Home Run Derby!

[Skinny]

With Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds not participating in the Home Run Derby in Chicago this year, do u think this HRD will be as good as the others from past years?

[awakened]

i personally think jason giambi is going to run away w/ this one.

[awakened]

and yes it will still be good

[jorich]

Naw...the derby needs the big boys. Just look at the NBA Slam Dunk Competition. Ever since the big stars stopped participating in the event, it hasn't been as good. Giambi's good, but he's not who the fans come to see.

[Dogbert0228]

I know Ichiro isn't one of the homerun leaders, but just watch him in BP. I don't know if he'd be too humble to accept an invite, but without Barry and Sammy this years, MLB can really make up for the loss in entertainment value by having Ichiro participate.

[jorich]

I saw an article indicating Ichiro knows how to go yard during BP...that would be damn funny see him beat all those other Hulk-like batters. I'm pretty sure he said he wouldn't do it though unless the fans really wanted to see him. And since most fans don't view him as a homerun hitter, I don't think the call will come. Too bad...

[Skinny]

hmm... yea... Ichiro would be an interesting participant regarding his unorthodox batting... quite frankly, its like he breaks every rule in the hitting books these days

[awakened]

he hits it where it's pitched. That's hard to teach nowadays.

[Skinny]

yup... as all the sports columnists and commentators all say... Ichiro is the sultan of slap!

[Skinny]

to conclude the comments of the 2003 Home Run Derby in Chicago, this is the best HRD that i have ever watched so far... Albert Pujols almost breaking the HRD record of 14 homeruns in an at- bat, Jason Giambi's run for another title, the energy of the finals competition between Garret Anderson and Albert Pujols, Garret Anderson of the Anaheim Angels ending up winning the contest by 1 homer! It was superb... The tape measure shots were not as consistent as i hoped... but I guess it was better already without Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds...

Well... the Home Run Derby has ended... who ever comes on this thread, i welcome any other opinions about this year's HRD and or any other baseball talk... you name it... :applaud:

[evilsquishy]

It'll be fine. It's just a game to have fun and people will watch it no matter what.

[tedward]

How do home run derbys work? (speaking as a non american)

[jorich]

One batter goes up to the plate and simply tries to hit as many homeruns as he can. He'll stay up there until he makes a total of 10 outs. An out is measured as any ball swung at that does not result in a HR.

The format is basically tournament style where 2 batters will face each other, the one hitting the most home runs moving on to the next round.

[Dogbert0228]

Pujols' display was the most entertaining HR Derby I've ever seen. He shut those commentators up about how the ball couldn't go out here and there with amazing power to all parts of the park, and he just kept going and going. I really want to see him go on to win the Triple Crown and/or MVP. Being on the west coast, I only hear about him, and never get to see him play. That was just awesome. In your face Barry and Sammy. You two would have just emabarrassed yourselves... :)

Oh, and being from Seattle, Bret Boone is a really cool guy who just tried too hard... Funny, but not embarrassing. It's just a game, and he's still a cool guy. He'll redeem himself tonight during the game... :)

[tedward]

thanks, sorry for all the silly questions.

Who pitches and fields, is it like an all star team? and does the same team of players stay on the field constantly?

How many home runs do batters typically score?

I am interested since you dont seem to get much like this outside of america, you dont even get all star teams.

thanks again.

[Skinny]

To answer Tedward's question,

For the All star game:

It is played with 2 all star teams, from both existing leagues, National and American... The people who pitches and fields are position players from various teams around America elected to the all star team...

Players get a certain amount of time in the game to play, but in this case of the all star game, it is possible that not all the All stars will appear...

A batter in any given game, will typically score 1-2 home runs... if he hits more than 2 in a game... then he is having a good night of baseball... the most i ever seen hit was 4, by Mike Cameron of the Mariners on that very field of the all star game

That's ok... that's why I started this thread... to talk and answer questions on baseball! You come to the right place!

[Skinny]

I totally concur with DogBert0228... I really want to see Pujols hit for the triple crown, or even hit .400! Seeing how he plays now... he very well is a contender for the MVP, as long as he stays consistent with his hitting.

And Bret Boone is a very good baseball player... yea... he was nervous at the Derby... but he is very very capable of coming through in the All- Star Game...

[Dogbert0228]

Originally posted by Skinny
I totally concur with DogBert0228... I really want to see Pujols hit for the triple crown, or even hit .400! Seeing how he plays now... he very well is a contender for the MVP, as long as he stays consistent with his hitting.

And Bret Boone is a very good baseball player... yea... he was nervous at the Derby... but he is very very capable of coming through in the All- Star Game...

Oh well. Still a great game, and Boone at least turned a double play. I kinda liked seeing Bonds go 0-3.

[tedward]

Originally posted by Skinny
To answer Tedward's question,

For the All star game:

That's ok... that's why I started this thread... to talk and answer questions on baseball! You come to the right place!

Sorry my questions were in reguard to the home run derby - presumably they dont need fielders - people on the bases etc - but who pitches the balls?

[jorich]

Usually one of the pitching coaches pitches to the contestants. He just grooves straight fastballs down the middle of the plate so the batters can try and knock the ***** out of the ball.

You are correct in your presumption that no fielders or runners are needed. In fact, they just let a bunch of lucky kids run around in the outfield to catch the balls that don't make it over the fences.

I think that the home run derby winner ends up having competed in a total of three rounds (8 batters---> 4 batters ---> 2 batters --- Champion). The record for the most HRs total by one batter, for all three rounds combined, is something like 26 total. The most ever in one round by a single batter is 14. Most guys don't hit more than 5 in a round.

[Skinny]

Commenting on yesterday's All star game... most of it was pretty much a slugfest... 4 HR's, 3 by the AL... The NL had a 4 run lead... and basically gave it all up!! Being a west coast baseball fan (SD Padres) I say... I am sick and damn tired of the AL taking the All star games... it has been 7 or 8 years since they done it! Oh well... next year again!

[Skinny]

*BUMP!*

Alright MLB fans, the 2004 Century 21 Home Run Derby is coming up Monday, July 12 in Houston's Minute Maid Park... here is your lineup:

American League:
Hank Blalock (Texas Rangers)
Jason Giambi (New York Yankees)
David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox)
Rafael Palmeiro (Baltimore Orioles)

National League:
Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants)
Jim Thome (Philadelphia Phillies)
Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds)
Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs)

This Home Run Derby features, for the first time, four active players in the 500 HR club to compete:
Bonds (681), Sosa (553), Palmeiro (540), Griffey Jr. (501)

So give it to me fellas... who will win it this year???

[glenn01880]

David Ortiz

[Dogbert0228]

It'd be cool to see Griffey win again...

[pimpmastersteve]

I'm a big bonds fan but i gotta say Jim Thome

[chewie]

Sosa

[Skinny]

I say Sosa because he has the advantage of the short porch in left field (and because he's the only right handed slugger in this competition... heh heh)

[Glordreen]

I say Griffey, cause he's back. He's Griffey, hes won like three of these. It should be a good one this year. Last years was amazing, hopefully this year can top it.

[IamMrDJ]

Well Griffey looks to be out of the Derby. He strained his Hammy yesterday and is now out of the All-Star game and is on the DL. I highly doubt he will even try to participate in the derby.

[thebtskink]

I have to say David Ortiz.

[Glordreen]

Damn. Stupid Griffey! Well, who will replace Griffey, probably Pujols.

[IamMrDJ]

Stupid Griffey, he was running for a routine fly ball and stretched a little to far.

[Glordreen]

Originally posted by IamMrDJ
Stupid Griffey, he was running for a routine fly ball and stretched a little to far.

I only said that, because he has been hurt so many times, it becomes extremely frustrating.

[Skinny]

Yea... Griffey being injured, man that sucks... well, In the All-Star Game, Carlos Beltran will replace him in Center field and Lance Berkman will replace his position in the Home Run Derby. (Hmmm... and they are both from the Houston Astros and the events will be, of course, in Houston this year... What are they trying to pull??? :confused: )

[Glordreen]

Now Giambi will not be in the Homerun Derby. So who's gonna replace him? Hopefully Vladimir Guererro. Sucks that Berkman will replace Griffey, i was hopiing for Pujols.

[2_much_popcorn1]

i was looking forward to seeing griff in the hrd

[Andy_R]

Too bad about Griffey's injury :(
I have seen Ichiro take BP on several occasions, and trust me when I say he can hit the ball as far as anyone.
He'll never make the derby though.

It's hard to believe we're half-way through the season already!
It goes by fast when my team (Mariners) sucks balls.

[Glordreen]

WOW! What an amzing performance by Berkman and Tejada, the two guys who replaced different people in the derby. Berkman for
Girffey, and Tejada for Giambi, will be in the finals. And now we have a new record, Tejada with 15!

[Skinny]

Yea, I concur... heh heh, that was a great HRD from both Berkman and Tejada, who replaced Griff and Giambi... Tejada with a record breaking round of 15... wow... a great Derby this year and congrats to Tejada for the winning it this year :applaud:

[Dogbert0228]

Griffey will never play a full season for the rest of his career... makes me want to cry...

[Skinny]

Wow... the NL is now on a 8 all-star game non winning streak --_--

[Skinny]

Well my fellow baseball fans, once again, the All Star festivities are right around the corner and the Home Run Derby is coming up. Last year's venue was at Minute Maid Park and the winner of the Derby was Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles. Here is your info for this year's HRD:

Airing: Monday July 11, 8pm ET, ESPN

Venue: Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)

-Dimensions:

Left Field Line: 345 ft.
Left Field: 375 ft.
Left Field Alley: 402 ft.
Center Field: 420 ft.
Right Field Alley: 379 ft.
Right Field: 365 ft.
Right Field: 330 ft.

Contestants:

-Bobby Abreu
Bats: Left
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Representing: Venezuela

-Jason Bay
Bats: Right
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Representing: Canada

-Hee Seop Choi
Bats: Left
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Representing: Korea

-Andruw Jones
Bats: Right
Team: Atlanta Braves
Representing: Netherlands

-Carlos Lee
Bats: Right
Team: Millwakee Brewers
Representing: Panama

-David Ortiz
Bats: Left
Team: Boston Red Sox
Representing: Dominican Republic

-Ivan Rodriguez
Bats: Right
Team: Detroit Tigers
Representing: Puerto Rico

-Mark Teixeira
Bats: Switch
Team: Texas Rangers
Representing: USA

If you haven't noticed, MLB decided to do something new... They are doing this whole "World Cup" thing where each hitter represents a country as opposed to power hitters going to the HRD based on their HR totals. I think it's sorta stupid, but then again, it could work.

Well people, there you have it. Take your pick. :)

[iv3rdawG]

Whoa, Bobby Abreu with what was it? 24 HR's in the first round :omg:

[Halofan1]

Abreu GOODNESS!!!

[Skinny]

Alright! I actually have posters that give a damn about the Derby this year!

Yea, Abreu was a facking beast tonight. So was Ortiz.

[SnoBorderZero]

I think the whole idea of "World United Home Run Derby" was terrible. Hee-Sop Choi? Jason Bay? And let's not forget Mr. 5 HR King Ivan Rodriguez himself. Seriously though, whoever has the most HRs at the break should go. And I'm still mad at Francona for stupidly picking Michael Young over Derek Jeter, when Jeter has better numbers. And then Posednik getting voted over the 4 others who were way more deserving.

....And yes.... yes I am a big Yankee fan....

[evilsquishy]

This is such a crock. Screw the whole country equality thing and get some more real hitters in here. No offense to my Brewer Carlos, but there are countless other guys who would provide a much more entertaining event.

[SnoBorderZero]

I still think it's funny that other then Tony Womack, the entire Yankees starting lineup has at least 2 times as many HRs as Ivan Rodriguez does. Sad.

[Skinny]

I think the whole idea of "World United Home Run Derby" was terrible. Hee-Sop Choi? Jason Bay? And let's not forget Mr. 5 HR King Ivan Rodriguez himself. Seriously though, whoever has the most HRs at the break should go. And I'm still mad at Francona for stupidly picking Michael Young over Derek Jeter, when Jeter has better numbers. And then Posednik getting voted over the 4 others who were way more deserving.

....And yes.... yes I am a big Yankee fan....

Yea seriously, they should never do that again... They should go on the quantity of HRs the players hit.

[iv3rdawG]

Pudge did get to the last round though.