Justin Morneau and Josh Hamilton have both recently been diagnosed with Spondylolysis, a stress fracture in the back. Coincidentally they were the 2008 home run derby finalists! 
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All I know is that it definitely can't be good for their back. I mean swing as hard as you can at 20 or so pitches, sit for 30-45 min., swing at another 20 or so pitches, sit for another 25-30 min and then swing at it again. That makes my back hurt just thinking about it.
Plus, these are normal batting practice swings.
Plus, these are normal batting practice swings.
Two juniors on our team who have them...
Take a look at some of the past participants, then the second half of season or following year.
Some teams will not allow their players to attempt it.
I don't see how it benfits anyone but those that make big bucks from the ticket sales and TV.
JMO.
Some teams will not allow their players to attempt it.
I don't see how it benfits anyone but those that make big bucks from the ticket sales and TV.
JMO.
I have a different viewpoint.
All 30 clubs have had players entered in the HR Derby over the years.
Here are some of the more well known players who have participated…
Jim Rice
Eddie Murray
Carlton Fisk
Cal Ripken Jr
Ryne Sandberg
Mark McGwire
Andre Dawson
Ken Griffey Jr
Barry Bonds
Larry Walker
Mike Piazza
Jeff Bagwell
Manny Ramirez
Sammy Sosa
Jim Thome
Chipper Jones
Alex Rodriguez
Vlad Guerrero
Todd Helton
Albert Pujols
Ryan Howard
David Wright
Prince Fielder
Matt Holliday
Justin Morneau
Josh Hamilton
Ryan Braun
Chase Utley
Evan Longoria
Joe Mauer
Adrian Gonzalez
Brandon Inge
Obviously there have been many others, but not sure how many were actually injured by participating in the HR Derby. Most of the players above were in multiple HR Derby’s.
Besides the fans eat it up. It has some of the highest television ratings in baseball history. Why take something entertaining away from the fans. I’ve seen BP sessions where players hit tons of home runs and they do it nearly every day. Albert Pujols has been in three or four of them and then just the other night he was on national television in another HR contest against Shaq! Maybe he could get hurt, but so far it hasn’t seemed to bother him.
I don’t think the HR Derby is very dangerous. I would think the two injuries above have more to do with the 162 game schedule rather than any HR contest.
Also, I think that baseball needs to cater to the fans and try to give them what they want. I think the fans have shown that they love the HR Derby. Fans are the most important thing in baseball. The All Star Game is more dangerous than the HR Derby at the All Star Game. IMO
All 30 clubs have had players entered in the HR Derby over the years.
Here are some of the more well known players who have participated…
Jim Rice
Eddie Murray
Carlton Fisk
Cal Ripken Jr
Ryne Sandberg
Mark McGwire
Andre Dawson
Ken Griffey Jr
Barry Bonds
Larry Walker
Mike Piazza
Jeff Bagwell
Manny Ramirez
Sammy Sosa
Jim Thome
Chipper Jones
Alex Rodriguez
Vlad Guerrero
Todd Helton
Albert Pujols
Ryan Howard
David Wright
Prince Fielder
Matt Holliday
Justin Morneau
Josh Hamilton
Ryan Braun
Chase Utley
Evan Longoria
Joe Mauer
Adrian Gonzalez
Brandon Inge
Obviously there have been many others, but not sure how many were actually injured by participating in the HR Derby. Most of the players above were in multiple HR Derby’s.
Besides the fans eat it up. It has some of the highest television ratings in baseball history. Why take something entertaining away from the fans. I’ve seen BP sessions where players hit tons of home runs and they do it nearly every day. Albert Pujols has been in three or four of them and then just the other night he was on national television in another HR contest against Shaq! Maybe he could get hurt, but so far it hasn’t seemed to bother him.
I don’t think the HR Derby is very dangerous. I would think the two injuries above have more to do with the 162 game schedule rather than any HR contest.
Also, I think that baseball needs to cater to the fans and try to give them what they want. I think the fans have shown that they love the HR Derby. Fans are the most important thing in baseball. The All Star Game is more dangerous than the HR Derby at the All Star Game. IMO
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
The All Star Game is more dangerous than the HR Derby at the All Star Game. IMO
PG has a point.
Although I always try to catch BP before a game, I am quite indifferent to the HR derby.
I am not concerned about injury but I am concerned with regarding to messing up a players swing
I wonder if any Sabremetricians have analyzed participants' offensive stats pre-contest and post-contest to see if there is a statistically significant dropoff.
That would be very interesting. I'd hate to kill the event, but I think that if there is indeed an effect to participating, whether it be injury risk or messing up the swing, that teams and players should go into the event with full knowledge of that.
It wouldn't be all that hard to do that kind of study.
That would be very interesting. I'd hate to kill the event, but I think that if there is indeed an effect to participating, whether it be injury risk or messing up the swing, that teams and players should go into the event with full knowledge of that.
It wouldn't be all that hard to do that kind of study.
Please look at the list of players above... Regarding injury or messing up the swing.
I haven't got the time to check before and after Home Run Derby stats, but here is the present stats for the 8 participants from this year's HR Derby. Not trying to be argumentative, but how did being in the HR Derby hurt any of them in any way?
Prince Fielder
G - 145
AB - 527
HR - 39 - Tied for 3rd in MLB at this time
RBI - 126 - 2nd in MLB at this time
SLG - .586 (Life Time .545)
Ave. - .298 (His highest Career ave. Life Time .283)
Healthy all year
Nelson Cruz
G - 118
AB - 429
HR - 32 (Most ever)
RBI - 71 (Most ever)
Slg - .543 (Life Time .480)
Ave. - .266 (Life Time .258)
Spent time on the DL (Ankle injury)
Ryan Howard
G - 143
AB - 551
HR - 38 (Tied for 5th in MLB at this time)
RBI - 118 (3rd in MLB at this time)
SLG - .552 (Life Time .582)
Ave. - .270 (Life Time .277)
Healthy all year
Albert Pujols
G - 145
AB - 511
HR - 47 Leads the Major Leagues (Best year 49)
RBI - 127 Leads the MLB (Best year 137)
SLG - .689 (Life Time .630)
Ave - .333 (Life Time .334)
Healthy all year
Carlos Pena
G - 135
AB - 471
HR - 39 (Tied for 3rd in MLB at this time)
RBI - 100 (Tied for 10th in MLB at this time)
SLG - .537 (Life Time .502)
Ave. - .227 (Life Time .247)
Season ending injury (hit by pitch)
Joe Mauer
G - 121
AB - 462
HR - 27 (His most ever)
RBI - 87 (His most ever)
SLG - .610 (his highest ever)
Ave - .374 (leads the Major Leagues)
Missed games due to off season kidney surgery and the flu
Adrian Gonzalez
G - 145
AB - 501
HR - 38 (His most ever)Tied for 5th in MLB
RBI - 88
SLG - .563 (His highest ever, Life Time .508)
Ave. - .277 (Life Time .281)
Healthy all year
Brandon Inge
G - 143
AB - 493
HR - 27 (His most ever)
RBI - 76 (best year 83)
SLG - .426 (Life Time .396)
Ave. - .233 (Life Time .236)
Healthy all year
I haven't got the time to check before and after Home Run Derby stats, but here is the present stats for the 8 participants from this year's HR Derby. Not trying to be argumentative, but how did being in the HR Derby hurt any of them in any way?
Prince Fielder
G - 145
AB - 527
HR - 39 - Tied for 3rd in MLB at this time
RBI - 126 - 2nd in MLB at this time
SLG - .586 (Life Time .545)
Ave. - .298 (His highest Career ave. Life Time .283)
Healthy all year
Nelson Cruz
G - 118
AB - 429
HR - 32 (Most ever)
RBI - 71 (Most ever)
Slg - .543 (Life Time .480)
Ave. - .266 (Life Time .258)
Spent time on the DL (Ankle injury)
Ryan Howard
G - 143
AB - 551
HR - 38 (Tied for 5th in MLB at this time)
RBI - 118 (3rd in MLB at this time)
SLG - .552 (Life Time .582)
Ave. - .270 (Life Time .277)
Healthy all year
Albert Pujols
G - 145
AB - 511
HR - 47 Leads the Major Leagues (Best year 49)
RBI - 127 Leads the MLB (Best year 137)
SLG - .689 (Life Time .630)
Ave - .333 (Life Time .334)
Healthy all year
Carlos Pena
G - 135
AB - 471
HR - 39 (Tied for 3rd in MLB at this time)
RBI - 100 (Tied for 10th in MLB at this time)
SLG - .537 (Life Time .502)
Ave. - .227 (Life Time .247)
Season ending injury (hit by pitch)
Joe Mauer
G - 121
AB - 462
HR - 27 (His most ever)
RBI - 87 (His most ever)
SLG - .610 (his highest ever)
Ave - .374 (leads the Major Leagues)
Missed games due to off season kidney surgery and the flu
Adrian Gonzalez
G - 145
AB - 501
HR - 38 (His most ever)Tied for 5th in MLB
RBI - 88
SLG - .563 (His highest ever, Life Time .508)
Ave. - .277 (Life Time .281)
Healthy all year
Brandon Inge
G - 143
AB - 493
HR - 27 (His most ever)
RBI - 76 (best year 83)
SLG - .426 (Life Time .396)
Ave. - .233 (Life Time .236)
Healthy all year
I don't think the HR derby raises the risk for injury and for the most part I don't think it has a negative effect on the participants. The exception might be a guy that really isn't a home run hitter going up and trying to do more than he should and messing up his swing.
These guys have BP every day and you can bet in the last couple of rounds the big boppers are having thier own private HR derby's.
These guys have BP every day and you can bet in the last couple of rounds the big boppers are having thier own private HR derby's.
I have a hard time believing that the number of swings these guys take during the HR derby and number of swings they take to prepare for the HR derby will affect their swing. When you compare the total number of HR derby swings with the total number of swings taken working on their normal swing is not even close. The normal swings far outnumber the HR derby swings. Plus I'm like the others and know these guys put on HR derbys in pregame BP all the time. If those few swings hurt their normal swing then I don't know what to say.
It's kinda funny how everyone is seeing how something different is always the cause for a problem. The HR derby has been going on for years and guys have been swinging for the fences for years and now we realize or notice this might be a problem? Sorry can't buy it.
Can you get hurt in the HR derby? Yes but it's very unlikely the HR derby will cause an injury.
It's kinda funny how everyone is seeing how something different is always the cause for a problem. The HR derby has been going on for years and guys have been swinging for the fences for years and now we realize or notice this might be a problem? Sorry can't buy it.
Can you get hurt in the HR derby? Yes but it's very unlikely the HR derby will cause an injury.
My post wasn't particularly serious. Home run derbies probably aren't too good for the back, but in and of themselves aren't likely to be dangerous. Taking too many hard swings over a long enough period of time could be bad for the back but would more likely be good for the batting average.
There's risk and reward associated with almost every skill in baseball.
There's risk and reward associated with almost every skill in baseball.
CADad,
I think this topic is interesting. Then again, I actually think the HR Derby is interesting. My main point was that the HR Derby is all about the fans. It seems by looking at the television ratings that the fans are saying they enjoy it.
It's always been my theory that the fans are the most important ingredient in baseball. So often, the fans get screwed, because of the economics involved in MLB. I think baseball should do everything possible to appeal to the fans.
The injury or harming the swing part is still an interesting topic by it self. Nothing wrong with debating that no matter what your opinion might be on the subject.
I think this topic is interesting. Then again, I actually think the HR Derby is interesting. My main point was that the HR Derby is all about the fans. It seems by looking at the television ratings that the fans are saying they enjoy it.
It's always been my theory that the fans are the most important ingredient in baseball. So often, the fans get screwed, because of the economics involved in MLB. I think baseball should do everything possible to appeal to the fans.
The injury or harming the swing part is still an interesting topic by it self. Nothing wrong with debating that no matter what your opinion might be on the subject.
.
Perhaps it is something entirely different that is harming the Home Run Derby winner's back?
.
Perhaps it is something entirely different that is harming the Home Run Derby winner's back?
.
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
CADad,
I think this topic is interesting. Then again, I actually think the HR Derby is interesting. My main point was that the HR Derby is all about the fans. It seems by looking at the television ratings that the fans are saying they enjoy it.
It's always been my theory that the fans are the most important ingredient in baseball. So often, the fans get screwed, because of the economics involved in MLB. I think baseball should do everything possible to appeal to the fans.
The injury or harming the swing part is still an interesting topic by it self. Nothing wrong with debating that no matter what your opinion might be on the subject.
I agree an interesting topic and good for discussion. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and thanks PG for putting in the work with the participants.
I think Albert was a bit down after the HR derby, I really do think that it can mess up their timing for a bit.