Time to change home run derby rules?

[cjclong]

Re: Time to change home run derby rules?

Morneau deserved it under the rules as they currently are. But the rules as they currently are don't make sense. As you pointed out, the player the fans clearly wanted to see was discouraged from competing in the second round at all by the rules. I think the only reason the rules give it to the winner of the third round is in the mistaken belief that is the way to keep viewers. I suspect more than 90% of the people who watch think the player who hits the most home runs over all should be the winner.

[ahuff]

Re: Time to change home run derby rules?

Just my opinion, but the whole Home Run Derby and other related festivities are such a bore. Hype, overhype, call it what you will: just because someone is yelling and making noise doesn't make it at all exciting. I honestly haven't watched these events since the Freak Show era. Throw it in a pot with the Slam Dunk, 3 point contest and whatever else the sports world is doing these days to "create" hysteria.

That is too bad. I don't typically get too excited about the special events. My son and I sat down to watch. Then, Josh made it a truly memorable experience. Too bad you missed it. I think people will be talking about it for years.

As far as changing the rules, I don't think it is necessary. Morneau even admitted it, last night was all about Hamilton. That is what people will remember. Morneau deserved the trophy. I don't know, but perhaps he left a little in the tank, on purpose, in hopes of winning the final round. I wondered then, and even more now, why Josh even went out for the 2nd round. I think it would have been a different outcome had he saved his energy for that final round.

[Yankwood]

Re: Time to change home run derby rules?

Just my opinion, but the whole Home Run Derby and other related festivities are such a bore. Hype, overhype, call it what you will: just because someone is yelling and making noise doesn't make it at all exciting. I honestly haven't watched these events since the Freak Show era. Throw it in a pot with the Slam Dunk, 3 point contest and whatever else the sports world is doing these days to "create" hysteria.

[skyking26]

Re: Time to change home run derby rules?

I agree all the way around. Nice comeback story for kids with Hamilton. Shows even when you are at your lowest you can come back if you clean up your act. The fact that he did not win that trophy because of the rules sucks. Nobody will remember the winner - only the 28 HRS.

There was a tirade on youtube recently of Berman going off the deep end because somebody made a noise while he was getting ready to speak. I think perhaps he has outgrown himself...

[kellsox]

Re: Time to change home run derby rules?

...and get rid of Chris Berman. His act has grown way old.
k

[cjclong]

With Josh Hamilton dominating the home run derby but not technically "winning" is it time to change the rules. I can't think of a single sport where the entire previous contest is thrown out in the last round, frame, inning or quarter to determine the winner. During a season we think of the home run leader in each league as the one who hit the most during a season and not the one who hit the most in the month of September or the last week of September. I think wiping out the first two round totals in the third round is there for the reason the networks think if some one like Hamilton is so far ahead going into the third round that he probably can't be caught that fans would tune out. But I don't think this it true. I think fans would like to see how many home runs a player can hit and can he hit one farther than the last one. As the rules are set up Hamilton was actually encouraged not to participate in the second round to try to save himself for the third, when by that time it was clear that he was the one the fans wanted to see. I would have been interested to see if he could have broken the all time record for the derby. It seems to me that we think of the winner as the one who hits the most total home runs and the rules can be changed to reflect that without losing viewers. And I think Hamilton remembering his old coach who used to pitch batting practice to him and thanking him by bringing him to the derby was a wonderful thing that should be remembered when many athletes are noted for being selfish and self centered.