I don't care what you say, I still like the Home Run Derby.
There's something about watching the best power hitters in baseball get up to the plate and slug their life away in the name of figuring out who can crush the farthest the most often. Does it dictate who the best hitters in baseball are? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I'm here for the entertainment.
What's been mildly fascinating of late is the personal touch that has been incorporated into the home run derby in recent years. In 2008, we witnessed Josh Hamilton bring in his 71-year old-childhood mentor and then go out and hit a single-round record 28 home runs. In 2011, we saw Robinson Cano bring out his father to pitch and thusly win the Derby like he was swinging in his backyard. In 2013, Bryce Harper made it a family affair by bringing out both brother and father to participate. Bryce's pops was so serious that he ended up throwing multiple cut fastballs on his own son. It was awesome.
Now in 2015, Harper seems like a virtual lock to be invited to participate in the 2015 Home Run Derby as he's tied for the Major League lead with 18 home runs. However, Harper has come out and stated that he likely won’t participate in the Derby because pops recently had surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
“I probably won’t be able to do it this year, because he’s my guy. We’ll see if I end up doing it or not,” Harper told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “As of right now, I don’t know if I’ll end up doing it.”
With other marquee young stars like Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout performing at a high level and likely obvious invites to the swing fest, not having Harper out there would definitely be a letdown.
However, if pops can't throw to his son, it's hard to blame Harper for deciding against breaking tradition.
Maybe pops can teach his younger brother how to throw that lethal cutter to Bryce.
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Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
