Live blogging the Home Run Derby
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 14, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
8:14 p.m.: Reggie Jackson just threw out the first pitch of the Home Run Derby to Derek Jeter. Who knew the Home Run Derby had a first pitch? Now Derek is being interviewed by Erin Andrews. As always, Derek is the smartest guy in the place.
8:18 p.m.: Michael Kay is interviewing Reggie Jackson. Mr. October is taking his usual modest, quiet approach to an interview.
This event has been going on for 10 minutes and there has already been a lot of down time in person. But the first hitter is coming up soon.
8:21 p.m.: Dan Uggla is up first. The order: Uggla, Sizemore, Longoria, Utley, Berkman, Morneau, Braun and Hamilton.
Michael Kay is doing the in-stadium announcing. Hearing him say, “See Ya!” 100 times should be quite a treat.
8:24 p.m.: If this were wrestling, Jason Giambi would rush in and break a chair over somebody’s head, grab a bat and start hitting home runs. That would be great.
8:26 p.m.: I just counted, there are 1,345 State Farm signs in the stadium. I think maybe they’re sponsoring this event.
And Uggla hits six home runs. Is that good? It doesn’t seem good. Some SABR person needs to come up with a Home Run Derby metric so we can predict winners. HRORP or something.
8:30 p.m.: Grady Sizemore has a sweet swing. He’s hitting rockets to right field.
8:35 p.m.: Wouldn’t it more interesting if they had bums like Kei Igawa and Julian Tavarez pitch and actually try to get people out? There would be even more home runs.
Grady also got six. I’m still not sure whether that is good. I’m going to say no.
8:36 p.m.: They just introduced A-Rod to the crowd as being the top overall vote-getter. The crowd gave him a nice ovation. The fans who voted for him will receive a copy of Desperately Seeking Susan.
8:38 p.m.: A-Rod received two trophies. One for being the top vote-getter in the AL and one for being the top overall vote-getter. Is vote-getter gramatically correct? I have no idea. Does that make Jeter the game’s top babe-getter? Does Cynthia Rodriguez get one of those trophies now? These are questions we need answered.
8:41 p.m.: Evan Longoria swinging now.
8:42 p.m.: People are chanting “We Want Jason.” Hilarious.
8:45 p.m.: Longoria hit three home runs. Three. Eva Longoria could have done better.
(I had no choice with that one, sorry).
Meanwhile he is getting booed. Welcome to New York.
8:46 p.m.: Don’t feel too badly for Longoria. I saw what I assume was his girlfriend at the Hyatt today. She looked like a young Jennifer Love Hewitt, only much hotter. Seriously, much hotter.
8:47 p.m.: Chase Utley is up now and is dreadful.
8:51 p.m.: Utley rallied and ended up with five. See ya!
8:57 p.m.: Lance Berkman next.
9:02 p.m.: The Big Puma hit eight dingers to take the lead. He was scattering fans in the upper deck in right field. Talked to him during the press conference. He looks like Yogi Bear.
9:06 p.m.: Michael Kay is interviewing Mariano Rivera now. The crowd is chanting “Mariano.” Papelbon must be furious.
9:13 p.m.: Justin Morneau hit eight to tie Berkman. Meanwhile MasterCard has a “Hit it Here” sign in left field above the bleachers. Somebody could win $1 million. The only problem is that you couldn’t hit that sign with a howitzer.
Ryan Braun is up next.
9:20 p.m.: Ryan Braun is the man. After a slow start he drilled seven. So he will advance. I spoke to him today for the story I was working on. He’s a very nice kid.
John Sterling should be announcing this so he would have to come up with a wacky call for every player. That would be awesome.
Josh Hamilton is next. Bet he goes double digits. He’s huge.
9:28 p.m.: Hamilton just hit the first ball ever out of Yankee Stadium. It flew over the Bank of America sign in right field. The other players made the “we’re not worthy” gesture. (10:23 p.m.: Hmm, wrong, seems he hit the top of the BoA sign. But pretty close.)
I don’t care who wins. He wins. That was sick.
9:30 p.m.: Seriously, just call it off. He’s going to knock a subway car off the tracks.
9:34 p.m.: This is pretty cool watching this in person. The guy is like Paul Bunyan. The fans are loving it.
9:35 p.m.: You can see why Hamilton was the first pick. He doesn’t swing that hard and the ball flies off his bat.
9:40 p.m.: What a great story this is. The guy was a crack addict and out of baseball, one of the great examples of wasted talent in sports history. But he got himself back together, back in shape and now he’s here doing this – with a 71-year-old guy from his hometown pitching to him.
They might as well call this off. He has 23 (and counting) and the next guy has eight.
9:49 p.m.: Hamilton hit 28 in the first round. Amazing. The crowd was chanting his name. My brother in law Dave, who is here, just texted me, “I can’t believe this.”
That about covers it.
I need to get cracking on a little newspaper work. But I’ll be back later to update the live blog.
10:24 p.m.: OK, back for more live blogging. We’re through the second round. It’ll be Hamilton vs. Morneau in the finals.
Hamilton has a slim 32-17 lead.
10:33 p.m.: This “Call Your Shot” thing is pretty lame. It has sucked the life out of the place.
10:38 p.m.: Morneau is tired. I’m tired and I’m just watching this.
10:48 p.m.: We’re now in the finals. Morneau hit 5. Hamilton has 3 with four outs left. They’re playing Rocky music.
10:51 p.m.: In a stunning upset, Justin Morneau has won the Derby despite hitting half as many homers as Josh Hamilton did. The Texas slugger wore himself out before the finals.
10:52 p.m.: Well, that’s that. A fairly exciting night in the Stadium. The crowd enjoyed itself.
Thanks for reading the live blog. Check back tomorrow for more All-Star Game coverage and read The Journal News and LoHud.com tomorrow for everything you need to know about the game.
10:55 p.m.: OK, one more. Ryan Craig, the sports editor of WRAL.com in North Carolina sent me the link to a piece they did on Clay Council, Hamilton’s pitcher.
They’re giving Morneau the trophy now. Then Erin Andrews returns to the New York Depository of Insanely Hot Women for the night.
Meanwhile the guy from MLB just called Morneau “Jason.”
10:59 p.m.: OK, that really is it this time. Have a good night everybody.
If you’re in the big city tomorrow, go to the red carpet parade on 6th Ave at 1 p.m. It’ll be all the players and Hall of Famers.
Jeter to Andrews: “You’re with me, leather.”
Jeter and Erin Andrews? He needs to one up A Rod.
It says something that the entire stadium is chanting derek’s name and he’s not even hitting tonight
Why do we have to suffer Chris Berman? I’m almost glad I’m not at the Stadium. Imagine not being able to mute the man when it becomes necessary.
Jeter will actually seduce Andrews in the Gherig Secret Room.
Berman > Sterling. Could you imagine how many forced home run calls he’d make up for tonight?
Did anyone hear Utley drop the F bomb after he was booed? I’m sure it was Mets fans booing him.
I’m surprised – Ankiel didn’t make the All-Star team?
Joe Morgan is getting warmed up…inanity level rising…
Jeter is now plying Erin Andrews with hooch in the back of his Ford Edge.
“I’m surprised – Ankiel didn’t make the All-Star team?”
His numbers are fine for converted pitcher, but he’s the fourth best hitter on the team.
Ok, so far, the camera work sucks.
So who’s this Dan Uggla kid and why isn’t he playing for us?
What is with the retarded camera angles? This looks STUPID.
No back back back back by berman
Go Uggla, University of Memphis represent!!
Rebecca: Contrary to popular belief, the Yankees do not own the state of Florida.
Little known fact:
The western most affiliate of the Yankees Radio Network is Anchorage, Alaska.
Which means that John Sterling’s voice can reach Russia.
In Russia, YOU are High, You are Far, You are gone! Ha ha ha!
These camera angles suck
Uggla and Santana represent the only significant talent that has emerged from the Rule 5 draft. Unless anyone can think of anyone else?
Will anyone hit anything as far as A-Rod’s 2006 ambulance shot?
Uggla is mashing. Meanwhile, that comment about Giambi rushing in and hitting home runs might be the best comment of the year.
super slo mo is sick
Uggla nearly hit their set, how do you not hit John Kruk?!?
His legs? Really, Joe Morgan? I thought his ears provided the power?
Has anyone been able to figure out why baseball players are so damn hot? That Uggla sure ain’t ugly!!
“Uggla and Santana represent the only significant talent that has emerged from the Rule 5 draft. Unless anyone can think of anyone else?
Will anyone hit anything as far as A-Rod’s 2006 ambulance shot?”
Hamilton. Probably others.
Rule V draft is the ‘diamonds in the rough’ draft; the team they’re drafted from thought so little of them to not protect them. The team that took them were willing to keep them on the ML roster for a full year.
Has anyone been able to figure out why baseball players are so damn hot
You’ll have to ask Randy Johnson’s wife about that.
HEY GRADY!
*axe in the chest*
You like Ice Cream, doc?
Laura-I know! He’s fine.
Matty: LMAO!
i’m not sure the Steinbrenners ever got that message!
Giambi needs to recruit Kei Igawa as his BP pitcher.
This could be a good derby, but nothing can replace the memory of Sosa and McGuire hitting bombs in Boston a bunch of years back. I think it just might have been the fact that every ball went out of the stadium.
Hopefully we’ll get some in the black and in monument park tonight.
Just tuned in to the Derby. Can you believe how many people are there? And can you believe what a gorgeous night it is? And how great the stadium looks? And the American League unis are super. And it’s sooooo loud! 100 times better than last years’s!
There’s only one New York. And there’s only one Yankee Stadium.
Did we know Sizemore could hit like this?
GB7 -
After what you wrote about Paul Winchell, I realized I had read that somewhere. A brilliant man. I loved that show. You’re right about Romper Room!
I know ESPN wouldn’t do it on purpose, but that was great timing when they said “who needs steroids?” just as the camera shot to Not-As-Big Papi. Love it.
NASCAR Wives > MLB Wives.
nothing can replace the memory of Sosa and McGuire hitting bombs in Boston a bunch of years back.
And the voiceover in the background said “This year’s home run derby brought to you compliments of Balco Inc.”
These Home Runs are impressive so far.
“You’ll have to ask Randy Johnson’s wife about that.”
Clearly, there are some exceptions to the “all baseball players are hot” rule.
Sizemore is a well known hottie.
Mark,
Of course! But it would be cool to see A-Rod and Pujols in the derby.
There are pics on Yahoo.com of the guys taking batting practice together. A-Rod and Manny were very chummy. A-Rod needs to find some new friends.
Sizemore hitted some bombs.
I know ESPN wouldn’t do it on purpose, but that was great timing when they said “who needs steroids?†just as the camera shot to Not-As-Big Papi. Love it.
LOL..I noticed that too.
Good job Grady
A-Rod’s was over 500, right?
Did Joe Morgan just talk about walks without a disparaging tone?
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen balls hit as far as Sizemore just hit them @ the stadium.
Eric ever since someone’s swing got messed up after the Derby I don’t mind Yankees backing out.
I want to see if anybody goes leftfield upper deck. Sheff did that against Halladay, I think. A-Rod hadn’t done it, yet.
FYI – there’s a link on MLB.com of Bernie Williams being interviewed at FanFest. He says some great stuff, including “I still think of myself as a Yankee”. I really hope he takes part in the closing ceremonies in November.
the Big G could easily win the contest
I wonder if Phillies fans are nervous about Utley. He’s got such a simple, level swing, perfect for short cuts and line drives. Got to hope it doesn’t get fouled up.
Mark,
I agree, but for pure HR Derby enjoyment, it’s cool to see the biggest HR hitters. I’m bummed that Giambi isn’t in it.
I hear some of the ladies like that Derek Jeter guy too.
What’s so interesting about the all-star game? I don’t get it. To me this is simply a 3 day break where I stop paying attention to baseball.
Ron, in the 80s, Toronto did well with Rule 5 picks. Kelly Gruber and MVP, George Bell, among others.
I wish Brett Favre would just go away.
I don’t get it — one of those Sizemore blasts I think hit the bottom of the frieze, and no one on ESPN says a word?? Big Papi gave it a “WOW!” Man, I thought that one was outta there….
“8:24 p.m.: If this were wrestling, Jason Giambi would rush in and break a chair over somebody’s head, grab a bat and start hitting home runs. That would be great.”
That was the funniest thing I’ve read in days!!!!
Nothing beats the Stadium. Nothing beats the House that Ruth Built. Nothing beats the aura and mystique surrounding the Yankees, even when they are having this kind of season. I want to kiss that hallowed ground.
It’s so cool being a Yankee fan. No matter how much I gripe, my blood is pinstriped. Always has been and always will be.
John Buccigross with YET another Brett Favre update. Is ESPN going to start giving us updates every time that Brett combs his hair or opens his refrigerator?
I wish Troy Glaus was in the derby. He’s got a great righty swing.
Ron this is one Phillies fan who wishes he would have said no
I think 6 HR will be enough to get to the second round. Usually there are a couple people that only get 1 or 2.
Uh oh. Longoria has just joined the hottie club. I’ll have to forgive him for belonging to the TB Goon Squad.
Evan Longoria replaced Jason in the HR derby because???
What’s so interesting about the all-star game? I don’t get it.
Really other than getting to see the major league stars the real important thing is that home field advantage in the world series is tied to it. If that doesn’t interest you you probably need to watch another sport.
Evan not doing too good…
C’mon Evan, a grounder to short?
That’s what I’m talking about!
Ron, Rodriguez has two in the upper deck in left field.
Cynthia doesn’t get a trophy, just all of A-Rod’s All-Star bonus.
pete, I’m not sure Vote-getter is a word, but if there’s a hyphen in it, spell check won’t mark it wrong!
I forgive a fresh new talent for not doing his best in the greatest stadium on earth. Have a heart hitters…
They need to stick Melky in center. These kids look worse than Bonds in the outfield.
“These are questions we need answered.”
Pete
I dare you to ask them.
Ron, Rodriguez has two in the upper deck in left field.
Does he? As a Yankee, or a Ranger?
Did he hit the eephus pitch off El Duque to the upperdeck in left?
Joe Morgan, already, with the dumbest comment of the night, following Berman’s observation that Longoria hit a home-run in the upper-deck…”Those are upper-deckers!”. Thank you Joe…moron.
Was A-Rod’s ambulance shot officially declared the longest shot at the stadium?
In this configuration, Mantle would have cleared the roof in right field at least four times. He hit the facade 4 times, but, the roof line was closer and the balls were still rising when they hit.
Nice Johnny Damon impression, complete with a collision with the wall, kid.
Ron, both as a Yankee. One was last year, the other in ’05.
Seeing A-Rod do it in a game makes this Home Run Derby all-the-more a sham…nonetheless, I can’t hit the ball out of the infield.
Utley’s bat probably relies on the velocity of the pitch more than most. He’s just not tailored to hit homers on BP pitches.
So does the Mets recent surge mean that Willie was the problem?
I wonder what will happen to the Mets streak when they play teams other than the NL West.
“Ron, both as a Yankee. One was last year, the other in ‘05.”
I will investigate. I’m just surprised I don’t remember them.
Lots of people picked Utley, but it doesn’t look like it right now.
Vote getter is acceptable slang. It definitely does not have a hyphen since hyphens breaking up words are there when the words modify another word.
That’s what my girlfriend just told me. She used a fancier explanation. I think I got it across right.
Where is Dunn, Fielder, and the other true HR hitters in the NL?
As a PHillies fan now it looks like i wont have to worry about Chase messing up his swing
Nice catch by the kid in right center, somebody get him a uniform.
Manny Ramirez is most certainly not a member of the baseball hottie club.
Arod should be in the HR derby……Madonna should pitch to him..
These ESPN clowns totally dropped the ball on that Sizemore homer that almost went out. Are they even paying attention?
Giambi said he would only participate in the HR Derby if he was an All-Star, that’s why he’s not here. Unless he makes a surprise appearance, I think they need him right now to save this turkey.
Mark,
Isn’t the “getting” modifying the “vote”?
I never would have picked Utley.
utley shouldnt be in this competition. his swing is not made for it
Laura I’ve been thinking the same thing about the Mets and Willie. Kind of makes me wonder what the Yankees would be like with Piniella at the helm. Not that Manuel is like Piniella. But it makes me wonder what a manager who wouldn’t coddle the players might be able to do (or maybe not do) with veteran stars.
Nevermind.
Ugh there’s the “back back back”
Please don’t let that continue all night.
I hope Hamilton is more impressive.
The Mets aren’t for real. They play, again, in a very average division, in the scope of things. All of those teams are bipolar. It’ll make for some interesting viewing, but the Mets are not a threat and Jerry Manuel is a dunce.
Improvements this year for ESPN:
No “Back back back” for every home run.
No stupid interview after each player.
“Laura I’ve been thinking the same thing about the Mets and Willie. Kind of makes me wonder what the Yankees would be like with Piniella at the helm. Not that Manuel is like Piniella. But it makes me wonder what a manager who wouldn’t coddle the players might be able to do (or maybe not do) with veteran stars.”
Reyes has been playing much better since Willie left and I know that he and Willie had run ins. I think that the tension between them was felt throughout the clubhouse and probably affected the other hitters. So their recent good play may be more in part to Reyes than Willie leaving.
I’m thinking that the ’07 bomb was against the Twins, Carlos silva…just not sure. Hit in the first 4 rows.
“Laura I’ve been thinking the same thing about the Mets and Willie. Kind of makes me wonder what the Yankees would be like with Piniella at the helm. Not that Manuel is like Piniella. But it makes me wonder what a manager who wouldn’t coddle the players might be able to do (or maybe not do) with veteran stars.”
Pinella would be a worse choice than Torre to develop young arms. Have you seen what he’s done to Carlos Marmol?
I wish the Big G was in this…
worst derby ever.
‘It’ll make for some interesting viewing, but the Mets are not a threat and Jerry Manuel is a dunce.”
Due to the general weakness of the Minor…um I mean the National League, I think that the Mets have a real shot at winning the East. The Phillies have proven that they have issues and can’t be counted on. The Marlins aren’t for real.
My NL prediction is Mets vs Cubs for the pennant.
The thing with Willie is now everyone is complaining he ran his clubhouse like the Yankees. I saw a quote for the ever quotable Billy Wagner in today’s paper where he said he ran the clubhouse the Yankee way not understanding that it should have been run the Mets way.
Perhaps he should have been fired I probably would have done it after the collpse last year however the way it was done and now the players blame Willie rather than looking in the mirror is just typical.
Anybody see that Joe Torre-State Farm commercial?
He was doing yoga, drinking wheatgrass and surfing.
I thought it was pretty funny.
The last couple weren’t impressive until the later rounds.
Thank you, Nick in SF! I jumped outta my chair watcthing that Sizemore shot, and not one damn word from the ESPN clowns. A travesty when you consider so far this “derby” has been pretty lousy.
Oh my God, not the Pine Tar game again.
P.S. “vote getter” doesn’t get hyphenated.
–Your Friendly Neighborhood Copyeditor
I don’t think this derby has been lousy. Sizemore and Uggla hit absolute bombs. What exactly are you expecting?
And what exactly is the “Mets” way according to Wagner? The same thing he criticized when his Mets teammates left early to not be interviewed? Wagner is a moron too.
I agree………No more back,back,back,back, back………………..and for football season, no more rumblin’,bumblin’,stumblin’………..
The Mets way is to not care at all about baseball and screw around in the clubhouse.
I still think the Phillies are gonna win the east and the Mets are gonna have to battle it out for the wild card.
Who knows…a lot of baseball left to be played…
Watch the Marlins win the NL East..
“The thing with Willie is now everyone is complaining he ran his clubhouse like the Yankees. I saw a quote for the ever quotable Billy Wagner in today’s paper where he said he ran the clubhouse the Yankee way not understanding that it should have been run the Mets way.”
Yeah, let’s do it the Mets way because it’s been so successful all of these years. And you know that Yankee way hasn’t really amounted to much. Wagner is a tool and a liar.
Okay guys.
Your favorite Yankee Stadium memory. Spill.
They need to stop showing Miggy Tejada. Isn’t he being investigated by the INS or something?
Which All-star on both teams that the Yankees have the best chance of getting at the trade deadline????
Wow, that was a bomb! Can we get Berkman to play 1B?
Awesome catch by that kid in center!
….Wow, the last couple there were impressive.
Rebecca,
You’ll like this.
In 2000 I got a pregame field pass and was out on the field with my dad with NOBODY else in the stadium. Then as BP started I got to hang out on the field. At the end I interviewed Mike Stanton and Scott Brosius for a school project.
Hello Lance Berkman….
the only derby worse than this is roller derby….
I’m going to let my girlfriend explain. Here is what Pete said. “One for being the top vote-getter in the AL and one for being the top overall vote-getter.”
Hi I’m Mark’s girlfriend Lisa. The rule is that two or more adjectives acting as one idea and placed before a noun are hypenated. So while you would say someone is top heavy, the only time you would see “top heavy” hypenated is if you said something like “Look at that top-heavy person.”
You would say a film is low buget, but the only way it would be hyphenated is if you said it was a low-budget film.
Hyphenated words need to modify another word when used in that respect.
Yyou would never see “vote getter” hyphenated. But you could say “He was the top vote-getting person” – it isn’t the greatest grammar but it is acceptable.
Hope this helps.
Torre was on MMD claiming to be happy out in LA. I didn’t believe one word. He just didn’t sound sincere.
Which would make me drink myself into oblivion first tonight–a Brett Favre drinking game or a State Farm drinking game?
EricVa: Wow! That is utterly amazing!
We should have had a Chris Berman “DOES IT HAVE ENOUGH?!” drinking game…
Rebecca–
Easy I was in the house for Arods 500th HR. I have been going to Phillies games a lot longer and my fav moment at the Vet is two fold. Our seats at the Vet were two rows behind home plate so the first gam,e I ever went to Dave Parker ran into Johnny Oates so hard he went flying so far I have never seen a human being being hit so hard. The second being there when the Phillies won the World Series in 1980, my fav baseball moment of all time.
Upon further research, A-Rod hit one off the facing of the upper deck in left on June 12, 2007 off Livan Hernandez. Can’t find the 2005 one, though.
Rebecca,
I also talked a little bit to John Flaherty (who was on the Rays at the time) because he was college roommates with my high school science teacher. Plus I shook Jeter’s hand.
The best part of the story was that I was interviewing Stanton on the field, and as I was asking a question, Brosius walked away. I finished up and assumed I took too long, but Brosius was waiting for me in the dugout.
Justin Morneau’s pitcher can’t find the plate. The fans in the first two rows behind the plate better look out!
Laura he sounded very happy not to be under the microscope of NY and everything that goes with it. nMade it seem like he was miserable his last few years here, athough my fav quote from him was how he liked being in the NL found it more stimulating cause you had to pay attention to the game more because of the pitcher batting, double switch etc. Guess he isnt sleeping in the dugout as much out there. That literally made me laugh out loud in the car
Wow, bringing race into this? That was so not cool.
I don’t have many of my own Yankee Stadium memories, since I’ve only been there twice. However, I do have two interesting stories: The first game I was supposed to go to at Yankee Stadium was canceled by the strike in ’94, and I saw the Yankees play “at home” in Shea after that beam fell and they closed the Stadium for repairs in 1998.
Who brought up race?
Who is the idiot that’s complaining about racism in the HR Derby? “It looks like the selection was done by the Kuannis Club.”
Eric, how the heck did you get that pass?
Why did they just bring race into this?
Well…Torre validates my feelings about his managing the past couple of years: he didnt have to. Now that he’s in the National League, he does. Shocker.
Are they really talking about the fact there are no hispanics in the HR Derby?
Ack..and double ack.
“Wow, bringing race into this? That was so not cool.”
I know. I was listening to that thinking WTF??!!
Someone mentioned something about there being no Hispanic or Black players in the derby this time.
That’s Rick Reilly overextending himself…should have stuck to his SI column.
The old strength and training coach (the one before the disaster of last year) is married to a guidance counselor in my old high school.
PETE!
Are you in the press box in the usual spot? Or did you and the regulars get moved somewhere else?
lol, I see I’m not the only one aghast at it.
Whoever the idiot was, Berman tried to shut him up quick. He tried it again…they must have killed his mic.
Joe Morgan knows so little about the game of baseball for a Hall of Fame 2nd baseman.
“Guess he isnt sleeping in the dugout as much out there. That literally made me laugh out loud in the car”
That cracked me up too, Gayle. Still, as a Yankee fan, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to be anywhere else but with us. He may like not having every decision second guessed, but he’s also no longer managing the best sports franchise in the world.
GB: I wonder who it was.
Eric: Ah, connections are everything. Wish I had some that could get me tickets for tomorrow night!
Well..Rick Reily wins the 2008 All-Star Game Foot should be shoved in mouth award..
I’ll present it to him happily. With complimentary bitchslap upside of the head.
Mo should be shagging flys for HR Derby. The crowd would ove it.
“Someone mentioned something about there being no Hispanic or Black players in the derby this time.”
I think that the shortage of Black players is an issue for MLB and will continue to be so. However, he was making it seem like blacks and hispanics were purposely being held out of this event. I don’t know how that could be true. They asked A-Rod and he said no. Big Papi is injured. Vlad said no. No need to start a controversy where there shouldn’t be one.
Rebecca,
If you have a spare $2000 I bet you can get a ticket.
I love Berman talking about SLG with Phillips and Morgan, two guys who HATE stats.
I think Rick Reilly has recently joined the ESPN family. He is now on a 7-second delay.
“Well..Rick Reily wins the 2008 All-Star Game Foot should be shoved in mouth award..”
At least he’s the leader in the clubhouse…haw haw
Slugging percentage is a basic metric. Effective to a point. That Chris Berman is scared of Total Bases/ABs is not encouraging of the progress of the mainstream sports media when it comes to statistical analysis.
He also went on to say, how could you invite Justin, when you could have invited Howard.
That comment probably won’t make it to the replay later on tonight.
My Yankee Stadim memory was being at the game in April 1978 when all the fans threw Reggie Bars onto the field. I was 17 & at the game with friends…
“What’s so interesting about the all-star game? I don’t get it.
Really other than getting to see the major league stars the real important thing is that home field advantage in the world series is tied to it. If that doesn’t interest you you probably need to watch another sport.”
We can see the stars play 162 other times during the year, seeing them on a single team is nothing special. And the home field advantage argument is bogus. Fox convinced MLB to add that to boost interest again, and all it really amounts to is a single extra home game for the team who makes it to the WS from he winning league. I don’t know the stats, but my guess is home field advantage for the WS, where you might get one extra home game if it goes to 7 games, is a negligible boost.
We got a Jew on our hand!!!!
That must be 600 feet away. At least put in in the rf bleachers, make it reachable?!
That’s exactly my issue with it. Its not like blacks and hispanics were excluded. They were unable to do so or declined to do so. There’s a big difference.
I hope that girl is not sitting in foul territory, or she’ll get smacked. She looks just as bored as me.
Eric: I have a spare $300. For two tickets.
Why are the Boys/Girls Club of America kids wearing batting helmets??????????
That sixth home run by Braun officially eliminates Utley, and Braun is still going strong.
I was at the Stadium for what was probably the best start of Randy Johnson’s Yankee Career. They won 1-0 on a homer by the ‘stacheman.
His line was 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K. Mo made it interesting.
hhmmm….Ryan Braun….he’s a little cutie
What is MLB supposed to do about the lack of minorities in the derby?
A-Rod declined
Manny declined
A-Ramirez declined
Ortiz is injured
It’s not like the big home run hitters weren’t asked. I’m sure they’d want nothing more than some members of the 400, 500, and 600 club come out and show their stuff.
If the young guys are the only participants – there’s not a whole lot MLB can do about it.
For those of you claiming to be bored by the Derby…
What exactly is this one missing? What would you like to see?
Joe Morgan is just compelled to repeat himself, isn’t he?
We’ve got to get them to move these festivities off of ESPN. These announcers make me cringe, particularly Morgan and Phillips.
Funny….Berman must be reading live comments on blogs… how people now really dislike his ‘back back back’… He wont say it anymore tonight…
Todd P, that’s one of my favorite Yankee Stadium memories too, though I was a few years younger than you. What you neglected to mention was that it was opening day and Reggie hit a home run in his first at-bat with his first swing, so it was his fourth consecutive homer on four consecutive swings, the other three being in the World Series the previous October. Then people started throwing their Reggie Bars onto the field.
I would like to ask ask a serious question though, and its not meant to be offensive, I’m genuinely trying to understand.
Why is the lack of african americans in baseball considered an issue that needs fixing? I don’t see there being discussions about how few hispanics there are in football or basketball, for example.
Ryan Braun
Well as much as I hate Phillips and Morgan, there isn’t any meaningful commentary to be done for a HR Derby. At least Berman isn’t overtly annoying.
I wish there was another all sports network to rival ESPN..
“For those of you claiming to be bored by the Derby…
What exactly is this one missing? What would you like to see?”
The HR Derby is about watching guys try to hit the ball out of the park. There’s no special science to it. There’s no way to really jazz it up. Should they have dancing girls come out on the field? What about a rock group performing out in CF? It is what it is.
EricaV….looking for players to get on a roll like Abreu did a couple of years back. Some drama is needed. Maybe Hamilton will bring that…but star power is needed (the reason why the NBA’s dunk competition is horrendous too).
Are there any so-called minorities in baseball???? We the fans are the minority when compared to the multi-millionaire players……..Thses so-called minorities are by no means underpriviledged……and where is the outcry about there being no Eskimos in baseball???? No Chinese in the NFL???????
Favorite Stadium moment: Jeter flipping me a foul ball from the on-deck circle, July 1, 2004, the game against the RSox where he dove into the stands!!
“I would like to ask ask a serious question though, and its not meant to be offensive, I’m genuinely trying to understand.
Why is the lack of african americans in baseball considered an issue that needs fixing? I don’t see there being discussions about how few hispanics there are in football or basketball, for example.”
There’s the argument that baseball isn’t attracting as wide an audience as it used to. But honestly, I’m with you in this. It isn’t racism, so why is it an issue? Black athletes that play other sports aren’t denigrating their status as great athletes, they are just playing a different sport. And baseball’s setting attendance records. I don’t know why people are so alarmed.
Jon,
I agree, but there’s plenty of time for that to happen.
I don’t get why everyone has to hate on Boomer – he’s been a personal favorite of mine ever since he picked the Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl a few years ago, regardless of the fact that they weren’t playing.
Go Hamilton!
Here we go..Hamilton
Woah…last row of the bleachers?!
That was a BLAST
Wow
I’m rooting for Hamilton..
Off the back wall!
Did that go off the wall???
Hamilton is going out of the park tonight.
Sweet, easy swing…doesnt even look like he generates that much power. Unbelievable. Erica…THATS what im talking about.
WOW!
….
Oh my.
My $ 100.00 investment looking good
“Why is the lack of african americans in baseball considered an issue that needs fixing? I don’t see there being discussions about how few hispanics there are in football or basketball, for example.”
No offense taken, Angel. Actually, this is a good question. I guess this is an issue that blacks think needs addressing maybe more than the rest of the general public. Blacks have been involved with baseball for a very long time. It is distressing to see so few AA players. Hispanics traditionally haven’t been football or basketball players so I guess that is not as alarming as this is.
Let me also say this. Right now, blacks are complaining that their numbers are dwindling. Pretty soon, whites will be doing the same thing about them. Mark my words.
Berman…yaking about some nonsense as that last one flew…
Gammons is chomping at the bit to say anything Boston.
Joe Morgan is actually right here. That he’s managed to develop so fast just demonstrates otherworldly talent.
Oh, I forgot Hamilton was a Rule 5 pick.
I love how Berman missed the one that hit the back wall…was he stunned by Morgan’s asinine comments? Jeez…Hamilton is a monster.
…..
I.
Wow.
Man, Hamilton is really creaming those balls.
Hamilton doesn’t need to hit too many, I don’t think that his pitcher could stand the strain of having to throw too many pitches.
When does this beast become a free agent.
wow…Hamilton is just sick…
That wasn’t even close to out of the stadium. It just hit the bottom of the sign, didn’t go over it.
This old guy is throwing meatballs…Heard Cashman is scouting him…
Holy… just… I mean… This is excellent.
“No offense taken, Angel. Actually, this is a good question. I guess this is an issue that blacks think needs addressing maybe more than the rest of the general public. Blacks have been involved with baseball for a very long time. It is distressing to see so few AA players. Hispanics traditionally haven’t been football or basketball players so I guess that is not as alarming as this is.
Let me also say this. Right now, blacks are complaining that their numbers are dwindling. Pretty soon, whites will be doing the same thing about them. Mark my words.”
Perhaps. However, football and basketball aren’t likely to draw a larger percentage of young athletes away from baseball than they already do. Plenty of talented white players from the US will continue to compete with the influx of talented Latinos, even as places like Venezuela and Cuba eventually open up.
Volquez seems to be a real whacko, no telling what was in that briefcase. And that upper decker for the 8th home run nearly hit Hamilton. Wow!!
No way he could play on the Yanks will all of those tats.
Nice of them to let Jeffrey Maier back for the derby.
He is a monster.. monster and looks like he has ice in his veins.. somethin a-rod doesnt.. we need this dude….
THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS HIM
Wow I love this guy.
Holy. Oh my. I. Wow.
Was that a play on Hamilton’s “baggage” by Volquez? Anybody have any ideas?
His swing doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as hard as guys like Braun, Longoria…and he crushes the ball.
Oh, and this derby was boring at the beginning, not enough homers and they were pedestrian, but now it’s heating up.
Thats what I figured, Ron. Thanks for your answer. It just doesn’t seem like a concerted effort to keep them out of MLB, more that the majority seems to seem to just prefer football and basketball, over baseball for whatever reasons. I guess I was just interested because you don’t see the same argument in sports where they obviously aren’t the minority, nor do you see it about the lack native americans or jews or others in any sport.
Okay, I’m officially rooting for Hamilton to win it.
Can we kidnap him for our own use? Please? Just stash him somewhere in the stadium..
Just amazing..
He’s hitting them all in the same spot. This guy lacks versatility. LOL!
New way to get high!!!
“New way to get high?”
Careful, Reily.
It’s great to see this young guy enjoying life, again. This is Roy Hobbs come to life.
The need to rename this the Josh Hamilton derby.
He’s hitting softballs. Let me see him doing this against AL pitching every day and then I’ll be super impressed. Now, I’m only impressed in a fantasy sort of way.
I have it on good authority that Cash is on the phone to trade for him.
the last one almost went out of the park.
Pete may be wrong…Hamilton might hit that “Hit It Here” sign.
From what I’ve heard, scouts said that he was probably the greatest prospect they’d ever seen….Roy Hobbs in the flesh, so-to-speak.
Seriously…Reily needs to shut up
This old pitcher’s stuff reminds me of Igawa…
Thanks Laura. I appreciate your thoughtful response too. Its definitely food for thought.
These home runs are unbelievable by Hamilton, and the crowd’s eating it up. Too bad no Yankees got in on this.
Reggie redux!
Did you see that cop chokin’ that kid? Somebody call the police!!
“This old pitcher’s stuff reminds me of Igawa…”
They all remind me of Igawa.
Damn Cash, you messed up.
EricaV….this is what I was talking about.
I’m completley speechless.
My mother thinks I’m having a seizure or something.
WOw. It is fun watching him..
Jon-
I”m with you there.
Is Berman blind?
That poor old man’s arm is going to fall off.
That…
For that home run, Josh Hamilton, this Bud’s for you!
I feel so sorry for Hamilton’s pitcher. There needs to be a bottle of prune juice laying beside the mound.
This is just stellar. I am loving every second.
I LOVE the booing of Ortiz. I LOVE NY
He’s been up there so long Ortiz needed a bathroom break!
“Thanks Laura. I appreciate your thoughtful response too. Its definitely food for thought.”
Just my opinion. Again, some people don’t care. Baseball has always been a mixed sport and I’d like to see it continue to be that way. Heck, I’d like them to start letting women play…but that’s another story for another day.
And of course, Ortiz has to remind everybody that he is present. What a showboat.
Just like Ortiz to try and steal the spotlight…moron.
the fans booed Ortiz! This is great!
LMAO at Ortiz getting boo’d.
I think the ESPN camera crew has also found a new way to get high. Or an old way.
This guy is f’n smiling at the plate like Moonlight f’n Graham.
Tell me anybody who wouldn’t want to play in NY? 50,000+ New Yorkers chanting your name and you are on the Texas Rangers….cmon
Ortiz has eaten 24 hot dogs while Hamilton has been batting..
Steve Phillips is an idiot. Do you think 50 yrs from now when people are talking about this stadium, all of the championships, all of the greats that played here – that they are going to bring up this Home Run Derby? Get real.
Older fans on here will tell you, but, this is Mickey Mantle from the left side. He did this during batting practice in every park he played in. In one year (1953) Mantle had 500 foot homers in 8 parks that season.
You pulled out Moonlight Graham…Mn1972 “Vote for Nixon”
It’s not the number, it’s the distance. On like all of them.
Quality and quantity.
Yeah, the Josh Hamilton Derby has a nice ring to it.
Josh Hamilton is just a freak! Think about it: he can be had by every team for $50,000 about 1.5 years ago in the rule 5 draft pick. And we got Josh…….Phelps
He’s like a radio to God!
An army that carries Josh Hamilton before them will be unstoppable!
excuse me. It was only 6 parks.
If I were Ron Washington, I’d be on the phone right now telling him to shut it down.
This is unbelievable. Do they really need a second round?????
How many did Abreu hit that one year?
MARION! Don’t look at Josh Hamilton!
“But… he’s so beautiful!”
Josh keeps flirting with the mastercard sign.
I hate to admit this, but I am one of the few people who doesn’t know this guy’s story. Was he a drug addict or something and made a comeback?
I think Erin Andrews just started drooling on the sidelines.
Abreu hit 24.
He’s hit as many as the other guys combined…
Abreu hit 24 in one round. His swing has never been the same.
“Just my opinion. Again, some people don’t care. Baseball has always been a mixed sport and I’d like to see it continue to be that way. Heck, I’d like them to start letting women play…but that’s another story for another day.”
I could really get behind that women playing concept.
Hamilton is amazing. He’s made this really interesting.
Laura: Drug addict. Out of baseball. Got sober, found God, came back.
this is pretty amazing, what a night this became
Josh Hamilton hates charity, apparently.
Seriously, 28… Wow.
And Ortiz says to him “God damn!”
Nice. HE’S A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN YOU DOPE.
If anyone’s interested, WCBS 880AM is replaying their call of Game 7, 2003 ALCS against Boston. Ortiz just hit the HR off David Wells, to make it 5-2. You know, the Aaron Boone game.
A lot more interesting than Chris Berman calling the HR Derby.
If anyone’s interested.
wow
Is it just me, or has Erin Andrews had some work done?
Erin Andrews is really hot
Wow. If Big Stein was still running things actively, he’d be on the phones with his staff demanding to get Hamilton traded to the Yankees. LOL
Seriously, what a monster. The kid has been incredible. Imagine if he did indeed wear pinstripes – that swing was made for Yankee stadium.
The only other time I’ve baseballs drilled to the depths of what Hamilton provided tonight, was when I was a kid, Mantle in BP used to justed hit moonshots all over the place……I just hope he can maintain this in the 3rd round so I can win $ 175.00 for betting on him..
That old guy throwing BP has just been placed on the 60 day DL with a sore arm…..
“Laura: Drug addict. Out of baseball. Got sober, found God, came back.”
That’s what I thought. Good for him. Too bad he’s playing for TEX.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.....(baseball)
Pretty interesting story.
Eh, I think Erin Andrews is way overrated. She does nothing for me.
Erin Andrews dates Carl Crawford
Big Papi slipped some heroin in his back pocket
You know, I need a water break just from watching that
JOE THANKS!!!
I was hoping for 30, but 28′s not bad.
That poor 71-year old guy has to throw another round of pitches though!
And they said this Derby had nothing going for it…
Jeter picked him to win it. That Derek is a smart guy and the Captain of the Baseball Hottie club.
I really like the Wrigley ballhawk commercial with Pat Hughes.
Wikipedia has a decent entry on Josh Hamilton. I think my link I posted got stuck in moderation, lol.
He’s certainly come a long way at such a young age.
I think the other hitters should just concede now. LOL
You’re all class, Doris.
.
.
.
.
.
Scratch the excess letters, CL
I say we call Hamilton “The Ark” because he has the power of God behind him.
That 71 year old has thrown more pitches off a mound than Pavano has this year
trade for hamilton, ide give up melky and ohlendorf!!!!!!!
Hamilton was the only reason to watch the Derby.
Seriously, baseball is a sport that ends up being all about the persons who play it. You hone in on a player or two, you follow their season, their career. The season is so long you feel like to you get to know a player. (To an extent, obviously).
Pete’s this has got to be the dream story for the sports world.
He’s thrown more pitches than Hughes and Kennedy too…
Doreen, I left you with a little trivia on Paul Winchell. I hadn’t thought of him in years. Thanks for that memory.
The crowd is hungover from Hamilton.
Really sick Doris.
For the rest of you that might care about Josh’s recovery, this article written by Josh is great.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=2926447
Wiki has already updated Hamilton’s page.
“That 71 year old has thrown more pitches off a mound than Pavano has this year”
That’s great.
Green Beret7
the only difference is that the Mick was not a very large man – he was very broad but not large. and he routinely hit tape measure home runs against live pitching. I do recall a home run derby (this used to be a TV show, believe it or not) and as I recall he lost to Harmon Killebrew.
Well, at least I figured out what happened to the Yankee offense. Josh Hamilton stole it.
I’d like to see someone whiff on one of these…I can’t remember ever seeing that in a HR Derby.
The old show ‘Home Run Derby’ is available on DVD at amazon.com
“Well, at least I figured out what happened to the Yankee offense. Josh Hamilton stole it.”
LOL! I wish that were true. Unfortunately, they lost their offense before he even came.
Let me get this straight…Jason Bay represented Canada in the International Derby?
So what’d I miss?
How do you really justify tearing down this stadium?…it seems almost sac religious to me.
Thomo, Mantle was on that show 6 times, but, yeah, he wasn’t that big. About 5’10″ or 5’11″ and 165 when he first came up. He didn’t get to 195 pounds until about 1962 or so. What he had was 16″ forearms. When you stop to remember that he was hitting 455 foot outs, it amazes. Kubek said that he lost at least 15 home runs a year to left center (457′) and center (463′). Even straight away left field was 407 feet.
mel, are you serious?
Green Beret 7 -
Thanks for that bit on Paul Winchell. As I read your post, I did remember reading at some time that he was an inventor. It’s pretty cool, I think.
“The sendoff that Yankee Stadium deserved?”
How about a WS win, you dope.
Enough with Alex not participating you BSPN fool
Rick Reilly is a moron…AROD has never done a HR Derby, because he has never wanted to screw up his swing. Reilly can pine all he wants, but he’s proving himself to be a moron. I’ve lost a lot of respect for him tonight for his ridiculous comments.
MLB: way to appeal to a new generation. You have a competition that kids can understand…then have the thing run until midnight. Terrible marketing / planning by MLB. And the sad thing is, they won’t change.
It can’t be described how proud I feel to see the Josh Hamilton I met in ’98 beat his demons to such a height of achievement. Beyond outstanding and he has the wherewithal to continue with all the support he gets. I once kidded him for not being a Yankee but he must feel like one right now.
Yes, heard most of it in the car, though.
I’d just been reading that article while you posted it, Marc. He deserves good things to happen to him.
How does this guy know what A-Rod would have done? He really needs to shut up for the rest of the evening!
My pleasure, Doreen. He never took a dime for his medical patents. He was quite a character.
HAHAHA that commerical with Papi playing badminton was actually quite hilarious.
jon, a rod participated in the 2002 hr derby, but your right he is a moron, he needs to stop talking about a rod and also the fact that he said that it turned out better than anything a rod would do is just disgraceful, they need to stop taking shots at a rod, they just come off more idiotic by the minute
ARod hits bombs in games…if he actually cared, he’d hit bombs in the HR Derby too. But, gladly, he refuses. If he wasn’t a Yankee, then I’d be wanting to see him do this.
Who would trade Joba and Melky to Texas for Josh Hamilton ?
Those old HR Derby shows were filmed at the Old Wrigley Field in LA, not far from USC…..The players would compete when their teams made the trip to LA…..The Championships would be in the off season or before Spring Training……
I think that was a young girl, Karl Ravech.
I used to find Rick Reilly’s columns in SI really rubbed me the wrong way often, when I used to read them during a free trial I had. Nothing has changed.
Nice interview with Reggie-
Basically gave a positive plug, by saying that if you want the chance to wear the pinstripes and challenge those Yankees past, there’s no better stage.
Maybe Hamilton will want to be a Yankee when his contract runs out. Doubt he’ll hit the 2nd round, and make his 71yo pitcher throw another 54 pitches.
I’d trade Melky for a good reliever right about now, but I don’t know what he’ll fetch us. He’s in the .230′s.
…Lousy night to be an atheist?
That’s not really cool, either.
lol, from espn chat:
george(ny): was that an 71 yr old guy or billy wagner in the 9th they both gave up the same amout or hr
Rick Reilly’s contract with ESPN will be cancelled after tonight.
“…Lousy night to be an atheist?
That’s not really cool, either.”
As an agnostic, I enjoyed every one of the 28. Whoever said that is clueless.
Uh, Pete, I don’t think any of those left the stadium…
Did Reilly say that about atheism too? I missed it.
I don’t know who said it, but someone did.
I’m Jewish, not atheist, but I still found it a little offensive.
The Reds would gladly have taken Joba last year for Hamilton. Instead they got a pitcher who played poorly for Texas, but now is a Cy Young candidate.
What happened to Reilly happens to most columnists. They start believing they are bigger than the sports they report. They believe their own hype. They get the big head and lose perspective.
What exactly did Reilly say and in what context?
I’m atheist and if he can do that while being all hopped up on the Jesus Juice…call me a believer.
It was a lousy tattoo artist in Bradenton, Florida that did Josh Hamilton’s arms.
I hope he’s watching the Derby to hear the bad props for his work.
Nice music for Hamilton!
some one shouted out earlier… ” who needs steiroids ”
Was that Reilly too?
I’m an Atheist and I don’t think what Reilly said was a big deal. It actually made me laugh because of how stupid his comment was.
Some people need to get a life and grow some thicker skin.
Rebecca, it comes as no surprise that it was also Rick Reilly that made both comments. I’m thinking that he is either Doris From Rego Park or related to him.
Rick Reily, same guy who has already stuck his foot in his mouth vis a vis not enough hispanics in the derby.
I guess nobody confiscated his mike after his first lameass comment. Silly tools.
What happened to Reilly happened to Lupica years ago. He thought he was ‘all that’……
Rick Reilly must have an amazing agent/publicist. I remember when he was in those Miller Lite commercials too. I haven’t picked up an SI in years, so I have no opinion on his writing skills, but they can’t be commensurate with the attention he gets.
“What exactly did Reilly say and in what context?”
I know that earlier he pointed out that all eight hitters are white guys. Only person in the ballpark or in the country who cares …
Its a pity, I used to love reading Reilly’s column.
He used to write for SI before going to ESPN.
He’s an idiot – and thats being kind.
Could it be that someone told him he had to dumb things down to fit in with ESPN?
When he got to ESPN.com, Reilly threw a fit because his column/link on the home page was below that of Bill Simmons “The Sports Guy.” Reilly went nuts but, because of his contract, can do nothing about it.
Reilly was upset because he felt Simmons was not a real journalist.
Hair Dresser, it’s just that it’s at least the third group of people that he’s made comments about, and, absolutely none need to have been said in a home run contest. He’s a jerk.
His spot in SI was good…too bad his commentating skills suck.
“I’m an Atheist and I don’t think what Reilly said was a big deal. It actually made me laugh because of how stupid his comment was.
Some people need to get a life and grow some thicker skin.”
The stupidity of the comment is the whole point of the discussion.
Some people need to get off their little perches.
They’re not, Nick. In fact when I decided not to continue on my SI trial to a full subscription last year, his columns were one reason I gave for not doing so.
I used to love listening to Riles on the Dan Patrick show (ESPN version). But he always, ALWAYS sounded like he was on pain meds.
They reset for the 3rd round
Well, to be fair, BS is not a real journalist.
“some one shouted out earlier… †who needs steiroids —
Well, that one was amusing as the cameras cut to Ortiz at the exact same moment. Inadvertent, of course, but I found it funny.
I am watching original HR Derby on DVD, Mantle vs Mays…..Winner gets $2,000.00 , loser gets $1,000.00…
Confucius,
It was a dumb comment. But offensive?
Puh-leez.
It’s really not that big of a deal.
Jesus juice? What is Jesus juice?
I heard Hamilton interviewed the other day and he said it was turning to God that saved him. Not a bad thing to be saved by if you ask me.
Nice touch by ESPN to mention Joba and the bugs. It wouldn’t be ESPN if they didn’t get in some shot at the Yankees.
Reily sounds like an idiot-thus he is perfect for ESPN
Confucious, maybe the ESPN ombudsman arranged that one.
I also got a response from her assistant.
I wonder how many of us e-mailed her about the camera following A-rod & Bobby into the tunnel incident?
That guy from Illinois looks like he’s having a blast. Even if he doesn’t win.
What was the incident in the tunnel?
Is this about what Reilly said about “who needs drugs to get high?” or something like that?
Did you Mel? What was the response? I was curious about what happened with those who emailed her over that.
What happened if he got it right? Money?
I have no problem with Hamilton finding g-d.
I have an issue with those that would insult atheists because they don’t.
someone stuff a sock in chris berman’s mouth. we get it back back back. yea, same old tired bit. self aggrandizing loser.
SJ44 mentioned that Arod was explaining to Bobby (or Robi?) how Delcarmen was tipping his pitches. The camera zeroes in on them and Morgan says, oops I don’t think they’re supposed to be doing that and proceeds to tell the whole world that Delcarmen is tipping his pitches.
We all emailed the ombudsman.
“I heard Hamilton interviewed the other day and he said it was turning to God that saved him. Not a bad thing to be saved by if you ask me.”
I’m all for anything that saves an addict, faith, family or whatever. He could give himself a little more credit for the home run hitting though.
Hey, if Hamilton found God…more power to him. I’m sure Rehab helped too, and some therapy.
Anybody else think that this Home Run Derby is over hyped by ESPN. After 2 1/2 hrs this is still not over. Good choice A-Rod to stay out of this fiasco.
When Hamilton signed an autograph between pitches I had to turn it off.
“I have no problem with Hamilton finding g-d.”
What do we have to do to get our hitters to find God?
mel
What was the Ombudsman response?
Whatever he needs to believe to get him through the day…but God doesn’t care who wins the HR derby.
Reilly = the perfect fit for ESPN. Tonight should see him get a plump bonus plus the Foot-In-Mouth award.
Angel,
Form letter from assistant. Someone mentioned the same thing the other day.
A note from Le Anne:
I cannot respond personally to all the mail I receive, but I do read and take note of all complaints. When the complaints are specific to a show or to an article on espn.com, I forward them to the producer or editor in charge of that content. When there are several complaints on the same topic, I do a weekly tabulation that becomes part of a report sent to all of ESPN’s top management. (I do the same for positive comments.) I cannot assure you that your complaints or mine will result in action, but I can assure you they are not lost in some cyberspace void. They are read, thought about, disseminated.
Thank you,
Le Anne Schreiber
He got a Tahoe Hybrid and a 2009 MLB ticket package.
I have no clue what’s going on with this ESPN incident.
I think that the wife deserves the most credit. She could have dumped him because from what I read he had zero redeeming qualities, but chose to stick with him.
Thanks Mel. Well hopefully if there were enough people (ie several complaints) then it was at least put in her weekly report, whatever that is. I know a few other people here did at the time. I’m sorry I didn’t too now, I was working at the time and didn’t have time.
I like the Bud commercial…considering its Belgian now. Never liked the beer anyway. Hopefully Stella will teach them how to make a real beer.
See Mel’s post at 10.37pm, Jon.
Let’s see if my C-Note investment pays off….
Hamilton never said that God helped him hit homers, only that HE helped him find the paths to get him straight. Hey, I know quite a few guys in my business that didn’t believe in God or anything else, until they were put into a position that you wanted all of the help you could possibly get. Lots of praying in a fire fight.
“He got a Tahoe Hybrid and a 2009 MLB ticket package.”
This part never made sense to me – giving millionaires free cars.
“I have an issue with those that would insult atheists because they don’t.”
I missed the exact comment. But maybe it was meant to be a joke and not an insult?
jon I think Hamilton’s point in the interview was that it was his turning to God that got him to go to rehab etc. and not the other way around.
The cameraman actually followed them into the tunnel, where they went to get out of the view of the camera’s and proceeded to stay on them while they were clearly discussing stuff that they’re not supposed to show.
mel
From what I read, she gave him multiple chances but did walk away until he got clean. The only person who stuck with him through all the insanity was his grandmother.
I think one of Hamilton’s homers at least made it’s way to heaven!
Laura, the car went to a fan, not the player.
Hamilton looks gassed
He should totally win this.
I think that was for the contest winner guy from Illinois, that was picking where they were going to hit their HR’s.
But I agree, it seems somehow wrong – when they give the MVP of the All Star Game a car.
3 to go to tie…
This 5 minute tape delay kind of sucks
I’m miffed that we went to walk the dog and I missed Ortiz being booed. Maybe ESPN will replay this and I’ll check it out just to hear the booing!
2 more…
I think the issue was that the cameras are supposed to stay out of the dugouts, and the tunnel, obviously.
The Bradley massage did not work
Rocky Theme…is that really necessary?
The dream is over
We got to see that Josh Hamilton can hit and hit with power. We don’t get to see the other 3 of his five tools, run, field, and throw.
“Laura, the car went to a fan, not the player.”
The winner also gets a car. Didn’t they give Vlad a Corvette last year?
Did anyone make the obligatory, “Hey…that old guy’s not bad. Can Cashman sign him?” remark yet?
NO JOE…he signaled him to get the gold ball. Moron.
WTF!?
Well, I still think you have to consider Hamilton the real winner.
It was a marvel watching him.
The final was really anti-climatic. The real show was the first round.
5 to win. That was a tough second round.
Hamilton is a winner. Look where he was and look where he is.
Aw Josh.
Still, outstanding job tonight!
Hank is somewhere salivating…
To Skippy…………yep, I already said Cash was scouting him……He’s got better stuff than Igawa……
He was definitely the start of the derby.
Hhahaha…they didnt even interview Morneau first.
What happened? I fell asleep and Josh Hamilton was getting getting a trophy?
Hey that old guy is not bad. Can Cash sign him.
Duh! Hamilton was NOT getting a trophy?
They bypassed Morneau because he stole the 2006 MVP, and, everyone knows it.
That State Farm guy just called Justin ‘Jason’.
Erin Andrew’s skirt is pulled up way too high up on her waist…
They bypassed Morneau because he stole the 2006 MVP, and, everyone knows it.
Just thinking the same thing.
He won an MVP he shouldn’t have won, and now he won a homerun derby he shouldn’t have.
GB7,
The espn radio guys said fans were booing Morneau’s pitcher in the first round because he wasn’t throwing strikes. His partner said, “No, I think the fans remember Morneau edging out Jeter for the MVP in ’06.
Morneau’s real award is dinner and entertainment with Erin Andrews.
Morneau is just as much a winner for NOT having a drug problem to overcome.
By the way,anybody know what company sponsored the 2008 HR derby????? Just kiddin’
All Stars were asked about playing in the game during the last year of the Stadium.
All said things about the history, the people who had played there before them, how it was an honor to be part of that history. Some spoke of parents telling them about all that was great about the players who played there. Varitek spoke about enjoying being part of the rivalry and finished it off with “It’s (the Stadium) the biggest star in our game — besides Fenway.” Way to take the high road captain.
Someone Else,
That would be a Freudian slip.
Mourneau was very gracious.
Couple of comments…
What is this I hear about the Yankees signing Hamilton – ESPN mentioned it..
I loved Reggie mentioning that he would never have passed on the home run derby because it would mess up his swing. This was the last season at Yankee stadium. A-rod is going to erase the stain on baseball and probably pass Barry Bonds. He just passed Mantle. He should have been there, I lost a bit of respect for him after this.
Greatest home run derby I’ve seen, I was rooting for Hamilton but his first round performance was just phenomenal.
Mel, I would have had to vote a tie between Jeter and Mauer (the real MVP of the ’06 Twins).
Star not start. Ack.
To Jonathan Papellbon
Open Mouth
Insert Foot
Repeat
He is the type of player ya just cant stand!
Mel, was that a Freudian Slip, or, as they like to say in the pysochology business, “A Boo-Boo.”
GreenBeret,
The funny thing was that 2 writers from the Midwest left him off their ballot. People claim it wouldn’t have mattered, but if IIRC Morneau won by the slimmest of margins.
Such class.
Pete, how come you didn’t blog the celebrity softball game?
lol
Yes, quite a night on ESPN. From Utley’s verbal Jack McDowell to social studies with Rick Reilly to ‘Jason’ Mourneau.
You’re correct, Mel. I think it was 14 points.
Ack? Meh?
Anyone know what trailer Angel got her home schooling in?
Josh Hamilton got on the map tonight . . . already had heard about his amazing story, but he won over New Yorkers tonight in a big way. The ending was really an afterthought. Pete, you are so right about the Call Your Shot” silliness. Totally lame. Sometimes MLB needs to let these big events breathe without trying to squeeze every last drop of juice out of them. And if someone needs to make a movie Josh Hamilton’s story (and give him a big cut of the gross) yesterday. Wow.
It was your mother’s trailer, Youkilis.
Give her my regards.
Trav
Did you lose the same respect for Manny, Pujols, Tejeda, Vlad and the other 10 guys who respecfully declined also?
Is the parade going to be televised live or is that what they’re showing on FOX tomorrow evening right before the game??
Angel,
Don’t feel too bad.
Being trailer trash is actually higher on the evolutionary scale than being a Red Sox fan/troll.
I see that more od the idiot jackasses like Youkilis and Payback have showed up to impart their usual class and sytle on the board. I’m guessing that neither one is over 12 years old.
WEll that was a good Derby with a whack ending.
Alex Rios suffered the same problem when he hit more homeruns then Guerrero then fell apart in the 3rd round.
Very true, Mel. He’s like my little pet troll-stalker, he seems to have quite the crush on me. It’s be kinda flattering – if there wasn’t the slightly creepish factor of his name of choice.
Gah! (just in case he needed another bit of ammunition).
Ack! If you know what I mean.
Meh! Yeah that about says it all.
ACK! MEH! ACK! MEH! ACKMEH! Angel needs ackmeh medicine bad.
Is it just me or did the “Call Your Shot” guy look like Jerry Jones? And what are they going to do next year? Pull out Drew Carrey to home plate and play ‘Plinko’?
Bud Selig on Letterman tonight.
What kind of loser comes here and posts with the name “Youklis”?
Seriously. How old are you?
Angel:
Why do you answer a Sox troll?
No one will think lower of you if you ignore them.
Angel, you better call for Kolchak. (Darren McGavin – vampire catcher/stalker)
Truth.
The celebrity game looks fantastic.
O’Neill hit one out!!
feest,
Out of the real park or the one short park?
The Desperate Housewives guy hit one out of the short park and Whoopi turned a nice DP.
My husband has that series on DVD, GB7. The Night Stalker – long before he was in A Christmas Story.
I think I need an anvil actually, it seems to have gone all Roadrunner/Wiley E Coyote on me now.
I know Feest, but I feel fairly comfortable in dealing with 12 year olds.
Just watching the news and they were interviewing Yankee and Red Sox players about how it’s going to be sharing the clubhouse with so many Red Sox players. It’s funny because Arod and Joe Girardi both said it was going to be a little bit weird.
I don’t know why but it irks me that they are going to get to put their smelly feet in our Yankee clubhouse and get to even look at it. They are not worthy!
The derby was fantastic. Congrats to Mourneau and Hamilton. They really put on a show. The celebrity game looks like its fun to watch. The only thing I think could have made it better was Giambi in the finals. Good stuff..doesn’t egt better than that.
Kevin
“but I feel fairly comfortable in dealing with 12 year olds.”
Ack? Meh? I guess you would.
Erin Andrews will you blank me!!
I don’t think the trolls are 12 years old. They haven’t developed that mean gene yet.
Whoever said that Erin Andrew’s skirt was hiked to high was correct. It was very unflattering. And she looked like she fell into a bottle of peroxide.
Still lovely, but she’ll never get a look-see from Jeter with the frumpy look.
A Kolchak reference?
Wow.
3 out of 1,000 might get that here.
I’d like to think that watching these festivities at their Stadium might get the Yankee juices flowing again!
Angel, that wasn’t a bad show. A lot of harmless fun. I love those old shows from that era. If you like great laughs, get “McHale’s Navy” with Ernest Borgnine and a young Tim Conway.
I can’t believe that we have to wait until Friday for the next game. The offense might be in a coma by then.
Mel-
Gawd she sounds HOT! I must see the replay!!
“The offense might be in a coma by then.”
How will we tell???
Anybody still up and watching the celebrity softball game?
4-6-3 DP turned by Whoopi Goldberg-Billy Crystal-Tino Martinez. Gotta love it.
Evan,
Just watch ESPNews. Let’s just say that she was closer to Josh Hamilton than God.
Freddie, are you only a jerk on this board or is this the real you? All I’ve ever seen you do is trash other posters or everything Yankee.
mel: let’s hope not.
GB:
You talking to me??? Was merely supporting Mel’s point that thee Yankees have struggled with the bats.
HA! Part of my childhood consisted of reruns of Gilligans Island at 5.00pm and McHale’s Navy at 5.30pm.
I remember them both fondly for different reasons, but they were both harmless good fun for an hour before dinner.
people can say what they want, but when it comes to sports reporting Erin Andrews is always on point.
http://cdn.faniq.com/images/ph.....15-107.jpg
That was before cable though, when we only had a choice of 4 channels.
Steve Phillips must be in charge of listing the stats for the participants in the Celebrity Softball game. Whoever it is described Tino Martinez as having a 16-year Major League career that spanned from 1995 to 2000. Time doesn’t fly THAT quickly!
I thought I was talking on his level. All of those words are found in the Urban Dictionary, after all, which seems to be his speed.
What??????? They allowed Red Sox players to dress in the Yankees lockerroom? Time to knock down the stadium!
OldYanksFan I really really really really REALLY hate that those sapsuckers get to step a foot in the Yankee locker room. They’re a cocky bunch as it is. Francona in Girardi’s office to boot.
It’s just not right.
Time to knock down the stadium is right!
i was in section 621- did he NOT hit it out of the stadium? the whole section lost the ball.
Mel-
I just saw Erin Andrews on ESPNews and it was disappointing. She didn’t show enough skin and here outfit was too, too loose and not form fitting.
Best line ever on ESPN. Talking about the catcher while Hamilton was hitting and never touching the ball. “The catcher serves as much purpose as Steve Phillips on here.”
Note on 2006 MVP vote:
The Captain was NOT left off any ballots. In fact all 28 writers had him top 5 or better. Oddly, he received no 3rd or 4th place votes. 12 1st, 14 2nd and 2 5th. Morneau had 15 1st, 8 2nd, 3 3rd and 2 4th. Had Jeter’s 2 fifth place votes (6 points) been 1st place votes (14 points), he would have won the award by 2 points. 2nd and 3rd place votes were worth 9 points and 8 points respectively.
It was insufferable listening to Berman-Morgan-Phillips at the same time trying to analyze this derby.
What’s there to analyze, it’s HR Derby!
O/T
Watching ESPNews, Brett Farve is still crying (literally).
Sheesh!
Instead of wearing a uniform, he should wear a skirt.
I heard Brian Cashman signed Pops (the 71 year old guy) to a minor league contract so we have more arms that are great at giving up the long balls
Whoa!
OMG!!
Cleveland’s Cliff Lee is drop dead gorgeous (quickly to google images)!!
he looks a teeny bit like novak djokovic (only a little better looking)
Evan, that’s an insult to women everywhere.
Steve-
Cashman signed a 71 year pitcher?
you mean they resigned Clemens!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNGY3d7jKAs
I would rather sign Pops than Victor Zambrano.
Steve-
Cashman signed a 71 year pitcher?
you mean they resigned Clemens!!
Rebecca-
you’re right. I was wrong.
Women are a lot tougher then Brett Farve.
My bad.
Chase Utley loves NY
lets be honest Yankees fans could care less this was response to the Ny NL team
Papelbon says he deserves to close the game, not Mo!!
see article in today’s Daily News
Papelbon is the type of goof that deserves to get his pocket picked by a mid-town thief.
He probably thinks if he puts on that smug look the thief will come back to say he’s sorry.
He has the class of a subway trash can.
This is the quote in the Star Ledger:
“I think we’ve both earned that right – us by winning the World Series and having the opportunity have have our manager here making those decisions, and (Rivera) because o who he is and what he’s done and having the game in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah. So there’s no straight answer.” Emphasis added.
Frankly, it was the “blah, blah, blah” that got to me.
And no, he (Papelbon) has not “earned” that right, even if his team won the World Series last year, and even if his manager is managing the ASG. Francona has earned the right to make the decision.
If Mariano was not having quite the year he’s having and if Papelbon had been lights out so far this season, I’d say he was justified in his opinion. And obviously someone who closes ball games has to have a particular mindset of being the best. However, I don’t remember Mariano ever being so without tact and grace. Papelbon still has a lot to learn about sportsmanship, I think.
Has anyone given thought to the prospect that the National League could be winning this game, and there is no real need for a closer in the game? What then? What if the NL is rallying in the 7th or 8th? Who do you bring in to stop it? Papelbon, Mo or a set-up guy? I mean, all the talk has really made the assumption that the AL is going to be winning, I think.
(I know, perish the though!)
By the way, Josh Hamilton really brought some much-needed excitement into the Home Run Derby last night. It was totally hum-drum before he started launching rockets left and right (and center!).
He’s got that right, if in the top of the 9th that door opens and Enter Sandman isn’t playing there would probably be a riot at Yankee Stadium.
The ideal scenario is to see Papsmear pitch in the 8th inning and blow the lead the AL has. After the AL rallies in the bottom of the 8th to regain the lead, Mo comes in to close out the 9th on just 9 pitches …. all strikes.
Look for temper tantrum in the AL dugout by Papsmear after Mo’s last pitch.
He has the class of a subway trash can.
Hey Alan what did a subway trash can ever do to you to be compared to refuse like Jonathan Papelbon???
“He’s got that right, if in the top of the 9th that door opens and Enter Sandman isn’t playing there would probably be a riot at Yankee Stadium.”
and last night, Papelbon admitted to the Boston Globe that MO should pitch the 9th inning.
seems like that is case closed for me. but i would expect most news organizations and radio talk shows to run with the story for the day to have something to talk about.
“If Mariano was not having quite the year he’s having and if Papelbon had been lights out so far this season, I’d say he was justified in his opinion. And obviously someone who closes ball games has to have a particular mindset of being the best. However, I don’t remember Mariano ever being so without tact and grace. Papelbon still has a lot to learn about sportsmanship, I think.”
Papelbon has his right to an opinion no matter how he and Mo are performing. Not sure I’d want a closer who didn’t say he wants the ball in this situation. Papelbon’s logic is a bit flawed, but he’s no Einstein. Honestly think this is a tempest in a teapot and something for the tabloids on and fanboys/beat writers like Pete and his compadres to harp on in the absence of anything else going on.
Mo has earned the right to close this game for several reasons: 1) He’s been the AL’s best closer this year 2) Game’s in the building he’s played his career in and 3) Lifetime achievement award (for him and the Stadium). Francona knows this and will act accordingly. It’s really a non-story and more proof that the allstar break is too freakin’ long.
Really don’t you think he is covering his butt? Maybe he thought about how fried he would get. For 50 minutes he spoke of how he should close. Than a 2 second statement wipes that out?
Actually, Francona would prefer to never use a Boston pitcher selected to the ASG so he can keep them fresh after the break. He’ll also get Ramirez, Youkilis, and Pedroia out of the game after an at bat or two for the same reason.
Let’s hope his plan backfires and Boston’s 2nd half is a nightmare.
great picture
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....pages.html
“lets be honest Yankees fans could care less this was response to the Ny NL team”
ha! i missed it first time thru, but that was classic. such a human response, very real moment.
“what, you’re booing me? well screw you!”
The NY Post has a BIG article on ARod.
Apparently he wired tapped Cynthia!
Wow! I didn’t know Karbala made you paranoid.
“The NY Post has a BIG article on ARod.
Apparently he wired tapped Cynthia!”
Sad, but not stunning. Arod leads the world in insecurity.
Fredo -
Just to be clear, I specifically avoided saying the Papelbon did not have the right to his opinion. Of course he does. Everyone does. And I did say that, of course, you’d want a closer to have a high level of confidence. And if this was the first time he’d been a little dim-witted when discussing Mariano, I wouldn’t blink an eye. But it was not the first time he has opined that he is better than Mariano (setting the standard for future relief pitchers, anyone?). On a game-to-game basis, any one pitcher can be better than any other pitcher, of course. There are games where Papelbon HAS been lights out; there have been games where Mariano failed to do the job. But when you’re talking about an over-all career, right now, no one comes close to Rivera and that’s why I said Papelbon’s opinion was not justified. Or perhaps I should have said his opinion has no basis in fact.
And I agree with Jennifer.
Doreen :
The likelihood of Papelbon having the longevity of Mo is nill at best. His pitching mechanics suggest a flameout by the time he’s 32 unlike Mo who looks no different than he did 10 years ago.
“Apparently he wired tapped Cynthia!
Sad, but not stunning. Arod leads the world in insecurity.”
we all knew there was more to the story, and i wouldnt call ARod insecure or paranoid… just smart.
she hired a PI to follow him right? well, as it turns out, he did the same thing.
for a man whose imagine is as important to his ARod brand as his actual performance on the field, i dont blame him.
at least now if she threatens to release personal info, he can do the same, they cancel out, and we’re all spared the nonsense in the media.
“Apparently he wired tapped Cynthia!â€
No, the paper says Cynthia may/possibly/could have/ think she was wire tapped. Doesn’t say Cynthia thinks it or says he did.
“Just to be clear, I specifically avoided saying the Papelbon did not have the right to his opinion.”
Yeah, you did. Bad wording by me. Apologies.
To be fair, crazy and obtuse as he seems to be, Papelbon never once said he was better than Mo. He is guilty of comparing himself favorably with Mo without the track record to support it, but that’s a little different than saying he’s better.
I’ll be at the AS Game – Papelbon and Youkilis are gonna get BOOED!
“I’ll be at the AS Game – Papelbon and Youkilis are gonna get BOOED!”
Hard to imagine little Dust-mite dodging the boo birds along with these two.
dean J-
this is what the article says:
“Famed New York divorce lawyer Raoul Felder said Cynthia Rodriguez’s lawyers wouldn’t have made the stunning request without a real belief A-Rod spied on his wife.”
i think it can simply be assumed if someone is wearing a Boston ‘B’ on their cap, they are going to hear about it.
Evan
That still doesn’t say he did only that a lawyer who knows nothing of the details of this case has a belief. That makes her paranoid, not him.
It’s really a non-story and more proof that the allstar break is too freakin’ long.
Yep.
Does anyone here really care that Arod spied on his wife or didn’t? If you do you really need to get a life.