Home Run Derby

Standings have been updated

And with one day to play in May … there’s a tie for the May prize between DAVID WRIGHT CAN BITE ME and AURAL SECTS.  Both have 97 HR for the month. 

DWCBM holds the AB/HR Tiebreaker.

Standings have been updated

We’re only three days away from handing out another Monthly Prize in our little Home Run Derby Contest … and DAVID WRIGHT CAN BITE ME is still atop the leaderboard for May with 91 HR. 

He’s got some real competition for the cash, however, as both AURAL SECTS and GOON MASHERS have 89 HR each. 

It could be fun to watch the race for the May prize – so we’ll be updating the standings page daily this weekend.

Our orally fixated David Wright hater also leads the 1st Half with 167 HR, followed closely by SIR ISAAC LIME II (165 HR) and HEAVY HITTERS (158 HR).

So someone actually used the Jersey of the Week tip line and sent me a heads-up that there was a Snuggie Pub Crawl in Chicago sometime in April.

Wait a minute - there was a Snuggie Pub Crawl?  And I wasn’t informed? 

You know Snuggies – the blanket with sleeves – which have developed their own cult-like status among Americans.

Either way, I guess this Crawl meandered through all the bars I used to frequent on the North Side of Chicago.  And as you might expect, there were some Snuggies which were devoted to the Chicago Cubs.  But since you can’t buy MLB-themed Snuggies … they’re all homemade.  I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.

Here’s some pics of some Cubbie Snuggies.

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Every time Major League Baseball comes out with more camoflague hats, more USA Flag hats, more green hats (for Earth Day or St Patrick’s day), more black caps (Just Ditch It), or those FABULOUS pastel argyle Yankee hats like Roger Clemens wears, MLB continues to bastardize and trivialize its iconic logos inthe pursit of more merchandising dollars.

I thought I had had enough.  Until …

I was perusing MLB.com because I was looking to buy my 9-week old son a Cub hat (just a plain stinking blue one like they wear on the field) … and I came across this monstrosity called the New Era “Watermelon Smoothie.”

Perhaps at first glance you might say, “Big deal, it’s a Pink hat for little girls”

But look closer – there’s cutesy little Watermelons on that cap.   Next, scratch one of the little Watermelons on your computer screen, press your nose against it, and take a whiff.   Okay don’t – the internet isn’t yet adapted for you to get the full effect of the scratch and sniff technology in that cap.

Let me let that sink in.  It’s a scratch and sniff hat. 
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Standings have been updated

David Wright Can Bite Me tops both the leaderboards for the First Half (149 HR)  and May ( 73). 

But he’s got company for the May prize, as Dance Hall Crashers, PointBlank and Ryan Howard Ate My Baby also all have 73 HR.  Nine more days to go.

Sir Isaac Lime II (148 HR) and Demolition Crew (146 HR) round out the 1st Half Leaderboard.

For those of you new to the Derby, the owner of David Wright Can Bite Me harbors a grudge against Wright because Wright’s home run power disappeared at the end of 2006 and cost him (then named Derek Jeter’s Gold Glove) a shot at the 2006 HRD Full Season Championship.

So it’s been a few weeks since we did a Jersey of the Week post here at Home Run Derby.  So we’ll make it up to you.  With a bunch of them. 

And all of them pertain to one of our favorite baseball-related activities. 

Drinking.  Sometimes, just going to a baseball game isn’t enough.  You’ve got to get your drink on. 

And unfortunately for some people … sometimes that isn’t enough either … sometimes people are going to be loudmouth, stumbling drunks while they’re at it.  If you’re going to do that … at least have the courtesy to pre-identify yourself as such …. by wearing a personalized Jersey which lets everyone know that you’re going to be … that guy.

We’ll start off early in the game, where this White Sox fan is going to let everyone know what he wants.

Gotta tell ya – I like that Jersey a lot.  I saw it on TV last season … and danged if someone didn’t capture it.

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If you’re about to be thrown out of a baseball game and get arrested … what do you do?

Comply quietly …
or get your money’s worth?

Well, this Milwaukee Brewer fan chose the Red Pill at a recent game at Miller Park and decided to strip down to his boxer shorts before a pair of Milwaukee’s Finest (should they be called Milwaukee’s Best?) could haul him away.

And damn if this isn’t the 21st Century … it’s all on video. 

Watch.  If you dare.

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I am proud to announce that due to popular demand  …
Home Run Derby’s MLB MASCOT BRACKETS IS BACK!!

Okay, when I say “popular demand” … I mean the two people who emailed me asking what the heck happened to the Baseball Mascot Tournament. 

We’ll pick up where we left off last year in the second round with what might be one of the most anticipated showdowns of the tournament.  One which is sure to whet your appetite.

#1 Racing Sausages (Brewers)  vs #5 Racing Pierogies (Pirates)

Personally, I consider a signed baseball to be one of the coolest souvenirs you can get from a baseball game.   I have only one autographed  baseball, signed by Jim Thome.  It’s not certified or anything, but I’m not going to sell it.  It’s a lasting memory.

But mind you, some signed baseballs are better than others.  Ones that have a real personal touch.  Ones that connect a player to a fan, a moment, or even … history.

Let’s take a look at some of the best instances of ink on rawhide leather.

Pete Rose
Cincinnati Reds

I like it when people confront an issue head on … but this one stings a little bit. 

Because after years of denying that he ever bet on baseball, now Pete Rose is selling baseballs at PeteRose.com that undeniably say that he bet on baseball.

For $250.20.

What the heck is with the 20 cents? 
Is that the value of Rose’s fake apology?

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