Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Julio Rodriguez Falls Short in Home Run Derby Despite Record-Setting First Round

Episode Date: July 11, 2023

The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby is in the books and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez put on a show for a second consecutive year, this time hitting a Derby-record 41 homers in his first-round matchup with Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Unfortunately, Rodríguez struggled to put up even half of that in the following round, falling to Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who eventually won the entire event, by a score of 21-20. Ty hops on to talk about Rodríguez's historic effort, what went wrong in the second round, and why the current Derby format isn't fair to those who put on the best and most productive shows.Be sure to follow or subscribe to Locked On Mariners wherever you prefer your podcasts! For questions and other inquiries, email: [e-mail] the show on Twitter: @LO_Mariners | @danegnzlz | @CPat11Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code MLB.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.SleeperDownload the Sleeper app and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get up to a $100 match on your first deposit.  Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details. Currently operational in over 30 states. Check out Sleeper today! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, for a second straight year, Julio Rodriguez stole the show at the home run derby, but for the second straight year, he unfortunately ran out of gas before he could claim his crown. Let's talk about it. You are Locked-on Mariners. Your daily Seattle Mariners podcast,

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Download GameTime today. Last minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. All right, so I wanted to hop on here quickly and talk a little bit about tonight's Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park. It was a great home run derby. It was a memorable home run derby. one of the better ones that I've seen as of late. And that's what the derby is ultimately about, right? Because at the end of the day,

it's a meaningless contest that has no real impact on anything in the grand scheme of things. But it's a fun event. And it's about, you know, the memorable moments, the memories, right? Like, Adley Rutchman hitting 27 home runs and switch hitting, you know, midway through his round and his homecoming. It's Julio Rodriguez setting a single round record in home run derby history. It's Randy a Rosarena providing us with an all-timer of a derby performance across the board.

And yet none of those three people that I just mentioned actually won the home run derby tonight, which is really my issue with the home run derby overall. But I'll get to that a little bit later. for now though i want to talk about hoolio because uh julio despite not even making it to the final was yet again for the second straight year the star of the home run derby obviously the derby being in his home ballpark in seattle the crowd was just incredible and its support for Julio not just with, you know, the cheering and the chanting for Julio during his rounds, but also for how much they rallied together and pulled against guys like Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

If they were going up against Julio booing every single home run that he hit and cheering every line drive and round ball that he hit. It was amazing. It was just an amazing scene. I can't even imagine what it was like to be there incredibly jealous of everyone that I know that was fortunate enough to attend the derby tonight. It looked pretty amazing. Julio was more than prepared to give those fans the show that they deserved. And he did that. And then some in the first round and his matchup against Pete Alonzo didn't even give Alonzo the two-tube. time champ a chance and what initially looked to be the marquee matchup of the night with the

two-time champ and Alonzo going up against the young up-and-comer and Julio who you know since last year in L.A. I think was the favorite for this derby especially with us knowing where it was going to be etc. Julio just came right out of the gate effortlessly depositing bomb after bomb after bomb over the left field wall, quickly got his time bonus. Frammy Payne, his pitcher was just automatic, dotting up that upper right corner of the zone. And that was the sweet spot for Julio all night long.

Just frankly magical to see as Julio set the single round record. in the home run derby with 41 home runs, beating out the winner of this year's derby, Vladimir Giroux, who set the pass record of 40 home runs back in 2019, a derby that he also did not win. Again, we'll talk about that a little later on.

But just a fantastic round from Julio. The greatest single round performance in home run derby history, the numbers don't lie and given that it was also in his home ballpark giving the atmosphere I don't know how you could say any other round in home run derby history was more impactful more iconic than that one was so that's really cool and so even though that Julio didn't get to take the the derby chain which was pretty dope I can't lie look pretty cool on Marshawn by the way even though he didn't take that chain home tonight, he was still a winner of the home run derby.

Unfortunately, as part of him, you know, wanting to give the fans a show, he pretty much swung at everything. And that's also because, you know, Peña was so consistently in that sweet spot. But he swung a lot, right? He had presumably batting practice before the derby. He then has the first round. he goes back in the cages

takes more swings and then comes out for his second round against Vlad and he just looked gas at that point just right out of the gate just didn't look like he had anywhere near the energy that he had in the first round

just some tired swings was really getting he was either getting two underneath balls or two on top of balls just the rhythm that he had the effortless that he had in the first room was just gone. And it's unfortunate because Pena was still really dotting up that upper inside corner,

Virulia, but he just wasn't able to do much with it. And then you could start to see the desperation creep in. I don't know if he was aware or not that he didn't have the time bonus, but it did seem like he was kind of pressing and he just wasn't able to really get anything going there. I mean, he was starting to find a little bit of a rhythm before he took his time out. But after the time out, it was pretty much over and done with. And, you know, once he finished up with 20 home runs, I mean, that's just not going to be enough with Vlad waiting. And Vlad, sure enough, you know, he took it a little bit down to the line in bonus time to hit his 21st home run to eliminate Julio.

But, yeah, you could see that coming. That was not Julio's best effort. And unfortunately, he does not win the derby. But again, given what he did in the first round, I think we can all say we're very pleased with what Julio was able to accomplish tonight. So congratulations to Julio Rodriguez on another, a second iconic home run derby performance.

All right, we're going to talk about my issues with the home run derby in just a moment. there's quite a few, right? Just from a pure viewing experience. I felt this way after last year. I feel the same exact way this year. And it's not even really because of Julio. It's more so for on behalf of Randy a Roserana. I'll get into that in just a moment.

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So on my camera glitch out a little bit there. It was giving me a warning about my internet. So if there is a little glitchiness during the ad rate, I apologize. And if there still is, I apologize. It looks fine on my end, but you never know. All right. So my issues with the Home Run Derby are really this, right? Let me just read you the Derby totals tonight.

Mookie a Betz with a... Mookie Betts. Mookie Betts with a really sad 1100. home runs. He was doing it because his wife essentially told him he should do it. So he could basically do everything at the major league level. Obviously, you know, champion. He's accomplished a lot, right? So why not do the derby? It's one of the few things that he just hasn't done at the major league level. So I get it, but he never seemed like a derby guy to me. And yeah, we saw the result of that. Great engagement.

game power just his power is not suited for uh for that kind of platform uh adelees carcia was 17 pto lanzza with 21 adly rutchman again with 27 he was fantastic uh it sucks that he uh he was matched up with louise robert who was also really really good in that first round uh speaking of robert he had 50 he's next on the list he finished fourth uh hollio had 61 Vlad had 72. He was the winner. Randy or Rosarena finished with 82.

So notice how I said the winner was second in total home runs tonight. And look, I get it. In the spirit of the competition as it is formatted, Vlad won, right? I'll do credit to Vladimir Guerrero

Jr. But when we're further removed from this derby, what are we going to remember? Are we going to remember Vlad's performance? Or are we going to remember Randy a Roseranez, Julio's, Adley Ruchman's. I think it's the latter, right? I don't think I'm really going out on a limb by saying that. It wasn't a great derby performance by Vlad.

It was fine. good, don't get me wrong, but it reminded me a lot of Juan Soto's last year. This is now, what, the fifth time? Yeah, the fifth time since Major League Baseball switched the format of the home run derby in 2015 to this bracket-style head-to-head match-up type thing, that the player with the most home runs over the course of the entire derby did not win the derby, which is more, than those that have put up the most home runs over the derby

and actually won the contest since 2015. So Randy becomes the latest. 2023, Julio last year, Vlad in 2019, Kyle Schwerber in 2018, and then Jack Peterson in the first year of this format in 2015.

Now, he did tie with the actual winner with Todd Frazier. they both had 35, I think it was. 39. It was 39. But still, this is not what you want, right? And look, I get, you know, in certain instances, you know, when a guy wins the round, you know, he just stops after he beats his opponent. So, you know, in theory, he could have hit more home runs and maybe if he's allowed to, you know,

to go the full distance. The numbers look a little bit different. Whatever. I just, I don't like the head-to-head matchup format in general, right? Because it's pretty obvious. It's become very obvious, especially over the last few years,

as we, you know, as Mariners fans have, you know, watched with more intent with Julio being involved in it, that whoever hits second has the advantage. right we can all agree on that I think

and you know that's technically earned right because seeding is based off of who hits the most home runs during the course of the season up to that point and you know that should matter right when you're talking about a home run competition the players with the most home runs should

have an advantage over those with fewer home runs but we also know that home run totals don't really matter when they're you know, picking the field, right?

Because if so, Julio's probably not in the Derby, Randy's probably not in the Derby, Adley's not in the Derby, Vlad's not in the Derby.

And those were the four best hitters in the competition tonight. And they had the four fewest home run totals heading into the

competition. So, we know that that doesn't ultimately matter. At the very least, after the first round, it should be receded, right? Julio clearly wasn't the seventh best hitter in the competition. He proved that and then some after the first round. As the player with the most home runs after the first round,

he should get the first seed, right? Or let's make it even less complicated, right? let's go back to what it once was. Well, kind of what it once was. Let's just make it a sprint to the end. With three separate sessions, the players with the fewest home runs after each session gets eliminated,

we whittled down the field, and whoever hits the most home runs over those three sessions wins the competition. Why can't it just be that simple? Like, I assume from, from major league baseball standpoint, they're worried about, you know,

like if Julio with the pace that he was on, like maybe he would have gone into the final with like a 15 home run lead and there wouldn't have even been a chance for his opponent to come back and win, right, unless he just utterly collapsed. So they're worried about viewers tuning out before the final even happens.

I get that. But this format sucks. Like they need to do something different here. They need to do something that actually properly rewards the players who have the best showcases, right? Adley Rutchman shouldn't have been eliminated. He had one of the best performances of the night, one of the most memorable performances of the night, and he didn't even make it past the first round.

Everyone in that building wanted to see more Adley Ruchman. everyone in that building wanted to see more Julio Rodriguez. We frankly deserved Julio versus Randy. And yeah, you know, most of that does ultimately fall on Julio for not performing in the second round. But still, Julio did more than enough with his, you know, 60 home runs. Because even after Vlad beat him, he had more total home runs than Vlad by a landslide, I think. I Vlad had what 25 so if he finished with 11 more than Julio yeah then Julio had what a 13 home run lead on him after the second round after he lost right

I'm bad at math so correct me if I'm wrong but you get the point right like Julio was just better than Vlad overall, right? Not in that specific round, but overall. Like he was better than Juan Soto last year. Juan Soto got to go last in L.A. Right? So I don't know if they're going to fix it. Probably not.

They're probably not going to do it. Because, I mean, from, you know, all, I don't know what I'm trying to say. From all the indications, right? This was a roaring success. So why should they change it? That said, though, it's just, it's a bad format. It sucks.

I don't like it. And it's not fair to those that put on the best shows like Julio, like Randy, like Adley. Randy should have won. Randy was the best hitter tonight. Overall, I mean, over the,

you know the three rounds polio obviously had the best moment though but i mean like going into this right only six players had a round of 30 plus home runs hollio made it seven well it's not six players there's been six instances of 30 plus home runs in a single round in the home run derby heading into this one polio made it seven which was his third after two last year and then randy made it eight. He quietly had a 35 home run round right after Julio, which got nowhere near the attention that Julio's did, which is mind-blowing to me because that's,

that's an all-time performance by Randy. Like Randy straight up had an all-time derby performance tonight, and no one's really going to talk about it. But sucks. Nevertheless, though, really fun home run derby tonight. really, really fun home run derby. We'll see if

Julio wants to do it again next year. It's in Texas in Arlington in that toaster of a stadium. We'll see if he wants to do it. Also,

real quick, you know, on the format as well, I just, well, I like, all right, as a fan, right, as a,

from a pure viewing standpoint, you know, I like seeing, you know, guys hit as many home runs as they can as fast as possible with the timer. But that can't be great on the body. I'd be lying to you if I said that I wasn't at least mildly concerned on how Julio's going to feel after all those swings he took tonight. That's not great. It feels like you're putting guys at a necessary risk, especially like once Julio hit the 41,

it seemed to set the standard on a lot, like Randy started going a lot harder than he was in the first round. And that just, that doesn't seem great either. So again, they need to make some tweaks to the format. I doubt they will, but they need to.

Anyway, again, nevertheless, great derby, great performance by Julio. I could not be more proud of Julio and how he represented the city, how he represented the city, the franchise and how the fans represented the city in the franchise.

It was so cool to watch. Very surreal. I love the 2001 All-Star Game and the 2001 Derby. I used to watch that All-Star Game. I would replay it. I recorded it on VHS and would replay it as a kid. A bunch of times. Love that All-Star Game.

And it's really surreal to see the All-Star Game back in Seattle and see all the attention that Seattle is getting, T-Mobile Park is getting, seeing all the people, all the big names and baseball, not just players, but media, et cetera.

It's such a cool event, and it's really cool to see it in our town. So it's been a lot of fun, All-Star Week, and it all gets capped off tomorrow with the All-Star game. We'll see how much Julio plays. We'll see if,

you know, Luis Castillo and, George Kirby pitch. I would assume at least one of those guys are going to pitch, especially because they're a few days removed from their last outing. So that would make sense for them to go out there and throw an inning or two combined. So we'll see. In the afternoon, Colby and I will be talking about some of our favorite picks from day two of the 2023 MLB draft. We'll also talk a little bit more about the Derby and Julio's performance. But for now, that's to do it for me. Thank you so much for joining us

here on the Lockdown Mariner's podcast. I've been your host, Tadayne Gonzalez. Be sure to follow the show on Twitter at LO underscore Mariners. You can follow me at Dan Gonzalez, the C-A-N-Z-L-Z, and my co-ist Colby over at C-Pad 11. That's C-P-A-T-1-1.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok as well over at Locked-on Mariners. That's one word, Locked-on Mariners. You can also find all that stuff in the description of this episode. We're also now on threads at Locked-on Mariners for any of you that have joined that platform. Thank you again for making us your first listen after the home run derby. Have yourself a beautiful baseball night.

I promise there are no more shows after this for the day. But thank you for tuning in to all of them, or at least some of them. Really appreciate it. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace.