Home Run Derby

For years, some people have said that the White Sox play in a war zone.

Really, people.  The South Side of Chicago isn’t anything like that – it’s being quickly gentrified … especially in the area around U.S. Cellular Field. 

But the White Sox will look like they’re ready for combat … at least for one game this season. 

You see, on July 4, 2008, the White Sox will take the field against the Oakland A’s wearing camouflage jerseys. 

Sox’ southpaw Mark Buehrle modelled the new White Sox’ fatigues at SoxFest this past weekend.

The rumor around last weekend’s SoxFest was that the camouflage uniforms were Buehrle’s idea and that he “requested” the Sox wear them as part of his contract negotiations last season.  Buehrle had been pitching the idea to the White Sox’ marketing department about the idea for a few years.

It’s good to be the king, isn’t it?  (more…)

I can’t pity fans of the Florida Marlins …

• Even though Dontrelle Willis is gone
• Even though Miguel Cabrera (2007 NL Andre Dawson Award Winner) is gone
• Even though they’re among the lowest in league attendance
• Even though 2008 looks pretty bleak

They do have nice weather … even in late January … and you know what happens next …

Yes, I suppose that pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training really soon (Two Weeks and Counting).  But it also means that MLB’s pre-eminent cheerleading squad is about to formally announce their 2008 Squad.  That’s right … the Mermaids are coming.

HRD has had a spot for the Mermaids and Baseball Cheerleaders in general for some time … and we just can’t wait to see the 2008 Marlins Mermaids … so here’s your first look at video from the Mermaids’ tryouts in Miami this past weekend.

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Justin Morneau is thinking long-term. 
Both on and off the field.

Minnesota Twins’ 1B Justin Morneau signed a $80 Million, six-year deal with the Minnesota Twins over the weekend.  

I think that makes the 2006 American League MVP the highest paid Canadian in the history of Major League Baseball.  He’s certainly the highest paid Twin.

But $80 Million is no fun unless you’ve got someone to share it with, right? 

Say hello to the future Mrs. Justin Morneau … Ms. Krista Martin.

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We might as well rename this website Fukudome Derby.  Because here come another post about the Chicago Cubs’ new right fielder, Kosuke Fukudome.

A while back, we found video of Fukudome completing the ever-so-rare 9-3 putout.

So that proved Fukudome has a cannon arm. … But right field to first base is one thing …

Can Dome (pronounced Dough-May) throw with that kind of power and accuracy across the diamond? 

Let’s watch as the Hanshin Tigers find out … the hard way.

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Woo Hoo!! The Chicago Cubs read Home Run Derby.  I’m sure of it.  At least the Cubs’ marketing and art departments anyway.

The proof is in the Cubs’ newly unveiled 2008 marketing campaign surrounding Kosuke Fukudome.  And here it is …

Fukudome silhouetted against a Japanese Imperial Flag with the Cubs logo replacing the Rising Sun …

Wait a minute … that looks familiar.  Like I’ve seen it before … And I know why.  Because Home Run Derby posted this (badly) photoshopped image back on December 12, 2007.

The crack (read: unpaid) artistic department at Home Run Derby is honored and flattered in a “been ripped off” kinda way. 

Sure, the Cubs’ artwork might be a little more polished … but someone got paid to do that. 
They probably got paid to scour the internet for ideas, too.

Let me know what you think …

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Even though the Cubs play the American League East this season, for some reason the Chicago Cubs don’t play the Boston Red Sox. Or the New York Yankees. Do you think MLB wants the Cubs to make the playoffs again this season, or what?

So that means we’ll have to wait until the 2008 All Star Game (maybe) or the 2008 World Series (even bigger maybe) to see Kosuke Fukudome (the Chicago Cubs’ prize acquisition in free agency) take some swings against someone like the Red Sox’ Josh Beckett, who won 20 Games last season and was the AL Cy Young Runner Up. Right?

Wrong. Over ten years ago, a Texas High School flamethrower named Josh Beckett pitched for the semi-pro Reno Astros (then in Houston) in the 1997 Grand Forks International Tournament. Beckett was on loan from another Texas team for the tourney.

In the tournament, Reno played a Japanese National Team and Kosuke Fukudome was a member of that squad. Let’s watch Josh Beckett pitch to Kosuke Fukudome …

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2007 was a banner year for Milestone Home Runs in Baseball.

• The 300 Home Run Club got a new member .
• Three players joined the 500 Home Run Club, the most ever in a single season.
• The 600 Home Run Club got a new member for only the fifth time in MLB History.
• And the all-time MLB Home Run record was surpassed. It had stood at 755 Home Runs for more than 31 years.

Let’s take a quick look back at those milestone dingers from the 2007 season … with video, of course …

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With all the YouTube hunting I do, I usually find things which are …

• Goofy – The dancing Orioles fan who looked like Peter Griffin from Family Guy
• Weird – The Dance Off between a Mexican Mascot and a BatBoy (who happened to be a little person)
• Amazing – Ryan Zimmerman unintentionally fielding a ball with his jersey
• Infuriating – Two Boston Sportscasters blowing off the National Anthem for his pregame lineups before Game One of the ALCS.

But somehow, I missed this one. 

Back on June 30, 2007, the Boston Red Sox were hosting Disability Awareness Night at Fenway Park.  A Monkey (part of Monkey Helpers for the Disabled) threw out the first pitch.  No, I don’t have video of that … yet.

But the real story of the night was when Peter Rometti, a young man with Autism, was singing the National Anthem before the game. 

Partway through the Anthem, Rometti started to stutter a couple of times, then he started laughing, and then he stumbled on a verse.

Watch as the Fenway Faithful rise to the occasion and help him out …

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You know, there are things that scar you for life.

• Leon Durham letting a ball roll through his legs
• Bill Buckner letting a ball roll through his legs
• Seeing the Milwaukee Racing Sausages without their heads
• Seeing the KC Royals’ Mascot get humped by a fan

But if you’re legendary baseball announcer Harry Caray, you get scarred for life when you apparently didn’t get a prize in your box of Cracker Jacks as a kid …

Listen as Harry goes on a rant against Cracker Jacks …

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