Major League Baseball has struggled to adapt to the times. Ranging from not marketing its stars well, to labor disputes all the way to blocking gifs of highlights on Twitter, baseball has been stuck in the 20th century. Consequently, Major League Baseball has struggled to capture younger demographics, with ratings in the 18-49 demographic being down 35% since 2014. However, times seem to be changing. Baseball is beginning to embrace social media, and marketing today’s stars, with the “MLB What-If Derby,” pitting the greatest sluggers of all-time against the stars of today.
Voting starts 5/27. #WhatIfDerby pic.twitter.com/ER14dzkqAE
— MLB (@MLB) May 26, 2020
These selections are complete bullshit.
MLB What-If Derby: Vlad vs Vladdy
I understand what they were going for here. The “father vs son” trope is a classic, just look at Star Wars. However, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. is not an all-time home run hitter. He has 449 dingers over sixteen seasons, which is impressive. Still, Vlad Sr. is tied for 40th on the all-time list. Jeff Bagwell reached that mark in only fifteen seasons. Again, I understand what they were going for here, but I don’t think either Vladimir should be on this list.
The Young Guns Need Some Tweaking
I love some of these selections. Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and Bryce Harper are three of the games biggest stars. Pete Alonso broke Aaron Judge‘s record for most homers by a rookie. I get the Cody Bellinger pick, but he got a boost playing for the Dodgers. Eugenio Suárez has hit more dingers than Bellinger the past two years, but he’s older and plays in Cincinnati so no one’s going to say anything.
I want to argue that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should not be on this list. He only hit fifteen home runs in 464 at-bats last year, compared to Alonso’s 53 in 597. However, I can’t argue he shouldn’t be in the MLB What-If Derby. Alonso only beat him by one in the 2019 Homerun Derby.
A choice I disagree with, however, is Giancarlo Stanton. Yes, he was the best hitter in the league when he was in Miami. Stanton has not been that player with the Yankees and has not made a Derby since arriving in the Bronx. If you’re going off recent Home Run Derby performances, I would put Kyle Schwarber, the 2018 runner up, in over Stanton. This would also fix the issue of three Yankees being included when no other team has two. For a team that hasn’t been to the World Series in a decade, I think it’s odd this list has so many of them.
The MLB What-If Derby Old Timers List is a Travesty
Babe Ruth not being on here might ruffle some feathers, but let’s be honest: the Sultan of Swat is getting smoked by all these guys. However, there are some older players who should have been included: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Sammy Sosa. Take your pick, they all hit more homers than Frank Thomas. Being from Boston, it might be sacrilege to say this, but they could easily be put in over David Ortiz too. Ortiz is the greatest clutch hitter in baseball history, and that’s why he’s here over those guys.
*Note to my dad for when he reads this, don’t disown me for saying Ortiz could be taken off*
I brought up some great hitters. However, the most disrespectful thing about this whole list is Teddy Ballgame’s exclusion. I ranted about this on the Korner Booth, with good reason. You’re probably thinking, “but Kevin, Ted Williams hit the same number of home runs as Frank Thomas, why did you just say The Big Hurt should be taken off, but Williams should be put on?” That’d be fair. Ted Williams did hit the same number of home runs (521) as Thomas, and on paper that should be that.
Losing Years to War… Twice
Frank Thomas, however, did not give up three years of his prime bringing freedom to the world. That’s right, for those who don’t know, Teddy Ballgame lost his age 24-26 seasons being an aviator and flight instructor in the US Military during World War II. As if that wasn’t enough, he missed parts of the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to the Korean War. Conservatively, if given back those years, he would have hit 700 home runs, 189 more than what he finished with. That would be about 36 home runs each of those five years, something he did in the 1940, 1941, and 1946 seasons. I would bet all of my money on Ted Williams breaking Babe Ruth’s record if Hirohito didn’t start acting up in the Pacific.
The Steroid Era
You can’t talk about baseball’s history without talking about ‘roids. Three of the faces of PEDs in baseball are on this list, in Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Alex Rodriguez. These guys are being barred from the Hall of Fame for using something that was not tested for until 2003, but baseball is going to continue using their likeness for profit? Major League Baseball, get off your damn high horse. I know Hall of Fame inductees are voted on by the media, but calm down. You guys are just as much to blame for baseball being stuck in 1930. Let the steroid guys in, and while you’re at it, free Pete.
2 Comments
Rose is. As is that Yankee guy and Mcguire. That department head get a letter?
Rose, “that Yankee Guy” and McGwire are what?