The home run is sexy right? Yet last night, I watched the Homerun Derby last night and I have to say I actually got a little bored. Now don’t get me wrong I like watching monstrous homerun shots as much as the next guy. I like to go “oooh and ahhh.” But after an hour “pregame” and three rounds of competition it starts to drag on. I actually enjoyed the celebrity and legends softball game a bit more. (Despite some inane commentary.) It was an hour of mostly action and it was over.
Now back to the derby. Part of my hang up with the derby is much of the time the player who hits the most homeruns during they derby doesn’t win the derby. This is counterintuitive to me. This is because the first two rounds only count to get you into the final head to head. Once you are in the head the head the slate is wiped clean. It becomes sort of a marathon instead of a sprint. Homerun derby should not be a marathon. My solution is simple. You still start with eight sluggers in the first round. Each slugger gets 10 outs. At the end of the first round the two sluggers with the most homeruns move forward to a final head to head. In this final round the slugger with the most homeruns goes first. Once again each slugger gets 10 outs to ADD to their homerun total. The player with the most balls hit out of the park at the end of this round is the winner. This way is faster, sweeter and “sexier” and a better test of actual homerun power.
Still, kudos to Prince Fielder for winning and becoming only the second repeat champ and the first to win for both leagues.
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Prince Fielder was not a repeat champ, Cano won it last year.