MLB Home Run Derby Announced

[blackwoodcompany]

I have found two things tonight about this years home run derby

The field was set Wednesday for the 2015 Derby, which will be held Monday at 8 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. It features two National League Rookie of the Year Award candidates (Joc Pederson and Kris Bryant), a past Derby winner (two-time victor Prince Fielder), a hometown slugger (Todd Frazier), one of the top active career home run hitters (Albert Pujols), power-hitting third basemen (Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson) and a first-timer with plenty of clout (Anthony Rizzo).

Also, I have found out that they are doing timed rounds.  I don't know if they crossed the line or what.  What do you think?

[billmcdee]

Timed rounds instead of getting X number of outs?  On the one hand I dislike that, since baseball is the only major sport without a clock, unless you count the pitcher's clock that is.

On the other hand, since there is the potential for one batter to get into such a groove and have a very long at bat, that could make it last longer, plus there would perhaps be concerns for the player's well being, since professional athletes are much more of a commodity now than ever before.

Personally I have never been a fan of the home run derby to begin with.  The only HR derby I ever liked was back when Classic Sports Network debuted (before stupid ESPN took it over) and they had reruns of old HR Derby shows featuring the likes of Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Killebrew and the like.

[blackwoodcompany]

Well, I did watch it last night and Todd Frazier of the Reds dominated the homerun derby to win it in his home stadium. Some at ESPN did like the format, but I have not checked the twitter followers.