The Home Run Derby is just a sign of how MLB should be bold during Manfred era

The Home Run Derby was exactly how Major League Baseball could have wanted it to be.

It was exciting. It was competitive. It was quick. It ended around 10:30 on the east coast. The new format of the derby was, in many regards, perfect. 

New commissioner Rob Manfred enjoyed a small victory on Monday night. His first real mark on the league could not have gone better. 

Now, it's time for Manfred to continue to put his touch on other parts of the game too. He showed that being bold might not be the worst thing for the league. 

Baseball is continually wanting to get more kids watching and loving the game. It's easier said than done, especially considering the shorter average attention span of younger people everywhere. 

But the Home Run Derby last night showed that shorter is better. MLB wanted to get the Derby in before the rain started up again in Cincinnati. 

The four minute time limit (not the original five) worked perfectly, giving hitters more than enough time to hit double-digit homers, while also keeping the event concise.

The bracket format, too, worked very well. Americans love brackets (hat tip to CJ Nitkowski of FOX Sports) and the competitiveness of one star player versus another added to the overall experience. 

So, Manfred, continue to do things like this. I, along with many others, will be in full approval. Major League Baseball, I commend you on a job well done for the 2015 Home Run Derby.

--Devan Fink

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