HR Derby - nobody cares but...

That's it ... a home run derby for the mascots. And bring back Youppi!

 

He's got a new job.

 

It's over!

 

Final tally:

Ball goes in fountains [ X]
Ball goes over fountains [X ]
Person falls into fountains [ ]
Giancarlo Stanton referenced [ X] (Called "Mike" [X ])
Gratuitous required-by-ESPN reference to... Lebron [] Tebow []
Dwight Howard traded by Orlando before end of event []
Berman declares home run headed to... Kansas City, Kansas [ ] St. Joseph [ ] St. Louis [ ] Liberty [] Chillicothe [] Independence [X ] Columbia [] Springfield [ ] THE MOON [ ]
Reference to Negro League Museum [X ]
Reference to Kansas City barbecue [X ]
A "Gold Ball" home run [X ]
Selig shows up [ ]
Flashback to Hamilton's Yankee Stadium performance [X ]
Berman makes reference to a song that is older than Bryce Harper [X ] (Older than Chipper Jones [ X]) (Older than Harper Lee [ ])
It rains [ ]
Berman makes reference to an AFL-era Kansas City Chief [ ]
George Brett shows up [X ] (reference to pine tar incident [X ])
Reference to Cecil Fielder [ ] (mention how he and Prince remain estranged [ ])
Controversy of R.A. Dickey not starting mentioned [ X]
Mike Trout and Bryce Harper mentioned in same breath [ ]
Reference to Ichiro, Wily Mo Pena, or other BP home run legend [ ]
Mention how Cano's dad had a cup of coffee [X ]
Any mention of the words "Steroids" or "Performance-Enhancers" [ ]
Reggie Jackson mentioned [ ] (Mention is NOT in reference to how he is now persona non grata with Yanks [ ])
Audible swear word [ ]
Matt Wieters sighting [ ]
Ball goes 500+ feet [ ]
Ball hits a sign, car or other object where somebody wins something if a ball hits it [ ]
Somebody on sidelines waves national flag during a hitter's turn [ ]
Reference to how Carlos Beltran was a Royal [ X]
Outfield fielder makes nice play [X ]
Talk about La Russa snub accusations [ ]
Bo Jackson reel [ ]
Billy Butler reference [ ] (Cano booed because of it [X ])
Labor peace mentioned [ ]
Royals on right track [ ]
Barbecue in booth [X]
Buck O'Neil mentioned [ X]
KC Monarchs mentioned [X ]
Batter swings and misses [ ]
Batter given drink by other player [ X]
Person in booth openly worries that a batter is going to go 0-for-10 [X]
Kemp's Shoes [X]
Player picks up their kid after hitting [ X]
Jose Canseco is mentioned for any reason whatsoever [ ]
Commercial for... Dark Knight Rises [ ] The Watch [X ] The Bourne Legacy [ ] The Campaign [ ]
Appearance by NL Hitting Coach Mark McGwire [ ]
Reference to how Mariano Rivera got injured in KC [ ]
Balboni reference [ ]
Ball comes perilously close to ESPN set [ X]
Reference to the MLB Fan Cave [X ]
Ball somehow hits the crowned scoreboard [ ]
Ball somehow ACTUALLY LEAVES THE STADIUM [ ] (how long would THAT have to be)
Mention of the weather and how hot it has been [ ]
Reference to the fact Nomar is married to Mia Hamm [X]

 

And when he asks the other guy the last time he shit his pants, and the guy is like "When I was a kid."

 

So awesome.

 

So the Home Run Derby is boring? Take a few minutes and see how the Eastern League's Reading Phillies are going to do it Tuesday night. This is batshit crazy -- and fabulous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=unWmKXW094U

The R-Phils' GM, Scott Hunsicker, has the right idea about promotions.

 

I'd be fine with Berman if they trotted him out for just the home run derby each year - he should be getting the Dick Clark treatment from ESPN at this point, because I just turn off the TV when he's on. But like Hulk Hogan, I think he's politically savvy enough to only work events that get great ratings anyway, like the derby and the Sunday night NFL stuff.

 

I think even Stefan would approve of that hitting contest.

 

The vociferous booing of Cano was because he said he was going to ask a current member of the Royals to be in the Derby, then picked Trumbull instead of Billy Butler.

That and Matt Kemp is still an asswipe, and I'm outta here.

 

And I thought the South Atlantic League's HR Derby off an aircraft carrier was out there.

 

Is that for real? I love it! Would never happen in MLB, of course. And lets hope the interns don't tweet Romensko [/crossthread]