The alarm just went off and it is now time for my annual "this is the worst three days of the baseball season" post. Glad to get that one checked off the "Things to Do" list.

The fact that Russell Branyan wasn't invited to participate in the Derby is pretty galling to me.

I must admit I was stunned to see how many homers Inge has hit. That guy has one of the craziest career arcs ever.

I like watching the Home Run Derby. So sue me.

Home Run Derby...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Now put Francoeur in it, and I'll watch!

Headline should be, "Field set, Derby promises to bore"

Does it make me a better or worse baseball fan that I find the entire notion of the homerun derby to be detestable?

Remember that old show where they brought on NFL quarterbacks and made them do various tasks? Why can't baseball have something like that instead of the stupid HR derby? A decathalon that includes: time it takes you to run around the bases a la an inside-the-park HR, an accuracy contest where you try and hit a bullseye from various distances, a hitting contest where you have to try and place the ball in 7 randomly chosen spots around the field, etc.

I would totally watch that.

Also, Brandon Inge, Nelson Cruz, and Joe Mauer are in the homerun derby? Really?

Previous season high HR totals for those guys: 9, 27, 13. And the next highest after that 27 from Inge was 16. Yikes.

Wait, wasn't there supposed to be a HR Derby slot chosen by fan voting this year? It was on the All-Star ballot. But I'm not at all sure that any of those AL guys were even on the list to vote from.

Why can't baseball have something like that instead of the stupid HR derby?

Because Barry Larkin hurt himself in 1989 at a skills competition? I'm not really sure if that's the reason, I wasn't really capable of following baseball at the time, but that's what I've heard.

Wait, wasn't there supposed to be a HR Derby slot chosen by fan voting this year?

It was on the ballot but wasn't binding. Pujols, Howard, and Fielder finished 1-2-3 in the NL ballot, according to MLB's website. The results for the AL were never released, but Granderson, Morneau, and Hamilton all declined spots. I don't remember anyone else who was on the ballot outside of Ichiro, and I'm disappointed that he's not involved.

Y'know, Ichiro's the kind of guy who could hit for more power if he wanted to. He hits them as far as anyone in BP, and he's on pace for his 9th straight 20-double season.

I can take or leave the homerun derby, but nearly every casual fan I know likes it, so I think it's a good thing. (of course most casual fans also like the World Baseball Classic so that gives people an idea about how wacked some of the harder core fans vs casual fans)

53% of YES viewers who like texting prefer the Derby to the All-Star Game.

Honestly, I think both the derby and the ASG suck donkey balls. I just wanted to make fun of Brandon Inge.

A home run derby isn't bad, but after three hours of hitting and Chris Berman it becomes incredibly tedious.

The results for the AL were never released, but Granderson, Morneau, and Hamilton all declined spots. I don't remember anyone else who was on the ballot outside of Ichiro

If Ichiro won and they're covering it up, that's a disgrace worse than New Yankee Stadium.

The Home Run Derby would be fun if Chris Berman wasn't involved. I just hope Rick Reilly isn't there this time. God, what hell that was to have to listen to both of those guys last year. Even Joe Buck, who I detest, would be infinitely preferable. Hopefully Fox tries to get the rights in order to put it on FX or something.

Y'know, Ichiro's the kind of guy who could hit for more power if he wanted to. He hits them as far as anyone in BP, and he's on pace for his 9th straight 20-double season.

And bringing up the Hooters thing is what makes someone a dumbass?

I'm kinda tickled by Mauer being in this. Does he plan to best Hamilton's total from last year with nothing but opposite field shots that just sneak over the wall?

According to HitTracker, Carlos Pena has a homerun this season that was hit harder (speed off the bat) than any shot Hamilton hit in last season's derby.

And bringing up the Hooters thing is what makes someone a dumbass?

I would have to assume that (the Ichiro thing) was sarcasm.

I would have to assume that (the Ichiro thing) was sarcasm.

but he forgot the sarcasm tag so it's really tough to tell /sarcasm. :)

(of course most casual fans also like the World Baseball Classic so that gives people an idea about how wacked some of the harder core fans vs casual fans)

I like the World Baseball Classic.

I can take or leave the homerun derby, but nearly every casual fan I know likes it, so I think it's a good thing. (of course most casual fans also like the World Baseball Classic so that gives people an idea about how wacked some of the harder core fans vs casual fans)

Yes, casual fans and fans who like the opportunity to see the portion of the best players in the world who don't play MLB.

I don't know how you can dislike the Home Run Derby. I can understand not caring about it, but to have an active dislike is something I don't understand. It's glorified batting practice.

I think the dislike is more for the fact that we don't get real baseball on the day that we get glorified batting practice.

I don't know how you can dislike the Home Run Derby.

I have seen the future and its name is Chris Berman.

I think I've learned my lesson with the derby. I will watch the first round, because someone will go bananas and that will be fun. But after that it will be tedious and the guys will be tired and hit fewer dingers. So I will stop watching after the first round.

I don't know how you can dislike the Home Run Derby. I can understand not caring about it, but to have an active dislike is something I don't understand. It's glorified batting practice.

Ah, but unlike the batting practice that happens every other day of the season, this one somehow screws up hitters' swings, or so some believe.

(of course most casual fans also like the World Baseball Classic so that gives people an idea about how wacked some of the harder core fans vs casual fans)

Really? My impression of casual fans has been that 100% of them (except the ones supporting non-US countries) think the World Baseball Classic is a pathetic waste of time which is held at the worst possible time of the year (although they can't think of a better time to hold it, which leads them to conclude that it shouldn't exist at all) and is doomed because no stars want to participate. What makes them casual fans is that they don't notice that stars actually are participating.

I enjoy the HR Derby, but I would enjoy it more if it were over by bedtime.

I don't think many casual fans even know that the World Baseball Classic exists.
The HR Derby is fun to watch for about 15 minutes, and this year with ESPN's stupid new graphics, it probably won't be fun at all.

I like the HR Derby, and my opinion on the WBC is infamously well-known. That said, it is improved with a drinking game. Given the fact that these things last until after midnight if anyone gets into a groove however makes me suggest using highly caffeinated beverages instead of alcohol however. This also allows you to feel like the 8-year-olds Chris Berman is targeted towards.