tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139060.post-39679240591422719652008-07-16T21:18:00.001-07:002008-07-16T21:18:59.876-07:00<p><em>It's been a long time since the book of love<br>I can't count the tears of a life with no love<br>A-carry me back, carry me back, carry me back<br>mm-baby, where I come from</em> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I know I've already bitched about my family reunion and that Mondays are usually days I have reserved for my complaining but I can't take it anymore.&nbsp; I can't take all this bullshit about the All Star Game and the stupid little games associated with it.&nbsp; I don't mind the competition for what it is, exhibitions.&nbsp; It's when noteworthy people start complaining about it, then I start to get pissed.</p> <p>First of all, lets not all have an orgasm over what Josh Hamilton did.&nbsp; It's a great story that he's been able to revive his career after drug addiction but the home run derby is not the pinnacle of his success.&nbsp; They're not going to make a Disney movie and end it with him slugging out 28 homers in the god damn derby.&nbsp; At least I certainly hope not.&nbsp; </p> <p>Lets get one thing straight, <br>Josh Hamilton being selected (by the fans) to the All-Star Game = a touching sentiment in his revival back to baseball.</p> <p>Josh Hamilton hitting 28 home runs in a home run derby with a 71 year old throwing lollipops = entertainment of the night.</p> <p>All night I kept on hearing about how "amazing" it was.&nbsp; Words like "outstanding", "incredible", and "unbelievable" were being tossed around endlessly.&nbsp; It was as if he carried the game of baseball on his back.&nbsp; I even heard Tim Kirkjian (whom I respect as a baseball writer) say how it was impossible for a guy to hit it 500ft.&nbsp; Ugh, it's not impossible.&nbsp; It's happened before and most notably in Yankee Stadium.&nbsp; </p> <p>It's not amazing!&nbsp; It's not outstanding, incredible, nor is it unbelievable because it's almost expected when you think about it.&nbsp; It's a 71 year old man serving up complete cupcakes to this All-Star hitter in a ballpark that was made for left handed hitters.&nbsp; I'm actually more surprised that no one could hit more homers than they did.&nbsp; Think about it, the hitters know what's coming to them, they simply wait for the 60 mph cupcake and drive it out as far as possible.</p> <p>That doesn't take talent!&nbsp; It really doesn't. </p> <p>Now holding a bat at the plate with a pitcher who has a breaking curve, nasty slider, flame throwing fastball, and a very deceptive change-up is something else.&nbsp; That actually does take talent to try and figure out what pitch is coming and to try and catch up to the 97mph fastball after a series of change-ups and curve balls.&nbsp; It's always impressive when someone can identify a fastball on the fly and nail it out of the park.&nbsp; The cupcakes these guys were hitting though,&nbsp; isn't incredible.&nbsp; It's not even batting practice.</p> <p>I may not be able to relate to hitting against a 90+mph fastball but I have had an assortments of meatballs thrown to me before.&nbsp; I haven't had much of a baseball career but if I was thrown 30 meatballs, I *might* be able to knock one out of a mlb park (especially with Yankee stadium with a left foul pole at 318ft) and I'm serious about that.&nbsp; If I could hit a home run, then I would expect mlb All-Stars to hit 20 times what I could hit.&nbsp; It's not that hard considering the pitches being thrown.&nbsp; </p> <p>And lets not forget that these hitters in the derby are not the most prolific home run hitters of our time.&nbsp; No, they were simply the hitters that accepted an invitation to hit some dingers on a Monday evening.&nbsp; Morneau was the last to accept and he's only had 14 on the year.&nbsp; </p> <p>With all that being said, I do think the derby could gain some greater meaning in terms of charity.&nbsp; Instead of one (or is it three) signs that say "hit it here for $$$$" lets have like twenty various signs.&nbsp; Lets have a large sign in the centerfield "dead area" where you hit it and $5000 gets automatically donated to the Boys and Girls club.&nbsp; Lets have the foul poles represent and automatic donation of $10,000 (or whatever amount) to the YMCA and perhaps a giant sign in right and left center field which would be 530ft out there to represent $3,000,000 to the charity of the hitters choice.&nbsp; Those are only a couple examples but it would be so much fun to see all the money going to charity and you just might convince the major power hitters to take a crack at donating money to charity.&nbsp; That would be an event that would excellent in so many ways.</p> Boofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03260634036134338836noreply@blogger.com