ESPN's Karl Ravech for the first time is hosting the entirety of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, and his style will be "dramatically different" than previous host Chris Berman, according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Ravech said that he will "approach the assignment much like he has always appeared on air: prepared, informative and low key." There will be "no signature home run calls or screaming about nearby towns." Ravech said Berman had a "unique approach" to the event and "everybody associated the Derby as much with him as they did with the guys hitting the baseballs." Ravech: “He brought this to a bar as a broadcaster that I would not even attempt to jump over" (SI.com, 7/9). CBSCHICAGO.com's Dan Bernstein writes the Derby "could already be more palatable with the removal of the insufferable" Berman, who has "ceded responsibility to the calmer" Ravech (CBSCHICAGO.com, 7/10). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein writes Berman was "always good for a geography lesson." No one this year will announce a "moon shot is headed out of Marlins Park to Coral Gables, Key Biscayne or the Crockett and Tubbs speed boat" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 7/10).
JUDGE AND JURY? In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote MLB marketers will be looking to see if Yankees RF Aaron Judge "is a legit national attraction halfway through the season." ESPN’s highest-rated Derby was in '98, when Ken Griffey Jr. won the competition at Coors Field and ESPN registered a 5.8 rating with over 9 million viewers tuning in. Raissman: "Can Judge juice that rating?" Will the rating "really soar if it winds up in a matchup between" Judge and Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton? (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/9). SI's Deitsch noted last year’s Derby drew an event-low 5.524 million viewers, but it is "poised to be up significantly this year given the appearance" of Judge and Stanton (SI.com, 7/9)
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HOME RUN DERBY AUDIENCE TREND ON ESPN
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YEAR
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VIEWERS (000)
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WINNER
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'16
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5,524
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Giancarlo Stanton
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'15^
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7,126
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Todd Frazier
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'14*
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5,402
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Yoenis Cespedes
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'13
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6,651
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Yoenis Cespedes
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'12
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6,882
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Prince Fielder
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CHART NOTES: ^ = First year under new format. * = Event was delayed by an hour due to rain.
DOMO ARIGATO, MR. ROBOTO: In Miami, Barry Jackson reports ESPN will use "several robotic cameras and the 'Phantom High Speed Camera' to offer super slow motion replays of swings" during tonight's broadcast. The net also will "utilize StatCast to provide real time home run distance and exit velocity data." A new "custom graphics package" will be used that includes "new looks for the scoreboard and home run distances." Meanwhile, ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language simulcast of the Derby with Eduardo Perez and Pedro Gomez "among those involved" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/10).
