Everything you need to know about this year’s Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby format has been revamped for 2015. Time is now a factor, brackets will determine the finals and rewards are given based on home run distance.
For anyone tuning in Monday, these changes might be confusing. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help. With the Home Run Derby just hours away, let’s walk through everything you need to know about the event.
1. WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?
The Home Run Derby will air Monday on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.
2. WHAT ARE THESE NEW RULE CHANGES?
The players with the highest home run totals won’t necessarily advance anymore. Instead, we’re doing things bracket-style now. Players will go up against each other. The player who hits the most home runs wins that matchup and will advance to the next round. Brackets are seeded based on how many home runs a player has hit in the regular season. That’s why Albert Pujols is the No. 1 seed this year.
[On this week’s StewPod: Everything you need to know about the All-Star game.]
Players will no longer have 10 “outs” at the plate. Instead, they’ll have five minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. This was likely done to ensure hitters wouldn’t take as many pitches during the Derby. There are some strange rules that go along with this new timed format, however.
Once players have one minute remaining, the clock will stop each time a home run is hit. If a player hits four consecutive home runs during this period, the clock will remain stopped until he fails to hit a home run. Players will also receive bonus time based on how far they hit their home runs. If a player hits a ball 475 feet, they’ll receive 30 seconds of bonus time.
3. CAN I SEE THE BRACKET?
Of course you can!
4. WHY ISN’T YOENIS CESPEDES DEFENDING HIS CROWN?
Cespedes did not make the All-Star team this season, and Major League Baseball was able to find enough players on the team who wanted to take part in the event. Cespedes was not a part of the team when he won the event in 2013, but participated because so many other players dropped out. That wasn’t the case this season. Cespedes said earlier in the season that he wasn’t sure he would participate in the event unless he made the All-Star team.
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5. WITH CESPEDES OUT, WHO IS THE FAVORITE?
Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols and Joc Pederson all have the same odds. Hometown hero Todd Frazier was initially listed as the favorite, but has fallen in the new, updated odds. That might have something to do with his first round matchup against Fielder, a two-time champion. At the same time, the new format probably makes Fielder’s past experiences moot. It’s anyone’s game, really.
Here are the full Derby odds, courtesy of Bovada:
Prince Fielder 9/2
Albert Pujols 9/2
Joc Pederson 9/2
Todd Frazier 11/2
Kris Bryant 11/2
Anthony Rizzo 7/1
Josh Donaldson 7/1
Manny Machado 10/1
6. THIS SOUNDS FUN. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW?
Yeah, for the first time in a long time, the Derby might actually get rained out. The weather forecast is terrible in Cincinnati, and there’s a chance the Derby will be moved.
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There’s some optimism the event will happen despite the weather.
If it doesn’t happen Monday, it appears MLB will still try to get the Derby in.
Fun fact: The last time the Derby was rained out was back in 1988. The event was being held in … you guessed it … Cincinnati.
7. THAT WOULD BE WEIRD. ANYTHING ELSE?
Sure, we’re not above self promotion here. While you wait for the Derby, or the eventual rainout, you can read our fantastic content. Want to hear a debate about the whether you should watch the Derby? We’ve got you covered. Do you have interest in an all-time Home Run Derby draft? Of course you do. Want to tell us we’re idiots? Take a look at our predictions.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
