ESPN drew a 5.5 overnight rating for Yankees RF Aaron Judge's win at the T-Mobile Home Run Derby last night, marking the event's best figure since Prince Fielder won in '09. The 5.5 was up 38% from last year's event, which saw Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton win over White Sox 3B Todd Frazier with a record 61 homers (4.0 overnight). The '15 Derby, which was the first under the new tournament-style format, drew a 4.9 overnight for Frazier's win. The Derby peaked at a 6.2 rating from 9:15-9:30pm ET. K.C. led all markets with a 13.6 local rating, as Royals 3B Mike Moustakas participated in the event. N.Y. ranked second with a 10.8 rating, as Judge and Yankees C Gary Sanchez both participated. Rounding out the top markets were Hartford-New Haven (9.7), Minneapolis-St. Paul (8.7) and Pittsburgh (7.9). The Derby also marked WatchESPN's most-streamed MLB event on record, with an average minute audience of 209,900 viewers (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
PASSING JUDGEMENT: SI.com’s Gabriel Baumgaertner notes Judge's win “likely assured that viewership will grow for next year’s competition when he tries to defend his title" at Nationals Park. Fox also will likely see "juiced" ratings for tonight's All-Star Game with Judge playing. The new Derby format and a healthy crop of young sluggers “make it essential viewing for baseball fans and an intriguing option for sports fans bored during everybody else’s off-season.” If Judge and Stanton “agree to participate next year," viewership "should increase” (SI.com, 7/11).
HITTING HIS WEIGHT: USA TODAY’s Kevin Santo writes ESPN’s Karl Ravech, who replaced Chris Berman as the play-by-play announcer for the Derby, “didn’t give people much to complain about." But at one point, Ravech “tried to impersonate” Berman’s famous home run call, “only to field a mixed reaction.” Ravech “kept the event exciting, in large part, by not trying to do too much -- and that’s just about the most you can ask for.” He “didn’t try to dominate the conversation,” letting Jessica Mendoza, Mark Teixeira and Buster Olney “have their time.” Ravech “didn’t try to outdo the sheer incredulity” of the feats performed by the hitters (USA TODAY, 7/11).
TWITTER REAX: Reaction on Twitter to ESPN's new on-air Derby crew leaned negative. SI's Richard Deitsch: "Ravech has been what I imagine most expected tonight: Professional, prepared, smart, and the opposite of self-aggrandizing. ... Weird audio setup with Mendoza. ... It's a little bewildering for viewers." Newark Star-Ledger's Joe Giglio: "Berman was a lot better at this than Karl Ravech." WEEI-AM's Gerry Callahan: "I miss Chris Berman." N.Y. Daily News' Bob Raissman: "For reasons known only to the Bristol Clown Faculty, ESPN using 3 Gasbags to work HR Derby. #mutebutton. Comedian Andy Ruther: "I just changed the channel to ESPN 2 so I could stop listening to Jessica Mendoza. BTW I don't understand Spanish." MLB.com's Joe Trezza: "Please sell me on the Jess Mendoza over Chris Berman decision here. ESPN is going to wish they could take it back back back BACK." WSCR-AM's Julie DiCaro: "EVERY. SINGLE. TIME Jess Mendoza is on, we have to hear this garbage from men." Goren Media Group Founder & CEO Ed Goren: "Espn amazed how far home runs travel in HR derby. Anyone let them know HR derby balls are juiced?"
