Home Run Derby

The Phillie Phanatic came back from an early deficit to slaughter Southpaw last week, so it’s time for another Mascot Matchup.

Let’s head to the Primate bracket, where we’ve got a transcontinental showdown between two last place teams with first-rate mascots. To make things more interesting … it’s a battle between Church and State.

#2 - Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres) vs #6 – Racing Presidents (Washington Nationals)

Your vote decides who moves on!!

Swinging Friar, Baseball’s resident Man of the Cloth made it to the second round after whomping all over an inferior Pirate from Pittsburgh.  

The Friar repesents San Diego’s history very well (San Diego was founded around Spanish missions run by Franciscan Friars in the 1700’s) … but even more impressive are all the robes this guy has …

Maroon, Purple, Brown, Pinstriped, Hawaiian Aloha print … he’s the most fashionable priest you’ll ever meet.  Truly, a Man for All Seasons.  Except the postseason (sorry Dex). 

Plus, when MLB went to China for Spring Training 2008, who’d they send to woo the Chinese Cheerleaders?  You know it … the Swingin’ Friar.  

Yeah, baby. 

The Presidential Speed Freaks made it into the Second Round when Bernie Brewer’s fans decided to not show up and vote.

Home Run Derby hasn’t been kind to the Washington Nationals, a team we predicted would be 2008’s Worst Team in Baseball (Hey look – they are!!), but the Gnats have done something right.  They successfully ripped off the Milwaukee Brewers’ Racing Sausages and introduced the live-action “Racing Presidents” in 2006. 

Now, ten foot tall Presidential Caricatures run around Nationals Stadium to the enjoyment of the handful of fans at the ballpark in the Nation’s Capital.  Even better, they run the race in the fourth inning, so Nats fans can bail early when the team is already behind 5 runs after the third inning.

In the two-plus years of the racing Presidents, the Teddy Roosevelt racer has never won a race, due to distraction, outside interference, disqualification, or general slowness, prompting the “Let Teddy Win” campaign. 

Someday there will be a “Let the Nats Win” campaign, too.  The Presidents won a Best on-Field Promotion award from GameOps in 2007.

 Loading ...

Voting is open until Friday, August 8th at Midnight CDT. 

This entry was posted on Monday, August 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pm and is filed under Cheerleaders, Mascot Brackets, Mascots, Nationals, Padres. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.