Twitter was alive last night with praise for the new Home Run Derby format. ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote, "In a press box full of writers who used to snooze through the old Derby format, almost unanimous approval for this one. Keep it!" The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham wrote, "Here’s hoping MLB listens to the people and leaves the Derby format just as it is for next season. Well done." Fox Sports/MLB Network's Jon Morosi: "Home Run Derby is a VASTLY improved event with timed head-to-head format. Better pace and more intrigue." The N.Y. Daily News' Mark Feinsand: "The new clock format for the #HRDerby is terrific. The buzzer-beaters by Pujols and Frazier were awesome." MLB.com's Mark Sheldon: "I'm all about this new format for #HRDerby ... flows much, much better with the clock. More exciting too." SportsNet L.A.'s Orel Hershiser: "I love the clock!! So much more tension and drama!!" Newsday's Erik Boland; "Have to say the new Derby format is a major improvement." The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore: "The Home Run Derby is good. I'm as surprised as you are." Sportsnet's Jeff Blair: "Screw it: this Home Run Derby's kind of fun, you know?" SI's Jay Jaffe: "This couldn't have worked out any better for MLB. New format for the win." Mariners VP/Marketing Kevin Martinez: "New HR Derby format is a winner." ESPN's Dan Shulman: "So the new rules at the HR Derby seem to have worked." ESPN's Mark Schlereth: "HR Derby was a Home Run as far as I'm concerned. Lots of fun." Author Molly Knight: "That was so fun I might actually hold a home run derby bracket pool next year." CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora: "Best home run derby ever." The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell: "Ya never ever know in baseball. Instant replay works. A 'clock' actually saves time. And Home Run Derby gets saved __big time." FS1's Katie Nolan: "Wow baseball you did it. You fixed the homerun derby. Now get to work on puppies and beer and sunshine." ESPN's Darren Rovell: "The masses love to rip baseball any chance they can. Says a lot that the HR Derby was universally lauded."
HOPE FOR SIMILAR EVENTS? ESPN's Wayne Drehs wrote, "If they can fix the HR Derby there's still hope for the dunk contest after all." CBSSports.com's Will Brinson: "How to fix the Pro Bowl: make it the Home Run Derby."
