Tonight's Home Run Derby features five first-timers: Corey Hart, Chris Young, Nick Swisher, Hanley Ramirez, and Vernon Wells. Miguel Cabrera, Matt Holliday, and David Ortiz will also compete. Today's poll question:
Who will win the Home Run Derby?
Click here to make your pick and here to view the results.
Just want to say: it is an absolute disgrace that MLB didn’t ask the home run leader, Jose Bautista, to play in the derby. What a slap in the face. Shame on you, MLB.
What did you expect? The All Star Game has been a joke for decades. Why shouldn’t the derby follow suit?
And besides, MLB couldn’t have a HR Derby without a player from the Yankees or Red Sox.
The All-Star Game is hindered by its name: “all-stars”. The likes of Jeter are true stars – celebrities – and so it doesn’t surprise me in the least that they are on the field for that showcase event.
The HOME RUN Derby shouldn’t be hindered in such a way. Just pick the guys who are hitting bombs, not just because it’s their dues, but for the sake of the viewing public, too. To *not even call* the leading home run hitter in all of Major League Baseball is astonishing, regardless of what team he plays for.
I forgot that sarcasm doesn’t always work on the internet. I’m 100% with you.
I understood your discontent with MLB – I just used it as a springboard for a bit of a rant 😉
I understood your discontent with MLB – I just used it as a springboard for a bit of a rant 😉
I forgot that sarcasm doesn’t always work on the internet. I’m 100% with you.
I’ve always felt the same way. It should just be a separate entity. The thing is, though-most of the time, the prolific home run hitters are on the all-star team.
Really? Outrage over this? People want to see stars, not a flash in the pan. That said, why is C Hart there?
Yes, “outrage” over this.
As I said in another reply, I get stars being in the All-STAR game.
But this is the home run derby. To snub the MLB home run leader is like snubbing Daniel Bard in a hardest-throwers contest.
Really? Outrage over this? People want to see stars, not a flash in the pan. That said, why is C Hart there?
Cabrera will crush all these pansies.
This is a sorry group of hitters to be in a derby.
Vernon Wells underrated, has no one seen his scary pull power?
Vernon averages more speed and distance on his HR’s… I think he has a decent shot to win.
I think it should also be noted that Jose Bautista has TEN (10!!!!!!!1!!) more homeruns than swisher. Shouldn’t a contest to see who is the best homerun hitter…you know…actually have the best homerun hitters in it? Bautista? Votto? There are atleast 10-20 players who have more homeruns than swisher.
Holliday will take it ,haha.
Holliday will take it ,haha.
The more appropriate question should be, “Who cares who wins the Home Run Derby”.
I stopped watching the All-Star game and all it’s Circus Side Show events years ago when I was old enough to realize how much of a joke it has become. Managers bringing their own players when there are obviously more deserving players. That and I think it is time we dropped the requirement that every team be represented. With the number of teams we have now days that makes assembling a roster much more difficult than years ago. And some teams just may not have someone worthy. Plus get rid of the home field advantage thing. If we are not going to put the best players that year on the field why should we penalize the League Champion?
Considering how the Home Run Derby is about 500 times more exciting than the All-Star Game…yeah.
The more appropriate question should be, “Who cares who wins the Home Run Derby”.
I stopped watching the All-Star game and all it’s Circus Side Show events years ago when I was old enough to realize how much of a joke it has become. Managers bringing their own players when there are obviously more deserving players. That and I think it is time we dropped the requirement that every team be represented. With the number of teams we have now days that makes assembling a roster much more difficult than years ago. And some teams just may not have someone worthy. Plus get rid of the home field advantage thing. If we are not going to put the best players that year on the field why should we penalize the League Champion?
At least Swisher will make it entertaining to watch…wonder what kind of antics he pulls…I think some year the pitchers should have a home run derby, nobody is worried about messing up their swing…haha..plus it would be hilarious to watch…
Mike Leake would win it.
At least Swisher will make it entertaining to watch…wonder what kind of antics he pulls…I think some year the pitchers should have a home run derby, nobody is worried about messing up their swing…haha..plus it would be hilarious to watch…
Chris Young will win it, then proceed to strike out 150 times in the second half.
Wow this is a complete joke. There are so many more players out there that should be on this Homerun Derby this is an awful roster. At least ask the homerun leader!!!
ive missed the past few home run derbys due to being out of town. the home run derby is all show. i like seeing miguel cabrera, matt holliday, and hanley ramirez at the home run derby. i think david ortiz might fit into this category as well. those are big names who draw in attention and can all hit the long ball. i dont really feel vernon wells, nick swisher, chris young, or corey hart in the derby. i know corey hart is crushing the ball right now, i guess the guy deserves to be there. i think the guy that upsets me most is chris young. why not mark reynolds? ryan howard? ryan zimmerman? adam dunn? joey votto? matt kemp? ryan braun (i am aware as of now young has more home runs than braun but if the two had a contest, my money goes on braun). and nick swisher? i think guys like mark teixiera, josh hamilton, kevin youkilis, carlos pena, or maybe even the guy who leads the majors in home runs jose bautista. nobody pays to see chris young or nick swisher swing for the fences
come on HanRam! and if he doesnt make it then come on Cabrera!!!
0 home runs will be hit due to perfect game pitched
This is what we all wanted…..Everyone wanted to throw a fit about steroids….so now the homerun derby is boring! I’ll take the days of Big Mac and Slammin Sammy over this goofy bunch! Fact is there just aren’t that many pure “power hitters” anymore and we are seeing this by all the dominate performances by pitchers.
they could also introduce aluminium bats in the derby instead of a syringe and needle
the steroid comment was kind of tongue in cheek. The point is there just simply aren’t very many “power hitters” in the game anymore. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But the homerun derby will be one of the things that suffer without steroids. All it is is a show, and people want to see bombs all night long. That’s not going to happen as much anymore. Look at pitchers stats these last couple years compared to 1995-2005. We are seeing some really dominant pitching performances this year, in my opinion simply because we are back to a level playing field.
people are hitting homeruns. they just arent in the derby
Why isn’t prince given the opportunity to defend his title?
Some Adam Dunn would have been awesome
Angels Stadium is more favorable to lefties. I’ll take Swish or Ortiz.
What year did Mark McGwire ruin his swing or get hurt during the home run derby?
Here are they year’s McGwire participated in the HR derby and his second half HR and OPS
1987: 16, .892
1990: 17, .859
1992: 14, .977 (McGwire did appear to miss some time in the second half, but I think that was due to a foot injury, I don’t recall though)
1996: 24, 1.102
1997: 27, 1.023
1998: 33, 1.189
1999: 37, 1.236 (68 games! He slugged .810 the second half!)
Kind of hard to see how his swing was messed up.
What year did Mark McGwire ruin his swing or get hurt during the home run derby?
Here are they year’s McGwire participated in the HR derby and his second half HR and OPS
1987: 16, .892
1990: 17, .859
1992: 14, .977 (McGwire did appear to miss some time in the second half, but I think that was due to a foot injury, I don’t recall though)
1996: 24, 1.102
1997: 27, 1.023
1998: 33, 1.189
1999: 37, 1.236 (68 games! He slugged .810 the second half!)
Kind of hard to see how his swing was messed up.
Yes there are still some homerun hitters….but of course your not going to get everyone to compete. The comment was tongue in cheek…I never said i wanted steroids, matter of fact I even said this is what “WE” all wanted. The game is better but the homerun derby simply just won’t be as exciting. I don’t really care though, I would rather no one from my favorite team be in the homerun derby anyway. Prince should be there though. Surely he got an invite.