Last night, I was unavailable to watch the beginning of the Home Run Derby so I DVR'd it. Easily the greatest decision of my sports watching life. The Home Run Derby just drags and drags, and watching All Stars hit 5 home runs in ten outs makes me long for Chris "Birdman" Andersen in the Slam Dunk Contest. I gave the Home Run Derby an extra hour on my DVR and still almost missed the finish. Ridiculous. However, I was able to fast forward through the dumb interviews, awful performances and Chris Berman saying "Back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, gone," and, most importantly, Bryce Harper. This lead me to believe that the Home Run Derby needs to be shortened immensely. With that, ESPN still needs to have their 3 hours in primetime. So, I give you five ways to improve the Monday night.
1. Old School Home Run Derby
Back in the day, the Home Run Derby television show would take place during the off-season. Two All Stars would meet up at an empty ballpark with some cameras and an announcer and would have nine innings to see who could hit the most home runs. Alternating three outs gave the players breaks and allowed them to be interviewed in the middle of the competition. It was done in half an hour and was wonderful. This needs to come back for Monday night. Have the leading HR hitter in each league go against each other in this format and there you have it. The culminating event of the new All Star Monday Night.
Watch Mickey Mantle go up against Harmon Killebrew:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC9ku86y42o
2. Infielder Range Challenge
With the Home Run Derby only lasting a half an hour or so, we're going to need some other events. One of the greatest things in baseball is seeing a 3B or SS ranging for a ball and throwing out a player at first. This one is simple give each player 10 balls off a machine that makes them range to their left and right from a specific spot on the diamond, give them 4.2 seconds or so to get the ball to the 1B mitt and see who gets the most. ESPN would be able to use their technology to see how far they ranged and how fast and far they threw the ball. It would be a series of web gems and people would be interested for sure.
It would be nothing but these Manny Machado style plays:
3. Outfielder Home Run Catch
I will admit the name needs some work, but an event where outfielders got to pull back home run balls from over the wall would draw some viewership. Again, simple, machine is set up to send a ball arching toward the top of the wall (may take some setup, but could be done), and players get 10 balls to try and pull back in. They would start from a designated spot and the most balls pulled back in wins. Again something that would not take much front-loading and would be a ratings success.
Insert your favorite robbed home run here:
4. Full out video game style target practice.
This would be the most fun and could get as crazy as the fans demand. Just like in some video games set up targets, both moving and stationary that would give a batter a certain amount of points depending on difficultly. Again, there is no limit to what could be done here. Targets could be linked to dunk tanks with opposing managers or players in them. There could be a target that is linked to a give away for all the fans. Hell, it could be sponsored by Target!! It would be wonderful. Don't believe me? See the video below from last years' minor league all star home run contest that was a huge success.
For the record, I forgot how nuts this thing is. I love it even more now a year removed:
5. Ban Bryce and Bryan Harper for life.
Look at these jokers. Their parents should be embarrassed.
There you have it. It may not be perfect, but it's a good start. Someone get Bud on the line and let him know about this.
2. Infielder Range Challenge
With the Home Run Derby only lasting a half an hour or so, we're going to need some other events. One of the greatest things in baseball is seeing a 3B or SS ranging for a ball and throwing out a player at first. This one is simple give each player 10 balls off a machine that makes them range to their left and right from a specific spot on the diamond, give them 4.2 seconds or so to get the ball to the 1B mitt and see who gets the most. ESPN would be able to use their technology to see how far they ranged and how fast and far they threw the ball. It would be a series of web gems and people would be interested for sure.
It would be nothing but these Manny Machado style plays:
3. Outfielder Home Run Catch
I will admit the name needs some work, but an event where outfielders got to pull back home run balls from over the wall would draw some viewership. Again, simple, machine is set up to send a ball arching toward the top of the wall (may take some setup, but could be done), and players get 10 balls to try and pull back in. They would start from a designated spot and the most balls pulled back in wins. Again something that would not take much front-loading and would be a ratings success.
Insert your favorite robbed home run here:
4. Full out video game style target practice.
This would be the most fun and could get as crazy as the fans demand. Just like in some video games set up targets, both moving and stationary that would give a batter a certain amount of points depending on difficultly. Again, there is no limit to what could be done here. Targets could be linked to dunk tanks with opposing managers or players in them. There could be a target that is linked to a give away for all the fans. Hell, it could be sponsored by Target!! It would be wonderful. Don't believe me? See the video below from last years' minor league all star home run contest that was a huge success.
For the record, I forgot how nuts this thing is. I love it even more now a year removed:
5. Ban Bryce and Bryan Harper for life.
Look at these jokers. Their parents should be embarrassed.
There you have it. It may not be perfect, but it's a good start. Someone get Bud on the line and let him know about this.
