Timing is everything

For years, the MLB Home Run Derby was marked by 10 outs, 3 rounds, and the famous Gold Ball at 9 outs. It used to be 15 to 30 minute rounds with guys taking 5 pitches in a row, only to launch a measly 2 home runs. Players would even leave before it was over, bored by the slow pace, and wanting to get that sleep they have been deprived of for months.



Image courtesy of MLB.com

2015 brought a dramatic change to the Gillette Home Run Derby. The new format brought a fast paced approach that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Here is a look at some of the changes.

The first major change was adding a clock to the rounds. Due to the threat of rain, the rounds were shortened from 5 to 4 minutes, but 4 proved to be a great time. The 4 minute clock also added excitement and dramatics, as many rounds came down to the wire. Fans held their breath as the clock ticked down, and it also gave the hitters a sense of urgency. In the fast paced world we live in today, the timed rounds proved to be an exciting twist. The timeout also proved to be a valuable, but controlled break as it let players take a breather, without taking away excitement.

As a result of the timed rounds, more home runs were hit this year over previous years. 2014 saw around 80 baseballs fly into the stands as souvenirs, while almost double that amount, 159, ended up over the wall in 2015. More home runs hit equals more excitement. The amount of home runs hit per round was increased because of the new formatting. Anthony Rizzo had the lowest 1 round total of 8. In the 4 rounds of the 2014 derby, only 2 rounds saw a player hit more than 8 home runs.

Another change was the set brackets. Every player would be seeded based on the number of home runs they had hit during the regular season leading up to the break. Advancing was solely dependent on hitting more than your opponent in the bracket. The amount to beat was set there and then, instead of having to wait for everyone to hit to know the number to beat. This also added more of a head to head feel than in recent years.

Overall, the changes proved to be effective in captivating fans, and bringing a breath of fresh air to the oft drug out derby. There was definitely more of a buzz around the derby this year, and although many were skeptical about the new format, MLB did a great job of organizing and constructing it to work smoothly. The MLB deserves a big thumbs up for revamping the format.