The Home Run Derby, once sort of a novelty act trotted out as an appetizer to the MLB All-Star Game, has become — in its own right — a marquee event. 6.7 million viewers watched last year’s contest. While that’s a far cry from the 11 million even who watched the game the next day, among the key demo (Adults 18-49) the Home Run Derby drew a 2.6 rating, while the All-Star Game drew just a 3.2.
A question that some of us who talk about sports media have often wondered if the Home Run Derby will ever draw more viewers than the All-Star Game. I posed that question to ESPN producer Scott Matthews — in his fifth year producing the Derby with the network — and he didn’t see it as relevant. He saw it as more of what makes the week when everything stops for baseball exciting.
“When I grew up, the All-Star Game would fall on my birthday, the birthday party would get pushed off for the All-Star Game,” Matthews, who also works in college football and basketball at the Worldwide leader, told me on Friday. I don’t know if in terms of ratings it’ll ever out-rate [the game]. Growing up, I had the Midsummer Classic to watch, and now the way the Derby has progressed, I’d like to think there are two terrific nights for baseball fans to be in front of their TV sets in July, and that’s a win-win for any baseball fan.”
That may be true, but the fact remains that the Home Run Derby is one of baseball’s biggest nights to shine. Matthews says “a combination” of ESPN’s baseball people and a consistent group of people at the network who don’t typically work on the sport come in to help put on the show. It is, no doubt, a special event.
“It’s a unique, special event. A lot of our folks return year after year,” says Matthews. One of those returnees is Chris Berman, the controversial host of the event, who’s commentary on the Derby has almost verged into bloodsport on social media. Matthews thinks Berman adds his own particular charm.
“Chris has been the voice of the Home Run Derby for almost three decades. He’s authentic, enthusiastic about how much he enjoys doing the Derby. He’s seen so many great moments, and if you sit down and talk to him, he has so many great memories about the Derby, and he’s looking forward to Monday night. He works very hard to prepare, and it’s a long broadcast window for any play-by-play person to handle, and Chris does a terrific job with his preparation, his enthusiasm… this is an event he genuinely loves a lot.”
Preparation is key for this event, because baseball’s become more and more a regional sport. Viewers in Philadelphia or New York might not know Josh Donaldson or even Troy Tulowitzki. Storykelling is a key. “I’m not sure how many people knew how good Yeonis Cespedes was until last year,” said Matthews.
“No question, it’s an opportunity to introduce, maybe the more casual baseball fan, to some of these stars. You just never know what you’re going to see on Derby night. A lot of it is what Chris and [analyst] John Kruk do, but as we bring in [on-field reporters] Buster Olney and Pedro Gomez, it’s an opportunity to introduce a lot of people to these stars.”
A new format will be used for this year’s Home Run Derby. 10 hitters, five from each league, will compete in round one. Three from each will advance, with the top in both the AL and NL getting a second round bye. From there, the six remaining sluggers will play a knockout format until there’s a winner. They’ve also lowered the number of outs to seven in each round.
For Matthews, it remind him of one of ours and his favorites, the seminal, old school Home Run Derby show. “Everybody loves the head-to-head aspect, it’s easy to follow. It harkens back to the old 1960s TV show that I used to watch with my dad when I was a kid. It’s something everybody can understand, 1-on-1, and the guy with the most home runs win. It’s great to be able to get a couple more hitters in, and a couple less outs will benefit these guys to get them up to bigger totals.”
Matthews say that “ultimately, it’s MLB’s event,” though ESPN is allowed to put in some of their own ideas. “They certainly take our input on the format, but ultimately it’s their event.”
