The Tweeting MLB
Since their inceptions, the Home Run Derby and All Star game
have brought us the hottest bats, gloves and change-ups to the
field with a much anticipated game of ball. This year,
however, there was more than just the sweet, sweet sound of
baseball-meets-bat and the prize of the World Series home field
advantage. It also brought us tech-savvy fans the chance to
actually interact with the players during the competition.
A few days before the events, MLB announced that players on the
Derby and All-Star game's roster would use personal devices and
media stations (placed in the dugout) to update their Facebook and
Twitter pages with commentary, as well as responses to fans'
questions and comments. Keeping up with the Twitter hub-bub myself,
I witnessed friendly trash talk and encouragement from players
throughout the competition. The good-humored players kept the
evening fun by egging each other on, while NY Yankee Robinson Cano
stole the show with his own father throwing him a pitch. In
general, there was a vibe from all of the #HRDerby and #AllStarGame
hashtags that showed fans that the players were genuinely
excited to be there, not just because they have to be. This year,
the MLB has really innovated a way to keep things interesting for
both the players and the audience, whether present or watching at
home.
Check out this photo of Padres closer Heath Bell telling his
daughter what to tweet for him (as his hands were full with his
other daughter): http://t.co/BHxFgka
