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Recap of the 2012 Home Run Derby

July 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Prince Fielder wins the derby for the third time. He’s tied with Ken Griffey Jr. now as the leader in the clubhouse by accomplishing the feat that many times.

Here’s a couple of other memories we’ll take from last night’s derby:

  • The crowd booing Robinson Cano for not allowing Billy Butler to partake in the derby, and Cano zeroing out for the contest.
  • Mark Trumbo golfing out a few 420 foot shots where the pitch was pretty low and should have been taken.
  • Chris Berman had a careful amount of ‘back-back-backs’ but hasn’t entirely done away with the phrase.
  • Interviews with Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, getting their first look at being All-Stars.
  • Seemed like the energy at Kauffman Stadium was there last night overall.
  • I want some of the Kansas City Barbecue.
  • The fountain spray for sunken pearls added a nice touch.
  • My wife turned on the Bachelorette for round two. I watched the final round of Joey Bats vs. Prince on my iPhone. Brutal, but it was even getting boring for me. The main course is this evening, I thought to myself.

And that’s it about the 2012 Home Run Derby. The next one will be my 30th. Gross.

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Chris Berman is Hosting the State Farm Home Run Derby This Evening

July 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Get ready for all the ‘back-back-back-back’ your brains can handle, and other thrilling calls such as “He hit that one all the way to Wichita! WOW!”

It’s Chris Berman and the 2012 Home Run Derby. I won’t allow one of my favorite nights of the MLB season to be spoiled by Bristol’s most famous sweat-head. I think I’m going to go with Jose Bautista to win this one tonight. Here’s the odds on tonight’s derby:

HR Derby odds from @: Cano 3/1, Bautista 3/1, Fielder 7/2, Beltran 5/1, Trumbo 5/1, Gonzalez 6/1, McClutchen 8/1.
July 9, 2012 4:14 pm via Tweetbot for iOSReplyRetweetFavorite
@darrenrovell
darren rovell

As a kid, I remember one of the big deals on RBI Baseball 4 for the old Sega Genesis was ‘sinking a pearl in the fountain’ of Kansas City. How many dozen times is that going to happen tonight?

We’ll be back with a full recap of the evening’s highlights. Definitely root for Berman to catch something stupid, because we’ll be all over it. Also be on the lookout for good screen shots of the evening’s festivities. It’s too bad Harper, Dunn or Bruce couldn’t have sneaked their way into this competition.

Filed Under: Home Run Derby

A Home Run Derby for Pitchers? Yes Please.

July 12, 2011 by 1 Comment

My buddy Trent texted me last night to tell me that Kershaw suggested on ESPN radio that they do a pitchers hr derby. So naturally, that led into a debate about who would be the 8 pitchers to participate and how would it turn out. After a night of Coors, Chris Berman, and Homers, the debate had turned into an absolute mess. My boy RV and I got together this morning to iron everything out. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

The 2011 Pitchers Homerun Derby presented by NextLevelBallplayer.com.

[Read more...]

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The NL’s Fluorescent Home Run Derby Shoes, and other odds & ends

July 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Here’s a shot of the fluorescent cleats that Prince Fielder, Matt Holliday, Rick Weeks, and Matt Kemp wore for the derby last night. I’m not real sure why they decided to do this, but it did not translate into any type of extra power. An immensely disappointing night for the NL squad; and Weeks and Kemp were especially nondescript.

In short, Prince you pansy ass. We let you select the squad and in true Brewer fashion you fuck it all up. Joey Votto, Justin Upton or Jay Bruce would have done just fine in this contest. But you selected Rick Weeks who swung so damn hard that he hit more foul poppers (and led off with a whiff swing) than anything.

Pure legend next to never will be, Bobby Valentine. Barry, you deserve so much better than to be sitting there with the likes of Bobby V. and we pity that you were there for what probably added up to about 5 hours of Bobby putting his foot in his mouth.

This is Adrian Gonzalez’s spray chart in the final round. He hit 11 in all and most figured that was going to be good enough to win it. But then Robinson Cano came up and started hitting off his daddy and made 12 look easy. Cano easily stole the show last night and about 5 of the bombs he hit were the most impressive. Although I give Big Papi major credit for having the idea to put Adrian in this contest because he has a nice easy stroke that translates well for a Derby.

And don’t forget about the State Farm Gold Balls that were inserted into last night’s derby that caused fans in the outfield seats to act like sharks (one fan jumped into the pool to make the catch, one nearly fell from the stands to do the same).

The Gold Balls are MSRP’ing at around $150 we’re told. Yes they’re made with actual gold and all, but we’re just glad no one else got hurt.

Filed Under: Home Run Derby, Screen-Shots Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Chris Berman’s Home Run Derby ‘back-back-back’ count surprisingly low

July 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We watched the Home Run Derby last night pretty attentively. We watched, and we waited for Chris Berman to strike down on us with his “back, back, back’s” without mercy.

Guess what? Something is rotten in Denmark. Chris Berman has been reading the blogs. It’s obvious at least to me that he toned it down this year. One commenter in our liveblog mentioned that Berman was old school, and saving his trademark patented finishing verbal maneuver for only the true bombs. That might hold water, but it was too toned down.

By our count, and we admit to doing a fair amount of flipping as the night went on; Berman only did about 7 or 8 back, back, back’s. Rather than on every other home run like in the past. He really, truly seemed to be trying to hold back and when he did do it, it was simply by habit or accident.

He did however unleash some of the following gems:

“This one’s a sky-scraper” (actually said this on two different occasions)

“This one is out to the space station, isn’t it?”

“That was a fair catch” (after Prince Fielder hit a high drive that just got over in RF)

“In that swing off, Prince was king”

“Splish splash and we’re taking a bath” (easily the Berman-ism of the night, after a HR landed in the pool)

If you were turning in for Berman last night; and we know that no one out there actually was, you weren’t completely let down. But something from the past was missing. Berman has been reading what’s out there about his performance in past home run derby’s and due to that he toned it down with his trademark line. His hair was about as thin and bad as ever, though.

Filed Under: Home Run Derby, Screen-Shots Tagged With:

Your 2011 Home Run Derby Liveblog

July 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Home Run Derby, Liveblog

Chris Berman, the State Farm Home Run Derby, and You

July 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Tonight, Chris Berman will take you on a back-back-back-a-thon of baseball’s biggest blasts, and all the All-Stars will be sitting on the lawn in Arizona like a bunch of little leaguers.

It’s annual, it’s fun, and it’s predictable.

Berman will throw in a few ill-fated puns only to interrupt himself with the ‘back-back-backing’ of a long home run by Jose Bautista. And we’ve got 2 to 1 odds that he uses the pun “Bautista bomb” as a very bad play on words from the former WWE superstar’s finisher.

The important things to remember while watching the derby go as follows:
1) Berman simply says things because they are fun for him to say them (i.e. when Matty Holliday goes deep Berman will declare it a “National Holliday”).

2) What you are watching no matter how fun it is; is just glorified batting practice.

Here are some other predictable verbal punches and kicks Berman might throw at you tonight:

“Oh my gosh folks! He’s gone deep again! He’s the Prince of the Desert!” (When Fielder hits a bomb)

“It’s back, back, back, back and David Orteases it off the wall, just missing his 7th home run”.

“And Robinson CAN!” (after Cano barely sneaks one into the crowd)

“And Ricky he might be little but do not call him Weeks has done it again”

As great as Berman probably thinks he is, and as great as ESPN thinks he is; he’s really just one big trip back to the European pool. You know what we mean by that concept; if you’ve seen one tit, you’ve seen them all. If you subject yourself to tonight and you listen to Berman the only way you have the choice, your home run derby experience will be forever changed. Every derby will then run together from here on out.

There will be brief periods tonight where Berman’s voice drones us into thinking that it’s 1996 again and things are happening back at Veterans stadium. The years go on and fly by but Berman remains the same.

In all seriousness, the derby is still awesome to us and the summer is now officially at it’s midpoint. We wish the contestants were a little different but if you are running a derby pool at your office don’t be a doofus. Put your money on Joey Bats and him actually destroying Josh Hamilton’s derby record. You don’t bet on a guy with that kind of facial hair ability, pulled shot power in a home run contest. He’s going to own tonight. And Berman will take whatever he leaves to chance.

Filed Under: Home Run Derby Tagged With: , ,

Home Run Derby 1997

August 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Here’s my ticket the day I attended the 1997 Home Run Derby at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. Just thought I’d throw it on the blog so it could be part of our glorious archives section.
Filed Under: Home Run Derby, Scans are fun

Big Papi David Ortiz Wins 2010 Home Run Derby

July 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I watched a good amount of the Home Run Derby last evening, except for the finals. Grizzly Man was on On Demand, and none of my buddies had seen it yet.

Most impressive thing I saw during the Derby: Miguel Cabrera hitting 3 or 4 backside bombs. At one point, it actually looked like Cabrera was trying to go the other way just to please the fans. You have to love that in a contest where so many guys are just trying to make it an all-out pull fest.

I’ve always enjoyed All-Star workout day as a kid and into my adult years. I love seeing many of the All-Stars sit out on the lawn of the field in their own skin just watching their buddies slug it out.

I didn’t catch a glimpse of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, or Scott Rolen or Arthur Rhoes; but they’re out there.

It was nice to see Jason Heyward more or less make his All-Star appearance. As I tweeted, he said in his short interview he’d be returning to the lineup Thursday and that the thumb is feeling well.

All in all, yesterday was a good appetizer for what should be a terrific All Star Game tonight. It’s the best All Star game in sports.

And of course, Papi looked resurgent. For a guy that everyone had left for dead he appears to still have some pretty good bat speed waiting for the second half of the season. If I had to guess I’d estimate that Ortiz will still be playing in Boston in 2 or 3 seasons from now. I’m telling you, if he stays in shape the guy is far from done.

Filed Under: All-Star Game, Big Papi, Home Run Derby

There’s a Derby Tonight

July 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Alright, so who out there is excited for the 2010 Home Run Derby tonight in Anaheim? I have to say, once I saw the lineup (Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Vernon Wells, Chris Young); I immediately decided I’m not moving everything else around in my night tonight to watch it.

This used to be one of the sexiest events in the entire baseball season. I actually got to attend the 1997 Home Run Derby and All Star Workout day in Cleveland as a kid. The lineup was about as boring as this year’s, except Ken Griffey Jr. in his prime. I got Curt Schilling’s autograph on a plastic All-Star Baseball that day. A guy named Nomar Garciaparra won the rookie home run derby; which no longer exists.

Tonight is the night that Chris Berman will make you pay for ever being born with his terrible puns, his horrific hair, and his ‘back-back-back-back’s’. We won’t make this post about him. This is about someone doing something legendary. Like Hamilton’s round of like thirty a few years back at Yankee Stadium or the night that Bobby Abreu homered until you wanted to turn the thing off.

While you’re waiting for Berman to get fired up, here’s the 25 best moments in Home Run Derby History by ESPN’s Jayson Stark. Also there are some players like Joey Votto who have elected to sit out of this year’s derby because they’re worried about being ready for the 2nd half of the year. Does Joey Votto have a point?

I honestly think this event is becoming a bit watered down. Stars who I’m craving to see in it no longer really take part in it (Pujols) or never make it there (Adam Dunn).

I’m dying to see guys like Jason Heyward, Jay Bruce, and Joey Votto take some hacks in it but by the time they make it to the contest; they’re either hitting so well they don’t want to screw with their swing or as the case with Dunn, they’ll be 30 years old and never to an All-Star game.

This B-list talent that tonight is featuring adds up to another year of me missing the thing altogether.

Filed Under: All-Star Game, Home Run Derby

Chase Utley to NY Fans: "Boo me? Fuck you."

July 15, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Pretty sure he lucked out not being mic’ed up. What a dickwad.

Hat tip: Sports Hernia

Filed Under: Assholes, Chase Utley, Home Run Derby

The Natural Josh Hamilton and the Home Run Derby

July 15, 2008 by Leave a Comment
As much as Hamilton is missed as a Red, you must be happy for him.

A buddy and us spent wayyy too long playing NHL 2008 on the XBOX tonight. We didn’t even get to see our pick Grady Sizemore hit his 6 home runs in the derby. However, we picked the perfect moment to turn it on. Josh Hamilton was striding to the plate and about to have the moment he dreamed about. It shows you that the Lord is real and what this guy is doing is no ordinary story.

Never in our life have we seen a man hit with this kind of power. I was happy for Josh and honestly wish he was wearing a Reds uniform when he was in that derby. My fiance harbors a monster crush on him too.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIrxQiqrcJo&hl=en&fs=1]

Filed Under: Home Run Derby, Josh Hamilton, Legends

Chris Berman is gonna bathe you in verbal defecation tonight

July 14, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Mentally prepare yourselves ladies and gentlemen. Chris Berman is in the building, and he’s not going home until he’s driven us all mad. If you watch the Home Run Derby presented by State Farm each year like we do then you are aware of Chris Berman’s Bermanisms that he brings out each year in hopes of sounding cute or clever.

For example just from the 2007 Derby:

“It could be a national “Holiday” by the time we’re done here” -on Matt Holliday

“Albert Winnie the Pujols”

“I think that one landed on Treasure Island”

“I saw you jamming out there with the Crows”- Dusty Baker
“It was the Counting Crows!”- Chris Berman
“You were counting em’ too!”- Dusty Baker

“It’s off the platform in right centerfield….how interesting is that”

Why in the world does he insist upon re-gurgitating such stupid shit? It’s not fair and it certainly isn’t becoming. It’s Berman’s big night and we’re all gonna bear witness to it, like it or not.

Filed Under: Home Run Derby, I always knew Berman was a dick