Leaving "no doubt that he is the most powerful force" in MLB, Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton last night "had a Roger Maris night," hitting a record 61 homers over three rounds of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, according to Craig Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. Stanton put on an "eye-opening display in the opening round when he slammed 24 balls to the far reaches" of Petco Park, and he hit "eight balls farther [than] the best shots of the other seven competitors" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12). On Long Island, Marc Carig writes Stanton "made official what has long been his unofficial title as the game's premier power hitter" (NEWSDAY, 7/12). MLB.com's Joe Frisaro writes Stanton "stole the show," and his first round "will go down in Home Run Derby lore" (MLB.com, 7/12). In Miami, Andre Fernandez writes Stanton "looked superhuman," and "put up an array of ridiculous statistics during the performance" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/12). ESPN.com's Jayson Stark writes Petco Park "would become the place where the legend of the great Giancarlo was born." But it "wasn't merely the sheer number of baseballs Stanton hit," it was "where they landed, how far they flew, the sound they made" (ESPN.com, 7/12).
ONE FOR THE AGES: YAHOO SPORTS' Mike Oz wrote the Derby "was historic, an instant classic." The Derby, "like the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, doesn't always attract the best of the best." But Stanton "was like the NBA’s best dunker entering the dunk contest and giving the public exactly what it dreamed about." Stanton "was happy to give the people the show" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/11). MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince writes if the All-Star game itself "is anywhere near as captivating as the Giancarlo Show ... we're on the cusp of something special" (MLB.com, 7/12). SI.com's Jay Jaffe wrote Stanton's showing "was as impressive as we’ve ever seen." The result "was practically a perfect one for MLB, because for once, a marquee slugger withstood the hype and exceeded performance expectations." It would appear that MLB has "finally found a format that works well, too, and that keeps the event from becoming a three-hour slog." SI.com's Cliff Corcoran noted this Derby "was captivating from start to finish thanks the new format and the big sluggers all lived up to the hype." Corcoran: "Kudos to MLB for fixing it" (SI.com, 7/11).
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: In San Diego, Bryce Miller writes in regards to tonight's All-Star Game, the Derby, "once an appetizer, is swallowing the main course." The ASG "still pulls higher TV numbers, but the trend line for both underscores changing times and shifting interest." Baseball HOFer Al Kaline said, "I watch them both, but the Home Run Derby might be more popular than the actual game." Fellow HOFer Frank Robinson said fans tell him "that the game isn’t as exciting as it used to be." He said, "Fans love (the Derby). It’s exciting. I watch it, too" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/12). But in New Jersey, Bob Klapisch wrote under the header, "The Novelty Of The All-Star Home Run Contest Has Worn Off." The Derby "strives for legitimacy by enlisting the game’s top sluggers and asking them to swing for the galaxy’s outer limits." This "would be fine if it wasn’t so repetitive and monotonous, and if it actually had something to do with baseball." Klapisch: "Instead, we’re treated to the equivalent of prime-time softball" (Bergen RECORD, 7/11).
PITCHERS' DUEL? MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark said that MLB and the union "plan to 'revisit" letting pitchers participate in the Derby before the '17 ASG. Asked if that meant holding a separate home run contest for pitchers or allowing a pitcher into the official Derby, Clark said that once Giants P Madison Bumgarner and other pitchers expressed interest in participating earlier this season, the union and MLB "talked about ways to incorporate pitchers into the event." But eventually, they "just ran out of time to settle on all the changes to 'the processes and protocols' that would have been necessary to make that happen" (ESPN.com, 7/11).
TWITTER REAX: SI.com's Jaffe tweeted, "Best Home Run Derby ever? Best Home Run Derby ever. The game's distance king won, and the format worked well." NBC Sports' Joe Posnanski: "Ok, if we are going to watch the home run derby can we stop showing shots of the kids circling under pop ups that are not homers?" Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal: "Union official said how impressed he was that Stanton agreed to HR Derby even though he wasn’t an All-Star. Great representative for sport. ... And yes, as many of you are pointing out, the same can be said of Frazier agreeing to participate when not an All-Star." But Lions G Geoff Schwartz posted, "I just don't find the home run derby entertaining anymore. I can't be the only one. ... Before a gazillion TV channels, the derby was when you'd see sluggers who you normally wouldn't watch on tv hit bombs. I loved it."
