MLB All-Star Skills Competition?
Posted: Mon Jul 9, 2012 2:41 pm
Like many others, I've always found the skills competition to an all-star weekend to be more enjoyable then the actual all-star game itself - whether it be in the NHL, NBA or even the NFL (although they've cancelled the Pro Bowl skills challenge in 2007).
Although the Home Run Derby can be entertaining, I've found that it gets dragged on for WAY too long. I usually end up flipping through the channels because I'm sick of watching commercials after every second batter. Instead of dragging out the HR Derby for 2 hours, why not have a full evening of skills competition like the other major sports?
Here are some ideas:
1) Fastest pitch: Simple and easy to judge. Get the hardest throwing fireballers in baseball and see who can throw the fastest on the radar gun. Who wouldn't want to see Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson duke it out on the mound during their heyday?
2) Pitching accuracy: A similar format to the NHL's accuracy shooting, have a wall of targets at home plate, and have the pitcher hit as many targets as possible in the fewest amount of pitches or in the shortest time.
3) Fastest runner: Have the player run from home to first and see who can record the fastest time. You can even time how long it takes for the player to round the bases.
4) Best fielder: Similar to the new skills challenge in the NBA, have 4 nets set up on each base. The best infielders of the game will participate. Designate them on a spot in the infield and have them take ground balls. They must then accurately throw them into each net. Fastest time wins.
5) Best outfield arm: Not sure how this will work, but one of the most exciting defensive plays in baseball occurs when there is going to be a play at the plate. Designate the player on a spot in the outfield, have a ball tossed in the air for them, and see how fast he can get it accurately to the catcher standing at home. Or to make it more exciting, have a runner tagging at third, and see how many times the outfielder can gun him out at home in 3 tries. I would surely tune in to a Bautista vs. Ichiro matchup.
What do you guys think of having a skills competition in baseball? To me, it's about time MLB expands its All-Star weekend festivities to spotlight the individual talents of its players.
Although the Home Run Derby can be entertaining, I've found that it gets dragged on for WAY too long. I usually end up flipping through the channels because I'm sick of watching commercials after every second batter. Instead of dragging out the HR Derby for 2 hours, why not have a full evening of skills competition like the other major sports?
Here are some ideas:
1) Fastest pitch: Simple and easy to judge. Get the hardest throwing fireballers in baseball and see who can throw the fastest on the radar gun. Who wouldn't want to see Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson duke it out on the mound during their heyday?
2) Pitching accuracy: A similar format to the NHL's accuracy shooting, have a wall of targets at home plate, and have the pitcher hit as many targets as possible in the fewest amount of pitches or in the shortest time.
3) Fastest runner: Have the player run from home to first and see who can record the fastest time. You can even time how long it takes for the player to round the bases.
4) Best fielder: Similar to the new skills challenge in the NBA, have 4 nets set up on each base. The best infielders of the game will participate. Designate them on a spot in the infield and have them take ground balls. They must then accurately throw them into each net. Fastest time wins.
5) Best outfield arm: Not sure how this will work, but one of the most exciting defensive plays in baseball occurs when there is going to be a play at the plate. Designate the player on a spot in the outfield, have a ball tossed in the air for them, and see how fast he can get it accurately to the catcher standing at home. Or to make it more exciting, have a runner tagging at third, and see how many times the outfielder can gun him out at home in 3 tries. I would surely tune in to a Bautista vs. Ichiro matchup.
What do you guys think of having a skills competition in baseball? To me, it's about time MLB expands its All-Star weekend festivities to spotlight the individual talents of its players.
