Should the Home Run Derby go the way of the NBA?

by user Tartan

Why should the Home Run Derby be confined to All-Stars. The Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Shootout both are open to the finest players with most crowd draw at each event respectively. Why should we be forced to watch Jason Bay last year put up a donut on the scoreboard? Why not open it up to anyone that wants to do it, and decide the finalists based on power and crowd draw. Let's face it, the Home Run Derby is about the fans. Twelve years ago, in Pittsburgh, Ken Griffey Jr. won the HRD with 7, yes, 7 home runs. Bobby Abreu hit 26 in one round last year, David Wright hit 16 his first time up. David Wright in 2006 has more power than Griffey in 1994? No way! I don't even know if I could make that claim now. So what does MLB do? Do they admit to using juiced balls and corked bats (ala A.J. Pierzynski) and just invite the biggest meathead baseball players (Adam Dunn, etc.) to see how far they can crush the ball; or do they legitimize the event, using real equipment, and make it a real contest the fans can believe?

Date

Tue 07/11/06, 4:35 am EST

ChristofMVP

1240 days ago

Score 0

Baseball already has enough issues. So the idea of changing the HRD anytime soon is out of the question.

Permalink | Reply

DNLLegend

1240 days ago

Score 0

I still think overripe honeydew, cudgels, and Jennie Finch is the recipe for success. That'd be awesome.

Permalink | Reply

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1240 days ago

Score 0

Why not take the top 10 and ties (or however many) in HRs that season, and put them in?

Permalink | Reply

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1240 days ago

Score 0

How about the fattest, skinniest, tallest, shortest, longest name, shortest name, most-tenured veteran, newest rookie, oldest-living hall of famer and Willy Mo Pena compete? (PS - I'm bored)

Permalink | Reply

TartanVarsity Captain

1240 days ago

Score 2

I say put two cages aide-by-side on either side of the plate and have two pitchers pitch them balls at the same time. Like in the split screens in video games. The first one to hit 10 HRs advances to the next round. This would speed things up considerably, make them swing more instead of watching, and we would have to listen to Berman for less, a very important positive of this plan.

Permalink | Reply

Madproof9Red-Shirting

1240 days ago

Score 2

Watching Nate Robinson miss the same dunk 40 times before finally making it, and then winning the (rigged) slam dunk contest isn't much better than watching players belt 85 home runs in a row. They need to get rid of both altogether. All-star games aren't what they used to be, and the events before them aren't either. We live in a time where we can turn on MLB.tv and watch all 30 teams play in a single day. We see the all-star players whenever we want, we don't need an event that showcases them all anymore.

Permalink | Reply

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1240 days ago

Score 1

you should develop this into a whole article

Permalink

BarkingclamVarsity

1240 days ago

Score 0

I think that it should have one player per position - including the DH and a pitcher - and that there should be a pitch limit (so they won't be as many passed balls). But then again, I don't watch the whole thing, either.

Permalink | Reply

JustjudithWaterboy

1240 days ago

Score 0

i'm all for getting rid of the HRD and the slam dunk contest. especially since none of the big stars of the nba want to participate anymore. and in terms of the hrd, isn't it kind of tainted since we suspect most players of being on human growth hormone?? i didn't even watch.

Permalink | Reply

Twins15Varsity Captain

1240 days ago

Score 1

I'm all for aluminum bats in the derby. That'd make thing really fun to watch.

Permalink | Reply