tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post8264327609972727880..comments2023-06-17T08:53:42.643-04:00Comments on ShysterBall: A-Rod and the Home Run DerbyCraig Calcaterrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-71987655816429533382008-07-14T15:34:00.000-04:002008-07-14T15:34:00.000-04:00I agree completely with Peter. Everyone here know...I agree completely with Peter. Everyone here knows that the focus of all ARod/Yankee "analysis" if they stumble out of the gate in the 2nd half and ARod participated in the HRDerby would be that he values individual awards and accolades more than his team's success. Then they would trot out all the stories of players saying that the Derby had messed up their swings and ignored all the players who had a good second half and think the hoax is ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>Anybody else think it would make the HRDerby better if all the participants were pitchers and we moved home plate to the mound? I would definitely watch that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-53104336779582471372008-07-14T15:26:00.000-04:002008-07-14T15:26:00.000-04:00There's a difference between guys who swing for th...There's a difference between guys who swing for the fence and guys who go over the fence because of the type of swing they have. <BR/><BR/>Guess which are Bonds and Howard and guess which are Wright and Abreu. <BR/><BR/>This is the type of discussion where we actually do need to tell the statistics to shut up and people actually need to understand the mechanics of the game. <BR/><BR/>Maybe a little less fantasy baseball and a little bit more company softball team might help.Ron Rollinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16852012772573977515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-24551152913328192652008-07-14T14:45:00.000-04:002008-07-14T14:45:00.000-04:00You don't think players take unrealistic power hac...You don't think players take unrealistic power hacks in BP?Scaevolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186233560997401909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-42804185380320637672008-07-14T12:26:00.000-04:002008-07-14T12:26:00.000-04:00I certainly don't believe in any curse, but I also...I certainly don't believe in any curse, but I also have no problem with guys sitting out because they think it messes them up. Sure, Ryan Howard and others have come back after the break and hit a ton of bombs, but for some guys, taking that many let-me-hit-it-as-hard-as-I-can swings is tough. <BR/><BR/>Vlad has come out and said that he was exhausted from swinging that many times last year. And he hit zero home runs in July. Of course, I think this type of thing would affect Vlad more than others, since Vlad tends to swing from his heels every pitch. Howard is a beast who generates easy power from his body, so I imagine he would be less affected. I would make the case that at the very least, the competition is tiring for the guys who get into the finals rounds. Further, this type of exertion is coming at a time when most guys are resting. Some guys' bodies and swings can handle it better than others, but I think it can definitely have a detrimental affect on a guy's hitting immediately after the break. <BR/><BR/>If I was a Yankees fan who was hopeful that my team was going to make it back into the playoffs, I'd be happy A-Rod was sitting out as well. I'm certainly glad Vlad's not going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-16299923401033437282008-07-14T12:19:00.000-04:002008-07-14T12:19:00.000-04:00Let's be honest, Justin: No matter what ARod did, ...Let's be honest, Justin: No matter what ARod did, he would be bashed.<BR/><BR/>If he participates, he's trying to hog the spotlight, he's not focused on winning, he's not a team player, etc. And God forbid he get off to a slow start after the break (ARod's Selfishness Dooms Yankees).<BR/><BR/>If he sits out, he's no fun, he hates the fans, he's got no balls, he doesn't have any "Yankee Pride", etc.<BR/><BR/>Making a comment to explain his decision not to participate would only fuel the story, IMO.<BR/><BR/>I don't know whether or not the Home Run Derby messes up hitters' swings. Citing examples of guys have done well (or poorly) after competing in the Derby doesn't really prove anything. Regardless, ARod's making a ton of money and his team needs him to have a good second half if they're going to make the playoffs, so he should do whatever he feels is necessary for him to get ready for the second half.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122650171636289605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-79724811117301120952008-07-14T12:17:00.000-04:002008-07-14T12:17:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122650171636289605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-75091850694181019392008-07-14T11:49:00.000-04:002008-07-14T11:49:00.000-04:00Actually, Stark makes a pretty good point about th...Actually, Stark makes a pretty good point about the last time he participated in the Home Run Derby. 30 HRs in the second half is what happened. Now, I don't really care about the HR derby, so if you want to sit it out, fine. But don't be silly and think that it messes with your swing or that there's some kind of cures - that's just silly. Here's where I throw in this quote from Wright (one of the poor victims of the curse): <BR/><BR/>"It doesn't mess up your swing. Just ask Ryan Howard—it didn't affect his. If you're at this level, your ability to make adjustments has to be pretty high. Those guys in the Home Run Derby can make adjustments."<BR/><BR/>Yeah, so here's what's possibly going on - (1) A-Rod actually believes what he's saying, and is thus a lot duller than I've given him credit for (and considering the mess that his personal life is right now, this might actually be the reason), or (2) A-Rod just wants a day off and won't (or can't) nut-up and tell the media (and MLB) the real reason why he won't participate.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, if he just said something like "you know, I have a lot of personal issues going on right now because of my cougar hunting tendencies and could really use this extra day to help straighten my life out so I can come back in the second half with a clear head."<BR/><BR/>Or, alternatively, "Yeah, I need this extra day to do a little cougar hunting, he you see that foxy older chick over there... yeah, her - yeah, I'm gonna tap that tonight..."<BR/><BR/>Either way, I'd have a lot more respect for the guy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15093202941457392445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-45032300101372508482008-07-14T10:07:00.000-04:002008-07-14T10:07:00.000-04:00Well, here it comes, courtesy of Jayson Stark:http...Well, here it comes, courtesy of Jayson Stark:<BR/><BR/>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3485597<BR/><BR/>Blah blah blah blah blah...trite, irrelevant garbage like this is the reason I basically pay attention to Neyer, Law, Gammons, and nobody else on ESPN.com.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122650171636289605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-71882760431873097122008-07-14T09:54:00.000-04:002008-07-14T09:54:00.000-04:00I think it would be nice to see A-Rod in there (li...I think it would be nice to see A-Rod in there (like Mariano getting the start?), but I don't feel it's necessary. Honestly, I think the "power outages" have more to do with great starts to the season that get you into the All-Star Game, the fatigue of the second-half anyway, and just general variation. Those guys still had great years by the end.tHeMARksMiThhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16445834941960575715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-72634614095369898592008-07-14T08:01:00.000-04:002008-07-14T08:01:00.000-04:00Yanks fan here. I have no prob with ARod sitting ...Yanks fan here. I have no prob with ARod sitting it out. None whatsoever.Jason @ IIATMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675184282951841175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-50158132295102688822008-07-14T06:29:00.000-04:002008-07-14T06:29:00.000-04:00It doesn't take more than a cursory perusal of pas...It doesn't take more than a cursory perusal of past participants to see that whatever negative effect can be generalized isn't a permanent one.<BR/><BR/>As I recall, Barry Bonds went on to enjoy continued power-hitting success after 1992.Mark Runsvoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13749478502694372288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-75255390269517960672008-07-14T06:16:00.000-04:002008-07-14T06:16:00.000-04:00If Bobby Abreu, pre 2005 ASG, was not considered o...If Bobby Abreu, pre 2005 ASG, was not considered one of the very best hitters in all of baseball, then people just weren't paying attention. Lowest OPS+ from 1998-2004: 136. OPS+ going into 2005 ASG, 154. <BR/><BR/>That said, the post derby power outages are nonsense. If Abreu got wrecked in 2005, then, somehow, he's never recovered. David Wright, 23 at the time, was possibly hitting just a bit higher than he was then capable of, slugging wise, and came back down to Earth. <BR/><BR/>Of course, in 2006, during Wright's infamous power slippage, he was beaten in the home run derby by Ryan Howard, who went on to hit 30 more homers in the second half. <BR/><BR/>I imagine there is no relationship between actual game home run hitting, and home run derby mashing. That said, A-Rod shouldn't feel obligated to participate in nonsense.TChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09206833333366507894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-25448276823705790472008-07-14T06:10:00.000-04:002008-07-14T06:10:00.000-04:00I've just been surprised I haven't heard more abou...I've just been surprised I haven't heard more about this. It seemed like perfect A-Rod-is-a-prima-donna-who-hates-fans fodder, so well done, Mr. Rosenthal.<BR/><BR/>It's always unsettled me in that seeing your dad in a hospital bed way when I witness big league hitters visibly fatigued by all that swinging. I have some other issues with the derby too, which I voiced on my...er...blog.Mark Runsvoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13749478502694372288noreply@blogger.com