Home Run Derby Game Thread

[Don Bradman]

 
If there was some way to watch it without Berman, it would still be a lot of fun.  He sucks the life out of it.  That said, every once in a while there is a run by a participant that is just a wonder to behold.  Those moments are worth it.

 
This would be a great chance for some creative types to do one of those parallel universe spoofs of the event in real-time.... Maybe with Berman and company its too much like shooting fish in a barrel. 

 

[fineyoungarm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-vanishing-screwball.html?_r=0
 
This is a great article.

About the demise of the screwball.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Big Chris has been spending some time in the old tanning pod.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

So what's the plan if the rain doesn't let up?  Do they just play through it?  Postpone until tomorrow and do it before the game?  Postpone until after the season?  Flat out cancel the event?

 

[sachmoney]

Why'd they reduce it to 7 outs? 

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Why'd they reduce it to 7 outs? 

 
To speed it up.  It's only for the first round, I think.  I wonder if we'll see a bunch of guys with low single digits in the first round?  They're going to feel pressured to start hitting them out right away.  Taking your time getting eased into a rhythm won't work out the same way and guys may end up pressing.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Why'd they reduce it to 7 outs? 

It dragged out too long with 10, they decided. 

 

[fineyoungarm]

Weather radar - not good unless they play in the rain, Snod.
 
Of course, that risks injury to the throwers.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Set your DVR. Fox Sports 1 is showing the '99 All Star game tomorrow.

 

[Soxy]

So what's the plan if the rain doesn't let up?  Do they just play through it?  Postpone until tomorrow and do it before the game?  Postpone until after the season?  Flat out cancel the event?

 
Three hours of Berman marveling at the fact that people speak languages besides English.

 

[Leather]

This is dumb. It's a light, on and off, rain. Give me a break.

 

[canderson]

Set your DVR. Fox Sports 1 is showing the '99 All Star game tomorrow.

Holy crap thank you. I'd have never seen that listing.

 

[fineyoungarm]

This is dumb. It's a light, on and off, rain. Give me a break.

It's not just dumb - it's brutal.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

 
Good news, everyone! The rain should clear up by 11 eastern!

 

[Dollar]

Set your DVR. Fox Sports 1 is showing the '99 All Star game tomorrow.

 
They showed it last night too.  In my view, as great as it was to never have to listen to Tim McCarver again, that's how as bad it was listening to him on the '99 ASG replay.

 

[Don Bradman]

Weather radar - not good unless they play in the rain, Snod.
 
Of course, that risks injury to the throwers.

 
Why can't they cover the infield dirt and the batting cage and get on with it?

 

[fineyoungarm]

Berman - "a little delay"

 

[sachmoney]

 
To speed it up.  It's only for the first round, I think.  I wonder if we'll see a bunch of guys with low single digits in the first round?  They're going to feel pressured to start hitting them out right away.  Taking your time getting eased into a rhythm won't work out the same way and guys may end up pressing.

It dragged out too long with 10, they decided. 

Thanks

 

[fineyoungarm]

 
Why can't they cover the infield dirt and the batting cage and get on with it?

There is no good answer to your question. 

 

[DJnVa]

I really don't think Berman knows anything about baseball at this point.

 

[Al Zarilla]

This is dumb. It's a light, on and off, rain. Give me a break.

So, the participants can't get hurt by batting practice pitches. What can they be afraid of, one of the kids trying to catch a fly slipping on wet grass and getting conked in the head?

 

[fineyoungarm]

Boomer's tan refuses to fade despite the rain.

 

[Dollar]

 
Why can't they cover the infield dirt and the batting cage and get on with it?

 
Because then we'd miss all the fun.
 

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I wonder if they'll skip the Junior Home Run Derby finals to save time.  Or did they do that earlier?
 
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/junior-home-run-derby-finalists-excited-to-meet-mlb-stars?ymd=20140713&content_id=84499256&vkey=news_mlb

 

[fineyoungarm]

"He became a simple decision" - wow.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

 
If there was some way to watch it without Berman, it would still be a lot of fun.  He sucks the life out of it.  That said, every once in a while there is a run by a participant that is just a wonder to behold.  Those moments are worth it.

I think some other dudes are calling it on ESPN radio.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Pretty presumptuous of Trout to say he will participate in the derby in the future. Maybe more than once.

 

[ifmanis5]

Good idea, let's keep showing that Jeter interview. Can't go wrong with Jetes!

 

[DJnVa]

I wonder if they'll skip the Junior Home Run Derby finals to save time.  Or did they do that earlier?
 
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/junior-home-run-derby-finalists-excited-to-meet-mlb-stars?ymd=20140713&content_id=84499256&vkey=news_mlb

It's 2 guys, probably just a few swings each using metal bats.

I'd LOVE to see the big boys get a few swings with them.

 

[E5 Yaz]

"He became a simple decision" - wow.

 

 

[canderson]

DEREK JETER IS THE GREATEST PERSON TO EVER GRACE A BASEBALL DIAMOND

LET US ALL BOW TO THE MASTER

 

[fineyoungarm]

 

I have an 8 ball at work. It is useful when asked hard questions. 

 

[E5 Yaz]

DEREK JETER IS THE GREATEST PERSON TO EVER GRACE A BASEBALL DIAMOND

LET US ALL BOW TO THE MASTER

 
Facing away from him

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

The fucking cyborg

 

[DJnVa]

DEREK JETER IS THE GREATEST PERSON TO EVER GRACE A BASEBALL DIAMOND

LET US ALL BOW TO THE MASTER

Eh, he's had a hell of a career. We'll be loving the tribute they do for BROCKHOLT! in 15 years.

 

[fineyoungarm]

The fucking cyborg

I'll give him ONE thing, Bob. After Chamberlain ridiculed the visitors clubhouse at Fenway, Jeter was asked about it and said "It's exactly the way it should be" (or words to that effect). 

 

[Leather]

No. I really fucking hope Jeter doesn't get some bullshit asskissing

 

[fineyoungarm]

Oh good, they've kept the pills dry.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I'll give him ONE thing, Bob. After Chamberlain ridiculed the visitors clubhouse at Fenway, Jeter was asked about it and said "It's exactly the way it should be" (or words to that effect). 

Exactly.  Cyborgs can't show emotion

 

[E5 Yaz]

It's either listen to this or read snod and seantoo hurl insults at each other

 

[DJnVa]

This voice-over shit right here is fucking horrible.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Exactly.  Cyborgs can't show emotion

Resistance is futile 

 

[E5 Yaz]

I mean, if THIS
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/83045-red-sox-deadline-discussion/?p=5534742
 
is the wailing of someone who always got picked last at recess, I don't know what is

 

[Fratboy]

It's either listen to this or read snod and seantoo hurl insults at each other

 
Seriously, Pedroia and Ortiz add nothing to this team. Kill teh core.

 

[fineyoungarm]

If Berman keeps this up, the other area of rain should move in before they start.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

It's either listen to this or read snod and seantoo hurl insults at each other

I wish someone would cut that down to 7 outs

 

[soxhop411]

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan  7s
So that cool technology MLB is using to track players? You're about to see it in the Derby. @mikeoz brings knowledge: http://yhoo.it/1yjvtgI
 
YES!

 

[fineyoungarm]

I mean, if THIS
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/83045-red-sox-deadline-discussion/?p=5534742
 
is the wailing of someone who always got picked last at recess, I don't know what is

I wonder if he is related to Ryan Pfeel? 

 

[Fratboy]

There should be a special group for Terrisus, Seantoo, and Kilgore that they can post in only one forum, and they're the only members of it, but everybody else can see what goes on.

 

[soxhop411]

 
The MLB Home Run Derby — if the rain lets up and the bashers start bashing — will offer fans a futuristic point of view though baseball's new data-tracking system.
You've likely heard about how MLB is rolling out an advanced data-tracking system capable to telling you what type of angles players take to balls, how fast they're running and so forth. Since Target Field in Minneapolis is one of the stadiums outfitted with the new systems (coming league-wide in 2015), MLB is using the Home Run Derby as a chance to show off. It's running the new data-tracking tools live on MLB.com and through the At-Bat app.
Watch the video above, captured during batting practice for an example. It's pretty neat. The MLB technology is capable of capturing data on homers rather quick — it only takes about half a second to do the calculations.
In other words, who needs Chris Berman yelling "Back, back, back, back" when you catch the numbers fly on your computer screen or tablet. All hail the RoboBerman!

GO to mlb.com!