ESPN's awful Home Run Derby coverage won't be missed after MLB split
I came away from the Derby thinking it was too long, and I don't think I've ever felt that way about watching dudes hit dingers. But after dedicating almost three hours of my night squinting to see a white blur that ESPN's cameras could barely track, I couldn't help but feel like there was a better way I could've spent that time.
Don't get me wrong. There were some high moments. Junior Caminero put on a show with his surprise run to the final. Oneil Cruz hit moonshot after moonshot. And Raleigh delivered the dramatics. But it was a three-hour show! That's longer than the average baseball game. And I repeat, ESPN's cameras barely provided the thing we came to see. Which made the long derby so much harder to stomach.
HR THIEVERY: Here's the kid who nearly robbed Caminero
The obvious issue with ESPN's coverage was the split-screen view, which was supposed to provide a shot of the batter on one side and a shot of where his hits were traveling on the other. But far too often, the ball-tracking cameras were left staring into space at nothing in particular... or locked in too long on an outfield spot where a non-dinger may or may not have landed... or showing player and fan reactions to home runs we never actually got to see at home -- which actually became my preferred view over the bad ball-tracking.
But that wasn't the only issue. The coverage was a turn-off from the start when ESPN used Pat McAfee to do player introductions despite him having no apparent connection to baseball or the host city, Atlanta. The network used the Derby as another venue to force its high-cost former punter personality down our throats. And bruh, who asked for this?
Then, there was the moment in the semifinals when the in-house audio at Truist Park began overpowering the broadcast audio, causing intermittent bursts of music to drown out Karl Ravech's commentary as Raleigh made his push past Cruz. Suddenly, the broadcast was hard to watch and listen. And by that point, the only thing that kept me around was a desire to see the thing through after suffering through so much already.
Several people across social media pointed out how the Statcast broadcast on ESPN2 was better. I gave that a try, but better didn't mean it was perfect.
The digital home run tracker on ESPN2 was a massive improvement over what was happening on the main broadcast, and there were some cool camera angles too. Kevin Brown had a delightful call of Cruz's 513-foot blast. But the "stat" cast predictably didn't have the same pageantry and spectator views of the main broadcast. A marriage of the two would have made for a better experience over both.
So, what's the solution to making a three-hour home run derby easier to watch? That'll be a question for whichever network picks it up next, as ESPN's coverage of MLB ends after this season after the sides agreed to opt out of their contract together. Thankfully for whoever's next, the bar for improvement hasn't been set very high.
Is UNO coming to a casino near you?
This is a question people have apparently been asking after the popular card game's manufacturer, Mattel, announced the Friday debut of its new UNO Social Club at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and that more social clubs would be opening across the country.
And if I'm being honest, security concerns aside, it didn't sound like the worst idea in the world. I would absolutely lay a few bucks down to draw-four a stranger to death. But that's not exactly what's happening, as UNO explained this morning in an Instagram post clearing up the confusion:
"We hate to be the bearers of bad news but the casino floor isn't ready for us yet. We've been told that while they do have tight security, it's not robust enough for UNO at this time."
Well, that's a bummer. I guess there's hope in that "yet" word. Here's Charles Curtis with more of UNO's response.
Quick Hits: Emmy nominations ... Johnny Furphy's poster ... and more
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USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
Milwaukee Brewers are an 'island of misfit toys' – and MLB's hottest team
They're that Toyota Prius in a parking lot full of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. They're that ground chuck burger on a menu with tomahawk steaks and lobster tails. They are the unwanted, the discarded, and the castoffs of Major League Baseball. They are the Milwaukee Brewers. 'The island," Brewers reliever Grant Anderson tells USA TODAY Sports, 'of misfit toys.'' It was the moniker Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook placed on his staff, with Brewers manager Pat Murphy chiming in, saying his entire team, is 'Just a bunch of average Joes." MLB POWER RANKINGS: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leaving big-bucks LA in dust Well, these anonymous castoffs just may be the best darn team in all of baseball, tied with the Chicago Cubs for baseball's best record, 60-41, while winning 35 of their last 48 games, including 11 of their last 12. Yes, the Brewers, whose $124 million payroll is the seventh-smallest in baseball, and less than what the Los Angeles Dodgers are projected to pay in luxury tax penalties this year. Yes, the Brewers, who don't have a single player hitting .300, who has 20 homers, or whose WAR ranks higher than 60th in MLB. Yes, the Brewers, who have only two players earning more than $10 million this season. 'No one knows who we are," Murphy says, 'but we do. It's like I told the reporters in LA. No disrespect to the great fans of Japan baseball, but they can't name five players in our lineup.' Well, hate to break the news to Murphy, but baseball fans right here in the good ol' USA can't name five Brewers players, either. Sure, go ahead and try. There's former MVP and two-time batting champion Christian Yelich. There's 21-year-old center field sensation Jackson Chourio. There's two-time All-Star catcher William Contreras. There's uh, well, that kid who throws 101mph on every pitch, what's his name, Miz something? Anyone else? 'We don't get recognized anywhere," Brewers left fielder Isaac Collins says. 'I mean, even in town, I think I've only been recognized once or twice. No one knows who we are." Well, considering they're on pace to reach the postseason for the seventh time in the last eight years, with four NL Central Division titles, it's about time everyone finds out. 'We're going to start wearing 'Power of Friendship' T-shirts," All-Star closer Trevor Megill says, 'then people can start recognizing who we are. I mean, people were freaking out last year when we won 93 games. Maybe they didn't think we could do it again." The Brewers are reminding folks that even if you don't wear Armani suits, Gucci shoes and David Yurman gold chains, all you need is a comfortable pair of spikes, a broken-in glove, the right bat, and the unselfish desire to play the game the right way to make the rich and famous wallowing in jealousy. The Brewers have no power, and not a lot of speed, but, oh, do they play the game hard, they play it right, and they will beat your brains in playing small ball. 'We're the little engine that could," Murphy says. 'We have no pop. We have no slug. We don't have a lot of things. But we have a lot of heart 'These guys are hungry. 'And it's hard to be hungry when you're full." The Brewers make up for their power deficit by putting the ball in play. They rarely strike out. They bunt. They hit-and-run. They play defense. They attack. Simply, they're relentless. 'It's nice for America to see that our brand of baseball works," Collins says. 'You don't have to live and die by the long ball. You just have to do all of the little things right. 'That's all we're doing, just being ourselves." And, poking a little of fun at themselves in the process. When the Brewers signed a backup player for $1.35 million during the winter, Murphy sent Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations a note: "Hey Andy, sorry, but when you were signing Shohei Ohtani, [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto and Blake Snell, we stole this guy from you. Sorry about that." When players are traded to Milwaukee, GM Matt Arnold cracks, 'You don't get traded to the big leagues. You get traded to Milwaukee JUCO." And when you enter the Brewers clubhouse, you feel as if you're walking into a movie set or a comedy club, with Murphy being called 'Patches O'Houlihan," from the 2004 movie 'Dodgeball." 'That's what we do here,'' Murphy says. 'We dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. We need to get those T-shirts made." This also is the place where you can be released, designated for assignment, traded or dumped, and come resurrect your career. The Brewers will take your sick, your hungry, your weary, and even your ex-Colorado Rockies. The Brewers acquired reliever Nick Mears from the Rockies for two minor leaguers last July, and picked up Collins from the Rockies in 2022 in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Mears has since become one of their most reliable relievers, yielding a .200 batting average this season with a 0.86 WHIP – sixth among all relievers. Collins won the starting left field job and is hitting .269 with a .777 OPS. 'It seems like half the guys here have been DFA'd or come over in a trade," Mears says, 'but once you get over here, you buy into the culture. There's a hunger to win, especially coming from a bad team. You want to prove to yourself that you're more than just a DFA guy. Just imagine how first baseman Andrew Vaughn was feeling. The former first-round pick couldn't even stick with the Chicago Sox. He was demoted and sent back to the minors for the first time since 2019. He was still languishing in the minors when Brewers veteran Aaron Civale asked to be traded, upset he was being taken out of the rotation for rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski. In less than 24 hours, Arnold was sending Civale to the White Sox for Vaughn. Vaughn returned to the minors but when first baseman Rhys Hoskins sprained a thumb ligament two weeks ago, he was summoned. Vaughn hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat with the Brewers, and never stopped, hitting .333 with two doubles, two homers, 12 RBI and a 1.071 OPS during an 11-game winning streak. 'It's pretty special being here," Vaughn says. 'You can see why they have so much success." There is starter Quinn Priester, given up by the Pittsburgh Pirates after being a first-round draft pick in 2019, and then the Boston Red Sox, who traded him April 7 to the Brewers. The Red Sox didn't think he could help them, but the Brewers believed in his pedigree, and with a little tinkering of his arsenal, could be a force. You think the Red Sox could use him now? Priester, who added a cut-fastball to his arsenal, is 8-2 with a 3.33 ERA. He pitched six shutout innings, yielding just three hits and striking out 10 without a walk in his last outing against the Dodgers. 'I remember as soon as I got traded here," Priester says, 'I had a bunch of guys text me telling me how good this team is developing pitchers in the system, and they do such a great job. You look at how many of us came from different organizations and got better here. 'We're not here to prove people wrong, but to just enjoy the camaraderie, with everyone buying in to do whatever it takes to win." There is Caleb Durbin, a Division III player at Washington University in St. Louis, who was traded twice in two years without spending a day in the big leagues. The Brewers scouts loved his fiery demeanor, playing almost with a chip in his shoulder, knowing his style perfectly fit Murphy's mold. So, when the Brewers traded All Star closer Devin Williams to the Yankees, they made sure Durbin was in the deal along with veteran starter Nestor Cortes. 'I know we're a small market team," Durbin says, 'but we're still a big-league team. We still have good baseball players. It's just we're overlooked because of our makeup. 'That's OK. We know how good we are. If you're not ready to scrap nine innings with us, at the end of the game, you're going to be on the wrong end of it." Infielder Joey Ortiz came over from Baltimore in the Corbin Burnes trade along with pitcher DL Hall. He was their starting third baseman last season, is now a Gold Globe candidate at shortstop, reminding Arnold of former defensive whizzes Walt Weiss or Rey Ordonez. Megill was an original Padre. Then a Cub. Then a Twin. And two years later, after being acquired by the Brewers for a player to be named later, Megill is now an All Star. He has 44 saves the last two years and became the Brewers' full-time closer when the Brewers traded Williams. 'When we told him he made the All Star team," Arnold says, 'he gave me a big hug. It was like hugging a Sequoia tree. He's just a big moose. We thought he could handle the job, and he's been great." Williams sensed he was gone last year after giving up that game-winning homer to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in the Division series. It was a gut-wrenching end to the Brewers' season, the last game beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker called. 'That was as tough a loss as I've ever been part of," Arnold says. 'But nobody said, 'That's it.' We've been knocked down a lot of times here. We always get up. 'We have a standard here that we tried to hold ourselves to. We're never going to make excuses where we are in the world being the smallest market in baseball. We believe in ourselves, but we just have to do it differently, try to be creative, and have guys that nobody heard of step up." It was really no different when the Brewers opened the season losing their first four games of the season by a combined score of 47-15, the biggest run differential in MLB history. They still were four games under .500 (21-25) six weeks into the season. Then, a funny thing happened. The pitching staff, which opened the season with 11 of their top 16 pitchers injured, began to get healthy. Those cast-offs started gelling. And then, on May 25, they rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the eighth inning against the Pirates to win, 6-5. They have since been baseball's hottest team. 'We don't have guys making $20 million a year," says Anderson, who's on his third team after being designated for assignment last December by the Rangers, 'like we did when I was in Texas. We don't have four MVPs in the lineup like the Dodgers. We don't have a lot of things. 'But we believe in each other. We know how to win games. And we have a lot of confidence." It's proven to be quite the lethal combination So, you may want to hurry up and get to know these Brewers' names. Come October, it could be quite handy. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Sonny Gray Trade? Why Latest Mets, Cardinals Trade Buzz Makes No Sense
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller recently put together a list of every MLB team's trade needs ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. For the Cardinals, Miller suggested they need to pick a lane and went as far as to suggest trading Sonny Gray to the New York Mets if the Cardinals were to be sellers. "If the Cardinals are sellers, Ryan Helsley, Erick Fedde, Steven Matz, Phil Maton and Miles Mikolas are the expiring contracts to unload, while Sonny Gray could be the aforementioned ace the Mets target and Nolan Arenado could be the answer to the Yankees' hot corner woes," Miller wrote. But does this make sense? PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 19: Starter Sonny Gray #54 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 19, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 19: Starter Sonny Gray #54 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 19, 2025 in Phoenix, of all, it's likely the Cardinals will be sellers. They've lost quite a bit this month, and their starting pitching rotation is far from postseason-ready. The Cardinals would need to make a lot of moves to get this team in shape to win the World Series. It's quite unlikely, so expect the Cardinals to be sellers. For the Mets, this deal would make a lot of sense. They need to add starting pitching, and Gray would fill that need with a consistent and reliable arm. He's quietly been one of the better pitchers in baseball for over five years now. The Cardinals could trade him, despite his team control, in a move that builds for the future. He would net a solid prospect return on the open market, so a trade could make sense. But Gray has a no-trade clause, and he's been unwilling to waive it for anybody. The veteran pitcher has carved out a role as a mentor to the younger arms in St. Louis, and he's done this job very well. He's been very vocal about his love for the Cardinals and how he wishes to stay with the team. If Gray is unwilling to waive his no-trade clause, then a deal is dead before it can even grow legs. More MLB: Phillies Called 'Best Fit' In Blockbuster Trade For Red Sox All-Star
New York Times
20 minutes ago
- New York Times
Rosenthal: What I'm hearing about the Royals, Twins and Astros' trade deadline plans and more
With the trade deadline eight days away, here is the latest information from major-league sources: The Kansas City Royals, 4 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race, are making it clear to clubs that if they trade right-hander Seth Lugo, they will want controllable outfield help in return. The Royals aren't at that point yet. Lugo, 35, is likely to turn down his $15 million player option for 2026 and become a free agent. The Royals not only would consider giving him a qualifying offer, but also believe they would be competitive in trying to re-sign him. So, they are in no rush to disrupt the relationship. Advertisement The thin state of the Royals' rotation, as exemplified by their choice to start 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill on Tuesday night, is another reason the front office is hesitant to act. Righty Michael Lorenzen, recovering from a left oblique strain, likely is two rehab starts away from returning, maybe more. And lefty Cole Ragans, dealing with a strained left rotation cuff, is not expected back until mid-to-late August. A losing streak and/or injury prior to the deadline obviously would alter the Royals' thinking. And even if they stay in the race, trading Lugo would be tempting if it brought a strong enough return. The athleticism of Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran makes him attractive to the Royals, as does his three additional years of club control. The Red Sox would not trade Duran for a pitcher who likely would amount to a rental. But the Royals could sweeten the deal with prospects, and teams are targeting their young catching, in particular. For what it's worth, Red Sox manager Alex Cora is familiar with Lugo. Cora was the GM for Team Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Lugo was one of the pitchers on that squad. The Royals do not appear to line up for Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates also are pursuing offense. The Royals, who entered Tuesday ranked next-to-last in runs per game, have precious little to spare. If the Royals end up buying, they likely will pursue pitching help as well, both starting and relief. The disappointing Minnesota Twins are open to discussing ace right-hander Joe Ryan as well as their top relievers, righties Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. But with the team for sale, the front office will proceed with perhaps even more caution than it might normally. Ryan, Duran and Jax all are under club control for two additional seasons. If the Twins are sold – commissioner Rob Manfred said at the All-Star break, 'there will be a transaction' – the new owner presumably will ease the Pohlad family's payroll restrictions. So, trading one or more of the pitchers without clarity on the team's future might be a decision the team regrets later. Advertisement As first reported by the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Twins are open for business on their potential free agents – right-hander Chris Paddack, infielder Willi Castro, center fielder Harrison Bader and first baseman Ty France. Castro is a logical backup plan for the Seattle Mariners and other teams pursuing Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez. Two developments with the Houston Astros on Tuesday – righty Lance McCullers Jr. becoming their 17th player on the injured list and manager Joe Espada calling third baseman Isaac Paredes' right hamstring strain 'a pretty significant injury' – could alter the team's deadline plans. The Astros were looking for a top-of-the-rotation starter even before McCullers hit the IL with a finger blister, and even with righties Spencer Arrighetti and Cristian Javier expected to rejoin the rotation in August. Of course, it is unclear whether an ace-type pitcher will become available, much less one with the additional club control the club would prefer as lefty Framber Valdez approaches free agency. If the Astros can't get a starter, they likely will pursue a high-leverage reliever. They already were looking for a left-handed hitting second baseman. With Paredes out, they could explore options at third as well. All you need to know about the Mariners' pursuits is this: Their first and third basemen this season have combined to hit only 21 home runs – and 10 of those were struck by Rowdy Tellez, whom the team released on June 26. Rookie third baseman Ben Williamson entered Tuesday with only one homer in 265 plate appearances. Luke Raley and Donovan Solano each have three homers while playing first. The Mariners started the night ranked eighth in runs per game in large part because of Cal Raleigh's 38 homers (he hit No. 39 Tuesday night) and .983 OPS. Randy Arozarena was second on the team with 18 homers, and 10 of those came in his last 17 games. Most of the trade speculation around the Miami Marlins revolves around two right-handed starting pitchers – Sandy Alcantara, who seems unlikely to move because of his 7.14 ERA, and Edward Cabrera, who left his July 11 start with elbow discomfort, but returned Tuesday night to hold the San Diego Padres to one run in 5 2/3 innings. Center fielder Dane Myers, 29, is another name to add to the list of Marlins who could go. Teams are showing interest in Myers, a plus defender who has an .878 OPS in 163 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. The Marlins aren't going to part with Myers easily, not when he is earning just $9,000 more than the $760,000 minimum and is under club control for four additional seasons. But he could play a role for a contender, and the Marlins have a potential replacement, Jakob Marsee, tearing it up at Triple A. Marsee, 24, was part of the Marlins' return from the Padres for first baseman Luis Arraez. The odds of Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno authorizing an all-out sale are exceedingly slim, but imagine if it happened. The Angels could all but control the deadline, peddling righty José Soriano (three additional years of club control), lefty Yusei Kikuchi (owed $42 million in 2026-27) and lefty reliever Reid Detmers (three more years of control, and a number of clubs would want him to return to starting). They also could trade outfielder Taylor Ward (free agent after 2026) and perhaps even sell high on Jo Adell (free agent after '27). The more likely scenario for the Angels is to trade potential free agents such as lefty Tyler Anderson, closer Kenley Jansen, infielder Luis Rengifo and third baseman Yoan Moncada. If they somehow buy – you never know with Moreno – they could upgrade virtually any part of their roster.
