It's Monday, July 11, and we're getting awful close to the start of the 2011 Home Run Derby, to be held in Phoenix's Chase Field. The temperature is hot, and the players are even hotter! Or, we hope that the players will be even hotter, in the derby. Although I guess if the players were even hotter than 100 degrees, they would likely underperform on account of having debilitating fevers. The temperature is hot, and the players are present!

If you're looking for details, here's what I have to offer you:

Time
8pm Eastern

Broadcast
ESPN

Alternative Broadcast
Apparently MLB.com?

Participants (with previews linked for each)
Jose Bautista
David Ortiz
Robinson Cano
Adrian Gonzalez
Prince Fielder
Rickie Weeks
Matt Kemp
Matt Holliday

Duration
Forever

Rules
Who cares

Hype

It's expected to be a "blast" because "blast" can refer to both home runs and things that are enjoyable! In this context, "blast" has two meanings. A more accurate headline would read "Home Run Derby expected to feature blasts, but not be one." That is because the home run derby is really bad.

So you should follow our liveblog! I'll be posting updates throughout, because one of my job's responsibilities is to watch this thing, and I've found the quickest way to make it end is by spending three hours writing about it instead of spending three hours watching it. If you share my enthusiasm for the festivities, stick around! And if you actually care about the derby and are offended by my dismissiveness, you are free to let me hear about it in the comments, if you are able to deduce how to log in and comment, which you are not, because you are someone who cares about the home run derby. Poor you :(

45 minutes to go!