OT: Homerun Derby Open Thread
I was bummed to find that ESPN didn't replay any of the last 10 years of home run derbies today. It's been something I've done each of the last 7 or 8 years at least, just watching old derbies all day long to get me into the mood.
And now I tune in to see Train singing Hey, Soul Sister live from center field. Man has the derby changed.
Do we know if Chris "Gotta have a long ass nickname" Berman is call... Nevermind. There is the voice. They cut all the good parts of the production but leave this guy.
BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK GONE!
We need a drinking game. Go.
Also, pick your winners.
Oh, and I love how Nick Swisher just got boo'd by the crowd. BOO Ohio State alums!
Every year three friends and I draw two participants. This year I drew Hanley and Swisher. I think Swisher can win it, but the guy who pulled Miggy and Holliday is probably the favorite to win.
Personal Rank to win:
1. Ortiz
2. Cab
3. Wells
4. Swisher
5. Holliday
6. Hart
7. Young
8. Hanley....I don't think he has the homer swing although he's arguably the most talented hitter here. Him or Cabrera obviously
Why the fuck was there a concert before the Home Run Derby? Just what does that add to the telecast? Who in the world did they think they were going to draw to the broadcast just because of THAT? I went to the Home Run Derby in 2005. The douchenozzle they had singing then sounded like he was singing out of a Campbell's Soup can, not a microphone. This wasn't an improvement.
Look, I realize that we're going to be here 3 hours anyway. I know we're going to be subjected to Chris Berman "BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK GONE!! ARGHHHHHHH!!!! IT WENT HALF WAY TO STANFORD!!!!!! IT ALMOST HIT JIM HARBAUGH!!!!!!". We're going to have to deal with Joe Morgan and top-notch analysis such as "You know, the one who hits the most home runs in the final is probably gonna win this thing." Bobby Valentine is probably going to tell us how he almost beat the Yankees in the World Series 10 years ago. I get that. But the people that made the decision to have some idiot sing before the damn thing needs to be beaten with a tire iron.
P.S. MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm Erin Andrews.
LOL....Jose Ortiz....who is Jose Ortiz?
Game:
Start drinking on the first "BACK" and drink until either "GONE" or otherwise.
Drink for every nickname Berman says
Drink for every homerun, 2x for money ball
Pound one if someone puts up a goose egg
Pound one for some other player coming up and offering advice who shouldn't be there
but i like many have to be of sound mind to drive to the store to pick up ncaa '11 at midnight ...
one of my favorite nights of the year
that and for my pick i am a homer ... give me cabby
FA, if we play your game(s), we're going to be passed out by 8:45.
If it saves you from these announcers it may be worth it. Bobby Valentine, kill me.
I do not dispute your take on the announcers one bit. However, I'll happily grin and bear these announcers if I never have to see a pregame concert. This was almost as bad as watching Chubby Checker perform before the Daytona 500 a couple years ago. It makes about as much sense as having a water balloon fight before an execution.
Bring in video replay! That wasn't going over the fence.
Is Jim Joyce at the Home Run Derby?
getting a goose egg in the HR Derby is now known as "pulling an Inge"
Did Chris Berman just say something actually witty? A jab at Joe West? I must have had more than I thought so far.
Vernon Wells just won the left field single challenge.
Did Inge have a check-swing foul out last year?
20 outs, 3 HRs. Nice.
Ah damnit Corey Hart, you caveman.
And the derby has started. Hart is launching them, but man with that start, here comes the Schwam.
might have a heart attack from hart ...
it always surprises me that he survives a whole derby
i actually admit to secretly enjoying him for the derby
Looks extremely impressive
Feels good to have him on my fantasy team
I wonder if he can keep it up into the next rounds though
Too bad they got rid of the missle tracking technology. That would be semi-useful on some of these from the camera behind the plate.
"That ball got wet!" -- Bobby Valentine
Also, someone's about to get hosed by these shadows. That last line of sunlight is about to jump between the batter and pitcher.
And Swisher just asked the catcher if it was hard to see. I couldn't think of a better person to have to deal with these shadows. Boo OSU!
I'm loving the mechanics on sports science. More kids should love science. It's a fact of science.
Sounds like "back back back back back" has been replaced by "waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back!" this year.
Start drinking on "wa-" and stop on "-ck!"
Oops, spoke too soon.
A-Rod's segment didn't last very long.
Corey the Hitman Hart.....the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.
With the exception of a few hundred other guys.
Not a wrestling fan, huh
wearing pink spandex and a leather jacket.
Ah damn, for some reason I was thinking the actor. I swung and missed big time on that one. I'm going to go listen to Berman on youtube on repeat as punishment.
...Corey Hart's in the Home Run Derby?
Is he wearing his sunglasses at night?
has some sort of fetish for Big Papi's shoes.
7 times he mentioned the shoes.
They aren't even showing the clips from Will Ferrell pitching in a triple A game? I guess since he's been kicked out of USC sidelines, he's got to be on this?
So is Hanley Ramirez going to get to 8 outs and then stop trying?
and while they are at it, invite Bob Uecker to add his insight.
take over for me will yeah, I am in the bag...
Wow. I went for the cheap joke and he goes and does this. Jeebus.
Awesome Griffey commercial. Damn, that swing was sweet.
My wife likes the Charleston Riverdogs ESPN sports is crazy commercial. She is from Charleston.
is officially Country Strong.
EDIT: 446 feet. That's many.
EDIT II: 469 feet. That's even more.
EDIT III: Opposite field. I quit.
He golfed that thing too. That was Daly esque. Well, Daly would have finished a fifth before hand, but even still.
476 ft I quit
Cabrera is CRUSHING some baseballs.
I dread saying this but.... Cabrera's distance he put on those balls was McGwire-in-Boston-All-star-game-esque. Damn.
But I will agree with Bobby Valentine, Hanley Ramirez's swing is friggin' beautiful. He's got the Bonacelli's Venus of swings. Short, compact, HUGE hip turn. Just wow.
There is something fun about seeing the guys like Big Papi though who just tries to rip the cover off the ball every swing.
We each have one left! You could cut the drama with a knife.