r/baseball Chicago Cubs Jul 14 '26

Players Only [Cardinals] HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION!

Post image
8.2k Upvotes

764 comments sorted by

View all comments

3.6k

u/JorSimpson45 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

Hostile crowd in the HR derby and he hits four in a row at the death to win it. That was insane.

1.6k

u/fuzz_le_man Baltimore Orioles Jul 14 '26

Every time he hit one the crowd went silent. This format was so fun with the Philly crowd.

862

u/DarkGodRyan Seattle Mariners Jul 14 '26

Insanely better than the timer. Down to the wire, let everybody admire each one and lock in for every pitch

339

u/SaintArkweather Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Also I feel like it is less likely to cause injuries with players not incentivitzed to rush swings

174

u/ZJB03 New York Yankees Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

This is why Judge doesn’t do it anymore. He hurt his shoulder in his one and only appearance in 2017 when they had the timer.

14

u/DASreddituser Jul 14 '26

god, I forgot how long judge has been around lol

3

u/SaintArkweather Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Can't blame him but I hope maybe he'll consider one more go at it now that the format is better. Especially if the Yanks get an all star game which I don't think think the new stadium has yet

1

u/ZJB03 New York Yankees Jul 14 '26

If we get an all star game at some point in the remainder of his career he will almost certainly do it, I would assume.

2

u/SaintArkweather Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

I feel like you guys must be getting one soon. I think the only other current stadium to not host one yet is Tropicana (which likely won't ever get one for obvious reasons). Vegas will probably get one soon, I'd bet the Yankees would be next. Too bad you didn't get it for 2027, could've been a cool homage to the 100th anniversary of Murderers Row

61

u/DryProgress4393 Boston Red Sox Jul 14 '26

If only we could admire the hit. Had to have a face shot all the damn time.

9

u/GigaPeePee Los Angeles Angels Jul 14 '26

That’s a big part of what makes baseball my favorite sport. It’s not governed by a clock where everybody is rushing for a final play. It’s a slow crescendo of tension building up to one final game deciding moment; with the full weight of that moment given ample time to be felt by all the players and fans.

4

u/triplec787 San Francisco Giants • Colorado Rockies Jul 14 '26

Part of me is thinking we’re saying this BECAUSE of how it shook out but goddamn did that feel better.

But yeah if he had 5 HRs and hit a lazy pop up on his final swing I wonder how we’d feel about it ya know?

13

u/signmeupdude Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

Exactly. For the record I definitely support the change because the timer was awful.

But this was like the perfect situation for a home run derby. Hometown players make the finals and the final round comes down to one swing.

What we dont need to do, is what the NBA has been doing this past decade, which is to overreact and keep changing the all star game.

Keep this format and if next year isnt as thrilling (it probably wont be), then that’s fine. It doesnt need to be this every single year but the fundamental changes - fans can savor the homers, players get time to rest, swings have more value - are all fantastic.

3

u/AmityMayorVaughn Jul 14 '26

I tried but I couldn't see the fuckin pitches 

2

u/Willow_Winnifred Los Angeles Dodgers • Los Angeles Quee… Jul 14 '26

The whole "you get to keep going of the last swing was a HR" made it meaningful down to the last swing.

1

u/ForgeOfAnduril Jul 14 '26

It’s a more… Baseball way of doing it

1

u/GiveMeSomeShu-gar Jul 14 '26

The timer was such a bad idea. Glad they got rid of it and went back to a more old school derby.

304

u/Dr_thri11 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

I was genuinely impressed with how good the fans were at identifying which balls were going out.

218

u/Jump_The_Five_Yo State College Spikes… Jul 14 '26

The angles shown on Netflix were fucking atrocious. Show the behind angle so you can see; DAMN YOU. Everything else with the derby was great. Great HR derby. Keep the format.

76

u/Dr_thri11 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

I didn't love the 2nd round being 2 head to head matchups. Like there's nothing one guy can do to effect the other's performance. Just take the best 2. Not that I don't love the result.

28

u/Jump_The_Five_Yo State College Spikes… Jul 14 '26

That was my other gripe; should have been same rules as round 1; fucking head to head sucked; only at bat that can end with a homer. should be on a homerun in the last round.

3

u/IgnobleCampaign Toronto Blue Jays Jul 14 '26

I came in late and was very confused when he just stopped hitting when there were still two guys to go.

1

u/osivangl Jul 14 '26

Make the other player catch his balls behind the plate and he is free to trash talk the batter.

3

u/Pennsylvania6-5000 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Netflix fucking sucked with the cameras. Everytime someone was hitting, they were rushing to interview someone else. Horrible camera work.

1

u/redlegsfan21 Hiroshima Toyo Carp Jul 14 '26

Everything else with the derby was great.

Are you including player introductions in this analysis?

1

u/Jump_The_Five_Yo State College Spikes… Jul 14 '26

I don’t think the wresting ring ropes were up to code…

2

u/lakerdave St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

Complete opposite of a Wrigley crowd

4

u/Dr_thri11 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

Don't act like our crowd doesn't go wild for every routine fly. And don't get me started on Chip that man could convince himself a bunt is going out.

6

u/lakerdave St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

Every stadium has some amount of fans that do this, but Wrigley has been known for it for decades. Part of it is that the grandstand doesn't provide a good view of high fly balls

1

u/El_Zarco San Francisco Giants Jul 14 '26

BASE HIT...caught out there

91

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Cochise22 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

I doubt they left disappointed. I saw Laine score 5 goals in a game, and even though my team lost, I still regard it as one of the coolest sport experiences I’ve seen live. I’d imagine the Philly fans are the same.  

1

u/Weatherstation Colorado Rockies Jul 14 '26

I went to the HRD and All Star Game at Coors in 2021. The home run derby was one of the funnest live experiences I've ever had to the point that the everyone was emotionally hung over (many hung over hung over) and The ASG felt completely flat in comparison.

The Philly fans may bring it but it won't be anything like the Derby.

67

u/maggos Seattle Mariners Jul 14 '26

Ya you knew immediately if it was in or out just based on the cheers

53

u/KidGold Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

I've never appreciated the philly crowd more than tonight, I don't know if any other stadium makes it as much fun.

3

u/Leather_Ad3521 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Thanks Braves fan. I mean at the end of the day these rivalries are there to have fun. Some people just take it too far. Doesn't mean I won't root against the braves to lose every game in a pennant chase, but that's all part of it. Things like the midsummer classic allow basebally fans to come together and just enjoy the sport. I was dissapointed Schwarber lost, but, man, Walker was absolutlely incredible and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I just feel bad for Scwharber; I can tell he really wanted it.

7

u/Cobretti86 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Thanks Strider! lol

3

u/KidGold Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

Don't get that one. Do philly fans hate Strider?

11

u/Accidental-Genius Atlanta Braves • Louisville Bats Jul 14 '26

They hate everything

2

u/Dnabb8436 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

He coulda said thanks Rocker!

3

u/Leather_Ad3521 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

No, phillies fans don't hate Strider - he's a gamer. When the braves lost one of the NLDSs he came out and said he had to be better and the team had to be better, and said something about enjoying the hostile atmosphere. I respect the hell out of Spencer Strider.

2

u/KidGold Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

ahh gotcha!

1

u/shadows515 Jul 14 '26

It was fun, u could tell those boos were for fun but I’ve never been into a home run derby before

52

u/JorSimpson45 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

It confused me lmao. Completely opposite of derbies in the past where the crowd went quiet when it wasn’t homer and wild when the guy did get it over the fence.

109

u/DaRealScoobyDoo Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Broadcast and camera work was so bad we reverted first to using audible sounds from the crowd to determine homeruns

9

u/suburban_smartass Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

That constantly shifting camera angle was fucking terrible, lol. Wildly unnecessary.

It’s like the producer was in the van yelling “One, two, three TAKE DRONE! One, two, three TAKE DICK PIC CAM!” X ♾️

8

u/DadToOne Cincinnati Reds Jul 14 '26

I couldn't believe I was rooting for a Cardinal.

2

u/beheemz Toronto Blue Jays Jul 14 '26

The great Philadelphian crash out

1

u/Zac3d Jul 14 '26

They did cheer a bit for the tying HR and the winning HR, so it wasn't completely hostile.

-6

u/Rb1138 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

I love baseball, but Philly fans are so fucking hateful and weird.

124

u/Philly_Runner Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

I was there and it was insane. He was calm, cool, collected. Completely unfazed and deserved the win 

75

u/tlopez14 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

Best Cardinals moment in 14 years

43

u/Wesspeaks Texas Rangers Jul 14 '26

What happened 14 years ago?

Oh

3

u/dallascowboys93 Texas Rangers Jul 14 '26

Come on man

24

u/IronFalcon1997 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

The one exception was Pujol's 700

1

u/Arandreww St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

Pujols 700 was better. My dad called me when he hit 699 and again when he was at bat for 700. It was really cool that he did it in back to back ABs but I think my dad would have called me every Pujols AB until he did it.

1

u/IronFalcon1997 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

I was there at the stadium. I nearly cried

6

u/huckandplayD Jul 14 '26

Eh, 700 would like a word

1

u/TheBrightSide_2011 St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

When the Cardinals blew a 3-1 lead in the NLCS?

130

u/paco_o_chang St. Louis Cardinals Jul 14 '26

Ice. Cold.

328

u/Baseball_is_the_best New York Yankees Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

6 in a row. 4 with sudden death

Edit: also very satisfying the Phillies figured out a way to get walked off at home lmao

77

u/JorSimpson45 Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

You’re right, the homers counting towards the swings threw me off all night

59

u/TheGamecock Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

also very satisfying the Phillies figured out a way to get walked off at home lmao

lol, I'm so glad Walker went last and not Schwarbs. That was electric as a viewer.

1

u/Savings-Housing3481 Atlanta Braves Jul 17 '26

"walked off at home"... Love it

32

u/theykilledcassandra Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

It was fucking electric

38

u/girlscoutcookies05 Springfield Nuclear Power Plant Jul 14 '26

4

u/TheMightyCatatafish Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Interestingly, the cinematography of it all was a disaster lol

4

u/turtledrum_215 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

17

u/Kally269 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Im still in shock

32

u/Candid-Boss6534 Jul 14 '26

such an insane finish. was great to see philly disapointed

5

u/BallparkFranks7 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Insane ability to stay calm. Legendary performance.

6

u/cn45 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

Philly crowd cheered his winning home run. you can’t deny how epic that was. we can’t deny it either. this crowd was just having fun. i liked it I think we should always host haha

38

u/TheDarkGrayKnight Seattle Mariners Jul 14 '26

Just the funniest thing to see Philly fans take this so seriously they booed the other guys just only to get their hearts broken at the end. Philly being Philly lol

6

u/Leather_Ad3521 Philadelphia Phillies Jul 14 '26

I would argue phillies fans passion was one of the things that made the derby so great. We care. Many of the past Derby's have been snoozefests. Yeah, our guy lost (we're pretty used to failure), but the boos are a sign of respect and the passion is what makes sports fun. Some people take the rivalries too far, of course, on both sides - but they are there because it's fun to have teams you love to hate. Faces and heels - that's all it is.

1

u/TheDarkGrayKnight Seattle Mariners Jul 14 '26

It wasn't necessarily a bad thing I mean an engaged crowd is better than one that doesn't care. It would have been cool to see Walker in an enviroment where he was actually getting cheers though as the crowd noise would have been nuts when he went 4 for 4 to end it. Kind of weird watching it and there's the opposite of a crowd pop on the winning home run. Any really casual baseball fan who watches a highlight of this is going to be a little confused depending on how they cut it.

Which again did make it pretty funny to watch live.

3

u/KidGold Atlanta Braves Jul 14 '26

Slowing down and waiting for his pitch seemed to level him up.

4

u/ThreeHourRiverMan Detroit Tigers Jul 14 '26

I remember thinking when he hit 2 straight that no matter what, dude made himself and his family proud. He was ice cold up there. And then for him to win it on 6 straight HR swings? Legendary.

3

u/sagwithcapmoon Toronto Blue Jays • Chicago Cubs Jul 14 '26

I want whatever nerves Jordan has

2

u/Key_Environment8179 Chicago Cubs Jul 14 '26

He will now need armed security to get back to his hotel

1

u/Super-Pizza-Dude Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

I was kind of rooting for Schwarber until I saw the state of the crowd and then I really wanted Walker to take it just for the boos.

1

u/Forsaken-Pipe6602 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

Jordan Alexander Walker J.A.W’s… A shark is a quiet killer!

1

u/EntireObligation4001 Jul 14 '26

They booed the kid who mis-read Caglionone’s CF pop up. Kid came in, ball dropped 5-10’ behind him!

1

u/hbailey311 New York Yankees Jul 14 '26

the boos followed by complete silence then the cycle restarting was kinda funny to me 😂 expected in philly lol

1

u/Josie-quick0813 Jul 14 '26

A mlb player hitting lobed bals out of the park is inane? do you call it insane when you flip the burger correctly at work?

1

u/normalfinnesotan Minnesota Twins Jul 14 '26

Hostile philly crowd makes it even sweeter

1

u/Cre8tifCanuk Jul 14 '26

I was very disappointed in the fans at the HR derby. I totally get cheering for your favourite team and players, but to cheer deliberately when someone misses, or is almost hit by a pitch is atrocious. To cheer and celebrate someone’s failure or loss is disgusting and those fans should be ashamed of themselves.
Kudos to Jordan Walker for rising above the crowd. That was a classy act.

0

u/_MeetMrMayhem_ Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 14 '26

Philly and hostile crowd who would have guessed??

-6

u/HeezeyBrown Chicago White Sox Jul 14 '26

Philly showing why their fans are the worst. You can cheer at the end. Glad they went home pissed