Home Run Derby

Uh Oh.

We could have some bad blood between the two biggest sluggers in the NL Central.  And it’s all about how you wear your uniform.

Here’s a quote from St. Louis Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols in an interview with USA Today …

“I see teams take their jerseys out when the game is over,” he says. “To me, that’s not professional. I don’t care what you do when you get off the field, but don’t do it on the field.”

“You don’t want kids to see negative things.”

Intriguingly, Pujols didn’t name any of those teams who “take their jerseys out” … or even one team … so we’ll do it for you. 

It’s the Milwaukee Brewers, a team once again vying with the Cardinals for the NL Central crown.  And there was bad blood from the Cardinals last year about the untucking practice, too.  Last fall, Cardinals TV Announcer Rick Horton said it was the most disrespectful thing he’s ever seen (that’s from memory – I don’t have a quote). 

Keeping that in mind, let’s go back to last Monday’s Home Run Derby.  In Busch Stadium, home of Albert Pujols and his St. Louis Cardinals.

Who won that contest?  Oh yeah … Prince Fielder of the aforementioned Brewers … and known shirt untucker after game-winning Home Runs.

OH-NO-HE-DIDN’T just untuck his jersey … (more…)

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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Sweet Merciful Crap.

The Home Run Derby is going to be a lot of fun this year.  No matter who the American League throws out there.

Here are your National League 2009 Home Run Derby Contestants …

ALBERT PUJOLS – St Louis Cardinals, 1B
31 HR, 9.03 AB/HR, .336 AVG, 1.200 OPS, 82 RBI

After a first half of hemming and hawing about whther he’d participate in the Derby … St. Louis fans get their wish.  Pujols will play in his 3rd Home Run Derby.

Hometown jinx?  Don’t mention it to Pujols. 

In the 23 previous Home Run Derbies, only one hometown favorite has hoisted a trophy at the end of the night.  That was Ryne Sandberg back in 1990 (I was at that one – you can be happy for me).  Mind you, there’s only been 14 players to participate in a Home Run Derby in their home ballpark.

ADRIAN GONZALEZ - San Diego Padres, 1B
24 HR, 11.8 AB/HR, .261 AVG, .963 OPS, 51 RBI

Quietly having an awesome season for the floundering Padres. 

Don’t let those 24 Home Runs fool you – Gonzalez plays in the spacious Petco Park, where he’s only cranked out 8 Home Runs at clip of 18.1 AB/HR.  On the road, he’s a Pujolsesque 8.5 AB/HR with 16 Homers. 

Gonzalez is my pick from the NL to win the 2009 Home Run Derby.

PRINCE FIELDER - Milwaukee Brewers, 1B
22 HR, 13.2 AB/HR, .313 AVG, 1.056 OPS, 76 RBI

Fielder is the first second generation Home Run Derby contestant.  his father, Cecil Fielder competed back in the early 90’s.  He never won … which gives estranged son Prince some motivation to show up his dad. 

No word if Prince will show off his Brewers underwear if he wins the Derby.

Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies, 1B
20 HR, 15.7 AB/HR, .252 AVG, .841 OPS, 61 RBI

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is getting some flack for putting Howard on the All-Star roster, but we’re glad he did.  Because Howard can now partake in the Derby.

Howard is the most accomplished NL player in the Derby, having won the Derby in 2006.

BE SURE TOCHECK 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!!  Details right here

Earlier this year, I wondered how Brewers fans would react to Jeff Suppan Bobblehead day on August 30, 2009.

Yes, that Jeff Suppan … the Brewers pitcher who surrendered three Home Runs in three innings to the Phialdelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the 2008 NLDS. 

I didn’t have to wait until late August to find out.  Because Brewers fans would like to sell Suppan. With a Starting bid on eBay of a penny.

The seller will throw in Bill Hall for free.  What a bargain.

Gosh.  I wonder how much Brewers fans would pay someone to take David Bush off their hands.

UPDATE:  Bidding made it to $20.50 before eBay pulled it.

I wonder when Cubs fans will try this with Milton Bradley.

If you’re about to be thrown out of a baseball game and get arrested … what do you do?

Comply quietly …
or get your money’s worth?

Well, this Milwaukee Brewer fan chose the Red Pill at a recent game at Miller Park and decided to strip down to his boxer shorts before a pair of Milwaukee’s Finest (should they be called Milwaukee’s Best?) could haul him away.

And damn if this isn’t the 21st Century … it’s all on video. 

Watch.  If you dare.

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I am proud to announce that due to popular demand  …
Home Run Derby’s MLB MASCOT BRACKETS IS BACK!!

Okay, when I say “popular demand” … I mean the two people who emailed me asking what the heck happened to the Baseball Mascot Tournament. 

We’ll pick up where we left off last year in the second round with what might be one of the most anticipated showdowns of the tournament.  One which is sure to whet your appetite.

#1 Racing Sausages (Brewers)  vs #5 Racing Pierogies (Pirates)

In Randy Johnson’s 20+ years of pitching, the Big Unit had never given up a Home Run to a pitcher.

That changed last night when Yovani Gallardo of the Milwaukee Brewers took Johnson deep for a game-winning 3-Run Home Run in San Francisco.

See Jason Kendall in that picture?  Johnson walked him to get to Gallardo. 

My wife loves it when a player gets a Home Run after the guy in front of him is intentionally walked. 

Her words “Intentional walks are for pansies.”

This week’s Jersey of the Week comes to us from last October, when the Milwaukee Brewers were in the midst of their first playoff appearance in 26 seasons.

I wish I had seen this shirt when it was a bit more relevant … say last October … but it’s just awesome.  It deserves to be recognized as a belated JotW.

Now, after finally making the playoffs after a 26 year postseason absence, Brewers fans were finally feeling some relief.  So much so that some of them peed their pants.

But others … well … they were hoping for another kind of release for their Racing Sausage.

Looks like the Polish is about to get polished. 

It kinda amazes me that no one’s done anything like this with Milwaukee’s Racing Sausages before.  They’re kinda made for innuendo.  If you’re unfamiliar with what a “Happy Ending” is … well, here.

Brewers Playoffs Happy Ending Shirt Rating:

• Cleverness:  10
• Originality:  10
• Understandability:  7  

That shirt used to be available on the internet … but it’s hasta la bye-bye now.  Something makes me wonder if the Brewers’ legal department had something to do with that.

So the Milwaukee Brewers published their 2009 Promotional Schedule.  I always like to see if there are any good bobbleheads on there.  The Brew Crew usually gives away some good ones, like Bob Uecker or the Racing Sausages.

Here’s the Brewers 2009 Bobblehead giveaway schedule …

• May   3 – Ryan Braun
• May 31 – Trevor Hoffman
• Jun 28  – Jason Kendall
• Aug 30 – Jeff Suppan
• Jul 26 – Bratwurst (Racing Sausage!!)
• Sep 20 – Doug Melvin, Brewers GM

All those bobbleheads will have something in common.  Even the Bratwurst.

They’re all white.  Just like the rest of Wisconsin.

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