Home Run Derby a major win for MLB
The Venue
There are not many cities that triumph Miami when it comes to welcoming stars. We knew the All-Star festivities would be a hit in the limelight of Miami. The limelight is the nightlife in South Beach. Who better to express the Miami nightlife than world-famous musician, Pitbull. Pitbull got the crowd into it right away with a two song performance to open up the Home Run Derby. He then passed the metaphorical mic to the sluggers to begin the show.
A lot of credit goes to Miami’s own Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour. Stanton very much epitomizes the city of Miami–the big muscles, the swagger, the bling. Though depriving Miami fans of a multi-round performance, Stanton still put his footprint on the night. The defending derby champion rallied off 16 dingers after a slow start, launching a handful of them over 480 feet. A disappointing end result, but Stanton left the stadium buzzing four hitters into the competition.
Surprise entertainer Justin Bour gave Aaron Judge his greatest test in the first round. Bour knocked 22 homers, all throughout offering gestures to pump up the crowd. Stanton visited his teammate mid-round, shoving a donut in the face of the 6’3”, 265 LB. Justin Bour.
It’s safe to say Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour provided the most personality of the Home Run Derby participants. Awfully “Miami” of them.
Miami is also a great location given the demographic of the game. ESPN.com’s Richard Lapchick wrote an article on MLB’s race and gender at the beginning of the season. He noted that Latin players makeup 31.9% of Major League Baseball, the majority of any race. We all know of Miami’s proximity to Latin American countries, and how Miami is home to many Latin American immigrants. Hence, the location played perfectly to the hype and ultimately the ratings. It also helped that Dominican’s Miguel Sano and Gary Sanchez participated, and put on a home run clinic.
The Lineup
This year’s Home Run Derby had the potential to be among the best ever. Entries included two of the game’s most polarizing figures, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Along with up and coming sluggers, Miguel Sano and Gary Sanchez, Kansas City favorite, Mike Moustakas, rookie phenom, Cody Bellinger, and two players that are too good to be even slightly overlooked, Charlie Blackmon and Justin Bour. There couldn’t have been a more noteworthy or deserving lineup of home run hitters.
New York represents the largest market in the sport. Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez brought plenty of attention from the Northeast. Cody Bellinger represented the not-too-shabby Los Angeles market. Retracing to the USA Today piece, the New York market contributed a 10.8 rating to the Home Run Derby. And the always loyal Kansas City Royals’ fans backed Mike Moustakas for an incredible 13.6 local rating.
But all eyes were on the 6’7”, 282 pound Aaron Judge. Stanton had his moment last year; Monday night was Judge’s time to shine. Judge did not disappoint. He overcame the adversity presented right off the bat by Justin Bour, one-upping Bour with 23 home runs in the opening round. Judge made it look effortless all night. His final two rounds resulted in smooth sailing defeats over Cody Bellinger and Miguel Sano. Tape-measure shot after tape-measure shot, Aaron Judge stole the show just as everyone hoped he would. He left everyone in awe as the night wrapped up, and into the coming days.
The event could not have been more welcoming to Aaron Judge. He had already won the College Home Run Derby in his final season at Fresno State. The MLB Home Run Derby presented the same objective and the same motive, just on a bigger stage. More than anyone, Judge is made for home run competitions. He’s somehow surpassed his already unimaginable hype, and he managed to do it once again in the 2017 Home Run Derby.
The Matchups
A fairytale night would have concluded with either Giancarlo Stanton defeating Aaron Judge or Aaron Judge defeating Giancarlo Stanton, take your pick. Unfortunately, that matchup did not come to fruition. However, there was plenty of entertainment thanks to the unpredictability of the head-to-head matchups.
All four matchups in the opening round were determined by one home run. Two upsets occurred, Miguel Sano over Mike Moustakas, and most notably, Gary Sanchez over Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton got in rhythm a little too late as he was out of breath when it came to crunch time. The underdog Gary Sanchez bested the defending champ on his home turf. On a sidenote, it’s safe to say Sanchez got the last laugh over Logan Morrison.
Cody Bellinger thought his derby hopes ended in the first round as his time had expired. Little did he know his final home run traveled more than 440 feet, granting him a 30 second bonus. Bellinger stepped back into the box and bashed two homers in that span to conquer Charlie Blackmon.
Justin Bour really got the crowd into it with his 22-homer first round, but judgement day came quickly, as Aaron Judge rallied off 23 long balls to take Bour down. It was a tough take down for the lovable Justin Bour, but Judge’s prevail was what we all wanted to see.
In Conclusion
For a game that is constantly critiqued and monitored for entertainment, the 2017 Home Run Derby was a vast success for MLB. Baseball’s sexiest offering is the long ball, and it was on full display Monday night.
The game’s elite sluggers often refrain from Derby participation for various lame reasons. Not this year. Baseball’s top two home run hitters participated–Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Judge’s and Stanton’s participation took us back to the golden derby days when Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. headlined Home Run Derbies.
Marketability is another concern for MLB. Judge and Stanton helped with that issue as well, by performing on a major stage at a major venue. Cody Bellinger is gaining momentum as a young superstar. He may be on his way to becoming one of the faces of baseball. The same goes for Gary Sanchez and Miguel Sano. All three are under the age of 25, and all three play for major market or surprise teams.
Next: Bold predictions fro the second half
This year’s Home Run Derby resulted in great ratings, a platform for derbies to come, and most importantly, growth in the game’s popularity. The Home Run Derby was a home run for MLB.