

Permalink

Niteowl049AAA-er

886 days ago

Score 1

Guess a lot of people like my grandson who won't watch old baseball movies because they are color.

Permalink | Reply

Niteowl049AAA-er

886 days ago

Score 2

The player with the most home runs at end of show won $2000 with the loser getting $1000. Hank Aaron won the most money winning $13,000 but was later defeated by Wally Post.

Permalink | Reply