Read the debate intro and Loyal Homer’s argument that the home run derby is still relevant.
In the late 1990s the home run was at its peak in popularity among fans with Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa chasing the long-held Roger Maris single-season home run record of 61. Home run fever swept the entire country, from housewife to diehard sports fan. It was major national news, even finding its way into the Sunday morning talk shows normally reserved for politics. At the time, MLB was an attention-starved league thanks to a strike in 1994, and the home run race brought many fans back to the game.
But, the entire production was a Trojan horse.
As Bleacher Fan pointed out in the intro, the Home Run Derby has lost so much of its appeal that the players do not even want anything to do with it. Why do the players avoid it? Stigma, for one reason (more on that later). But, it also ruins their swing. This decade, the following winners of the Home Run Derby have hit less homer runs after their participating than before: Luis Gonzalez, Jason Giambi, Garrett Anderson, Bobby Abreu, Vlad Guerrero, and Josh Hamilton. Of the players who actually hit MORE homers after the All-Star break – Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada, and Ryan Howard – only Ryan Howard has avoided the use of corked bats and proof of performance-enhancing drug use as reasons for the increase in home run total. And, he only hit two more homers in the second have than he did in the first.
It is impossible to address this topic and not discuss the home run itself. The steroids era has tainted the home run, and Major League Baseball’s insistence on glorifying it with the derby is unhealthy for the game. A recent study from the Associated Press released yesterday noted that attendance across the entire league is down over six percent. And 72% of respondents to the survey said MLB “is not doing enough to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs.” Another 66% said that Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa should not be allowed into Cooperstown if they took steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. The survey results are interesting, but the loudest voice in the crowd is the drop in attendance. Baseball ought to listen. And until the home run is above suspicion, the derby should stay below ground.
The home run is not even the most exciting play in baseball. Ted Keith of Sports Illustrated claims it is stealing home, but there other plays like a close-play triple, an unassisted triple play, or the suicide squeeze that hold equal excitement. The Home Run Derby is not even showcasing baseball’s only interesting element.
Breaking with long-held traditions can be difficult, and finding ways to replace them only makes it harder. However, it only requires some thought. ESPN will cover whatever the new event(s) are because they’re the only major national sporting event happening in the heart of the summer. It’s time to experiment with the formula and think of other ways baseball’s best can be put on display.
The Home Run Derby tradition now does more harm than good to the game of baseball. There are other ways of showcasing player skills that are also exciting such as a stealing home plate contest, a consecutive hits contest, or directional hitting for points (on the derby model). The more baseball continues to build up the merits of the home run, the more they prove their ignorance of how fans really feel about the game and the steroids era, and the murkier the view of the field gets from their ivory tower.
Three of the biggest sluggers in the game today are playing in the Home Run Derby Monday. How could you not want to see that?
For the same reasons I mentioned in my post. Baseball is bigger than one skill, and the home run derby stinks in format and execution.
In format, yes. I’ll agree changes need to be made. I’m not opposed to some of the things you said on the show yesterday as far as format. But it’s still a thrill and people will watch it.
As far as attendance being down 6%, this was expected due to the economy. No one is surprised by this. I don’t think that number has anything to do with the publc being fed up with baseball. They’re fed up with being broke. Look at Detroit….a first place team. But still drawing 10,000 fans per game less than last year. Not because of steroids but because of the auto industry hitting the skids. Baseball, and all sports, just have to weather the storm.
Attendance is down because there is not a compelling enough reason to pay the money. A good business/marketing person will tell you that cost and money have nothing to do with why sales slip. They slip because perception shifts. Baseball needs to adjust to the perception shift caused by the steroids era, highlight other reasons why baseball is great, and then bring fans back to the game… fans that will stick around because they’re attracted to the game itself, not one fleeting aspect of it that can easily be tarnished.
Attendance is down because it costs over $100 to take a family of four to a game (with good seats). Some teams are providing specials though. Folks just dont have this kind of extra money. I think you underestimate the unemployment rate in this country and in places like Detroit and Pittsburgh.
Baseball has a ways to go…but I think you are overestimating the irrelevance of the Derby. If people dont care anymore, why is it always one of the most highly rated cable sports programs of the year?
Keep in mind, also, that the first half usually has about 15 more games or so than the second half. That is a contributor to the players having less home runs.
Not always, with make up games and backloaded schedules adding games to the second half.
Unless a rainout happens in the next two days, the Cardinals will have played 90 games in the first half. That leaves 72 in the second half. So obviously, power numbers will be down in the second half.
I love the home run derby. I am 57 years old. They used have the home run derby on TV in the 1960′s. The home run is still king. I get your point. It’s the players who ruined the game. I don’t recall anyone forcing these clowns to inject steroids.If so then show me. It’s the players who made a decision to use the juice. Thanks Bobby Gee
http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
Sure, it’s players who injected the drugs – but the fans who are punished.
That’s true. For me I love the home run derby.