The anticipated showdown tonight between Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton and Yankees RF Aaron Judge at the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Marlins Park "promises to be one of the most sizzling events of the All-Star festivities," according to a front-page piece by Michelle Kaufman of the MIAMI HERALD. Stanton, who won last year's event at Petco Park, was the "first player to accept an invitation" this year, "setting the stage for what should be a fun night for Marlins fans" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/10). In N.Y., Zach Braziller notes "almost everyone’s attention is fixated" on Stanton and Judge for tonight's event. According to Ticket IQ, it is "more expensive" to see the Derby ($182) than the actual All-Star Game tomorrow night ($155) (N.Y. POST, 7/10). In West Palm Beach, Dave George writes an arm wrestling match between Stanton and Judge "would do pretty well on pay-per-view, too, as long as everybody’s in the mood for an exhibition" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/10). MLB.com's Joe Posnanski writes there has "never been a Home Run Derby like this one" (MLB.com, 7/10).
THE REAL STAR OF THE SHOW: In Miami, Greg Cote writes the Home Run Derby for many fans has "become the star attraction" of MLB's Midsummer Classic, "usurping even the All-Star Game in popularity and anticipation." Fans "expect something great or even magical to happen" tonight, then will "merely hope the game itself" tomorrow is enjoyable. The Derby "fascinates in part because it is an unapologetic display of machismo, of my-bat's-bigger-than-your-bat." ESPN will "get the Derby of its dreams if Stanton replicates last year's fireworks in his home park and in the championship round meets" Judge, who leads MLB with 30 home runs (MIAMI HERALD, 7/10). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote the Derby is "more compelling to watch for most sports fans than the actual game." This year's event has "headliners to give the contest more than the typical intrigue." Stanton and Judge present a "pretty enticing spectacle for a casual fan who tends to care more about watching baseballs launched into upper decks than a three-hour-plus game possibly ending near midnight" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/9).
A BRIGHT FUTURE? Yesterday’s SiriusXM All-Star MLB Futures Game drew an announced crowd of 30,289. The game was not a sellout, and Marlins Park was at best half full, with large swath of empty seats in the upper deck. The Futures Game, featuring minor league all-stars, typically has been the weakest draw of MLB All-Star Game festivities in its 19 years of existence. Despite some growth in recent years, the game still often has seen large numbers of no-shows among ticket holders (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). CBSSPORTS.com's Matt Snyder wrote the Futures Game is a "fun showcase of the next generation of great baseball players," but it is "buried" in its current Sunday afternoon position. There was "tons of MLB action" taking place at the same time as the Futures Game, which began at 4:00pm ET. Snyder wrote he wished there was "more of a national platform here" and wondered if MLB should be "giving this showcase a better platform in the interest of grabbing some casual fans just looking for some baseball on an off-day." The easiest solution may be to "get rid of the usual Sunday Night Game on ESPN and make the Sunday night showcase the Futures Game" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/9). NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra writes the current scheduling of the Futures Game is "aggressively bad," as it is "seemingly calculated to maximize the number of baseball fans -- and baseball insiders for that matter -- who do not see it (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/10).
