The Home Run Derby is known as a great opening event to the All-Star game, and unfortunately it is losing popularity amongst players.
The reason it is losing popularity is because many players believe that it will affect their swing during the second half of the season.
I, for some reason find that the excuse of the home run derby affecting a players swing is bogus, and I'll tell you why.
The MLB is an organization of Professionals who work day in and day out, and the Home Run Derby is nothing more than a heavy batting practice, so I really cannot see why they think that one Batting practice will affect their swing.
The players who participate in the derby have batting practice and batting coaches, if the derby somewhat affects their swing then the players can adjust them in no time.
My theory is, is that when a player after the home run derby hits a slump he will try its best to blame it on the derby, so that he won't have to take the responsibility for his slump.
Which is really unfair.
When a player hits a slump, he hits a slump because of a psychological factor or because he is not being able to identify pitches.
A player doesn't go into a slump because he hit 20+ HR during a batting practice.
This is just an absurd rumor that players will believe so that they don't have to risk ruining their swing.
Because of this theory many star players with great power numbers do not want to participate, which is a darn shame.
This years home run derby was full of first timers, that many fans probably feel that shouldn't have even participated.
Because of the lack of interest from players in this event, it will cause a serious decline in popularity amongst fans.
I find this to be extremely sad and unfortunate because of the history this event has.
The derby is a great addition to the All-Star game, it is an event strictly for the fans that is probably going to be slowly neglected just because players are getting superstitious.
This superstition needs to stop now.
To finish off I would like to congratulate all the batters who participated in this years derby, they at least tried to entertain the fans by 'risking' their swings.
I just hope that next years Home Run derby, will have more star players involved, for the sake of the fans.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments