Random thoughts on the Home Run Derby

Some leftover thoughts from last night’s Home Run Derby (no Pujols gushing here!)

• First things first – Congrats to Nelson Cruz for putting on quite a show – hitting a home run to the highest deck in left field takes talent, which Nelson Cruz has in bunches. He couldn’t get past Prince Fielder, but hopefully Nelson earned himself a permanent starting spot in Ron Washington’s lineup for the rest of the year. Also, if you take a look here, Josh Hamilton has a brilliant idea for the Rangers lineup that Ron should immediately put into action.
• Was it just me or was last night’s broadcast profoundly boring? I’m not so sure it was the players – they seemed to be having a good time (although definitely trying too hard), but the broadcasters just seemed to be either gushing about Pujols or trying to figure out who was actually at the plate. I kept expecting them to ask each other during Nelson’s at-bat, “Who’s this Cruz guy?” Heck, even Fielder didn’t even get that much pub. I guess ESPN just wasn’t excited by a Home Run Derby with no Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox or Yankees.
• Although, just for the sake of argument, could you really blame them? This field wasn’t exactly the kind of field we had ten years ago. The only two real home run hitters in the competition were Fielder and Howard. Pujols is not a home run hitter. He’s one of the best hitters ever, but I don’t think his swing is made for this kind of competition. Mauer? Inge? Not home run hitters at all. Adrian Gonzalez is closer to Pujols, plus he’s been in a horrible home run slump – only two since June 2. Pena is pretty much a home run hitter, so there were three, but Pena was gone after the first round.
• But back to the broadcast – why did ESPN need to spend all that money on that Ball Tracker thing? Was that really necessary? In any stratosphere?
• Maybe I was just spoiled by Josh’s performance last year. But even then, I thought the year before that in San Francisco was way more exciting than this. Maybe if ESPN could have afforded to take a second desk out to the game…
• And is Joe Morgan really the best guy to be announcing a Home Run Derby? I’m not going to knock Joe’s announcing abilities, but he’s not really the guy that gets all that excited about home runs – it seems he would be a better fit for a skills competition. Don’t get me started on Steve Phillips…
• I cannot express how much I love the celebrity softball game. There is nothing better than watching James Denton dive for a ball for the 700th time and needling Rick Sutcliffe during the game. For pure and simple entertainment, there is absolutely no way you can beat the softball game. I need more softball, especially if creepy old man Bobby Knight is involved in some way. Did he really have to bat? I mean, the guy can barely walk. I can understand just playing him at first base, but batting? Come on.
• More softball: you have to love a game where a member of the Backstreet Boys, Nelly and Billy Bob Thornton are prominently involved.
• Two requests – WHERE IS DENNIS HAYSBERT? He needs to be involved in every one of these games, totally in character as Pedro Cerrano. Tell me you wouldn’t love seeing him take the headcover off the bat. And finally – Can I play?

Nelson Cruz Photo: http://dominicanoshoy.com/uploads/pics/Nelson_Cruz_02.jpg