HR Derby

[Cubbies2238]

How much longer is the home run derby going to be around? With all the big names not wanting to mess up their swing it makes me wonder if the derby will be replaced soon. I want to see players like Pujols, A-Rod, and Ryan Howard not Corey Hart, Nick Swisher, or Chris Young.

 

How would you feel if instead of the home run derby it was replaced by a skills competition like in the NHL? I saw on MLB Network a few days ago they did something like this in I think it was the 89 all star game. They had events like a relay from the wall, and catchers throwing to a target. I think this type of thing would have players more willing to participate, but would fans like it as much as the home run derby?

[NewUserName]

How much longer is the home run derby going to be around? With all the big names not wanting to mess up their swing it makes me wonder if the derby will be replaced soon. I want to see players like Pujols, A-Rod, and Ryan Howard not Corey Hart, Nick Swisher, or Chris Young.

 

How would you feel if instead of the home run derby it was replaced by a skills competition like in the NHL? I saw on MLB Network a few days ago they did something like this in I think it was the 89 all star game. They had events like a relay from the wall, and catchers throwing to a target. I think this type of thing would have players more willing to participate, but would fans like it as much as the home run derby?

 

Can Chris Berman be as much of a loud mouth idiot in such a competition?

[Schwarber Fan]

The NHL skills competition has become a joke as well these days.

[Derwood]

The NHL skills competition has become a joke as well these days.

 

as has the NBA slam dunk competition

[erik316wttn]

Home runs put butts in seats. Sure, something like throwing accuracy might be very important on a day-to-day level, but it's not something the fans are going to pack stadiums to watch exhibitions.

[NonProfitCow]

Instead of only having All Stars in the derby they need to just get the guys that can hit moon shots. Get Dunn, Blanks, Reynolds etc. in there hitting them a mile.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Last year's NL participants weren't too bad. Pujols, Prince, Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Howard. But sadly I think we'll see less and less "stars" in these contests as years go on. Teams seem to see a lot of players as investments now. So I'm sure they get a lot of feedback from the front office on whether or not they can compete in a silly contest that some feel messes up their swing. Also, they don't want to risk an injury to their 20 million dollar man. Didn't Cano drop out this year after pressure from the Yankees? (And then Swisher stepped in, which I thought was weird)

 

And unfortunately, the casual fan and the general public probably don't care about a skills competition. They'd much rather see 500 foot home runs than see if a guy can throw from center field and hit a target at home plate.

 

But I agree, make it so you don't have to be an all star to compete. Just get the best mashers out there that are willing to do it. I'd personally love to see Adam Dunn in one of these contests.

 

I'm not a huge fan of the home run derby, but I always watch. I had just about given up on it until Josh Hamilton put on that show 2 years ago. That moment gave the contest enough credibility with me for at least a few years.

[illiniguy]

The NHL skills competition has become a joke as well these days.

 

as has the NBA slam dunk competition

Absurd, it's awesome watching Nate Robinson take 50 attempts at a dunk and Dwight Howard dressing up like Superman. Those guys put Jordan, Wilkens and Vince to shame.

[OleMissCub]

Let them use aluminum bats.

[SpongeWorthy]

Doesn't look like too many moon shotters in this years lineup.

 

This is where I want to see roid monsters hitting 500+ foot bombs. Ah, the halcyon days of the early 00s when Sammy was hitting 520+ foot bombs at Turner Field and no one broached the subject of PEDs.

[hardcorecubfan]

Let them use aluminum bats.

 

Then they would be charging them with murder when they line it right back to their pitching coach, but it would be entertaining

[fromthestretch]

Let them use aluminum bats.

 

Then they would be charging them with murder when they line it right back to their pitching coach, but it would be entertaining

 

He said let them use aluminum bats, not "get rid of the L screen."

[witty alias]

Let them use aluminum bats.

 

Then they would be charging them with murder when they line it right back to their pitching coach, but it would be entertaining

 

He said let them use aluminum bats, not "get rid of the L screen."

 

Also, I've never seen anybody hit a ball back into the screen. Why would they do it with an aluminum bat?

[Wilson A2000]

Let them use aluminum bats.

 

Then they would be charging them with murder when they line it right back to their pitching coach, but it would be entertaining

 

He said let them use aluminum bats, not "get rid of the L screen."

 

Also, I've never seen anybody hit a ball back into the screen. Why would they do it with an aluminum bat?

 

I was waiting for Nick Swisher to crush one into those cameras sitting right next to home plate.

[Pushfrog98]

OH MY GOD! HE HIT THAT BALL FURTHER THAN ANY HUMAN IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL! WOW WOW WOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? UNBELIEVABLE!

UHHH...Yeah, that one measured at 415'...

This pretty much sums up the Home Run Derby. Sure, there are some monster shots, but Berman acted as if every time the ball barely cleared the fence that it was a feat unseen by humans before. It got really annoying after about the 1st HR.

[jersey cubs fan]

OH MY GOD! HE HIT THAT BALL FURTHER THAN ANY HUMAN IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL! WOW WOW WOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? UNBELIEVABLE!

UHHH...Yeah, that one measured at 415'...

This pretty much sums up the Home Run Derby. Sure, there are some monster shots, but Berman acted as if every time the ball barely cleared the fence that it was a feat unseen by humans before. It got really annoying after about the 1st HR 15 years ago.

[Pushfrog98]

OH MY GOD! HE HIT THAT BALL FURTHER THAN ANY HUMAN IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL! WOW WOW WOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? UNBELIEVABLE!

UHHH...Yeah, that one measured at 415'...

This pretty much sums up the Home Run Derby. Sure, there are some monster shots, but Berman acted as if every time the ball barely cleared the fence that it was a feat unseen by humans before. It got really annoying after about the 1st HR 15 years ago.

Good catch.

[Soul]

Berman......

 

I wouldn't miss it if I never heard him again.

[TruffleShuffle]

i feel like berman wasn't this bad 10 or 20 years ago, or maybe it's just that his act has become so old and tired by this point.

[jersey cubs fan]

i feel like berman wasn't this bad 10 or 20 years ago, or maybe it's just that his act has become so old and tired by this point.

 

When I first watched the NFL show he did on Sunday nights, I did not mind it. But I was probably 17 years old at the time. He has been this bad in baseball events for as long as I can remember him doing them.

[rawaction]

i feel like berman wasn't this bad 10 or 20 years ago, or maybe it's just that his act has become so old and tired by this point.

 

He's always been the same. But I think it was more tolerable back in the day because his material was new and we enjoyed it more because we were younger. I don't know a single person that actually likes him anymore.

[rawaction]

i feel like berman wasn't this bad 10 or 20 years ago, or maybe it's just that his act has become so old and tired by this point.

 

When I first watched the NFL show he did on Sunday nights, I did not mind it. But I was probably 17 years old at the time. He has been this bad in baseball events for as long as I can remember him doing them.

 

He's only annoyed me on that show in the last 3-4 years or so. Tom Jackson went downhill around the same time too.

[jersey cubs fan]

i feel like berman wasn't this bad 10 or 20 years ago, or maybe it's just that his act has become so old and tired by this point.

 

When I first watched the NFL show he did on Sunday nights, I did not mind it. But I was probably 17 years old at the time. He has been this bad in baseball events for as long as I can remember him doing them.

 

He's only annoyed me on that show in the last 3-4 years or so. Tom Jackson went downhill around the same time too.

 

I just don't watch it anymore, and really haven't watched it much since I starting getting Sunday Ticket. Don't need to see the same highlights I've seen repeatedly all day long (but I'm usually always wasted by that time of night so I pass out).

[J.R.]

How would you feel if instead of the home run derby it was replaced by a skills competition like in the NHL? I saw on MLB Network a few days ago they did something like this in I think it was the 89 all star game. They had events like a relay from the wall, and catchers throwing to a target. I think this type of thing would have players more willing to participate, but would fans like it as much as the home run derby?

 

The skills competition was nixed after Barry Larkin FUBAR'ed his MCL while participating in that 1989 edition. Doubt we'll see it again anytime soon.