Home Run Derby

So President Obama is a big fan of the Chicago White Sox.  

Or so he tells and shows us.  Over and Over.

Like last night during the All-Star game when he wore his White Sox jacket to throw out the first pitch (not so sure I liked that) and told Joe Buck and Tim “Corpse” McCarver he was a fan of the White Sox.

Not to mention a few times on the campaign trail last spring, summer, and fall.  And an interview on ESPN where he took a few digs at Cub fans.

But if he’s such a big White Sox fan, why doesn’t he know the name of their home stadium? 

Case in point:  President Obama referred the White Sox’ ballpark as ”Cominskey Field” during an interview on MLB TV with Bob Costas.  It used to be called Comiskey Park.

Roll Video …

http://www.dailymotion.com/videox9vh4r 

“I do think that there’s a different quality to what used to be Cominskey Field vs. Wrigley”

Oh boy.  That’s like calling the Cubs’ stadium “Wrigley Park” instead of “The World’s Largest Outdoor Bar.”   A White Sox fan would rip a new backside into any Cub fan who did that.

Even if he had said “Cominskey Park”, I could see it as a slip of the tongue.  But Cominskey FIELD?   Obama moved to Chicago in 1985.  Back when the old Comiskey Park was still around. 

Teleprompter comment in 3 … 2 … 1 …

Well yeah, Prince Fielder won the MLB Home Run Derby Contest … but who cares about him?

Congratulations to Wendy H, who won HomerDerby.com’s 2009 Home Run Derby Contest!! 

Her entry, Woo Woo Crew, had the most Home Runs (53) and won the contest on a tiebreaker.

Here’s her selections:

• First Round: Albert Pujols (7)*, Prince Fielder (11), Nelson Cruz (11), Carlos Pena (6)*
• Second Round: Albert Pujols (6), Prince Fielder (6)
• Champion: Prince Fielder (6)
• Tiebreaker – HR Derby Champ Total HR:  16

*Includes Bat-Off HRs.

It came down to the first tiebreaker.  Failcouer Forever also had 53 HR, but predicted a total of 37 Home Runs for the HR Derby Champion.  Prince Fielder hit 23 bombs.  Woo Woo Crew was off by 7.  Failcouer Forever was off by 14.  Woo Woo wins. 

Here’s the comparison of their teams  …

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Tonight, President Barack Obama will throw out the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis.  He’ll be the first sitting president to throw out a pitch at an ASG since Gerald Ford in the 1970’s.

There will be much pomp and circumstance and many Cardinals fans will cheer very loudly for our Commander-in-Chief as he throws out the first pitch … even though it will kill any chance the Cardinals have for winning the World Series in 2009. 

Why?  

Well, no MLB team that’s had a sitting President throw out the first pitch at a game in their Home Stadium has won that year’s World Series in over 77 years.

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Tonight’s All-Star Game is sure to be packed with great moments. 

With a bunch of tributes to Stan Musial and a bevy of other St. Louis Cardinals greats.

That’s great and all … but how ’bout some classic Home Runs?  That would be nice.

Here’s a look back at some of the best Home Runs in All-Star Game History.

The First – Babe Ruth

July 6, 1933 – Comiskey Park, Chicago IL

The First All-Star Game was held as part of the 1933 world’s Fair in Chicago.  In a game chock full of future Hall of Famers, there was only one player who should have (and did) hit the first ever All-Star Home Run.  The Bambino, Babe Ruth. 

In the 3rd inning, Cardinals SP Bill Hallahan likely grooved a pitch that ended up as a two-run shot for the Babe.  Why’d I say he grooved it?  Here’s Hallahan about the game …

“We wanted to see the Babe. Sure, he was old and had a big waistline, but that didn’t make any difference. We were on the same field as Babe Ruth.” – Wild Bill Hallahan

And Why Not?  It was an exhibition.  It’s not like Home-Field in the World Series depended on the Game. 

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So help me God, I LOVE THE HOME RUN DERBY.

• Even though it might be glorified batting practice. 
• Even though it might get boring after oh, 10 Home Runs. 
• Even though it might be “all that’s wrong with the game”
• Even though ESPN keeps trying to overhype and destroy it with its predictable coverage of the event. 

Wait … predictable coverage of a television event? 

You know what that means … DRINKING GAME!!

To celebrate this blog’s namesake, Home Run Derby brings you our Third Annual HOME RUN DERBY DRINKING GAME !! 

I’m going for three straight years that I don’t show up for work the day after the Derby.  (2007, 2008)

Get on your drinking jerseys and let’s get started.

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And MLB is finally starting to announce the Junior Circuit’s contestants for the 2009 Home Run Derby in St. Louis.  Took them long enough.  The National League contestants were announced four days ago.

Here are your American League 2009 Home Run Derby Contestants … the AL is certainly lacking in star power compared to the quartet of 1st Basemen the NL is rolling out there.

JOE MAUER – Minnesota Twins, C
15 HR, 15.3 AB/HR, .389 AVG, 1.112 OPS, 47 RBI

Perhaps since Justin Morneau (the other half of the M&M boys from Minnesota) isn’t going to defend his 2008 Home Run Derby title …  Mauer might try to do it.

Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire thinks Mauer will win the Derby …

“Joe, in the home run hitting contest? He’d probably win it,” Gardenhire said. “You know it and I know it — just to let people know he can hit home runs. Nothing would surprise me that Joe does.”

My guess is that Mauer has the highest batting average of a player to compete in the MLB Home Run Derby.

BRANDON INGE – Detroit Tigers , 3B

Brandon Inge barely made it to the All-Star Game (he was the winner of the AL’s Last Man Vote) … but less than 24 hours after finding out he was an All-Star, it was announced he’d participate in the Home Run Derby too.

NELSON CRUZ – Texas Rangers OF

Replacing the injured Torii Hunter on Friday morning, Cruz is the latest first time Home Run Derby participant for the AL. 

CARLOS PENA – Tampa Bay Rays 1B

Considering that the NL had four first basemen, I guess the AL needed one too. 

Pena replaced Dustin Pedroia on the Al Squad, and I wonder if it was because NO ONE else fro the AL would play in the Derby.

Make sure you check out the Wives and Girlfriends of the Home Run Derby Contestants !!

We’re having a Home Run Derby Contest just for the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby!! 

Free Entry !!! $250 to the winner!! 

Details right here

The MLB Home Run Derby is right around the corner (literally – it’s on Monday).

Some of MLB’s top sluggers will be hitting lots of Home Runs in the Derby … but we thought it would be fun to take a peek at who these guys will be hitting “Home Runs” with AFTER the Derby.  Namely, their Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs).

Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge.

Without further delay … the WAGs of the 2009 Home Run Derby …

 AMERICAN LEAGUE HOME RUN DERBY WAGs

Yes, I know that MLB still hasn’t officially announced who’s playing for the AL in the 2009 Home Run Derby … so we’ll just roll with the rumored players and update this when they tell us who’s in.

Shani Inge
wife of Detroit Tigers 3B Brandon Inge

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The MLB Home Run Derby is right around the corner (literally – it’s on Monday).

Some of MLB’s top sluggers will be hitting lots of Home Runs in the Derby … but we thought it would be fun to take a peek at who these guys will be hitting “Home Runs” with AFTER the Derby.  Namely, their Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs).

Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge.

Without further delay … the WAGs of the 2009 Home Run Derby …

 NATIONAL LEAGUE HOME RUN DERBY WAGs

Deidre (Dee Dee) Pujols
wife of St. Louis Cardinals 1B, Albert Pujols

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Welcome to Home Run Derby !!

Many of homerderby.com’s regular readers know that we run a fabulous season-long Home Run Derby contest (now in our sixth year). 

This season, we’re going to offer a new game just for 2009 MLB Home Run Derby which takes place on Monday, July 13, 2009.

It’s similar to an NCAA Bracket contest.  Out of the eight players in the MLB Home Run Derby, you pick which players move on in each round of the Derby.  From the First Round to the Champion. 

We’ve got a Grand Prize of $250 to the person who can put together a team that scores the most Home Runs in this contest.  And there’s no entry fee. 

Wait … what?  A FREE Contest?  Where do I sign up?  Read the rules below and then use the ONLINE ENTRY FORM.

 2009 HOME RUN DERBY CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

CONTEST ENTRY FEE –
None.  This is a free contest.

CONTEST PRIZE -
$250 to a single winner

CONTEST ENTRY DEADLINE –
Monday July 13, 2009 at 6:00PM Eastern Time (No Exceptions)

ONLINE ENTRY FORM

CONTEST THEME –
There are eight players who will participate in the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.
Predict which players will advance in the tournament and you could win!!

CONTEST RULES -
Predict the players who will advance in the 2009 Home Run Derby.

• First, Select the Four Players in the first round (from the eight players in the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby) who you think will advance to the second round of the MLB Home Run Derby .  You will receive one point for each Home Run those players hit in the first round of the MLB Home Run Derby. 
• Second, Select the Two Players in the second round (from the four players previously selected in the first round) who you think will advance to the Final Round of the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.  You will receive one point for each Home Run those players hit in the Second Round of the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.
• Next, Select One Player (from the two players previously selected in the second round) who you think will advance to win the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.  You will receive one point for each Home Run that player hits in the Final Round of the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.

The Entry with the Most Points wins.  If there is a tie between two or more Entries, then Tiebreakers will be used to determine a single winner.

• Tiebreaker #1 – Guess how many total Home Runs will be hit by the 2009 Home Run Derby Champion.  Closest entry wins the tiebreaker.  Closest entry to the total number of Home Runs hit by the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby Champion wins the tiebreaker.
• Tiebreaker #2 – Guess how many total Home Runs will be hit in the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby.  Closest entry to the total number of Home Runs hit in the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby wins the tiebreaker.
• Any ties remaining after the two tiebreakers will split the Prize equally.

If you select a player in a later round that was not selected in the prior round, your entry will be deemed illegal and immediately disqualified.

Example:  If you select Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, and Albert Pujols in the First Round, your entry will be disqualified if you pick Jason Bay in the Second Round or the Final. 

Tiebreakers must be submitted at the time of entry.  If tiebreaker selections are left blank on the entry form, that entry will be disqualified from any tiebreaker.  ONLINE ENTRY FORM

Deadline for entries is Monday, July 13, 2009 at 6PM Eastern time.

You’ll have a blast whether you win or not.