Walker joins HR derby

[Goldfan]

Bobby Abreu (2005): The most famous example. He hit 18 home runs with a 1.130 OPS in the first half, but after winning the Derby, he hit only 6 home runs with a .795 OPS in the second half.Brandon Inge (2009): After making the All-Star team and participating in the Derby, his batting average and power numbers plummeted.Dan Uggla (2008): Experienced a notable drop-off in production and strikeouts following his Derby appearance.Justin Morneau (2007): Suffered a significant dip in his slugging metrics after participating in the contest

All of those players were more established hitters than Walker.

[TheFantasyStud]

So excited for Jordan!!!!! Congrats!!! Show the world on the big stage your power. We have a superstar in the making and I love it!!!

[Goldfan]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

His swing is still too fragile to mess with. He just figured this out at the end of ST…….why would the club mess with it. What’s the upside in this?

[Futuregm2]

Bobby Abreu (2005): The most famous example. He hit 18 home runs with a 1.130 OPS in the first half, but after winning the Derby, he hit only 6 home runs with a .795 OPS in the second half.Brandon Inge (2009): After making the All-Star team and participating in the Derby, his batting average and power numbers plummeted.Dan Uggla (2008): Experienced a notable drop-off in production and strikeouts following his Derby appearance.Justin Morneau (2007): Suffered a significant dip in his slugging metrics after participating in the contest

All of those players were more established hitters than Walker.

Abreu had 2 HRs over his last 117 PAs BEFORE the AS break. He was already off pace. He had 1 HR in April. 11 of his 24 HRs that year came in May.

[Goldfan]

Bobby Abreu (2005): The most famous example. He hit 18 home runs with a 1.130 OPS in the first half, but after winning the Derby, he hit only 6 home runs with a .795 OPS in the second half.Brandon Inge (2009): After making the All-Star team and participating in the Derby, his batting average and power numbers plummeted.Dan Uggla (2008): Experienced a notable drop-off in production and strikeouts following his Derby appearance.Justin Morneau (2007): Suffered a significant dip in his slugging metrics after participating in the contest

All of those players were more established hitters than Walker.

Abreu had 2 HRs over his last 117 PAs BEFORE the AS break. He was already off pace. He had 1 HR in April. 11 of his 24 HRs that year came in May.

Were any of those guys in AAA the previous year hitting .200?

[Cusecards]

Personally I would rather see him NOT participate as I think the potential risks outweigh the rewards.
Having said that....I don’t think they want to tell him not to participate.
I’m sure he’s thrilled and I like to think they’ll coach/advise him properly?

[Clubmaker2]

STUPID…..he just gets his swing going this season….stupid move

Agreed seems one or two players got screwed up by home run derby....

[Hawkgirll70]

I'm very excited for Jordan. Yeah!

I'm mightily disappointed that the HR Derby is exclusively streaming on Netflix.
I don't come on here and complain much, as I just enjoy watching them play and like reading about transactions/trades/etc, but
this sucks! I think the Derby and All-Star Game should be on free TV as it's supposed to be for the fans.

Yeah, I'll buy a month so we can watch him, but it's disappointing.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I wrote awhile back that these guys have probably dreamed about doing something like this their entire lives since they were kids. They might never get a chance to participate in something like this again. Like 99.99999999% of the planet will never get to do something like this. He can take his family and have a great couple of days. Also, what about the financial implications? He gets his name out there on a national level. He is looking at bigger endorsements and name recognition on top of doing something he's always dreamed about.

Besides, it's been proven that the derby messing with a player's swing or injury is not really a thing. I did a little bit of research and found this study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33738309/

Conclusion: HRD participants did not have increased odds of being placed on the injured list during the second half of the MLB season compared with controls, nor did they experience second-half performance declines in offensive production versus controls when multivariable linear regression analysis was performed.

[Goldfan]

I wrote awhile back that these guys have probably dreamed about doing something like this their entire lives since they were kids. They might never get a chance to participate in something like this again. Like 99.99999999% of the planet will never get to do something like this. He can take his family and have a great couple of days. Also, what about the financial implications? He gets his name out there on a national level. He is looking at bigger endorsements and name recognition on top of doing something he's always dreamed about.

Besides, it's been proven that the derby messing with a player's swing or injury is not really a thing. I did a little bit of research and found this study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33738309/

Conclusion: HRD participants did not have increased odds of being placed on the injured list during the second half of the MLB season compared with controls, nor did they experience second-half performance declines in offensive production versus controls when multivariable linear regression analysis was performed.

And how many of these participants in your research were hitting .200 in the minors the previous season, and as of ST the same year couldn’t figure out an effective swing to save his life…….but bringing his family to All-star game and sponsorships are primary over not wanting to screw up something that just was fixed…….

[sikeston bulldog2]

An even bet he only gets 20 ish pitches. Hes gotta hit hen out to advance.

[Ozziesfan41]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

+1 it’s silly to think his season will be derailed because of the home run derby lol the home run derby is basically batting practice players take batting practice everyday he’s not suddenly going to start thinking he needs to a home run every at bat

[greyhawk]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

+1 it’s silly to think his season will be derailed because of the home run derby lol the home run derby is basically batting practice players take batting practice everyday he’s not suddenly going to start thinking he needs to a home run every at bat

+2 -- as noted if he isn't mentally tough by now he never will be plus he's 24 and in probably as close to his peak physically as he ever will be. As others stated this has to have been a dream, let him have some fun as he likely isn't going to play much in the actual game.

[Ozziesfan41]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

+1 it’s silly to think his season will be derailed because of the home run derby lol the home run derby is basically batting practice players take batting practice everyday he’s not suddenly going to start thinking he needs to a home run every at bat

+2 -- as noted if he isn't mentally tough by now he never will be plus he's 24 and in probably as close to his peak physically as he ever will be. As others stated this has to have been a dream, let him have some fun as he likely isn't going to play much in the actual game.

Plus he has went into what two or three slumps where the sky is falling fans said that’s it he’s lost it he’s reverted back to his old ways he’s done then he gets hot again but I’m sure he will slump again at some point in the second half and the sky is falling fans will say see the home run derby screwed him up then he will start hitting again. Walker has righted himself after every slump all year the derby won’t derail him

[Futuregm2]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

+1 it’s silly to think his season will be derailed because of the home run derby lol the home run derby is basically batting practice players take batting practice everyday he’s not suddenly going to start thinking he needs to a home run every at bat

+2 -- as noted if he isn't mentally tough by now he never will be plus he's 24 and in probably as close to his peak physically as he ever will be. As others stated this has to have been a dream, let him have some fun as he likely isn't going to play much in the actual game.

Plus he has went into what two or three slumps where the sky is falling fans said that’s it he’s lost it he’s reverted back to his old ways he’s done then he gets hot again but I’m sure he will slump again at some point in the second half and the sky is falling fans will say see the home run derby screwed him up then he will start hitting again. Walker has righted himself after every slump all year the derby won’t derail him

For sure when he goes through a slump in the 2nd half, as every player does at some point, the reason will be the HR derby.

[dugoutrex]

It is nice to have a little national exposure. Not going to say it will ruin him, but yes I do have some reservations about it. But still, it’s a nice honor for Walker to be part of this and the AS game in general. He’s earned it.

Stupid move. Too fragile still. Repeat a season like this next year and the year after and then go try to launch HR at the circus

You really think he’s that fragile? The kid went from elite prospect to one of the worst hitters in baseball for 2 years in a row, got sent down twice, and it didn’t break him. He’s probably one of the strongest players mentally in the game.

His swing is still too fragile to mess with. He just figured this out at the end of ST…….why would the club mess with it. What’s the upside in this?

Pujols got a huge boost from it in 2022