2015 Home Run Derby Odds
| Date | July 13, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Great American Ball Park |
| City | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Winner | Todd Frazier |
| Score | 15–14 |
| |
A new era of slugging began with a hometown champion, as the Reds' Todd Frazier won the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders on Monday night at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. Frazier captured the title in dramatic fashion in front of an adoring crowd by besting Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson, 15-14, in the final round.The Cincinnati third baseman, who hit after Pederson. 2015 Home Run Derby Odds: Todd Frazier Installed as Favorite. By Mike Cardillo Jul.
The 2015 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby (known through sponsorship as the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders) was a home run hitting contest between eight batters from Major League Baseball (MLB). The derby was held on July 13, 2015, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, the site of the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.
The contest saw several rule changes from MLB in an attempt to enliven the event and draw more interest to it. Batters faced off in a single-elimination, bracket-style competition, and each round was timed, rather than limited by number of outs. Todd Frazier was the winner, defeating Joc Pederson in the final round, 15–14, winning the derby in front of his hometown crowd.[1]
Rule changes[edit]
As announced by Major League Baseball, there were changes to the format of the Home Run Derby in 2015. Eight players participated in the derby in a bracket-style, single-elimination timed event. Each player had five minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. Hitters were also awarded bonus time for hitting long home runs. Hitters were awarded an additional minute if they hit two home runs over 420 feet and an additional 30 seconds if they hit a home run over 475 feet. Hitters were also allowed one 45 second 'timeout' to stop the clock. Flex balls came into play during the final minute (bonus time included); any homer meant a $10,000 donation by Gillette & MLB.
The eight competing players were seeded 1-8 based on their home run totals as of July 7. The higher seed hit second in any round, and the round ended if the higher seed surpassed the total of the first hitter. In the event of a tie, the two hitters competed in a 90-second swing-off (with no timeouts nor bonus time awarded). If there remained a tie, the hitters engaged in three swing-off rounds; thereafter, sudden-death swing-off rounds until a winner was determined.[2]
Further rule changes[edit]
Due to the threat of rain, changes were announced to the Home Run Derby rules.[3]
- The five-minute time limit was shortened to four minutes.
- The 1-minute bonus time was changed, with players receiving a 30-second bonus if they hit two home runs over 425 feet.
Results[edit]
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||
| 1 | Albert Pujols(LAA) | 10 | ||||||
| 8 | Kris Bryant(CHC) | 9 | ||||||
| 1 | Albert Pujols | 11 | ||||||
| 4 | Joc Pederson | 12 | ||||||
| 4 | Joc Pederson(LAD) | 13 | ||||||
| 5 | Manny Machado(BAL) | 12 | ||||||
| 4 | Joc Pederson | 14 | ||||||
| 2 | Todd Frazier | 15 | ||||||
| 3 | Josh Donaldson(TOR) | 9 | ||||||
| 6 | Anthony Rizzo(CHC) | 8 | ||||||
| 3 | Josh Donaldson | 9 | ||||||
| 2 | Todd Frazier | 10 | ||||||
| 2 | Todd Frazier(CIN) | 14 | ||||||
| 7 | Prince Fielder(TEX) | 13 | ||||||
References[edit]
- ^Sheldon, Mark (July 13, 2015). 'Deep goes Frazier! Reds star KOs Derby field'. MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^Casella, Paul (June 2, 2015). 'HR Derby to feature brackets, timed rounds'. MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^Castrovince, Anthony (July 13, 2015). 'Derby rules changed due to weather in Cincy'. MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
When it comes to betting on baseball this week, the MLB's annual All-Star Game scheduled for this Tuesday night in Cincinnati is the only game in town until the second half of the regular season gets underway this upcoming Friday.
One of the most popular events surrounding the MLB All-Star Break is Monday's Home Run Derby. The entire format of this year's contest has been changed to feature four head-to-head matchups in the opening round. The following are my MLB player prop picks for all four matchups based on odds from BetOnline.
2015 Home Run Derby Odds Wild Card
Albert Pujols (-105) vs. Kris Bryant (-125)
Both Pujols and Bryant come into this opening round matchup as +450 second-favorites to win this year's Home Run Derby, so this should be a good hard-fought battle between two of the best long-ball hitters in the Majors. Pujols last appeared in the Home Run Derby in 2009, and this will be Bryant's first appearance.
Pujols has already belted 26 home runs this season, which is tops in the American League. Bryant comes in as the eighth overall seed with 12 home runs. Seeing how this year's contest is a timed 5-minute round to hit as many homers as possible, I am going with the favorable odds and overall edge in power with a play on Pujols in this matchup.
Joc Pederson (-145) vs. Manny Machado (+115)
Pederson comes into this competition with 20 home runs on the year, and he has been set as a +550 fifth-favorite to win this year's Home Run Derby. Machado has belted one less home run (19) than his opponent in this round, and he has the longest odds to win of the eight contestants at +800.
This will be the first appearance for either player in this competition. Both of these guys would be considered to be among the top power hitters in the majors, but I am going to go chalk in this one with a play on Pederson as a pretty hefty favorite.
Josh Donaldson (-125) vs. Anthony Rizzo (-105)
This third matchup features two players with identical +700 odds to win the entire competition. Donaldson has the clear edge in home runs during the regular season so far with 21 verses 16 for Rizzo, and he has been more productive at driving in runs with 61 RBI against Rizzo's 48. I would also have to give the overall edge to Donaldson in light of his 104 total hits on the year.
This will be Rizzo's first Home Run Derby while Donaldson did compete in last year's contest. He did not make it out of the first round after hitting just three home runs, but the experience has to count for something. I am once again going with the favorite in this head-to-head matchup with Donaldson as my pick to advance.
Todd Frazier (-130) vs. Prince Fielder (+100)
This could be the top matchup in the opening round of this year's Home Run Derby. Frazier comes into this competition as a +400 favorite to win the Derby in front of his home-town crowd as a member of the Reds, while Fielder is listed as one of three +450 second-favorites to take home the crown. Frazier is tied for the third-most home runs in the majors this season with 25, while Fielder is much farther down the list with 14.
This matchup comes down to home-field advantage against veteran experience. This will be Frazier's first Home Run Derby, so his nerves could run a bit high. Fielder has been a regular fixture in this competition, and while he did miss last season's Home Run Derby he won this event in 2012 by belting 28 home runs over the course of three rounds. I am going with the veteran experience in this matchup with a play on Fielder's more favorable betting odds.
2015 Home Run Derby Odds
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2015 Home Run Derby
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