|
That Special Homerun Derby
There
have always been many "segments" to our All-Star Weekends.
We want to keep things fresh, keep them rolling, etc. Once one
event ends (and we try not to let any one event go longer than
90 minutes), start the next one. Hit it, quit it, and start the
next one. Over the years we've taken things away or added things,
but one thing remains constant:
The
Homerun Derby remains arguably THE attraction of the weekend.
Not
the Rookie Game, which showcases the young up-and-coming talent
and gives the league its first game of the year that isn't confined
to the usual "team" method. Ian Byrd can team up with
Aaron Kemper for one game. What's not to like?!?!? Not even the
All-Star Game itself, the ultimate showcase of talent, compares.
People rarely even watch the Rookie Game, and could usually care
less about the All-Star Game. Why? Because they're usually busy
recovering from what was an awesome derby. Take 2000, for example.
Joey Creighton and James Vassar battled down to the wire in the
derby with Joey narrowly coming out on top. Then the Rookie Game
was played in total silence. Who won the 2000 All-Star Game? Don't
ask me, I have no clue.
The
derby remains so popular because it's so simple. Hit a ball over
the alloted boundary and try to do it as many times as you can
before failing ten times. Make the top four? Move on, and try
to make the top two. There are no walks, no errors, no swings
and misses at curves in the dirt. Just guys hitting balls solid
all over the field. The ultimate test of hitting.
Because
of this simplicity, the derby has easily survived the usually
fatal flaw in that its had only ONE player win it in its four
years of existence. Find me one thing where someone or something
has won four times in a row and you usually get a bored and tired
audience. Not here, because fans know that the biggest difference
between Joey Creighton winning and Eric Christensen winning is
as small as a five swing cold streak.
And
then you have all the extra-curriculars. In the very first derby,
Scott Carmichael baptised it by hitting the league's first-ever
roof shot. It was historic, never seen before. Then there's Joey
Creighton, trying in vain every year to be the first guy to hit
the roof in right (he hasn't done it yet, but maybe 2003 is the
year). Oh yeah, and we won't want to forget about that little
display Dave Cain put together last year.
So
hail to the Homerun Derby. Go for all its worth, Morrison. Deatrick,
don't listen to the critics. Curtis, you hit homeruns worse than
Dean Evans in batting practice, but even you can catch fire here.
All you need to do is find that little zone for maybe 4-5 swings
and BAM! All of the sudden, we'll have our SECOND ever Homerun
Derby Champion.
|
