Time to dig the long ball
How to watch
ESPN and ESPN2, at 5 pm today (AZ time)
Who’s taking part?
Not Eugenio Suarez. What, you want more? Oh, alright. Here are the eight participants this year, in the order they will come to the plate in Atlanta, and the number of home-runs hit in the first half.
- James Wood, Nationals (24)
- Brent Rooker, Athletics (20)
- Junior Caminero, Rays (23)
- Oneil Cruz, Pirates (16)
- Byron Buxton, Twins (21)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees (17)
- Cal Raleigh, Mariners (38)
- Matt Olson, Braves (17)
So, yeah. Raleigh is the only player within even half-a-dozen home-runs of the number hit by Suarez, who was deemed not worthy of an invite. I will therefore be cheering loudly for the other seven to fail miserably, and not hit a single home-run between them, out of spite.
How does it work?
- First round. Three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many home-runs as you can, PLUS a bonus period of until you make three “outs” (non-HR swings). If you hit a ball 425 point during the bonus period, you gain an extra out.
- The top four move on to the semis, with the longest home-run being used as a tie-breaker. Scores get reset, and #1 faces #4, while #2 faces #3. They then get two minutes/27 pitches each, going head-to-head, with any ties broken by a three-pitch “swing-off”.
- Winners of the semi-finals face off for the title, in another two minute/27 pitch showdown, with a similar tiebreaker to the semis.
Place your bets…
Naturally, wagers are available on a number of things… Let’s start with the winner:
- Cal Raleigh 3/1
- Oneil Cruz 13/4
- James Wood 4/1
- Byron Buxton 8/1
- Junior Caminero 17/2
- Matt Olson 9/1
- Brent Rooker 10/1
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 14/1
And a slew of other stuff.
- Total Home Runs Recorded by Derby Winner – Over/Under 53½
- Most Home Runs by Any Player in Round 1 – Over/Under 25½
- Longest Home Run Hit in Derby – Over/Under 479½ Feet
- Total Home Runs in the Derby – Over/Under 239½
- Total Swing-Offs – Over/Under 1
All odds from BetOnline.ag. So, who’ve ya got?