​The main takeaway of this year’s Home Run Derby: The new format gives plaers 20 swings in the first round and 15 thereafter, unless the final swing results in a homer, in which it can continue to infinite swings. Minus a Stanley Kubrick- or David Fincher-type possessing the skills of Kenny Lofton, this is an ideal scenario. You don’t need to take my word for it though. They wanna hit and tonight, the proof was in the pudding. This derby was fun to start to finish. Willson Contreras didn’t win but he was the perfect heel.The secondary takeaway: MLB spent money on this, at least by their standards. Barry Bonds, Will Ferrell, Michael Buffer, more. They wanted people to watch, and they put on a show.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWillson was booed lustily when he was introduced, which is the Philly way of saying “I love you,” so the vibes were good. They also famously love brawlers, and, well, Willson is one. And hoooo boy, did he seem like he was at home. He was the first person to hit, and holy smokes did he deliver, hitting not just 13 homers on 20 swings in, but hitting bombs in between laser shots to the corners. Since it was a new format, he was able to milk the clock very nicely, a very smart move, before his last ball. He took four pitches, building drama, before flying off the wall in deep left center.It ruled.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo then Jordan Walker of the Cardinals came up, and hit 13. Which still seemed amazing, but was it the players, or the format? The answer: The players! He was on one! Jac Caglianone hit 8 taking pitches from his dad — which, I mean, is a better than winning the thing, it’s the best day of your life, but you ain’t gonna win — and after an incredible middle section he faded out not leastwise because his dad is older than me, who was born during the Carter Administration. If I was pitching he’d have advanced tho. Just saying. I can still throw a meatball if nothing else.Munetaka Murakami came on and sort of biffed it and hit 9 without his dad pitching. They didn’t say he was, at least. But then Ben Rice came out and had his dad pitch to him, and he hit 7 and sucked for him and ruled for us, because the Yankees are trash. Junior Caminero then came out without his dad and hit 12. Do you see the pattern? Do you see it?Unfortunately, this event being in Philly, the Phillies were saved until the end. Red Sox legend/MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber came out and needed 10 to advance. So he hit 10 and had to rely on teammate Bryce Harper not to displace him. And look as a person Harper’s just exhausting but the man can hit a baseball. Just not as good as Red Sox legend Schwarbs, as Harper, laden by FanDuel cash, only merited 8 homers. Onward.Round 1 notes: Chris Sale’s kids look like Chris SaleAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow it was Junior vs. Walker and Willson vs. Red Sox legend Schwarbs in head-to-head semifinal matchups, which are down to 15 swings. The chang