lordwow

Name
Team
Carreer HR - This Year's HR

Lance Berkman
Houston Astros
281 22

Ryan Braun
Milwaukee Brewers
56 22

Josh Hamilton
Texas Rangers
39 20

Evan Longoria
Tampa Bay Rays
16 16

Justin Morneau
Minnesota Twins
124 14

Grady Sizemore
Cleveland Indians
100 22

Dan Uggla
Florida Marlins
81 23

Chase Utley
Philadelphia Phillies
122 25

Mr. Cinema

I'm taking A-rod. Oh wait...he's not in it.

Um, I think I'll choose Ryan Braun.

starman9000

Clearly it will be Morneau.... ok, I voted for Hamilton.

twikoff

short right field porch
hmm.. which ones are lefties again..

lordwow

I took Hamilton myself. I think it will be Hamilton, Braun, Berkman and Utley in the final 4.

Quake1028

Worst HR Derby field, ever?

BravesMG

Statistically, probably. But I'd rather have 8 young, interesting guys who are excited to be in this and really trying rather than beg and plead the damn "superstars" to give a damn about entertaining the fans.

El Scorcho

The only exception is that A-Rod cocksucker who is a fucking self-centered egomaniacal asshole for not accepting an entry into the derby in the last all-star game on his home field.

What a piece of shit. I'm glad Stark called him out in today's column.

the big train

I think 2005 was worse when they had to resort to that one entrant per country BS.

Hee Seop Choi? Ivan Rodriguez I believe had 6 homers at that point in the season.

twikoff

i would have liked to see jay bruce in there

Deftones

I'd like to see Hamilton win it only because it would make his story that much better.

Goat3001

Not calling you out in particular because I've heard this sentiment a lot this week, but since you brought it up I'll have to quote you ...

I love how EVERYONE every year thinks the Home Run Derby is boring and isn't worth the chance of hurting their players but once A-Rod decides not to do it then it is all of a sudden the biggest crime in the world.

A-Rod thinks that it will fuck up his swing. I'd rather have him with his A swing after the break than be set back because of a meaningless Home Run Derby. He isn't the first person to say that and he won't be the last. Yes, its the last season at Yankee stadium but these are the same people that rip on A-Rod for not being a true Yankee to begin with. Jason Giambi should have been in this HRD and if the MLB pushed him enough he would have done it.

Let's also not forget that A-Rod is still starting in the All-Star game which he could have easily skipped too. An event that 50% of ESPN voters decided that he was not worthy to start, FYI.

Jayson Stark is a jackass. He is using this as an excuse to rip on A-Rod. What a novel idea. It is, once again, another attempt at ESPN writers to blame everything that is wrong with the world on A-Rod. He's egotistical for skipping this because...? Is it because he ISN'T trying to have his name and face plastered all over the place as the Yankee Home Run Derby rep? Let's also call Jayson Stark a jackass for saying that the poster boy for the HRD is David Ortiz. There is no need to point out how stupid that is considering that he isn't participating all week (due to injury of course). If David Ortiz is shown at all during promotions for the ASB it is ESPN's fault... not A-Rods.

ESPN writers are such shmucks that if A-Rod decided to play the HRD they would probably rip on him for having such a big ego that he needs to take part in it, even though he would have the second least amount of HR's at the break (compared the rest of the competition). They would rip on him for trying to take away the spotlight from the young guys. We all know its true. Everyone wants to see A-Rod when he's not around (October ) and everyone wants him to go away when he is around.

the big train

I predict Yankee Stadium will somehow win the home run derby. It's Yankee Stadium's last year, in case you didn't know...

lordwow

I agree, that was a trainwreck (a light reference to your username )

And as far as Jay Bruce, he's only got 6 HRs, and has been more or less tanking since his impressive first few games. I would have liked to seen Griffey though.

BravesMG

^couldn't possibly disagree more. ARod fucks up just about every PR decision he makes, and this is no different. There's NO WAY anybody would kill him for participating in the derby. ARod is an easy target because he makes himself an easy target.

I think it was Stark's column that completely shredded the argument that the HRD messes up your swing, including ARod the last time he participated. It was just a perfect event that could actually serve to help ARod's image and he predictably screws it up.

I'll go with Braun tonight, probably should take a lefty, but ah well. Stands look packed and holy shit does this 3 Doors Down guy look flaming.

Edit: Also, somebody else (I can't remember who) made a great point today that if ARod did participate that have to actually perform under a bit of pressure. He had the chance to go out as a hero for once in his life, but also could look foolish by taking a goose egg. Predictably, he just didn't compete.

das Monkey

5 minutes in, and I'm already tired of Chris Berman. Is there a backup audio feed somewhere?

das

BravesMG

Jesus, Berman AND Reilly?? Shit man, this is not looking good.

This telecast includes Chris Berman, Rick Reilly, John Kruk, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips????? Seriously? This has to be some twisted fucking joke.

das Monkey

Fuck. More Rick Reilly? That guy has to have disturbing pictures of some higher-up at Disney, because he's everywhere lately, and sucking ass at all of it.

das

twikoff

8 votes so far, as the derby is about to start

Spicollidriver1

I voted Morneau. Jesus Steve Philips looks like he is wearing a steve philips manequin head

das Monkey

So true. The guy has a real talent for making the bad PR move. Witness how personable Jeter just was, giving honest answers to Erin's questions and even picking a winner when asked instead of dodging the question. Some guys just have no sense of what the public wants, and A-Rod seems to be the king in that area.

das

lordwow

Uggla off to a decent start. Berman is off to a really annoying start.

BravesMG

No distances on the HRs? Did I miss it?

I did miss it, they pop it up underneath the score line for a few seconds.

chrisih8u

I dream of a day when technology during sports games will give you the option of hearing alternate play by play announcers while watching on tv. You would be able to listen announcers from a different feed, or even random people who do it at home via the internet. And there would an option where they would pump in the actual sounds of the game without announcers to give you the feeling that you're at the park or stadium.

It's sad that I have to watch this on mute or listen to these idiots on ESPN.

BravesMG

Wow, 446 from Sizemore, that was a freaking bomb.

It's amazing how terrible this broadcast is, just let Gammons and Ravich talk and kill the rest of the mics. Good God DAMN Reilly and Berman are beyond horrible.