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#1
The Home Run Derby has gotten a bad rep over the last few years.
Ever since Bobby Abreu launched 41 home runs – 24 in the first round – in the 2005 derby, then went on to hit just six dingers following the break (18 before the ASG), hitting coaches have challenged that the home run contest ruins players’ swings.
Regardless of if you believe this or not, it does get tiresome as a viewer to watch home run after home run, or warning-track shot after warning-track shot (without steroids). Baseball needs to shake up the ASG program – and we’re not talking about another celebrity softball game.
Major League Baseball should take a page from the NBA and NHL All-Star circuses. Instead of just one main attraction, outside of the actual game, have a bunch of contest to showcase the best baseball has to offer.
Here are a few contests ideas that could really make the Mid-Summer Classic sizzle:
Fastest pitch contest
Hockey has the hardest shot competition, so why not pit the major’s best fireballers against each other and let the radar gun sort ‘em out. Sure, there are those realistic baseball tight-asses who will poo-poo pitchers putting any unnecessary strain on their arms. But who doesn’t want to see Aroldis Chapman toss a 105-mph laser?
Stolen base contest
Despite all the waiting around and down time in baseball, it can be a speed sport, especially when you have some of the big league’s fastest men on base. You could work this contest one of two ways: 1. You time their pace from first to second and have speed be the factor. 2. You make them steal a base against a pitching machine throwing to second, raising the speed of the throw with each round – kind of like raising the bar in the high jump – until one man remains.
Fly ball contest
Place a speedy outfielder at center field and randomly launch balls into the outfield, having the player shag as many as possible in a timed period. You could even steal from the home run derby or three point contest and have a golden or money ball in play.
Hitting accuracy contest
Tony Gwynn would never win the home run derby, but I bet he could place a base hit into a three-foot round target placed just outside of the infield dirt. The big hitters steal all the glory during the derby, so why not celebrate the guys who hit for contact and get on base.
Throw to home contest
One of the most exciting plays in baseball is a play at the plate. It’s even more exciting when that play comes on a frozen rope from the outfield. This event would test the biggest arms in the outfield against each other, seeing who can throw out a runner from their perch in the grass. Of course, you’d need a mechanical runner, like a rabbit at the dog track, to make sure each contestant got a fair opposing speed, and you’d need a marked line, like bowling, where you need to make the throw from.
Ever since Bobby Abreu launched 41 home runs – 24 in the first round – in the 2005 derby, then went on to hit just six dingers following the break (18 before the ASG), hitting coaches have challenged that the home run contest ruins players’ swings.
Regardless of if you believe this or not, it does get tiresome as a viewer to watch home run after home run, or warning-track shot after warning-track shot (without steroids). Baseball needs to shake up the ASG program – and we’re not talking about another celebrity softball game.
Major League Baseball should take a page from the NBA and NHL All-Star circuses. Instead of just one main attraction, outside of the actual game, have a bunch of contest to showcase the best baseball has to offer.
Here are a few contests ideas that could really make the Mid-Summer Classic sizzle:
Fastest pitch contest
Hockey has the hardest shot competition, so why not pit the major’s best fireballers against each other and let the radar gun sort ‘em out. Sure, there are those realistic baseball tight-asses who will poo-poo pitchers putting any unnecessary strain on their arms. But who doesn’t want to see Aroldis Chapman toss a 105-mph laser?
Stolen base contest
Despite all the waiting around and down time in baseball, it can be a speed sport, especially when you have some of the big league’s fastest men on base. You could work this contest one of two ways: 1. You time their pace from first to second and have speed be the factor. 2. You make them steal a base against a pitching machine throwing to second, raising the speed of the throw with each round – kind of like raising the bar in the high jump – until one man remains.
Fly ball contest
Place a speedy outfielder at center field and randomly launch balls into the outfield, having the player shag as many as possible in a timed period. You could even steal from the home run derby or three point contest and have a golden or money ball in play.
Hitting accuracy contest
Tony Gwynn would never win the home run derby, but I bet he could place a base hit into a three-foot round target placed just outside of the infield dirt. The big hitters steal all the glory during the derby, so why not celebrate the guys who hit for contact and get on base.
Throw to home contest
One of the most exciting plays in baseball is a play at the plate. It’s even more exciting when that play comes on a frozen rope from the outfield. This event would test the biggest arms in the outfield against each other, seeing who can throw out a runner from their perch in the grass. Of course, you’d need a mechanical runner, like a rabbit at the dog track, to make sure each contestant got a fair opposing speed, and you’d need a marked line, like bowling, where you need to make the throw from.
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