The MLB All Star Game Ending In a Home Run Derby Was An Absolute Blast And Kyle Schwarber Is A True Showman

Kevin C. Cox. Getty Images.

I don't wanna be a prisoner of the moment, but that was one of the best All Star Games I've ever watched in any sport. Now is that saying much when you see what the NBA and NFL have to offer? No, especially when you realize it's pretty hard to not try when playing baseball. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed tonight and the concluding home run derby put it over the top. 

For the first time we got a taste of MLB's new rule when an All Star Game is tied after nine innings —a 3v3 home run derby where each player gets three swings. The AL staged a six run comeback to level things at six apiece after nine. That meant it was time for Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena, and Jonathan Aranda to face off against Kyle Stowers, Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso. Not exactly your ideal crop of mashers, but these guys were predetermined ahead of time based on who wanted to do it if the moment came about. 

When it was Schwarber's time to shine he did not disappoint —three swings, three yabos. 

I can't begin to describe how impressive that is to do. No chance for him to build up a rhythm or get in a groove. He had to lock in immediately and mash. Schwarber did just that and it was enough to win it for the NL thanks to Aranda failing to hit one ball out. 

Not caring who won, I had a blast seeing my timeline fill up with an angry mob furious at Aaron Boone for picking Aranda to swing. It's not that serious and I'm sure a bunch of guys had no interest in doing it, but I still laughed at the outrage. Leave it to Boone to fumble a home run derby lineup. Incredible. 

Now in a perfect world you obviously would have had guys like Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, and Shohei Ohtani involved in the derby, but reality will tell you that most starters for this game had already hit the showers, changed into street clothes, spoke to media, and left the building. A missed opportunity for an insane baseball moment no doubt, but at the same time Schwarber's performance was plenty good enough to make the moment cool. 

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Tough moment for Pete Alonso to not get a swing at the end and play hero ball. Have to think he's been waiting for that moment his entire life. Dude was probably swinging in the cages in the 9th inning convincing himself this was his moment to save the world. 

Is there part of me worried that Manfred is gonna see how many people liked the swing off and proceed to change the extra innings rule for regular season games? Yes, but having Aaron Judge on my team makes that ok. 

Good night for baseball overall between some of the mic'd up stuff, the Kershaw send off, the ABS challenges, some of the best arms in the world doing their thing, a great comeback, and a home run derby.  

P.S. The Hank Aaron tribute was awesome. 

P.P.S. Any doubts about the home run derby going back to the outs format were erased tonight. The three swings alone were better drama than what we got last night. All the players getting into it too. No brainer decision to bring that all back.