During last night's MLB All-Star Game, 36 players "were adorned by Nike in Zoom Trout 3's," Angels CF Mike Trout's "multicolored fluorescent shoes," according to Jeff Fletcher of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Trout said, "I'm responsible for them. I like them. They're bright" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/13). In Cincinnati, C. Trent Rosecrans notes Under Armour gave its endorsers, including Reds LF Adam Duvall and Giants C Buster Posey, "silver shoes that had what appeared to be chrome-like panels and also reflective sparkling mesh." Duvall said, "That's not me. But I like 'em." Posey "had reflective silver shin guards as part of his catching gear" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/13). ESPN's Darren Rovell on Twitter noted, "Kris Bryant has now switched cleats 3 times in 4 innings. Went from teal to red to infrared. Adidas w/online sale each time he comes out." Retweeting Rovell, Finsbury VP and former MLB PR exec Jeff Heckelman wrote, "Shoe companies haven't been this engaged w/ MLB in 20 years (Nike/Griffey). Also UA/Harper, Nike/Trout. Great sign" (TWITTER.com, 7/12).
NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG: FS1's Colin Cowherd praised Nationals RF Bryce Harper's new UA ad, and said when he "is hitting and there's a TV on, I see people stop." Cowherd: "He is the LeBron James of the sport. And I think from his hair to his attitude to his youthfulness, I think he's absolutely pivotal to the sport." Cowherd added, "You have magnificent hair, you really do. You're like a modern-day Elvis with home run power. His hair is fantastic." Harper said, "A lot of guys are starting to do stuff that is different, and I think for the game of baseball, it's great. I think guys are starting to really show their personalities, really show what they're like, and I love that" ("The Herd," FS1, 7/12).
STANTON AND DELIVER: CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein called Marlins RF and Home Run Derby champ Giancarlo Stanton a "young stud who is so great for baseball," as he is "so marketable." Stanton "wanted to be in the Home Run Derby," and he "traveled 3,000 miles on an airplane because of the Derby and representing baseball and Miami was important to him." Schein: "How great is that? How refreshing is that?” He added Stanton "made new fans" after his performance ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 7/12). But ESPN's Bomani Jones said MLB's problem is "either you’re into baseball at this point or you’re not." Jones: "They don’t seem to be winning over anybody new, and an event like this, which reinforces the things that people probably already like about baseball, is not bringing on new converts” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 7/12).
