Tonight is the Home Run Derby, which to me is an event that’s only gotten better over the years (not to mention a much-appreciated distraction from the abysmal end to the first half of Yankees baseball; the Yankees even fired their hitting coach). The pre-timer format had some memorable highlights (Josh Hamilton launching 50,000 dingers at the Old Yankee Stadium immediately springs to mind), but so many of those rounds took so long. Now, it feels a little more crisp and even more impressive for whoever wins. I’ll be watching.
It’s a bit of an odd day at the site, as Peter will take the Rivalry Roundup, Jake will check in with the 1998 Yankees, and Madison will ask for your first-half mailbag questions.