The MLB Home Run Derby Just Got A Makeover

It sounds like Major League Baseball is looking to make the annual Home Run Derby more time-friendly. Every year, the biggest part of the All-Star weekend is the Home Run Derby. Mostly because of the flare, but partially because of all the nonsense rules about making sure every team has a player, and that every player plays. Just once I'd like to see a REAL baseball game break out during All-Star weekend...but that's a story for a different day.

Let's look at the changes to the Home Run Derby:

The 'shot clock'. Instead of players getting 10 outs (they're done with that) each player will get 5 minutes to launch as many long-balls as they can.

Stopping the clock. If a player hits a bomb, after the 1-minute-mark, the clock will stop until he hits something that doesn't make it to the stands. So if a player rattles off 5 homers in a row, the clock will stay stopped the whole time.

Adding minutes to the clock. When a player launches a moon-shot, they'll be rewarded. If two home runs go over 420 feet, that's a minute added to the clock. For every ball traveling at least 475 feet, that's :30 seconds tacked on.

Seeding the bats. The tournament will now be a bracket, and the seeding will be determined by home many regular season home runs each player has by the July 7th cutoff date. The higher seed in each match-up will bat second (so 1 vs. 3, the 1 seed would bat second).

Tie breakers. In the event there is a tie, it will come down to a 'swing off'. Each player will get 90 seconds to hit as many homers as possible. If that doesn't settle it, then you'll see a three-swing-hit-off.