Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle
this had to be the worse HR derby in recent memory. where were the home runs from the big hitters? noone hit one into McCovey Cove, the left handers were out in the first round.
hats off to Vlad for his victory. the same Vlad that hit 2 home runs in 2000..
|
I was standing in RF - on the deck that overlooks the field and the cove - during BP last night.
Players take 6 hacks in a rotation in BP. When Ichiro came up he'd hit three perfect line drives to left, then 3 BOMBS to right. In total I'd say he hit 8 or 9 into the cove. 1 was caught on the runway and the rest cleared the deck and the walkway behind, and landed yards into the cove. I've seen where most of Barry's blasts have landed and Ichiro's cleared them without a doubt.
He is an absolute hitting machine. I was thoroughly impressed. If you wanted a left handed HR champ in SF, he was the man.
To a man - and every baseball player would likely agree - if Ichiro entered the HR derby, he'd win every time. He is absolutely amazing.
In addition, during BP, players mingle in the OF and shag balls. They don't really. They stand around and talk. The shagging is left to some privileged kids roaming the OF. However, when Ichiro is shagging, he's putting on a show. He was catching the long drives over his head, behind the back - all sorts of defensive acrobatics - and then throwing the ball into the stands.
A really amazing thing to watch.
MeRod is now 2nd in my book for the best player in baseball. Ichiro is head and shoulders above the rest. He can hit anything, in any direction, with power and with precision.
Speed-wise he's probably a notch above MeRod, and defensively superior.
Incredible.
Vlad wins Home Run Derby
Missed it.
