Netflix had the Home Run Derby rights on Monday night, and plenty of viewers came away with complaints about the production. But for SF Giants fans, two familiar faces helped make the broadcast a lot more watchable: Barry Bonds and Hunter Pence.
Bonds was part of the pregame crew, while Pence was involved in the live derby coverage. Both had also been part of Netflix’s Opening Night broadcast against the New York Yankees, a night that did not go San Francisco’s way. With that in mind, maybe it was just as well that no Giants players were in the Derby field.
Bonds’ presence made sense on a few levels. He was the last Giants player to take part in the Home Run Derby more than 20 years ago, and he also owns one of the event’s most memorable performances, when he went head-to-head with Mark McGwire in Philadelphia in 1996 and came out on top. Even now, at 61, Bonds still looks like he could walk to the plate and launch a few into the seats.
The Home Run King also told the story of the day he charged the mound in Philadelphia after being intentionally hit by a pitch. Bonds went 4-for-4 that day, stole a base with the Giants already up big, then got drilled by Ricky Bottalico and went after him, tackling him at the mound.
On the pregame show, Bonds also gave Giants second baseman Luis Arraez a shoutout and compared him to Tony Gwynn, which is about as strong a compliment as you can get from Barry. He was also gracious toward St.
Louis Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker after Walker won the Derby, calling it the greatest Home Run Derby he had ever seen. It had plenty of drama, with Walker knocking off hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber.
Pence, meanwhile, brought the kind of energy that made him such a fan favorite in San Francisco. He was easily the most animated voice among the broadcasters, leaning into the home run calls and giving the night some life.
Not everybody loved Chris Berman’s old Derby style, but Berman at least always sounded excited. Pence had that same kind of enthusiasm.
He also showed off his usual everyman charm before the event by walking into a concession stand and making some kind of ice cream concoction for fans. It’s not hard to picture Pence in another life driving an ice cream truck or running an ice cream shop. He’s got the kind of upbeat, wide-open personality that fits that role perfectly.
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